Your Highness, your wife has had her virginity mark applied and married someone else.

In front of the other guests, Shen Qingliang spared no effort to show his closeness as an elder.

Lu Youyou was disgusted by Shen Qingliang's blatant attempt to curry favor, and rolled her eyes.

"Who wants to eat your pastries?"

After saying that, she gave a soft snort and went to find the Wei family's carriage.

Lu Youyou saw Wei Yuan's car door move slightly, but didn't open it for a long time. She smiled again and tried to get closer, but Lu Yanzhi grabbed her collar.

"You're being silly, Uncle, please don't be offended."

Seeing that Shen Qingliang's smile froze for a moment, Lu Yanzhi waved his hand, and the servant handed over the gift.

"My father has important business to attend to today, so he specifically asked me to come and offer my birthday wishes to Madam Shen."

The servant announced loudly, "The Lu family congratulates Madam Shen on her birthday—a pair of white jade ruyi scepters, a painting of 'Pine and Crane for Longevity,' four bolts of Jiangnan brocade, a century-old wild ginseng, and a string of pearls!"

This extravagant and extravagant gesture drew gasps of amazement from many.

Shen Qingliang's legs went weak upon hearing this, and his smile immediately widened as he personally stepped forward to accept the gift, his fingers trembling.

"Oh, how thoughtful of the Lu family! Please come in, please come in. The old lady is waiting for you inside."

Lu Yanzhi nodded politely and pulled the reluctant Lu Youyou into the Shen family's gate first.

Shen Mingshu looked at Shen Qingliang's obsequious and sycophantic behavior and sneered inwardly—the Shen family must have been living in despair all these years.

She did not recommend making them more desperate.

"Chunxue, follow me through the side door to see Old Madam Shen."

Chunxue paused for a moment: "Aren't you going to follow Prince Wei?"

"Are we going to follow him through the main gate and become sitting ducks for the Shen family?"

Shen Mingshu wasn't stupid. She didn't think that being invited by the Shen family meant the Shen family wanted to curry favor with her, an eighth-rank official.

The only thing that can control her is her female body.

Why should she comply with their wishes? After all, she was just there to collect debts.

Chunxue looked at the coldness on her face and asked silently.

"Does Your Excellency wish to negotiate with Old Madam Shen? Is she easy to talk to?"

"Easy to talk to?" Shen Mingshu gave an ambiguous, cold smile.

The ancestors of the Shen family have all died out, and only Old Madam Shen remains from the older generation. She had the support of her maternal family before, and she has always been a strong person in the Shen family, unable to tolerate others disobeying her.

But she is also a hypocrite.

The first wife stirs up trouble and does evil, while the second wife tries to protect herself. She always takes sides, yet she still pretends to be fair and considerate of the bigger picture.

He tried countless times to "reform" Shen Mingshu, hoping to make her obediently accept being bullied.

Her airs couldn't fool the rebellious little wolf Shen Mingshu, but they did fool the little wolf's mother.

Whenever she couldn't control the little wolf, she would punish the little wolf's mother, at which point the little wolf would become docile.

Even so, the group of thugs still wouldn't let the mother wolf cub go.

Yin was made a living test subject for medicine, and it was through her mediation that Yin ultimately died in excruciating pain in the courtyard of the main house.

Madam Shen simply stated that it was her own choice and then dropped the matter.

They won't even give us a burial plot.

The fire burned for three days and three nights, and Shen Mingshu knelt for three days and three nights before finally disappearing from the Shen family.

By the time the Shen family realized Shen Mingshu's existence, she had already transformed into Wei Ziye's sweetheart.

At this point, Old Madam Shen still shamelessly allowed her to help Shen Yangjue enter Wei Ziye's room.

Shen Mingshu was also very generous, not only recommending Shen Yangjue, but also pushing Shen Fu forward.

She wanted to see the snipe and the clam fight, but she miscalculated that Wei Ziye would also change his mind.

Too many things happened on the battlefield where Wei Congyu died.

Even now, she still hasn't figured out the truth, which ultimately backfired on her...

"My lord? My lord?"

Chunxue called out to Shen Mingshu in confusion. Shen Mingshu gradually regained her composure and was about to speak.

"Ta-da!"

There was a knock on the car window. Shen Mingshu pushed it open, meeting Wei Ziye's cold, deep gaze: "What are you dawdling for? Get out of the car!"

"..."

In front of everyone, the Wei family did not enter first, but instead deliberately walked to the back to knock on the Zhang family's carriage.

This scene instantly attracted the attention of many people.

Everyone was guessing whether the person inside was Zhang Yu, who had divorced Wei Xu, or Zhang Yu's newly adopted eighth-rank son.

Or perhaps, for Wei Ziye to personally invite them, it's because both of them came?

Shen Qingliang hesitated for a moment.

Although Shen Fu learned from the divine physician that Shen Mingshu had entered the Zhang family, he did not say that Shen Mingshu would definitely come today.

If he comes, will he also bring Zhang Yu to back him up?

Can the Shen family afford to offend the Zhang family?

Shen Mingshu didn't move. The jade crown felt a bit heavy today. She stretched her neck, her expression nonchalant.

"Why are you in such a hurry, brother? The Shen family has a lot of influence; the Zhang family is still in line."

Although the specific reason is unknown, it is clear that news of Shen Yangjue's death has not yet spread.

Whether it was the divine physician's intention or the Empress Dowager's plan to settle scores, Shen Mingshu had no idea.

But it also feels quite ironic.

Because there's absolutely no need to hide it.

Given the Shen family's character, they would never give up this opportunity to climb the social ladder and gain power just because of Shen Yangjue's death.

Although most of the people here were invited by Shen Yangjue.

Looking at the faint, wicked smile on Shen Mingshu's lips, Wei Ziye couldn't help but feel that her appearance as a young master was surprisingly fitting.

"Don't make me ask you to get out of the car."

"..."

The command was harsh, carrying a familiar threat.

Chunxue thought Shen Mingshu would struggle a bit, but to her surprise, Shen Mingshu got up and got out of the car the next moment.

Following behind Wei Ziye, Chunxue asked softly, "My lord, are we really going to follow him?"

Just now, didn't Shen Mingshu say she didn't want to be a sitting duck for the Shen family?

How come you've accepted it so readily now?

Shen Mingshu glanced at Chunxue, wondering how Lu Yanzhi could have chosen her with such a clever mind.

But since it wasn't convenient to ask, she simply said, "He's already come to pick me up, who would dare to disrespect him?"

Chunxue paused, then suddenly realized!

Wei Ziye's act of condescending to pick them up already expressed his attitude.

The Zhang and Wei families are on good terms. If the Shen family wants to behave themselves, they should behave themselves. Otherwise, don't blame Wei Ziye for causing trouble.

Sure enough, when Shen Qingliang saw that only Shen Mingshu had come from the Zhang family, his face turned pale and then red, and he could no longer maintain his smile.

He seemed unconvinced and stepped forward, forcing a smile as he asked Wei Ziye, "Young Master Wei, who is this...?"

"Is Lord Shen getting old and forgetful?" Shen Mingshu's smile was utterly cold. "Didn't you send me the invitation? Why don't you recognize me?"

Shen Mingshu took the invitation from Chunxue, raised her hand and flung it at him, almost hitting him in the face.

Knowing that this was a counterattack, Shen Qingliang was unwilling to be defeated by Shen Mingshu. He forcibly suppressed his instinct to retreat, and his face darkened completely, devoid of any enthusiasm.

Through the invitation, he saw Shen Mingshu laughing freely and flamboyantly, raising her hand to pat Wei Ziye on the shoulder and loudly introducing herself.

"My name is Yin Mingzhu. I am the newly appointed abbot of Qingyun Academy and the newly adopted son of the Zhang family. I am also a brother of the Wei family's heir."

"My mother specifically asked him to take me to broaden my horizons today, but who would have thought that the street in front of your Shen family's house is so narrow that my Zhang family's carriage is stuck behind and can't move for a long time."

"Judging from Lord Shen's entourage, is he perhaps arranged in ranks according to the different aristocratic families?"

The Shen family is delusional, trying to use this trivial yet utterly disgusting little thing to show everyone just how grand their entourage is today.

Shen Mingshu made sure everyone remembered the true colors of the Shen family because of this small matter.

After all, who wants to be blatantly ranked last and suffer such an insult?

"you--!"

Seeing the change in the expressions of those around him, Shen Qingliang was so angry that he instinctively raised his hand to hit her, just like before.

But when Wei Ziye gave him a look, he immediately suppressed the impulse.