Sheng Mingzhu had never considered that if she hadn’t constantly played the victim in front of Lin Zhijing, he wouldn’t have concocted that scheme with Murong Yan.
Lin Zhijing and Murong Yan wanted to ruin Huang Yaning’s reputation and cast her into the abyss.
After nearly suffering such a huge loss, how could Huang Yaning possibly not fight back?
nable to deal with Murong Yan and Lin Zhijing immediately, they turned their attention to Sheng Mingzhu!
That’s why she arranged for the Feng family to come to the capital and create a huge, embarrassing scene right in front of the Sheng residence.
After the “heartbreak grass” incident, Huang Yaning also sent people to spread the word everywhere, making the matter known to all and turning Sheng Mingzhu into a laughingstock.
During this time, Sheng Minmin also “kicked her when she was down.”
For instance, she constantly provoked Qiu Ju and Dong Kui, stirring up their desires, and then administered a strong dose of medicine.
This combination of threats and bribes was what finally gave Qiu Ju the courage to step forward, reveal her identity, and accuse Sheng Mingzhu…
Sheng Mingzhu’s current predicament is truly of her own making.
But she never feels she’s in the wrong; she even believes no one in the world is more innocent or more wronged than she is.
Right now, Sheng Mingzhu is still fuming. Her master always says he’ll help her become someone above others, but why hasn’t he made a move even when she’s in such a state!
Sheng Mingzhu can’t wait any longer!
She’s decided to take the initiative. That’s why she’s meeting with her brother Sheng today.
She already arranged to meet with him today. She needs to confirm his feelings for her and completely capture his heart.
For this reason, before going out today, Sheng Mingzhu meticulously applied her makeup for four whole hours before she was barely satisfied.
She found a spot by a rockery. It wasn’t very far from the lotus pond, but it was secluded, shielded by the artificial mountain.
“You go ahead,” Sheng Mingzhu said to Xiazhi.
Xiazhi nodded, turned around, and went to find the Prince of Qi.
That day, after two servants died in the Furong Courtyard, Xiazhi had returned to Sheng Mingzhu’s side.
Because Xiazhi understood that even if Sheng Mingzhu didn’t like her, she wouldn’t lay a hand on her again.
Also, she wanted to witness Sheng Mingzhu’s “miserable state” up close, so she went back.
After returning, she found life was pretty good!
Now that the snow had melted, she was the manager of the Furong Courtyard, with full authority to allocate the personnel and resources within.
Unable to find anyone else for some of Sheng Mingzhu’s confidential tasks, she had no choice but to entrust them to Xiazhi.
Things like delivering snacks and letters to the Prince of Qi…
As a result, Sheng Mingzhu had become much more polite to her as well.
At the same time, she also noticed that Sheng Mingzhu had been looking uglier lately!
But she herself was looking better and better.
That Jade Beauty Cream was truly wonderful; the injuries on her hands had healed significantly, the scars fading until they were nearly invisible.
Every day, she’d dab a little on her fingertip, rub it in, and apply it to her face. The result was that her facial skin grew fairer and smoother day by day.
This filled Xiazhi with immense joy!
Xiazhi suddenly felt that Sheng Mingzhu wasn’t so unattainable after all.
If she dressed herself up the way Sheng Mingzhu did, she might even look better than her.
Today, Sheng Mingzhu wore a thin, pearl-white dress, cinched with a delicate pink belt…
Normally, Xiazhi would have dressed in bright, gaudy colors to accentuate Sheng Mingzhu’s “refined elegance.”
But today, Xiazhi also wore a fresh, light green outfit, adorned with a simple set of silver hair ornaments, which made her look exceptionally lively and pretty.
Arriving at the front courtyard, she happened to see the Prince of Qi’s attendant, Zhang Chun. With just a glance from her, Zhang Chun immediately understood.
Before long, Zhu Qisheng met with Sheng Mingzhu.
Xiazhi and Zhang Chun each retreated, leaving the space between them only for Zhu Qisheng and Sheng Mingzhu. They stood a few steps apart, gazing at each other, and instantly their eyes reddened.
“Brother Sheng…
“I was afraid you would despise me too and never see me again…”
Zhu Qisheng watched as the moment the person across from him spoke, crystal-clear teardrops began to roll down her face.
Her pale, delicate little face, her lingering, affectionate gaze, each falling tear, the tip of her reddened nose, the corners of her mouth turned down in grievance, her frail figure…
Everything about her exuded a poignant beauty, weak and helpless. It moved Zhu Qisheng deeply, and he quickly responded.
“Pearl, how could I ever despise you or refuse to see you?
“You… you know my feelings—”
Sheng Mingzhu shook her head, a pained expression on her face as she clutched her chest.
“I don’t know, Brother Sheng. I don’t know anything…
“At the Third Princess’s birthday banquet, you wouldn’t even spare me a single glance…”
“It was my fault, Pearl. Please, don’t blame me…”
Zhu Qisheng had also struggled greatly at the Third Princess’s banquet last time. Mainly, his mother didn’t want him to interact with Pearl.
On the other hand, he was also afraid that the noble ladies of the capital might notice something and, driven by jealousy, make things difficult for her.
That’s why he had exercised restraint and controlled himself.
He never expected his decision would cause his Pearl such pain and insecurity.
Zhu Qisheng felt he was truly awful!
Now that his mother had come around and was no longer interfering in his marriage, he had nothing left to worry about.
In that moment, Zhu Qisheng decided he would no longer hide his feelings for his Pearl in public.
As for the jealousy of other noble ladies, he believed that with his protection, they wouldn’t dare bully Pearl excessively…
“I could never blame you, Brother Sheng. In my heart, you are like the bright moon in the sky…
“Even if you despised me and stopped associating with me… I wouldn’t hold it against you.”
As she spoke, Sheng Mingzhu covered her face with her handkerchief, sobbing. After finishing, she turned as if to leave.
Zhu Qisheng’s heart melted with tenderness. He stepped forward, took Sheng Mingzhu’s hand, and gently pulled her into his embrace…
“Pearl, listen to my heartbeat. It has never beaten this fast before…
“Now, do you understand my feelings?”
They went back and forth like this for a while—hesitating, testing, confessing—before finally getting cozy together, lost in their “sweet nothings.”
Xiazhi, who had been quietly observing their every move, went from initial shock to being stunned speechless, to blushing, to feeling a sense of shame…
Interspersed throughout were also feelings of envy and jealousy.
Xiazhi thought Sheng Mingzhu would just exchange a few words with the Prince of Qi at most. She never expected…
She never expected Sheng Mingzhu to seduce the Prince of Qi with every word and action. In the end, they were hugging and cuddling, and nearly kissed. Sheng Mingzhu showed no sign of refusal at all—
How was this anything like a noble lady?
She was as brazen and shameless as any woman in a brothel—
But at this moment, Xiazhi also understood. It was precisely this kind of brazen, shameless Sheng Mingzhu who had firmly captured the Prince of Qi’s heart.
Those dignified, proper young ladies from good families, with excellent backgrounds and appearances, couldn’t even get a glimpse of the Prince of Qi—
The Prince of Qi appeared so noble and aloof, so high and mighty, seemingly untouchable, but in reality, he wasn’t such a “good catch” either…
Xiazhi trembled with excitement, feeling as if she had just discovered a crucial, unspoken rule of this world.
