Reborn Young Lady's Peerless Grace

Du Zhijie lowered his eyes and looked at her, his eyes full of heartache. He gently clasped his arms and held her in his arms.

Shen Wanqing felt the warmth and solidity of Du Zhijie's chest, but memories of her past life flooded her mind. She could still vividly recall Du Zhijie's tragic past, a pain she could never erase. Now, in this familiar and dangerous situation, she feared losing him again. Her emotions surged like a flood, and she couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here." Du Zhijie patted her back, gently comforting her. His voice was low and magnetic, as if it had a magical power, trying to calm Shen Wanqing's fear.

Shen Wanqing cried in Du Zhijie's arms for a long time. Gradually, she regained her senses. When she realized that she was hugging Du Zhijie tightly, her face flushed and she wanted to push him away out of shyness.

However, she tried her best but couldn't push it away.

Du Zhijie couldn't help but chuckle when he saw her shy and anxious look. This chuckle made Shen Wanqing even more angry.

"I...um...I'm sorry..."

What would he think of me after I behaved so mischievously today?

Shen Wanqing's face became redder and redder. Du Zhijie chuckled and then let go of her hand.

Shen Huanqing raised her head and just happened to see the smile in his eyes, and suddenly felt a little annoyed.

He was making fun of himself again.

"You go back first."

"What?" Shen Wanqing didn't understand for a moment, but seeing that Du Zhijie seemed to be in a good mood, she thought that her impulsiveness just now didn't cause him any trouble.

This is a tea room, a place for people to relax. Just because there is no one here now doesn't mean no one will come in later. If someone sees her, the girl's reputation will be ruined.

Shen Wanqing bowed hastily and said, "I was impulsive today. I will apologize to the general another day. I'll take my leave now."

She lifted her skirt and walked away quickly.

Seeing that the girls were still discussing animatedly, no one noticed her departure.

Seeing Shen Wanqing coming back, Jing Cheng came forward with an excited look on her face.

"Miss, you are back. The results of the Hundred Flowers Banquet are out, and you won the championship in both piano and chess!" Jing'er was very happy for Shen Wanqing.

Shen Wanqing was slightly stunned, and then a relieved smile appeared on her face.

"What about my second sister?" Shen Wanqing asked.

"The second young lady won the first prize in both calligraphy and painting." Jing'er replied.

After everyone learned the result, they came to congratulate him, and the courtyard was bustling with activity. But soon, everyone dispersed.

Shen Wanqing and Jing'er were also about to leave, but when they reached the door, they discovered that the carriage from Shen Hou's mansion had disappeared. They thought it was Shen Wanru's work. Jing'er hurriedly searched for it, but to no avail.

"What should we do? Miss, why don't we borrow a carriage from the Du family?" Jing'er said anxiously.

As he was speaking, the Du family's coachman hurried over in a carriage.

"Miss, my master asked me to take you back home." said the coachman.

Shen Wanqing thought this was Du Zhijie's arrangement, and feeling grateful, she and Jing'er got on the carriage and left.

Here, Xiao Chenyang saw Du Zhijie staring blankly at the direction the carriage left, and couldn't help but teasingly said, "Since you care so much, why don't you personally escort Fourth Miss Shen back home?"

Du Zhijie turned around and said seriously, "If I see you off in person, it will definitely damage Miss Shen's reputation."

In the carriage, Shen Wanqing and Jing'er were grateful for the Du family's arrangement.

"Miss, we must thank Master Du sincerely when we get back."

Shen Wanqing nodded, "Well, this time it is indeed thanks to Master Du. However, the fact that Shen Wanru returned home first is probably not simple."

After returning to Hou Mansion, before entering the yard, a maid came hurriedly to convey Su's words and asked Shen Wanqing to go over.

Shen Wanqing's heart sank, guessing that it was probably because she would be questioned about the Hundred Flowers Banquet, but she had already thought of a countermeasure in her mind.

At this time, Shen Wanru had lost face at the Hundred Flowers Banquet and returned home early. She was crying in Su's room.

"Mother, you have to make the decision for your daughter!" Shen Wanru cried bitterly.

Su hugged her distressedly and asked, "Ruru, what happened? Tell me slowly."

Shen Wanru sobbed, "Mother, when I was composing a poem today, a madman suddenly showed up to disrupt the process. My work was controversial and couldn't be entered into the competition. As a result, Shen Wanxiu from the second house won first place. Furthermore, Shen Wanqing actually sided with the madman, completely disregarding my dignity."

After hearing this, Su's face suddenly turned gloomy. "This Shen Wanqing is really getting more and more outrageous! Where is she now?"

"Mother, she was still at the Hundred Flowers Banquet when I came back. But, I guess she will be returning home soon." A hint of viciousness flashed in Shen Wanru's eyes.

Shen Wanqing came to Su's yard, took a deep breath, and walked in.

"Greetings to mother." Shen Wanqing bowed politely.

Su snorted coldly, "You still remember to come back? What did you do at the Hundred Flowers Banquet today?"

In response to Su's accusations, Shen Yingqing remained calm and said, "Mother, I was just participating in the competition normally and didn't do anything out of the ordinary."

"A normal competition? Then why did Ruer say that you were speaking for outsiders and deliberately embarrassing her?" Su's tone was cold.

"Mother, that wasn't an outsider. He had a very old collection of poems in his hand. It looked quite old, and my sister's poem was from that collection. I was just speaking from the facts, not targeting my sister."

"You're still quibbling!" Su shouted angrily.

Shen Wanqing lowered her head in grievance, as if she was frightened by Su's angry shout.

It is really ironic that Su is still so partial to Shen Wanru at this point.

"Mother, please calm down. Everything I said is true. Besides, I also won honor for our mansion at the Hundred Flowers Banquet and won the first place in both piano and chess." Shen Wanqing said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Shen Wanqing handed the poetry collection that the scholar had given her to Su after she finished speaking, "Mother, my sister's poems are from this collection."

Looking at the poetry collection, Su felt his eyes hurt, so he simply refused to take it and pushed it aside. "Now that these things have been taken back, don't talk about them everywhere in the future."

Shen Wanqing knew the Su family too well. She lowered her head and said, "Mother, I'll leave these things with you for now. But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has also reviewed these things. What should I do now?"

Su was speechless for a moment. Shen Wanru gnashed her teeth beside her, "Mother, don't listen to her nonsense. She is clearly talking nonsense. How could His Royal Highness the Crown Prince read such a collection of poems?"

Shen Wanqing looked at Shen Wanru and whispered, "Sister, what I said is true, and it is the honor of the entire Hou Mansion. How dare I say nonsense?"

Shen Wanru was speechless for a moment and just kept crying.