Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

Shen Ningzhu knew what Liu Zhiyi wanted to say.

In modern times, although she has relatives, they don't care about her; it's different here.

At least, there are still two well-behaved and adorable children.

But so what?

In modern times, there is freedom and equality for all. We have cell phones, Wi-Fi, gentle breezes and warm companionship, sanitary napkins, high-speed trains, airplanes, trains, and cruise ships—everything convenient.

So she smiled calmly.

"If a person doesn't look out for themselves, they'll be punished by heaven and earth. Xiaoyi, I'm just a selfish, vulgar person."

After saying that, she stood up from her chair with a swift movement and left the festively decorated bridal chamber without looking back.

A moment later, the two personal maids, Yun'er and Xia'er, rushed in, their eyes filled with worry.

"Madam, what's wrong with Madam Shen?"

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Liu Zhiyi snapped out of her daze, quickly suppressing the surging emotions in her eyes. She blinked her sore eyes and managed a weak smile as she looked at the two of them.

Meeting Liu Zhiyi's red eyes, the two choked on their words, the words that had just reached their throats instantly stuck in their throats, and they quickly stepped forward with concern.

"Madam, why are you crying?"

"Yes, Madam, it's such a joyous day, why aren't you happy?"

"Just now, when I saw Madam Shen leave, her expression was off, and her eyes were frighteningly bloodshot. Could it be that the two of you just..."

Yun'er wanted to ask the two of them if they had quarreled, but then she thought it was impossible.

They were Liu Zhiyi's personal maids, and Liu Zhiyi would take the two of them with her wherever she went.

That's why they understood even more clearly how could there be any discord between Liu Zhiyi and Shen Ningzhu, given their relationship.

As expected, Liu Zhiyi offered an explanation.

She forced a lighthearted smile.

"Alright, don't overthink it. I'm just happy. Zhuzhu is just as happy for me, that's why her eyes are red."

"But……"

"No buts, by the way, how are your parents' preparations going?"

Xia'er gently tugged at Yun'er's sleeve, slowly shook her head at her, and then whispered in reply,

"Madam, everything is ready. We'll take you along the pre-arranged route when the time comes, and then we can return to the manor for the wedding ceremony."

Liu Zhiyi nodded slightly.

Two maids stepped forward to massage Liu Zhiyi's shoulders and legs. Yun'er said softly...

"By the way, Madam, Madam Shen just brought a lot of nice things to add to your dowry."

"Oh, really? Let me see the form."

Liu Zhiyi smiled and echoed their words. The two maids' attention was indeed diverted, and the oppressive atmosphere instantly dissipated.

They all rushed to hand the forms to Liu Zhiyi.

"Madam, Madam Shen is so kind to you. She brought two large boxes of silver notes alone, as well as more than a dozen boxes each of land deeds, shops, gold and silver jewelry, totaling twenty boxes."

"Yes, yes, every load is full of really good stuff. The boxes are heavy and packed full. I heard the lids can barely be closed."

Liu Zhiyi chuckled upon hearing this.

My thoughts suddenly drifted back to many years ago.

The two were very popular at school and received gifts or love letters from boys every day.

She scoffed at the time, saying,

"Aren't these people boring and childish? Instead of showing concern and care, they should just give you a large sum of money. If they're not capable, they should just stay put. They're not even fully grown yet, and they're already trying to write love letters. It's so cheesy."

She remembered that Shen Ningzhu was stunned at the time.

Most people like her, who have never lacked money since childhood and have never had to worry about food or clothing, don't understand why writing love letters is immature, nor do they understand why spending a large sum of money is not childish.

But from then on, Shen Ningzhu no longer only gave her daily necessities.

Instead, he would reward her with one of his supplementary credit cards on her birthday or when she achieved good results, allowing her to use it as she pleased.

He would also send her large red envelopes from time to time, often amounting to tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan.

Although it may not seem like much, it's a huge sum of money for a middle school student.

It was thanks to her generous help that she, an orphan, was able to live like a young lady.

After graduation, Shen Ningzhu gifted her a house, a car, and her family's century-old secret recipe, helping her open hundreds of chain stores of all sizes within two years.

She even joked that with these shops, the two of them would have something to rely on in the future, and they could retire whenever they wanted.

In modern society, they lean on each other for warmth and should be living a good life.

Who knew that one day I would travel through time and arrive in this dynasty.

Those early days were the darkest time for them, but now they can finally go back, yet she…

At that moment, Liu Zhiyi suddenly felt like a shameless traitor, betraying their years-long friendship for a man.

Memories flooded Liu Zhiyi's mind, and the past events vividly appeared before her eyes.

Liu Zhiyi suddenly felt short of breath, as if her heart had been stabbed, leaving her bleeding and mangled.

Just then, Xia'er said again,

"Oh, by the way, Madam Shen also gave me a small wooden box and asked me to give it to you separately. Please wait, I'll bring it to you right away."

He ran out of the house with a thud, and soon returned with another thud.

He handed the wooden box he was carrying to Liu Zhiyi, panting heavily.

When Liu Zhiyi opened it, the bitterness she had managed to suppress surged up again, spreading densely across her heart.

"This is……"

"My God, an imperial edict of immortality, a pardon from death, a blank imperial decree, this...this..."

Did Madam Shen go to rob the palace?

Such items are rare even among founding fathers and top-tier meritorious families; obtaining just one is extremely difficult, yet Madam Shen presented a whole box of them.

Liu Zhiyi was also dumbfounded.

Holding her forehead, she said with a wry smile, "Is Zhuzhu doing wholesale?"

Two imperial edicts with iron certificates, two pardons, and ten blank imperial decrees.

Is this what they mean by having connections in high places?

Yun'er and Xia'er sighed with admiration, "Madam Shen is so good to our lady."

Liu Zhiyi also smiled and smiled.

"Yes, she is really nice."

"Oh, by the way, Madam Shen asked me to pass on a message to you, saying something like, 'A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near.' She also said, 'May we all live long and share the beauty of the moon, though separated by a thousand miles.'"

"What else did she say?"

She also said that she supports your choice because Song Hanchuan deserves it, and so do you.

"Madam, what does Madam Shen mean by those words? I feel like..."

Yun'er wanted to say that these words sounded like she was making her final arrangements, but she stopped herself just before she finished speaking.

Liu Zhiyi remained silent for a long time, then took a deep breath and said firmly,

"Yun'er, put this box away and lock it in the storeroom for safekeeping. Isn't it almost time? Xia'er, get ready and help me into the bridal sedan chair."