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

Her cheap older brother is here?

What are they here for? It's obvious without even thinking that they're here to give her a long and earnest lecture.

Unfortunately, she was destined to disappoint him.

"not see."

"Miss, this..."

"Ok?"

"Yes, this servant will go out and deliver the message immediately."

"Wait, I have a few words to say. Could you pass them on to him for me?" Shen Ningzhu casually lifted her eyelids, leaned closer to Zhiyuan, and whispered a few words in her ear.

The kite surface cracked.

His expression was beyond words, but due to Shen Ningzhu's tyrannical power, he dared not say a word and could only nervously leave the house.

outside the gate

Shen Chenyi, with his hair tied up with a jade crown and dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, stood solemnly, his robes fluttering in the breeze.

He was already a gentle and refined gentleman, as elegant as jade and bamboo, and this outfit made him even more handsome and extraordinary, with a refined and otherworldly air.

Upon seeing Zhiyuan emerge, the other party smiled gently, "So, does Zhuzhu agree to see me?"

Paper Kite felt a little sorry for such a humble gentleman.

But thinking of the cold aura and intimidating pressure emanating from Shen Ningzhu, he could only swallow hard and tell the truth.

"Miss...doesn't want to see you."

Shen Chenyi frowned, his dark eyes fixed on the kite, filled with confusion.

Zhiyuan sighed, "Miss has one more message for me to convey to the young master."

"What?"

"The young lady said that there are differences in closeness and distance, and differences between men and women. For the sake of both of us, it would be best not to meet."

Shen Ningzhu also said that from now on, she would be His Highness the Crown Prince's woman and would have to keep her distance from other men in order to remain chaste for His Highness.

However, seeing Shen Chenyi's ghostly expression, Zhiyuan couldn't bring herself to say the second half of the sentence.

Otherwise, she was afraid he wouldn't be able to handle it.

Shen Chenyi was struck dumb.

He had considered the reasons Shen Mingzhu might have given him, but he hadn't expected this. What nonsense was she spouting? He could understand the difference in kinship, after all, Shen Ningxue was his own sister.

But what the heck is this about gender differences?

Is he, a high-ranking official of the Court of Judicial Review, a third-ranking official, and a brilliant new scholar who has been selected as the third-ranking scholar in the imperial examinations, some kind of abnormal person?

Even if he's really that bad, what kind of dirty thoughts could he possibly have about someone who's been his sister for 15 years?

Shen Chenyi angrily tried to storm into the courtyard, but was stopped by Zhiyuan. She stretched out her arms to block his path, looking anxious as she said:

"Please forgive me, young master, but Miss does not wish to see you. Please do not make things difficult for me."

Shen Chenyi came to his senses and realized that he had acted rashly. He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.

The large, fair, and slender hand had distinct knuckles and was flawless, suggesting that its owner was a refined scholar and a pampered young nobleman.

"Alright, you can go back now. I understand."

After a pause, he said again,

"Tell her I'll come see her another day." With that, he turned and left.

Shen Ningzhu slept until sunset before slowly getting up. Zhi Yi came over with a wooden basin and a towel for washing, all smiles.

"Miss, you're up? I've just prepared some warm water. I'll wring out a cloth and wash your face for you so you can relax."

Shen Ningzhu yawned gracefully and stretched, "Mmm."

Paper Kite also brought forward a cup of tea.

Shen Ningzhu took the handkerchief and wiped her face, then rinsed her mouth with tea. The two put their things aside and came over to help her change her clothes.

Shen Ningzhu stood still and let them serve her.

With everything ready, and calculating the time, it was almost time for dinner. The three of them, master and servants, went out to head to the dining hall. Just as they entered the courtyard, they heard an old woman complaining indignantly:

"Pah! What kind of young lady is she? She's just a fake. She really thinks she's something special, daring to give the master and mistress attitude, and even mistreating the young masters. She's truly vicious."

Shen Ningzhu: "..."