She remarried a cold-faced, powerful man, and the scumbag regretted it and cried his heart out.

The next day, Shen Jingshu called out to Wuchen, and Wuchen suddenly appeared from some hidden corner.

Since Wuchen came to Shaoguang Academy, he has not usually shown his face.

Jinse, out of curiosity, once asked Shen Jingshu, "Where does he stay?"

Shen Jingshu thought for a moment and said, "Probably in a tree?"

As soon as she said it, she felt it was somewhat absurd. But weren't all the mysterious masters in the storybooks hidden among the treetops, overlooking the myriad aspects of the world?

Later, Jinse happened to see Wuchen and, with a grin, handed him a nine-linked ring, saying, "I was afraid you'd be bored up in the tree."

Wuchen took it expressionlessly, put it in his pocket, squatted by the wall and relieved himself there all night, then gave it to Lin Yu the next day.

"What are your orders, young lady?"

Shen Jingshu said, "Go find Young Master Cheng and tell him that I have booked a private room for half a day and that he should come to find me at noon."

Wuchen accepted the order and quickly left.

When the appointed time arrived, Cheng Wenhao pushed open the door with a belly full of complaints, "Grandma, doesn't your servant have any manners? I was having a great time cricket fighting, and he just dragged me out like that!"

Jinse and Yaoqin burst out laughing.

Cheng Wenhao glanced at the two of them and said irritably, "Look at you, even your two little maids dare to laugh at me."

Shen Jingshu smiled and said, "I'm sorry, but he's not some servant, so I can't control him."

"Alright, alright, what did you call me here for?" he said, pouring himself a cup of tea.

"You should get married."

"Pfft." Cheng Wenhao spat out the tea he had just taken a sip of. "So fast?!"

“Of course.” Shen Jingshu said seriously, with an expression of taking it for granted. “Yesterday at the palace banquet, Xie Wanqing fell into the water. If you marry her now, it will earn you some reputation.”

Cheng Wenhao frowned and looked Shen Jingshu up and down. "You caused this?"

Shen Jingshu blinked. "How can something done to protect oneself be called harm?"

Cheng Wenhao scoffed, then, as if remembering something, cautiously asked, "What about those in my backyard..."

"They've all been sent away."

"That won't do! They probably can't survive without me!"

Shen Jingshu raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at Cheng Wenhao with a half-smile, "Don't exaggerate here. Since they have entered your Cheng family's backyard, even if you send them away, the Cheng family will take good care of them. How could they not survive?"

Cheng Wenhao stood up anxiously and paced back and forth in the room.

“You don’t understand. They’ve been with me for a long time. Although we’re not husband and wife in name, we have a certain bond. It’s unreasonable to suddenly send them away.”

Shen Jingshu picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said, "The bigger picture is more important. If they stay by your side, it will bring unnecessary gossip to the Cheng family."

Cheng Wenhao stopped in his tracks, crossed his arms, and retorted defiantly, "Why should the Cheng family care about other people's gossip? I refuse to believe that after enduring humiliation to marry Xie Wanqing, I have to send them away."

"It's not that you have to send them away, it's that you have to make Xie Wanqing feel that you are deeply in love with her. Besides, if she marries into the Cheng family, she will never tolerate so many women in your harem. If you insist on keeping them, the Cheng family will be in chaos, and how will you be able to deal with the situation outside with peace of mind?"

Cheng Wenhao frowned, his face full of conflict.

He naturally understood that Shen Jingshu's words were not without reason, but the thought of parting with the women who had been with him made him very reluctant.

Ying'er is a skilled dancer, Fang Shu's singing voice is like a nightingale singing in a valley, Qiong Niang is a good cook, and Yin Yin is very understanding...

Seeing his expression, Shen Jingshu softened her tone slightly, "Think about it. If you dismiss them and give them enough money to settle them, that would be a way of giving them a proper explanation. If a suitable opportunity arises in the future, you can make other arrangements for them."

Cheng Wenhao grimaced and muttered, "How did things suddenly turn out like this? I haven't even had enough of enjoying my carefree time yet."

Shen Jingshu rolled her eyes at him. "It's time for you to settle down and take responsibility for the Cheng family. Do you think you can stay out of it forever?"

A knock sounded at the door, and Yaoqin went to open it. Jiang Jin'an entered with his hands behind his back.

Cheng Wenhao's eyes widened. He looked at Jiang Jin'an, then at Shen Jingshu, and finally at the ring-pommel sword at Jiang Jin'an's waist. He swallowed hard, cupped his hands, and said, "Alright, Grandma, that's settled then!"

After saying that, he ran away in a hurry.

Yaoqin and Jinse exchanged a smile, stood outside the door, and closed it.

Lin Yu took out the Nine Linked Rings and asked Jinse and Yaoqin, "Do you know how to solve this?"

Jinse looked at it and saw that it was the one she had given to Wuchen. She snatched it away, saying, "This is for Wuchen to use while he's sitting in the tree to keep himself entertained! What are you doing with it!"

Lin Yu was completely confused. "He gave it to me? No, why was he squatting in the tree?"

Jinse ignored him, turned her head and glared at Wuchen, but Wuchen didn't even look at her.

In the private room, Jiang Jin'an personally poured tea for Shen Jingshu, saying, "The people from the Dali Temple came to report that they couldn't find anything out, and everyone had bitten poison."

Shen Jingshu nodded slightly, her expression calm. "Yes, it's fine."

"Do you know what he's going to do?"

"He simply wants to use someone else to do his dirty work. You did not report to the Emperor that the assassin at the Spring Banquet was his henchman, so he naturally thinks you are clueless and wants to take the opportunity to repeat the incident and frame you."

Jiang Jin'an remained silent, his eyes fixed on her, deep and intense, as if trying to see right through her.

Feeling a little embarrassed by his gaze, Shen Jingshu asked, "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Looking at my future wife, she has a very clever and insightful mind." Jiang Jin'an's lips curled into a faint smile.

Cheng Wenhao returned to the manor with a sigh and brought up the matter of marriage with Madam Bai.

Lady Bai was overjoyed and immediately summoned a servant to go to the Marquis of Pingyang's residence to convey a message, asking the Marquis's residence to set a date and exchange the betrothal gifts.

Song Wan was unwilling, but there was nothing she could do. Her niece had impure thoughts and could no longer stay in the mansion. But over the years, she had done right by her sister.

Xie Wanqing smashed everything to pieces in the room.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she stopped and called Chunlan over. Her eyes revealed a hint of hope and ruthlessness. "Chunlan, go find Brother Zijin and tell him that I saw Prince Jing yesterday. I know who his benefactor is, and I have a way to help him!"

Chunlan looked troubled. "Miss, Madam has already arranged to exchange betrothal gifts with the Cheng family on the 21st. If we go to find Young Master Fu now and get discovered, it might cause you even more trouble."

Xie Wanqing glared at her and scolded, "If you don't go, you'll really be the one harming me. Just be careful and deliver my message, and I'll definitely treat you well. If you ruin my important plans, you know the consequences!"

Chunlan had no choice but to nod in agreement and hurriedly left.

After Chunlan left, Xie Wanqing slumped weakly into a chair, her mind filled with memories of the past.

She recalled her cautiousness when she first entered the Marquis's mansion, and her hopes and expectations for the future. But now, she had ended up like this, being manipulated like a pawn, and was about to be married off to a family she did not like.

Shen Jingshu's words were still echoing in her ears: How dare the Cheng family look down on her?

Her hands were clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain.