The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

Seeing He Zhizhu's deeply affected expression, Madam Shen said sternly, "If you can't do it, then Zhuzhu, you might as well give this opportunity to Rongjie."

After all, you shared such an important secret with her, and she is related to our family, so there is some connection between us.

Moreover, a concubine with a powerful backer will certainly have a better life in the harem than a helpless, adrift woman.

He Zhizhu said indignantly, "Just because my mother didn't receive my father's wholehearted love, does that mean her daughter isn't allowed to try?"

By what right do you think I am unworthy of the future king's favor, while your second-married niece is?

A loud slap stunned He Zhizhu.

This startled Madam Shen, who had made the move. She had never laid a finger on her youngest daughter before. In her panic, she used her other hand to touch her, asking, "Zhuzhu, does it hurt?"

He Zhizhu pushed the hand away, tears streaming down her face, and remained silent.

Madam Shen: "I was just angry for a moment, that's why I hurt you. But I did it for your own good. No matter how close Rong'er is, she can't compare to you."

In your mother's heart, only you and your brother are the most important. Even your own father comes second. Don't be stubborn and hold a grudge against me.

He Zhizhu burst into tears, “In both my lives, you have never hit me.”

Madam Shen was heartbroken. "It hurts a mother to hit her son. Do you think I wanted to hit you? It's just that you're too infuriating."

If my future partner can truly have his heart set on me, I, as a mother, would be more than happy. I would even agree to chant Buddhist scriptures and recite mantras every day.

But you've lived two lives, and you still believe a man's deceitful words! How do you think a mother would feel hearing that?

"So you'll be fooled again and suffer another loss?"

He Zhizhu hugged Madam Shen and said, "Mother, I was wrong, but I just couldn't control my heart."

Madam Shen held the person in her arms, "Later, Granny Xin encouraged you to steal the limelight from Sixth Girl in order to win the favor of the Fourth Prince. I told you then that you were not suitable to marry into the royal family."

With your personality, you're better suited to marrying into a humble family. Even if you entered a large clan, you wouldn't be cut out to be the matriarch.

Looking at He Zhizhu's disapproving face, she said, "Don't hold a grudge. What I said is the truth."

Didn't you yourself say that in your past life you married a scholar who ranked third in the imperial examinations, and your family was only of average means, yet you still managed to make a mess of your life?

If it were me, I would have all the financial power in his family and the Marquis's mansion as my backing. Tell me, how did you manage to live such a miserable life?

Does a man's word become an inviolable rule?

Why don't you ask your brother for support?

There are some things I'm too embarrassed to say to your brother and sister-in-law, and I, as their mother, can't say them either? Am I dead?

Also, you are the apple of my eye. You lived such a life in your husband's family, and I didn't do anything about it?

If I didn't intervene, it only means you've been keeping all those troublesome things to yourself for your son-in-law.

He Zhizhu spat, "Mother, don't call him that. What son-in-law? I'd rather die than marry him."

Shen: "Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue. But tell me, is what I said true? You said you were going to marry that person, and my heart was filled with joy one moment and panic the next."

"If you hadn't remembered your past life, I would never have agreed to let you go down this path."

He Zhizhu said coquettishly, "Mother, I've grown up. I'm not the naive little girl I used to be. I've even walked the road to exile."

This made Madam Shen feel extremely distressed. "My poor Zhu'er."

"Marrying into the royal family is fine. If something happens in the family, it won't affect you. At worst, you'll just fall out of favor and be neglected, which is better than being abandoned and losing your life."

He Zhizhu was moved upon hearing this, "Mother."

Madam Shen patted her head and said, "Alright, you've been carrying such a heavy burden on your mind, and you haven't been getting enough rest these past few days."

Starting tomorrow, you'll need to spend more time learning housekeeping from me.

"You're allowed to go home early today and get some rest. I've invited your brother to have dinner in the main courtyard tonight."

He Zhizhu was exhausted from eavesdropping and rushing to Qingwu Courtyard all day. Upon hearing this, she took the opportunity to bid farewell to Madam Shen and returned to her room.

After He Zhizhu left, she called for Granny Zhang, "Where is the young master?"

Granny Zhang replied, "They're waiting in the study in the inner courtyard."

Madam Shen straightened her appearance slightly. "Tell Wenqin to keep an eye on the Seventh Miss. Granny, come with me to the study."

When Madam Shen arrived at the study, He Zhizhang happened to come across the rare handwritten copy that the second young lady had sponsored.

"Mother has arrived, son greets mother."

When Madam Shen saw her handsome and refined eldest son, she felt extremely pleased. "Zhang-ge'er, what book are you reading?"

He Zhizhang pointed to the cover, "It should be a new book that was put in the study. My son has never read it before."

At first glance, Shen felt it was familiar, but after a second look, he knew what book it was.

What a tragic fate! But the fact that her son has taken a liking to the book makes all her previous efforts worthwhile.

He Zhizhang assumed his mother wasn't interested in this, so he asked, "Mother, did you come to see me today because you need something?"

After the old women, including Madam Shen, served tea and snacks, they dismissed the servants and stood guard at a distance outside the door. They also opened the study window to ensure that no one could hear them from the corner of the room.

Seeing the large mobilization made by the Shen family, He Zhizhang couldn't help but sit up straight.

Shen's next words indeed startled He Zhizhang, who was quite upright in his conduct.

"Has Zhuzhu gone mad? How could her mother believe it?"

Madam Shen shook her head. "When she told me this a couple of days ago, I was just like you, not believing it. I just thought she was being mischievous."

But she said many other things, and as I compared them one by one, I was shocked to realize that perhaps the world is so vast that anything is possible.

Our Zhuzhu must have been blessed by heaven to have such a great opportunity.

He Zhizhang could no longer sit still. "Why doesn't Mother suspect Zhuzhu? Perhaps she is possessed by an evil spirit?"

Perhaps the Zhuzhu we know today is no longer the Zhuzhu we've pampered since she was little.

Madam Shen was shocked. "Zhang-ge'er, how could you think such a thing?" Her own son wouldn't burn his own daughter like a demon because of this, would he?

He Zhizhang: "Has Mother never suspected anything?"

Madam Shen: "At first I thought Zhuzhu was just joking, but later she said a lot of things that matched up, and she also mentioned a few things that would happen in the capital. I sent people out to inquire these past two days, and they are indeed true."

"If Zhuzhu hadn't been a prophet, how could a young lady like her know what was happening outside? Especially since that matter hadn't even happened yet when she told me about it."

It can't be faked.

He Zhizhang was shocked. "But what if it's some kind of spirit or monster?"

Madam Shen disagreed, "You've seen spirits? How could I not recognize my own daughter?"

Even though Zhuzhu has many strange memories, how could I not recognize her as my daughter?