Lu Jingxue stood behind Old Madam Song.

She wore a pale pink embroidered Yuhua brocade dress, with a filigree cloud-shaped hairpin in her hair.

Her face was delicately powdered, her lips like red peaches—dressed this way, she looked no different from a noble lady of a prominent family.

She looked up at Li Zhiyue standing opposite and smiled lightly.

This was the first time she felt she was finally on the same level as Li Zhiyue—no longer inferior.

Li Zhiyue inwardly sighed.

The Grand Tutor’s residence was much more powerful than the Marquis’s mansion—it belonged to a top-ranking official in the court, wielding real power and hosting countless retainers.

After all, she was the heroine of this story, surrounded by a halo of fate. Once she lost the Marquis’s protection, she immediately became the lifesaver of the Grand Tutor’s wife.

Everyone present greeted Madam Zhen.

This was also the first time Madam Zhen spoke with these ladies of noble families.

She stepped forward to Bai Ruzhu, smiling as she said, “Thanks to Old Madam Song’s care, the three of us—my son and I—will live in the Grand Tutor’s residence from now on. The courtyard the Marquis’s wife arranged for us before has been cleaned up. These years, we are truly grateful for the Marquis’s wife’s kindness.”

Bai Ruzhu slightly frowned, almost imperceptibly.

For some reason, she sensed a trace of pride and boastfulness in Madam Zhen’s words.

Just as she was about to respond—

Old Madam Song approached and said coldly, “Everyone in the capital knows that the Marquis of Xiangyang’s household has always been extravagant and wasteful. They had money to build a grand theater, but how come they had no money to properly accommodate a lifesaver? I have been to the small courtyard that the Marquis’s wife offered Lady Lu for temporary residence—it was truly shabby. Treating a lifesaver should not be like this.”

Bai Ruzhu’s eyes widened.

How was that courtyard considered small?

It could even house twenty or thirty people.

Why couldn’t Madam Zhen and her son live there?

Moreover, the courtyard had just been renovated, with all the flowers and trees replaced, and the furniture made from exquisite pear blossom wood.

She would never have treated Madam Zhen poorly in this regard.

Hearing Old Madam Song’s words made the Xiangyang Marquis’s household seem stingy.

Suddenly she regretted it.

She regretted bringing a pair of ruby coral gifts to congratulate them.

She originally hoped that the Grand Tutor’s family would support her husband, who was just starting his official career.

But now, with Old Madam Song’s baseless accusations, she thought, forget about seeking favor!

“Also, Miss Lu has reached the marriageable age but still doesn’t have a decent bridal headdress,” Old Madam Song said with a look of concern, pulling Lu Jingxue’s hand gently. “Such a pretty girl should dress up properly every day.”

Lu Jingxue quickly explained, “Old Madam, you misunderstand. The Marquis’s wife did send me several sets of bridal headdresses, but… my cousin’s affair forced me to sell them all, so…”

“Your cousin just made a temporary mistake and went astray; he’s still young and shouldn’t ruin his whole life because of it,” Old Madam Song said. “I will have the master speak up to get him released as soon as possible.”

Madam Zhen could not help but rejoice, “Thank you, Old Madam!”

Lu Jingxue smiled.

Indeed, giving up on the Marquis’s household had been a wise choice.

Bai Ruzhu curled her lips in a smile, “With Old Madam’s care of my sister-in-law’s family, I can rest easy. I hope sister-in-law will live comfortably here.”

She smiled, but as she turned, the smile faded.

Old Madam Song had four sons, all living in the mansion—so many young and vigorous men.

Yet she dared to take in a widow at home.

Madam Zhen had once dreamed of becoming a concubine in the Xiangyang Marquis’s household.

But the Grand Tutor’s residence had a higher threshold. If Madam Zhen stayed here, her restless thoughts would likely…

At that moment, the butler outside loudly announced, “The Fourth Prince is here! The Fifth Prince is here!”

Old Madam Song hurriedly led all the women to greet the two princes, and everyone bowed in unison.

The Fourth Prince smiled gently, saying, “Everyone, please rise. There is no need for such formalities outside the palace.”

Grand Tutor Song smiled and said, “Fourth Prince, Fifth Prince, the seats are ready. Please come this way. Today, this old servant will drink with both of you until we are thoroughly drunk!”

The Fifth Prince followed Grand Tutor Song inside but stopped after a few steps, turning back to see the Fourth Prince still standing still and frowned. “Fourth Brother?”

The Fourth Prince, Ning Ye, glanced among the women.

His gaze fell on Lu Jingxue’s head.

At that moment, Lu Jingxue just happened to look up.

Their eyes met in midair.

Li Zhiyue was stunned.

She had done everything to block this meeting, but she never imagined the male and female leads would still encounter each other.

Once Lu Jingxue married the Fourth Prince Ning Ye, half the main storyline would be completed, then they would climb even higher from the Xiangyang Marquis’s household…

But now, since Furong was long dead, Lu Jingxue had no witnesses or evidence to frame the Marquis’s household.

She could only watch as Ning Ye’s gentle gaze turned to amazement, his eyes seemingly wanting to carve Lu Jingxue’s entire being.

Was this love at first sight?

“Miss Li.”

A voice at her ear snapped her back to reality.

She looked up and saw Cheng Changyan’s face.

Today, he wore not his usual black clothes but a lake-blue long robe, making his appearance even more refined.

She smiled, “Lord Cheng has come as well.”

Cheng Changyan glanced at Ning Ye.

The Fourth Prince was indeed the most outstanding in appearance and talent among all the princes.

Though he already had a main wife, two concubine positions remained vacant.

Many noble families looked down on the concubine status, but all the noble daughters admired the Fourth Prince and were willing to marry even as concubines.

Earlier, Miss Li had been staring at the Fourth Prince in a daze.

Could it be…

Cheng Changyan’s eyes darkened slightly.

“Miss Li,” he said, “That night you asked me three questions. Can you tell me the answers?”

Li Zhiyue was a little confused, “What questions?”

“Palace jade nectar wine.”

“Constant change with odd and even.”

“ID number ending digits?”

Li Zhiyue smiled, “Those are secret codes. As for the answers, there’s no need to tell Lord Cheng.”

Cheng Changyan folded his hands behind his back and slowly said, “It’s from your world…”

Halfway through his words—

Suddenly, a figure rushed over.

“Are you satisfied now! Li Zhiyue! Are you satisfied now?” Jiang Yan angrily approached Li Zhiyue, “I only asked you for a servant—a servant who could change my marriage. Why won’t you help me! Because I failed, my stepmother wants to marry me off to a man in his forties with four sons as a second wife! My life is over! Li Zhiyue, you have made my life miserable!”

Li Zhiyue was shocked again.

In the original story, Jiang Yan had tried to drown the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple, who was the forty-something man with four children!

She thought the Chief Justice had been replaced and Jiang Yan’s scheme had failed, so the plot should have changed.

How come, after all twists and turns, Jiang Yan still marries such a man?

Just like Lu Jingxue and Ning Ye, after all the detours, they still meet and fall in love at first sight…

Could it be that the original storyline is simply impossible to change?