Originally, the couple should have returned to their parents' home in three days, but Shen Yunjin's pregnancy seemed unstable and she needed to rest in bed, so it was delayed until now.

Shen Yunjin returned to the General's Mansion in a grand procession, accompanied by the Crown Prince's entourage of hundreds of people and several carts laden with gifts for the bride's return. Xiao Yuncheng accompanied her, giving the General's Mansion ample respect.

However, Shen Wei claimed to be ill and did not personally go to the gate of the mansion to greet him.

He wasn't faking illness; he had genuinely broken two ribs and could only rest in bed.

Shen Yunjin climbed out of the carriage and looked down at the people standing outside the mansion gate to greet her. Seeing that her father was not among them, Shen Yunjin pursed her lips.

Even after all this time, her father still refuses to forgive her...

She was already the de facto Crown Princess, bringing glory to the Shen family. Why couldn't Shen Wei accept it?

Is he really that unable to bear seeing his daughter living a good life?

Seeing that Shen Yunjin was somewhat unhappy, Madam Jiang quickly stepped forward and said, "Jin... Your subject greets the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!"

As she spoke, Madam Jiang knelt down and bowed.

Shen Yunjin stood on the carriage, her gaze falling indifferently on Jiang Shi, without stopping her.

The people from the General's Mansion followed behind Madam Jiang, kneeling on the ground and shouting, "Greetings to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!"

Hearing the clear and resounding voice, Shen Yunjin's gloom vanished. She smiled and looked at Shen Yuan kneeling in the crowd with satisfaction.

Shen Yuan, that bitch, always looked down on her whenever she saw her.

Now, don't you have to kneel down and greet her?

Shen Yunjin slightly raised her chin.

The feeling of everyone having to kneel down and submit to her is just so exhilarating!

Shen Yunjin raised her hand, her fingertips stained with bright red nail polish pointing at Shen Yuan, and commanded, "Come and help me."

Shen Yuan looked up at Shen Yunjin, somewhat speechless.

Why does this eldest daughter of the Shen family look like a little chick who's picked up a bunch of peacock feathers and stuck them on its own chicken's rear end? She's all smiles and smugness.

They can't hold their breath at all.

Shen Yuan shook her head inwardly, stepped forward without showing any emotion, and extended her arm: "This humble woman helps the Crown Princess dismount."

However, Shen Yunjin did not extend her hand.

She glanced haughtily at Shen Yuan, then said, "How can I dismount without a stool? Why don't you be my stool, elder sister!"

Shen Yuan's lips twitched slightly. The way Shen Yunjin thought of to humiliate someone was to make her sit on a horse bench.

She really is just like Xiao Yunyan.

No wonder people always say that birds of a feather flock together; Shen Yunjin really should marry Xiao Yuncheng.

Seeing that Shen Yuan did not move, Shen Yunjin said angrily, "Are you deaf? Can't you hear me?"

Shen Yuan bowed slightly: "The Crown Princess asked me to sit on the horse stool, and I will obey. However, my back is neither as flat nor as sturdy as the stool."

"The Crown Princess is currently six months pregnant, and her health is extremely precious. She cannot afford any mishaps. If she were to slip and fall while stepping on me, resulting in the premature death of her unborn child, even if I were to give my life as compensation, it would be of no use!"

"Moreover, I am the Crown Princess's own elder sister. Even if I don't mind stepping on my own sister's body to dismount, what will the common people passing by outside the mansion and the families of officials in the capital think of the Crown Princess?"

"I am worried that this matter will damage the Crown Princess's reputation. I urge the Crown Princess to consider this carefully!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjin frowned. What did she mean by worrying about her unborn child and her reputation? She suspected that Shen Yuan simply refused to kneel down and serve as a horse stool for her!

She refuses? Today, she'll dismount by stepping on Shen Yuan's back.

Shen Yunjin smiled sweetly at Shen Yuan: "It was clearly my sister who volunteered to be the stool I had to step on when I dismounted so that I could get off the horse. If word got out, people would just say that we have a deep sisterly bond."

"As for being afraid that I might slip and fall? If you sincerely wanted to help me dismount, why would you cause me to fall and injure the child in my womb?"

The implication was that if she fell, it must have been intentional on Shen Yuan's part.

Although Shen Yunjin didn't say it explicitly, Shen Yuan understood what she meant.

This Shen Yunjin is just as insidious as Jiang Shi!

Having said all that, if Shen Yuan didn't kneel down and serve as a stool for Shen Yunjin, she would be considered impolite and insincere. However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Shen Yuan remained upright.

Seeing that Shen Yuan did not move, Shen Yunjin let out a cold snort. Just as she was about to continue to make things difficult for her, she heard Shen Yuan speak up: "This humble woman is not only the eldest daughter of the General's Mansion, but also the ninth-rank Lady Shen, personally bestowed by the Emperor. In terms of rank, I am indeed inferior to the Crown Princess, but there is no reason for a court lady to be used as a bench! I beg the Crown Princess to rescind her order!"

"Madam?"

Shen Yunjin was taken aback. She frowned in disbelief, but Shen Yuan looked completely at ease and didn't seem to be lying.

Moreover, Shen Yuan probably wouldn't dare to lie about something like this.

She wasn't a commoner?

Just then, Xiao Yuncheng stepped down from the carriage behind them. He glanced at Shen Yunjin and Shen Yuan casually and urged, "Why aren't you getting down yet?"

Upon seeing Xiao Yuncheng, Shen Yunjin lost all interest in making things difficult for Shen Yuan. She hurriedly got off the carriage, moved closer to Xiao Yuncheng, and took his arm.

The two entered the general's mansion and were led to the study by the steward.

Shen Yunjin pushed open the study door, rushed to the bedside, and tears welled up in her eyes as if she had prepared them in advance: "Father! Your daughter has come to see you. How are you hurt? Your daughter is unfilial for not being able to take care of you while you are ill!"

Shen Wei used to love his daughter Shen Yunjin the most.

Because Jiang's first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, he poured all his love and guilt into Shen Yunjin. When she was born, he took a month's leave to personally care for her.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!