Two days after Shen Muyu was imprisoned, the old woman guarding her came cautiously to report that the young lady refused to eat and was threatening to go on a hunger strike.

Shen Mingjiang gritted his teeth upon hearing this: "If she doesn't want to eat, then let her go hungry. She won't starve to death in two or three days. Let her go hungry, and there's no need to report it again!"

Fang, who was standing next to him, hesitated, wanting to say something but afraid of offending him, and in the end she didn't speak.

Finally, Shen Youying took the initiative and said, "Father, I'll go see my eldest sister."

Shen Mingjiang frowned: "Why are you going to see her? She did something wrong and dragged her whole family down with her. It's one thing if she doesn't reflect on her mistakes and feel guilty, but now she even has the nerve to threaten us with a hunger strike. I want to see how long she can keep up this tough act."

“I also have something I want to say to my older sister, maybe I can persuade her again,” Shen Youying said.

Shen Mingjiang pondered for a moment, then sighed heavily and finally relented: "If you want to go see her, then go ahead. Whether she listens or not is her own business. Don't take your sister's hurtful words to heart."

Shen Youying agreed and went to the kitchen first to get a few side dishes suitable for pregnant women, which she then packed in a food box before visiting Shen Muyu.

The old woman guarding the gate saw her coming and asked what was wrong before letting her through.

Shen Youying entered the inner room and saw Shen Muyu lying motionless on the chaise longue. When she saw Shen Youying enter, her eyes moved slightly, and she said weakly, "What are you doing here? Are you here to laugh at me?"

Shen Youying placed the food box aside and was about to set out the food she had brought when she suddenly noticed some pastry crumbs that had fallen beside the chaise lounge.

Her gaze immediately froze, slowly moving upwards to observe Shen Muyu's face carefully. Although she lay on the couch looking listless and her voice sounded weak, upon closer inspection, her complexion was rosy and her eyes were bright, unlike someone who was on a hunger strike.

Indeed, Shen Muyu is currently pregnant. Since she hopes to use this child to secure Prince Chen's favor, how could she bear to actually starve herself and harm the fetus?

Shen Youying felt a chill in her heart. She paused in setting out the dishes, slowly straightened up, and stared at her intently: "Because of what happened to you, Father hasn't slept much these past two days. I noticed at lunch today that there were a few more clumps of white hair at his temples."

Shen Muyu lowered her eyes and did not respond.

Shen Youying took a deep breath, feeling increasingly disappointed and sad for her father.

"You always say that your father is biased, but it's only because I lost my mother early and I was afraid that my mother would be too tired to take care of you and my second brother, so I put in extra effort to take care of me. When we were little, we were riding horses together, and your father prepared two identical foals and patiently taught us. But you complained that riding horses was too dirty and tiring, and after a few days you refused to learn anymore; a while ago, you saw your father braiding my hair and you also clamored for your father to braid yours. But you didn't know that your father's hands were used to holding swords and guns and he had no idea how to braid hair. That day, your father spent a lot of effort to braid your hair, but you thought it was ugly and turned around and asked Liu Mama to take it down and redo it..."

“There are many more things like this, you may remember them or you may forget them. But your father’s care and love for you is no less than mine, but you never seem to see it.”

Shen Muyu bit her lip, her Adam's apple bobbing, wanting to refute, but unable to find the right words.

He could only listen to Shen Youying continue, "Your father cares about you and loves you because of your relationship with Prince Chen. He is saddened by your misfortune and angry at your lack of self-control, which is why he got so angry and tried so hard to stop you. If Father really didn't love you as you say, he could have ignored you and let you jump into whichever fire pit you want, and it would have been none of his business whether you lived or died."

"You dare to threaten to go on a hunger strike now, but it's only because you know deep down that your father can't bear to do it and will eventually soften his heart."

Shen Youying looked at her with knowing eyes, as if she wanted to delve into Shen Muyu's heart and see through all her despicable schemes.

Shen Muyu didn't dare to meet her gaze and awkwardly turned her head away.

"Think about it carefully yourself." Shen Youying had already said what she wanted to say, and there was nothing more to say to her. She picked up the unopened food box and stood up: "You probably don't need the food I brought, so I won't keep it."

She picked up the food box and turned to leave.

After Shen Muyu and the others left, he suddenly sat up, breathing heavily.

The words Shen Youying said kept swirling in her mind, making her start to doubt for a moment whether she was really so despicable and selfish.

What she held onto with gritted teeth was beginning to waver.

But then she touched her lower abdomen and remembered what her father had said. The wavering in her eyes crumbled again, and she became even more determined.

She absolutely does not want to stay at home as an old maid.

Absolutely not.

*

The marriage proposal from Prince Chen's residence arrived early on the fourth day.

The person who arrived was the Chief Secretary of the Prince Chen's Mansion, a middle-ranking official surnamed Zhou.

Accompanying Eunuch Zhou on his visit came a betrothal gift carried in twenty-eight loads.

Twenty-eight loads of betrothal gifts may not seem like much, but for a concubine, it was already considered a great favor.

Eunuch Zhou arrived with great courtesy, but was not even allowed to enter the gate. Shen Mingjiang stood at the door like a gatekeeper, holding a long spear, and coldly looked at him: "Go back and tell Prince Chen that my daughter, Shen family's daughter, will stay at home and not marry, but will not become Prince Chen's concubine."

Eunuch Zhou, clearly prepared, tucked his hands into his sleeves and advised, "His Highness Prince Chen sincerely seeks to marry the young lady. The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are in love, so why should Master Shen act like the wicked Queen Mother who tears apart lovers?"

"Who's going to be your matchmaker? If you don't take your things and get out of here, don't blame me for being impolite!" Shen Mingjiang said with disgust, throwing his spear swiftly and accurately into the ground a foot away from Eunuch Zhou's feet.

Because of the excessive force, the spearhead was deeply embedded in the soil, while the exposed shaft continued to vibrate and hum.

Eunuch Zhou was startled and took two steps back. His expression turned cold, and he said in a shrill voice, "Master Shen, have you thought this through? Prince Chen is sincerely asking for your hand in marriage. If you refuse, you'll miss this opportunity."

"roll!"

Shen Mingjiang, too lazy to waste words with him, rudely dismissed him and turned to return home. But as soon as the gate opened, Madam Fang came crying and pleading, "Master, Master, please go and see! Mu Yu... Mu Yu..."

She couldn't continue speaking, covered her face and started crying. If it weren't for Liu's mother supporting her, she would have almost lost her balance and fallen.

"What exactly happened?" Shen Mingjiang's eyelids twitched. Seeing that she could barely speak, he looked at Liu Mama with his fierce eyes.

Mother Liu trembled and said, "The eldest daughter couldn't think straight and hanged herself..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingjiang dared not delay any longer and hurried to his eldest daughter's courtyard: "Explain clearly! Has the person been rescued?"

"She's been rescued. The old woman guarding the gate heard the commotion and went inside. But the young lady is making a scene right now," Liu's mother replied quickly.

Supported by her, Fang glanced back discreetly and, seeing that the people from the Chen Prince's residence had not yet left, gave a wink to the maid beside her.

The maid understood and quietly left the group, heading towards the gate.

She had to follow her mistress's instructions and try to keep the people from the Prince Chen's residence a little longer.