Chapter 138 Who is the princess's lover? ...

Zhao Lan looked at her two daughters and daughter-in-law sitting around her, her eyebrows relaxed, and she took a sip of jujube tea in a good mood.

As long as her children are doing well, that's all that matters.

As for the siblings Shen Mingda and Shen Songyi? Ha, aren't they Shen Hang's children? Whose bloodline they are, they can worry about it themselves.

Every time Shen Hang came to the main courtyard to see her, after only a few words of small talk, he would start subtly hinting to Zhao Lan that she should find a good marriage for Shen Mingda and Shen Songyi.

She's too lazy to even pretend anymore; she just says that her abilities are limited and she's afraid she can't satisfy Aunt Liu, so let her choose for herself.

Zhao Lan didn't forget to remind Shen Hang: "Didn't that Taoist priest say that our second young lady has the destiny of a phoenix, and her nobility is beyond words? How can a mere mortal like me arbitrarily manipulate the marriage of such a noble person?"

She shook her head as she spoke, "Has the master forgotten when he was bedridden for a month and could barely speak? I don't want to end up like that."

Although Zhao Lan "generously" allowed Aunt Liu to go out and look for husbands for her children, how many respectable wives would be willing to lower themselves to associate with concubines?

Aunt Liu did go out a few times, but the families she befriended were not as good as the Shen family. They all had the intention of currying favor with the Shen family, and she didn't take a liking to any of them.

Having exhausted all other options, Shen Hang had no choice but to take matters into his own hands and start targeting his colleagues in the court. He would frequently wander into various government departments and offices, inquiring about whether people had any unmarried children.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lingyue sighed and hugged Shen Yuanjia's arm, "Father is so good to Second Sister, it makes us seem like we're the ones born out of wedlock."

Shen Yuanjia patted her back and coaxed, "So what? The more Father tries to do this, the more it confirms that he favors his concubine's daughter and is out of his mind. What mistress would want to marry such a daughter-in-law?"

It has to be said that Aunt Liu was too picky and had really bad luck.

She had previously wanted Shen Songyi to marry into a high-ranking family, but just then Emperor Qingxi began to investigate nobles and rectify the imperial clan.

Shen Yuanjia asked Zhao Lan, "Mother, I remember she had her eye on the Dongxiang Marquis's Mansion and the Chunjun Prince's Mansion before, but one was stripped of its title and its property confiscated, and the other caused a fratricidal conflict, becoming the laughing stock of the entire capital."

Zhao Lan curled her lips slightly, "Isn't that right? I even suspect that her precious daughter is a jinx reincarnated. How come whoever she targets becomes unlucky?"

Shen Lingyue: ...

Oh no, am I the jinx?

If she remembers correctly, both of these companies were ruined by her meddling in their affairs...

Shen Lingyue nervously fiddled with her fingers, then turned her head and met Sang Wenyuan's gaze.

...I almost forgot, she also played a part in the downfall of the Marquis of Dongxiang's mansion. ^_^

Sang Wenyuan winked at her and whispered, "I heard that Aunt Liu has recently set her sights on Lord Qi of the Imperial Household Department again. But I heard my mother say that when Lord Qi first passed the imperial examination, my father arranged for him to come to our house for a consultation, but it didn't work out in the end."

Shen Lingyue nodded, "That's right. Back then, Aunt Liu and Shen Songyi looked down on Qi Xiuyuan because they thought he was poor, an orphan and a widow, and had no support in the capital. They thought he wouldn't get ahead even after ten or eight years..."

Is it because he sees Xiao Qi becoming successful that he wants to go back to his ex?

She shook her head. "Unfortunately, it's too late."

At that time, Qi Xiuyuan had not yet fallen in love with Jiang Yunlin. If Shen Songyi had really agreed to marry him, as long as she did not cause trouble after the marriage, he could still praise them as a perfect match.

“Yes, it’s too late.” Sang Wenyuan nodded in agreement, lowering her voice even further: “I heard that the reason he was promoted so quickly is because he… became Princess Lekang’s lover.”

Shen Lingyue: ...? ? ?

She stared in shock, her eyes wide.

Wait, there's some new gossip in the capital that she doesn't know about?

And doesn't this seem a bit off?

Sang Wenyuan thought she didn't know, so she became even more eager to share: "It's true, I heard it from my second aunt's cousin's niece-in-law when I went back to my parents' home last time. Her family lives on the back street of Princess Lekang's mansion, and she has seen Qi Xiuyuan entering and leaving the mansion through the side gate several times, and it was always late at night..."

Shen Lingyue's gaze was blank.

Putting aside why Qi Xiuyuan was coming and going from the princess's residence late at night, isn't this second aunt's cousin's niece-in-law a bit too idle?

Sang Wenyuan was still sighing, "I had only ever heard that Princess Lekang was gentle and quiet, but I never expected her to be so open-minded even after marriage. She's a princess, after all."

It's a shame for the third-ranked scholar, who is the dream of countless young women in the capital, but now he can only serve the princess alongside others.

Shen Lingyue was both amused and exasperated.

Forget it, for the three of you to live your lives well is more important than anything else...

The two women, aunt and sister-in-law, were cricketing quietly when Zhao Lan suddenly called out Shen Lingyue's name.

"You and the Crown Prince's wife used to be inseparable, why did you come back alone today?"

Shen Lingyue blinked. "Can I say this?"

My own mother, sister, and sister-in-law—they shouldn't be considered outsiders, right?

She thought for a moment, then shrugged and said truthfully, "My sister-in-law is pregnant, but not yet full-term. It was Physician Wen who diagnosed her. He was worried that she had been frightened during the palace coup, so he made her rest in bed for a few days." Zhao Lan paused, then sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You two got married on the same day, and now she's pregnant. What about you?"

In the past two years, every time Shen Lingyue returned to her parents' home, Zhao Lan would nag her for a long time, but she would always let it go in one ear and out the other, or she would pretend to be stupid and change the subject.

Zhao Lan was at her wit's end and could only secretly burn incense and pray to Buddha, hoping that her daughter would have good news soon.

"It was fine before that neither of you got pregnant, and the eldest brother didn't laugh at the second brother. If the Marquis's mansion was worried, we would be worried together. But now? Everyone else is pregnant. What are you going to do?"

Zhao Lan looked puzzled. The young couple had a good relationship and were as sweet as newlyweds even after several years of marriage. Why couldn't they get pregnant?

Whose problem is it, really?

Shen Lingyue certainly wouldn't dare say that she and Pei Jinghuai had been using protection... Such words couldn't be heard by the elders; it would be utterly "outrageous."

She could only raise her hands in surrender, "I've already tried my best! I'll definitely succeed this year, within this year!"

After saying that, she ran to Sang Wenyuan's side, carefully touched her belly, and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, can I borrow some of your pregnancy luck?"

Sang Wenyuan generously offered to join them, and then advised Zhao Lan to calm down, "Since my younger sister entered the family, the Pei family has been thriving, and my brother-in-law has also obtained a proper official position. It's all thanks to her. Why would they make things difficult for her?"

Shen Lingyue, hiding behind her, chimed in, "That's right! Now everyone in the Marquis's mansion is completely under my and my sister-in-law's thumb. Even our most difficult little sister-in-law has changed her ways!"

Shen Yuanjia chimed in, "Look at how rosy and energetic my little sister is, you can tell she's doing well in the Pei family, there's no need to worry."

Zhao Lan feigned displeasure, "So you guys are all in cahoots, and I'm the only bad guy, okay?"

"No, you're just worried about me."

Shen Lingyue went up to her and comforted her for a long time, massaging her shoulders and legs. Then Shen Yuanjia and Sang Wenyuan took turns praising their mother/mother-in-law with a lot of nice words. Finally, Zhao Lan smiled and patted each of them on the head.

"As long as you are all well, I'm willing to do anything."

...

The Shen family prepared the banquet very well. Zhao Lan would never offend Shen Hang in these matters. In the eyes of outsiders, the two were a typical model couple, praised by everyone.

Shen Yuanjia and Shen Lingyue came back to help, sharing some of the work of entertaining guests, and allowing Sang Wenyuan to rest a little longer.

Then Shen Songyi came over silently, her face full of resentment: "Eldest sister, little sister, what are you whispering about? Are you ganging up on me to isolate me?"

A lady passing by immediately stopped and pretended to admire the bare branches in front of her.

In reality, her ears were stretched out very far, and her eyes darted back and forth between the three sisters, her face full of excitement at the prospect of a good show.

Oh my, so it turns out that Minister Shen's family also has its share of drama and discord between legitimate and illegitimate children.

Shen Yuanjia's hands, hidden under his sleeves, clenched involuntarily.

Why is Shen Songyi pulling this stunt again?

Does she really want to make a fool of herself in front of outsiders?

She held back for a moment, then forced a smile: "Second sister, you misunderstand. I was just telling my younger sister about some symptoms of pregnancy. You are still an unmarried girl, so you shouldn't listen to these things."

This reason was flawless; even Shen Songyi couldn't find fault with it.

She looked at Shen Lingyue with resentment, her tone tinged with bitterness: "Third sister, are you already pregnant?"

Shen Lingyue shook her head, "No, that's why I asked my older sister for advice."

Shen Songyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, glanced quickly at Shen Yuanjia, and whispered, "Your older sister has no experience in having a son to share with you..."

"you--"

Even with her good temper, Shen Yuanjia couldn't tolerate her repeated provocations, especially since Shen Songyi deliberately stabbed her in the back.

"Second sister, what did you just say?"

Shen Lingyue stood in the middle, frantically trying to wink at Shen Yuanjia, then turned around and asked with a smile, "I didn't hear you clearly, could you say it again louder?"

The lady dawdling beside her, unwilling to leave, said: "Yes, yes, I didn't hear you clearly either!"

Shen Songyi certainly didn't dare say it again, because even if Shen Hang heard it, he would scold her for being unruly.

She immediately changed her expression and said softly, "I didn't say anything. I just envy your sisterly relationship, which has been like this since you were little."

"Because my older sister doesn't hold a grudge against me and is willing to play with me."

Shen Lingyue looked at her seriously, "Second sister, hasn't Father arranged a marriage for you yet? You're only a few months older than me, and I've been married for almost three years. If you keep delaying, are you going to wait until the next year's list of successful candidates to find a husband?"

Shen Songyi bit her lip hard and turned her head away angrily.

"Second sister, I advise you to keep a low profile for a while."

Watching the lady being "invited" into the inner courtyard by the Shen family's maids, Shen Lingyue lowered her voice and said, "It's difficult to arrange a marriage, but isn't it easy to sabotage it?"

With no outsiders present, Shen Songyi dropped the pretense, her face darkening. "Are you threatening me?"

“That’s right.” Shen Lingyue nodded generously. “If you don’t believe me, try it and see if I have the ability.”

As long as Aunt Liu and her daughter behaved themselves and didn't cause any trouble, Zhao Lan wouldn't bother with them.

However, Shen Songyi herself was all talk and no action, and she provoked her older sister like a fighting cock, which angered her.

Shen Lingyue could no longer tolerate it.

After uttering a harsh remark, she pulled Shen Yuanjia away, saying, "Big sister, let's go over there."

Shen Songyi stared at the two people's backs, her eyes growing increasingly gloomy, and she clenched her fists in resentment.

If it weren't for the imperial decree granting her marriage, how could Shen Lingyue have such a good life today?

Now even her playboy husband has become a palace guard and a confidant of the emperor.

So close... so close, all of these would have been hers.

Shen Songyi couldn't understand it. She had clearly seen Shen Lingyue drink that cup of tea with her own eyes and heard several doctors say that she couldn't be saved.

But how come she's so resilient? She actually pulled through again on her own.

Shen Songyi turned around and walked back with a heavy heart, bumping into Shen Mingda halfway there.

She rubbed her forehead in annoyance. "Don't you have eyes? How could you bump into me on such a wide road?"

Shen Mingda didn't talk back after she yelled at him. He just frowned as if he had suffered a great injustice and ran out without looking back.

Shen Songyi got even angrier and went back to Aunt Liu's room to complain, "My second brother bullied me!"

Aunt Liu's face darkened further. She remained silent, her entire being radiating displeasure.

Shen Songyi belatedly realized what was wrong, and her voice weakened, "Auntie, what's wrong?"

After a long while, she finally heard Aunt Liu squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "...Your second brother has gone mad! He's the son of a second-rank official! How could he be so out of his mind to become someone's son-in-law!"

-----------------------

Author's Note: I thought I'd be out of time today and wouldn't make it, but it ended early 0-0 I quickly came back and wrote a short chapter [Let me see].