Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Is this the girl that Shen Jingzhan has been delighted with for many years? ...

Noticing her mother-in-law's unhappy look, Zhu Yinluan said nothing.

Pang's dissatisfaction with her did not happen overnight, but accumulated over the years. How could she ease his dissatisfaction and please her with just a few words?

The more you talk, the more mistakes you make. So just don’t say anything.

She also knew very well why Pang Shi disliked her more and more. The first reason was that she couldn't give birth to a child. As for the second reason... her background was not good enough.

When the Wei family fell into decline, she had just married into the family and Pang Shi had not yet made so many complaints.

Because she did a lot of things, especially after taking over the Wei family, she had been in charge of all matters inside and outside the family. She tried her best to do everything well, leaving Pang Shi with no reason to scold her. Even today, she is still working so hard in managing the Wei family.

But as Wei Ruzhuo was promoted to a more prominent position, he became more and more dazzling, and she seemed insignificant beside him.

Pang Shi felt more and more that she, who was born a concubine and could not give birth to children, was not worthy of her son.

Zhu Yinluan thought of what she saw at the door: the previous plaque that had been replaced was replaced because it was not bright enough and lowered the status of the Wei family, so Pang had it replaced.

Thinking of Wei Ruzhuo's coldness and impatience, Zhu Yinluan didn't know whether she would be replaced like that plaque in the future.

What should she do then?

Zhu Yinluan didn’t know.

While he was distracted, Pang Shi talked a lot to Fang Zhongyue.

She liked Fang Zhongyue very much. Even though Fang Zhongyue was just a slave, Fang Zhongyue's mother worked in the Shen family and was a manager, which meant she had a say and real power.

In the capital city where there is a clear distinction between high and low, being a maid for a wealthy family is even better than being treated like many other people. After all, there is a saying that goes, when beating a dog, you have to look at its owner first.

In order to gain access to the Shen family, get to know the Shen family members, and pave the way for Wei Ruzhuo's social connections in the future, Pang Shi asked Fang Zhongyue a lot of questions about the Shen family.

She said she didn't know much about the Shen family, but she knew a lot about the Shen family's preferences from her mother.

Madam Pang asked her to speak quickly, "Prince Shen is in charge of the Minister of the Central Secretariat, and he is the Lord of the Central Secretariat. Zhuo'er's promotion must be in his hands. When you visit the Shen family to ask for favors in the future, the preferences of the Shen family masters will be of great importance."

"Whatever Madam wants to know, I will tell you everything I know." Fang Zhongyue said softly.

Zhu Yinluan was standing nearby and was also forced to listen to a lot.

When Fang Zhongyue said this, he glanced at her. Her attention was slightly distracted, and it was unknown whether she had found anything.

Pang was very happy. She stroked Fang Zhongyue's face and patted her hand. "What do you mean by slave or not? You are also a member of our Wei family now. You don't need to lower yourself so much."

Fang Zhongyue, however, was very polite and said, "Thanks to the young lady and the lady for their support, Zhongyue will never forget her roots."

Ponzi was even more satisfied.

"The Shen family has many branches, but only the eldest branch lives in the Marquis' Mansion."

"The Marquis, the Marquis's wife, the old lady, and several concubines. In addition, there is Master Shen and his sister."

"I heard that Lord Zhaoping has many descendants?"

"Yes, Prince Shen is the eldest son and has inherited the title since birth. The rest of the second sons and concubines have almost all started families."

"Since everyone has a family, why hasn't Master Shen gotten married yet?" Pang asked thoughtfully.

I thought Fang Zhongyue was just the daughter of a servant who didn't know anything, but she actually lowered her voice and said, "Mother heard that it was because the emperor was afraid of the powerful ministers forming a group, so the marriage of Master Shen was delayed until today."

While Pang was surprised, her mind started to race, and she couldn't help but feel regretful in her heart. If her daughter hadn't gotten married yet, and the Wei family's status had risen in a few more years, maybe... she could have been able to join the Shen family?

There was no point in feeling sorry for her, as both of her daughters were married.

Fortunately, both of them married well. Although the elder Wei Qingsi always complained to her last time that her mother-in-law was too critical, they could still get by despite the quarrels.

"According to what you said, it is very likely that Prince Shen will choose a woman from a small family as his wife?"

"I just heard my mother talking about it, I don't know the specific reason."

Fang Zhongyue glanced at Zhu Yinluan again, wondering if she had taken his words to heart.

"I didn't expect that this noble family also has its own worries."

"You can't marry a woman from a high-class family. Maybe the emperor intends to marry the princess to Shen Shizi? If he doesn't have this intention, why has he valued the Shen family so much over the years?"

Pang Shi mentioned Princess Feng'an again. After all, this princess was very much loved by the emperor. In addition, she had expressed her feelings to Shen Jingzhan at the imperial banquet, but unfortunately she was ignored by Shen Jingzhan and even reprimanded by the empress dowager.

"Madam, you don't know that Prince Shen once made it clear to Madam Shen that he didn't like Princess Feng'an. He looked disgusted when he mentioned her."

"Really?" Pang Zi asked curiously.

Fang Zhongyue looked at Zhu Yinluan again.

This time, Zhu Yinluan felt her gaze and raised her eyes to meet Fang Zhongyue's.

In fact, Fang Zhongyue’s frequent attention had already been noticed by Zhu Yinluan.

She just didn't understand why Fang Zhongyue looked over here so often.

If it was to show in front of her, the legal wife, that she was favored by the Pang family, it didn't seem like that, because Fang Zhongyue's expression and eyes did not show any flattery or servility.

She was more like... paying attention to whether she listened.

So strange.

So this time Zhu Yinluan looked up at her, wanting to know what she was going to do?

But Fang Zhongyue just glanced at him, then looked away and continued talking to Pang Shi.

"I didn't expect that Prince Shen actually dislikes Princess Feng'an. Although this princess is domineering and unruly, she is still a member of the royal family and the emperor's beloved daughter."

Fang Zhongyue just smiled and said, "Prince Shen is a rare talent, why does he need Princess Shang to add to his glory?"

Pang Shi was not angry at being refuted, "You are right. The Shen family is such a prominent family. The day when Prince Shen was born, he was destined to inherit the title. Even without the support of his family, he has now climbed to the position of Minister of the Central Secretariat with his talent and knowledge. I heard that he is also in charge of the Imperial Censorate?"

Madam Pang sighed repeatedly, "I wonder when Zhuo will be able to sit in such a position as Master Shen, making our Wei family glorious and becoming one of the most powerful families in the capital."

"My lord, you have been promoted repeatedly. Are you still worried about your future?" Fang Zhongyue said a lot of nice things to coax Pang Shi, and Pang Shi smiled brightly.

After a while, the topic came back again.

"Prince Shen has never married. I wonder which girl he will fall in love with?" Pang Shi hesitated, wondering which girl was so lucky.

"My mother served Old Madam Shen for a few days and heard that the reason why Master Shen didn't marry was because he already had a girl in his heart that he had been happy with for many years."

"A girl who has been happy for many years?" Pang Shi was shocked. "Have you heard who she is from?"

After Pang Shi asked this question, Fang Zhongyue looked over again.

Zhu Yinluan found her incomprehensible.

Isn’t she the girl that Shen Jingzhan has been in love with for many years?

Why look at her?

Could it be that the girl that Shen Jingzhan likes is her? How is this possible?

She didn’t know Shen Jingzhan.

No, although I know Shen Jingzhan, I can’t say that I know him. I just met him a few times.

There are so many noble ladies in the capital, and there are probably even more who are willing to throw themselves at him. Shen Jingzhan was polite and distant, so he must have forgotten who she was.

Fang Zhongyue's gaze was noticed by Pang Shi, who was curious and asked her why she was looking at Zhu Yinluan.

"Could it be someone from the Zhu family?" No, she overturned it herself after she said this.

Lord Zhu does not have many children, only two daughters and one son. Both daughters are married, and Zhu Mingsheng also has a daughter he has engaged this year. How could she be a member of the Zhu family?

But the Zhu family has many side branches, who knows?

Pang was just about to ask Zhu Yinluan whether there was any unmarried girl in the Zhu family who was waiting to be married.

Fang Zhongyue smiled and said first, "Mother Zhongyue doesn't know what kind of person she is, but Zhongyue thinks that if the prince has loved her for so many years and never forgets her, she must be as beautiful as the young lady."

The sudden boasting left Pang Shi and Zhu Yinluan confused.

Especially when Zhu Yinluan saw the look in Fang Zhongyue's eyes.

She always felt that the other party had deeper meaning behind his words, and that it was not just a simple compliment to her.

Pang Shi sneered, "What's the use of having beauty? You still can't have children."

Fang Zhongyue coaxed Pang Shi, holding Zhu Yinluan in her arms, "Young Madam has been managing the Wei family for many years, and it's been very hard. Maybe it's because the housekeeper is too tired and hurts her body."

Speaking of children, Pang Shi waved her hand and Fang Zhongyue didn't say anything else.

However, Pang said to Zhu Yinluan, "If you can't take care of the family affairs in the future, let Zhongyue help."

This sentence seems to be considerate, but in fact it is about decentralization.

Zhu Yinluan was not dissatisfied and smiled faintly, "The daughter-in-law listens to the mother-in-law's orders."

I thought Zhu Yinluan would argue, but I didn't expect her to just agree, which made people angry but couldn't find any fault with her.

Later, Fang Zhongyue told Pang Shi a lot about the likes and dislikes of the nobles of the Shen family. Even Zhu Yinluan, who was standing nearby, heard it and was forced to learn about the likes and dislikes of many of the eldest branch of the Shen family.

Apart from Prince Shen, Fang Zhongyue said that he did not often return to the Marquis' Mansion and he had his own mansion outside, so no one knew.

When she said this, Fang Zhongyue looked over again. Although it was very covert, Zhu Yinluan caught it. She didn't know what she meant by that, and she didn't bother to care.

“…”

Pang Shi was tired from shopping and wanted to go back to Tingyu Pavilion, so Fang Zhongyue and Zhu Yinluan sent her back.

She kept Fang Zhongyue, but asked Zhu Yinluan to do the work, saying that she did not go home yesterday and had a lot of housework piled up.

Without having to see Pang Shi's sour face, Zhu Yinluan was naturally happy to leave.

But Mingya couldn't help nagging in her ear, saying that Fang Zhongyue was very scheming. He acted innocent and simple in front of her, but turned his back and tried to please Wei Ruzhuo and Pang Shi. Today she got the job of housekeeper. What would happen if she got pregnant and gave birth to a child in the future?

"Miss, aren't you going to do anything about it?" Mingya was too worried that Fang Zhongyue would step on Zhu Yinluan's face and bully her.

"Forget it, let's talk about it later." Zhu Yinluan shook his head.

She didn't know what Fang Zhongyue was up to, but she always felt that she wouldn't... harm her.