On the way to Beijing, Shen Manman told her a lot about the Shen family and the capital.

According to Shen Manman, Shen Zhiyan was the most favored in the family. Both the Marquis of Dingguo and the Empress Dowager Shen doted on him.

In addition to his background, appearance, and talent, even if he were to remarry, he could easily be matched with a high-born noblewoman or a princess who had just come of age.

Even if we had to consider Shen Manman's feelings, we could find someone older, or even some well-bred young ladies from prominent families who, for various reasons, were still in their early twenties.

But Shen Zhiyan chose her.

She came from a poor family and was even divorced and forced to raise two children.

I believe that Empress Dowager Shen must have been devastated after learning about this.

She must have been thinking that her younger brother, as beautiful as a piece of jade, had been taken by a wild boar that ate weeds in the countryside!

Empress Dowager Shen continued, "But later, I learned why he liked you."

"You are intelligent and capable, and even after becoming wealthy, you never forget your roots. You support your brothers, help your neighbors, and contribute to the prosperity of the surrounding villages."

"You discovered cassava, which solved the famine and turmoil in half of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Although you had the selfish motive of seeking the protection of the imperial court, building bridges and paving roads was entirely a righteous act."

"With both personal interests and a sense of righteousness, I hold you in even higher regard. It is truly rare for a mere village woman to possess such courage and magnanimity."

"I know how difficult it is for a woman to climb up the social ladder in this world. Not to mention you, even I, with my noble birth, have to proceed with caution at every step. How much more so for you."

As she spoke, Empress Dowager Shen looked at her and smiled slightly: "Ye Caiping, I admire you."

Ye Caiping looked at her, her heart trembling slightly.

In this era, to receive understanding and appreciation from fellow women, Ye Caiping couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat.

"Come sit here."

Upon hearing this, Ye Caiping walked over to Empress Dowager Shen and sat down on an embroidered stool next to her.

Empress Dowager Shen looked at Ye Caiping, gently stroking her eyebrows with her slender fingers, and chuckled softly:

"Although I am far away, I have watched you work hard step by step, and I have also watched you two come together. Later, I also fell in love with you."

"And you are indeed beautiful and charming, and share his interests."

Ye Caiping's eyes reddened, and she chuckled softly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Shen held her hand: "Once you enter the Shen family, you will definitely face some gossip. But you only need to remember two things."

Those at the bottom need the support of those above. Those in high positions also need the support of those at the bottom. Just like fish and water, neither is more noble than the other.

"Your ability to stand before me is a testament to your skill. Your achievements and wealth today are the result of your intelligence and hard work. Never underestimate yourself."

Ye Caiping nodded emphatically: "Your subject will humbly obey your instructions."

She certainly wouldn't underestimate herself, and now that the Empress Dowager had spoken to her, she felt even more confident.

The two then talked about some other things.

Ye Caiping sighed inwardly, "As expected of the woman who stands at the pinnacle of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Empress Dowager's breadth of vision and ideas are different from other women."

Empress Dowager Shen was also surprised by Ye Caiping's unconventional thinking, which was different from those of noble ladies or rural women, and she had a kind of open-mindedness.

After a while, Shen Zhiyan returned carrying the little emperor.

Next, Madam Shen and Madam Hou, along with three maids, came to pay their respects.

The room was filled with lively chatter.

After lunch, before leaving, Empress Dowager Shen gave Ye Caiping and her three maids each a set of headdresses and several bolts of palace satin.

On the way back, Ye Caiping rode in a carriage by herself, while Shen Zhiyan rode a horse beside her.

Ye Caiping lifted the curtain and told him what she had said to the Empress Dowager, then smiled and said, "Your elder sister is better at teaching than you are at educating people."

Shen Zhiyan gave a light snort, then reached out and pinched her nose.

"Ugh—" Ye Caiping slapped his hand away, "You...playboy!"

Shen Zhiyan raised an eyebrow: "Playboy? Where are you playing around?"

"Yeah, always wandering around, never going home."

“What do you call that? This is what you call wild—” Shen Zhiyan’s lips curled up slightly, and he suddenly raised his arm.

His wide sleeves completely blocked the view behind him. He tilted his head and suddenly gave her a light peck on the lips.

Ye Caiping was taken aback.

Shen Zhiyan: "How is it?"

Ye Caiping covered one side of her face with one hand, glancing at him with her beautiful, watery eyes: "It's fine."

Shen Zhiyan asked with delight, "Would you like some more?"

Ye Caiping chuckled, glared at him, drew the curtains, and ignored him.

......

After leaving the palace, the group went to the maternal home of Madam Shen—the Prince Qi'an's Mansion.

Prince Qi'an was the old lady's own brother, and he was a big chatterbox.

The old man was particularly fond of Shen Zhiyan. After rubbing Shen Manman's little face for a while, he hugged Shen Zhiyan and cried loudly.

Shen Zhiyan stroked him for a while before he struggled to crawl out, saying he had something to do, and then dragged Ye Caiping away first.

Before leaving, the old princess told her to be sure to come back for dinner.

Shen Manman and the others weren't so lucky; they were all there listening to Qi An Wang's endless ramblings.

The two returned to the house together.

Shen Zhiyan held Ye Caiping's hand and walked around the house, naming each courtyard and determining the purpose of each place.

The main courtyard is called the Begonia Courtyard because Ye Caiping loves begonia flowers.

Three of the best courtyards were left unnamed; they were for the three maids.

Although the mansion is registered in Ye Caiping's name and is part of her dowry, Ye Caiping has already decided that if they need to separate their households after the wedding, they will move here.

Once the name was chosen, Shen Zhiyan would write the inscription. All the names of the courtyards, halls, and gate plaques were written by Shen Zhiyan himself.

Then we'll find someone to do a gold lacquer job on it.

Next comes the various furnishings. It's too late to replace the furniture or rebuild it now, so we can only change some of the decorations and curtains.

They also replaced some of the flowers and plants with ones that the two of them liked.

Ye Caiping enjoys decorating their home together; doing such things with him always fills her with joy and anticipation.

It seems that being with him makes even the simplest things enjoyable.

Busy until evening, the two returned to the Qi'an Prince's Mansion for dinner.

When they left, they took two full carloads of gifts home.