Upon hearing the last sentence, Jiang Yanxin stiffened, suddenly feeling a chill run down her spine and spread throughout her body.

She dared not hesitate any longer and repeatedly agreed, "Mother, I am willing, I am willing to do it!"

If she didn't do it, her honor as the legitimate princess would be trampled underfoot. She had no choice but to agree. Just thinking about the people she had killed made Jiang Yanxin feel uneasy. In the past, she never had to worry about money, but now she had to plan for her future stability.

"Since he wants you to marry into the Lin family, then marry him. Be good to the Lin family and don't cause trouble all the time. Don't be jealous over trivial matters. Remember your status and let everyone know that you are the legitimate daughter of the Empress, the pride of my family. No one, not even Princess Xian'an, can compare to you."

With the Empress Dowager severely weakened, Jiang Wang was able to temporarily extricate himself from the affairs of the inner palace and focus all his attention on state affairs.

Shen Mingzhuang has been living a very comfortable life these days. She often cooks for Jiang Wang, making snacks and taking them to the study. She also helps grind ink. Sometimes, Jiang Wang can confide in her about his troubles. The two are as sweet as honey every day, making it hard for anyone to bear seeing them together.

"Who exactly is His Majesty going to send to Jiangnan?" Shen Mingzhuang peeled an orange and handed it to Jiang Wang, asking casually.

Jiang Wang had been pondering this matter for a while, but he didn't know if he had figured it out yet.

Jiang Wang took the orange, cut a segment and fed it to Ming Zhuang's lips. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Wen Rucheng is a very capable person. He has inspected Jiangnan several times before. I plan to continue using him this time, and find someone with a quick mind to go with him."

Shen Mingzhuang blinked and smiled, "Your Majesty wouldn't send Hou Linghai, would you?"

Seeing her quick reaction, Jiang Wang couldn't help but laugh and tap her forehead, "Nothing can be hidden from you, you little rascal!"

It was just a light tap, but a blush immediately appeared on Shen Mingzhuang's fair forehead. Jiang Wang's heart tightened, and he quickly pulled her into his arms, asking gently if it hurt.

Shen Mingzhuang loved seeing him worry about her, so upon hearing this, she wrinkled her nose and nodded with a wronged expression.

When Jiang Wang carefully rubbed her forehead, she suddenly leaned over and gently smacked his cheek, taking a small sip of the flesh on his cheek. Jiang Wang was caught off guard, and his large hand covered her soft head, his heart melting completely.

"If you cause any more trouble tonight, you'd better behave yourself. After I finish dealing with things in Jiangnan, I'll go back and deal with you, you little vixen."

Shen Mingzhuang's fair cheeks flushed instantly. She had only wanted to tease Jiang Wang on a whim, but she hadn't expected her to say something so embarrassing. Her ears immediately burned.

Although they had been sharing a bed for some time, she could only surrender and beg for mercy under Jiang Wang's advances each time. But Jiang Wang seemed to enjoy this feeling, and he would tease her until her eyes turned red before he would release his pent-up desire.

She knew that Jiang Wang spent every day with her, and although their sex life was a bit tiring, it also had its sweet moments.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't say such things. If people hear this, they'll laugh at me for being frivolous."

She tugged at Jiang Wang's sleeve coquettishly, revealing a girlish demeanor. Jiang Wang pinched the tip of her nose, smiled, and whispered, "If you don't flirt with me, who else would you flirt with? The more flirtatious you are, the more I like it."

Seeing that he was getting into it, Shen Mingzhuang's face turned cold, and she said in feigned anger, "Your Majesty, I should go back. It was all my fault for disturbing His Majesty's handling of state affairs in the Imperial Study."

Jiang Wang laughed loudly twice before stopping teasing her. "My wife, please calm down. I'll do whatever you say!"

Hearing him talk about his wife, Shen Mingzhuang felt a warm glow in his heart. He couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if he and Jiang Wang were just an ordinary couple, but he could only dream about it.

The 22nd day of the 11th lunar month was the wedding day of Princess Jiayuan.

Although the dowry of the legitimate princess was not as lavish as that of the princesses of the previous dynasty, she still had the proper ceremonial procession. After lingering in Cixi Palace for a while, Princess Jiayuan finally arrived at Taiji Hall to bid farewell to her elder brother, Emperor Jiang Wang.

As the highest-ranking official in the harem besides the Empress Dowager, Shen Mingzhuang sat beside Jiang Wang in a magnificent sapphire blue robe, exuding the air of an empress. Jiang Yanxin looked at her with resentment in her heart, but she did not speak rashly as before, and took her leave with gritted teeth and proper etiquette.

Jiang Wang couldn't help but give Princess Jiayuan a few serious words of advice on how to be a good wife and mother after marriage before sending her away.

The Lin family.

As relatives by marriage, the Shen family naturally came as well. Madam Lin stood very tall today. Her daughter had returned from the palace and no longer needed to go there, which relieved her worries. Now that her nephew was going to marry a princess, she naturally felt proud.

Lin puffed out her chest and smiled at Zhao and Gu, saying, "Why don't we hurry up and keep an eye on Anqing's marriage? If we keep looking, there aren't many suitable girls left in the capital. Are we going to wait until we're in our mid-twenties to get married?"

These words clearly carried a hint of schadenfreude. Zhao had always looked down on Lin, and when she heard Lin say these words to belittle her son, her face immediately changed. She sneered, "Good things take time, what's the rush? Which child in the family is engaged early? Anzhang is seventeen this year, and you're not in a hurry, are you?"

Zhao spoke directly to the point, using Shen Anqing's marriage as a point of contention. She didn't think it was a good thing for the Lin family to marry a princess. After all, Princess Jiayuan was not a good person. What family could have a good life if they married such a daughter-in-law?

This guy is clearly being used as a tool, yet he's gloating over it. No wonder people say it's better to marry a rich man's maid than a poor man's daughter. He's a nouveau riche, and all he's good for is knowing how to use an abacus.

Seeing that her two sisters-in-law were starting to argue again after just a few words, Gu couldn't help but sigh.

Her sisters-in-law, all from prestigious families, rarely argued fiercely. For the sake of the family's honor, they often supported each other. Her mother, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Gu family, was both lenient and strict with her subordinates, and always put the family first in her dealings with others.

I used to think that the Shen family must be a noble and respectable family, since several members of the Hanlin Academy had passed the imperial examinations. Who would have thought that after marrying into the family, I would find out that there was a lot more filth inside.

I'm afraid the thing the old lady regretted most in her life was marrying Lin.

However, this also shows that the legal mother did not value her illegitimate sons. Shen Shuchun was not born from the old lady's womb, so he was naturally not as good as the eldest and second masters.

Princess and her consort Lin Jinlou were dressed in a bright red wedding robe today, sitting on a tall horse, looking very pleased with themselves.

Lin Miaoqiu then moved closer to her elder sister, Lin Shi, and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, Mother said that Jinlou has married a princess, and our family will be very different from before. We won't have to put up with the Shen family anymore, right?"