“Mother, what’s there to hesitate about? Do you want to get involved with the main branch of the Shen family?” Liu Wenxin’s temples throbbed with reluctance when she saw her mother hesitate.

"Have you forgotten how they treated you back then? Just to get Lin into the family and to pave the way for the legitimate son, they didn't hesitate to break up the couple and did such despicable things. Mother, do you want to go through that again?"

Upon hearing this, Liu was immediately plunged into a wave of anguish.

Every time she had a nightmare, she would think of the pain she had experienced. She took two deep breaths before turning to look at her daughter, smiling as she patted the back of her hand. Looking at her daughter's somewhat rough hand, she made up her mind.

"Okay, Mother will listen to you." Separating the family is good; only by separating can we act freely.

Worried that her daughter was too hasty, she added, "But this matter must be considered carefully. Madam Shen is not a fool. If she finds out that we left the palace, and I instigate Uncle Shen to divide the family property, she will definitely suspect you."

Liu Wenxin curled her lip indifferently and said coldly, "So what if we have doubts? Are we supposed to be at her beck and call for the rest of our lives?"

Liu remained silent.

Seeing that it was getting late, she quickly took her daughter's hand and said, "By the way, now that you are Consort Shu, do you think of a way to find a marriage for your sister? She is born of a concubine and doesn't have the good fortune that you have, but she still came from my womb, and I can't just ignore her."

Thinking of Shen Ming'e, Liu Wenxin felt a bit conflicted.

When she was still serving at Biyue Tower, she had some affection for this half-sister. But later, she became closer to Shen Mingzhuang, and now that Shen Mingzhuang has become her defeated opponent, she doesn't know which side her sister is on.

Thinking that her mother had come to the palace today, and that she hadn't even come with her, and that she hadn't offered any congratulations even after her mother became a Consort Shu, it was clear that she wasn't happy for her at all.

“Mother, as you know, I have only recently become the Emperor’s consort, and the court and the public are all against me. I’m afraid I won’t be able to help my sister find a good marriage for the time being. However, if you have someone you like, just send a message to the palace, and I will definitely help you find a way.”

Only after receiving her daughter's consent did Madam Liu breathe a sigh of relief. She was worried that her eldest daughter would not agree. As long as she had this word, she could help find a suitable young master and then go to the palace to ask for an imperial decree. So what if people looked down on her? Could they openly defy the imperial decree?

Before leaving, Madam Liu couldn't help but remind her, "You must not be anxious about the Shen family's affairs. The old lady's days are numbered. With your mother in the Shen family, you can rest assured. But don't be too willful with the old lady. His Majesty likes you now, but he may not always like you like this. Sometimes you must not offend everyone."

Liu Wenxin listened, lowered her eyes and smiled. No one knows a daughter better than her mother. Liu Shi could tell at a glance that her daughter probably hadn't taken her words to heart.

But considering that she can't really control her anymore, and that sometimes talking too much isn't necessarily a good thing, she's already said what she needed to say. Ultimately, the decision is up to her.

Three days later, Shen Mingrong brought her cousin from her maternal family to the palace.

Shen Ming'e was in low spirits. Shen Mingrong had a gentle, elegant hairstyle, and her pale yellow dress made her look rich and graceful. Shen Ming'e looked at her, but she couldn't muster any interest in saying anything nice.

The last time she entered the palace, she was with Shen Mingrong. Now that she's entering the palace again, many people and things around her have changed drastically.

"Aren't you happy that Wenxin has become a Consort Shu?"

Shen Mingrong had been close to Shen Mingzhuang before, and she also knew that Shen Ming'e was close to several of Shen Mingzhuang's maids. Every time she was with Shen Mingzhuang, she would go and say a few words to Wenxin. The way they got along was more like sisters than mistress and servant.

She never expected that Wenxin would be exceptionally promoted to the rank of Consort Shu. To this day, she still doesn't understand whether the Emperor's feelings for Mingzhuang had faded or whether he simply had taken a liking to Wenxin.

What surprised her even more was that Mingzhuang actually asked to leave the palace, which was unprecedented. She didn't know what had happened between the two of them.

However, she was still a distance from Shen Mingzhuang, and there were some things she couldn't bring herself to say. Now, seeing Shen Ming'e looking sullen, she couldn't help but ask, "I heard that Ninth Sister came back and stayed overnight, and His Majesty also came to the house. Do you know what happened then?"

Upon hearing Shen Mingrong ask about this matter, Shen Ming'e couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

She had a bellyful of grievances with nowhere to confide in, and upon hearing this, and feeling that Shen Mingrong was a steady person, she quietly and concisely recounted the events of that day to him.

Shen Mingrong was speechless with surprise; this was how it all happened!

It's true that you can't judge a book by its cover. Someone who used to seem quiet and reserved could actually have such thoughts.

"But I don't know why this is the case. I always felt that Wenxin was not like this before. Maybe she really likes the Emperor."

Shen Mingrong remained silent, lowering his eyes and pondering quietly.

Liu Wenxin deliberately provoked Ninth Sister, intentionally kowtowed and broke her head, making His Majesty misunderstand that Ninth Sister was a vicious person, and then she pretended to be innocent and went up to her.

Speaking of which, this matter is really...

The two first went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, but she did not see them. So they bowed outside Cixi Palace and went to Hehuan Hall.

Inside the Hehuan Palace, Liu Wenxin wore a rose-red palace dress adorned with peonies in full bloom. Sitting in the palace, which was heated by an underground heating system, she resembled a peony in full bloom, exuding a unique charm.

Shen Ming'e looked at Liu Wenxin and gave a somewhat stiff bow. Liu Wenxin saw this and understood what was going on. It seemed that, just as she had expected, her younger sister was indeed siding with outsiders!

They were born from the same mother, yet she didn't get close to herself, but instead got close to Shen Mingzhuang, who was a different person.

Liu Wenxin felt a pang of liver pain just thinking about it.

"Get up quickly, there are no outsiders here, no need to stand on ceremony with me."

Although she was displeased, she still remembered Liu's instructions and stepped forward to help Shen Mingrong and Shen Ming'e.

Shen Mingrong hurriedly said he dared not, and respectfully bowed. Liu Wenxin then took Shen Ming'e's hand and said with a smile, "It's been a while since I've seen you. Why do you look so listless?"

After Lady Liu was promoted to the position of legitimate wife, Shen Ming'e was considered a legitimate daughter. Her current state was truly unlucky!

Shen Ming'e glanced at Liu Wenxin and pushed her hand away with a somewhat distant expression.

Shen Mingrong watched, feeling somewhat anxious.

The current Liu Wenxin is not the same Liu Wenxin as before. She is now Consort Shu, after all. Ming'e's behavior is likely to anger Consort Shu!