King Yan took a sip of the fragrant spring tea and said calmly: "You are a disciple of Yang Xuanji, which is considered a poor faction. Don't let me down."
Shen Xiuming stiffened his neck and nodded slowly.
It turns out that the King of Yan values him not because of Shen Wei, but because of his mentor Yang Xuanji. Yang Xuanji is the leader of the poor faction. Although he resigned from office and lived in seclusion, his prestige among the poor is extremely high.
The Prince of Yan is trying to win over the poor.
Good trick!
King Yan had no idea of Shen Xiuming's complicated thoughts. He said in a low voice, "Jiangnan is rich, and it's not easy to be an official from a poor family. If you can gain a foothold in Jiangnan, I will promise you a bright future."
Shen Xiuming took a deep breath, stood up slowly, bowed to the King of Yan, and said firmly: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will establish a firm foothold in Jiangnan."
After a pause, Shen Xiuming mustered up his courage, looked up and looked at King Yan: "Your Majesty, I once wasted my time and hurt my family. Now I have turned over a new leaf and just want to protect my family - please treat my sister well, even if you have no feelings for her, please let her have enough food and clothing."
Prince Yan raised his thick eyebrows.
He smiled and said, "Shen is a rare woman in the world. I will protect her."
Shen Xiuming bowed his head silently.
As a man, Shen Xiuming deeply understands one truth - men's words are lies, and men always like new things and dislike old things.
There are countless beauties in the King of Yan's mansion, how could he really be devoted to Shen Wei? If a more beautiful new person comes to the palace one day, Prince Yan will most likely forget about Shen Wei.
Shen Xiu knew that he was his sister's only support! His official career was smooth, so Shen Wei had the capital to settle down in the back house.
His elder brother died on the battlefield, and he was the only man left in the family. He was the pillar of the family. For the sake of his sister, his elderly mother, and the Shen family, Shen Xiuming must shoulder the burden of being the head of the family.
"Your Highness, there is news from the Eastern Palace." The Tiger Guard entered the study and whispered something in Prince Yan's ear.
Prince Yan stood up and said to Shen Xiuming, "Go see Shen, she misses you very much."
Prince Yan left the palace and went to the East Palace to discuss court affairs with the Crown Prince. Not long after Prince Yan left, a figure stumbled out of the front yard, shouting, "Prince! Prince, please help me!"
It turned out to be Concubine Zhou.
Her son was seriously ill and bedridden, and Concubine Zhou was extremely worried but could not see him. With no other options left, she could only seek help from King Yan.
Unfortunately, the Prince of Yan was busy with official duties, and his unfavored concubine was not even qualified to get close to him. Concubine Zhou fell to the ground with tears streaming down her face.
Just then, Nanny Liu, who was accompanying the princess, passed by. Madam Liu frowned and scolded the maid beside her: "Take this crazy woman back home, keep an eye on her, and don't let her go out."
Concubine Zhou's son was naturally well cared for by the palace doctor. But this crazy woman refused to change her bad habits and even wanted to bring the matter to the prince.
The Prince of Yan already had many complaints about the Princess. If the Prince of Yan gets angry and blames the Princess for mismanagement, it will probably cause a lot of trouble.
The maid and the guards stepped forward, covered Concubine Zhou's mouth with a cloth, and dragged her back to a remote courtyard.
As the gate was closed and a heavy chain fell, the suppressed and desperate sobbing of Concubine Zhou could be heard from the yard.
...
On the other side, Shen Xiuming, led by a maid, came to the garden of the palace.
In late spring, the roses in the palace garden were in full bloom, with clusters of them weighing down the branches, almost touching the ground. Summer is approaching, the lotus leaves in the palace pond are unfurling, and the wind is still cool. Shen Wei was accompanied only by a maid, Cai Lian, who sat quietly in the garden pavilion.
Shen Xiuming hasn't seen Shen Wei for more than half a year.
He staggered into the pavilion. Although today is the full moon banquet for Shen Wei's daughter, Shen Wei is dressed very low-key, wearing a simple yellow skirt with round patterns and only a jade hairpin in her hair.
Her face was pale, there were faint dark circles under her eyes, and her eyebrows looked haggard.
Seeing Shen Xiuming, Shen Wei's nose was sore and tears fell instantly: "Brother..."
Shen Xiuming choked up: "Sister..."
Shen Wei clutched her handkerchief, wanting to step forward and hold her brother's hand to talk. Cai Lian hurried forward to stop him, and with a dry cough, she reminded him, "Master, you are the prince's concubine, and you are not allowed to have physical contact with other men."
Shen Wei choked up: "This is my brother."
Cai Lian touched her nose, trying to act like a humble maid, and said fearfully: "Master, the princess sees you as a thorn in her side. If you get too close to a man outside, the princess will complain to the prince again."
Shen Wei had no choice but to take two steps back and distance herself from Shen Xiuming.
Shen Xiuming saw it with his own eyes and felt pain in his heart. He recalled the time when he met his sister and was caught by the jealous princess and severely beaten.
Even though her elder sister became a concubine, the mean princess still wouldn't let her go!
hateful! sad!
Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Shen Wei said distressedly: "Brother, you have lost a lot of weight. Sister has asked someone to prepare two boxes of cakes. You can take them back and taste them with mother later."
There are two boxes of pastries on the stone table.
Shen Wei met her brother today, so she changed her clothes and dressed as simply as possible, and even put on some "haggard makeup" on her face. She didn’t dare to bring Shen Xiuming to the Glazed Pavilion. Seeing the magnificent and luxurious courtyard, all her disguises would be exposed.
So the meeting place was chosen to be Wangfu Garden.
Shen Xiuming's heart ached, and he said, "Sister, I am the second place in the first class, and in the future in the palace, sister will be able to gain a foothold."
I used to be useless, but today I can finally help my sister.
Chen Wei was so moved that her eyes were filled with tears. She wiped her eyes with the handkerchief soaked in onions, tears welling up in her eyes: "Since the birth of the child, I have been worried day and night that the child would be given to the princess to raise. Brother, thank you for saving my sister. It was you who saved my child and your niece. Without you, my sister would not have been named a concubine."
The brother and sister talked to each other and expressed their true feelings.
When Shen Wei learned that Shen Xiuming was going to Jiangnan to be an official, she gently reminded him: "Jiangnan is remote, you must take good care of your mother and yourself. I heard that there are corrupt officials rampant in Jiangnan, brother, don't get involved with them."
Shen Xiuming nodded, his tone firm: “Don’t worry, sister, I will definitely be a good official.”
In recent years, the Prince of Yan and the Crown Prince have made great efforts to rectify the administration of officials. Just recently, they investigated a group of corrupt officials in Jiangnan. Shen Xiuming secretly warned himself in his heart that he must not go down the wrong path.
People cannot rely on luck. If he goes astray, the entire Shen family will fall.
My sister has finally come to this point after suffering so much hardship, and she must not be implicated by him again.
The brother and sister chatted for a long time before Shen Wei reluctantly sent Shen Xiuming away.
...
Shen Wei returned to Liuli Pavilion.
The concubine was appointed as a concubine, and Liuli Pavilion was filled with joy. Shen Wei got a promotion and a raise, so she naturally didn't forget to reward her servants. Madam Rong acted as a serious person who managed the courtyard, and used both kindness and severity to reprimand everyone, so that the servants would not dare to be lazy or arrogant.
In the afternoon, the child was carefully cared for by the wet nurse and maidservants.
The waterside pavilion is cool and the aroma of freshly brewed spring tea is elegant. Shen Wei drank tea while looking at the account book that was sent to her. The dessert shop and rouge shop were very profitable, so Shen Wei planned to expand the business and open a new shop.
As for what kind of shop to open, Shen Wei hasn't decided yet.
Cai Ping trotted into the waterside pavilion and told Chen Wei the news she had found out: "Master, the princess intends to resume the morning and evening visit and ask you to pay your respects to her every day."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
