Chapter 358 You Are Better Than Me
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, and both Marquis Dingguo and Queen Mother Shen held him in the palm of their hands.
In addition to his family background, appearance and talent, even if a man like him were to marry again, he could marry a legitimate daughter of a wealthy family or a princess who had just reached the age of 15.
Even if you have to consider Shen Manman’s feelings and find someone older, you can also choose some famous ladies who have been delayed until their early twenties for some reasons.
But Shen Zhiyan chose her.
She had a poor family background and was divorced for having two children.
I believe that after knowing this, Empress Dowager Shen must have been mentally devastated.
She must have been thinking in her heart that her brother, who was as beautiful as a jade in the world, was actually taken away by a wild boar that ate weeds in the countryside!
I only heard Empress Dowager Shen continue: "But later, I found out why he liked you."
"You are smart and capable. Even after becoming wealthy, you never forget your roots. You support your brothers, help your neighbors, and make nearby villages prosperous."
"You discovered cassava, which solved the famine and unrest in half of the Great Zhou. You built bridges and roads, although you had the selfish intention of seeking protection from the court, it was all a righteous act."
"You have both selfishness and justice. I think highly of you. It is rare for a little village woman to have such courage and broad-mindedness."
"I know how difficult it is for a little girl to climb up step by step in this world. Not to mention you, just me, even if I am born into a noble family, I still have to be cautious at every step. Not to mention you."
As she spoke, Empress Dowager Shen looked at her and smiled slightly: "Ye Caiping, I admire you."
Ye Caiping looked at her and her heart trembled slightly.
In this era, Ye Caiping couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat when she was able to receive understanding and appreciation from other women.
"Come sit here."
After listening, Ye Caiping walked over to Empress Dowager Shen and sat on an embroidered cushion next to her.
Empress Dowager Shen looked at Ye Caiping, gently wiped her eyebrows with her slender fingers, and smiled softly:
"Although I was far away, I watched your efforts little by little, and watched how you two came together little by little. Later, I fell in love with you."
"And you are indeed beautiful and a kindred spirit to him."
Ye Caiping's eyes turned red and she chuckled, "Thank you, Madam."
Empress Dowager Shen held her hand and said, "Once you enter the Shen family, you will certainly suffer some gossip. But you only need to remember two points."
"People at the bottom need support from those above them. People at the top also need support from those at the bottom. Just like fish and water, neither is nobler than the other."
"You are able to stand before me, which shows your ability. Your achievements and wealth today are also earned by your own intelligence and hard work. Never underestimate yourself at any time."
Ye Caiping nodded: "I will follow your instructions."
Naturally, she would not belittle herself. Now with the Queen Mother's words, she felt even more confident.
The two chatted about some other things.
Ye Caiping sighed in her heart, she was indeed the woman standing at the top of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The empress dowager's mind and ideas were naturally different from those of other women.
Empress Dowager Shen was also surprised at Ye Caiping's unconventional thinking. Unlike those ladies from wealthy families or country women, she had her own open-mindedness.
After a while, Shen Zhiyan came back holding the little emperor.
Then, Madam Shen and Madam Hou came over with three maids to pay their respects.
The room was filled with people having a lively time.
After lunch, before leaving, Empress Dowager Shen gave Ye Caiping and the three maids each a set of headgear and several pieces of palace satin.
On the way back, Ye Caiping took a carriage by herself, and Shen Zhiyan rode a horse beside her.
Ye Caiping lifted the curtain and told him what she had said to the Queen Mother, and said with a smile: "Your elder sister is better at teaching people than you."
Shen Zhiyan snorted, then reached out and pinched her nose.
“Ugh—” Ye Caiping slapped his hand away, “You… prodigal son!”
Shen Zhiyan raised his eyebrows: "Prodigal son? Where is the prodigal son?"
"Yeah, the kind that wanders around and never goes home."
"What kind of waves are those? This is what waves are--" Shen Zhiyan's lips curled slightly, and he suddenly raised his arm.
The wide sleeves blocked her view of the back. He tilted his head and suddenly pecked her lightly on the lips.
Ye Caiping was stunned.
Shen Zhiyan: “How?”
Ye Caiping covered her face with one hand and glanced at him with her big, charming eyes: "Very good."
Shen Zhiyan was pleased: “Would you like some more?”
Ye Caiping chuckled and glared at him, then lowered the curtains and ignored him.
......
After leaving the palace, the group went to Madam Shen’s parents’ home, Prince Qi’an’s Mansion.
King Qi'an is a king of a different surname in the Great Zhou Dynasty, Madam Shen's biological brother, and a big chatterbox.
The little old man liked Shen Zhiyan very much. After rubbing Shen Manman’s little face for a while, he hugged Shen Zhiyan and cried loudly.
Shen Zhiyan jerked him off for a long time before he struggled to crawl out, saying he had something to do, and then dragged Ye Caiping away first.
Before leaving, the old princess reminded him to come back for dinner.
Shen Manman and the others were not so lucky. They all listened to King Qi An's mumbling.
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 Begonia Courtyard, and Ye Caiping likes crabapple flowers.
The three best courtyards were left unnamed, and they were given to the three maids.
Although this mansion was named after Ye Caiping, it was her dowry. But Ye Caiping had made up her mind that after getting married, if they had to split up the family business, they would move here.
After the name was chosen, Shen Zhiyan gave her a calligraphy. All the names of the courtyards, halls and gate plaques were proposed by Shen Zhiyan himself.
Then I'll find someone to do the gold lacquer.
Next are the various furnishings. It is too late to change the furniture or make it again, so we can only change some of the decorations and curtains.
There were also some flowers and plants, which were replaced with ones they liked.
Ye Caiping likes the feeling of decorating their home with him. When she does this kind of thing with him, her heart is always filled with joy and anticipation.
It seems that when I am with him, even the simplest things are fun.
They worked until the evening, and then returned to Prince Qi'an's mansion for dinner.
When he left, he took two carts full of gifts home.
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