Chapter 11
Although Lin Hai did not say that he wanted Lin Yue'er to be the Crown Princess, the Lin family's actions had already made it clear that Lin Yue'er would become the Crown Princess.
The recent rumors about Lin Yue'er and the Crown Prince were likely spread intentionally by the Lin family in an attempt to force the royal family to back down.
The crown prince is his child. How could he force his child to marry someone he dislikes just to repay a debt of gratitude?
Besides, the imperial family had already repaid the Lin family's kindness. Lin Minxin was able to rise from a minor fifth-rank official to the Vice Minister of Rites, which was entirely due to the emperor's deliberate support.
Lin Minxin was of average talent; becoming a fifth-rank official was already the best he could hope for.
As for Lin Yue'er, he thought that if the two children were interested, he could try to bring them together, but since the Crown Prince was not interested, he would not force it.
After hearing the emperor's question, Song Xuan thought for a moment and said, "Suppress the rumors."
From a certain perspective, the Lin family was forcing the royal family to submit, but how could a subject possibly understand the thoughts of the imperial family?
She's just a girl from the Lin family...
After a moment's thought, the emperor asked again, "Xuan'er, are you still searching for the woman from that day?"
Song Xuan told the emperor about what happened at the dilapidated temple that day after he returned. He had secretly investigated the matter, and the emperor was aware of it and naturally supported him.
When the matter of the dilapidated temple was mentioned, a slight ripple appeared in Song Xuan's gentle eyes: "Of course we must find her. I bullied her that day because of the medicine I took. I should apologize properly after I find her."
However, whether it was an apology or something else remains unknown...
The emperor noticed the change in Song Xuan's expression and nodded: "This matter had nothing to do with her, so she suffered an undeserved misfortune. It's good that she has been found."
The father and son had an excellent relationship, and since the emperor only had Song Xuan as his son, he naturally had to put Song Xuan's feelings first.
Two days later.
A young eunuch from the Eastern Palace carried a pile of books and paintings into the study.
Song Xuan buried himself in his work at his desk, handling government affairs.
Xiazi bowed and stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Your Highness, these are all paintings and calligraphy sent by the Shen family."
The Shen family acted swiftly, sending all the calligraphy and paintings displayed at the family banquet to the Eastern Palace within just two days.
Upon hearing that the items were sent from the Shen residence, Song Xuan paused, looked up from his desk, and said, "Select two scrolls to send to the Imperial Study. The rest will be exchanged for silver and sent to the border. Also, take three thousand taels of silver from my private treasury and send them to the border as well."
Half of the money was given to the soldiers at the border, and the other half to the people there, supposedly because Miss Shen was kind and had painstakingly raised it.
Unlike ordinary noble ladies who only indulge in pleasure, she had her heart set on the border. So he exchanged all these things for silver and sent them all to the border.
Xiazi was slightly startled and quickly replied, "This servant will take care of it immediately."
After saying that, he picked up the paintings and calligraphy and was about to leave, but as soon as he turned to leave, he seemed to remember something and stopped.
"Your Highness, there is one more thing I forgot to mention," Xia Zi said apologetically.
Song Xuan looked at him.
Xia Zi carefully placed the calligraphy and painting in his arms on the table beside him, took out a scroll from it, and then walked up to Song Xuan, bowed and presented it with both hands:
"Your Highness, this painting was painted by Miss Shen herself. When the servant of the Shen family delivered it today, he specifically mentioned that it was a gift from Miss Shen to Your Majesty."
It's not unusual for His Highness to occasionally interact with Miss Shen.
When Shen Qingnian was mentioned, Song Xuan felt as if he could smell the faint fragrance of jasmine.
He wasn't mistaken; the fragrance emanated from the painting, delicate and elegant, just like her.
Song Xuan picked up the scroll, unfolded it, and laid it flat on the table.
On the painting, the night is deep, and delicate jasmine blossoms leap off the paper. A crescent moon hangs high, and besides the delicate jasmine, there is an empty pavilion.
The moonlight was cool and still, and the jasmine in such beautiful bloom had no one to appreciate it, which made it seem rather desolate.
Xia Zi also looked at the painting with curiosity. He was able to serve by Song Xuan's side, so he was quite capable and had some understanding of poetry and painting. Song Xuan would often let him take a look at the painting.
Upon closer inspection, Xia Xiazi noticed something unusual. He was somewhat surprised: "Isn't this the Jade Terrace outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony? It looks rather desolate."
Wait, there's another line of text: "Smoke and dew mingle with a rich, lingering fragrance; I remember meeting you beneath the moon on the Jade Terrace..."
After Xia Zi read out the poem at the bottom of the scroll, he quickly covered his mouth, then knelt down and kowtowed.
He saw something he shouldn't have seen.
This painting was a gift from Miss Shen. There were some rumors outside the palace a few days ago that Miss Shen admired His Highness, but he knew best in his heart that Miss Shen had never overstepped her bounds and did not seem to admire His Highness at all.
However, judging from the fact that His Highness opened his private treasury to add money for her, and Miss Shen also gave His Highness a painting, it is clear that they are mutually in love.
Could those rumors be true?
Even the servant who was always by His Highness's side was a little confused at this moment. When did the two of them become acquainted?
Song Xuan ignored Xia Zi kneeling on the ground. He stood in front of the table and looked at the painting for a while before ordering, "Hang up the painting."
Xia Zi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, quickly got up from the ground, and hung the painting that Shen Qingnian had made herself on the wall.
After he had quickly finished doing all that, he noticed that Song Xuan had taken out the red jade earrings from the drawer and was looking at them intently.
Not daring to disturb them, he tiptoed out...
A few days later, Xia Zi reported that Miss Lin had invited the Crown Prince to the temple to pray for blessings, but the Crown Prince declined, saying that he had to deal with the flood.
From then on, the rumors in the capital about Lin Yue'er becoming the Crown Princess decreased significantly, and many people began to praise Shen Qingnian.
It is said that she was kind and benevolent, and donated a lot of money to the soldiers and people on the border, which is truly commendable.
On this day, inside the Shen residence.
Shen Qingnian listened to the housekeeper's report on recent events.
Butler: "The rumors about Miss Lin outside have been mostly suppressed by your porridge shop."
This servant has also heard that Miss Lin has sent people to the palace several times to invite the Crown Prince, but he has declined each time, citing his busy schedule. Now everyone outside is laughing at her, saying her position as Crown Princess is in jeopardy!
Shen Qingnian smiled and asked, "Has the porridge shop outside the city been repaired?"
These days she has been interacting with the Crown Prince, but she has not been idle. Recently, there has been flooding in Suzhou, and many refugees have come to the capital. They are now gathered outside the capital.
She then took Shen Zheng's money and, under the name of the Shen family, opened several porridge shops outside the capital.
Seeing her kind heart, the mistress of the royal palace also contributed some money to buy a lot of grain, so that she could do a good job.
When the steward heard her ask this, he replied, "The porridge shop has been repaired for three days. Since yesterday, they have been cooking and distributing porridge. The refugees are very grateful to you. I heard that His Highness will also be going to the outskirts of the city today, and I heard that he is also going to see the refugees."
Thanks to this porridge distribution, the reputation of the Shen family and their young lady has grown even stronger.
Shen Qingnian stood up and instructed the steward, "The weather is very nice today, so I'll go and check on the porridge distribution point. I've heard that Miss Lin has been in a bad mood these past few days."
Why doesn't the steward send some people over to inform her of the location of the porridge distribution? Doing more good deeds will make her feel better.
How can she go alone? She should bring Lin Yue'er along too.
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