Chapter 312
Upon hearing this, Shen Zheng said arrogantly, "Your Highness is right. Although I am from a noble family in the capital, I joined the army when I was young. The things I have seen are far more extensive than those of women, and even ordinary young masters from noble families are far less knowledgeable than I am."
He considered himself far superior to the young masters of noble families in the capital, both in terms of strategy and martial arts.
Shen Qingnian looked enlightened. She looked at Song Xuan on the throne, stood up and bowed before speaking: "Your Majesty, I have heard that there is tea at the border that is bitter but has a sweet aftertaste, which is quite different from the tea brewed in the palace."
General Shen is a man of great experience and knowledge. Having returned from the border, he must already be well-versed in the tea ceremony of the frontier. Your Majesty, I humbly request that you allow General Shen to pour me a cup of tea, so that I may broaden my horizons.”
Upon hearing Shen Qingnian's words, Shen Zheng was stunned and even looked up at Shen Qingnian.
He clearly hadn't expected that the obedient concubine, who had just been behaving so docilely, would suddenly order him around like a eunuch, making him pour tea.
Shen Zheng didn't even have time to be angry; his eyes were filled with astonishment and surprise.
Shen Qingnian didn't look at Shen Zheng, but only at Song Xuan.
Song Xuan, seated at the head of the table, raised an eyebrow and instructed Shen Zheng, who was kneeling on the ground, "Then please invite General Shen to go down and freshen up before serving tea to my beloved concubine."
Shen Zheng was led away by the palace servants with an incredulous look on his face. He never imagined that His Majesty would send him, the great general who protects the country, to serve tea to the concubines in the harem!
What is this if not a joke!
After Shen Zheng was taken away, Song Xuan got up and went to Shen Qingnian, personally removing her veil for her.
"My beloved concubine, guess what? Will Shen Zheng recognize that you and the late Empress are the same person?" Song Xuan's tone was warm but tinged with coldness.
Shen Qingnian grasped the man's large hand and said with a smile, "Of course he wouldn't recognize me. Although he went to the Ice Palace with His Majesty before and admired the late Empress's face together, it's still impossible for him to connect me with the late Empress."
She felt that Shen Zheng didn't have the brains for it. If it were Shen Zheng, she might have some doubts, but Shen Zheng, who joined the army at a young age, was unlikely to do so.
“Qing Nian is absolutely right,” Song Xuan said, holding Shen Qing Nian’s slender hand in his palm and gently stroking it, his gaze towards her tender and lingering.
As the two were talking, Shen Zheng, having tidied his appearance, walked in from outside, followed by a palace servant carrying tea sets.
At this moment, Shen Zheng's face was gloomy, and he looked somewhat dissatisfied. He strode up to Song Xuan and knelt down: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Song Xuan did not tell him to get up. Instead, Shen Qingnian, who was beside him, spoke up: "Why does General Shen not pay his respects to me? Could it be that he has forgotten the rules? I am from the countryside and do not know the rules. General Shen is of noble lineage. Does he not know the rules either?"
Kneeling on the ground, Shen Zheng felt humiliated, but Song Xuan did not speak. He could only bow to Shen Qingnian and say, "Your subject greets Your Highness, the Noble Consort."
Shen Qingnian didn't continue to make things difficult for him. Instead, she smiled and said, "General Shen, please rise. I can't wait to drink the tea that General Shen has personally poured for me!"
Shen Zheng got up from the ground, his face extremely pale, but he had no choice but to endure it.
The palace servants presented the tea set, and he began to pour tea for Shen Qingnian. During this time, he noticed that the other party's veil had been lifted, and he could see Shen Qingnian's face clearly.
Aside from being surprised by the striking resemblance between the other person and the late empress, the rest of the feeling was one of anger at being humiliated.
One day, he will personally put an end to this imperial concubine!
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