Chapter 34 Self-Proof and Divorce Agreement
What Li Yaozhi disliked most about Qi Jingxuan was this: ordinary playboys were just playboys, but Qi Jingxuan had a rascal-like and shameless air about him, always leaving people at a loss.
Just as an ordinary man would be furious and feel humiliated if compared to dung, Qi Jingxuan could confidently say, "So what if I'm dung? Who can live without dung in their life? Are you going to be dragged along or fly away?"
These are clearly unreasonable words, yet they leave one speechless, only making them feel increasingly frustrated.
Shen Yan was unaware of any past conflict between Qi Jingxuan and Li Yaozhi, and was somewhat puzzled by their confrontation.
She wanted to ask, but the situation wasn't right, so she just tugged at Qi Jingxuan's sleeve, shook her head at him, and gestured for him not to do that.
Although Qi Jingxuan disliked Li Yaozhi, he remembered that the eunuch had said she was the first to speak to Shen Yan, so he snorted and said nothing more.
He had a bad temper, but he was of noble status and the emperor's favorite, so people would always take the initiative to associate with him, and he never encountered a situation where he was ignored.
However, Shen Yan comes from a humble background and has been involved in the Cheng'an Marquis's affair. Even though he has tried his best to take the blame upon himself, he will probably still be treated coldly.
If Li Yaozhi hadn't taken the initiative to break the deadlock today, Shen Yan probably wouldn't have been able to integrate into the circle of these noble ladies until the end of the banquet.
When everyone saw that Shen Yan simply shook her head and Qi Jingxuan remained silent, appearing very obedient, they couldn't help but chuckle.
However, they were not familiar with Qi Jingxuan, and since he was a man, it was inconvenient for them to stay with him for a while. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they dispersed.
Qi Jingxuan didn't think anything of it. He followed Shen Yan around and introduced her to the good places in the palace. He said that it was inconvenient today, but he would find an opportunity to take her to visit them after they got married.
Gu Niannian was about to leave with Li Yaozhi, but after taking a few steps, Li Yaozhi turned around and saw Qi Jingxuan still standing next to Shen Yan, talking and laughing to himself. The more she looked, the angrier she became. She broke free from Gu Niannian's hand and went back.
"Is Your Highness here to support Miss Shen? Do you think you're being too good to her?"
Qi Jingxuan frowned at her, puzzled. Just as he was about to say something, she continued, "Miss Chen has been criticized for a long time. She finally had a chance to let everyone know what kind of person she really is, to let people know that she is not as the rumors say. But you suddenly came here, making everyone afraid to get close to her, and ruining this opportunity. Do you think you are doing this for her good?"
"She ended up in this situation because of you, yet all you do is pester her and treat her with your own self-righteousness. Before you came, you didn't even ask if she wanted it or needed it. Do you think you're a prince, that everything you give is good, and that she should be grateful to you?"
"I hope Your Highness understands that even if you are not ashamed of being regarded as cow dung, and even if the flowers are indeed watered by cow dung, if that cow dung sticks to the flowers every day and stays by their side, no matter how beautiful the flowers are, others will not dare to approach them easily."
After she finished speaking, she glared at Qi Jingxuan, and turned to leave before he could react.
Gu Niannian stood there dumbfounded, then quickly followed after her.
Qi Jingxuan and Li Yaozhi had exchanged insults many times, but never before had they been so speechless as they were now.
His face flushed red and then turned pale. After the others had left, he turned to look at Shen Yan and stammered, "I...I didn't mean that. I just...I just heard that someone was making things difficult for you, and I rushed over in a panic. I didn't mean for you to be grateful to me..."
Shen Yan was implicated because of her. Even if he treated her well, it was to make amends. How could he possibly expect her to be grateful to him?
He had only kept an eye on her today because he was worried something might happen to her, and he had come in a hurry without thinking much about it. Now it seems... this has actually been a burden to Shen Yan.
Shen Yan remained calm, showing no change from Li Yaozhi's earlier words, and nodded slightly, saying, "I know."
Qi Jingxuan grunted, put his hands behind his back, twisted his fingers together, and carefully observed her expression: "Did I... cause you trouble?"
No, not at all.
Shen Yan smiled.
"If Miss Li hadn't taken the initiative to talk to me, no one would have wanted to befriend me today."
"I've already spent some time with everyone, and those who want to continue associating with me won't avoid me just because Your Highness is here. Those who don't want to are those who wouldn't have gotten to know me even if Your Highness hadn't come."
"But Your Highness, by coming here, people will at least know that you value me. Those who don't like me won't easily provoke me, so... it's not all bad."
"However," she finally said, "it was indeed rather impolite for Your Highness to come over so abruptly in this kind of occasion where only women are present. You should be more careful in the future."
Qi Jingxuan never cared about being impolite, but seeing that Shen Yan didn't blame him, he breathed a sigh of relief and immediately nodded, saying, "I'll be more careful in the future!"
After saying that, he wondered if he should leave now. If he left, would those young ladies come over and continue playing with Shen Yan?
Just then, I heard a commotion coming from afar.
The two looked up and saw seven or eight people standing in front of a flower bush talking. Some looked angry, some had their brows furrowed, and others gathered around after hearing the commotion.
Upon seeing this, Qi Jingxuan immediately abandoned his idea of leaving and pulled Shen Yan back, saying, "Don't go over there. It doesn't look like anything good. Whoever goes there will be unlucky."
Although he wasn't very bright, he had grown up in the palace and knew that the most taboo thing in the palace was watching a spectacle.
It's better not to look at it, because once you do, you might get yourself into trouble.
Shen Yan hadn't planned to go over there anyway, so she nodded and turned in another direction with him.
But instead of looking for trouble, trouble came looking for them.
The two hadn't gone far when a palace maid hurried over and said, "Your Highness, the second young lady of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion has lost a jade pendant. They say... they say it's related to Miss Shen, and they request that Miss Shen come over for questioning."
Upon hearing this, Qi Jingxuan flew into a rage: "Bullshit! Why would she need Miss Shen for her lost jade pendant? And she wants Miss Shen to come and question her? Who does she think she is? The Court of Judicial Review or the Censorate? Bah!"
After saying that, he grabbed Shen Yan and left, ignoring the palace maid.
Why should Gu Yue dismiss Shen Yan based on a single sentence, without any basis?
If Shen Yan were to leave like this, regardless of whether the matter could be explained clearly, she would be at a disadvantage.
It's hard to say for sure, but she'll inevitably be accused of theft. Even if it's clear, outsiders will think that Shen Yan is at Gu Yue's beck and call.
If that's the case, then everyone will look down on her, everyone will suspect her at every turn, and then call her in for questioning. What will Shen Yan become then?
Qi Jingxuan naturally wouldn't let anyone treat her like that, so he took her away immediately.
Unless the Emperor or Consort Shu personally send someone to summon her today, no one can get Shen Yan to ask about that damn jade pendant!
The palace maids couldn't stop Qi Jingxuan, so they could only watch him leave and then hurriedly went back to deliver the message.
Gu Yue was furious that Shen Yan ignored her, but since they were in the palace, she didn't dare to make a big fuss without real evidence, so she had to hold back.
Consort Shu had been keeping an eye on things, so how could she not know what had happened? After hearing the palace servant's report, her face darkened, and her gaze swept towards Lady Yongchang.
Lady Yongchang's forehead was already covered in a layer of cold sweat. She stood up with a stiff upper lip and said, "My second mistress must have made a mistake. I will definitely ask her about it when we get back."
"Let's not go back. Let's find out the truth now," said Consort Shu. "Otherwise, we might end up making a mess of things later, and outsiders might think that Miss Gu was coerced by me and Prince Heping to change her mind."
After saying that, he turned around and walked towards Jianzhang Palace.
The crowd looked at each other, and had no choice but to follow. Some looked at Lady Yongchang with sympathy.
This Lady Yongchang was not Yongchang's first wife, but his second wife. The current heir of Yongchang and this Miss Gu are the children of the first wife, Lady Zhou.
Zhou originally had a daughter, who was the eldest daughter of the Earl's family, but she died young, leaving only the current Prince Gu and the Second Miss Gu.
The old lady of the Earl's Mansion was Zhou's aunt, so she doted on Zhou's two children. Over the years, she had kept them by her side and raised them herself, never allowing Lady Yongchang to interfere.
Lady Yongchang had been married into the Gu family for many years. Although she held the title of mother, she could not actually control her two children and had to tolerate them in everything, which was not easy for her.
The group returned to Jianzhang Palace with their own thoughts, and the girls who were playing by Taiye Pond were also called back to their mothers.
When Qi Jingxuan and Shen Yan arrived, almost everyone had already gathered. Gu Yue was standing in the hall, her head bowed in grievance. When she saw Shen Yan enter, she glared at her fiercely.
Consort Shu's expression was icy, but it softened when she saw Shen Yan and the others enter. She beckoned to them, "Come here."
The two walked over side by side and greeted Consort Shu and the other ladies. Qi Jingxuan looked completely bewildered as to why he had been called back and asked, "Mother, it's not time for the banquet yet. Why have you called us back? I just asked the palace servants for some fish food so I could take Miss Shen to feed the fish."
Consort Shu chuckled: "You can feed the fish anytime. I was in a hurry to call you back because something happened just now."
As she spoke, she looked at Gu Yue, who had her head bowed, and said, "Miss Gu lost a jade pendant and insisted that Miss Shen took it."
"I think it's best to ask about these things face-to-face to avoid any bad rumors arising later. Don't you think so?"
The last sentence was said while looking at Shen Yan.
Shen Yan nodded, while Qi Jingxuan frowned, looking quite annoyed, and turned to look at Gu Yue.
"Are you crazy? How can you say such nonsense? Miss Chen has never even been with you, how could she have stolen your jade pendant?"
He had been keeping an eye on Shen Yan, and he knew that she was alone at first, then she was with Li Yaozhi and the others, and later she was with him.
She had never even been in contact with Gu Yue, so how could she have stolen her jade pendant?
Gu Yue hadn't wanted to make such a big deal out of it, but there was no turning back now, so she could only stubbornly say, "When we left Jianzhang Palace together, she brushed past me. Who knows if she stole it then?"
"impossible!"
Before anyone else could speak, Gu Niannian had already spoken.
"When we were playing the arrow-throwing game at Taiye Pond, I saw that my second sister's jade pendant was still intact on her waist. If it had been stolen earlier, what were you wearing then?"
She and her second sister had never gotten along, but she was unwilling to argue with her in front of the nobles in the palace.
But now that she has made such a mess of things, the one who is being wronged is the future Princess Consort of Pingjun. If she doesn't stand up for Shen Yan, Consort Shu and His Majesty will think that the Gu family has a problem with Miss Shen and is deliberately making things difficult for her.
She didn't want her whole family to suffer the emperor's reprimand because of her second sister.
Gu Yue was surprised that the first person to refute her was her own younger sister. She was annoyed that her sister not only didn't speak up for her but also sided with outsiders. She gritted her teeth in anger.
“If it wasn’t stolen by her then, then it must have been dropped at some point and picked up by her. Instead of returning it, she secretly hid it in the flower bushes, intending to take it with her when she left.”
"If Aru hadn't seen it, I would never have found this jade pendant today!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Jingxuan scoffed, "You claimed with absolute certainty that Miss Shen stole it, and you were already trying to call her in for questioning outside. I thought you had some solid evidence, but it turns out you're just trying to convict someone with a few fabricated stories."
"People say you need to catch a thief red-handed, but you're different. You lost your jade pendant, then found it in the flower bushes, and instead of saying you dropped it accidentally, you drag someone else out and claim someone else stole it, picked it up, and hid it. I could say you deliberately left the pendant there and then had someone give false testimony to frame Miss Shen!"
As he spoke, he turned to look at Yang Huiru and asked, "Are you Miss Yang?"
Yang Huiru nodded stiffly: "Yes."
Qi Jingxuan drew out an "oh" and said meaningfully, "If I remember correctly, you and Miss Gu Er have a good relationship. Just now, she spoke harshly to Miss Shen by the pavilion and said a lot of unpleasant things. Everyone else thought she was bad luck and kept their distance from her, but you stayed by her side the whole time."
"How come no one else saw her jade pendant, except you? And it just so happens that the person who saw it was Miss Shen, who had just had an argument with her?"
His words were harsh, but the line "Others think she's unlucky, but you're the only one who's never abandoned her" made the young ladies chuckle. They quickly pursed their lips after being glared at by their mothers, but their eyes still couldn't help but overflow with laughter.
Yang Huiru was completely taken aback by the arrival of Prince Ping. Her face turned pale, and she stammered as she was about to speak when she heard her mother cough heavily a few times. She shuddered again and said, "I... I didn't see clearly either. I only saw... Miss Shen passed by that flower bush, and it seemed... it seemed like she was throwing something into it."
"But I'm not sure if it's a jade pendant. Maybe it's something else, or maybe... I'm mistaken, and she didn't put anything in there at all."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yue's expression suddenly darkened: "Aru! That's not what you said just now!"
"You clearly said you saw Miss Shen throw something white into the flowerbed, with a yellow tassel attached. I went to that flowerbed to look for it, and sure enough, I found my jade pendant. Of course, she stole it! Who else could it be?"
Yang Huiru trembled and dared not speak. Madam Yang coughed lightly and said, "Miss Gu, it is springtime now, and there are many flowers and trees in the palace. Today, for the flower viewing banquet, Consort Shu specially had many beautiful flowers and trees moved to the vicinity, including many yellow and white ones."
“My daughter Aru may have misread it. Miss Gu, you can’t take this as testimony against Miss Shen.”
After Madam Yang spoke, Yang Huiru dared not speak further, and simply lowered her head in silence.
Seeing this, Gu Niannian interjected at the opportune moment: "Miss Chen was with us when we were playing pitch-pot. Second Sister, we also passed by the flower bushes where you found the jade pendant. How could she pick up your jade pendant in front of us and then secretly throw it into the flower bushes? How could she be sure that she would have a chance to take the jade pendant out again? If she couldn't be sure, what was her purpose in hiding the jade pendant? What benefit would it bring her?"
Li Yaozhi sat behind her mother, having remained silent until now, when she chuckled softly and said, "Perhaps Miss Gu thinks everyone who passed by that flowerbed is a suspect."
If Gu Yue really thinks that way, then most of the noble ladies present would be suspects.
Gu Yue dared not drag everyone into this, and said, "You are all from noble families, so naturally you wouldn't covet my jade pendant. Only someone from a humble background, with a narrow mind, would do such a thing!"
As he spoke, he looked at Shen Yan again, and it was obvious who he was referring to as "she".
Upon hearing this, Qi Jingxuan became even angrier, pulled off the black jade pendant from his waist, and waved it in front of Gu Yue's eyes.
"Who are you calling short-sighted? Did you see your family heirloom? Miss Shen won it from your third brother and then gave it to me."
"This jade pendant is worth a hundred times more than the one you're wearing, and she gave it to me without even blinking. Why would she even look at your worthless jade?"
"Do you know how many good things Miss Shen won in Yafeng Garden that day? Any one of them is worth more than your jade pendant. She could wear a different one every day for a month. Why would she risk stealing this worthless junk from the palace?"
"You treat a piece of broken jade like a treasure, do you think everyone else would treat it the same way? Hurry up and go back to Old Madam Gu and ask for some good stuff to broaden your horizons, so you don't become so short-sighted and treat everything like a treasure, bringing shame to the Gu family!"
He had been mindful of the occasion and restrained himself before, but now that his temper had flared up, he didn't care about such things anymore. He said the most offensive things he could, bombarding Gu Yue's face with a barrage of insults, and the jade pendant in his hand even hit Gu Yue's nose several times.
Gu Yue frowned and looked away, but her heart sank when she saw that it was indeed her family heirloom.
This jade pendant was originally passed down to the eldest brother, but it was later snatched away by the third brother. The grandmother was furious and demanded that the third brother return it, but he refused to listen and declared that he would rather smash it than give it back to the eldest brother.
Father always favored his third brother, so after pretending to ask for the jade pendant a few times, he gave up. The pendant remained in his brother's possession, but now... now he used it as a prize, lost it to Shen Yan, and Shen Yan then gave it to Prince Ping.
Gu Yue was so angry that her vision blurred and she almost fainted on the spot. She reached out to take the jade pendant, but Qi Jingxuan quickly withdrew his hand.
"What are you doing? First you falsely accused someone of stealing your jade pendant, and now you're openly robbing someone else. Is this how Old Madam Gu taught you all?"
He deliberately spoke loudly.
The affairs of the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion are no secret in the capital. Everyone knows that the young master Gu and the second young lady Gu grew up by the side of the old lady Gu. Since he only mentions the old lady Gu, it is obvious who he is cursing.
Gu Yue's eyes reddened as she looked up at Lady Yongchang: "Third Brother just gave away the family heirloom jade pendant to an outsider like that, and Mother doesn't say anything?"
Lady Yongchang only just learned that her son had given away the jade pendant. She frowned and was thinking about how to tell the Earl when she got home, when she saw Gu Yue suddenly question her in public.
She and Gu Yue were never close, and because of the old lady, she did not have much maternal authority in front of her. However, she was, after all, the proper mistress of the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion, and it was really embarrassing to be questioned in public by a junior like this.
Just as she was thinking of telling Gu Yue to calm down and that they could talk about it when they got back, Consort Shu said, "Your family matters should be resolved by your own family. What we're talking about now is your accusation that Miss Shen stole your jade pendant."
With just one sentence, the matter was directly labeled as a frame-up. If this is proven true, Gu Yue will have to carry the reputation of framing and slandering others wherever she goes in the future. Even if she gets married, probably no one will want to associate with her.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yue panicked and cried, "I didn't frame her. It was...it was Aru who said she saw it, and coincidentally, the jade pendant was indeed found there, so I concluded that she stole it."
"If it weren't for her, how could such a coincidence have occurred, that she actually found it right there in that flowerbed?"
Since someone testified for Shen Yan, this statement, while not exactly evidence, was not entirely without merit, and everyone's gaze turned to Yang Huiru once again.
Yang Huiru's clothes were soaked with sweat, and her hands were tightly clenched inside her sleeves, her fingernails almost digging into her flesh.
This matter originally required no evidence, nor was there any evidence. Shen Yan was indeed the lowest in status and had the worst family background among all the guests today, making her the most likely to steal that jade pendant.
As long as there is this "most likely" possibility, without any evidence or investigation, rumors about her "slipping his fingers" will spread once she leaves the palace. At that time, some will believe it and some will not.
Just like the spring banquet at the Cheng'an Marquis's residence, some people think that Prince Ping humiliated Shen Yan while drunk, while others think that Shen Yan actively seduced Prince Ping. I believe there are both kinds of opinions.
Yang Huiru simply wanted to spread more rumors that were detrimental to Shen Yan, making her even more embarrassed.
She thought that even if the matter reached Consort Shu, it would at most pass by without any evidence, as no one could explain it clearly.
Unexpectedly, Prince Ping arrived and even produced a jade pendant that had been a family heirloom of the Yongchang Earl's family to prove that Shen Yan could not have stolen Gu Yue's things.
Consort Shu was even more protective of her own, and without any evidence, she directly concluded that Gu Yue had framed her.
Gu Yue is, after all, the eldest daughter of the Yongchang Marquis's family. How could Consort Shu show no respect for the Yongchang Marquis's family and so arbitrarily convict Gu Yue in public?
At this moment, Yang Huiru thought of the Third Princess who had been hastily called away by Granny Chang, and she secretly regretted that she had not thought things through and had underestimated Consort Shu.
She dared not say anything more at this point, only saying that she had seen wrong.
Gu Yue cried even louder upon hearing this, but Consort Shu ignored her and instead pulled Shen Yan in front of her, gently patting the back of her hand and saying softly, "Good child, you've been wronged."
Shen Yan shook her head: "I'm not wronged."
As she spoke, she glanced again at the jade pendant that Gu Yue had already hung back on her waist, and said, "Although I do not know how Miss Gu lost her jade pendant, I can prove that I did not touch her things."
Upon hearing this, all around fell silent. Even Gu Yue, who was wiping away tears, paused in her sobs and looked at her, choking back tears.
Consort Shu raised an eyebrow, looking quite interested: "How can you prove it?"
Shen Yan said, "Although I rarely go out to banquets after entering the capital, I have noticed on the few occasions that various perfumes and floral dews seem to be very popular in the capital. At every banquet, all the sisters and ladies smell very nice."
"Unfortunately, my family is poor and cannot afford such fine things, so I never have such a pleasant fragrance on my body."
"I just brushed past Miss Gu and smelled the fragrance of gardenias on her. I suppose she used perfume and floral lotion."
"Since that jade pendant was something she kept close to her body, it must have been imbued with her scent. If I had touched it, my hands and body would have been tainted by it as well."
“But I have been by the Taiye Pond the whole time. I have never asked the palace servants to fetch water to wash my hands or change my clothes. Your Majesty only needs to have someone smell whether Miss Gu’s jade pendant has the scent of gardenia, and then smell whether I have that scent on me. That will tell you whether I have taken her jade pendant.”
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, and their gazes toward Shen Yan became more serious.
Having lived in the capital for so long, they were used to all sorts of perfumes and fragrances, and hadn't thought of going here. This girl was quick-witted and calm under pressure, more like a well-bred young lady than people like Gu Yue and Yang Huiru.
Consort Shu smiled slightly, and her pale face, which had been pale from a long illness, seemed to have gained some radiance. She immediately ordered people to smell the jade pendant on Gu Yue's body and to smell the scent on Shen Yan's body.
The palace servants smelled Shen Yan's hands and then her body, especially her sleeves and purse, places where things could be easily hidden. Apart from a faint scent of soap, they could not smell any other odors.
If she really stole or picked up Gu Yue's jade pendant, she couldn't possibly keep it in her hand forever. She would have to hide it on her person for a while. Even if the scent on her hands dissipates easily, the scent on her body couldn't be eliminated immediately.
If it's confirmed that Gu Yue's jade pendant has a fragrance, then it can prove that she really didn't take the jade pendant.
Everyone's gaze involuntarily shifted to the palace maid who went to smell the jade pendant. She clearly only needed to smell one piece of jade pendant, but she seemed to have encountered some problem, frowning and remaining silent for a long time.
Could it be that Miss Gu has only worn this jade pendant for a short time and it hasn't picked up any scent yet?
That would mean we wouldn't be able to prove anything to Miss Shen.
Consort Shu frowned and said, "What's wrong? Didn't you smell it?"
The palace maid did not reply immediately. She first smelled the scent on Gu Yue's body, then smelled the jade pendant she was holding in her hand. After carefully confirming, she said, "Your Majesty, it is true that Miss Gu has the scent of gardenias on her body, and this jade pendant also has the scent of gardenias."
This confirmed Shen Yan's words: she had never touched the jade pendant.
Consort Shu breathed a sigh of relief and was about to say something when she heard the palace maid say again, "But... the fragrance of osmanthus is even stronger on this jade pendant."
Gu Yue was taken aback upon hearing this, and snatched the jade pendant back: "Impossible, I clearly used gardenia dew today."
After she finished speaking, she put the jade pendant to her nose and smelled it, but then she was stunned.
The jade pendant does indeed have a fragrance of osmanthus, which even overpowers the original scent of gardenia.
If you only smelled the jade pendant, you might think she was wearing osmanthus fragrance today.
But she clearly didn't use anything related to osmanthus today...
Just as she was wondering, she heard Li Yaozhi's voice drift over: "I remember Miss Yang was using osmanthus fragrance today, right? I saw her take out perfume from her purse and apply it outside just now."
These words were like a wake-up call. Gu Yue immediately turned her head and saw that Yang Huiru's face was deathly pale and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.
Seeing Gu Yue looking at her, she quickly waved her hands: "No, I didn't..."
Before she could finish speaking, Gu Yue lunged at her, grabbing her hair and yelling, "You're the one who ruined me! You actually ruined me! Why did you have to ruin me!"
The two women started fighting in the hall, with Gu Yue mostly hitting Yang Huiru, who was completely unable to defend herself.
When Madam Yang overheard the confrontation in the hall, she felt that this matter was inextricably linked to her daughter. She was annoyed that her daughter acted recklessly without considering the occasion or the seriousness of the matter, and she hoped that her daughter had not left any evidence to cause trouble for others.
Unexpectedly, her daughter was dragged out on the spot in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Even though she was furious, she couldn't just stand by and watch someone beat her daughter, so she had to step in and break up the fight.
"Miss Gu, Miss Gu, please stop hitting her! Things aren't necessarily as you think. Please stop and let's talk things out!"
Gu Yue was furious and didn't care about anything else. She kept slapping Yang Huiru with her fingernails and occasionally hitting Madam Yang, who was trying to break up the fight.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade her and that her family was in the wrong, Madam Yang didn't dare to fight back against Gu Yue here, so she could only call her the Lady of Yongchang.
"Madam Gu, Madam Gu, please persuade the second young lady to stop!"
Lady Yongchang had already stood up when Gu Yue made her move, but she hesitated and dared not approach.
Everyone knows that she can't control her eldest daughter, and even if she did, she might not listen. But she doesn't dare to approach her casually.
Besides... didn't Consort Shu speak up? Then she shouldn't step forward at this time.
Gu Niannian had already gotten up and was standing beside her mother, shouting "Second sister, stop hitting her!" while holding onto her mother tightly to prevent her from going forward.
After this commotion went on for a while, until both Yang Huiru and Madam Yang had bruises on their faces, Consort Shu finally said calmly, "Alright, stop making a scene. What kind of behavior is it to fight in the palace?"
The palace servants standing nearby heard the commotion and immediately stepped forward to pull the three people apart.
The three were in a sorry state after they separated, especially Yang Huiru, whose clothes were disheveled, her hair was pulled apart, and there were red and swollen handprints on both cheeks, as well as several scratches from fingernails.
Madam Yang wasn't much better off. Although she wasn't slapped, Gu Yue's wildly waving hand scratched her chin, leaving it throbbing with pain.
The farce came to an end, leaving both the Gu and Yang families humiliated, with the Yang family being particularly embarrassed. They made an excuse to leave before the banquet even started.
The others watched the spectacle and felt that coming to the flower-viewing banquet today was definitely worthwhile. Not only did they see the Third Princess suffer a setback in front of Consort Shu, but they also witnessed a good show between the Gu and Yang families, which they would have plenty to talk about for a long time when they got back.
After the banquet ended and everyone dispersed, Consort Shu kept Shen Yan behind for a chat.
Qi Jingxuan stayed when he saw this, but was chased away by Consort Shu, who said that she had something to say to Shen Yan alone and that he was not allowed to listen.
Qi Jingxuan was naturally unwilling, but Consort Shu gave him a look, and he was forcibly "invited" outside the hall by the palace servants, where he could only sit on the steps and wait.
Inside the Jianzhang Palace, Consort Shu pulled Shen Yan down to sit with her. She looked Shen Yan up and down carefully for a long time before smiling and saying, "I heard Ah Xuan say how good you are before, but after seeing you today, I know you are even better than he described."
I initially thought it was just a case of love blinding Xi Shi, but I never imagined she was such a wonderful girl—intelligent, quick-witted, and kind-hearted. It's really a bit unfair that she's paired with Ah Xuan.
She was Qi Jingxuan's mother, and knew her son better than anyone else.
She knew that Ah Xuan wasn't the wicked playboy he was rumored to be, but she also knew that he wasn't a good match for many women.
Compared to other princes, he was not smart, had no real power, was not good at studying, and had no ability to govern. In the future, he would have no other way out but to be a leisurely prince.
For those who only seek wealth and stability or want to climb the social ladder, marrying him would be a good match, but for Shen Yan... if she had a choice, she probably would never choose such a person as her husband.
But even though Consort Shu knew the truth perfectly well, as Qi Jingxuan's mother, she still had to ask, "Child, are you willing to remain the Princess Consort of Pingjun forever?"
After saying that, seeing that Shen Yan lowered her eyes and remained silent, he knew that this meant she was refusing, so he quickly added: "Although Ah Xuan has been demoted to a county prince now, his father will definitely put him back in the same title in the future. At that time, he will still be the Prince of Jin, and you will be the Princess Consort of Jin."
But as she expected, these words did not move Shen Yan. She remained silent, her head bowed and eyes lowered.
Consort Shu slumped her shoulders slightly and frowned: "I know Ah Xuan is a bit immature, but... he really likes you. If possible, I hope you can give him a chance."
She did not use her power or status to pressure or force Shen Yan; she simply hoped, as a mother, that Shen Yan could see her child's true feelings.
Shen Yan had no idea how Consort Shu could tell that Prince Ping truly loved her; their marriage was clearly just a way to avoid trouble.
But at this moment, she saw the shadow of her own mother in Consort Shu, and knew that she was only saying these things out of love for her son. After thinking for a moment, she carefully replied, "Your Highness is simple-minded, witty and lovely, and a very good person. It's just that I have no desire for the position of Princess Consort, so I am not destined for it."
Consort Shu was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"This is...this is the first time I've ever heard him praised like this. You must have really run out of things to say to him."
Shen Yan said in a serious tone: "Praise should be based on the facts. Sincere praise is the only praise. If it is just flowery and nonsensical talk, then it is not praise, but boasting."
"This is only necessary in front of those arrogant and conceited people who like to hear flattery. Your Majesty is not that kind of person, so I will naturally say what I think."
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu burst into laughter, drawing the attention of the palace servants inside. Even Qi Jingxuan, who was waiting outside, couldn't help but peek inside.
He hadn't heard his mother laugh like that in so long. What did Aci say that made his mother so happy? He really wanted to go in and listen.
Consort Shu laughed for a long time before stopping. She gently patted Shen Yan's shoulder and sighed that her silly boy was unlucky. After speaking, she had someone bring a wooden box and handed it to Shen Yan.
Shen Yan took it and opened it. Inside was only a thin piece of paper. In the most conspicuous place after opening it, there were three words written: Divorce Agreement.
Seeing that Shen Yan's eyes lit up after reading the contents, Consort Shu knew that what she had just said was true, and that she truly had no desire for the position of princess consort.
Consort Shu sighed again and said, "His Majesty and I have both affixed our seals. Whenever you wish to leave, simply fill in the date yourself."
Shen Yan nodded, rose and bowed deeply to Consort Shu: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty and Your Highness."
Their biggest worry was that the royal family might renege on the agreement in the future, but now that they have this divorce agreement, they can finally rest easy.
Consort Shu smiled bitterly: "I don't want to grant your wish, but I'm afraid that you and Ah Xuan will become a pair of resentful lovers, tormenting each other over time, which would not be good. Rather than that, it would be better for you to separate and live your lives in peace."
As she spoke, she seemed to recall something from the past, her eyes darkening slightly, but she quickly perked up and winked at Shen Yan.
"You should also reconsider what I just said. If you get along with Ah Xuan in the future, give him a chance. I can't guarantee anything else, but as long as this child puts his heart into it, he will definitely treat you well."
Shen Yan did not respond directly, but only said, "The prince has already been very good to me."
Consort Shu knew that further words were useless. If she really wanted Shen Yan to stay, her foolish son would have to work hard himself. So she patted Shen Yan's hand and said, "Good child, go on, Ah Xuan is waiting for you."
Shen Yan nodded, bowed again, and took her leave.
Consort Shu watched her retreating figure and murmured softly, "I really hope... this thing will never be needed."
………………
Seeing Shen Yan come out, Qi Jingxuan quickly stood up from the steps and went to greet her, asking, "What did you and my mother talk about? Why is she smiling so happily?"
Shen Yan had already put the wooden box into her sleeve. She was in a very good mood at the moment. Upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "I praised you to Consort Shu. Consort Shu is your mother. Naturally, she would be happy to hear her child being praised."
Qi Jingxuan frowned, half-believing and half-doubting: "What did you praise me for?"
Many people have praised him since he was a child, but most of them were just flatterers. His mother has never been so happy.
Shen Yan repeated the two sentences she had just used to praise him. Upon hearing this, Qi Jingxuan grinned, his smile even brighter than that of Consort Shu. He brought his handsome face close to Shen Yan's and asked, "You...you really think so?"
Shen Yan nodded: "It's true, the prince is very interesting, more interesting than many people I've met, and interesting people are often very cute."
As people get older, they tend to have more thoughts on their minds, and with more thoughts, they can easily become boring.
However, whether it was because he was born simple-minded or because he was pampered from a young age, Qi Jingxuan did not have many complicated thoughts even though he grew up in the palace. He was good at discovering interesting anecdotes in life and could make the people around him very happy.
Of course, this only applies to people he gets along with. If he doesn't get along with someone, he won't even give them a friendly look and could drive them crazy.
Qi Jingxuan kept looking into her eyes. Seeing her clear gaze and sincere expression, he knew she was speaking from the heart, and he smiled even more happily, his handsome face revealing a hint of silliness.
"Aci, you are also very good. You are smart, beautiful, and you are good at everything you do. You are much better than me."
In this setting, she quickly blended in with the other ladies. While Li Yaozhi had broken the ice, it was also because she herself was exceptionally charming that she had attracted Li Yaozhi's attention.
Later, when Gu Yue and Yang Huiru slandered her, she didn't get angry at all and quickly cleared her name.
Qi Jingxuan knew that if it were him, he probably wouldn't be able to come up with any good idea to prove his innocence except to angrily say "I didn't."
Shen Yan's eyes crinkled with amusement at his simple praise, and she quickly interrupted, "Alright, if you keep praising each other, it'll just become mutual flattery, and that won't be fun."
Qi Jingxuan chuckled, his fingers unconsciously fiddling with the jade pendant at his waist. As he twirled it, he suddenly paused, looking down at it.
Black jade pendant...
Face……
Black jade...
Face……
Suddenly, the scene of him shoving the jade pendant into Gu Yue's face flashed through his mind. The jade pendant swept past Gu Yue's face and grazed her forehead.
This scene evoked another image in his memory: in the mountains, in the dense forest, he rolled down the hillside, and the man stood at the top, looking down at him against the light, his posture upright, drawing a bow, with a dark blue mark on his forehead...
Qi Jingxuan jumped up suddenly, shouting, "I understand!"
He's so stupid, how come he only remembered this now?
The person who framed him was hard to find, but the archer was easy to find!
He was shot dead eight times, all on the way from the capital to his fiefdom. This means that the archer must have come from the capital, as only in this way could he have searched for opportunities along the way and chosen the most suitable chance to strike.
Such a skilled archer would certainly not be unknown; he must have already been recruited into the army. Even if he wasn't in the military, he would undoubtedly be serving as a bodyguard for some high-ranking official or nobleman.
Before Qi Jingxuan was shot for the last time, he rolled and crashed into a tree. When he got up, his vision was blurry and he couldn't see his face clearly, but he was sure of one thing: Qi Jingxuan was not covering his face.
Since he didn't cover his face, there's no possibility that he deliberately created a mark on his forehead to mislead people. It's only because he already has this obvious mark on his forehead and knows that covering his face wouldn't help, so he didn't cover it.
A skilled archer with a distinctive mark on his face—that's easy to find! You can find out by asking around!
Qi Jingxuan was overjoyed, feeling that the deadlock had finally made progress. He couldn't help but grab Shen Yan's hand and say, "Aci, you are truly my lucky star!"
Without waiting for Shen Yan's bewilderment, he grabbed her and ran out of the palace.
After running a few steps, he remembered that he hadn't greeted Consort Shu yet, so he quickly turned back and said to Consort Shu, who was walking out of Jianzhang Palace, "Mother, I have something to attend to, so I'll have to go now. I'll come to see you another day."
After saying that, he pulled Shen Yan and ran out.
Their dresses fluttered as they flew away like two birds soaring into the forest, accompanied by joyful laughter.
Consort Shu stood quietly in front of Jianzhang Palace, watching them run away, a smile appearing on her lips.
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Author's note: 5555 ……Woof woof TT
I will make up for what I owe, I definitely will!
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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