Chapter 134: Status
The palace banquet was still going on, with ladies from prominent families and young masters from aristocratic families performing on stage to entertain the emperor.
The emperor rewarded Chen Wan, and if they performed well, the emperor would definitely reward them as well. More importantly, the emperor had several princes of marriageable age who had not yet married. If they caught the emperor's eye and were granted marriage by the emperor, they would enjoy endless wealth and glory from then on.
The entire palace banquet lasted for more than an hour and ended only when the emperor was tired.
Everyone stood up to see the emperor off respectfully, and then filed out of Rui'an Hall.
At this point, Shen Ti still hadn't shown up, so Shen Wu asked Shen Wan, "Where is Shen Ti?"
It’s not too late to ask now.
Just as Chen Wan was about to answer, a palace maid came over and bowed to Chen Ji and Yun, "The Queen invites you."
Shen Ji and Yun looked at each other, not understanding what Queen Song asked them to do.
But since someone has sent an invitation, I must go.
Not only Shen Ji and Yun, but also Shen Wan and the second wife and her daughter went with them. They were not far away, in the back hall of Ruian Palace.
Chen Li and Xie Jingyu walked together, arm in arm, talking and laughing. When he turned around to see where his parents had gone, his own parents and sister were gone.
Shen Li, “…”
Where are the people?
In the blink of an eye, the figure disappeared.
The palace maid led the way, and Shen Wan followed her parents to the back hall to meet the emperor. As soon as she entered, she heard Concubine Zhao say, "Miss Shen Er and the Prince of Jingbei were married by the emperor. They seem to be in love with each other. How could they have arranged a private meeting with the king?"
Shen Ji frowned, and Shen Wan just felt sick.
Not only are you plotting against her, you're also giving her the reputation of being fickle.
Queen Song said, "I also feel that this matter is suspicious, but it is an indisputable fact that someone is plotting against the King!"
"Whether this matter is related to Miss Shen Er, we'll know once we meet her and ask her."
The emperor sat there with a bad look on his face, and Queen Song's face was even darker.
She had not counted on Chen Wan, and her son had an affair with an illegitimate daughter. This was a great shame and humiliation for Queen Song, who was in charge of the harem.
Shen Ji, along with his wife and daughter, stepped forward and saluted the emperor. Queen Song's eyes fell on Shen Wan, "Did Second Miss Shen arrange a private meeting with King Cheng at the banquet today?"
Chen Wan shook her head repeatedly, "Your Majesty, I have no reason to meet with Prince Cheng. However, during the banquet, a palace maid told me that Princess Jiangling was waiting for me outside the palace, so I left the table to go find her."
"My fourth sister can testify on my behalf, but I don't know when she left the table and I haven't seen her since."
Concubine Zhao smiled and said, “Miss Shen Si is with Prince Cheng.”
The second wife was shocked.
She knew that Queen Song and Prince Cheng were plotting against Shen Wan, and she also knew that today's palace banquet was held to plot against Shen Wan. When Shen Wan left the table, she thought the matter was a sure thing, but when Shen Wan finally went back, she knew that Queen Song's plan had failed.
But why is Shen Ti with King Cheng? !
The second wife had a bad feeling in her heart.
After a while, Shen Ti came over. Maybe she had been crying for a long time, and her eyes were a little red and swollen. Shen Wan saw her and said, "Where has Fourth Sister gone? Why are you crying like this? Did someone bully you?"
Shen Ti shook her head, "No, no one bullied me..."
He looked so utterly abused, how could he not have been bullied?
Shen Wan looked at Queen Song, "I brought the fourth sister into the palace and she sat with me. When the palace maid passed the message to me, she had not left the table yet. If the Queen doesn't believe it, you can ask her."
Queen Song looked at Chen Ti, and Chen Ti said, "My second sister went to see Princess Jiangling and hasn't returned yet. I was worried, so I left the table to look for her. The palace maid showed me the way, and I finally found the side hall. I saw King Cheng fainted on the ground, and I went forward to check. Just then, I accidentally took the aphrodisiac with King Cheng..."
"My humble appearance and status are often criticized. I know I cannot possibly reach the heights of a king. I, your humble servant, am willing to become a monk and live by the green lamp and ancient Buddha from now on."
Shen Ti knelt down, her voice aggrieved but resounding.
This scheming method should not be underestimated.
Not only did she lose her virginity to King Cheng, she even saved his life. Could the emperor not let King Cheng give her a status and treat her unfairly?
With this kneeling, her position as concubine was secured.
Queen Song was willing to help Shen Ti, but she had no say in the matter. She looked at Shen Wan with anger, "You didn't go to the side hall?"
Chen Wan blinked, "The maid was leading me there, but at the fork in the road, I saw a figure that looked like Princess Jiangling from afar, chasing after Princess Jiangling..."
Concubine Zhao said, “Fortunately, I didn’t go. It’s obvious that someone is plotting against you, Miss Shen Er, and Prince Cheng.”
As for who it is——
Even if you don't have a brain, you can guess it.
In order to seize the position of crown prince, Queen Song and Prince Cheng actually wanted to use a fait accompli to snatch the Crown Princess of Prince Jingbei. Concubine Zhao suspected that it was Prince Jingbei who knocked Prince Cheng unconscious.
Chen Ji's face turned pale, and Yun Shi was even more frightened.
No one dared to think about what the consequences would be if Shen Wan really went. Shen Ji and Yun were very satisfied with Xie Jingyu. Back then, Shen Wan mistakenly recognized the emperor as his "father" and clung to him. The emperor held Shen Wan in his arms and proposed marriage to Shen Ji, wanting one of his princes to marry Shen Wan and call him "father" in the future. Shen Ji declined because Shen Wan was weak and sickly, and the imperial physician said he might not be able to support her.
Later, when Shen Wan recovered from his illness, the emperor proposed twice again, but Shen Ji refused.
Shen Ji would not marry Shen Wan into the royal family, but if it was a fait accompli, he would have no choice but to agree.
Shen Ji didn't expect that the military power in his hands and the wealth of the Yun family almost harmed Shen Wan.
Shen Ji knew what was going on, but without evidence, he could only endure it and looked at the emperor. "I don't know who is plotting against my daughter. Please investigate thoroughly!"
The emperor said, "I will send someone to investigate this matter. As for Fourth Miss Shen——"
Concubine Zhao said, "The side palace is far away. If it weren't for Miss Shen Si's accidental encounter today, Prince Cheng would have died. She has made great contributions in saving Prince Cheng, and she should be given the position of principal concubine."
The emperor has not yet appointed a crown prince, and it seems that he has no plans to do so. The emperor treats the several adult princes equally, and even supports the weaker ones.
Several princes of the previous dynasty were fighting endlessly, and in the harem, Concubine Zhao Guifei, Concubine Li Shufei and Queen Song were also fighting openly and secretly.
Given the opportunity to kick someone when they are down, especially in a fair and open manner, Concubine Zhao and Concubine Li would naturally not miss it.
Concubine Zhao helped Shen Ti, and Queen Song was furious. "How can she, an illegitimate daughter, be worthy of Prince Cheng? Where does Concubine Zhao put the reputation of the royal family?!"
Concubine Li Shu also chimed in, "Miss Shen Si's status is somewhat lower, but she was carefully taught by Duke Dingguo and his wife for four years. She is proficient in everything from music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs. She even surpassed the ladies of Kyoto and won the first prize at the Peony Banquet at Princess Shunyang's residence. More importantly, she saved Prince Cheng's life. Isn't this life-saving grace enough to offset the Queen's prejudice against her status?"
Concubine Zhao and Concubine Li spared no effort to help Chen Ti. Of course, it was not because they had good intentions, but the position of Princess Cheng was enough to win over an important court official. If Shen Ti took it, it would not only be detrimental to Prince Cheng's fight for the throne, but would also cause trouble for Queen Song. Why not do it?
Of course, although they helped to fight for it, they knew very well that the emperor would not agree. If they did not fight for the position of the principal wife, Queen Song would probably not even give Shen Ti the position of concubine.
Queen Song knew that the emperor was good at the art of ruling, and was afraid that the emperor would really agree in order to check and balance Prince Cheng, so she quickly said, "It's not that I'm ungrateful, but I value the royal family's reputation. With Miss Shen's status, it's already a stretch for me to be Prince Cheng's concubine..."
"Let the Ministry of Rites choose an auspicious day and marry her as Prince Cheng's concubine."
The emperor waved his hand to interrupt Queen Song and made the final decision.
Shen Ti breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a little disappointed.
If this had happened two months earlier, she would still be General Ye's daughter, and the emperor would have conferred upon her the title of Princess Changle. She would definitely have become Prince Cheng's principal wife.
However, since she is born with a noble fate, she will not be the king's concubine for her whole life. This is just her starting point. She will climb up step by step and sit on the position of queen or even queen mother.
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