Shen Ning was not born with a talent for social maneuvering, but rather, if one does not cultivate connections when in charge, it is no different from courting disaster.
There's a lot to learn about cultivating relationships: you have to be agreeable but not obsequious, you don't have to be competitive but you can't be weak, and you have to be gentle but not lose your pride.
As a junior, even if you are capable, you should not show off in front of your elders. You should learn to conceal your talents, but you should not be too foolish either.
Everything has its limits; if you grasp them well, you'll be successful in everything you do.
Shen Ning was forced to learn how to use his experience of dying once to deal with these people, so it was a piece of cake for him.
However, there are never truly perfect people in this world. For example, Shen Ning's life is inseparable from Shen Shu, who is like a plague god.
When Shen Shu entered with a pale-faced woman, Shen Ning's perfect expression slowly cracked.
Ironically, the recent drama of the Shen sisters' substitute marriage has caused quite a stir in the city, but few people here know the protagonist, Shen Shu.
Upon seeing the two enter, most people's attention was focused on another woman, mainly because she was too conspicuous.
At the flower-viewing banquet, everyone was dressed in luxurious finery, but she was dressed in white, with a white jade hairpin in her hair. Her face was pale and weak, and she looked like she was attending a funeral.
Shen Shu carefully helped the person forward and obediently bowed to the Princess Consort: "Shen Shu greets the Princess Consort."
The mention of 'Chen Shu' instantly startled everyone present, and they almost immediately turned their attention to Shen Ning, who was standing to the side.
Before the Grand Princess could call her to get up, Shen Shu took the hand of the woman next to her and said with a smile, "It's quite a coincidence. I saw that Sister Lu was not feeling well outside, so I helped her in. I didn't expect that she would be the Heir Apparent's wife of Prince Qi."
Lu Shuying is the woman brought back by the young master Li Kun.
Shen Shu never expected to meet the Crown Princess and have her help so much. The joy of getting close to such a noble person clouded her judgment. She thought that if she became close friends with the Crown Princess, she would have a lot of face in the future. She was completely unaware that she had become someone else's pawn.
The old princess's maid immediately stepped forward and coldly rebuked her: "Young lady, please watch your words. The Prince Qi's residence does not yet have a heir apparent's wife."
"Huh?" Shen Shu was stunned and turned to look at Lu Shuying: "Sister Lu, what's going on?"
Lu Shuying stepped forward and gracefully bowed to the Princess Dowager: "Princess Dowager, my stomach was upset just now, and it was Young Madam Wei who helped me."
Her belly wasn't showing, but she deliberately held her waist, as if afraid others wouldn't know she was pregnant.
The old princess said coldly, "Drag her away."
Immediately, someone came to pull her away, but Lu Shuying was not afraid. Instead, relying on the fact that they dared not touch her stomach, she provocatively looked at Shen Ning on the side: "This must be the concubine that Mother chose for my husband. As expected of a lady from a good family. Don't be afraid, little sister. I just came to see you. After you marry into the family, I will definitely make sure my husband takes good care of you."
Shen Shu then noticed Shen Ning sitting there and exclaimed in shock, "Sister? What are you doing here?"
Lu Shuying blinked, feigning surprise: "Oh, so my sister is actually Mrs. Wei's older sister. What a coincidence!"
Shen Shu was stunned: "What do you mean? Sister, you're going to become someone else's concubine?"
Shen Shu was furious: "Can't you live if Brother Wei doesn't like you? How can you be so depraved?"
Shen Ning closed her eyes, her calm expression revealing pain and anger that was obvious to everyone.
Shen Ning stood up and bowed to the old princess: "Your Highness, I don't understand what this young lady is saying. I have no plans to get married recently, and I didn't know when I became someone's concubine... I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well. Please allow me to leave."
Lu Shuying's level was too low. She couldn't wait to announce her identity and wanted to occupy the position of the Crown Prince's wife. Although she achieved her goal, in the eyes of these shrewd people, her actions were just like a jumping monkey.
Shen Ning will not confront her directly. Instead, she will retreat to save face for the Prince Qi's mansion, and someone else will deal with her.
Sure enough, the old princess was furious and slammed her hand on the table: "Have someone drag her away!"
This time, the people didn't dare to hesitate. They forcibly dragged the person away and covered their mouths.
Shen Shu was dumbfounded: "What are you doing? Let go of Sister Lu, she's pregnant."
Unfortunately, no one here listens to her.
Watching helplessly as Lu Shuying was dragged away, Shen Shu looked at Shen Ning with dissatisfaction: "Sister, what are you doing? Sister Lu was so polite to you, why aren't you helping her?"
Shen Ning lowered her eyes, unwilling to look at her any longer: "Young Madam Wei, please watch your words. I, Shen Ning, am not worthy of being called your sister."
Shen Ning bowed and prepared to leave, but Princess Chang Le suddenly appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her, saying, "You are a distinguished guest I invited, where are you going?"
He glared at Chen Shu with malicious intent: "Young Madam Wei? Bah, what brings you to my house? Do you have an invitation?"
Shen Shu's eyes widened: "Of course I have a post."
Princess Chang Le waved her hand: "Someone, go and find all the invitations. I want to see how this kind of thing managed to sneak in."
Shen Ning tried to grab her hand: "Don't make too much of a scene."
Princess Chang Le was furious: "I'm standing up for you, and you're helping her? Why would you protect a fool like her who can't tell right from wrong?"
Shen Ning was initially aggrieved, but she was so angry that she laughed until tears streamed down her face. She gently hugged Princess Chang Le's arm and said in a low voice, "I am glad that the princess helped me get revenge, but my status is lowly. How could I be worth the princess making such a fuss? Don't ruin the Grand Princess's flower viewing banquet."
Princess Chang Le remained silent for a long time before finally managing to say, "Throw her out."
"Sister..." Shen Shu was pulled away before she could even plead for her sister.
Shen Ning wanted to leave, but Princess Chang Le was angry and didn't try to stop her. However, the Grand Princess spoke up.
"Child, come here."
Shen Ning had no choice but to go back and say, "Your Highness, Princess Consort."
The old princess took her hand, her expression even more loving and kind: "Good child, I'm so sorry you've been wronged."
As she spoke, she placed the imperial green jade bracelet in her hand onto Shen Ning's hand. Shen Ning was afraid of breaking it, so she didn't dare to move it much and just pressed it down with her hand: "Your Highness, there is no need for this. Shen Shu and I are siblings from the same mother. As the eldest sister, it is my dereliction of duty that I failed to educate her well. I already feel extremely guilty for letting her make a fool of herself and ruin your flower viewing banquet. How can I accept your reward?"
The old princess smiled and patted her hand, firmly handing over the bracelet: "Even good bamboo can produce bad shoots. Some people are crooked at their core, no matter how you teach them, they will still be crooked. You are just a young girl, so it's not your fault."
After putting on the jade bracelet, she had someone bring a stool and pulled Shen Ning to sit down. Then, looking up at the group of noble ladies, she explained with a smile, "My husband and I like Shen Ning very much. We thought we would marry her to Kun'er so she could help manage the palace. We never expected such a blind person to come along and make us all laugh."
Everyone quickly said they dared not, and then showered Shen Ning with compliments.
With the Princess Consort speaking up personally, who would dare to say anything bad about Shen Ning?
Moreover, Shen Ning is generous and proper, while those two petty people just now, their blatant scheming was truly unsightly. In comparison, the difference in their character is immediately apparent.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
