Wen Qing abruptly changed the subject, asking Shen Zhiyi a question that startled her: "Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? Who could I possibly be thinking about?"
"The one who gave you the five-colored silk." Wen Qing's gaze fell on her wrist.
Shen Zhiyi's smile froze.
My family members are all too perceptive; they can't keep even the slightest secret.
"By the way, I've been wanting to ask you this for a while now. What happened to that guard who was always with you? The really handsome one."
"He's gone."
Wen Qing simply nodded and invited her to go on a trip together in a few days.
After she left, it was only after Hongrui reminded her that Shen Zhiyi realized that the Qixi Festival was just a few days away. Lanterns could be released near Tinglan Water Pavilion, and many unmarried women would come here to worship the Sister of Skill. Poetry gatherings would also be held here.
However, after getting married, Shen Zhiyi never participated in such activities again.
On the Qixi Festival, Wen Qing took her to make Qixi cakes and dye her nails with balsam flower juice. They went out as night fell. Accompanying them were her eldest brother, Shen Jingchuan, her second brother, her younger brother, and...
Seventh Prince!
He was always proper and polite, and he greeted Shen Zhiyi and the others with courtesy.
"Why is Your Highness here?" Shen Zhiyi asked with a smile.
"I am traveling incognito today, so just call me Xiao Qi or Xiao Chen," the Seventh Prince said with a smile. Since Shen Qi'an often visited the royal library, and the two were of similar age, they became acquainted after a while.
Zhou Yuanchen frequently visited the Duke's mansion, and each time he went, he would greet Shen Zhiyi.
They would even bring him some interesting and trendy little trinkets from the palace.
Shen Muzhi was a straightforward person, and once he said directly, "Little sister, I have a feeling that the Seventh Prince has ulterior motives towards you?"
"What?"
“If he weren’t so young, I would suspect he wanted to marry you.”
"..."
Shen Zhiyi was speechless. "Second brother, he's still a child."
"But he's clearly trying to please you."
"And he was very polite to you."
That's true. For example, right now, he and his brother bought some candied hawthorns, and he gave them to her first. "Sister Chen, try them, they're delicious."
"Thank you, Xiao Qi."
"What else does my sister want? I... I have money, I'll buy it all for you!" Zhou Yuanchen waved his hand generously, which amused Shen Zhiyi.
As the group traveled together, Shen Jingchuan and Wen Qing, newly married, quickly separated from the main group, prompting Shen Muzhi to scoff: "Don't you get tired of seeing each other every day? You've probably found a secluded spot to enjoy your honeymoon."
Shen Zhiyi was speechless: "Second brother, that's because you're not married and don't have a girl you like!"
"Even if I get married, I will not be like my elder brother."
"I wonder which girl is so unlucky that she'll marry you someday."
"You little rascal, I..."
Shen Muzhi was interrupted before he could finish speaking.
"Miss Shen!" Shen Zhiyi looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the Third Prince had appeared in the bustling city at some point, with Wei Mingzhen by his side.
When the Third Prince had his accident, although she was a concubine, she was carried into the mansion in a small sedan chair like a mistress, without even a proper wedding ceremony.
This led many people to ridicule her for being unlucky in life.
Now that the Third Prince has regained power, she naturally acts arrogantly, dressed elegantly and luxuriously, exuding an air of nobility.
Shen Zhiyi politely greeted his second brother and younger brother.
The third prince wasn't surprised to see his younger brother. "Seventh brother is here too."
This younger brother has been getting too close to the Shen family lately.
However, they are too young to pose a threat.
"Third Brother." The Seventh Prince greeted her, but only gave Wei Mingzhen a polite nod, after all, she was just a concubine, not the proper Third Prince's sister-in-law.
Wei Mingzhen smiled, but seeing Shen Zhiyi's anger, she felt extremely annoyed.
Everyone in the capital knew that the Third Prince had feelings for her.
I had finally looked forward to the Qixi Festival to go out with him, but I still ran into her. She's like a persistent ghost.
The Third Prince naturally hoped to spend more time with Shen Zhiyi, but his Seventh Brother was like a persistent leech, clinging tightly to her side.
"Seventh Brother, it seems quite lively over there. Why don't you go take a look?" The Third Prince pointed to a noisy place.
"I'm not interested. I just want to play with Sister Chen."
Shen Zhiyi chuckled softly: "Why are you always following me around?"
"I like being with pretty older women."
"Seventh brother, why don't you play with your sister-in-law?" Wei Mingzhen leaned closer.
"You..." The Seventh Prince looked her up and down, "Are you very pretty?"
These words completely broke Wei Mingzhen's defenses.
You brat, what nonsense are you spouting!
She was a well-known beauty in the capital, so why couldn't she catch his eye?
The Seventh Prince is His Majesty's youngest son and is very favored. He is usually arrogant and haughty, so why does he treat Shen Zhiyi differently?
That wretched woman is nothing but a divorced woman; besides her illustrious family background, what else does she have to offer?
Why is everyone revolving around her?
The Seventh Prince held Shen Zhiyi's hand tightly.
This is the future aunt whom the Imperial Uncle has his eye on. Now that the Imperial Uncle is not in the capital, he, as the nephew, naturally has to help him protect his wife.
Seeing this, Shen Qi'an seemed a little jealous and took her sister's other hand.
The fallen branches seemed helpless:
Going out alone, are you taking the child with you?
When they arrived at Tinglan Water Pavilion, the poetry gathering had already begun. Shen Muzhi was all bravado and no brains; he wasn't suited for such a mentally taxing activity. Instead, the Third Prince took the stage.
He composed three poems, which drew cheers from the crowd and earned him the title of champion in the poetry competition.
He kept giving her flirty looks.
This infuriated Wei Mingzhen.
How could she tolerate her husband showing affection to other women? Yet, Shen Zhiyi remained indifferent, seemingly looking down on them.
Both his father and elder brother were military generals.
She has always despised those who collude with the enemy and betray their country.
Even if this third prince possesses extraordinary talent, his character is flawed, so she naturally wouldn't like him.
“Chen Zhiyi, His Highness doesn’t like you at all! You’ve been married before, and you still want to enter the royal family? Don’t dream!” Wei Mingzhen stood beside her from below the stage and said in a low voice.
Shen Zhiyi's gaze fell lightly on her, and she sneered, "Wei Mingzhen, I used to just think you were stupid, but now I realize you're brainless."
"you……"
"Those who are capable can handle men; those who are incapable come looking for trouble with me."
"If it weren't for your father and brothers, who would even look at you? You're just lucky to have been born into this family."
"That's my skill," Shen Zhiyi sneered. "But you, although you married into the royal family, you didn't even have a proper ceremony. I'm afraid even the concubines of the Prince's mansion had a bigger ceremony when they entered the family than you."
"Instead of arguing with me, why don't you have the Third Prince put on a grand wedding ceremony for you?"
These words struck a nerve with her.
You shameless woman, how dare you mock her!
Wei Mingzhen was furious and almost instinctively raised her hand to hit her.
Just then, a pebble flew from nowhere and hit her hand, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Who dares to ambush me!" Wei Mingzhen shouted angrily.
Shen Zhiyi looked around, but amidst the surging crowd, he couldn't see who had done it.
Only the shadowy figure lurking in the darkness was raising its hand to weigh the remaining pebbles...
His gaze was cold and deep, but a playful smile played on his lips.
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