Shen Zhiyi lowered her head slightly, seemingly shy and embarrassed. Just as Song Yuxiu was about to kiss her cheek, someone knocked on the door, "Your Highness."
He was Song Yuxiu's personal attendant, Qian Si.
"What is it!" Song Yuxiu was somewhat annoyed.
"It's a matter for the government."
Song Yuxiu knew perfectly well that it must be about Lin Yaoyao. He felt a little resentful, but he still coaxed Shen Zhiyi, "I'll be right back."
Shen Zhiyi nodded, and after confirming that he had left, she asked Hongrui to prepare water for her to bathe.
Even just having his arm around her shoulder made her feel uncomfortable all over.
Song Yuxiu was furious that Lin Yaoyao was being unreasonable. He stormed into Xuanfang Courtyard, pushed open the door, and saw that Lin Yaoyao was dressed in very thin clothes. Apart from her underwear, she was only wearing a thin veil...
Spring has just begun!
This made his eyes instantly red.
"Your Highness, I'm cold, please come and warm me up."
Song Yuxiu felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and he no longer cared about Chen Zhiyi. He gritted his teeth, called out "demon," and pounced on the bed.
Shen Zhiyi pretended not to know anything and stayed in the room.
The old lady was furious, furious that Lin Yaoyao was a vixen, and also resentful that her grandson was useless. She warned the two not to cause any more trouble.
**
A few days later, Lilan will...
Shen Zhiyi received the Empress Dowager's invitation and had arranged to bring Song Ruoying and Lin Yaoyao along, with Song Yuxiu also going.
Upon arriving at the garden, the group first went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
Although it was called the Pear Blossom Gathering, it was actually a disguised concubine selection banquet. Therefore, most of the noble ladies from aristocratic families in the capital who had not yet married came and greeted Shen Zhiyi politely.
"Zhiyi." As she spoke, a woman dressed in Su Qingyun brocade walked over.
Springtime beauty, a face like an autumn mountain.
She was beautiful and had a refined and elegant demeanor.
She is Wen Qing, the daughter of the former Grand Tutor.
At the prime of her youth, suitors flocked to her door, yet she remained unmarried. Now that she's older, many people laugh at her, saying she's too picky and has become an old maid.
Before Shen Zhiyi got married, the two had a good relationship, but after they got married, they saw each other less.
"Sister Wen." Shen Zhi's eyes instantly reddened when she saw her.
"What's wrong?" Wen Qing frowned.
In his previous life, when his father and brothers were falsely accused of treason, very few people were willing to stand up for the Shen family. Only Grand Tutor Wen spoke out for justice, even to the point of spilling blood in the palace, but he still couldn't get the Shen family forgiveness.
Wen Qing committed suicide by drowning himself in a lake when the entire Shen family was wiped out.
He left a suicide note:
We are not destined to be together in this life.
The underworld is desolate; I wish to stay by your side.
After Wen Qing died, she became the laughing stock of the entire capital. People said she was too stupid to die for a traitor. It was then that Shen Zhiyi realized that she actually loved her elder brother.
She had been a ghost for ten years, and now that they met again, she naturally felt a sense of loss and her eyes welled up with tears.
"It's just been too long since I've seen you," Shen Zhiyi said with a smile.
"If you want to see me, you can do so anytime. We're already married, so why are you still acting like a child who gets jealous?" Wen Qing smiled gently, lightly took her hand, and greeted the Song siblings politely. Her gaze fell on Lin Yaoyao, and her brows furrowed.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Zhiyi and her entourage went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
When they reached the outside of the hall, Shen Zhiyi glanced at Lin Yaoyao and said, "Miss Lin, you shouldn't go in."
"Why?"
This was Lin Yaoyao's first time attending such an event, and she had dressed up carefully.
“Last time you were reprimanded by Eunuch Cao, who serves the Empress Dowager. If the Empress Dowager asks about your identity later, she might be displeased when she thinks about what happened before.”
Song Yuxiu nodded, "Zhiyi makes sense. Miss Lin, you can wait outside."
The Empress Dowager was pleased to see Shen Zhiyi. The Song siblings were humble and ingratiating, but she only nodded indifferently. Then, she turned her gaze and smiled, "Why do you look a little thinner these days? Is something bothering you?"
The Shen family is currently enjoying great favor.
Nothing could worry her; that was the residence of the Marquis of Xuanhua.
The Empress Dowager's gaze suddenly sharpened, and when it fell on the Song siblings, the two of them were so frightened that their legs went weak.
"Young Master Song, could it be that you have neglected Zhiyi?" The voice was light and airy, yet it carried an air of authority without anger.
"Your Majesty, I have always obeyed Madam's wishes and have never dared to mistreat her." Song Yuxiu knelt on the ground with a thud.
Upon seeing this, Song Ruoying also knelt down.
"Your Majesty, it has nothing to do with my husband. It's just that I've been dreaming about my father and brothers these past two days, and I'm worried about them, so I haven't been able to rest well." Shen Zhiyi smiled bitterly.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager laughed and said, "I happen to have some good news to tell you."
"Your elder brother will return to Beijing from western Sichuan in a few days."
"Really?" Shen Zhiyi was overjoyed.
"How could my words be false?" the Empress Dowager said, then looked at Song Yuxiu. "Zhiyi is the only daughter of the Duke of Shen, a precious jewel. If anyone dares to wrong her after she marries into your household, I will be the first to not let her off lightly!"
These words were spoken softly, yet carried immense weight!
Song Yuxiu nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Song Ruoying knelt to the side, not daring to even breathe loudly.
After they left, a person emerged from behind a screen on one side, wearing a mask with intricate patterns engraved on it, exuding an eerie and sinister aura.
The Empress Dowager glanced at him. "So many noble ladies came to pay their respects just now, did you take a fancy to any of them?"
After the Regent sat down, a palace maid served him tea. He picked it up, held it to his nose, and smelled it. "Empress Dowager, this Da Hong Pao tea is quite nice. I'll take some back to my residence later."
"Xuan Ce!" The Empress Dowager frowned. "You're not young anymore; you should have been engaged long ago."
"With so many girls, isn't there a single one you like?"
"My face is disfigured and my body is weak, so I shouldn't hold that girl back."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
