"General Shen actually married two wives? Isn't he supposed to be very devoted? He doesn't even have any concubines in his household, only one wife? So... all that deep affection he showed for his wife was just a lie!"
"Princess Jingwan said that the Crown Princess was born to General Shen's concubine. Does that mean... she wasn't born to General Shen's first wife? Then what was her mother? Was she a second wife, a concubine, or an unofficial mistress?"
"Could it be that the eldest daughter of the Shen family is the daughter of the first wife? No wonder the sisters are so at odds, they don't have the same mother! But even if they don't have the same mother, the Crown Princess shouldn't have been so disrespectful to her sister just now!"
"I heard that the Shen family didn't originally plan to marry two wives. It was the current wife who killed the previous wife and took her place as Madam Shen. That's why General Shen has two wives!"
"Really? Is this true? There's such a thing?"
"Now that Madam Shen has been arrested and imprisoned in the Dali Temple, and she committed suicide out of fear of punishment, how could this be false?"
"If this is true, the Crown Princess's background is far too disgraceful! How can someone like that be worthy of being the Crown Princess?"
"Look at the Crown Princess! Her own mother has died, yet she's dressed up so extravagantly, not even knowing how to observe mourning! She's so heartless!"
These people kept saying one thing after another, each word piercing Shen Yunjin's heart. She was so angry that she trembled all over, wishing she could shut everyone up.
But it was Xiao Yunyan who brought up this topic.
And what they said was all true.
Shen Yunjin had no way to refute, feeling both angry and aggrieved, and finally couldn't help but sob and cry.
Looking at Shen Yunjin's appearance, Xiao Yunyan took a half step back in disgust: "Crying again, crying again, anyone who doesn't know better would think I'm bullying you!"
"Even if you are a princess, you shouldn't take advantage of your favor and bully others!" Shen Yunjin wiped away her tears with her embroidered handkerchief and glared at Xiao Yunyan resentfully.
Xiao Yunyan sneered: "I'm spoiled and arrogant? The Crown Princess has quite the nerve!"
Just as the two were about to clash, a eunuch's voice came from outside the hall.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Prince of Jin have arrived!"
Seeing Xiao Yuncheng arrive, Shen Yunjin's tears flowed even more fiercely. She looked at Xiao Yuncheng with a pitiful expression and said, "Your Highness, you've finally come..."
Xiao Yuncheng was taken aback for a moment, then his face turned cold: "Today is a banquet hosted by the Emperor, what are you crying about here? If you're not feeling well, go back first!"
"Your Highness!" Shen Yunjin pouted, looking aggrieved, and then glanced at Xiao Yunyan, her meaning clear: she wanted to complain to Xiao Yuncheng.
Seeing this, Xiao Yunyan snorted coldly: "Acheng! You pampered Crown Princess, you say I'm bullying her!"
Xiao Yunyan addressed Xiao Yuncheng not as the Crown Prince, but by his childhood nickname. The familiar tone made Shen Yunjin even more jealous.
She was Xiao Yuncheng's Crown Princess, yet even she never called him "A-Cheng" once.
Xiao Yunyan is just an older sister. No matter how close an older sister is, can she be as close as a wife like her?
To Shen Yunjin's surprise, after hearing Xiao Yunyan's words, Xiao Yuncheng not only did not defend her, but instead began to scold her.
"How could my elder sister bully you? You just drank too much water and had nowhere to cry!"
"Your Highness, it's not like that, it's clearly..."
Shen Yunjin wanted to say something more, but Xiao Yuncheng brushed past him and reached out to support Xiao Yunyan: "Royal sister, Father and Mother will be here soon, please take your seats!"
Xiao Yunyan lowered her eyes and smiled, letting Xiao Yuncheng help her sit down in her seat.
Shen Yunjin bit her lower lip hard. She was pregnant, and Xiao Yuncheng didn't come to help her, but instead went to help Xiao Yunyan.
Are you kidding me?!
But Shen Yunjin had no chance to get angry, because the Emperor and Empress arrived at Nuanyu Pavilion with their officials. With the eunuchs announcing the arrival, everyone knelt on the ground and shouted, "Long live the Emperor and the Empress!"
The Emperor, seated high above the banquet table, raised his hand and said, "Level tone!"
Everyone stood up and sat back down in their seats.
As Shen Yunjin knelt down and stood up again, a sudden sharp pain shot through her abdomen, causing her face to turn pale instantly.
Seeing Shen Yunjin's tear-streaked face and extremely unpleasant expression, Empress Chen frowned in displeasure but said nothing.
As the banquet began, music started, and dancers emerged from among the flowers and willows, performing graceful dances in the hall.
As the dance ended, Chu Yuning suddenly stood up, holding a wine cup, and addressed the Emperor in a loud voice: "Let the jade cup be filled with calamus wine, and let the Emperor and his subjects celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival together! This cup of wine is offered to Your Majesty! May the Great Yan Kingdom be prosperous and peaceful, and may Your Majesty and Empress enjoy good health and long life!"
The Emperor smiled, raised his wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp. He concluded by saying, "Minister Chu is right. Reward him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a palace servant presented him with a reward: a pair of love locks, carved from the finest Hetian jade, which were exquisitely beautiful.
The meaning of this "love lock" is quite obvious.
The Emperor hoped that Chu Yuning and Xiao Yunyan could be of one heart and mind and never be separated.
Chu Yuning hurriedly kowtowed to express her gratitude.
After Chu Yuning started, officials and their families rose to offer toasts, or wrote poems and lyrics, or played musical instruments and danced to perform their talents.
The banquet was very lively.
Shen Yuan ate her food quietly. She could feel two burning gazes fixed on her, but she ignored them.
She didn't even look up at the other person.
Until the Emperor called out Shen Yuan's name.
"You are Shen Yuan, the eldest daughter whom General Shen recently found?"
Shen Yuan rose and bowed, replying, "This humble woman is indeed you."
Seeing her poised and graceful demeanor, the Emperor nodded in satisfaction.
Shen Yuan suddenly stepped forward and said, "This humble woman is not knowledgeable and skilled in singing and dancing. Last night I wrapped some meat dumplings, which are in the southern style, and brought them to Your Majesty and Empress to taste. I hope Your Majesty and Empress will like them."
The Emperor smiled and said, "Bring it here!"
Shen Yuan took the food box from Bai Zhi and handed a portion to the chief eunuch beside the emperor. With the emperor's permission, Shen Yuan and Bai Zhi distributed the rest.
At the banquet, men and women sat at separate tables. After Shen Yuan finished distributing zongzi to the female guests, she walked to the seats opposite the princes and officials.
The first row was occupied by Xiao Yuncheng, Xiao Yunfei, and Chu Yuning.
Shen Yuan walked up to Xiao Yuncheng and respectfully presented him with the zongzi she had brought, but Xiao Yuncheng didn't even glance at Shen Yuan. He simply turned to the side and urged Xiao Yunfei to drink.
Seeing that Shen Yuan was bent over holding the plate, Xiao Yunfei reached out to her and said, "Bring it over here!"
Just as Xiao Yunfei turned to talk to Shen Yuan, Shen Yuan noticed that Xiao Yuncheng's fingers touched Xiao Yunfei's wine glass.
Xiao Yunfei must have noticed it too, but he didn't react at all. He took the rice dumpling from Shen Yuan and gave her a gentle smile.
"Miss Chen, thank you so much!"
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