Chapter 165 Watching the Show
The Fourth Prince's wife said good things on the surface, but she actually said one thing in public and another behind his back. She instigated the Fourth Prince to say such rebellious words. She is simply a jealous woman.
How can she be worthy of being a queen if she is so petty-minded? If the girl from the Duan family had been married, she would never be like this.
She waited for Shen Anan to come forward and greet her, but unexpectedly, she sat down next to the eldest princess, as if she didn't take her seriously at all.
What’s even more hateful is that no matter whether it’s the eldest princess or anyone else, they all seem to think there’s nothing wrong?
Liangpin couldn't swallow this insult. After all, she was favored by the emperor and was now the most prominent person in the palace. Even Zhou had just greeted her.
"Fourth Prince's Concubine." She smiled, but there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "How come you forgot about me after not coming for a few days? You didn't even come to say hello. Could it be that you have been spoiled by the Fourth Prince and have forgotten the rules?"
“…”
Everyone's eyes turned to her.
Shen Anan had heard of the four concubines calling themselves this concubine, but this was the first time she had heard of this concubine.
"Hello, Lady Liangpin." She smiled obediently, "It's all because my husband is too tolerant. He never puts on airs in the mansion and never lets me perform formalities. That's why I neglected this etiquette."
The implication is, I don’t even kneel to Xiao Yuan, so who do you think you are?
A concubine without children will either be buried alive with the emperor or become a nun when the emperor is no longer around. Who would be smart enough to offend the prince? But Concubine Liang chose to do that. I don't know if she is stupid or foolish.
Liangpin looked a little ugly. In public, Shen Anan pointed out that she was putting on airs, which made her feel particularly embarrassed.
But the others looked at each other with their eyes and noses, as if they heard nothing. Even Zhou and Xiao Ze did not take the opportunity to jump out.
When there is no tiger in the mountain, the monkey will become king. Ever since Concubine Ning and Concubine Shen passed away, Concubine Liang's family has become the most powerful one and they almost forgot their own names.
She wants to stick her neck out to everyone, does she really think she is the queen?
"Madam, have some tea." Xiao Yuan poured a cup of tea himself and handed it to Shen Anan.
"Thank you, my husband." Zhou was extremely envious of the loving look on their faces.
Liangpin was not convinced and spoke again, "It's a good thing that the Fourth Prince's wife and the Fourth Prince have a good relationship, but they can't break the rules of the royal family. If the prince can't have children, the consequences will be very serious."
"It is not proper for the backyard to rely on the Fourth Prince's wife alone. The Miss Li, who was gifted by the Emperor..."
Liangpin's words were stuck in her throat, like a chicken whose neck was suddenly grabbed. She couldn't utter a word because Xiao Yuan's eyes were too sinister and terrifying.
Staring at her was like staring at a dead person.
Shen Anan said indifferently, "It is precisely because of this that my husband did not agree to let Miss Li marry into the family. After all, Miss Li and Concubine Liang are from the same family. Concubine Liang has been married into the palace for ten years and has never been pregnant. It can be seen that the Li family has no descendants. It would be useless to marry her and she would just take up space."
"you--"
Liangpin was furious. She didn't hit people in the face or expose their weaknesses when scolding them. In front of so many people, she spoke so harshly.
Shen Anan raised her eyes calmly, her almond-shaped eyes looking at her indifferently.
Liangpin was stared at by the couple, and their eyes were particularly similar, as if they were slept in the same bed.
She was silent for a while. She finally chose to remain silent. With Xiao Yuan around, nothing good could come of her. Why should she continue to embarrass herself?
There is still a long way to go, so let’s wait and see.
The eldest princess sneered. The most unreliable thing in the world is the emperor's favor. Concubine Liang is really courting death.
"The Emperor has arrived—"
The eunuch suddenly shouted loudly, and the emperor in a dragon robe walked out from the back hall. It was unclear whether he had just arrived or had arrived a long time ago and was hiding there watching the show.
Everyone stood up and saluted. The emperor's eyes fixed on Shen Anan and Xiao Yuan for a moment, then slowly moved away, "Everyone, stand up. Today is a family dinner. There's no need to be so reserved."
Although they said so, everyone was much more cautious and serious than before, and even the whispers stopped.
Liangpin looked at the emperor aggrievedly, but her eyes were fixed on the blind man and the emperor didn't even look at her.
Amid the eunuchs' shouts, palace maids came in one after another and served dishes, snacks, and warm fruit wine, which were specially prepared for the female members of the family.
Shen Anan lowered her eyes and thought, the emperor shouldn't hate her so much as to poison her.
Just as he was lost in thought, the emperor's majestic voice suddenly sounded, "Fourth Prince Consort, didn't you go to Jiangnan? Why are you still here?"
Shen Anan looked up at the emperor's calm eyes, stood up and said respectfully, "Father, I was planning to leave these two days, but my husband refused, saying that this is the first New Year after our marriage, and he wanted us to spend it together before leaving."
A hint of shyness appeared on her face at the right time. As a eunuch, the emperor naturally couldn't say anything more. He waved his hand and asked her to sit down.
"Since you have taken on this case, you must do your best to investigate it as quickly as possible. The Lin family doesn't have that much time to wait for you to investigate slowly."
There was a hint of meaning in his words, and Shen Anan responded softly, but when she raised her eyes inadvertently, she met the emperor's deep and dark eyes, and her heart paused.
At that moment, it was as if I was stripped naked and placed in the sun, and all my thoughts were seen through.
A warm hand suddenly grasped her cold fingertips, giving her some warmth. She turned around and saw Xiao Yuan smiling at her with a gentle face, which suddenly gave her great courage.
The emperor glanced at his protective son with disdain in his eyes, then turned his anger towards Xiao Ze and Zhou, who both had sullen faces.
"Why are you guys so blank-faced? Are you arguing again?"
The two of them quickly stood up and said no, but Zhou couldn't hide her sobs. It was obvious that she wanted the emperor to make the decision for her. But when she thought of Xiao Ze's intention, she could only swallow her anger.
The emperor said, "I heard that the concubine from the Duan family that you married a few days ago is here too. Where is she?"
He looked at Xiao Ze scrutinizingly, and Xiao Ze quickly explained, "Father, she and Miss Duan San are very close sisters. We haven't seen each other for a while, so she must have gone to look for Miss Duan San. I will send someone to call her back right away."
"No need." The emperor waved his hand and ordered the eunuch beside him, "Go and call the Duan sisters to come and have dinner together."
Xiao Ze was overjoyed and bowed quickly, "Thank you, father."
The emperor glanced at him with a half-smile in his eyes, without saying a word.
Zhou gnashed her teeth in hatred that even her father treated those two bitches with such respect.
Shen Anan, however, clearly noticed the emperor's meaningful glance at Xiao Ze and Xiao Yuan. He shook his head slightly.
There was only jealousy in Zhou's eyes. She was afraid that she could not see clearly the emperor's intention of testing and scrutinizing her. Duan Mengmeng's identity was sensitive now, and her appearance would inevitably cause a stir.
So whichever son is more eager is the one who is most ambitious and hopes for his death.
She turned her head to glance at Xiao Yuan, unable to stop worrying, afraid that he would not be able to control himself and become entangled with Duan Mengmeng like before.
Xiao Yuan was always looked at by her with such an innocent look, and he felt helpless.
I swear to God, he really didn't have any difference in feelings towards Duan Mengmeng, including... in his dreams.
It's just that everything in the dream was too coincidental, making it impossible for him to explain it. It was as if Duan Mengmeng's existence was just to cause trouble for the two of them.
On the one hand, she simply didn't give him a chance to explain. Just like now, no matter how many times he said it, she would still subconsciously feel that he had other thoughts about Duan Mengmeng.
"What do you want me to do in order for you to believe me?" He grabbed her tender white palm, and Shen Anan immediately took her hand back, her face expressionless.
Not long after, the Duan sisters entered the palace under the guidance of the chief eunuch, "Your Majesty, the people have been brought here."
The emperor's eyes swept over Duan Mengmeng, who was dressed as a female official. In order to avoid suspicion, he said that he was related to his daughter-in-law because she was the daughter of destiny. This was the first time he called her over since Duan Mengmeng entered the palace.
She was pretty, her manners were somehow dignified, and she hung her head and trembled, probably because she was afraid. The emperor could not tell at all that she looked like the girl of destiny.
Duan Mengmeng's pride collapsed when she learned the truth from Duan Yingying. She lived in fear every day, fearing that she would be charged with deceiving the emperor and lose her life at any time.
She and Duan Yingying knelt on the ground and saluted. The emperor was silent for a moment and then let them stand up.
Duan Mengmeng stared at her toes and didn't dare to look up the whole time. Her hatred for Shen Anan was not as fierce as her fear at this moment.
"Since you are Concubine Duan's sister, please sit behind the Second Prince." The emperor said calmly.
Behind the prince were usually palace maids, or women who had gained some respect but were not given any status. The emperor's words startled everyone in the hall.
If it were before, Duan Mengmeng would definitely feel humiliated, but now, she responded very obediently, walked lightly, and stood behind Xiao Ze.
However, Zhou was disgusted, but Xiao Ze was the most proud of his beautiful wife and concubines. He felt that his father's action must mean that he was favored by him.
However, as a descendant of the royal family, he still understood the emperor's taboos, and did not show any sign of having any feelings for Duan Mengmeng.
It was not until the banquet was halfway through, with singing and dancing in full swing, and the emperor left exhausted, that he revealed a little of his thoughts.
Duan Mengmeng's whole mind was on Xiao Yuan opposite her. From attachment to anger, and when she saw Xiao Yuan personally peeling shrimps for Shen Anan, her jealousy and rage all burst out at this moment.
She didn't believe that Xiao Yuan, who had been childhood sweethearts with her and had the kindness of their grandfather, would treat her like this. It must be that Duan Yingying had lied to her, or there must have been some misunderstanding, and Shen Anan had used some tricks to deliberately seduce her.
Shen Anan calmly accepted the resentful looks from the opposite side and ate the white shrimps on the plate comfortably.
There was a plate of crystal clear fish in front of Xiao Yuan, and he was concentrating on picking out the bones.
Shen Anan said to him, "Don't you think the gaze across from you is very hot?"
Without even looking up, Xiao Yuan picked out all the bones from the fish and pushed it to her, "Eat quickly. We still have to go on a cruise after eating. Don't waste time."
Duan Mengmeng on the opposite side saw this scene, her eyes were about to spit fire, and she did not react at all to Xiao Ze's teasing and seduction.
Zhou was a woman, so she could see through her thoughts at a glance. A mocking smile appeared on her lips, "Husband, don't waste your time. It seems that Miss Duan San has someone in her heart."
Xiao Ze followed Duan Mengmeng's gaze and a cold look immediately filled his eyes. He remembered Duan Yingying's words.
Duan Mengmeng's heart and eyes are filled with Xiao Yuan. She is willing to be his concubine. She loves him so much that she doesn't take him seriously at all.
Duan Yingying saw that he was unhappy, and immediately half bent down and said, "Don't worry, Second Prince. You are still in the palace now. I will find a way for you when I return."
"It doesn't matter where her heart lies. As long as she is yours, that's enough." Xiao Ze's expression eased a little. He did have lustful thoughts about Duan Mengmeng, but it was more for her identity as the girl of destiny.
Just like Duan Yingying said, it doesn’t matter who you like, as long as you make a mascot and put it at home.
As for his thoughts, he had a hundred ways to deal with her.
A fierce look flashed across Xiao Ze's eyes and he patted Duan Yingying's hand gently. Duan Mengmeng, who was standing beside him, looked down at the two of them blankly, as if she had no idea.
"Three women and one show, it's really lively." Shen Anan looked at the show of three women and one man opposite, with her lips raised high.
Xiao Yuan was not very happy. He had prepared for tonight's cruise for a long time, but Shen Anan didn't take it seriously at all. He simply took the peeled white shrimp in front of her.
He asked in a deep voice, "Are you full?"
Shen Anan looked confused. She was still eating, why was it suddenly taken away? "I can eat some more."
She hasn't finished watching the show yet, everything has just begun.
"Then you're not hungry anymore." Xiao Yuan grabbed her wrist and pulled her up, said hello to the princess, and left.
The emperor got drunk and left with Concubine Liang. Now no one in the hall cared about him. Everyone was enjoying the singing and dancing and living a life of luxury.
Duan Mengmeng followed immediately.
Xiao Ze's face looked extremely ugly, Zhou's face looked gloating, and Duan Yingying's face was gloomy.
"Shen An'an, stop!"
Hearing the voice behind him, Shen Anan's eyes lit up, and he stopped and looked back.
She was wearing a dress that could only be worn by the emperor's wife, which looked solemn and noble. The hairpin on her head swayed slightly, highlighting her noble status.
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