Chapter 276 Design
＊
Shen Mansion.
Chen Tian was ordered by Shen Yunbai not to leave the house these days, and he had been staying in the yard. Shen Yunbai was busy every day and was rarely seen. One day, he ignored the obstruction and stood guard at the door of the study, and finally saw Shen Yunbai who was returning home from going out.
Shen Yunbai glanced at him, his eyes and brows looking a little tired.
"Brother, I have something to tell you."
Shen Yunbai glanced at the servants around him, ordered them to leave, and led Chen Tian into the study.
As soon as the study door closed, Chen Tian couldn't wait to speak, "What's going on with Yang Wen? Why am I her child again? And in such a... embarrassing way?"
"Is this the way you came up with to give me an identity?"
Shen Yunbai sat behind the desk, rubbing his brows with his fingers, "Yang Wen's incident was an accident. I wanted to use her to give you a legitimate identity, but I never thought she would..."
No matter if she climbed onto the dragon bed without permission or Concubine Shu used her to consolidate her favor, after all, Chen Tian was her son, but she never expected that she would do such a thing.
"Although it's different from what we thought at first, she has always announced your identity because of her family's lives. You just need to be patient for a while, and wait until the time is right to clear yourself of the filth."
"Family?" Chen Tian stared at Shen Yunbai, "Brother, did you capture her family?"
"Didn't you promise me that you wouldn't kill innocent people again?"
"I didn't kill them." Shen Yunbai paused, then said, "And her family has been rescued by Li Huaiyan."
"Heh." Chen Tian chuckled, unable to tell what it meant. He sat down opposite Shen Yunbai in a daze.
"When you used the death of the former concubine to threaten her maid, you should have thought about the maid's loyalty and whether she would backfire on you. Now you have achieved your goal, but I have become a laughing stock for those people. Is this the status you want to get by any means?"
Shen Yunbai didn't say anything, his brows and eyes were gloomy.
When he found Yang Wen, she already had a son and a daughter and a family. He thought that his relationship with Concubine Shu had been over for several years and that it could not be more important than his family. However, he did not expect...
"She knew she was going to die, so she threw dirty water on that man. She just wanted Xiao Yuan to remember her loyalty and save her husband and son."
"Tian'er, it doesn't matter what others say. It's enough for you to know your true identity. You don't need to pay attention to what they say."
Chen Tian looked deeply at Shen Yunbai, his lips tightly pursed.
"Brother, I don't care about what others say, I just...can't accept such despicable means."
"We have no grudge against Concubine Shu, and she has done us a favor. You are doing this..."
Shen Yunbai interrupted him coldly, "What favor? How do you know that Dad's death was not planned by her and the emperor?"
"But she's dead too. Who would risk their own life to plot against others, not to mention leaving behind a child of several years old?"
"Brother, let's take our revenge and stop involving innocent people, okay?"
Shen Yunbai remained silent and said nothing.
If he wanted to convince all the officials, he could only bring the person to everyone through Xiao Yuan, so Yang Wen was the best choice.
Chen Tian was also silent for a while, and after a long time he asked hoarsely, "Is your injury better?"
"It's all ready." Shen Yunbai lowered his head and began to deal with the documents handed over by the Ministry of War.
A servant knocked on the door and walked in. "Sir, there is news from the palace. The emperor wants you to come into the palace."
Chen Tian's expression changed slightly. Seeing Shen Yunbai getting up to go out, he immediately stopped him and ordered the servant to leave.
"Brother, you can't go. He will definitely come to question you."
Yang Wen was brought here by the eldest brother. The plan that was set up went wrong. The emperor will definitely reprimand him for his incompetence. The eldest brother's injury has just healed and he can't withstand the beating.
Shen Yunbai patted Chen Tian's shoulder with relief, "Don't worry, it's just some physical pain. Besides, I have a plan to deal with it."
He walked away, avoiding Chen Tian.
Imperial study.
As Shen Yunbai stepped in, a white jade teacup flew out and smashed heavily on the ground. His eyes turned cold and he avoided the broken porcelain pieces and walked in.
The palace maids and eunuchs were kneeling on the floor in the hall, trembling.
"Your Majesty." He knelt down and saluted, with his head slightly lowered, very respectful.
"You have done a good thing!" The emperor was furious and waved his hand to let the eunuchs and palace maids go out.
Shen Yunbai lowered his head, "I had already explained the story when I arrested Yang Wen's family. After I returned that day, I thought about it again and again. I think the Fourth Prince must have noticed something wrong and instigated Yang Wen to rebel."
"Rebellion?" The emperor narrowed his eyes, "But she still followed the instructions and gave Tian'er an identity."
His voice was very low, and Shen Yunbai's heart sank. "Your Majesty is wise, I really take it seriously..."
"Shut up." The emperor's face turned cold. "Now people outside are saying that I am stupid and incompetent, and that I am arrogant and extravagant. Do you think I should believe you?"
Shen Yunbai's hands at his side slightly clenched, then slowly loosened. He raised his eyes and looked directly at the emperor, "Your Majesty, do you suspect me?"
The emperor smiled coldly.
Shen Yunbai is the son of Rouer and that man, and he must hate me to the core. It would be more reasonable to say that he was the one who taught Yang Wen what she said.
Compared to Xiao Yuan, he was of course more suspicious of Shen Yunbai. After all, damaging his own reputation would not do the fourth brother any good, and it was unlike his style.
"Your Majesty, you love Tian'er very much. Even if I once had resentment in my heart, it has all dissipated now. Although your reputation will be affected by this incident, Tian'er will not be spared. How could I harm Tian'er and let him be talked about and despised by others, and be criticized for his position in the court?"
The emperor frowned.
Putting aside other things, Shen Yunbai's feelings for Chen Tian cannot be fake.
As for Yang Wen, she was already dead, and no matter how angry or hateful he was, there was nothing he could do.
"It's better this way. Don't forget who you are because of, you have the status you have today. I can support you, but I can also kill you."
Shen Yunbai cupped his hands, "Your Majesty's words, I will keep them in mind."
"Get up." The emperor said in a light voice.
He was still angry, but at this moment, he couldn't punish Shen Yunbai, otherwise those foxes in the court would definitely notice something.
"This matter is indeed due to my incompetence." Shen Yunbai brushed his robe and continued, "I have come up with another plan to allow Tian'er to enter the court legitimately."
The emperor frowned. "Now because of Yang Wen's words, all the ministers are very opposed to Tian'er's restoration of his identity. What countermeasures can you offer?"
The emperor now has deep suspicion of Shen Yunbai.
"Your Majesty, the person Yang Wen is loyal to is Concubine Shu, so naturally only Concubine Shu can put an end to all this."
When the emperor mentioned Concubine Shu, his eyes moved and he lowered his head slightly. "Concubine Shu has been dead for several years. How to end it?"
"That's why the words of a dead person are more likely to be believed and feared."
The emperor frowned and looked at Shen Yunbai, "What do you want to do?"
"I remind you that Concubine Shu is the weak link between the four masters. If you dare to make a move, he will turn the tables."
Shen Yunbai curled the corners of his lips, walked forward and whispered a few words to the emperor.
The emperor's eyes lit up at first, then sank again, and he looked a little confused.
"Your Majesty, this is the best way. People in the world fear ghosts and gods the most. Afterwards, not only can Tian'er enter the court, but your stigma can also be washed away. It's a two-birds-with-one-stone approach."
The emperor listened and did not speak for a while.
To be fair, he felt guilty towards Concubine Shu and did not want her to remain restless after her death.
"She has endured too much for me."
The implication is disapproval.
Shen Yunbai's eyes sank slightly, and he just lowered his head so that no one could see him. "Your Majesty, Concubine Shu has passed away for many years and has long since turned into a handful of yellow earth. If Your Majesty really feels bad about it, you can posthumously confer a title on her and light a perpetual lamp to worship her."
"Your Majesty, no matter what time, the living are the most important."
＊
The Fourth Prince’s Mansion, study.
After staying in Wutong Garden for a few days, she was fine, but Xiao Yuan was a little unhappy and insisted on bringing her to the study to accompany him.
So he discussed matters while she sat aside and listened quietly.
Ling Chenyi, "The palace sent a message that Shen Yunbai was summoned to the palace today and stayed in the imperial study for a full half an hour before leaving."
Li Huaiyan said, "The emperor cares so much about his reputation, why didn't he punish him for his poor performance?"
Ling Chenyi shook his head. Our people couldn't get close to him and didn't know what was said exactly.
Xiao Yuan had been holding Shen Anan's hand, and spoke calmly, "Their top priority now is how to make all officials recognize Chen Tian's identity and enter the court to participate in politics."
Ling Chenyi nodded, "That's true. Now it all depends on how Shen Yunbai handles this situation."
Shen Anan raised her eyes slightly, her gaze fell on Ling Chenyi, and never moved.
Ling Chenyi was frightened by this. "Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"
"Shen Yunbai." Shen Anan repeated in a low voice, shook his head slowly, and lay back down again.
Ling Chenyi and Li Huaiyan frowned slightly and looked at each other, with worry in their eyes.
Today, Shen Anan can see the problem at a glance, and the clarity and purity in her eyes make her look like a girl who is ignorant of the world.
In the past, she would never be so docile, let alone be so close and dependent on Xiao Yuan in front of the two of them.
Just looking at Xiao Yuanrou's tearful expression, even though the two of them had doubts in their hearts, they didn't dare to say anything.
Xiao Yuan had to accompany Shen Anan and handle official business, so he was very busy, so he sent the two away after the meeting was over.
Li Huaiyan lazily stood up and said, "It just so happens that Miss Zheng has asked me to go out for an outing today. It's getting late, so I should go to the appointment."
Ling Chenyi glanced at him.
"It was just a casual act, but it made you feel like it was real."
"Tsk, you don't understand." Li Huaiyan patted him on the shoulder, "That girl... has a straightforward personality, she's really good, but it's a pity that she's from the Zheng family."
"The current situation is tense. The first thing Chen Tian will do after taking office is to get married. If I don't play my part, how can I seduce someone?"
Ling Chenyi waved away the hand that he had placed on his shoulder, "I see that you are almost turning your fake play into real one."
Li Huaiyan laughed and left in high spirits.
Ling Chenyi bowed, "Then I'll go back too, sister-in-law, goodbye."
Shen Anan didn't speak or move, as if she didn't hear it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
