Chapter 38 Zhang Yeyang will leave in three days
After sitting for a while, Mrs. Lin said goodbye.
Madam Shen sent the mother and daughter out, and she couldn't stop praising Lin Yurou. She was satisfied no matter how she looked at her. Lin Yurou was also very polite, dignified and elegant, and she spoke very moderately when talking to Madam Shen.
After sending the people to the carriage, Mrs. Shen returned home in high spirits, her joy beyond words.
Her eldest son's marriage was a thorn in her heart. Now that it could be resolved, she would wake up laughing in her dreams at night.
Shen Anan accompanied her on one side. After entering the hanging flower archway and going up the corridor, she asked the question that had puzzled her for a long time.
"Mother, do you feel that Madam Lin seems a little too enthusiastic about this marriage?"
It looked as if he was afraid that the marriage would fail if the night went on too long.
Mrs. Shen was not yet overwhelmed by joy. After hearing what her daughter said, her steps gradually slowed down and her smile faded a little.
"Mother was also surprised at first. Although the Lin family has always supported this marriage, the woman, who is from a scholarly family, has always been reserved. Why would Madam Lin come in person this time and urge the proposal in both open and covert ways?"
"This is not the style of a family of scholars and Confucian scholars."
Shen Anan frowned, feeling that there was something strange about Mrs. Lin's sudden visit today, "Mother, what do you think the problem is?"
Madam Shen shook her head. "Mother tried to test her a few times, but Madam Lin seemed to really like this marriage and kept praising your brother."
No matter how good the eldest son is, he is not to the extent that people would come to him and flock to him. Besides, she was the one who proposed the marriage, and the official position of the girl's family is not low. She is very clear about this.
At this moment, she couldn't understand it either.
Shen Anan thought about it and told Madam Shen about her encounter with Xiao Yuan and Young Master Lin in the restaurant.
Madam Shen suddenly stopped and turned back, looking at her daughter who looked calm, "You met the Fourth Prince, did he embarrass you?"
Shen Anan curled her lips and smiled, "What are you talking about, mother? He is a prince, and I have no grudge against him, why would he embarrass me?"
"That's good." Madam Shen breathed a sigh of relief. She was still upset about the imperial concubine's plan to marry Shen An'an to Xiao Yuan.
Moreover, the daughter refused in public, which damaged the royal dignity.
"You should be more careful when you go out next time. It's best to reduce contact with the Fourth Prince. Your aunt hasn't given up yet. Don't let anything go wrong. It's better to avoid any trouble."
"Don't worry, mother. I understand." She has been trying her best to avoid contact with Xiao Yuan, but the entire Daliang belongs to the Xiao family, so she can't avoid having someone show up.
After giving the instructions, Mrs. Shen began to ponder the matter of Mrs. Lin.
The corridor was filled with servants and maids cleaning the courtyard, so it was inconvenient to talk. Madam Shen took Shen Anan's hand and went directly to her own yard, and sent all the servants out.
There was only one nanny left who came with Mrs. Shen's dowry. She served tea to the two of them and then went to wait aside.
Madam Shen picked up the teacup and took a few sips before she frowned and said, "From what you said, An An, Young Master Lin must have gone with the Fourth Prince, and you two had dinner together."
She tapped the edge of the tea with her fingertips and said ominously, "The Lin family must think that our family has a close relationship with the Fourth Prince."
Shen Anan paused while drinking tea, brought it to her lips and put it down again, "My father is the Grand Marshal, the head of the military officers. Isn't it natural for a prince to want to get close to him? Why should I rush to do this?"
"The fourth prince is different." Madam Shen wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, winked at the nanny to close the door, and then spoke in a low voice.
"The Fourth Prince's mother, Concubine Shu, was once the Emperor's favorite concubine. Later, she suddenly died. Many people speculated about the cause. At that time, the Emperor tried his best to suppress it, and Concubine Shu's mother's family had no one who could do anything, so the matter gradually died down."
"However, a son is as noble as his mother. The emperor treats the fourth prince very well. He is somewhat different from the other princes. In addition to the relatives of the other princes, there are also many people who want to get in touch with the fourth prince. However, the fourth prince seems to have no interest in government affairs in recent years and is only obsessed with war. Those people do not have the right opportunity."
After listening to Madam Shen's words, Shen Anan tried hard to recall the result of the princes' fight for the throne in the previous life.
She thought about it for a long time. It seemed that until her death, Daliang had never really appointed a crown prince. But at that time, the power of the other princes had been disintegrated one after another, and in the end, Xiao Yuan was indeed the only one in power.
But according to her memory, the emperor never sided with Xiao Yuan when his sons were in a life-and-death struggle. Everything was due to Xiao Yuan's own efforts.
Shen Anan, "The Hanlin Academy is a civil service, and apart from the pressure of public opinion, it can't be of much help to the prince."
Therefore, the Lin family felt that by getting close to the Chen Mansion, they would form a united front with the Fourth Prince.
Isn't it said that Lord Lin is a man of high moral character, who has always kept to himself in the court and disdained to form cliques?
"Since ancient times, participating in the battle for the throne of the prince has been a gamble. The merit of following the emperor is not so easy to obtain. The Lin family is not afraid..."
Madam Shen shook her head and smiled softly, "Anyone could fall, but the Fourth Prince is not so easy to fall. Even for the sake of Concubine Shu, the Prince will leave him a way out."
"Besides..." Madam Shen paused and said calmly, "In the eyes of the civil and military officials, the emperor intends to marry you to the fourth prince, which has already proved who the emperor has in mind."
Shen Anan lowered her eyes and said nothing more.
Therefore, she was not completely useless to Xiao Yuan in her previous life, and he also benefited from the Shen family in the court.
Thinking about it now, the engagement was actually more like a transaction. He had said more than once that the position of the Fourth Prince's wife could be anyone as long as they were sensible and obedient.
He had initially given her all the honor and dignity as the Fourth Prince's consort. Apart from not loving her, he had not failed in his duties. If she had not gone mad later, they could have continued to respect each other and live without interfering with each other.
But she didn't understand it at the time.
She wanted him to love her as passionately and ardently as she loved him, but she used the stupidest way.
"No matter what, this marriage has been decided. The affairs of state are for men to worry about."
Mrs. Shen's smile returned to her face, and she began to calculate which day would be a good day to propose marriage.
Shen Anan looked at her mother and realized that she really liked the girl from the Lin family. She thought that if the mother and son were of one mind and her eldest brother also liked Lin Yurou, everyone would be happy.
There are too many twists and turns in the court, and she doesn't want to get involved. She just wants to marry a good man, take care of her husband and children, and live an ordinary life that she never had.
She raised her lips in a mocking tone, and being harmonious and beautiful had become her obsession that she had never achieved.
"This is the first wedding in the Shen family, so we must be cautious and have a lively celebration. Mother heard from the ladies that the fortune-telling signs at Xiangjue Temple are very effective. Why don't we go there and let the master calculate an auspicious date."
"After all, it's a happy event, so it should be decided by someone who knows the matter. It concerns your eldest brother's future happiness."
Shen Anan retracted her thoughts and smiled obediently at Madam Shen, “It’s all right, mother has the final say.”
Mrs. Shen decided immediately, "Then tomorrow, you will accompany me to Xiangjue Temple to set the date for the engagement."
"Okay." Shen Anan agreed, sat in Madam Shen's yard for a while, and then returned to the Begonia Garden.
As soon as he entered the room, Mo Xiang looked around and immediately closed the door quietly.
Shen Anan tilted her head to look at her and asked with some amusement, "What's the matter? Is there anything to whisper..."
A letter was suddenly handed to Shen Anan.
Looking at the small signature on it, Shen Anan's words stopped abruptly and he swallowed them back.
"Where did it come from?" She took the envelope but did not open it immediately.
"Master Zhang sent the silver here through someone else. The old woman was honest and didn't dare to say anything. She found it quietly and gave it to me."
Shen Anan couldn't help but look sideways when she heard this. Zhang Yeyang actually gave her money to deliver a letter?
Isn't he working in a restaurant in exchange for food and lodging? Where does the money come from?
Thinking about it, she opened the letter and the neat and beautiful small calligraphy came into her eyes. She scanned it at a glance, crumpled it into a ball and handed it to Mo Xiang.
Mo Xiang immediately took the charcoal brazier, placed the letter on the candle flame, lit it, and watched it being devoured by the fire snake.
"He said that the court had issued a document asking him to leave within three days to take up his post in Jiangnan."
The letter didn't say anything else, just told him that he would be leaving soon.
Zhang Yeyang was very sensible, and even though the letter fell into the hands of his elders, he did not overstep the line.
But Shen Anan knew that he was waiting for her reply.
"How come it's so fast? There's still more than half a month left. It's too sudden."
Shen Anan went to sit beside the couch without saying anything.
"Mo Xiang, what do you think of Master Zhang?"
"He has both talent and character, but most importantly, he has a simple family background and can stay away from the capital. He can give the girl the freedom she wants and allow her to return to the Jiangnan region she longs for."
"You're right." Shen Anan raised the corners of his lips and smiled.
"If everything goes well, I should be able to accompany grandma and enjoy her company next spring."
She stood up and walked towards the desk, and Mo Xiang immediately came forward to serve her with writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone.
The content of Shen Anan's letter was as restrained as Zhang Yeyang's, only informing her that she would go to Xiangjue Temple to burn incense tomorrow and set an auspicious date for her eldest brother.
Mo Xiang dried Shen Anan’s ink, folded it carefully and stuffed it into the envelope.
"Don't worry, young lady. I will deliver it to Master Zhang tomorrow morning."
"Yeah." Shen Anan responded, and tiredly told Mo Ran to prepare water for washing.
Behind the screen, the mist was curling, and Shen Anan was lying in the bathtub with a suitable temperature, with his slender arms resting on the edge of the tub and closing his eyes comfortably.
The fair and rosy little face was faintly red under the evaporation of water mist, and even without any makeup, it looked like the morning glow reflected on the snow.
All the knots in my heart since my rebirth show signs of being released today.
Fortunately, those days that she felt were bitter would no longer exist in the future. She wanted a harmonious and perfect life.
But suddenly I felt that there seems to be no such thing as perfection in the world.
She thought that even if Zhang Yeyang was the same as Xiao Yuan in his previous life, she could still live a good life on her own with a huge dowry.
So it's not just others who have changed, but also herself.
——
The next day, just after dawn, the Shen Mansion's carriage set off.
Xiangjue Temple is some distance away from the capital, so you have to go out early to catch the divination before noon. It is said that the earlier you go out, the more sincere your heart is, and the Buddha will bless you.
It was not only the Shen family who went to burn incense today. Many carriages rushed in the same direction one after another.
Shen Anan leaned against the car wall with half-closed eyes, looking sleepy, and her head nodded from time to time. Mrs. Shen supported her head and leaned it on her shoulder with amusement and care.
Old Madam Shen was used to being lazy, and Shen Anan was also a little lazy. Normally, Shen Anan would be sleeping soundly in bed at this time.
Shen Anan found a comfortable position. Uncle Zhong drove very steadily. After a while, she really fell asleep. When she woke up, the carriage had stopped at the foot of the mountain.
Mrs. Shen's greetings could be heard faintly from outside the carriage.
Shen Anan sat up straight, patted the back of his neck which was a little sore, lifted the curtain and looked out.
The one standing with Madam Shen...seems to be the eldest princess.
Her sleepy eyes suddenly opened a little wider, and she ran halfway through the chaos and immediately began to search among the crowd.
I thought she shouldn't be so unlucky. How could she meet that guy even when she came to burn incense?
Her almond-shaped eyes swept through the crowd, and finally she only saw the Ling brothers and sisters standing next to the carriage, and no one else. She felt a little better.
Madam Shen's nanny walked quickly towards the carriage and said to Shen Anan, "Miss, Madam said that she would go up the mountain with the eldest princess, and you can also keep Princess Huasheng company."
Shen Anan glanced towards where Princess Huasheng was, and happened to receive a friendly smile from the other party, and smiled back.
"Okay." She lowered the curtain, tidied her makeup and clothes, and got out of the carriage with Mo Xiang's help.
Walking towards the convoy of Yongning Marquis Mansion.
Princess Hua Sheng saw her and came over with a smile, "Miss Chen."
"Princess." Shen Anan knelt down and saluted, glancing at Ling Chenyi who was looking at her with a smile on his face.
"Prince Ling."
"Hello, Miss Shen." Ling Chenyi was a little surprised, and immediately began to wonder if that person would regret rejecting his invitation if he knew that this person was coming.
Thinking of this, he pulled the corners of his lips.
Shen Anan had already forgotten about Ling Chenyi's existence and echoed Princess Hua Sheng's enthusiasm and kindness.
The two followed the eldest princess and Madam Shen and walked up the mountain together.
Ling Chenyi felt that Shen Anan seemed like a different person when she was with Hua Sheng, completely different from the Miss Shen who was covered with thorns, bared her fangs and claws, and spoke coldly.
Or maybe she only behaves like this when she is in front of Xiao Yuan.
Come to think of it, it seems that this girl is very disgusted with anyone who has anything to do with Xiao Yuan.
That scrutinizing gaze followed Shen Anan all the way to the top of the mountain and into Xiangjue Temple.
With her elders around, she was too lazy to deal with Ling Chenyi and just pretended not to know. She listened to the eldest princess and Madam Shen talking gently and obediently, and then they separated to draw lots and pray.
Hua Sheng was a little reluctant, "I will come to find you after I burn incense later."
Shen Anan's expression paused for a moment, but she did not refuse directly. She said tactfully, "I might be a little late. Why don't I go to the main hall to look for the princess after I finish my work?"
"Okay." Hua Sheng smiled, and subconsciously pinched the pouch on her waist with her little hand, "I also want to pray to the Buddha for peace."
Shen Anan's eyes lingered for a moment on Hua Sheng's face, which was trying to put on a smile, and she nodded gently, "Then I pray that the princess can get what she wants."
"Thank you." Hua Sheng turned around and followed the eldest princess to the hall.
Every month when she burned incense, she would pray for his safety.
Shen Anan stared at the woman's figure, her dark almond eyes filled with pity.
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