Chapter 116 Royal Secret
She was talking about Concubine Shen, and Shen Changhe knew it.
Shen Anan was raised by Madam Shen, and her relationship with her was deeper than anyone else in the Shen Mansion. He had thought that she would be resentful and would not let Concubine Shen go.
Thinking about it carefully, after all, it was his grandmother who paid for it with her life, so it was best that An An could understand it. He swallowed back the words of comfort that he had been considering for a long time and nodded slightly.
According to what Mrs. Shen told her before she left. Mrs. Shen held a very grand funeral and informed all the officials she was familiar with, and the result was as expected.
The front door of the Shen Mansion was deserted, and not even a pair of mourning couplets were received. The person who delivered the message did not even enter the other party's house and was directly turned away.
The atmosphere in the Shen Mansion was gloomy for a while, and the servants all slumped their heads, unable to muster the slightest bit of energy.
But Shen Wen gave an order that even if they were turned away, all the people who had contact with him had to be notified one by one.
The Shen family is lonely and no one cares about them, but the more pitiful they are, the happier the emperor will be.
The bright red lacquered wooden coffin was placed in the center of the main hall. Shen Anan knelt on the ground in mourning, numbly throwing paper into the brazier. The fire snakes kept rising higher, reflecting her cold eyebrows.
"An An." Madam Shen's eyes were red and swollen. "Don't be like this. Can you talk to your mother? If you are really upset, just cry. Don't hold it in."
From the time the old lady passed away until now, she had been terrifyingly calm and indifferent. She never cried and seldom spoke, and all her time was spent in front of the coffin.
She was still wearing the same clothes as that day, and she hadn't even re-combed her hair.
"Son, you are tearing out your mother's heart." Mrs. Shen hugged Shen Anan, tears streaming down her face.
"Mom," she finally spoke after a long while, her voice was hoarse, but she asked, "Where is she, is she gone?"
Madam Shen was stunned for a moment before she realized that she was asking Concubine Shen, "Everything is ready. Send her away tonight."
"Where is she?"
"An'an, she was your grandmother's life after all." Madam Shen said sadly.
Shen Anan pulled the corner of her lips, "Don't worry, I just suddenly remembered a few words and wanted to ask her, I won't do anything to her."
Her grandmother was still lying in the coffin, how could she do anything bad to her beloved daughter?
Madam Shen pursed her lips and took the paper money from her hand, "Come on, mother will take you there."
After the old lady left, Concubine Shen was arranged by Shen Wen to live in another courtyard and was not allowed to appear in front of the public.
The Shen Mansion was eerily silent. The masters were all guarding the mourning hall, and the servants were all very cautious, not daring to use force when walking.
There was white silk everywhere, which pricked Shen Anan's eyes and hurt them.
Mrs. Shen took Shen Anan into a remote courtyard, and hoarse crying lingered in the courtyard, mixed with cries of "I'm sorry."
Shen Anan walked in expressionlessly, looking at Concubine Shen who was sitting on the ground crying in the main hall.
The shadow enveloped her, and Concubine Shen's crying stopped for a moment. When she looked up and saw Shen Anan, she stepped back guiltily.
"Sister-in-law."
Mrs. Shen nodded slightly, and was impatient to talk to her.
"Mom, I have a few words to say to her alone." Shen Anan's tone was calm without any ups and downs.
"An'an." Mrs. Shen was a little worried, but looking at her silent daughter, she nodded and left the room, closing the door.
When the door closed, the light in the room immediately dimmed, with only a few beams of light coming in through the window and dust floating in the air.
There was also a bowl of hot tea on the table.
Concubine Shen wiped away her tears and stood up. She didn't say anything, but just looked at Shen Anan quietly.
She was paranoid, selfish, and afraid of death, but the one who died was her own mother, and she was no less sad than anyone else.
"Concubine Ning, who killed her?"
She spoke suddenly, her tone was cold but her eyes were fierce.
Concubine Shen paused, panic flashing across her eyes.
"It's all over, why bring it up again?"
"It's over?" Shen An'an curled her lips coldly, "Grandmother paid for those people's dirty deeds and despicable means with her life, why can it be so easy to let it go?"
It was the first time that Concubine Shen saw her so fierce and vicious, and she felt a little scared.
"An An, don't forget what your grandmother said before she left. Those things are not something my Shen family can get involved in."
It doesn't matter what the truth is. The Shen family is just a knife, an insignificant victim.
There is no ability to take revenge!
"It's the emperor, right? Why did he want to kill Concubine Ning? Is it just to slander you and the Shen family?"
If so, why did he suddenly let his father and brother go? Obviously, there must be another hidden story behind this matter.
“Tell me,” she stepped closer, and Concubine Shen stepped back.
Suddenly, she turned around, grabbed the teacup on the table and drank it. Shen Anan was stunned for a moment and frowned.
The next moment, Concubine Shen pinched her throat hard, sobbed, and began to roll around in pain, her limbs spasming and twitching in pain.
"An An, the royal family has its secrets. Even the former Shen family is just an ant trying to shake a tree. Don't pursue it any further."
Her voice seemed almost forced out, and it sounded extremely rough and unpleasant.
"What did you drink?" Shen Anan squatted down and shook her and asked.
Concubine Shen shook her head, blood slowly flowing from the corner of her mouth. She opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.
She took Shen Anan’s palm and wrote two words on it, “Save your life.”
To save the Shen family and also to save her own life.
She glanced at the teacup and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Miss, the imperial concubine has to leave, you should go back too."
Aunt Yang came out from the inner room and bowed respectfully with no expression on her face.
Shen Anan released the hand that was supporting Concubine Shen and slowly stood up.
She didn't know that there was another person in the room. "Isn't Aunt Yang in Anshou Hall? Why is she here?"
"I am carrying out the old lady's will and delivering a pot of warm tea to the imperial concubine." She spoke slowly and steadily.
Shen Anan tilted her head to look at the teacup that had been drunk by Concubine Shen and rolled to the ground, feeling cold all over.
It turned out to be... my grandmother's intention.
In order to prevent Concubine Shen from revealing the royal secret!
Concubine Ning died because of a royal secret, and Concubine Shen might have accidentally learned something, so she had to die. My grandmother exchanged her life for Concubine Shen, and also promised that person that she would keep her mouth shut forever.
Her hands and feet were cold, and her heart felt like it was being fried in a frying pan.
It is only because of this that the Shen family is facing such a desperate situation this time. A secret has cost the grandmother's life! ?
"Young lady, the old lady has repeatedly told you not to let the imperial concubine have any contact with anyone in the family. Please do not disobey the old lady's will. When she was alive, she loved you the most."
After she finished speaking, she stepped forward and supported Concubine Shen as they walked out.
Shen Anan's legs felt like they were filled with lead and he couldn't move.
She was in a daze, not moving for a long time, until Madam Shen came in and brought her back to her senses from her trance.
"She's gone. Let's go back to the funeral home and stay with your grandmother."
Shen Anan turned around woodenly and followed Madam Shen. She didn't even know how she got to the mourning hall. She was still in a trance until she knelt on the futon.
Suddenly, she pulled her lips and smiled, which scared Mrs. Shen.
"An'an, what's wrong with you? Don't scare your mother." She hugged Shen An'an into her arms, tears falling.
"Mom, I'm fine. I just...feel ridiculous."
My father and brother worked loyally and devotedly for the court, but in the end they fell into such a situation because of a royal secret.
My grandmother even sacrificed her life, that is the so-called majesty of heaven.
He is narrow-minded, despicable, and suspicious. He is the king that her father and brother are loyal to, and the ruler of Daliang.
"Haha." Shen Anan shook her head, with sarcasm on the corners of her lips.
Mrs. Shen helped Shen Anan up and went to sit in the next room. Not long after, Shen Wen also went over. Looking at Shen Anan who was in a daze, he sighed heavily.
To be able to sit in the position of Taiwei, one's brain is not comparable to that of ordinary people. After Madam Shen said a few words, he understood everything.
"An An, your grandmother didn't let you know because she was protecting you and the Shen family."
"So, did grandma die in vain? Just to save the shame for his royal family?" Shen Anan raised her eyes, her little face cold and desolate.
Shen Wen pursed his lips and shook his head.
At this time, the Shen family had no capital to pursue the matter. We are all subjects under the emperor's feet, and life and death are all due to the emperor's grace.
"Once your grandmother's funeral is over, your eldest brother and I will hand in our resignations and we will leave the capital."
The emperor has not issued an order to deal with the matter for a long time because he is waiting for the Shen family to speak up themselves. Only by being sensible can the Shen family be saved temporarily.
He turned and left, his back suddenly bent a lot, and Shen Anan suddenly discovered that overnight, there were many more white hairs on his father's head.
Yes, the person lying in the coffin is his mother!
As he was leaving, Shen Wen said in a hoarse voice again, "In times of crisis, only by saving your life can you have the capital to discuss other things!!!"
Shen Anan understood what his father meant.
She lowered her head, hiding the expression in her eyes, without saying a word or moving.
The ten slender fingers slowly clenched into fists, with the joints turning pale.
No one understood her torment. The despair of knowing the outcome but being unable to change it no matter how hard she tried was like a wave, covering her petite and pitiful body.
The desperate thing was that she had no power to resist.
She didn't know how long she sat there.
Suddenly, a blinding light shone on her eyes. She tilted her head and squinted her eyes to look out. The snow had stopped at some point and a corner of the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.
"Miss. The old lady should be buried tomorrow." Mo Xiang reminded quietly. Shen Anan collected her thoughts, and her eyes were filled with sadness again.
She finished the tea on the table, slowly stood up and walked out, "Let's go."
Tonight was the only night she could spend with her grandmother.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
