Shen Wan understood that this meant the Second and Third Masters would provide the effort, while she would provide the money. She was practically calculating; she'd rather take on everything herself and directly promote Master Wu to a higher rank than have him pay for it.
Shen Wan sneered inwardly, but said calmly, "When asking someone for a favor, you can't go empty-handed."
Shen Ying was overjoyed. "Big sister is willing to help?"
"That's incredibly shameless," Shen Wan said displeasedly. "What does this have to do with me?"
Shen Ying's smile froze, and she said, "The people my father and the others are looking for to help Master Wu are all refined people who like calligraphy and painting. Master Wu doesn't have any. I was thinking that you, eldest sister, have quite a few in your dowry. You're so good to third sister. If it can help her, you definitely won't refuse."
Shen Wan picked up her teacup and said, "We don't have any calligraphy or paintings, but we certainly have silver notes. Which master's painting do you want to send to Master Wu? I'll have someone find it and take it to a calligraphy and painting shop to get an appraisal. I've already reluctantly parted with some of my favorites in order to help Master Wu get promoted. You wouldn't let me suffer a loss, would you?"
Shen Ying came to her because she wanted to get the painting without paying. If she had to pay, she would never have come to her.
Upon hearing Shen Wan's words, Shen Ying frowned deeply. "I didn't expect that with such a large dowry, my elder sister would be so stingy with a few paintings."
Shen Wan looked at Shen Ying and said, "Second sister is generous. You can bring the paintings from your dowry and exchange them with me to help Master Wu."
Shen Ying's face turned green. "My dowry isn't even enough for myself, how could it help Master Wu? If you don't want to help, then fine, but why make fun of me?"
If you ask her to take out her calligraphy and paintings, and she refuses, then you're being stingy; if you ask Chen Ying to take out hers, then you're just making fun of her.
Shen Ying really knows how to be generous with other people's things.
Seeing that Shen Wan remained unmoved, Shen Ying said, "You're calculating the cost of helping someone out so meticulously, showing no gratitude whatsoever. Does eldest sister really think she'll never need to ask anyone for a favor in her entire life?"
Shen Wan chuckled, “They’re already thinking about taking advantage of others before they’ve even reached their peak. When that day comes, they’ll only kick someone when they’re down, take advantage of their misfortune, and try to kill them when they’re sick. Character is something that comes from the bone; it can’t be changed.”
Yinshuang stood behind Shen Wan, listening with great pleasure. The princess could now curse without using any vulgar language. It was fortunate that the second aunt had a thick skin. Listening to those words, she wished she could have her maid grab a broom and kick her out.
Being scolded to her face, she couldn't retaliate, otherwise she would be accused of taking it personally. Shen Ying tried her best to suppress her anger, and asked Shen Wan one last time, "Is eldest sister really unwilling to help?"
Shen Wan coldly said, "Give me the silver notes, or there's no point in talking."
Seeing that she couldn't gain any advantage, Shen Ying didn't linger any longer and got up to leave.
Yinshuang asked worriedly, "They won't ask the Yun family for help, will they?"
Shen Wan smiled and said, "They wouldn't dare. If anyone dares to overstep Father's bounds and take advantage of the Yun family, Father will definitely make them compensate the Yun family double."
Shen Ying left in a fit of rage. As she stepped down the stairs, she overheard Shen Wan's words, which made her so angry that her back teeth were loose. Without looking back, she left with her maid.
After Shen Ying left, Shen Wan took the invitation from Yin Shuang and went to the study to find Xie Jingyan.
Xie Jingyan was reading a book when Shen Wan handed him the invitation, saying, "This is an invitation from the Prince of Jin's residence."
Xie Jingyan knew that Shen Ying had come.
He didn't accept the invitation, but casually flipped through a book and said, "Four days from now, you will accompany me to the Prince of Jin's residence to celebrate his birthday."
Shen Wan opened her mouth as if to refuse, but swallowed the words back.
Without disturbing Xie Jingyan's reading, Shen Wan put down the invitation and left.
Xie Jingyan watched Shen Wan's departing figure, raising an eyebrow. He thought Shen Wan would refuse, but she actually agreed, which was quite unexpected.
Shen Wan returned to the inner room and, seeing that there were no outsiders, Yin Shuang couldn't help but ask, "Does the Princess really intend to accompany the Prince to the Prince Jin's residence to celebrate his birthday?"
Prince Jin harbors malicious intentions towards the Princess Consort, yet he dares to try and steal her away right in front of the Prince. Although she went with the Prince this time, Yinshuang was still worried. It's best to avoid going to Prince Jin's residence if possible.
Shen Wan said, "I won't go."
The resolute tone made Yinshuang exclaim, "Then why didn't the Princess refuse the Prince's arrangement just now?"
Shen Wan said, "Prince Jin and Prince Ling are brothers, and Princess Jin and I are cousins. I am not sick or in pain, so there is no reason for me not to go."
Silver Frost was a little confused.
She's not sick or in pain, so there's no reason not to go, but the princess says she won't go. Isn't that contradictory?
Silver Frost's little brain couldn't process it.
Shen Wan didn't explain to her, but just sipped her tea and didn't care about Xie Jingyin's birthday, nor did she care about Shen Ying helping Master Wu get the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
But both of these things were beyond her expectations, especially Xie Jingyin's birthday, which made her relationship with Xie Jingyan both close and distant.
That day, after breakfast, Shen Wan pushed Xie Jingyan to take a walk in the garden. Just as they reached the gate, a servant came over and reported to Xie Jingyan, "Your Highness, the newly appointed Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites has been suspended from his post. This morning at court, the Emperor transferred Minister Wu to the Ministry of Rites to temporarily assume the position of Right Vice Minister."
Shen Wan frowned and blurted out, "Which Lord Wu?"
The servant replied, "It's the Wu family that Your Highness's cousin married into."
It really is Master Wu.
Although Shen Wan had anticipated what the servant had said, hearing it with her own ears still made her very upset.
She stood up for the Yun family and brought down Lord Xu, but unexpectedly, she ended up benefiting Master Wu. Lord Xu was Xie Jingyin's man, and Master Wu was even more so.
Is Xie Jingyin's power in the court really that unshakeable?
Xie Jingyan sat in his wheelchair. Seeing that Shen Wan hadn't pushed him around for a while, he turned his head and saw that Shen Wan's face was full of displeasure. He said, "It's just temporarily serving as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Is it worth getting so angry?"
Shen Wan said in a muffled voice, "That's because Lord Xu's crimes are not yet conclusive, so he can only be temporarily appointed. Otherwise, the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites would belong to Master Wu."
Xie Jingyan chuckled, "He's not cut out for that position."
Shen Wan looked at him, "Why?"
"Because my queen forbids it."
boom.
Something exploded in Shen Wan's heart.
Shen Wan felt as if an electric current was running through her body. She glanced quickly at Xie Jingyan, met his gaze, and then looked away instantly, blushing as she whispered, "I don't have that kind of ability."
Chen Feng's lips twitched.
Why do men always pamper their wives by favoring their horses' hooves?
The prince couldn't bear to see the princess so disappointed and was going to help her. He had made it so obvious, but the princess still didn't understand and was regretting her lack of ability.
If you're not capable, then try to rely on me.
They have a powerful backer but don't know how to seek it out.
Chen Feng felt exhausted for his grandfather.
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