Wang Deshun smiled and waved his hand: "His Highness is already at the second gate. Your Highness, please speak to him in person later. This old servant will not get in the way."
Shen Youying asked Bailuo to see him out. After tidying herself up, she thought for a moment, then asked Bailuo to stay and watch the house. She then ordered Liuyun and Danzhu to accompany her into the palace.
.
The prince's carriage stopped at Xuande Gate, after which Shen Youying had to part ways with Xue Shen.
Xue Shen went to pay his respects to the Emperor, while Shen Youying went to the inner palace to pay her respects to the Empress.
The female officials in the Empress's palace were already waiting at Xuande Gate. Once they saw her, they led Shen Youying to Ciyuan Hall, where the Empress was.
Shen Youying had been to the palace in her early years, so she was not unfamiliar with it. She followed behind the female official, keeping her eyes down and walking slowly.
As she walked, she realized that the road to Ciyuan Palace seemed different from what she remembered, and the winding path became increasingly secluded. Since the Zhou family's villa, she had become increasingly wary. Sensing something was amiss, she stopped, clutching her chest and feigning frailty, and asked the female official in a soft voice, "I remember Ciyuan Palace isn't far, why haven't we arrived yet?"
Her hair was piled high, adorned with ornate gold hairpins and dangling ornaments. Long tassels swayed gently beside her face, accentuating her slender figure, which even the heavy gown couldn't conceal, making her appear even more delicate. The lady-in-waiting noticed her flushed cheeks and slight panting, but didn't suspect anything. She lowered her eyes and replied, "Her Majesty the Empress is enjoying the flowers and fragrance in the garden and has invited you to join her."
Shen Youying still felt something was off, but couldn't find any flaws. She could only pretend to be tired and ask Danzhu and Liuyun to help her, while secretly pinching Liuyun's palm, thinking that since she was sent by the King of Qin, perhaps she could find a way.
As it turns out, Shen Youying's worries were not unfounded.
When she saw Princess Xuanci coming towards her, she felt relieved.
"Princess Xuanci." Shen Youying is now the Princess Consort of Qin, and Princess Xuanci still has to call her Sister-in-law, so she did not bow, but only nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"Who do we have here? It's Sister-in-law Wang." Xuan Ci gave her a wicked smile and waved the gilded horsewhip in his hand. "I thought Sister-in-law Wang would never dare to enter the palace in her life."
Shen Youying looked up at her, her eyes slightly cold.
Princess Xuanci was born to the Empress Dowager and was the only surviving daughter of the Emperor. She was pampered from a young age and developed a very arrogant and domineering personality.
When Shen Youying was ten years old, she entered the palace to attend a palace banquet. She accidentally got separated from Fang Shi and became lost. Just as she was getting lost, she unfortunately bumped into Xuan Ci.
Xuan Ci was the same age as her and acted gently and politely. Shen Youying was deceived by her behavior and asked her for directions without any suspicion. As a result, Xuan Ci said that she would lead the way, but in reality, she tricked her into going to a secluded pond and pushed her in without hesitation.
It was winter then, and if she hadn't been able to swim and hadn't been rescued by a kind person, she probably wouldn't be alive today.
Later, the incident of her falling into the water became a big deal, and her father wanted to seek justice for her, but he gave up because he could not find any witnesses.
From then on, Father stopped bringing his family to the palace for every banquet.
To this day, she still doesn't understand why Xuan Ci pushed her when she had no grudge against him.
“Now that I’m married to His Highness Prince Qin, I’ll be spending many more days in the palace.” Although Shen Youying didn’t want to cause trouble, she wasn’t one to be easily bullied, and she retorted in a firm but not weak way.
Xuan Ci waved for the female officials who were following her to step back, circled around her twice, and whispered maliciously in her ear, "How does it feel to marry my crippled cousin?"
Shen Youying raised her eyes and looked directly at her: "Does the Emperor know that the Princess has insulted the King of Qin in this way?"
“My brother almost ruined his marriage to the Yang family because of you. And Sister Rong, she could have chosen a good husband, but you ruined her so she can only be a concubine!” Xuan Ci raised his riding whip and pointed it at Shen Youying: “A vixen like you deserves to be tortured in the Prince of Qin’s mansion.”
It turns out it was to avenge Prince Chen and Zhou Zhenrong.
After the incident at the Zhou family villa, Prince Chen was reprimanded and confined by the Empress and the Emperor; Zhou Zhenrong, upon hearing that she was to be married on the same day, was quietly carried into Prince Chen's mansion in a small sedan chair.
Seeing her indignant expression, Shen Youying spoke gently, "Princess Yunying is still unmarried, why are you so concerned about your brothers' bedroom affairs? If you didn't know better, you would think..." She deliberately glanced at Xuan Ci from head to toe, then covered her mouth with her handkerchief and laughed with utter contempt.
Xuan Ci had never been mocked like this before. After all, she was an unmarried girl. Her face flushed red, and she lashed out at Shen Youying with her whip: "How dare you!"
Shen Youying had been on guard against her, and upon seeing this, she retreated and dodged repeatedly. However, she was caught off guard by someone coming from behind. She tripped and ended up sitting in the lap of the newcomer.
Xue Shen caught her steadily, pressed her into his arms, and looked coldly at Xuan Ci: "Princess Xuan Ci, what are you doing?"
Xuan Ci was actually a little intimidated by him and subconsciously avoided his gaze, but still stubbornly said, "I was just joking with Sister Wang."
"A joke?" Xue Shen stared at her with a dark expression. "A little joke that scared my princess so much she fainted?"
Shen Youying, who was forcibly pressed against her chest, was stunned, and her secret struggles slowed down.
Immediately afterwards, she felt the man holding her squeeze her palm, and then a gentle voice that sent chills down her spine sounded in her ear: "Zhao Zhao? What's wrong, Zhao Zhao?"
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