The other person probably didn't expect her to respond like that. After a pause, he smiled awkwardly and said, "No wonder Judge Lu looked down on everyone else but took a fancy to Lady Lu. It turns out he has a silver tongue."
Another person spotted Shen Youying in the crowd and deliberately asked Lu Yi, "I heard that Madam Lu and Judge Lu are cousins? So, Madam Lu should call Judge Lu 'cousin,' right? This is truly a marriage that strengthens ties between relatives."
Someone in the crowd seized the opportunity to say, "Princess Qin and Judge Lu are cousins. Has Lady Lu met them?"
When the Princess Consort of Qin was mentioned, everyone made way for her, as if to let Lu Yi recognize her, but in reality, they all had expressions of anticipation for a good show.
Everyone knows that Lu Minghe had refused to marry before, waiting for the Princess of Qin. Now, Lu Yi has suddenly married into the Lu family. She must have used some means. Women of lower social standing are always looked down upon by the ladies of noble families. Naturally, there are many who want to see her make a fool of herself.
Lu Yi looked at Shen Youying, who was surrounded by admirers. Although she knew that others were waiting to see her make a fool of herself, she still stood up and bowed: "Greetings, Princess Consort of Qin."
Shen Youying knew what these people around her were thinking; they simply wanted to use someone else to do their dirty work. But she had no grudge against Lu Yi and didn't want to get involved with Lu Minghe anymore, so she wouldn't let them watch the show for nothing.
Therefore, she adopted the proper demeanor of a princess consort of Qin, helped the woman up, and said, "Madam Lu, there's no need for such formalities." She then took off a jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it on the woman's wrist, saying softly, "I hadn't seen you before, so I didn't know your figure or preferences. I simply had the maid prepare a wedding gift according to custom. Now that I've finally met you, I feel that your temperament is similar to mine. You are a woman of humble origins but possess a refined character. This jade bracelet suits you very well."
Looking at the jade bracelet on her wrist, Lu Yi recalled what she had said about "having her hidden jade exposed," and felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
Everyone looked down on her for her humble origins and for marrying into the Lu family above her station. She herself knew what means she had used to marry Lu Minghe, so she didn't feel wronged or resentful. It was just that being ostracized and ridiculed by the guests on her wedding day was truly painful.
In such a situation, her mother-in-law wouldn't help her, and with Lu Minghe absent, she was left alone and helpless. Unexpectedly, the Princess Qin, whom she thought would be the most hostile towards her, was the first to stand up for her.
She gave a polite smile and sincerely thanked her, "Thank you, Your Highness."
She wasn't thanking the bracelet, but rather for the two acts of kindness she had shown. In her short life, she had experienced far too little kindness. To survive, she had to learn to fight and compete, becoming someone others saw as ruthless, but she never regretted it.
But when he was in front of the Princess of Qin, he felt somewhat ashamed for the first time.
Shen Youying smiled and patted the back of her hand, her gaze sweeping over everyone present. She said calmly, "This world is already harsh on women, yet there are still some women who always try to use gossip as a weapon. You don't need to take it to heart. Once you've been in Tokyo for a while, you'll realize that some people and some things are nothing more than that."
Lu Yi understood that she was making veiled criticisms, and she also sensed her disdain for those rumors.
She recalled that Princess Qin wasn't always so glamorous. She heard that when the Shen family fell on hard times and the Lu family broke off their engagement, she didn't have a good life when she was betrothed to Prince Qin.
It seems good deeds are rewarded, and now the bitterness has finally given way to happiness.
Lu Yi felt a faint sense of envy, and her wavering heart settled down. No matter how difficult the road, there are always people who can walk it.
She smiled and replied, "I understand, thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."
Seeing that she had taken it to heart, and that the women around her who had been hoping to see her make a fool of herself had all changed their expressions, Shen Youying became somewhat disheartened. She didn't want to stay any longer and said to Lu Yi, "I have other matters to attend to at my residence, so I'll take my leave first."
Lu Yi personally escorted her to the door, and only after everyone had left did he return to greet the guests.
She wore a heavy phoenix crown and a thick ceremonial robe, but her back was ramrod straight. She always wore the jade bracelet that Shen Youying had given her.
Even many years later, she still cherished the phrase "wearing coarse clothes but possessing jade" in her heart.
*
As soon as Shen Youying came out of the bridal chamber, Xue Shen saw her.
He bowed to the guests chatting around him and strode towards Shen Youying. Noticing a subtle displeasure on her face, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's wrong? Did someone bully you?"
Shen Youying said, "No, it's just so boring." She couldn't help but roll her eyes at Xue Shen, "I told you I wouldn't come, but you insisted on coming."
Xue Shen guessed that he had probably said something to upset her, so he didn't argue and could only coax her, "It's my fault, shall we go back?"
Shen Youying nodded, and the two bid farewell to Lu Lin and his wife and returned home.
When they left, Lu Lin and his wife, along with Lu Minghe, came to see them off.
Lu Minghe, dressed in red, stood beside his parents with his head bowed and eyes lowered, not daring to look at Shen Youying again.
It's not that I've let go, but rather that I know I no longer have the right to see her.
Shen Youying, however, was helped into the carriage by Xue Shen. After thinking for a moment, she lifted the curtain of the carriage window and said to Lu Minghe, "I still cherish the person in front of me. My cousin-in-law is a very good woman. I wish my cousin and his wife a long and happy marriage, and that they will be of one heart forever."
Lu Minghe was startled and looked up at her, but Shen Youying had already lowered the curtain.
The carriage from the Prince of Qin's residence slowly turned around and drove away into the distance. Lu Minghe could only stand there blankly, watching the carriage go further and further away.
*
Not long after the Lu family's wedding banquet, another summons came from the palace, saying that Consort Rong was lonely in the palace and wanted to invite Princess Qin to the palace to have a chat.
Upon hearing this, Shen Youying asked suspiciously, "What could I possibly have to say to her? Could it be that now that she's the Princess Consort of Rong, she wants to take revenge for what happened before?"
I've heard that Consort Rong is currently quite favored by the Emperor, and even Empress Zhou has to step aside, giving her a certain air of dominance in the harem.
Xue Shen thought for a moment and slowly said, "She married the emperor for ulterior motives, so she wouldn't really consider herself a concubine in the harem. Her sudden summons to the palace is probably also for a purpose, but we can turn the tables on her."
"How do you turn the tables on me?" Shen Youying stared intently at him, waiting for his next words.
But Xue Shen, ever the enigma, raised an eyebrow and touched his lips. His palm rested on her waist, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he looked at her meaningfully: "It's been three months already."
Shen Youying bit her lip, her face flushed, and glanced at him hesitantly, finally leaning forward reluctantly to give him a light, fleeting kiss on the lips.
Dissatisfied, Xue Shen pulled her close, drawing her into his arms and showering her with hot kisses.
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