Recalling the plays they had acted in together, Xue Shen smiled and pinched her earlobe: "This is probably what it means to be a harmonious couple. Zhao Zhao and I are destined to be husband and wife."
Shen Youying felt a tingling sensation on her earlobe from his pinching, and slapped his hand away, saying, "Speaking of which, I just remembered something else. It seems that the governor's wife didn't know my identity, and probably thought of me as one of your mistresses."
Xue Shen thought for a moment and understood: "According to the rules, military officers cannot bring their families when they go to war. They probably didn't expect that I would bring the princess with me."
There's another point Xue Shen didn't mention: Shen Youying is simply too beautiful, especially in her outfit today. She's bright and eye-catching. In many people's minds, a wife is usually dignified and elegant, like a wooden doll. Seeing Shen Youying's bright and lively appearance, they subconsciously assume she's an outsider.
But in Xue Shen's eyes, those "official wives" who were suppressed by etiquette and the title of principal wife, like wooden figures devoid of any self, were truly pathetic. Even his mother, as the Empress of the Great Wei, was unrestrained and free-spirited outside of court affairs, not bound by these worldly rules and regulations.
Therefore, he hoped that Shen Youying could never be burdened by these rules and could just be herself happily.
Shen Youying thought for a moment and said, "Then let them continue to misunderstand." She winked mischievously and smiled, "Only a favored little lover can tattle without restraint."
Xue Shen was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this: "Cai Wenxuan is hosting a banquet tonight, and I've already accepted. Zhao Zhao, would you like to come with me?"
Shen Youying nodded. Thinking about the play she would be performing that night, she no longer felt annoyed by the conflict that morning. Instead, she rubbed her hands together, pondering how to be a cunning and irritating vixen.
*
Cai Wenxuan hosted a banquet at the governor's mansion to welcome Xue Shen.
Xue Shen accepted the invitation and took Shen Youying with him. In order to fit the identity of a fox spirit, Shen Youying specially changed into a crimson dress before leaving home. She did not change her hairstyle, which was still braided and hung down her back, but she wore a gold necklace and gold bracelet inlaid with pigeon blood red around her neck and on her wrists.
With such a deliberate effort, the exotic atmosphere became even stronger. When Xue Shengang saw it, he couldn't hide his amazement and even regretted asking Shen Youying to act with him.
Shen Youying, on the other hand, was in high spirits. With the help of Bai Luo and Liu Yun, she stepped onto the carriage using a stool and urged, "Hurry up, it's time to go."
Seeing her so interested was a rare sight, Xue Shen smiled helplessly and got into the car.
Upon arriving at the governor's mansion, Xue Shen got out of the carriage first, and then carefully helped Shen Youying down from the carriage.
Shen Youying firmly remembered her identity today. She delicately helped him out of the carriage and called out "Your Highness" in a drawn-out tone.
Those who arrived later, including Pang Lai, were startled by the lingering "Your Highness" and looked at Shen Youying in surprise, wondering what the prince and princess were up to today.
Xue Shen put his arm around the man, glanced at the group indifferently, gave them a look, and then led them into the governor's mansion.
Upon receiving the news, Cai Wenxuan immediately led Madam Xu out to greet them.
Xu was in a bad mood after suffering a loss during the day, but she had been repeatedly warned by her husband and knew that the King of Qin had a bad temper and now held military power, so she could not easily offend him. She could only swallow her anger and follow him out to greet him.
She had assumed that the King of Qin wouldn't allow a mistress to appear on such a formal occasion, but to her surprise, upon approaching, she saw a bright and delicate woman standing beside him. Who else could it be but that vixen from earlier in the day?!
Xu felt a lump in her throat, her steps faltered, and she reluctantly followed her husband forward to pay her respects.
Cai Wenxuan was unaware that Xu had clashed with Shen Youying in the fabric shop. When he saw Shen Youying, his eyes flashed with amazement. He wanted to look at her a little longer, but was warned by the Prince of Qin's piercing gaze. He snapped out of his daze, quickly withdrew his gaze, and respectfully greeted him.
"Your humble servant Cai Wenxuan greets Your Highness and...Madam."
He didn't know Shen Youying's identity, but a woman who could be brought to the welcoming banquet by the King of Qin, even if she was just a mistress, must have a high status in front of the King of Qin. Therefore, he addressed her as "Madam" politely.
After Cai Wenxuan finished introducing himself, he then stepped aside the reluctant Xu Shi and said with a smile, "This is my wife, Xu Shi. Madam is new here and may not be familiar with Xizhou City. If there is anything you don't understand, you can ask my wife. She knows all the fun places in Xizhou City like the back of her hand."
His original intention was simply to take the opportunity to please the King of Qin's mistress and get closer to the King of Qin.
To everyone's surprise, the young lover's face turned deathly pale upon seeing Madam Xu. She then frantically hid behind the King of Qin, clutching his sleeve weakly, her voice almost trembling with tears, "Your Highness, it's her..."
"She's the one who bullied me during the day with her maids and servants!"
Upon hearing her words, Cai Wenxuan was completely stunned. He looked at Shen Youying, who was timidly hiding behind the Prince of Qin, then turned back to look at Madam Xu, and asked blankly, "Is there...is there some misunderstanding?"
He did indeed instruct Xu to find an opportunity to contact the people brought by the King of Qin, but it shouldn't have been so short-lived that the two of them bumped into each other and started fighting after only one day, right?
To everyone's surprise, Madam Xu replied sarcastically, "I did run into you this morning, Madam, but I didn't know your identity at the time. You weren't this frail then..."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Shen Youying burst into tears. Her eyes were slightly lowered, and tears rolled down like broken beads, making her look even more pitiful: "Your Highness, you must seek justice for me."
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