Unexpectedly, that evening, Qi Zhong brought two imperial edicts to the Shen and Zhou families respectively to announce them.
One document was to bestow a marriage upon Shen Youying and Prince Xue Shen of Qin, and to confer upon Shen Youying the title of Princess Consort of Qin.
The other document was a marriage decree bestowed upon Zhou Zhenrong and the Prince of Chen, making Zhou Zhenrong a concubine of the Prince of Chen.
Even the most flattering term for a prince's concubine is still just that—a concubine.
Logically speaking, it should be an honor for the emperor to issue an imperial decree to grant a marriage, but for the Zhou family, it was tantamount to being slapped in the face from afar.
The Zhou family is none other than the maternal family of the Empress Dowager and the maternal family of Prince Chen!
As soon as Zhou Zhenrong's affair with Prince Chen came to light, the Empress made a decision without hesitation. First, she summoned Zhou Zhenrong and her own elder brother to the palace and reprimanded them, using both kindness and severity. Then, she obtained an imperial decree to grant them marriage.
This is not a favor, but a punishment, a deterrent!
It was a warning to the willful and whining Zhou Zhenrong to see the situation clearly and stop being so ungrateful, and to obediently enter the Prince Chen's mansion as a concubine; it was also a warning to the Zhou family not to try to use the power of the Prince Chen's maternal family to coerce the Prince Chen and ruin his grand plan!
Zhou Zhenrong was confined to her home. She already knew the outcome before receiving the imperial edict, and at this moment she just sat in her room with her hair disheveled.
Madam Zhou felt sorry for her daughter. Seeing her numb expression and silence, she couldn't help but hug her and cry, "Her Majesty the Empress is angry right now. She has always loved you the most and wouldn't mistreat you. Prince Chen has also always treated you well. Although the title of concubine is unfair to my daughter, Prince Chen has lofty ambitions and is not someone to be trifled with. As long as you give birth to your eldest son first, that position will be yours sooner or later..."
Zhou Zhenrong's dull eyes finally moved. Zhou was overjoyed, thinking that she had listened, and quickly took the rice porridge from the maid and fed her: "You haven't eaten for a day and a night. Eat something first. You can't ruin your health."
Zhou Zhenrong pushed away the porridge spoon and looked directly at Zhou Shi, asking, "Where is Shen Youying? I heard that His Majesty also bestowed a marriage upon her?"
She cried all night and didn't speak for a long time. Her voice was rough and hoarse. Now, she suddenly raised her voice, which sounded shrill and frightening.
Zhou was startled by her question and wondered why she was asking about others, but she still answered, "Yes, His Majesty has bestowed a marriage upon her and the Prince of Qin."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhenrong chuckled, her straight back suddenly slumped, and she collapsed into the armchair as if deflated. This frightened Zhou Shi so much that her face turned pale, and she immediately called for someone to fetch a doctor.
Zhou Zhenrong, however, seemed oblivious and burst into laughter as if possessed.
Shen Youying, that little bitch, caused her all this trouble, and in the end, she didn't get a good ending either.
That's good.
That's good.
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