He had once suspected that Xue Shen might have sensed something and was deliberately refusing him. But after several unsuccessful attempts to probe, and upon learning that Xue Shen had not only injured his legs in a fall from his horse but also his genitals, making him extremely cruel in bed and taking pleasure in torture, he temporarily gave up his intentions.
In recent years, Xue Shen's behavior has become increasingly outrageous and unrestrained, and his reputation in the court and among the common people is extremely bad, which is why he has relaxed his vigilance somewhat.
But this does not mean he would allow Xue Shen to choose a marriage that would be beneficial for him.
"The second daughter of the Shen family."
Xue Shen seemed oblivious to Emperor Cheng'an's unusual behavior. He leaned back in his chair without any decorum, squinted his eyes as if savoring the moment, and said with a grin, "I was traveling west when I happened to pass by the Zhou family's villa to join in the fun. She just threw herself into my arms. Doesn't that just prove what Master Huodong and the Great Monk said? I took her in right then and there. She's already mine now, and I just happen to be missing a princess. Why not bring her back to the manor to bring good luck?"
The second daughter of the Shen family?
Shen Mingjiang's legitimate daughter.
Emperor Cheng'an immediately remembered and matched the names with the names on the list.
Shen Mingjiang only has this one legitimate daughter, whom he cherishes dearly. In previous years, he even brought his daughter to the palace to show her off at palace banquets. It is said that she is an exceptionally beautiful woman.
Xue Shen is fond of beautiful women, so it's not surprising that he would be interested in Miss Shen Er. However, the fact that Xue Shen dared to ask him for Shen Mingjiang's legitimate daughter as his principal wife while the Shen family was still accused of treason makes him wonder if Xue Shen was truly stupid or just pretending to be.
Emperor Cheng'an scrutinized Xue Shen, but Xue Shen remained calm and revealed nothing.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly strange, Qi Zhong, the chief eunuch serving Emperor Cheng'an, suddenly lifted the curtain and strode in, whispering a few words in Emperor Cheng'an's ear.
Emperor Cheng'an's expression visibly worsened, and he couldn't help but angrily rebuke "Nonsense!" He then glanced at Xue Shen out of the corner of his eye.
Qi Zhong said: When King Chen was drunk, he tried to take advantage of Miss Shen, but she ran away. In his drunken stupor, King Chen and Miss Zhou ended up having sex.
Right now, Prince Chen and Miss Zhou are making a scene in the Empress's palace.
Emperor Cheng'an knew his eldest son's character very well. He was good in every other way, except for his fondness for women.
The Empress had initially intended to marry a woman from the Shen family to Prince Chen, and he was happy to see the Shen family's military power taken over. However, Shen Mingjiang declined. Later, although the Empress arranged for Prince Chen to marry a woman from the Yang family, the Yang family woman was only pretty, and Prince Chen naturally still longed for the Shen family woman.
Emperor Cheng'an also loved beautiful women and could understand his son's feelings.
The Shen family has fallen, so if he wants a daughter of the Shen family, he can have her; it's not a big deal.
But now things have gone wrong and even caused trouble, which means that Prince Chen has failed in his duties.
Emperor Cheng'an had placed high hopes on this son, and his disappointment and anger were now doubled. He quietly instructed Qi Zhong to summon Prince Chen to see him, and when he looked at Xue Shen again, he had no patience to negotiate and no longer had the suspicion and scrutiny he had shown before.
It seems he was overthinking things. Xue Shen was probably just at odds with the Prince of Chen and was deliberately going against him.
After all, this wasn't the first or second time the two of them had competed for beauty.
Emperor Cheng'an's mind raced. Seeing that Xue Shen was still waiting, he nodded and said, "Very well, since you like it, I will bestow a marriage upon you two."
After saying this, he ordered someone to draft an imperial edict.
Xue Shen pressed his advantage, saying, "The Fire Cave Immortal has calculated that the auspicious day for the wedding is in ten days. I plan to go and offer the betrothal the day after tomorrow, and the wedding will take place in ten days."
Emperor Cheng'an frowned: "Isn't this a bit too hasty?"
"It's a bit hasty, but we can't miss the auspicious day for the wedding." Xue Shen looked completely unconcerned: "After all, she's just the daughter of a disgraced official, so it's not like we're doing her a disservice."
Emperor Cheng'an shook his head and said meaningfully, "The case of the Shen family has not yet been concluded. If I were to ask you to marry the daughter of a disgraced official as your principal wife, I would be betraying my elder brother's entrustment."
Xue Shen waved his hand dismissively and said, "The late emperor was not concerned with trivial matters. If the Shen family's daughter can truly bring good fortune to my nephew, his spirit in heaven will be pleased."
Emperor Cheng'an didn't say much, only saying, "You should go back now. After all, she is your principal wife. The marriage is rushed, but it cannot lose its dignity. I will have Qi Zhong select a few people to send to your residence to help you with the wedding arrangements."
Having achieved his goal, Xue Shen wisely withdrew.
When Xue Shen left Funing Palace, he met Xue Zhan in the corridor.
It is speculated that Emperor Cheng'an received the news and hurriedly summoned the person to reprimand him.
He brushed past Xue Zhan, gave him a perfunctory bow, and smiled with a provocative expression.
Xue Zhan was unaware that he had asked the emperor for a marriage decree, and with his mind full of troubles, he had no time to argue with him. He turned and hurriedly entered the Funing Palace.
*
Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast.
Although the Zhou family repeatedly tried to silence the servants, they couldn't control the young men and women attending the banquet.
That very evening, news of Chen Wang's affair with Miss Zhou spread like wildfire.
Zhou Zhenrong was summoned to the palace, and the next morning, her family followed suit and also went to the palace to request an audience.
But it is said that the Empress was furious and not only confined Zhou Zhenrong to her quarters, but also punished the Zhou family.
The Zhou family's gates remained tightly shut even in broad daylight, and the servants trembled with fear, not daring to breathe loudly.
These reports were all gathered by Danzhu. After the Shen family's downfall, their information network was not as efficient as before. However, the servants of various households often interacted, and those who were willing to inquire could still gather a considerable amount of information.
Behind closed doors, Danzhu said with satisfaction, "This is all retribution."
The maids who knocked her unconscious and held Bai Luo back were all from the Zhou family, so they must have some connection with Miss Zhou.
The hunter who hunted the geese got his eyes pecked by one; he deserved it!
Shen Youying sat by the window, looking at the gloomy sky outside, and said softly, "I'm afraid there's still more trouble to come."
The Zhou family was, after all, the Empress's maternal family, and Zhou Zhenrong was the Empress's own niece. Shen Youying thought that even if Prince Chen did not cancel the marriage with the Yang family, he would consider it for a few more days and give Zhou Zhenrong and the Zhou family some face.
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