Compared to the gloomy and dejected Zhou family, the Shen family was much more cheerful.
Previously, the head of the family, Shen Mingjiang, had been imprisoned. Although he had not been convicted, the prevailing opinion was that the government was furious and the Shen family was doomed. Even Madam Fang herself thought so. She had secretly sold some of her land and estates, thinking that if she couldn't escape the calamity, she would have some money to rely on.
They say money can make the devil turn the millstone, and this silver might save the mother and her two children from this calamity.
But she never expected that at this critical juncture, the Emperor would actually bestow a marriage upon Shen Youying and the Prince of Qin!
An imperial marriage decree and a marriage proposal sent by the Prince of Qin are completely different. After all, the Prince of Qin has a notorious reputation. At this time, a marriage proposal, to put it nicely, is nothing short of taking advantage of someone's misfortune. Given the Shen family's former prestige and status, Shen Mingjiang would never have the audacity to marry his precious eldest daughter to the infamous Prince of Qin, especially since he dared to refuse even the Prince of Chen.
However, the imperial decree bestowing the marriage was an honor. In this special time, it could even be considered the Shen family's lifeline.
"This second daughter is quite resourceful." Fang pondered the key to it, but she couldn't understand why the fierce and menacing Prince Qin would suddenly ask the Emperor for a marriage decree.
The only explanation is that the person from Qingwuyuan used some kind of method.
She couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she thought about it, so she gave her daughter Shen Muyu a hint: "Go to Qingwu Courtyard. The wedding is in a hurry. Go and ask your second sister if there is anything else she needs. If there is anything missing, take some from your dowry and use it first. I will make up for it later."
"On what grounds?"
Upon hearing that her dowry would be used to supplement Shen Youying's dowry, Shen Muyu was displeased. She was a year older than Shen Youying and, with her mother's help, had accumulated a considerable amount of fine items for her dowry over the years. She already felt her father favored Shen Youying and disliked her in every way; now, hearing that her own dowry would be used to supplement Shen Youying's dowry, she rolled her eyes to the heavens: "I've heard that the Prince of Qin has a sadistic streak. Who knows how many days she'll have left after she marries him? Why is Mother so eager to do this? Using my dowry to supplement it!"
She slammed her teacup on the table: "I'm not going. You clearly said that from now on she can no longer bully me, but now you want me to go and deliver things to her."
"What do you know! Times have changed."
Although Fang was of humble birth, merely the illegitimate daughter of a minor official of the seventh rank, her aunt was favored; otherwise, she, a minor official's illegitimate daughter, would not have been able to marry into the Duke's mansion as a concubine, and later become the principal wife after the death of the first wife. When she was still in her boudoir, her treatment was no worse than that of the legitimate daughters of the family, so she had attended a few days of classes with a tutor, unlike those women from families who had only read about female virtues but understood nothing else.
She said carefully, "If the Emperor grants a marriage at this time, there might still be room for maneuver in your father's case."
In her opinion, if the Emperor truly wanted Shen Mingjiang dead and the Shen family dead, even if he doted on Prince Qin, he would never issue an edict to grant them a marriage. Otherwise, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to himself?
"Really?!" Shen Muyu stood up happily. Although she often complained about her father's favoritism, she also knew that only if her father was well could she continue to be the eldest daughter of the Duke's mansion.
"This is just my guess." Madam Fang tapped her forehead and said helplessly, "You should be more careful. Your father dotes on that girl in Qingwu Courtyard like she's his own eyeball. If he comes back and finds out that we treated his precious child like water and poured her into the Prince Qin's mansion, the three of us will probably suffer the consequences."
Shen Mingjiang was a military general, with a tough and upright character, and he couldn't stand intrigue and backstabbing.
He was deeply devoted to his first wife, Ye, and over the years he only had one concubine, Fang. Fang was able to enter the family because Ye's eldest son had died young, and Ye was in poor health. Fearing that the Shen family line would end, she decided to choose a good concubine.
Over the years, although Fang was fortunate enough to give birth to a son and a daughter, she was never favored. The reason she was later promoted to the position of principal wife was entirely because after Ye's death, Shen Mingjiang was worried that the lack of a mistress in the household would damage his daughter's reputation, so he promoted the docile and obedient Fang to the position of principal wife.
He treated Fang and her two children fairly well, but compared to Ye and the two children she bore for him, he was far inferior.
Fang had worked hard for many years to achieve her current wealth and status, and naturally she was unwilling to let it all fall apart at the last minute.
After all, her eldest brother, Shen Xiuyi, who was on whom high hopes were placed, disappeared before the war and most likely died outside. In the future, the Shen family would still be run by her second brother, so it was natural for her to win over the master of the Duke's mansion.
The more Fang thought about it, the happier she felt. She wished she could get rid of that eyesore of "water" in Qingwu Courtyard in a grand and glorious manner the next day. She urged him repeatedly, "Go quickly and do it well. When your father comes back, I will pick out a high-class family for you. They will definitely be able to put Qingwu Courtyard in the dust."
Shen Muyu thought about it and agreed. Although Shen Youying was personally appointed as the Princess Consort of Qin by the Emperor, the Prince of Qin was vicious and tyrannical, and it was said that he was impotent. If she married him, let alone having a child to rely on, she would probably have a hard time even surviving.
Thinking about it this way, she immediately felt much better and reluctantly led the maid to Qingwu Courtyard.
*
Shen Youying is taking stock of her dowry.
Before the Shen family's incident, the Lu family had already come to propose marriage, and all the dowry items had been prepared. Now, although the husband has changed, there is no need to put in any more effort.
However, some items that are not suitable to be brought to the Prince's Palace need to be picked out in advance.
Shen Youying looked at the headdresses and jewelry that had been counted on the dressing table, and her gaze fell on the gilded and kingfisher hairpin.
This hair ornament was too ornate and solemn, and she rarely had the opportunity to wear it on ordinary days. That day, her cousin confidently promised to come and take her away, so she specially picked it out and put it on in a matching updo.
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