Chapter 53 Father-in-law's Examination
After drinking Jiang Mianmian's specially prepared "added Banlangen", the Empress Dowager reportedly cursed bitterly for three days and three nights in Cining Palace, and finally fell ill from anger, which finally brought her to a complete stop.
The Regent's Palace was once again restored to tranquility.
But this tranquility did not last long, as it was broken by a heavyweight figure.
The sky was clear and the air was crisp on this day.
Jiang Mianmian was nestled in the silk beanbag chair that Shen Jin had given her, enjoying the sun while directing Shen Jin to peel lychees for her.
"The one on the left is redder, that one is sweeter."
"Oh dear, don't peel it too hard, it'll be such a waste if the juice leaks out."
The dignified and composed Regent Prince was now diligently peeling a lychee, his hands, which had been reviewing memorials, carefully peeling it with the same focused attention he had on some important national matter.
"Give."
He held the peeled lychee to her lips, his fingertips still glistening with juice.
Jiang Mianmian opened her mouth and took it in, while mumbling a compliment: "Your Highness's skills are truly excellent, this lychee is peeled with such soul!"
Shen Jin chuckled softly and was about to take out a handkerchief to wipe his hands.
Suddenly, a loud, clear cough, tinged with obvious anger, rang out at the doorway.
"Cough cough cough!!!"
Jiang Mianmian was so frightened that she almost swallowed the lychee pit.
They both turned their heads at the same time.
At the entrance, Prime Minister Jiang Zhan stood with his hands behind his back, his face as black as the bottom of a pot. His shrewd old eyes were fixed on Shen Jin's hand, which was still near Jiang Mianmian's mouth, as if it were a pig's trotter stealing his little cabbage.
"father?!"
Jiang Mianmian jumped up from the sofa in a flash. "Holy crap! Why is Dad here? Nobody even told us?"
[Oh no, he must have seen how he was bossing Shen Jin around! Now I'm going to hear him lecturing me about "womanly virtues" again!]
Jiang Zhan strode in, first glaring fiercely at Chen Jin, then turning to Jiang Mianmian, his gaze instantly switching to a loving father's mode:
"Mianmian, I heard you were sick a few days ago, so I came to see you. How are you? Are you feeling better? Is anything bothering you? Is...is someone bullying you?"
As he finished speaking, his gaze drifted meaningfully toward Shen Jin.
Shen Jin calmly stood up and gave a junior's greeting: "Father-in-law."
"snort."
Jiang Zhan snorted, completely ignoring the comment, and plopped down on the small stool next to the beanbag chair where Jiang Mianmian had just been lying.
"Your Highness is in high spirits."
Jiang Zhan spoke sarcastically, "These days, the court is busy with affairs of state. Instead of dealing with official business, Your Highness has time to...peel lychees here?"
Listen to that sour smell.
Jiang Mianmian thought to herself, "Is Dad jealous? He's definitely jealous! He used to peel lychees for me at home."
Shen Jin smiled slightly, showing no anger. Instead, he picked up another lychee from the plate and began to peel it slowly and methodically.
“Father-in-law is right. However, while official duties are important, Mianmian’s health is even more important. The imperial physician said that she has not had a good appetite recently and wants to eat lychees, so I will naturally do it myself.”
"Doing it personally?"
Jiang Zhan twitched his mustache. "Such rough work can be done by servants! If word gets out that Your Highness is behaving this way, won't people say that my Mianmian is spoiled and disrespectful to her husband?"
He turned to look at Jiang Mianmian, his face full of heartache: "Mianmian, really! How could you let the prince peel lychees for you? What kind of behavior is this?!"
Jiang Mianmian shrank her neck.
Here it comes, the feudal patriarch's sermon.
She was about to bow her head and admit her mistake when Shen Jin spoke first:
"Father-in-law, you are mistaken."
Shen Jin placed the freshly peeled lychee in Jiang Mianmian's palm with utmost ease, then looked up at Jiang Zhan with a frank and resolute gaze:
“Mianmian is my queen, my lawfully wedded wife. With me, she doesn’t need to follow any rules, nor does she need to show any respect to her husband.”
"All she needs to do is... be happy."
"As long as she wants to eat, let alone lychees, I will pick the stars from the sky for her."
The entire room fell silent.
Jiang Zhan stared wide-eyed at his son-in-law, who was usually as cold as ice but was now uttering sweet nothings that gave him goosebumps. He was completely dumbfounded.
Is this... is this still the same ruthless regent?
This is clearly a tyrannical ruler who has been blinded by beauty!
Jiang Mianmian held the lychee, her face slightly flushed.
Oh dear, this jerk is being so sweet today? Did he eat honey?
[But... looking at Dad's face, like he'd seen a ghost, is somehow so satisfying! Hehe!]
Jiang Zhan took a deep breath, trying to calm his shaken mind.
He squinted and began to scrutinize Shen Jin with a completely new and critical gaze.
He used to think that Shen Jin was powerful and a good political ally, but his cold personality made him afraid that his daughter would be wronged.
But now...
He looked at the way Shen Jin looked at Jiang Mianmian.
That look in his eyes was focused, intense, and filled with a strong possessiveness, like a hungry wolf staring at its most beloved bone.
Jiang Zhan's inner alarm bells were ringing loudly.
Something's wrong! That look in his eyes is strange!
[This isn't pampering; this is clearly... trying to devour my daughter!]
No way! Mianmian is too naive; she'll definitely be devoured by this wolf in sheep's clothing!
"Your Highness."
Jiang Zhan suddenly stood up, his face serious. "I suddenly remembered that there are some matters in the manor that require Mianmian's attention. I wonder if Your Highness would be so kind as to allow Mianmian to return to the Prime Minister's residence for a few days?"
They're trying to poach people.
Shen Jin's eyes darkened, and the smile on his face vanished instantly.
"Father-in-law is joking."
He stood silently in front of Jiang Mianmian, like an insurmountable mountain. "Mianmian is now the Regent's Consort. The affairs of the Prince's Palace are numerous and cannot be separated from her. Moreover..."
Shen Jin turned and glanced at Jiang Mianmian, his eyes deep and unfathomable. "She's still not fully recovered and can't do without my... care."
"take care of?!"
Jiang Zhan was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared at his opponent, "I think you're thinking..."
"father!"
Seeing that the two men were about to fight over who she belonged to, Jiang Mianmian finally couldn't help but speak up.
She peeked out from behind Shen Jin, tugged at Jiang Zhan's sleeve, and said obediently, "Father, don't worry. I'm doing fine in the Prince's mansion, really fine."
"The prince treats me very well, feeding and drinking me, and even buying me a big villa. Look, I've gained a lot of weight!"
She pinched her slightly round cheeks. "Besides, a married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl. If I were to run back to my parents' home every day, people would think you've failed to raise your daughter properly."
Hearing his daughter's words about "turning her back on her own," Jiang Zhan's heart shattered into eight pieces.
Oh no... my sweet little girl is letting in the cold.
She actually sided with that outsider? She doesn't want to go home?
Waaaaah... A daughter grows up and leaves home!
Jiang Zhan, with red eyes, looked at Jiang Mianmian, then at Shen Jin standing beside her, who had a "what can you do to me?" look on his face.
"That's enough, that's enough."
Jiang Zhan waved his hand, instantly aging ten years. "Since you don't want to go back, then your father won't force you. As long as you're doing well... your father will be at ease."
He turned around and walked out with a somewhat desolate back view.
"Father..." Jiang Mianmian felt a little reluctant.
"Father-in-law, please wait."
Shen Jin suddenly spoke.
Jiang Zhan stopped and turned around, looking annoyed: "Does Your Highness have any further instructions?"
Shen Jin stepped forward, took out a token from his pocket, and handed it to Jiang Zhan with both hands.
"This is the Prince's pass."
The deep, earnest voice became much more sincere, "If Father-in-law misses Mianmian, he can come anytime. No need to announce your arrival, just come straight into the mansion."
"besides……"
He paused, glanced at Jiang Mianmian, and said, "I assure my father-in-law that as long as I am alive, no one in this world will allow Mianmian to suffer any injustice. Including myself."
This is a promise.
A promise one man makes to another.
Jiang Zhan looked at the token in his hand, then at Shen Jin's serious gaze.
A long silence followed.
"snort."
Jiang Zhan put away the token and gave an awkward snort. "Remember what you said. If you ever dare to bully her, I'll risk my old life to bring her home!"
After saying that, he strode away, but this time his steps seemed much lighter.
Jiang Mianmian felt a warm feeling in her heart as she watched her father's departing figure.
The old man... is quite arrogant.
She turned her head to look at Shen Jin, her eyes full of laughter: "Your Highness, were you... trying to please my father just now?"
Shen Jin raised an eyebrow, his aloof demeanor vanishing.
"I just didn't want to put you in a difficult position. After all..."
He reached out and pinched her cheek. "If you upset your father, you'll definitely cry again, and then I'll have to comfort you. What a hassle."
Jiang Mianmian: […You stubborn tsundere! Admit it's because of me, okay?]
Although she said that, she still threw herself into Shen Jin's arms and clung to him like a koala.
"Thank you, Shen Jin."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you... for putting my father's mind at ease."
Shen Jin hugged her, a slight smile playing on his lips.
That's natural.
Since you've taken someone else's precious daughter, you naturally have to take full responsibility.
This hurdle, the "father-in-law's scrutiny," was thrilling, but the outcome... was quite satisfactory.
However, what Shen Jin didn't know was that although Jiang Zhan was seemingly appeased, he turned around and went to the Dali Temple as soon as he left the palace.
"Jiang Li! Your sister has been bewitched by that big bad wolf, Shen Jin! As her brother, aren't you going to do something about it?!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li, who was dissecting a corpse, paused in her hand, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
"Charmed?"
"It seems...it's time to bring my sister to her senses."
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