Seeing Consort Shu get up, Aunt Jing immediately stepped forward to help her. When Shen Pingjin saw Consort Shu approaching her, she bowed and gave a salute.
Although Consort Shu was over twenty-five years old, the scholarly temperament that Xiao family had innately bestowed upon her still clung to her. She reached out and took out a pair of white jade rings with a milky white color and a diffused luster from her crimson brocade sleeve with gold stripes.
Shen Pingjin was no stranger to such things, and she quickly took a step back, "Your Highness, this is forbidden."
Consort Shu didn't take Shen Pingjin's words seriously. She looked at the white jade ring and sighed, "Pingjin, you don't need to be so polite with me. Although you are no longer my son's consort, I still remember the time you spent with me. Consider this your reward."
Chen Pingjin hesitated for a moment, "But..."
Consort Shu shoved the white jade ring directly into Chen Pingjin's hand. "But what? No buts! I told you to catch it, so catch it. Do you intend to disobey my orders?"
Shen Pingjin had no choice but to accept it, saying, "Pingjin dares not accept it, thank you very much, Consort Shu."
Consort Shu waved her hand and asked Aunt Jing to help her back to her seat. "No need to thank me. This is all from my heart. I feel at ease knowing you accept it."
The white jade rings had a smooth and delicate feel to them, and were light to the touch. Chen Pingjin looked at the pair of jade rings and was momentarily dazed.
In her previous life, she became the daughter-in-law of Consort Shu, who also gave her a pair of white jade rings, instructing her to be with Su Xuanmao for a long and happy life together.
In her previous life, Consort Shu treated her extremely well. However, in the struggle with the Empress, she trusted those around her too much and was ultimately framed. As a result, Su Xuanmao's status in front of the Emperor also declined significantly.
It seems that it was after Consort Shu was banished to the Cold Palace and died in despair that the rift in the relationship between Shen Pingjin and Su Xuanmao began to widen.
When Yan Jue saw Shen Pingjin accept the pair of white jade rings, his expression changed slightly. He really didn't understand why his princess would accept something from another man's mother. It made him feel like his wife was being poached.
Yan Jue was a little annoyed.
But there are other things that need his planning right now.
Yan Jue looked at Ye Ting standing at the door. After receiving the order, Ye Ting quickly left.
When Shen Ruixue saw the pair of white jade rings given by Consort Shu, she was somewhat surprised. "Sister, these white jade rings are really beautiful. I am so envious of them."
These words were probably said to Consort Shu.
Consort Shu frowned slightly upon hearing this. She glanced at Shen Ruixue with an indifferent look in her eyes, "I've heard that although the second young lady of the Shen family is not as intelligent and beautiful as the eldest young lady, she is still a well-mannered and knowledgeable girl. But after seeing her today, she is nothing special."
Consort Shu picked up the steaming tea from the table, took a sip, and said, "Although you are now the Crown Princess, you should know what you should and shouldn't say."
Shen Ruixue's face turned pale and then purple as she listened, and she also felt a bit resentful towards Consort Shu. After all, she was now the Crown Princess, and her son was rightfully the Imperial Consort. How could she help an outsider?!
Seeing that Shen Ruixue was turned away, Shen Pingjin found it somewhat amusing. Consort Shu was a sentimental person who spoke directly. If Shen Ruixue wanted Consort Shu to treat her differently, she could only do so through time and affection. She was so hasty all of a sudden, it would be strange if Consort Shu didn't give her the cold shoulder.
The man beside her hadn't said a word since entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Shen Pingjin leaned close to Yan Jue's ear and whispered, "Husband, why aren't you saying anything?"
The woman's voice was already charming, and this slightly upturned tone made it even more alluring. Yan Jue was still pondering a solution when he suddenly felt the girl next to him breathing sweetly into his ear. In an instant, his brain seemed to go blank, and he completely froze.
Seeing that Yan Jue did not respond to her, Shen Pingjin thought that Yan Jue had not heard her. "Husband, are you mute?"
His tone was slightly fierce.
Yan Jue snapped out of his daze, somewhat annoyed at his own dullness, but his expression remained unchanged. "You are now my queen, and I have the right to defend you in front of everyone. As for not speaking now, it's just that the time is not yet right."
"It's not time yet?" Shen Pingjin frowned.
Knowing that the girl beside him seemed puzzled, Yan Jue patiently tightened his grip on her fair, jade-like hand. "Well, it's not time yet. You'll find out soon enough."
Shen Pingjin sighed helplessly, wondering what kind of trouble the Regent was up to. However, she still firmly believed that Yan Jue would not do anything to harm her.
As Yan Jue gripped Shen Pingjin's hand, his gaze suddenly fell upon the white jade ring that Consort Shu had just sent. His eyes darkened slightly, and he secretly vowed that he would never let Consort Shu steal his man again.
The two's subtle actions were observed by everyone. The Emperor, sitting on the platform, coughed a few times and said in a deep voice, "Miss Shen, are you and Yan Jue truly in love, as your sister says?"
The fact that the Crown Prince and the Regent Prince were to marry the two daughters of the Shen family on the same day had already been the talk of the town in the capital. If Shen Pingjin was really as Shen Ruixue said, then the face of the royal family would be in jeopardy. This was the ultimate reason why the Emperor asked Shen Pingjin if she regretted it.
It must be said that after experiencing the wickedness of human nature and the power struggles within the palace and the household in her previous life, Shen Pingjin still has a certain understanding of the emperor's thoughts.
Shen Pingjin knew that her seemingly affectionate relationship with Yan Jue, which appeared to be a sign of a long-standing acquaintance, could easily arouse the emperor's suspicion.
She rolled her eyes at Yan Jue beside her, bowed her head, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Ping Jin and the Regent had no prior connection. However, now that the die is cast, Ping Jin feels that if she is to be the Regent's wife, then she should be a true Regent's wife."
The Emperor found Shen Pingjin's words rather amusing. "Oh? So you mean that you and the Regent didn't know each other before, and only became husband and wife by chance, so it's better for you and the Regent to be close friends?"
Shen Pingjin was speechless at the Emperor's thought process, but she still answered with a calm expression: "Your Majesty, you know what kind of reputation the Regent has in the capital. Today, his kindness towards me may just be because of a momentary infatuation. I hope Your Majesty will not misunderstand me because of what Pingjin's sister said."
"Indeed, as expected of the daughter of Minister Shen, she is truly eloquent and witty!" The Emperor laughed heartily, glancing at Eunuch Shun beside him. "Eunuch Shun, go and fetch one of the glass coral beads that the envoys from the Western Regions recently presented as tribute. Consider it a wedding gift from me to the Regent and his wife."
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