Shen Wangshu glanced lightly at the somewhat melancholy eyes of the King of Wei, then closed his eyes slightly.
She wasn't really so foolish as to say everything she truly believed.
Saving the Empress Dowager was a great achievement, but in the eyes of these cunning people, what reason did she, the daughter of a subject, have to protect the Empress Dowager?
loyalty?
Admiring the Empress Dowager's majesty?
Or... is he using this achievement for ulterior motives?
It would be better to tell the truth. Not only would the Empress Dowager and the Prince of Wei's doubts be dispelled, but they would also favor her more because of her honesty.
Her injuries were quite severe, and she could only manage a few words before she could no longer continue. She also found the King of Wei an eyesore, so she lowered her head and coughed a few times.
The Prince of Wei swept his handsome eyes over her pale face, which was lightly sweating. Seeing that she seemed unconcerned about his earlier words of comfort, he pursed his lips, gently laid her down, and then quickly left the side hall. This side hall was the Empress Dowager's palace, and was naturally extremely luxurious. Shen Wangshu was a meritorious official, and since she was recuperating from her injuries, she was resting very comfortably in the side hall. Moreover, the news that the Empress Dowager had been assassinated but saved by a court lady had already caused a great stir in the capital, and even the Emperor had come to see her.
The emperor was a very kind middle-aged man who had a deep bond with the empress dowager and treated Shen Wangshu with exceptional warmth.
For some unknown reason, the King of Wei suddenly pleaded with the Emperor to grant Shen Wangshu a reward. As a result, the Emperor and Empress Dowager bestowed a title upon Shen Wangshu.
Township Lord.
Becoming an official is easy, but being granted a noble title is difficult.
Although this was the lowest of the noble titles for women, it was still something that ordinary daughters of officials could not obtain. To put it bluntly, even Prime Minister Song, Shen Wangshu's biological father, might not have been as noble as this title of Lady of the Township. Moreover, the Empress Dowager liked Shen Wangshu's obedience and honesty very much, so she also granted her a fief.
The emperor, in the previous court session, gently praised Prime Minister Song, drawing attention throughout the capital.
Shen Wangshu felt a little regretful.
Her relationship with Prime Minister Song and his daughter was not very harmonious; on the contrary, they were somewhat distant. This was because Prime Minister Song doted on Concubine Rou, and now he not only treated Concubine Rou as a mere maid and housekeeper, but also showed affection to his illegitimate daughter, Song Wan'er, to an extent that almost surpassed that of a legitimate daughter.
If it weren't for the fact that Prime Minister Song's principal wife hadn't died young from illness, she would probably be furious to death if she saw this now. The emperor's reward for Prime Minister Song is better given to her, so she can avoid being trampled on without relying on him. She sat with a sigh in her ear in the exquisitely decorated stone pavilion in the Imperial Garden, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at the clear, cool green lake in the distance.
A gentle breeze wafted across the lake, refreshing and pleasant.
In the distance, graceful palace maids, as beautiful as flowers, laughed and chatted in groups, a sight that brought joy to anyone who saw them.
Another handsome and tall young man in brocade robes came through the flowers and willows. He looked up against the sunlight and saw Shen Wangshu in the pavilion. His somewhat cold phoenix eyes softened considerably.
"You're not fully recovered yet, how can you stand in the wind here?" King Wei stepped forward and habitually took off his crimson cloak and draped it over Shen Wangshu.
His attitude was perfectly natural, clearly because he had become quite adept at looking after Shen Wangshu during the past ten days or so in the palace.
Shen Wangshu did not do anything wrong.
In her previous life as the Grand Princess, she was used to being served and pampered.
Seeing her leaning on him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, the King of Wei quietly pursed his lips.
He told the Empress Dowager about Shen Wangshu's frank words that day. The Empress Dowager laughed when she heard it and said to him that the Song family girl was a smart and straightforward girl.
He naturally understood that this girl was both frank and shrewd, but seeing her quietly recuperating in the palace, never going out to flatter the Empress Dowager or show her face before the Emperor, he couldn't help but feel complicated emotions and wanted to take better care of her and make her life better. Fortunately, this girl named Song Lan was not a pedantic person, and within a few days, she became familiar with him.
"I have already bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and will be leaving the palace today, so I'm taking one last look at the scenery here."
I'm afraid that once she leaves the palace, she won't have another chance to come back to the palace to pay her respects.
She took a knife for the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager rewarded her with the title of Lady of the Township and a fiefdom. The deal was done.
"The Empress Dowager spoke to me." The Prince of Wei tightened his grip, but seeing that Shen Wangshu smiled at him, he said nothing more. He was a very quiet young man to begin with. He looked over Shen Wangshu's shoulder at the stone table in front of him and saw a chessboard on it, with black and white pieces crisscrossing and locked in fierce battle.
He placed his hands on the girl's slender shoulders, close to her back, and felt her move slightly. Knowing that he was being somewhat impolite, he still leaned over and pressed against her back, extending his long, slender, white fingers to pick up a white jade chess piece in front of him.
With a crisp sound, the white jade chess piece was placed on the chessboard.
Shen Wangshu's eyes lit up. Ignoring the young man's faintly hot breath so close to him, he picked up a black piece and casually placed it on another spot.
The King of Wei's eyes fell on her fair fingers and the black chess pieces.
Black and white are clearly distinguished.
"It's your turn," Shen Wangshu said, turning to the King of Wei with a smile.
Although the Prince of Wei was not born to the Empress Dowager, he enjoyed the trust of both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Since he was willing to show goodwill towards her, she naturally did not mind finding a patron.
Especially now, when there's no telling when Prime Minister Song might sell himself out.
The King of Wei saw that the girl in front of him had a beautiful smile, but when he saw her clear eyes, he felt that his heart was corrupt. He silently let go of her shoulder and sat down opposite her to play chess.
His heart wasn't in it, and soon he was defeated by Shen Wangshu.
"The game is over, and we should go too." Since the King of Wei had come, it was clear that the Empress Dowager wanted him to escort her out of the palace. After the King of Wei conceded defeat, he sat quietly in front of her, his thick, dark eyelashes drooping as he looked at the chessboard in front of him. For some reason, looking at this handsome young man with his hair tied up in a silver ring and his figure as straight as an elegant pine tree, and seeing his silent appearance, a faint sense of melancholy arose in her heart.
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