Chapter 104 The Abandoned Eldest Daughter Makes a Comeback (28 chapters)
The people in the capital did not slander or criticize her; in fact, they were worried about Shen Yunzhen. However, when the court and the public learned of this news, it caused a huge uproar and stirred up a great wave of controversy.
The court officials were abuzz with discussion; no one had expected that the emperor would bring that woman from the Shen family into the palace.
Most of them had never met the woman surnamed Shen, but they had long heard of her reputation. This was not only because the Crown Prince and the Third Prince were always following her around, but also because their children and grandchildren were infatuated with her. They had even spoken ill of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince at home more than once, saying that they were not worthy of the woman.
He was completely obsessed.
Therefore, many court officials disliked the woman, but because of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, they did not say much. However, the censors could not help but impeach her.
However, no matter how much they were impeached, the two continued to do as they pleased. The Crown Prince had stated publicly more than once that no one but Lady Shen was suitable for the position, and the Emperor and Empress did not object to this. Therefore, their relationship was already a fact that everyone accepted, and she was almost the universally recognized candidate for Crown Princess.
Xiao Yuheng's actions are truly unexpected. They are undoubtedly disrupting the stability of the court, damaging the relationship between him and the Crown Prince, and tarnishing the reputation of the royal family.
In no time, impeachment memorials poured in like snowflakes, vehemently accusing the emperor of acting against the rules and disrupting the court. Some veteran officials even offered their remonstrances directly in the court.
However, the courtiers soon discovered that their humble and courteous emperor was a completely different person when it came to the matter of Lady Shen. Any minister who made even the slightest criticism of Lady Shen in court or in a memorial would be reprimanded without mercy and even severely punished.
He completely disregarded the earnest advice of his ministers and insisted on his own way, seemingly blinded by beauty.
Immediately, all the ministers, who were concerned about the fate of the nation, turned their gazes to the Crown Prince.
While the emperor's position is undoubtedly of paramount importance, the crown prince is equally crucial to the stability of the nation and the succession of the throne.
His Majesty is now showing signs of becoming a tyrant. If the Crown Prince is also involved, the conflict between father and son will make it difficult for the Great Zhou Dynasty to regain its stability.
Your Majesty's current actions in dealing with Lady Shen are showing signs of degenerating into a tyrannical ruler.
He ignored loyal advice, arbitrarily punished those who dared to speak out, and completely disregarded the order of the court and the dignity of the imperial family.
If the Crown Prince, fueled by resentment, were to clash with His Majesty, and the two father and son were to openly oppose each other in court, the situation would inevitably spiral out of control, and the Great Zhou would find it difficult to maintain its stability.
To the surprise of his ministers, the crown prince did not fly into a rage or become indignant in the face of the emperor's actions. Instead, he remained calm and composed, without the slightest ripple in his expression.
This unusual attitude actually made the ministers who had been vehemently impeaching the officials much more restrained. They gradually calmed down and decided to hold back and observe how things would develop.
Of course, they also had to remain calm.
His Majesty is currently in high spirits, and those who opposed him most vehemently and were the most vocal have already been found guilty of other crimes and dealt with accordingly. At best, they have been dismissed from their posts; at worst, their families have been exterminated.
Even Shen Zhengde was imprisoned, which truly shocked everyone.
Originally, everyone thought that it was not a big deal that Shen Zhengde was suspended from his post and kept at home. Although the Crown Prince intended to make things difficult for him, he was, after all, the biological father of the Shen family's daughter, and no matter what, he would not fall to the bottom.
Now that Lady Shen has climbed up to His Majesty's side, Shen Zhengde is even more secure. He was on the verge of soaring to great heights, but who knew that His Majesty would personally trample him into the mud.
What exactly was the place of this Shen woman in the hearts of this imperial father and son?
They were clearly trying to elevate her, yet they were also ruthlessly suppressing her family without any scruples.
It's truly bizarre and strange.
The Shen family.
When Shen Zhengde was suddenly thrown into prison, the people in the mansion felt as if the sky had fallen.
Originally, the Shen family was secretly delighted when they heard that Shen Yunzhen had been brought into the palace and granted residence in Lanyue Palace.
Although everyone understood from the last meeting that Shen Yunzhen had completely broken ties with them, now that she had entered the palace and wanted to rise to a high position and compete with the other concubines, her family could not be too weak.
In that deep palace, without a maternal family as a solid backing, even if one gains favor temporarily, it is like a rootless duckweed, difficult to last.
Therefore, the Shen family believed that as long as Shen Yunzhen was smart enough, even if she was dissatisfied, she would put on a facade of harmony and even take the initiative to elevate the Shen family in order to consolidate her own position.
Shen Zhengde, unlike the others, did not have such delusions. He had seen Shen Yunzhen with his own eyes.
He knew that with her stunning beauty, she would surely be favored even without doing anything, so he didn't expect to get anything directly from Shen Yunzhen, but indirect benefits were not hard to come by.
He also believed that as Shen Yunzhen's biological father, as long as His Majesty intended to promote Shen Yunzhen, he would not make things too difficult for him.
Shen Zhengde has already begun to consider which people he should win over in order to advance his career further.
But who would have thought that the emperor would act exactly like the crown prince, completely disregarding all reason and emotion, and directly throwing him into the imperial prison.
This move shattered the Shen family's illusions and plunged the entire Shen household into unprecedented panic.
Whether it was vanity after gaining power or a genuine attachment to blood ties, Shen Zhengde brought his uncles to the capital after becoming successful, and the whole family lived together.
With his concubines and illegitimate children also present, the large group of people was now in complete chaos.
Madam Shen, also known as Madam Wu, was crying uncontrollably. "What are we going to do? How could Zhengde be suddenly imprisoned? Didn't that little hussy Yunzhen enter the palace? Why didn't she plead for my husband?"
Shen Zhengde's uncles and aunts also quickly spoke up:
"Yes, Zhengde's wife, you should hurry to the palace and ask Yunzhen to release Zhengde."
"Yes, yes, go quickly! Our family has produced a princess consort, how could His Majesty arrest Zhengde? It must be a misunderstanding!"
"..."
Liu Ying frowned in annoyance, feeling even more disgusted with these clueless relatives.
She knew from the moment the master was beaten that the girl had completely lost heart and there was no possibility of reconciliation, especially since there was a deep-seated hatred between them.
That bitch Shen Yunzhen will absolutely not help them.
Now these people want her to go to the palace to beg her, aren't they just offering themselves up for humiliation?
Thinking about this, Liu Ying felt as if a million ants were gnawing at her heart.
In her youth, she was suppressed by Madam Zhang for many years. She should have been the master's legal wife, but she ended up as a concubine. Even now that she has been promoted to legal wife, she is still despised and looked down upon by many legal wives and can't hold her head up high.
Now she has to bow down to the lowly maid Zhang gave birth to, which is worse than killing her.
Seeing her like this, Wu flew into a rage and began to curse loudly:
"Liu! We're in dire straits right now, and you're still dawdling around, refusing to do your best. You're just like someone from a humble family, utterly unworthy of respect. When my son gets out, I'll make sure he divorces you!"
That damned old hag!
Liu Ying was furious.
When Zhang was alive, Wu treated her with utmost care and concern, often helping her to suppress Zhang. But as soon as Zhang died and Wu learned that the master intended to elevate her to the position of legitimate wife, Wu's attitude immediately changed.
She felt that her son was so outstanding that he could marry a lady from a prominent family like Zhang, so he could marry a second one. Now that she had made her his official wife, wouldn't that be blocking the path of the next one?
Therefore, she regarded her as a thorn in her side and wished she would die immediately.
Fortunately, the master still cared for her, and the affection between the two was genuine. Despite his mother's objections, he insisted on making her his official wife.
Liu Ying was scolded by Madam Wu, and her anger burned inside her, but she dared not retaliate.
She suppressed her resentment, forced a smile, and said in a humble voice:
"Mother, please calm down. It's not that your daughter-in-law is unwilling to do her best, but Yunzhen is now in the palace and has a noble status. If we rashly ask her for help, it may backfire."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wu snorted coldly, "Stop making excuses! No matter how noble that brat is, she is still the daughter of the Shen family, and Zhengde is her biological father. Does she think she can just stand by and watch her father suffer?"
The others also joined in the persuasion.
"Yes, as the saying goes, even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected. That girl is still a member of our Shen family. Go and talk to her, ask her to speak to His Majesty and release Zhengde."
Liu Ying sneered inwardly.
These people have been in the capital for so many years, yet they are still so crude and shallow.
They are the ones who are truly despicable!
Did they think going to the palace was like going to the village head's house? And that His Majesty was so easy to talk to?
Besides, that bitch would be fine as long as she doesn't kick them when they're down, why would she speak up for them?
Liu Ying was well aware of what she had done, so she did not hesitate to assume the worst about Shen Yunzhen.
The others paid no heed to Liu Ying's inward anger, continuing to mutter:
"I heard that she has captivated His Majesty. He will surely listen to her. Lady Liu, why don't you go and talk to her?"
“We’re all family, so it’s not good to let things stay like this. You have indeed mistreated her over the years. That girl is still young, so it’s normal for her to harbor resentment. You should apologize to her properly, and she will eventually forgive you.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Ying was furious, and even her worries about her husband were temporarily forgotten.
Don't even think about making her bow down to that little bastard!
Enraged, Liu Ying opened her mouth to retort.
At this moment, Shen Yunshu gently tugged at Liu Ying's sleeve, interrupting her anger, and whispered in her ear:
“Mother, the most important thing right now is to rescue Father. Everything else can wait. If you clash with Grandmother and the others, it will only make things worse.”
Liu Ying knew her daughter was right, but she still felt resentful.
She took a deep breath, barely suppressing her anger, and forced a smile.
"Mother, uncles and aunts, it's not that I'm unwilling to go, but Yunzhen has some misunderstandings about me and is afraid she won't see me. How about this, Mother, you go to the palace, and with your grandmother's intervention, she'll have no choice but to agree."
"No! You are Zhengde's wife and the matriarch of the Shen family. You should be the one to step forward."
Upon hearing Liu Ying's words, Wu's face immediately turned even uglier, and her voice involuntarily rose, revealing a hint of bravado masking her inner weakness.
Liu Ying sneered inwardly, but put on a troubled expression on her face.
“Mother, I’m afraid my daughter-in-law won’t get any good out of going there. Yunzhen misunderstands me because of her mother and holds a grudge against me. But you are different. You are her grandmother. She will have to give you some face no matter what.”
The others immediately agreed, thinking that there was no way a stepmother could have a good relationship with her children from her first marriage. They then turned around and began to advise Wu.
"Liu is indeed not suitable. You should go, sister-in-law. That girl might soften her heart because you are her elder."
"That makes sense. You should go and see for yourself; it might actually work out."
"Yes, you've gone through all this trouble to save your nephew."
Liu Ying watched from the side and chuckled to herself.
When everyone advised her to go, Wu's face turned pale and then red. Suddenly, she sat down on the ground, slapped her thighs, and started throwing a tantrum.
"What are you saying! I'm just an old woman who's hardly ever left the palace in my life. How would I know all those complicated rules and regulations? If I offend a noble person, my whole family will suffer! You're just trying to pressure me. Why don't you have any consideration for this old woman? This matter should be handled by Madam Liu, the head of the household. If she doesn't go, who will?"
She was used to showing off her power in front of her daughter-in-law, but she wouldn't dare utter a sound outside. Since arriving in the capital, she had almost always stayed at home as an old lady, rarely going out. Now, she was being asked to enter the palace directly. How could she bear it? She felt her heart pounding and her legs going weak.
Seeing her behavior, Liu Ying felt extremely disgusted, but she still maintained that troubled expression on her face.
“Mother, it’s no use for your daughter-in-law to go. Think about it, Yunzhen has such a deep prejudice against me. If I go, I might not even be able to get into the palace. But you are of noble status and are her grandmother. Even if she is unwilling, she will have to see you.”
The others had no opinions of their own and sided with whichever side they thought made sense. Seeing Wu's appearance, they were indeed afraid that she had offended the important person and brought trouble upon herself, so they hesitated again.
Wu jumped up immediately, pointing her finger at Liu Ying's nose:
"Stop spouting nonsense! You just don't want to put in the effort and are deliberately passing this hot potato to me. Let me tell you, if you don't go today, you'll be in big trouble when my son comes out!"
"Mother, is this how you speak? How can this be a hot potato? Don't you want to rescue Master?"
"Bah! Of course I feel sorry for my son, but you wretched woman, as my son's wife, you're making excuses at this crucial moment. You have no manners whatsoever as the mistress of the house!"
One was cursing like a shrew, the other was stabbing with a soft knife.
Shen Yunshu couldn't help but frown deeply, a sense of powerlessness welling up in her heart.
The most important thing right now is to rescue my father, but my mother and grandmother only know how to shirk their responsibilities and have completely forgotten that my father is in deep trouble.
What would she do if something really happened to her father?
Her marriage to the Third Prince was already ruined, and if she lost her father, her marriage would be even more difficult.
Shen Yunshu had already realized that her father did not love her and her mother that much, but as an unmarried girl, her father was her greatest support. Therefore, she did not tell her mother when he told Shen Yunzhen that he wanted to divorce her mother at the opera house. Now, she was naturally eager to rescue her father.
Thinking that the culprit behind all of this was that suddenly appearing elder sister, Shen Yunshu couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment.
If it weren't for her, she would have been a high-ranking princess long ago, instead of facing such a bleak future.
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