Chapter 90 Becoming the Adopted Daughter of the Pei Family
The princess and her entourage were in a hurry and did not notice that Shen Shu and Lin Wei were right next to them.
Shen Shu was pleasantly surprised: "Your Highness the Princess is back?"
Since that day when I went to Qiyun Temple to pray for the Empress Dowager, I haven't seen her again. I heard from the servants in the mansion that the princess took Young Master Pei to the ancestral home in Jiangzhou.
It has been several months now, and I never expected to run into you here.
She instinctively leaned forward, wanting to go up and say hello, but Lin Wei stopped her.
"No, you're not allowed to go!"
Lin Wei was furious. How could he have forgotten Pei Jiming, this major threat?
Why didn't he just stay in Jiangzhou? What's he doing back here?!
Shen Shu: ...
You cheapskate!
Lin Wei kept his eyes fixed on the direction where the princess's carriage had left until the figure disappeared around the street corner before letting go: "The princess has just returned and must have many things to attend to. It's not too late to visit her another day."
Shen Shu knew perfectly well that he simply didn't want her to see Pei Jiming.
"The princess treats me very well. She even said she wanted to adopt me as her goddaughter. If I became her daughter, then Young Master Pei would be my brother. Could you please not...?"
So stingy!
She pouted, shook off his hand, got out of the car, and walked towards the teahouse next door.
Lin Wei followed helplessly, watching her sit down angrily, causing the teacups on the table to sway slightly.
"Then I'll accompany you to the princess's door later, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Shu paused, her hand still holding the teacup. She looked up at him, a barely perceptible smile flashing in her eyes: "That's more like it."
When Shen Shu and Lin Wei arrived at the princess's residence, they were told that the princess had already gone to the palace.
Shen Shu thought it was bad timing and wanted to go back first, but then a little eunuch came up to report: "Second Miss Shen, Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence."
...
Half an hour ago.
Actually, only the princess returned to the city this time. Pei Jiming would return in a few days, at a different time.
The princess did it on purpose because she still had an important matter to attend to and couldn't let Pei Jiming ruin her plans.
That day, when she went to Qiyun Temple to pray for the Empress Dowager, the princess discovered that Pei Jiming was showing signs of something amiss with Shen Shu. Instead of returning to the city, she had Pei Jiming accompany her to Jiangzhou.
The purpose was to go to the Pei family's ancestral home to inquire whether it was feasible to recognize Shen Shu as an adopted daughter and have her included in the Pei family genealogy, so that Ji Ming would completely give up on the idea.
After obtaining the unanimous consent of the clan elders, the princess was relieved and waited to return to the palace to request imperial decree to finalize the matter.
At the same time, it is hoped that the past few months of separation will slightly diminish Pei Jiming's enthusiasm for Shen Shu.
As soon as the princess alighted from her carriage, an old woman came to report to her the major events that had occurred in the capital recently.
The princess sat under the corridor and listened for a long time.
He was especially shocked to hear that the entire Shen family, except for Shen Shu, had died, and that the Cheng Wang case had also occurred.
The princess felt uneasy, thinking that she could not wait any longer. She had to go to the palace now and tell the Empress about her desire to adopt Shen Shu as her goddaughter.
We absolutely cannot let Shen Shu stay here alone in the Uncle's mansion any longer.
She was worried that since both of Shen's parents were still alive, the Empress might not agree to include Shen Shu in the Pei family's genealogy.
Now that the Shen family is all dead, isn't that only natural?
Without delay, the princess prepared a sedan chair and headed to the palace.
"You want to make that girl from the Shen family your goddaughter and add her to your family genealogy?" the Empress asked in surprise.
She was fully aware of what had happened to the Shen family recently.
It wasn't that she specifically wanted to know, but the Shen family's affair had become such a big deal that it was hard for her not to know.
"The second young lady of the Shen family is no pushover. Have you thought this through? Her family's affairs are the talk of the town. No one who gets involved with her ends up badly. If she comes to your house, aren't you afraid she'll bring trouble to the Pei family as well?"
The princess paused, thinking: If she is not allowed to come to the princess's residence, then the princess's residence will really be in trouble.
After all, she, as a mother, knew Ji Ming's thoughts all too well. If she didn't completely sever any possibility between them, it would be truly bad if she and Lin Wei had a falling out in the future.
"We beg Your Majesty to issue a decree to grant our request."
Seeing the princess's determination, the empress realized it was best not to stop her now, as doing so might backfire.
But seeing how much the princess valued it, the empress also became a little curious.
Let her see for herself what this famous Miss Shen is really like before making a decision.
"Since that's the case, then I'll ask her if she's willing. I'll summon Shen Shu to the palace now. If she agrees, then I'll issue the decree in public, which will bring some glory to this girl. Is that alright?"
The princess was extremely grateful.
On the way to the palace, Shen Shu was a little uneasy, but she quickly calmed down after seeing the princess.
He slightly bent his knees in a gesture of respect, his movements were standard and proper, showing no sign of panic.
The Empress looked at the girl before her; though dressed simply, her refined and elegant demeanor was undeniable.
His brows revealed a calmness beyond his years, unlike the rumors.
"Miss Shen, there's no need for such formalities," the Empress said calmly.
"You have been summoned to the palace today because the princess intends to adopt you as her goddaughter and include you in the Pei family genealogy. Are you willing to do so?"
Shen Shu felt a chill run down her spine and looked at the princess.
She hadn't expected that the princess would take her casual remark seriously.
They really intend to adopt her as their goddaughter.
Shen Shu curtsied to the Princess and the Empress, saying, "It is my great honor to be the Princess's adopted daughter, and I am willing."
Hearing this, the princess finally felt relieved.
"Your Majesty, since Shu'er is willing, please issue a decree to make Shu'er the adopted daughter of the Pei family and the eldest daughter of the Pei family."
As he said this, he slipped the Pei family's heirloom jade bracelet onto Shen Shu's wrist.
The cool jade bracelet pressed against her wrist. She looked down at the emerald green, and the inside of the bracelet seemed to still retain the warmth of the princess's palm.
Upon seeing this, the Empress smiled faintly.
I thought Shen Shu would be an arrogant and domineering country girl, but I didn't expect her to be so calm and polite. She didn't lose her composure at all in the face of this sudden honor.
The Empress then recalled that Shen Shu was the one betrothed to Awei. Since Awei had taken a liking to her, it couldn't be wrong.
As a result, all remaining doubts disappeared.
The Empress nodded slightly, her voice softening with genuine gentleness: "In that case, I will agree to the Princess's request. From this day forward, Shen Shu will be the adopted daughter of the Pei family."
No sooner had the words been spoken than a eunuch’s shrill shout came from outside the hall, startling the gilded palace lanterns hanging under the eaves, which swayed gently.
"Young Master Pei, Her Majesty the Empress has not yet summoned you. You cannot trespass without permission; this is against the rules!"
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