Chapter 197: Birth
Everyone stood up, only the Second Madam and Shen Mingzhu were still kneeling on the ground.
The maids of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were very perceptive and hurriedly helped them up.
The second wife's face turned pale and blue, and her eyes were fixed on the imperial edict in Shen Qingtan's hand.
She finally understood why her son told her to shut up.
She was showing off in front of Shen Qingtan that Zhao Jue was appreciated by the King of Zhenbei, which was simply a huge joke.
"How could it be..." How could Shen Qingtan be the daughter of King Zhenbei?
Could there be a misunderstanding here?
The second wife could never accept this fact.
Once she accepted it, it would prove that she was blind and mistook a fish eye for a pearl.
If Zhao Jue had insisted on marrying Shen Qingtan, he would now be the son-in-law of the King of Zhenbei and have a bright future.
But... they abandoned Shen Qingtan and did things to the extreme, leaving no way out for themselves.
The second wife felt a sharp pain in her chest, her face turned pale and she was sweating profusely.
"Second Madam..." The maid quickly caught up the Second Madam who was sliding to the ground. Seeing her pale face, she was shocked: "Second Madam, what's wrong with you?"
The second wife was shocked and furious. Her eyes turned black and she fainted.
The maids were in a mess, frantically helping the second lady to leave.
When Shen Mingzhu saw the Second Madam's reaction, she pinched her fingers tightly into her palms. She knew in her heart that the Second Madam knew Shen Qingtan's true life experience and regretted letting Zhao Jue and Shen Qingtan cancel their engagement.
Unprecedented fear swept over her, and Shen Mingzhu felt a great crisis.
Zhao Jue had regretted marrying her a long time ago. Now that he knows Shen Qingtan's life experience, he will regret it even more, right?
Shen Mingzhu subconsciously looked at Zhao Jue, only to see him staring straight ahead without blinking.
She followed Zhao Jue's gaze and saw Shen Qingtan standing in the crowd, with a stunning appearance and dazzling beauty.
Shen Mingzhu's expression twisted for a moment, and suddenly an idea came to her mind.
The Marquis' Mansion raised Shen Qingtan for Prince Zhenbei for more than ten years. Now that the Marquis' Mansion is in trouble, shouldn't Prince Zhenbei repay this debt of gratitude?
After making up her mind, Shen Mingzhu quietly left the front hall, intending to quietly leave the house to meet the King of Zhenbei.
"Third Madam." Wan Dong was waiting for her outside. She stepped forward and whispered in her ear, "This servant has heard a piece of news. The Prince of Zhenbei has accused the Marquis and his wife of abducting the Second Madam. Now the notice has been posted in every street and alley in the capital to warn the world."
Shen Mingzhu's heart suddenly skipped a beat and her head buzzed as if it was about to explode.
"What did you say?"
"The lady confessed her guilt and admitted that she abducted the Second Mistress."
Shen Mingzhu shook her head: "No... Impossible..."
Wan Dong's last words crushed Shen Mingzhu: "The Marquis and his wife were sentenced to death by slicing."
Shen Mingzhu was on the verge of collapse, and a feeling of despair surged in her heart.
The last road was cut off.
"What should I do...what should I do..." Shen Mingzhu kept muttering to herself: "I can't be abandoned...I don't want to live the same life as before...I can't..."
She heard a burst of congratulations from the front hall, her eyes gradually darkened, and she made a plan in her mind.
-
In the front hall, Shen Qingtan sent the eunuch away and came back holding the imperial edict.
A gentle smile appeared on the Duke's serious face. "Take this scroll of imperial edict to the Zhenbei Palace tomorrow and place it on the incense table."
Shen Qingtan was stunned for a moment, then understood the Duke's intention: "Thank you, Grandfather."
The Duke nodded slightly, and he and the old lady supported each other and returned to Shi'an Hall.
Upon entering the room, the Duke dismissed the attendants and, recalling Emperor Jing'an's words, he sighed deeply, "I used to think that I couldn't write two Zhao characters with one stroke. No matter how incompetent or competitive the second branch is, they are still my own children. I can't abandon them."
"This evildoer has come to collect his debt. Over the past few decades, the debt owed in previous lives has been repaid." The old lady patted the wrinkles on her sleeves and said, "We can't sacrifice our entire clan for just one of their branches."
The Duke remained silent. When he came out of the palace, he had the idea of dividing the family.
When Shen Qingtan received the imperial edict today, this idea became stronger after he heard the Second Madam bragging about Zhao Jue's connection with the King of Zhenbei.
"The Marquis' Mansion has just collapsed. If we separate one of their branches now, outsiders will inevitably become suspicious." The Duke said in a deep voice: "Let's separate one of their branches after this matter has settled down."
The old lady nodded: "The King of Zhenbei has returned from a victorious battle, and the fourth one should be back too."
"The fourth child is not young anymore, it's time for her to give birth to a child."
"The young couple are both people with good intentions. If they don't want to have a child, can you still force them?"
"There are three kinds of unfilial behavior, and having no heir is the worst." The Duke was unusually firm: "If he doesn't give in, you'll have to stuff a concubine into his room."
The old lady was shocked. If she really did that, wouldn't the fourth son's wife have to pack up her things and go back to her parents' home directly?
When she saw the Duke's shrewd and confident look, she instantly understood.
If the fourth brother doesn't want his wife to run away, he must give in.
-
Shen Qingtan and the Fourth Madam walked arm in arm towards the backyard.
"I was worried about you. A woman without her family's support always lacks confidence. Now that you're here, there's no need to worry about you getting wronged." The Fourth Madam glanced at Zhao Yi, who was following behind her leisurely, and said jokingly, "Some people should have a sense of crisis."
She did not miss Zhao Jue's strange behavior. From beginning to end, his eyes were all on Shen Qingtan.
What’s interesting is Zhao Yi, who stood by Shen Qingtan, blocking Zhao Jue’s sight.
Shen Qingtan understood what the Fourth Madam meant and subconsciously looked at Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi seemed to have sensed something and looked up at her.
Her eyes were soft and bright, revealing the youthful shyness unique to a girl. Seeing this, Zhao Yi's heart was suddenly moved.
Shen Qingtan turned away and said softly, "Aunt Four, my father said that Uncle Four will be back soon."
The fourth lady silently calculated the days until Zhao Qiyuan returned to the capital. Her expression suddenly changed: "Second niece-in-law, we will never meet again."
Without waiting for Shen Qingtan to speak, she hurried away with her maid.
It seemed that if he was a step slower, he would be caught by Zhao Qiyuan.
The Fourth Lady decided whether to return to her parents' home for refuge based on how long Zhao Qiyuan had been away from the capital and the urgency of the situation. Only when Zhao Qiyuan was at his parents' home did he dare not go too far.
Shen Qingtan said nothing and returned to Lanxue Garden with Zhao Yi.
The matter of the Marquis' Mansion has been settled.
Shen Qingtan felt a little empty inside, and asked softly, "My eldest brother and third brother have been exiled to the frontier. Can we arrange for them to go to the northern border, or Liangzhou?"
The northern border is the sphere of influence of the eldest lady's family.
Liangzhou is the sphere of influence of the King of Zhenbei.
If the two of them go to the northern border and Liangzhou, they will not be bullied and there will be people to take care of them.
This way, there will be more opportunities to make meritorious deeds.
"I will go to the palace and ask the emperor to exile them to Liangzhou." Zhao Yi said gently, "Don't worry, I will arrange for the officers and soldiers to escort them."
Shen Qingtan felt a little relieved and thought about meeting Shen Shaobai and Shen Shaoheng before they left Beijing.
“Knock knock—”
Liu Yue's voice rang out from outside: "Second Madam, the concierge has delivered a letter addressed specifically to you."
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