Chapter 5: Living as a Widow
Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan had already gone to bed, but Zhao Jue had not yet returned to the second wife's new room from the banquet.
Shen Mingzhu sat on a lacquered bunk bed with grape patterns carved on it. The phoenix crown on her head made her neck ache and her waist sore that she couldn't stand up straight.
She secretly lifted the red veil and looked at the pair of dragon and phoenix wedding candles on the table that were almost half burned, but there was no sign of Zhao Jue coming back outside.
Shen Mingzhu looked around the room. The Ruyi diamond-shaped window was covered with window paper and a pair of big red wedding characters were pasted on it.
Beneath the window stood a two-foot-wide ebony couch, and on a small table above the couch stood a Zhengde kiln blue and white lotus incense burner. Incense was lit in the burner, and the elegant fragrance drifted through the room with wisps of smoke.
Her restless heart calmed down a little with the refreshing fragrance.
Shen Mingzhu's butt was hurting from sitting so she moved a little. When she saw the big red brocade tent hanging beside her and the quilt under her, her little face turned red instantly.
But when he thought that Zhao Jue had not returned yet, his originally calm heart became a little anxious again.
She was worried that changing the bride would cause complications and prevent her from marrying Zhao Jue as she wished.
Shen Qingtan enjoyed wealth and glory for her for more than ten years, and Shen Mingzhu was jealous and felt unwilling.
Zhao Jue was originally supposed to be her fiancé, but because Shen Qingtan took his place, she couldn't marry Zhao Jue legitimately.
My mother said, "The Duke's Mansion values loyalty and integrity. Even if they knew that Shen Qingtan was not the Duke's biological daughter, they would never agree to cancel the engagement and marry you to Zhao Jue instead.
Regardless, Shen Qingtan has been educated in the Marquis' Mansion for over a decade and is no different from a wealthy young lady."
The only option left was to change the bride.
The mother also said: "Zhu'er, don't worry too much about Shen Qingtan. If you hadn't been lost, your mother wouldn't have adopted her.
Firstly, it will be a comfort to me for you, and secondly, it will help us to arrange a marriage for the Marquis’s family.
She will be brought up as a lady from a noble family in the Marquis's Mansion on your behalf, and will help you find a good marriage, which will consolidate the interests of the Marquis's Mansion.
If you come back, her marriage will naturally be returned to you.
Otherwise, if you were found at your age, it would be very difficult to marry into a royal family and become a concubine.
Zhao Yi won't live long. After she gets married, she'll soon be a widow. From then on, she'll live in the inner courtyard of the mansion. How can she compare to you?"
Mrs. Shen did not think that she was vicious. Shen Qingtan was just the daughter of a lowly wealthy businessman. If she had not seen that Shen Qingtan was so cute, she would not have stolen her back to raise her.
If it weren't for her, Shen Qingtan would never have been able to enjoy the noble life of a superior person in his life. Now it is time for Shen Qingtan to repay the kindness of the Marquis' Mansion.
Shen Mingzhu was indeed comforted. Thinking that Shen Qingtan was marrying a sickly man who would not live long, the depression in her heart dissipated a little.
I don't know how long I waited, but I heard footsteps outside the door and heard the servant call out, "Third Master."
The next moment, the door was pushed open and Zhao Jue came in, smelling strongly of alcohol.
Shen Mingzhu picked her fingers nervously. When Zhao Jue used a jade ruyi to lift the red veil, she looked up at the handsome man. The bright red auspicious clothes made his sturdy body look majestic, and her cheeks blushed.
Zhao Jue looked at her made-up face, which was no longer as pretty as usual, but had become delicate and charming.
His stern face softened slightly.
"Zhu'er, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"I can wait as long as you want to entertain the guests."
Zhao Jue smiled, brought two wine glasses, handed one of them to Shen Mingzhu, and the two drank the wedding wine.
He said in a hoarse voice, "Grandmother knew that you and I were getting married, and to avoid being laughed at, she cancelled the wedding night ceremony. I'm sorry that you were wronged."
"I'm not wronged." Shen Mingzhu said softly with a shy face: "Third Master, I am very satisfied to marry you."
Zhao Jue thought of the old lady's disappointed look, and the smile in his eyes faded. "You've been tired all day. I asked the kitchen to prepare some food for you. Please fill your stomach first."
After saying this, Zhao Jue took out his undershirt from the closet and went to the bathroom.
Zhongxia, who was waiting on the side, came over, helped Shen Mingzhu sit in front of the dressing table, and took off the phoenix crown on her head.
Wandong placed a bowl of noodles on the table. Seeing Shen Mingzhu coming over, he took a wet towel and wiped her hands.
Shen Mingzhu looked at the steaming noodles, smiled with her lips curved, and her eyes were full of tenderness and sweetness.
Zhao Jue would prepare food for her, which must mean he loves her.
After eating a whole bowl of noodles, her stomach felt a little bloated.
Zhongxia brought a cup of tea for Shen Mingzhu to rinse her mouth, and then cleaned the table.
After a while, Wan Dong came in from outside: "Second Miss, Qiu Chan and Chun Jiao are here."
Shen Mingzhu frowned and said, "Let them in."
Wandong went to the door and called people in.
Qiu Chan and Chun Jiao stood in front of Shen Mingzhu and bowed, "Second Miss, the eldest lady asked us to come back and find our master."
Shen Mingzhu put down the teacup in her hand, glanced at the two of them, and asked with a slightly concerned tone: "How is the eldest sister? Is the second brother treating her well?"
Qiu Chan thought that Shen Mingzhu received the same treatment, so she did not hide it.
She described in detail to Shen Mingzhu what happened in the first room.
Shen Mingzhu heard that Zhao Yi was worried that Shen Qingtan would be tired, so he asked someone to take off the phoenix crown on Shen Qingtan's head before going to toast. Then he was worried that Shen Qingtan would be hungry, so he prepared four or five kinds of exquisite food.
She thought about how she had to wait most of the night with a phoenix crown on her head and an empty stomach, and her face gradually became gloomier.
The bowl of warm noodles instantly turned into sour water, making her heart feel sour.
She listened to the sound of water coming from the bathroom and asked, suppressing her anger, "Second brother is not feeling well. I guess he went to take a shower and rest first, right?"
Qiu Chan realized that there was something wrong with Shen Mingzhu's tone. He glanced at Shen Mingzhu secretly and saw that she looked unhappy. He swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
"I'm asking you guys a question. You all look like gourds with sawed mouths. Is there anything you can't tell me?"
Shen Mingzhu felt suffocated, gritted her teeth, and sneered, "You've only been serving Shen Qingtan for half a day, and you don't know who your master is. You're betrayers! Tomorrow I'll sell you all out one by one!"
"I dare not." Chun Jiao and Qiu Chan turned pale and knelt on the ground in fear: "Second Master asked the eldest lady to wash up and rest first, while he went to the study to wash up."
These words were particularly hurtful to Shen Mingzhu's ears. She became displeased with Qiu Chan and Chun Jiao and ordered them to get out.
She comforted herself in her heart: Even though Zhao Jue is not as caring as Zhao Yi, he has a better future than Zhao Yi.
After comforting herself several times in this way, Shen Mingzhu was still jealous of Shen Qingtan, and a look of dissatisfaction appeared on her face. Looking at Zhao Jue coming out of the bathroom, her watery almond eyes were filled with resentment.
Zhao Jue, wearing a middle-length shirt, stood by the screen. Seeing Shen Mingzhu's face full of resentment, he frowned and said, "Are you feeling unwell? Then go wash up and go to bed early."
Shen Mingzhu did not receive his comfort, but only waited for him to urge her to wash up in an unromantic manner. All the anger in her heart turned into grievance, and she went to the bathroom with a feeling of depression.
Forget it, after all, Zhao Jue lives longer than Zhao Yi, and he won’t let her be a widow.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
