Chapter 7 Token of Love
The second wife thought about the anger she had suffered and deliberately made things difficult for the first wife.
"Yier has always been punctual. She's always the first one to arrive, even when she's sick," the Second Madam said worriedly. "Everyone's here today, but Yier hasn't come yet. Could it be that Tan'er can't come to terms with what happened yesterday?"
This reminds everyone that Shen Qingtan and Zhao Jue are childhood sweethearts, and they should be in love with each other.
Zhao Jue was willing to accept Shen Mingzhu for the sake of the overall situation.
Where is Shen Qingtan?
Is she willing to marry Zhao Yi, who is frail and sickly and can't even leave her with children?
"Are we late?" Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi walked into the main hall side by side and saw the second wife at a glance. She had a pair of triangular eyes and drooping eyebrows. When she frowned, she looked a bit mean. Her head was full of pearls and jade, and she was dressed very luxuriously.
The eldest lady standing aside had a beautiful appearance and a heroic look between her brows. When she was not smiling, she just sat there upright, showing her majesty.
Shen Qingtan calmly withdrew her gaze, her tone filled with guilt: "Second Aunt, I had just arrived and wanted to serve tea to the elders for the first time, so I wanted to dress more formally, so I was delayed."
At this point, she glanced at Zhao Yi and whispered coquettishly, "You even lied to me and said you weren't feeling well. The elders took pity on you and always paid their respects at this time, telling me not to worry. Now look, we're late."
This little girl's complaint fully shows her affection for Zhao Yi. How could she be unwilling to marry him?
Everyone's eyes turned to Shen Qingtan, and they saw that she was wearing a gold-threaded emerald leaf crown and a wide red palace brocade skirt, which made her look bright, dignified and dazzling.
All the younger generations were stunned, as they didn't expect Shen Qingtan to be so stunningly beautiful.
When they saw the beautiful Shen Mingzhu before, they thought Shen Qingtan's beauty was exaggerated.
Zhao Jue on the side stared at Shen Qingtan in a daze. He had never seen Shen Qingtan dressed up.
Every time we met, she was dignified and quiet, and never showed such a coquettish look.
Especially the charm in her glance at Zhao Yi was so captivating that he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Noticing Zhao Jue's gaze, Shen Qingtan turned his head to look over.
The two looked at each other, and she looked calm and smiled indifferently.
That smile was completely different from the shyness she showed when facing Zhao Yi.
Cold and indifferent, distant and polite.
It was as if they had never been childhood sweethearts, and she was not as desperate for him as he imagined.
He felt very uncomfortable and even a little annoyed. She shouldn't have reacted like this.
Seeing that Zhao Jue was staring at Shen Qingtan and couldn't come back to his senses, Shen Mingzhu clenched the handkerchief tightly in her sleeve.
Then he secretly glared at Shen Qingtan. This bitch had a foxy face and it was obvious that she was not content with her life.
"Blame me." Zhao Yi smiled faintly and said indulgently, "This is my fault."
Except for the people from the second house, everyone smiled knowingly.
Seeing that the couple got along well, the old lady said kindly, "You are not late. You came just in time."
Seeing that Shen Qingtan had no complaints about replacing the groom and was willing to live a good life with Zhao Yi, she felt a little pity for him.
In contrast, there is more dissatisfaction with the second wife.
Especially since the second wife was trying to stir up trouble just now.
The old lady smiled kindly, "I originally thought Yi'er was aloof and indifferent. Now that I see you and your wife are so harmonious, I feel at ease."
Shen Qingtan's cheeks heated up slightly: "Grandma, Second Master treats me very well."
Upon hearing this, the old lady said several good things in a row.
Next, Zhao Yi and Shen Qingtan served tea to the old lady.
The old lady put the pair of jade bracelets she had prepared on Shen Qingtan's wrist.
Shen Qingtan thanked her and gave the old lady the headband she had embroidered.
Then they served tea to the master and mistress.
The eldest lady was angry with the Cheng'en Marquisate and the second family, but she did not vent her anger on Shen Qingtan. To be honest, she was also a pitiful person, but she couldn't help but feel resentful.
Just now, when she saw Shen Qingtan express her attitude and saw her son defending her, the last bit of grudge disappeared.
As long as her son likes it, the eldest lady will like it wholeheartedly.
"My daughter-in-law is so pretty. She looks like a blessed person. No wonder we are destined to be mother-in-law and daughter-in-law." The eldest lady presented a set of kingfisher feather and ruby-studded headpieces as a greeting gift. Then, she took the embroidered shoes given by Shen Qingtan and praised them, saying, "She has such a delicate craftsmanship. The patterns are so realistic."
The master seemed oblivious to the underlying dynamics. He was exceptionally good-tempered, elegant, and always smiling: "The soles are well-sewn. They will surely be very comfortable to wear."
The Second Lady felt even more upset when she saw that she did not cause any trouble for the First Lady, but instead made the Old Lady like Shen Qingtan even more.
Especially the eldest lady praised Shen Qingtan for being a lucky person.
A blessed woman will not enter the door of an unblessed person.
Doesn’t that mean that the second branch is unlucky?
"Uncle and Aunt, please have some tea."
Shen Qingtan handed over the teacup with both hands.
The second wife wanted to make a few more sarcastic remarks, but when she caught a glimpse of the old lady's cold gaze, she held her breath and took out a golden hairpin and placed it on the tray.
She was still angry, but she put on a smile and said, "Yier, Tan'er, I wish you two a long and happy life together and a son soon."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became cold.
Everyone knows that Zhao Yi will not live long, and it is even more impossible for him to have children. The Second Madam is stabbing the First Wife in the heart.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the lady to explode.
"Thank you for your blessing, Second Aunt." Shen Qingtan was very happy and said with a curved lip, "My niece-in-law heard that Hualing Temple is very effective. The closest relatives light a lotus lantern there for the newlyweds and send their most sincere blessings. The Bodhisattva will show his favor. Second Aunt will go to Hualing Temple in a few days. Can you light a lotus lantern for my husband and me?"
The smile on the Second Lady's face froze. Hualing Temple was very effective, but lighting the lotus lanterns was extremely particular. One had to eat vegetarian meals in the temple for three days and then attend morning and evening classes with the master for two hours every day.
Everyone in the mansion knew that she was going to Hualing Temple. If she didn't agree to Shen Qingtan's request, it would mean that she was not sincerely blessing him.
The old lady will never forgive her.
This little bitch actually tricked her.
Everyone in the room looked at her, and the Second Lady reluctantly agreed, "It's not a big deal. Auntie will light two lotus lanterns for you."
"Then I'll have to trouble Second Aunt." Shen Qingtan pretended not to know that Second Madam was embarrassed, and said to Zhao Yi with a smile on her face: "Husband, you must thank Second Aunt very much."
Zhao Yi looked at Shen Qingtan's clear eyes which were cunning, and said with a smile: "Second Aunt is thoughtful."
Seeing one man making trouble and the other allowing others to make trouble, the second wife was so angry that her heart ached and she could no longer maintain the fake smile on her face.
The old Duke had two legitimate sons, two illegitimate sons, and one legitimate daughter.
The legitimate daughter was the former queen, who died in childbirth, leaving two lives lost.
After Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi offered tea to their other two illegitimate uncles, their third and fourth uncles and their couples, they distributed the other gifts to the younger generations.
Zhao Jue and Shen Mingzhu finished their tea. Shen Mingzhu was a little absent-minded. The gift from the Second Madam was not as valuable as the gift from the First Madam to Shen Qingtan.
and……
She secretly looked at Zhao Yi, who was beautiful and noble.
His eyes were always on Shen Qingtan, and he was considerate of her in every way, while the bitterness in his heart surged up like a torrent.
Originally... originally, this gentle and considerate man should have been her husband, but she rejected him because she thought he was too young to live, which is why Shen Qingtan took advantage of him.
I originally thought I would see the haggard Shen Qingtan, but seeing her rosy face, she looked contented and happy.
Shen Mingzhu was extremely jealous, as if all the good things happened to Shen Qingtan.
On what basis?
She saw Zhao Yi clench his fist against his lips and cough a few times, and the sour water in his throat finally had an outlet.
There is nothing to envy. Shen Qingtan will not have a good life for many days and will be a widow in the future.
"Third sister-in-law, this is the gift I prepared for you." Shen Qingtan took out a piece of white jade carved with a heart knot from his sleeve pocket and handed it to Shen Mingzhu: "I liked it before I met you, so I'm giving it to you today."
The jade is of good quality, pure white and flawless, and the carving technique is particularly exquisite, with a workmanship that is beyond belief.
Shen Mingzhu's expression changed instantly.
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