Chapter 104: Private Engagement
Beneath the palace wall, Shen Yuning stood quietly, the breeze blowing through her hair.
She raised her head slightly, her beautiful eyes gazing at the deep and boundless night sky, and saw stars twinkling like dazzling gems inlaid in the sky.
Ye Jinshu walked out of the hall and immediately saw a figure that looked somewhat lonely under the palace wall.
His heart moved, and he felt that her whole body seemed to be shrouded in a veil of loneliness.
Could it be that Mimi didn't enter the harem voluntarily?
This thought flashed through his mind, driving him to walk towards her involuntarily.
When he approached and was about to call out, Shen Yuning seemed to notice something. She put her finger to her mouth, her beautiful eyes wandering, signaling him to be careful with his words.
Today's grand banquet for all ministers has brought together people from all walks of life, a mixed crowd.
Although Shen Yuning's current identity was fabricated by Quan Minghe, if her identity was exposed, it would inevitably cause an uproar, and Shen Yuning did not want to cause trouble for herself.
Ye Jinshu was already familiar with her familiar expression.
He calmed himself, took a few steps forward, bowed respectfully, and said in a clear voice: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to Concubine Shen."
"General Ye, please stand up."
Shen Yuning's voice was cold but majestic.
As she was a concubine, she was surrounded by palace servants. He signaled to Lan Ying, who understood and asked the palace servants around to move further away, leaving a relatively quiet space.
Shen Yuning and Ye Jinshu strolled along the palace corridor. As long as they spoke in a low voice, they would not be overheard by others.
There were many palace maids around, so this situation was not considered a violation of palace rules.
"Jieyu Shen, are you her?"
Ye Jinshu couldn't help but ask, his eyes fixed on Shen Yuning.
"Yes, long time no see, Ye Jinshu."
Although Ye Jinshu had guessed it in his mind, when he heard her affirmative answer, his heart finally settled down.
It's a good thing she's not dead.
"Why did you enter the palace?"
"If I say that I was bullied in Qianjing and had no choice but to enter the palace to seek refuge, would you believe me?"
Shen Yuning raised her eyebrows slightly, with a playful look in her eyes.
Anger gradually emerged in Ye Jinshu's eyes, and his voice was low and suppressed: "Is it the Prince of Lingyang who bullied you?"
Since returning, Ye Jinshu has asked people to find out every detail of her life after she married into the capital.
The various actions of Prince Lingyang in favoring his concubine and neglecting his wife were like sharp thorns that pierced deeply into his heart and made him extremely sad.
Shen Yuning raised her head, looked at the bright moon hanging high in the sky, and a mocking arc appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Ye Jinshu, you vowed to marry me, but you were gone for two whole years. What's the point of coming back to care about me now?"
When Shen Yuning came into this world, she had already planned everything in her mind.
Marry Feng Moheng and become entangled with Quan Minghe.
But she was in the northwest and had no roots or power in Qianjing, and she couldn't let her loyal father pave the way for her, so she had to find other ways.
Ye Jinshu's mother was from the Moyang Lin family, a wealthy family famous for its business.
Ye Jinshu showed extraordinary talent for business since he was a child. With the protection and support of the Lin family, he began to travel far and wide and venture into the business world at a young age.
Back then, fourteen-year-old Ye Jinshu met eleven-year-old Shen Yuning in the northwest. She was like a fairy from heaven, and her cute and beautiful appearance instantly captured his heart.
Shen Yuning also accepted his love for him. The two of them were in love and even secretly promised to spend their lives together.
At that time, his greatest joy in making money was to find rare treasures in the world for her.
Whether it was pearls from the deep sea or precious jades from the mountains; whether it was exotic spices or rare antiques, he would buy them at any price just to bring all the precious things in the world to her.
Make her smile.
But in the eyes of others, how could a mere businessman be worthy of the only daughter of Protector Shen?
So, under Shen Yuning's suggestion and arrangement, his father put pressure on Ye Jinshu.
Ye Jinshu also felt that he was not worthy of Shen Yuning. At the age of seventeen, he gave up business and joined the army, just to make great military achievements so that he could marry Shen Yuning in a grand ceremony.
After Ye Jinshu left, in order to ensure that Shen Yuning's life would not be affected at all, he gave her the assets he had worked hard for to manage at will.
And this is exactly what Shen Yuning expected.
Ye Jinshu's power is the sharp blade hidden in the dark after she stepped into Ganjing.
Obviously everything was under her control, but Shen Yuning still acted like a pitiful victim in front of Ye Jinshu.
The sad eyes and questioning words made him feel guilty and distressed.
Ye Jinshu clenched his hands into fists, his knuckles turning white.
Regret and self-blame.
His voice was hoarse and choked: "Mianmei, back then I was only thinking about achieving success and fame so that you could become the most envied bride in the world, but who could have expected..."
His Majesty would suddenly grant her a marriage, causing her to suffer humiliation in Qianjing. As the princess of a county prince, she was bullied by the concubines in the mansion.
"Ye Jinshu, I am fine now, and His Majesty treats me very well."
Shen Yuning turned her head slightly to avoid his burning and guilty gaze, her voice was light and no emotion could be heard.
Ye Jinshu frowned.
Even if His Majesty favors her in every way and grants her an enviable status, how can these satisfy the true desire in her heart?
He had been with her for many years and had long understood what she wanted, which was a husband who could treat her wholeheartedly.
And this, Your Majesty is simply unable to give.
What's more, Your Majesty usually disdains the women in the harem. His favor to her now is probably just because he is greedy for her beauty and wants to have a temporary novelty. How can it be said that he is truly good to her?
But Ye Jinshu can't do anything now.
"I have been fighting outside for the past two years and have not been able to be with you. When I returned from the battle, I specially went to find a unique gift. But when I returned to the northwest, I heard the bad news about you..."
"Your birthday will be in a few days. I will send this gift to Yaohua Palace in the name of your cousin. I'm sure you will like it."
Ye Jinshu suppressed the sadness in his heart and made his voice sound calmer.
In fact, Shen Yuning did not expect Ye Jinshu to return at this time. Such a coincidental timing gave her new plans.
On this birthday, she had originally planned to put on a good show in front of Quan Minghe, and now with the appearance of Ye Jinshu, perhaps the show would be even more exciting.
Shen Yuning stopped and looked at Ye Jinshu with her beautiful eyes. The emotions in her eyes were complicated and difficult to discern, with a hint of surprise and a hint of barely perceptible joy.
"Thank you... cousin."
After she finished speaking, she adjusted her expression and regained her dignity.
"I have been out for a while. It is time to go back to Taiji Hall. General Ye, do you want to go with me?"
Ye Jinshu also concealed all his emotions, bowed slightly, and said respectfully: "Yes, I will go back with your Majesty."
He stood aside, and after Shen Yuning moved forward, he followed her slowly.
The moonlight lengthened their figures, leaving behind a string of blurry shadows, as if telling of the inseparable and complicated feelings between them.
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