The General's Wife
Because she was going out with the princess today, Shen Jin wore a brand new gauze dress with colorful butterflies embroidered on the cuffs and hems. When she walked, the butterflies looked like they were dancing. She wore a golden butterfly necklace around her neck, and the butterfly's wings were inlaid with tiny gems of various colors. On her head was a butterfly hairpin made of gems that King Rui had just given her. The butterfly's wings were extremely delicate, and at first glance it looked like a real butterfly had landed in her hair.
Shen Zi didn't notice Shen Jin's appearance at first. It was only when Shen Jing beside her kicked her that she saw it. She frowned and wanted to say something, but was secretly stopped by Shen Jing.
Princess Rui had breakfast prepared. Shen Zi was unwilling, but because of his mother's instructions before coming and Shen Jing's reminder just now, he couldn't say anything. He rolled his eyes and had an idea in his mind.
Shen Jin always felt that Shen Zi and the others chose to come today, something was fishy, did Concubine Xu get some news? But she didn't want to think, could it be... Shen Jin looked up at Princess Rui, who was holding Shen Rong's hand and asking her what she usually did. When she heard that she was practicing the piano and listening to the music, she asked Shen Rong to take care of herself and specially instructed the servants around Shen Rong, looking like a loving mother.
When it was time to eat, Princess Rui sat next to Prince Rui, and Shen Qi naturally sat on the other side of Prince Rui. Shen Jin sat next to Princess Rui as usual, and Shen Zi, Shen Jing and Shen Rong sat next to Shen Qi's seat.
In fact, Shen Jin's seat should normally be next to Shen Zi, but the four of them usually eat like this, and Prince Rui is used to it and doesn't find it strange. Instead, Princess Rui is very satisfied and even specially picks up a three-fresh bun for Shen Jin.
Shen Qi also acted like an elder sister and took care of Shen Zi and the others during meals. Prince Rui was particularly satisfied seeing this.
After the meal, Princess Rui looked at Shen Jin's clothes and said, "It's not good to go out in the morning and evening if the wind blows. Cui Xi went to find Concubine Chen to give Jin girl the cloak."
Shen Jin sat beside Princess Rui and said coquettishly, "I forgot. Thank you, mother." No wonder her mother didn't let the maid hold the cloak today. She was surprised at that time, but now she understood. Since Princess Rui wanted to be a loving mother, she couldn't do it perfectly. She had to give Princess Rui a chance to perform. She felt vaguely understood something in her heart, but not quite. After thinking about it, she decided to go back and ask her mother.
Shen Zi's eyes widened when she heard what Princess Rui said. How could she not know that Shen Jin was going out? Besides, who could Shen Jin go out with but Princess Rui? She remembered that she seemed to have heard someone mention that Princess Rui was going to Yongle Marquis's Mansion. Now they were on the same page. She wanted to question her but felt that if she did, it would make the King Rui unhappy. She lowered her head and thought for a while. When she looked up again, her face showed a bit of envy and desire. "Third sister, your clothes today are so beautiful, and the jewelry, why haven't I seen you wear them before? Are they new?"
Shen Jin blushed, pursed her lips and smiled shyly, then pinched the handkerchief in her hand as if she was shy, and said nothing.
Seeing this, Shen Zi almost went up and pinched Shen Jin a few times, but she just looked at Prince Rui with expectation, then looked at Princess Rui and said, "Mother, is this a gift from you to my sister? But why don't we sisters have it?" Although she asked Princess Rui, she was actually complaining to Prince Rui.
Prince Rui's face darkened. Shen Zi was pleased to see this and continued, "Where is mother taking my third sister? My two sisters and I haven't been out for a long time. Can you take us with you?"
"Second sister, mother didn't take me out either." Shen Qi smiled gently, "Now mother only cares about third sister."
Shen Jin was pretending to be a coward, she found that her elder sister was indeed more powerful. She thought that Princess Rui must have obtained Prince Rui's consent before doing anything, so to Prince Rui who knew the truth, these words helped Shen Zi to exonerate herself, but to Shen Zi who was unaware of the situation, it sounded like she was helping Princess Rui to explain to Prince Rui, and Shen Zi would never be willing to accept that.
Shen Zi's eyes turned red, and she cried so hard that she looked particularly pitiful. "Mother, did Zi'er make you angry? Please forgive Zi'er. Even if you are angry with Zi'er, Jing'er and Rong'er are innocent."
Princess Rui sighed and said, "Second girl, you are not a child anymore. As a noble lady of the palace, don't learn from those girls from small families who cry all the time. It will only bring shame to your father. Cui Ya, please invite the second girl into the inner room to wash up."
"Why are you crying?" Prince Rui said impatiently, "That was given to Shen Jin by me. This is how Xu taught her daughter..."
"Your Highness." Princess Rui pulled on King Rui's sleeve and interrupted him, saying, "Don't talk about their mother in front of the children."
Shen Jin was listening on the side. It was now certain that Princess Rui had probably figured out the personalities of Concubine Xu and her three children. Princess Rui had pushed for today's scene a lot, and her words just now seemed to be persuading Prince Rui, but they ended up killing Xu.
"Okay, let's go back first." Princess Rui seemed a little embarrassed, and then she whispered to the King of Rui, "Invite the maid from the palace to come over in a few days and teach her more."
"Please ask some strict people to teach him a lesson. What kind of words are these?" King Rui frowned and said, "No one is as good as Qi'er."
When these words came out, even Shen Jing and Shen Rong's eyes turned red, and they pulled Shen Zi away together. Shen Jin realized the purpose of Princess Rui at this time. She was afraid that when she and Princess Rui came back, the whole mansion would know that Shen Zi and the other two were scolded and cried by Prince Rui.
Princess Rui? What does this have to do with Princess Rui? Princess Rui is so dignified and gentle, how could she bully a concubine's daughter?
No wonder my mother said that Princess Rui is the smartest woman.
Prince Rui did not stay long, as he also had things to do. He planned to first ask for the title of his eldest daughter to be revoked, and then mention the matter of the prince of Yongle Marquis' Mansion, in case his daughter got married and the prince was invited there, then the favor would not be good enough.
Princess Rui took Shen Jin to the Yongle Marquis' Mansion and did not explain anything on the way. In fact, she was testing her. If Shen Jin did not perform well, she would not take her out next time.
Who would have thought that although Shen Jin was quiet and looked a little shy, she was actually very open and generous in her dealings with others. In addition, she had already arranged a marriage with the wife of Marquis Yongle, so Princess Rui liked Shen Jin even more.
Soon the maid from the palace arrived. Since Prince Rui had spoken, Princess Rui would naturally not let him down. The maid chosen for Shen Zi was the most severe, and the methods used in the palace would not be noticeable even if she was punished. On the contrary, Shen Jin's maid was severe but gentle in attitude. After seeing her several times, Concubine Chen felt even more grateful. She made a set of clothes with auspicious cloud and silver patterns overnight and gave it to Princess Rui, not for anything else but to tell Princess Rui that she appreciated her kindness.
Days passed, spring went and autumn came, and before they knew it, it was time for Shen Qi to get married. Because of Shen Qi's marriage, classes in the mansion were suspended for more than a month. Shen Jin and Shen Zi lived far away from each other and were busy learning things, so they hadn't seen each other for a long time.
Shen Jin gave Shen Qi a set of twelve handkerchiefs that she had embroidered. Although the things on them were still round and smooth, they were much more delicate than before. "Sister, please don't forget me."
Although Shen Qi wanted to use Shen Jin, she still had some feelings for her. Especially when she thought about leaving home soon, her eyes turned red and she took Shen Jin's hand and said, "Third sister, come and play with me when you are free in the future."
"Yes." Shen Jin agreed, "Sister is the bride today. If she cries, she won't be beautiful anymore."
Shen Qi pinched Shen Jin's face lightly and was about to say something when Shen Zi, Shen Jing and Shen Rong arrived. They also gave some small gifts. Shen Jin didn't know if it was because they hadn't seen each other for a long time or it was an illusion, but she felt that Shen Zi seemed a lot duller. She was beautiful, and although she was a little unreasonable in the past, she looked dazzling and lively. Now... and Shen Jing was also there, there was always a sense of incongruity. Shen Rong was young and nothing could be seen, but she was dressed quite brightly today.
When Shen Qi got married, the others were not allowed to leave the backyard. They just watched Shen Qi's younger brother Shen Xuan carry her out of the house. The four of them did not have a good relationship, so they didn't say anything else and went back.
As the daughter of Prince Rui, the Prince would ask for a title before her marriage. Shen Qi married as a princess, and her husband was the eldest son of a marquisate. She was extremely glorious, with a dowry that could not be stopped by ten miles of red.
Shen Jin had seen this before, and although she was envious, she was not jealous, because she knew that she was not much worse. Prince Rui could not afford to lose face, and Princess Rui would not be so petty as to make trouble for such a small matter.
Concubine Chen went to the front to help Princess Rui. She came back after Shen Jin had finished her meal. Shen Jin quickly asked the maid to get hot water for Concubine Chen to soak her feet. Concubine Chen looked at her daughter who was growing up day by day and sighed, "I also saw the prince today. He is really handsome. I just don't know what kind of family my daughter will marry into when she grows up. I don't ask for wealth and fame. I just want to be good to my daughter and make her safe and happy."
"Mother." Shen Jin blushed. She was only thirteen, so it was too early to say this. "There is also my second sister above me."
Concubine Chen just smiled but said nothing. Shen Zi and the other two had bullied their good daughter in the past. Based on Xu's style, Princess Rui would choose a good in-law for Shen Zi, so that no one could gossip and Shen Zi would have no way to express her grievances.
However, Concubine Chen did not plan to tell her daughter these words. She wiped her feet and lay on the couch. Looking at her daughter tapping her legs with a small hammer, her heart softened. As long as her daughter could marry well and live happily, the grievances she had endured for more than ten years would not be in vain.
"Your elder sister just got married, the princess must be feeling bad, you should spend more time with the princess, okay?" Concubine Chen gently reminded, "Don't be naughty and make the princess upset."
"I understand." Shen Jin responded obediently, "The headband I made for my mother some time ago is almost done. I will take it to make it in the next few days."
"Good boy."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
