Chapter 044
Shen Zi took a sip of the rose dew, wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief, and then said, "Yes, although we are all relatives, we still have to avoid suspicion. The Zheng family is a scholarly family, and it is the most noble and elegant. They are also very particular about the rules."
Shen Qi smiled but said nothing else. Instead, Shen Zi looked at Shen Jin and said, "Third sister, talk to the sisters first. Is the Yongning Marquis particularly scary? After all, he is a relative. If we meet... it's always bad to lose our composure. I'm fine, but I heard that the Yongle Marquis has a bad temper..." Shen Zi suddenly looked at Shen Jin with horror, "Third sister, will he hit you?"
Shen Jin looked at Shen Zi, thought for a moment, and then advised, "Second sister, you should listen less to rumors."
Shen Zi thought she had touched Shen Jin's sore spot, and she smiled even more brightly. She was the best-looking of the sisters, and this smile was as radiant as the sun. "Third sister, you have returned to the capital now, and your father will make the decision for you... But since you have already married, don't feel wronged. Live a good life."
Shen Jin said, "Well, I will live a good life. My husband is a really good person."
Shen Zi sneered.
Shen Qi also said, "If it weren't for the second sister's humility, the third sister wouldn't have gotten such a good marriage. In this case, the third sister should thank the second sister."
"Oh." Shen Jin looked at Shen Qi. She used to listen to her elder sister the most, so she really stood up and saluted, "Thank you, second sister."
Shen Zi looked at Shen Qi with some doubt in his eyes. Shen Qi took Shen Jin's hand and asked her to sit back beside him. He just glanced at Shen Zi and smiled, "I just hope that my second sister won't regret it in the future."
Shen Jin looked at Shen Zi, then at Shen Qi, and decisively leaned next to Shen Qi, whispering, "Why does Second Sister regret it?"
"No need for later." Shen Qi held Shen Jin's hand and frowned slightly. Although he felt that the feeling in Shen Jin's hand was not as delicate as when he was in Beijing, he did not say it, but smiled and said, "Sister, you will know it in a while."
Shen Jin responded, and indeed did not ask any more questions. Shen Zi looked at the two of them, narrowed his eyes, and changed his posture a little irritably. Could it be that they knew about the Zheng family? No! Marrying into the Zheng family was her choice. The Zheng family was noble, and it was better than marrying into a place like the border town. And how could the Earl of Yongning be better than Zheng Jiaqu?
"Big sister, I just got some excellent bird's nests, which are extremely nutritious. I'll send some to you tomorrow." She looked at Shen Qi's belly and said, "Actually, big sister is still young, so there's no need to be so anxious."
Shen Qi's expression didn't change at all, he just smiled and said, "Forget about bird's nests, there are plenty in the mansion, and I don't like to eat those things. But if Second Sister is really thoughtful, why not give me a few of Second Brother-in-law's poetry collections? I heard that the Crown Prince specially asked someone to buy them for me."
"What poetry collection?" Shen Jin really didn't know, so he couldn't help but feel curious. "And the prince had someone buy a poetry collection, how do you know about it?"
Shen Qi chuckled, looked at Shen Zi who had an unpleasant expression and said, "The name of that poetry collection is 'Flower Odes', which is divided into the following parts: seeing flowers, appreciating flowers, cherishing flowers, pitying flowers, loving flowers, regretting flowers, and sighing about flowers. It is said that the words are beautiful and widely sung."
"Why haven't I heard of it?" Shen Jin said with some confusion, "But I just returned to Beijing, I'm afraid I don't know, then Second Sister, please give me a copy."
If he hadn't had his rational mind, Shen Zi almost overturned everything on the table. When Shen Jing and Shen Rong came over, they saw their second sister, who was born to the same mother, sitting aside with a grim look on her face, while Shen Qi was pulling Shen Jin aside to ask about her well-being. The two looked at each other, bowed, and then sat down next to Shen Zi.
When Shen Zi saw his two sisters, he took a deep breath and exhaled, and then he calmed down. He turned his eyes and asked, "Have you met the three brothers-in-law?"
"No." It was Shen Rong who answered. She whispered, "My mother sent someone to call me and my fourth sister over here to talk to the three sisters."
Shen Zi couldn't swallow this breath, but she knew that the Zheng family could not compare with the Yongle Marquis Mansion and the Yongning Earl Mansion in terms of power. The only thing she could use to comfort herself was the rumors about the Yongning Earl, so she deliberately said, "When you meet your three brothers-in-law later, don't make a fuss. It will bring shame to the palace."
Shen Rong's heart trembled, but she said with a puzzled look on her face, "Don't worry, second sister. We have already met the eldest brother-in-law and the second brother-in-law. The third brother-in-law..." Then she looked at Shen Jin, half-speaking and half-hiding the words.
Unfortunately, Shen Jin didn't notice Shen Rong's eyes, and there was no tacit understanding between them. She was whispering to Shen Qi about the sesame cakes from Old Man Qiao's house in Border Town. Shen Qi was so angry that he kept lecturing her, "How many times have I told you not to eat food from outside? What if it's not clean? If you really want to eat it, ask the servants in the mansion to learn how to make it, or invite someone to come to the mansion to make it. You actually asked someone to brush sweet and spicy sauce on the cakes?"
Just now Shen Qi asked her how it was in Border Town, and Shen Jin accidentally let it slip. Now Shen Qi almost scolded her and she almost cried, "Sister, I don't dare to do it again, I didn't eat too much..."
Shen Rong held her breath and looked at Shen Zi, who looked even uglier. Shen Jing suddenly said, "Third sister, there have been a lot of rumors about your third brother-in-law recently. Which ones are true and which ones are false? If you have any difficulties, please talk to the sisters. After all, we are all a family, and this is your mother's home after all."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qi stopped scolding Shen Jin for the time being and looked at Shen Rong. Shen Jin also looked over, then turned to look at Shen Qi and asked, "Big sister, are the few tutors that mother hired still here?"
"When mother first hired them, she said she wanted to provide a few maids for their old age, so they are all in the mansion." Shen Qi said, looking at Shen Jing with a smile.
Shen Jin nodded, as if asking casually, and then stopped talking, and continued to talk to Shen Qi, "In addition to the sesame cakes from Old Man Qiao's house, the cakes made by Aunt Zhao are also very delicious."
"Then I'll go to the Yongning Marquis's mansion some other day, and I'll definitely try it then." Shen Qi didn't even look at them again, and continued to pull Shen Jin and said, "Do you have enough people in your mansion? I know a few good guys."
"It's enough." Shen Jin just asked casually and continued to chat intimately with Shen Qi.
Shen Qi also told Shen Jin a lot of things in the capital.
Shen Zi, Shen Jing, and Shen Rong felt that even though they were the majority, they seemed particularly... insecure in front of these two people? They even felt a little redundant.
When Cui Xi came over, she saw Shen Jin still leaning against Shen Qi as if she hadn't gotten married yet. A smile flashed in her eyes, and then she said respectfully, "Girls, the princess invites you over."
"Okay." Shen Qi said with a smile, "Let's go." After that, he stood up and looked at Shen Jin. After Shen Jin stood up, the two of them walked out together.
Shen Zi and the other two followed behind, but they didn't dare to say anything. After all, Cui Xi was the most useful person around Princess Rui.
When a few people arrived, they saw Princess Rui sitting upright. After they bowed, Princess Rui smiled and said, "Everyone, sit down."
"Yes." Shen Qi pulled Shen Jin to sit next to Princess Rui, and the remaining three sat down in turn.
Princess Rui took a look but didn't say anything. She just smiled and said, "The prince is here with his two sons and three sons-in-law to compete. I asked you to come here to ask if you want to watch the fun."
Shen Zi's face turned pale, and he said, "What should I do? My husband is not good at martial arts, and my third brother-in-law...what if he really loses his temper when we fight?"
"No." Shen Jin comforted, "Don't worry, second sister, my husband is the most sensible. Besides, unless we are evenly matched, my husband will not try his best."
Is this really a comfort? Shen Qi didn't think much of it. Even if Yongle Hou's son was taught a lesson, it was good. He just asked, "Why would father want to compete? Who proposed it?"
Princess Rui smiled and glanced at Cui Xi, who then said, "I heard from the messenger that it was the second uncle who proposed this, saying that a gentleman should be proficient in all six arts."
Shen Zi's eyes twitched, and Shen Jing said, "Second brother-in-law is really something. Since he knew that Third brother-in-law had been guarding the border all year round, why did he mention the Six Arts of a Gentleman?"
Shen Jin nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, my second brother-in-law is really..." She shook her head and said, "My husband practices martial arts to kill people." Then she looked at Shen Zi, whose face was pale, and assured Shen Qi, "Don't worry, my husband knows his limits." Although Shen Jin couldn't say that she understood Chu Xiuming, she knew that Chu Xiuming would not leave any handles behind. The first time he came to the Rui Wang Mansion, he injured the Rui Wang and his two brothers-in-law? This was not Chu Xiuming's style.
Shen Qi smiled and said, "Of course I feel relieved."
Shen Jin smiled and said, "Well, my husband doesn't use his full strength, so he can control it." Then he looked at Princess Rui, "Mother, I'm married now and I shouldn't ask too much about the affairs of the mansion, but... do my fourth and fifth sisters still have a nanny to teach them?"
Princess Rui raised her eyebrows and looked at Shen Jin, then glanced at Shen Jing and Shen Rong before saying, "Not long after you got married, Concubine Xu begged the prince to allow several nurses to stay in the mansion, but they no longer taught the fourth and fifth girls."
Shen Jin moved his mouth awkwardly, but didn't say anything. However, Shen Qi didn't hesitate and said, "Mother, let the nanny teach the two sisters again. And the people around the two sisters should be cleaned up. Why did you tell them all these messy rumors from outside? The two sisters are not young anymore."
Shen Jing and Shen Rong now knew why Shen Jin asked that question. They looked at Shen Zi with pale faces. Shen Zi thought that all the people around his two younger sisters were his mother's people, and he felt anxious but didn't know what to say.
Princess Rui did not ask any more questions, but just nodded and said, "Okay, we are all family, we will have dinner together later."
"Yes." Several people agreed.
Although it was a competition, just as Shen Jin said, Chu Xiuming still held back. At least these people had no external injuries, except that their clothes were a little messy, but it was not a big deal. After all, people like them always prepare two extra sets of clothes when going out to avoid accidents.
Chu Xiuming also changed into a brocade robe and tied his hair with a jade crown. No one could connect him with the ruthless Earl of Yongning.
After the banquet was prepared, Princess Rui brought her five daughters to the dining room. Shen Zi looked at Shen Jin who was walking beside Princess Rui and sneered in his heart. He had already made a plan. He was determined to make the Earl of Yongning lose face. The Earl of Yongning had a violent temper. If he got angry in the mansion and returned home, Shen Jin would be in trouble.
Shen Zi glanced at his two younger sisters, Shen Jing lowered her eyes slightly, and Shen Rong bit her lip and nodded slightly.
In the dining room, Prince Rui was talking to Chu Xiuming with a look of joy on his face, while Shen Xi was full of admiration. Shen Xuan stood aside and entertained the prince of Yongle Marquis and the eldest son of the Zheng family.
When Prince Rui heard the maid's message, he smiled and said, "Xiu Ming is here for the first time, so he must drink a few more cups later."
"My father-in-law is right." Chu Xiuming was gentle and refined, with a beautiful face and a cold and noble air. "I've heard from my wife that the sisters in the mansion have a very good relationship, and my father-in-law and mother-in-law have taught them carefully. It's rare..."
“Ah… a ghost…”
Before Chu Xiuming finished speaking, a woman's scream and tender crying could be heard from the door. "So scary..."
Princess Rui, who was walking in front, was startled, not to mention Shen Jin and Shen Qi. They were both stunned for a moment before turning their heads to look over, and saw Shen Rong hiding in Shen Jing's arms. Shen Zi covered her lips with one hand, her face full of horror, as if she had seen something scary. She hugged her two sisters in her arms with sisterly love, lowered her head and dared not look into the hall again. Shen Jing stared at the people in the hall with wide eyes, her face pale.
Shen Jin's face was filled with confusion. He looked at everyone in the hall, then at the three Shen Zi sisters, then at the sun in the sky. His almond-shaped eyes were full of confusion. Even if there was a ghost, it couldn't possibly appear in broad daylight?
Princess Rui understood and a hint of sarcasm flashed in her eyes. Shen Qi sneered but didn't say anything.
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