Chapter 046
Because Shen Zi did something stupid, although Princess Rui found an excuse to cover it up, everyone knew what happened, so they did not have dinner in the Rui Palace. They just chatted with Prince Rui for a while and then went home. Shen Zi was also called back by Princess Rui. She had dressed up again. Her bright red gauze skirt was embroidered with large peonies, which made her look even more outstanding. I don't know if she was really worried about her sister Shen Zi or had other thoughts. Shen Jing and Shen Rong also came out to see her off.
Shen Zi knew that her behavior at noon had made Zheng Jiaqu lose face, so she was extra considerate and attentive at this moment. She was naturally beautiful, and she and Zheng Jiaqu had been married for less than a year, so Zheng Jiaqu's anger was slightly reduced, and his expression was not so ugly anymore.
When Prince Rui saw his three daughters, he was still angry, and his expression showed some anger. Princess Rui was still as kind and gentle as ever. After giving a few instructions, she had the prepared things distributed to the three daughters and their sons-in-law. She just said, "Today is the first time Jin girl has returned home since her marriage, so I am a little biased. You are not allowed to be jealous."
Shen Zi was still trying to please Zheng Jiaqu. Although she was dissatisfied, she didn't dare to say anything. Instead, Shen Qi smiled and said, "Mother, it's not right. It's reasonable to give more to the third sister."
Shen Jin stood beside Chu Xiuming and said with a smile, "Big sister, please don't be jealous."
"Bad girl." Shen Qi laughed heartily, without the sadness in her eyes. Shen Jin had a much harder life than she did, but she lived so well. As a sister, she couldn't be inferior to her younger sister. She just smiled and said, "Remember to bring your brother-in-law to my house tomorrow."
Yongle Hou's son was not confused about major issues. Hearing this, he said, "I have prepared some good wine at home, waiting for my brother-in-law to come and get drunk."
Chu Xiuming raised the corners of his lips slightly, fading some of the coldness between his eyebrows, making him look more upright and independent. "Okay." His voice was even more pleasant, slightly low and with a seductive feeling. Shen Zi felt as if a small hook had lifted her heart. She couldn't help but glance at him secretly, biting her lip, feeling unspeakable loss in her heart.
Shen Jing didn't even care about being shy. She twisted the embroidered handkerchief with her fingers, her eyes flashing. She didn't expect that Earl Yongning was not only good-looking, but also had such a charming voice. He was also a good man who stood up to the sky and guarded the border for the country. The more she thought about it, the more touched she was. Compared with Earl Yongning, even the son of Marquis Yongle lacked some momentum, and the eldest son of the Zheng family lacked some grace.
Shen Xi also said, "Brother-in-law, I'll go too."
"Okay." Yongle Hou's son agreed immediately, then looked at Shen Xuan and asked, "Would you like to go with us?"
Shen Xuan also agreed. Although Yongle Hou's son looked down on Shen Zi, he knew the status of the Zheng family among the elite. He looked at Zheng Jiaqu and asked, "Where is my second brother-in-law?"
Zheng Jiaqu's face also looked much better at this time. "How dare I refuse my brother-in-law's invitation?"
Several people laughed, and King Rui felt relieved after seeing this. Although his three daughters had done something wrong today, it didn't affect anything. He smiled and said, "You little ones should get closer to each other. Princess, bring my jar of apricot wine and give it to Yuhong so that they can drink it tomorrow."
"Father is so generous. What about my daughter's?" Shen Qi looked at King Rui and said coquettishly, "You can't just give it to the three sons-in-law."
At this moment, Prince Rui still felt that the eldest daughter raised by the princess was dignified and generous, and the third daughter was also cute and sensible, while the one raised by Concubine Xu was petty. Hearing this, he said, "Of course there are some. Take the honey wine to Qi'er."
"Thank you, father." Shen Qi said with a smile.
Princess Rui smiled and asked someone to bring the two jars of wine that Prince Rui mentioned to Shen Qi, "Okay, let the children go. It will be inconvenient when it gets dark."
"What the princess said is right." Prince Rui said with a smile.
Shen Jing said softly, "Father, Mother, I am going to see off my sisters and brothers-in-law."
Seeing Shen Jing like this, King Rui thought that she regretted her impoliteness at noon and was here to make up for it, so he nodded and said, "Go."
Princess Rui's eyes flashed and her smile became more gentle.
After paying respects to the King and Princess Rui, several people walked towards the carriage together. Shen Jing and Shen Rong walked behind them. Shen Jin was talking to Shen Qi, talking about the dishes to be eaten tomorrow without any hesitation. Shen Qi agreed one by one. Chu Xiuming touched Shen Jin's hand without leaving a trace, stopped and looked at An Ning, and said, "Cape."
"Yes." An Ning, who had been serving behind, quickly took the cloak and handed it to Chu Xiuming with both hands. Chu Xiuming took it and put it on Shen Jin personally, his eyes full of tenderness and pampering.
Shen Jin laughed, revealing the dimples on her face with her almond-shaped eyes, "I don't feel cold."
Chu Xiuming did not say anything. His slender white fingers deftly fastened his cloak. He then looked at the people who had also stopped to wait for them and said as if nothing had happened, "I still have some strong liquor brought from the border town. Let my eldest and second brothers-in-law have a taste tomorrow."
"Of course." The Prince of Yongle did not expect Chu Xiuming to love his wife so much, but he did not say anything, after all, it was someone else's family business.
Zheng Jiaqu sighed, "My third brother-in-law and my third sister have such a deep love for each other." But such a pure and lovely woman also deserves to be held in the palm of someone's hand.
Shen Zi held the handkerchief tightly in her hand, a trace of viciousness and hatred flashed in her eyes. She lowered her head with hatred in her heart. The better Chu Xiuming was and the better he treated Shen Jin, the more unwilling Shen Zi was. These things should have been his, but Shen Jin had used a trick to snatch them away. Maybe she was tricked by Shen Jin. And the Princess Rui... Such rumors. She raised her eyes slightly and glanced at Chu Xiuming. Such ridiculous rumors...
Shen Jing's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but hold Shen Rong's hand tightly, causing Shen Rong to exclaim softly and look over with a surprised face. She saw Shen Jing secretly staring at Chu Xiuming's back. A thought flashed through her mind, but she felt it was absurd, but... She looked at Shen Jing somewhat helplessly and called softly, "Fourth sister?"
This sound actually woke up Shen Jing. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were moist, and she looked a little shy like a little girl. She said, "Big sister, I wonder if my fifth sister and I can go to your house to bother you tomorrow?"
Shen Qi looked at Shen Jing, smiled and said, "Of course you can."
Shen Xuan narrowed his eyes for a moment before saying, "Then we'll go together tomorrow."
"Thank you, big sister." Shen Jing said softly.
Shen Qi stopped looking at Shen Jing and Shen Rong and only looked at Shen Jin before saying to Chu Xiuming, "Third brother-in-law, don't let my sister eat outside anymore."
Shen Jin stared at Shen Qi in disbelief. She didn't expect her elder sister to say this directly to Chu Xiuming. In fact, Shen Qi had just seen Chu Xiuming put a cloak on Shen Jin and came up with the idea. She naturally discovered that Chu Xiuming cared about Shen Jin. Thinking of what her mother said about making friends with Earl Yongning, she found another way to start with Shen Jin. Shen Jin's face flushed and she stamped her feet and said, "Sister, stop talking."
Obviously, she wanted to make an angry expression, but it only made her feel like a coquettish expression, without any threat. Shen Qi stretched out his finger and lightly touched her forehead, but did not say anything else. Sometimes it is better to stop at the right time. Some things will be said later. Chu Xiuming will naturally ask Shen Jin. As for whether he can ask the answer? Shen Qi did not think that Shen Jin could beat Chu Xiuming.
"Okay." Chu Xiuming glanced at Shen Jin and agreed with a smile.
Shen Qi smiled and said nothing more. After saying goodbye again, they got on the carriages. However, Shen Jing took Shen Rong's hand and looked at Chu Xiuming. She said shyly and nervously, "Third brother-in-law, I wonder if my sister has the honor to visit the Yongning Marquis's Mansion?"
Shen Xuan frowned and looked at Shen Jing. Shen Rong was so embarrassed that she could hardly lift her head. Chu Xiuming was helping Shen Jin get on the carriage when he heard this and said, "Madam makes the decisions on all matters at home."
Shen Qi also heard what Shen Jing said, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth. Shen Jing lowered her head, revealing a smooth neck that was stained with a little blush. She whispered, "Third sister, I haven't been to the Yongning Marquis's Mansion yet. Can I go to visit some other day?"
"It's not very convenient." Shen Jin was a little embarrassed and said honestly, "I have driven away all the servants in the mansion, and many courtyards have been closed. You will have no place to play when you go there."
Shen Jing's face changed, and when she looked up again, tears were already streaming down her face. "I know that before my third sister got married, she had some disagreements with my mother. I just want to get closer to her. Third sister...after all, we are both my father's daughters, and my father also wants to see us love each other."
Shen Jin looked confused, and felt bewildered. He moved his lips and said with grievance, "I am not familiar with Concubine Xu, so how can there be any discord?"
Chu Xiuming gently held Shen Jin's hand and helped her down, so that she wouldn't accidentally step on empty space. "Talk about it nicely, there's no need to rush."
"Yes." Shen Jin felt that he had a backer when he saw Chu Xiuming. He looked at Shen Jing and puffed his cheeks and said, "I was raised by my mother when I was young, and by my mother when I was older. Concubine Xu was weak and didn't come to my mother's courtyard, so I didn't see her very often. Fourth sister, did you misunderstand something?"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Jiaqu looked at Shen Jin, then glanced down at Shen Zi, and finally his eyes fell on Shen Jing. He felt that Shen Jing spoke too frivolously, but Concubine Xu was just like that. She didn't even go to greet the principal wife every day and was still weak. He had heard that Concubine Xu was arrogant and domineering because of the favor of Prince Rui, so it seemed that this was not groundless.
Shen Qi also opened the car window and said, "Fourth sister, did your third sister say anything harsh to make you so sad?"
When everyone heard this, it was indeed the case. They all knew about the Yongning Marquis' Mansion. Although they thought Shen Jin had gone too far at that time and that he was probably a little arrogant and willful, but seeing him now, they felt that there must be some misunderstanding. Shen Jing was good-looking. Although not as beautiful as Shen Qi, she was also beautiful. Moreover, she inherited the Shen family's pair of phoenix eyes, which usually made her very popular with Prince Rui. At this time, she really didn't have the advantage of Shen Jin's almond eyes. Shen Jin's almond eyes were moist and lively. When she smiled, she was particularly likable. When she didn't smile, she also made people feel extremely cute. At this time, she looked a little aggrieved, which made her look even more pitiful.
Shen Jin pursed her pink lips and said with a sad face, "I just returned to Beijing, and the house is not cleaned up yet. I'll invite you sisters to come over for a chat after it's cleaned up." Then she lowered her head and stood beside Chu Xiuming.
Zheng Jiaqu was the one who sympathized with the weak, and Shen Jin's facial features had grown a lot in the border. Although not as gorgeous as Shen Zi's, she was exceptionally delicate, like a white lotus blooming in a jade basin, delicate but noble. At this time, he said, "Why is Fourth Sister so aggressive?"
Yongle Hou Shizi calculated in his heart and did not speak, but looked at Shen Qi. Shen Qi lowered his eyes slightly and said, "I'm afraid that the fourth sister is still drunk."
Shen Zi's face changed. If this word got out, it would not be a good reputation for Shen Jing. He just said, "Fourth sister is young, but I haven't seen third sister for a long time, and I want to get closer to her. Third sister is the elder sister, what do you think?"
This difficult problem was handed over to Shen Jin. If Shen Jin still wanted to blame, it would inevitably appear that he was arguing with his sister and was petty and vindictive. If he said that he didn't care, he would offend the person who just helped to speak. Before Shen Jin could speak, Chu Xiuming said, "The fourth sister can say such words today. I think there is a lot of grudge between her and Madam. As a sister, Madam should give in to the younger sister."
As soon as these words came out, Shen Jing's heart was filled with joy, and there was a bit of indescribable affection in her eyes when she looked at Chu Xiuming. Although she and Shen Jin were both daughters of King Rui, Shen Jin had been favored by King Rui since childhood, which was something Shen Jin could not compare to. If it were not for the protection of King Rui's Consort, Shen Jin would have been forgotten by King Rui, and this was not without the contribution of mother and daughter.
Shen Qi looked at Chu Xiuming with a flash of eyes. Chu Xiuming's expression remained unchanged. Shen Jin trusted her husband very much and said, "Okay." There was no reluctance at all.
Zheng Jiaqu felt his heart move slightly. Such an innocent and kind girl wanted to speak but found that her hand was pinched hard by Shen Zi. She was annoyed. Even the Prince of Yongle felt that the Rui Palace had raised such a naive character like Shen Jin. He really didn't know whether it was good or bad. However, seeing that Shen Jin was completely dependent on Chu Xiuming, he felt a little envious.
"Thank you, brother-in-law." Shen Jing said tenderly.
Chu Xiuming continued, "In the future, when we are outside, please forgive me and my wife for not setting foot in places where my fourth sister is. Even in my father-in-law's house..." He looked at Shen Xuan with a bit of apology, "Please also ask my fourth sister to stay away, or my wife and I will stay away and never be in the same room with you."
As soon as these words came out, Shen Jing's face turned pale, and even Shen Qi looked at Chu Xiuming in surprise. This was simply a slap in Shen Jing's face, telling everyone clearly that he hated Shen Jing in the mansion. One was the Yongning Earl and his wife who held military power, and the other was a girl born to a concubine who had never married and was at most a princess. Everyone knew which was more important. In this case, I'm afraid no one would rush to invite Shen Jing to their home again.
Not only that, even those who don't think highly of Chu Xiuming will never invite Shen Jing again, because Shen Jin has such a good reputation... What good reputation can Shen Jing have after being said such things in public by Earl Yongning?
Shen Jin was unaware, and just continued to nod and said, "I know, I'll listen to my husband. Please let me know where my fourth sister is going to live." Then she looked at Shen Jing, sighed and looked regretful, "We are sisters, and I didn't expect you to hate me so much. I'm your elder sister and I always have to give in to you." After saying this, she felt a little disappointed and sad, "Husband, let's go home."
"Yes." Chu Xiuming helped Shen Jin's hand and let her get into the car. He never looked at Shen Jin and the others again. Although An Ning and An Ping didn't show any expression on their faces, there was a bit of unkindness in their eyes. They just felt that Shen Jing was particularly annoying, and that Concubine Xu whom they had never met. Thinking that the lady actually lived such a life in the mansion, they felt particularly distressed.
Zheng Jiaqu shook his head and glanced at Shen Jing. He felt that she was too overbearing. Although they were not from the same mother, she was still his sister after all. She embarrassed him in front of everyone just because of a small matter. He didn't know how to treat her in private. He no longer cared about Shen Zi and advised, "Fourth sister, it is better for girls to be chaste, quiet and virtuous. Don't pay attention to the quick tongue." If it weren't for the fact that Shen Jing and Shen Zi were from the same mother, he would not even say this to her. He felt that he had fulfilled his duties as a brother-in-law, so he said no more and got on the carriage first.
Shen Zi felt dizzy and had to leave first because of her husband's urging. Shen Qi said, "In this case, my house will not welcome you, my fourth sister, tomorrow. I will have to trouble my two brothers to explain to my father and mother."
"Don't worry, sister." Shen Xuan and Shen Xi responded without even looking at Shen Jing who almost fainted.
Yongle Hou Shizi drank the wine and got on the carriage without even saying hello. He sighed and said, "I never thought Concubine Xu and her daughter would be so arrogant."
Seeing that the Prince of Yongle Marquis did not realize that it was the Xu mother and daughter who had to endure the hardship this time, Shen Qi suddenly understood something in his heart. He sighed and said, "They have always been like this, even my mother..." He shook his head.
The Prince of Yongle narrowed his eyes and asked, "Why do I feel that the second sister also has a grudge against the third sister?" He noticed Shen Zi's eyes.
Shen Qi was stunned for a moment and pretended to be confused, "She shouldn't be like that. No matter what happens in the mansion, she always suppresses the third sister. Even the fourth and fifth sisters... Why does my husband think so?"
The Prince of Yongle frowned. Shen Qi knew that Concubine Xu didn't want her daughter to marry the Earl of Yongning, and finally pushed Shen Zi out. This matter couldn't be hidden from those who knew about it. After all, the date of the engagement was there. After thinking for a while, he said, "It could be... But that's not right. It's obviously my second sister who doesn't want to."
"Hmm?" The Prince of Yongle looked at his wife.
Shen Qi hesitated for a moment and said, "At the beginning, my uncle wanted to arrange a marriage for the Earl of Yongning and asked my father to choose a girl to marry. In fact, according to age, it should be my second sister, but my second sister was reluctant because...she was reluctant. In the end, my second sister was engaged to the Zheng family, and my third sister married to the border town. That's why I think what my husband said is strange. If you really want to talk about it, it should be my third sister who has resentment in her heart."
Yonglehou's son sneered, and he already understood in his heart that Yonglehou's reputation was too bad at the beginning, and Shen Zi was unwilling to marry there, and Concubine Xu was favored by Prince Rui, so she stayed in the capital and married the eldest son of the Zheng family, and Shen Jin married there. Who would have thought that it was not the case when they met today. Shen Zi couldn't help but regret and feel a little unhappy, "Really..." Thinking that she was Shen Qi's sister, he didn't say anything. Thinking of Shen Jin's difficult life at such a young age, he couldn't help but feel pity and said, "Third sister is also pitiful."
"My third sister and I are on good terms." Shen Qi said softly, "It was a coincidence that she got a good husband this time and finally got her happiness after all the hardship."
Yongle Hou's son nodded, forgetting that Shen Jin had bullied his cousin at that time, and said, "Madam, my cousin has a pitiful life. You are most compassionate to the young, so please take care of her more."
Shen Qi's heart was filled with hatred but she said with a bit of grievance on her face, "My husband, that's not true. Aren't all the good things in the mansion given to my cousin? Even the health-preserving things my mother gave me, I gave most of them to my cousin." As she spoke, she lowered her eyes slightly with tears in her eyes. Sometimes showing weakness does not mean being truly weak. Today, she saw through it all. "Forget it, my husband, think whatever you want to think." As she spoke, she turned her back and stopped looking at her, but her shoulders were trembling slightly, looking extremely pitiful.
Yongle Hou's son had never seen his wife like this. His heart softened when he thought of the child they had lost inexplicably. He put his arm around Shen Qi's shoulders and said, "It's my fault."
"My husband treats my cousin well, so I'm naturally jealous, but how have I really neglected her?" Shen Qi's beautiful eyes were filled with tears, and she was a little more coquettish, "My husband and I have a child... I can see that little body is cold when I close my eyes now, but my husband still mentions my cousin's belly in front of me every day... Even if I am sad and heartbroken, have I ever embarrassed my cousin in the slightest?"
"It's my fault." The Yongle Marquis felt a pain in his heart, and he hugged his pale wife in his arms and said, "I neglected it in the past."
There was a hint of sarcasm in Shen Qi's eyes, but she leaned more softly in the arms of the Yongle Marquis. At the beginning, she was sincere but received no sympathy. Now she was just pretending but got such a result. Shen Qi lowered her eyes slightly, and she knew clearly what to do in the future. With her hand on her belly, she was determined to make those people pay with blood for her child. Unfortunately, she woke up too late and had no clues.
In the Zheng family's carriage, Zheng Jiaqu looked at Shen Zi and said in a deep voice, "In the future, spend less time with your mother and two sisters."
"What do you mean?" Shen Zi thought of how Yongning Bo had defended Shen Jin, and Zheng Jiaqu's words were particularly harsh. "And why did you say that about my sister just now?"
"Isn't the third sister your sister?" Zheng Jiaqu was also very angry. Thinking about the poetry collection, he felt embarrassed and asked, "What did I say wrong?"
"My mother is your mother-in-law, and my sister is also your sister, but you are defending others?" Shen Zi gritted his teeth and said angrily, "Zheng Jiaqu, are you confused?"
"I have only one mother-in-law, Princess Rui." Zheng Jiaqu said coldly.
"Okay, now you despise me because I was born to a concubine?" Shen Zi pointed at Zheng Jiaqu. Her fingers stained with Impatiens looked particularly delicate.
Zheng Jiaqu's face turned purple and he said, "Where are your rules?"
Shen Zi sneered, "Look at the husband, then look at you, and you still want to talk to me about rules? I married into the Zheng family as a princess, and you still treat me like this?"
"No one forced you to get married." Zheng Jiaqu also had an angry look on his face. "Why did you rush to marry me in the first place? You know in your heart that you should marry a virtuous wife. If I had known you would be like this, I would rather not marry for the rest of my life."
Shen Zi was anxious, angry and ashamed. She had never been worse than Shen Jin since she was a child. She was so angry that she reached out to hit Zheng Jiaqu. Zheng Jiaqu didn't expect Shen Zi to do it. He didn't dodge for a while, and his face was burning with pain. When he reached out to touch it, Shen Zi grabbed it and blood came out. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth and looked at Shen Zi. Shen Zi was not willing to give in and continued to rush over to grab and hit him. Zheng Jiaqu held her down and said, "Since you look down on the Zheng family, then divorce. My Zheng family can't afford someone as cruel as you."
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