Chapter 049
But the most incompetent thing in this world is knowing it in advance.
If she had known this earlier, Shen Zi would not have cried or made a fuss and would have happily married the Earl of Yongning. Otherwise, not only would she have been married in a hurry but her dowry would have been reduced, and even her two younger sisters would have complained. If Concubine Xu and Shen Zi had not promised to compensate them when the time came, the three sisters would have developed a rift.
Before the wife of Marquis Yongle could respond, she heard a maid announce that the eldest son of Marquis Yongle was coming. As soon as he came in, he saw his mother's face was in trouble. Yunniang, who was standing next to his mother, had tears in her eyes and looked aggrieved. His wife Shen Qi looked helpless, and his wife's sister was about to take the cakes on the plate to taste them.
"What's going on?" The Prince of Yongle looked around and asked with a smile.
"Cousin." Yunniang could no longer hold back her tears and cried out, her voice full of grievance.
This voice softened the heart of the Yongle Marquis' son, and he said, "What's wrong with you, cousin? What happened?" As he said that, he couldn't help but walk over.
Shen Jin was also confused, so he asked, "Yeah, why are you crying?"
As soon as these words came out, Prince Yongle looked at his wife who was sitting next to him, paused, and finally did not go to comfort Yunniang. After all, Shen Jin was there, and if he said anything when he returned to Prince Rui's Mansion, it might be inappropriate.
"It was obviously you who said the wrong thing." Shen Jin frowned and said, "You were wrong but you didn't admit it, and you acted like this..."
Madam Zhao said, "Madam, let's go back. I'm afraid the Yongle Marquis' Mansion doesn't welcome you."
Shen Jin always listened to Nanny Zhao. Hearing this, he nodded and said, "Madam, brother-in-law, and sister, I'll take my leave first." Then he stood up and was about to leave.
Moreover, the wife of Yongle Marquis could see that Shen Jin was not just making a gesture, she was really ready to leave. If this got out, would the Yongle Marquis Mansion still be able to live as a human being? The Yongle Marquis Mansion drove away the wife of Yongning Earl for the sake of a concubine of a prince, and it became a joke in the capital.
"Madam Bo..." The wife of Yongle Marquis no longer relied on her age and quickly stood up and shouted, "Qi'er, go and stop your sister."
Shen Qi really stood up, but she didn't try to stop Shen Jin. Instead, she cried, "Sister, please take me with you. I invited me here, but you let me be humiliated..." Then she was about to leave with Shen Jin.
Shen Jin had never seen Shen Qi like this before, so she quickly took Shen Qi's hand and said, "Sister, don't say that. I remember all the kindness you've shown me."
"What is going on?" The Prince of Yongle was completely confused and looked at his mother and wife. Although Yunniang was also crying and crying very beautifully, the Prince of Yongle's attention was attracted by Shen Qi. After all, Shen Zi seldom cried, and Yunniang was sentimental. Although she didn't cry to the point of falling down, she was not far from it. If she hadn't cried so beautifully, she would have been annoying long ago.
The wife of Yongle Hou also stepped forward and took Shen Qi's arm. After all, Shen Qi was her daughter-in-law, and Shen Jin was the wife of Yongning Bo, who was a killer. "I will definitely give an explanation to the wife of Yongning Bo."
In this situation, Shen Jin couldn't leave anymore. Shen Qi also said, "Good sister, just give me some face and stay a little longer. If not... I will never persuade you again."
Shen Jin looked at Aunt Zhao, who nodded slightly, and Shen Jin said, "Okay."
The wife of Yongle Hou quickly asked the maid to bring water, and glanced at the Yongle Hou's son. The Yongle Hou's son personally got a handkerchief to clean Shen Qi's face, and then said, "Madam, if you have any grievances, please tell me."
Yunniang's face was pale from crying, but she didn't look embarrassed. Instead, she looked pitiful. If it weren't for the maid's support, she would have fallen to the ground. She walked in front of Shen Jin, let go of the maid's hand, supported her belly with one hand and her waist with the other, knelt down very weakly, and said, "Madam, it's all because of my overestimation of my ability that I have offended you. If you want to blame someone, just blame me. It has nothing to do with Yongle Marquis's Mansion." Then she looked at Shen Qi, "Madam, it's all my fault. I'm of humble status..."
"Why don't you call me sister anymore?" Shen Jin was drinking tea when Yunniang said this. He asked after he put down the teacup.
Yunniang almost choked and felt a tightness in her heart. She looked at Shen Jin, but he didn't look as proud or proud as she thought he would. It was as if he had discovered a problem and asked it, as if it was a matter of course.
The Prince of Yongle was originally feeling distressed for Yunniang, but who knew that he was interrupted by Shen Jin's words. It was as if the feelings that had been brewing all of a sudden disappeared, and even if they were brewed again, they were no longer the same as at the beginning.
Shen Jin frowned and looked at Yunniang's belly and said, "Why don't you cherish the baby in your belly?" It sounded like a reproach but also like concern.
The expression of the Prince of Yongle Marquis eased a little. At least Shen Jin was still very gentle to his child, and his attitude was similar to that of his wife, so he said, "Yes, Yunniang, stand up quickly and don't hurt the child." As he said that, he helped Yunniang up.
When Shen Jin heard Yongle Hou Shizi talking, she remembered her original question and accused, "Brother-in-law, since she is your cousin, she is pregnant, why doesn't your husband stay with her?"
The Prince of Yongle looked at Shen Jin with surprise as he spoke righteously.
Nanny Zhao whispered something in Shen Jin's ear, and Shen Jin suddenly realized, "So this is your concubine."
The wife of Yongle Hou said somewhat awkwardly, "Madam Bo, Yunniang is my son's concubine."
"Then why does she still call you aunt?" Shen Jin looked at the wife of Yongle Marquis, then at the Yongle Marquis's son, "She calls her brother-in-law her cousin?" Finally, her eyes fell on Shen Qi, "She calls my eldest sister sister? And she calls me her younger sister?"
When Shen Jin said the last sentence, she remembered that Nanny Zhao was angry and wanted to take her away, so she asked, "When did my Yongning Marquis's Mansion have such a sister?"
Yonglehou's face changed drastically. He looked at Yunniang, then at his mother. When he saw his mother nod slightly, he believed it was true. He didn't think there was anything wrong with Yunniang's way of addressing her, but she actually called Yongningbo's wife "sister"? To be honest, Yongningbo's status was higher than his, the prince, and Yongningbo held military power. Even Yonglehou had to give in when he saw her.
And now, his concubine actually calls Lady Yongning "sister"? No wonder she was like that just now. If Lady Yongning hadn't been kind and hadn't had Shen Qi's face, this matter wouldn't have turned out like this. It would have been hard to resolve it. There were still a few younger brothers coveting the position of Crown Prince. Those good brothers would definitely not mind kicking him down and becoming the Crown Prince themselves.
The wife of Yongle Hou scolded sternly, "Yunniang, don't yell anymore. Since you are a concubine, you should fulfill your duties as a concubine."
"Aunt, don't be angry." Shen Jin advised softly, "I think it's because the rules are not good. Before we got married, my mother specially invited a nanny from the palace to teach us the rules." As she said that, she looked at Shen Qi.
Shen Qi's eyes were still slightly red. Hearing this, he sighed, "How about this, I will go back to the mansion tomorrow and ask two maids from the palace to come and teach Yunniang well." Before Madam Yongle could refuse, she continued, "It's fortunate that it's my sister who came today. What if it was someone else?"
After these words came out, the wife of Yongle Marquis was silent. The Yongle Marquis's son thought that his wife's thoughts were good, and then he looked at Shen Jin and said, "Third sister, this time it's my brother-in-law's fault. I will hold a banquet another day to invite you and your brother-in-law to drink and apologize."
"Forget it." Shen Jin saw that Shen Qi had a solution, and saw that Nanny Zhao did not move, so he said, "But brother-in-law, since she is your concubine, don't let her do the work of a maid in the future. Even if it is her preference, she can do it after she gives birth to a child."
Yongle Hou's son was completely confused, and Shen Jin had no interest in saying anything more. Yunniang knew in her heart that if Shen Qi really invited a maid from the palace, she would be in danger, so she looked up at Shen Qi and pleaded, "Madam, I...I will never dare to do it again." When she said "I am a maid", it seemed like she was forcing herself to endure humiliation and pain, which aroused a lot of pity from Yongle Hou's son. She lowered her eyes slightly and touched her belly, which was already showing, "I am already pregnant, why not wait until the baby is born, and then I will follow the maid to learn the rules."
Shen Qi seemed to suddenly think of something, pursed his lips and looked at the wife of Yongle Marquis with some embarrassment.
Instead, Shen Jin asked, "You learn the rules after you give birth to a child, but what about the child? Who will take care of it?" She loved children the most. Although the child's biological mother was a little unpleasant, the child was innocent after all.
Yongle Hou Shizi looked at Shen Qi, but Shen Qi pretended not to see his look. Shen Jin thought of what Yongle Hou Shizi said yesterday, looked over and asked, "Are you planning to let my sister raise a child for you?"
"This is the prince's first child, so naturally he should be raised by the lady's side." Yunniang was quite intelligent and didn't mention the eldest son, but the meaning of her words was very clear.
Shen Jin frowned, looked at Madam Yongle, and said, "Auntie won't agree, right?"
Shen Qi wiped the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief to hide the sneer on his face, and said, "My mother-in-law is not the kind of person who doesn't know etiquette, so she will naturally not agree. I'm afraid that my husband was also confused for a moment, so he said such words in front of my mother. But when I came back yesterday, my husband didn't have time to tell Yunniang."
The wife of the Yongle Marquis glanced at her son, then looked at Yunniang who was begging with her eyes. After thinking for a while, she still felt that her daughter-in-law's status was too high. She had to find a way to suppress it. Otherwise, she would have no say in the Yongle Marquis's mansion in the future. So she said, "Qi'er is the most filial. I thought that she had a miscarriage when she was not paying attention. It is inevitable that she will feel empty and miss the child. That's why I thought of bringing Yunniang's child to Qi'er to raise after it is born."
Didn't notice? Shen Qi secretly hated it in her heart. For the sake of the baby in her belly, she was very careful every day. She no longer ate many of the foods she used to like, and only ate those that were good for the baby.
"You have your brother-in-law to accompany you." Shen Jin said, "If you really feel lonely, I have a nest of snow rabbits. Write a letter and have someone send a few over. They are very cute."
Madam Yongle felt that Shen Jin was too shameless. Her son was going to do great things, so how could he always accompany Shen Qi? "Yun Niang is also a good concubine, different from ordinary concubines."
"Aren't they all concubines?" Shen Jin asked, "I remember that only those with a title of Duke or above can have a concubine." After saying that, he looked at Madam Zhao with some uncertainty, "Madam, am I right? Or have the rules in the capital changed and I don't know?"
What good concubine? In the end, she is no different from a concubine. She is just saying nice things to deceive herself. Madam Zhao said in a deep voice, "Madam is right."
Shen Jin looked at the wife of Marquis Yongle, as if asking, we are all concubines, so why do they sound different in your mouth?
How would Madam Yongle answer this? Could it be because he was her relative?
Yunniang lowered her eyes slightly and gently pressed the maid's hand. The maid rolled her eyes and said, "My girl is a noble concubine, so she is naturally different from ordinary concubines."
Shen Jin was stunned, and looked at the maid beside Yunniang in surprise. Shen Qi angrily shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
"Madam, don't be angry. The prince said this himself." The maid retorted without fear of Shen Qi.
"Slap him." Shen Qi said sternly.
Before anyone could react, the maid behind Shen Qi went over and pulled the maid over, and then another maid started slapping her fiercely. Yunniang screamed. The Prince of Yongle was still wondering when he had said that, but when he saw this, he quickly said, "Madam, you are doing this in front of your mother..."
The wife of Yongle Marquis also understood what was going on. She interrupted her son and pointed at the maid and said, "Beat her hard. No, drag her out and beat her to death."
"Mother..." the Prince of Yongle called out.
Yunniang had already softened to the Yongle Marquis, "Aunt, she has been with me since she was a child... She was the maid my mother personally chose for me... I beg you to spare her life." Then she knelt down and begged Shen Qi, "It was this maid's nonsense that angered Madam. What concubine... With my humble status, I can't bear the responsibility. I just want to stay with my cousin, even if it means being a maid. I beg Madam..."
"Madam." The Prince of Yongle also called out.
Shen Jin's face was filled with fear. He reached out to pull Shen Qi and said, "Sister, this... you should go back to our father with me as soon as possible."
Yongle Hou's son glared at Shen Jin, but Shen Jin was not afraid of him at all. He said bluntly, "Sir, is your concubine a remnant of the previous dynasty?"
The words "remnants of the previous dynasty" also scared the Yongle Marquis's son awake, and he looked at the Yongle Marquis's wife, and then he understood why she wanted to beat the maid who was talking to her to death. There was no such thing as noble concubines in the Tianqi Dynasty, but there were good concubines, which referred to those concubines who did not have indentures and were brought in officially, rather than being promoted from maids.
The founding emperor of the Tianqi Dynasty suffered from the loss of his concubine when he was a child. There was a concept of concubines in previous dynasties, whose status was only slightly lower than that of the principal wife. They could even be promoted to the second wife after the principal wife's death. The children born to the concubine could inherit the family property if the principal wife had no legitimate son.
But other concubines can only be concubines for their whole lives and it is impossible for them to become second wives.
The biological mother of the founding emperor of the Tianqi Dynasty was killed by his father's concubine, and even the emperor was almost killed. In order to avoid being killed, the emperor finally joined the army. The status of soldiers at that time was extremely low. Later, the previous dynasty was in chaos, and the emperor rose up and successfully rebelled with a group of people.
After the founding of the Tianqi Dynasty, the emperor ordered the abolition of the rule of noble concubines. No concubine could be promoted to the principal wife, and the sons of concubines could not inherit the title, unless there was a letter of consent from the principal wife and her father.
"What remnants of the previous dynasty!" Yunniang knew the seriousness of the crime, and no longer cared about anything else, and said bluntly, "Madam Yongning, are you trying to wrongly accuse me just by talking? I know you are venting your anger for the lady, you are sisters, but you can also..."
"Shut up." Yongle Hou's son slapped him and cursed, "Idiot."
The wife of the Yongle Marquis collapsed completely, and was supported by the maid behind her. "What sin have I committed? You are my concubine, but you, a maid, spread rumors. Drag me out and beat me to death!"
Shen Qi also had a terrified look on her face and pulled Shen Jin's hand, begging, "Sister, I don't know where this little maid heard this from, but there is absolutely no concubine in our house... You believe me, your brother-in-law is not such a fool, just think of it as me begging you, okay?"
It was the first time Shen Jin saw Shen Qi like this, and was terrified. She said, "Sister, I won't say anything. I'll just pretend I didn't hear you. Don't... don't beg me or not. Don't be like this."
Shen Qi leaned weakly against Shen Jin and said, "Thank you as a sister for this."
The wife of the Yongle Marquis said in a deep voice, "The wife of the Yongning Earl is kind and righteous, but I can't take it for granted."
These words sounded dignified, but could one take Shen Qi's concession for granted at the time?
"Someone, send Xue to the farm to give birth." said the wife of Marquis Yongle.
At this time, Lady Yongle Marquis no longer called her Yuniang, but directly called her Xue.
Shen Qi narrowed her eyes slightly and advised softly, "Mother-in-law, after all, she is your relative, and the child is your husband's flesh and blood. Why don't you wait for Xue to give birth, bring the child back, raise him by your side, and then give Xue some money to let her return to her hometown and get married."
Madam Yongle looked at Shen Qi. She understood what Shen Qi meant. This was not a discussion. The princess of the Rui Palace showed her power for the first time after getting married. "I know my mother-in-law is in trouble. Let the people of the Rui Palace handle this matter."
Zhao Ma looked up at Shen Qi. It was hard to say whether she was afraid of embarrassment or afraid of waiting for the child to be born before taking the child back. Besides, how could a little maid know about the concubine? Did the prince of Yongle really say it? He was not that stupid. He thought that the eldest princess was not as helpless as she said in front of the lady. Some things had been arranged long ago. At this time, she just borrowed the lady's knife.
"Sister, please give me more dowry." Shen Jin sighed. Since they are all women, they should not make things difficult for each other. "After all..." The rest of the words were not said out loud.
Yongle Hou's mind was blank at this time. Although he was a little reluctant, he hesitated when he saw Yunniang's appearance. He moved his lips and wanted to speak. Shen Qi said, "It's not good for my husband to be without someone to serve him."
While Shen Qi was speaking, a maid had already covered Yunniang's mouth, and then politely but firmly invited her to go upstairs to the farm.
"I asked my father's men to go to Jiangnan to buy a few women, the most beautiful ones." Shen Qi said dignifiedly and virtuously, "I will send them over after they are taught the rules." This was what Shen Qi secretly discussed with Princess Rui yesterday. The people had been bought long ago, and Princess Rui prepared them specially for Prince Rui. However, they have not been sent to Prince Rui yet, so a few of them can be spared for Shen Qi to use.
Shen Jin felt that her elder sister was really tired and was not as free as she was before she got married. Watching everyone coming and going, she felt bored again. She sat on a chair and started eating the cakes. The cakes did not taste as good as when they were first served after being left for a while. It was not bad, but the ingredients felt very fine.
When Shen Zi came, the atmosphere in the room became harmonious again, and Yunniang seemed to have never appeared. The Prince of Yongle also left. After all, Earl of Yongning did not come, and it was not easy for him as a man to stay, but he could not go out either, as he had to wait for his two brothers-in-law to come.
Shen Qi and Shen Jin didn't expect Shen Zi to come out. Even Aunt Zhao felt strange. Shen Zi was wearing a bright red silk long skirt with gold sprinkled on it, a gauze long gown on the outside, a gold-embroidered belt around her waist, and the hairpins on her head sparkled when she walked. As soon as she came in, she said in a delicate voice, "Greetings to the Marquis's wife."
Madam Yongle also heard about Shen Zi's affairs, but she didn't expect Shen Zi to come over. For a moment, she didn't know what to say to her. In addition to her niece's affairs, she just smiled and nodded, then said, "You sisters can talk about private matters, I won't participate."
The implication was that Shen Qi should take her two sisters and leave quickly. One of them always said things that made people choke with an innocent look on her face, and the other came out after such a shameful thing happened. The Rui Palace was really...
Shen Qi followed suit, smiled and said a few words before leaving with Shen Zi and Shen Jin. Shen Zi wore a red jade bracelet on her wrist, and smiled while pinching her handkerchief, "My husband has something to do today and can't come, so let me apologize to my eldest brother-in-law and third brother-in-law on his behalf."
Shen Qi smiled and said, "No need, my third brother-in-law hasn't come yet, I'll let the maid talk to my husband."
"Oh?" Shen Zi's eyes fell on Shen Jin. Thinking of what happened yesterday, he secretly said in his heart, "Why didn't the third sister bring her brother-in-law?"
"My husband has been summoned by His Majesty." Shen Jin said, "By the way, how is my second brother-in-law's injury? My husband has a lot of good medicine for wounds. It's not good to leave scars on the face."
Zhao Mama smiled. She knew her wife was giving her advice sincerely, but others might hear her words...
"Yes." Shen Qi was also in a very good mood, and said with a smile, "Second sister, please don't be polite. I heard that you scratched your brother-in-law's face and it was covered with blood. How about this, I will take the sign from the mansion and go to the palace to ask the imperial physician to take a look at your brother-in-law. It would be a pity to leave a scar."
Shen Zi snorted and laughed, "Don't worry, big sister. My husband just accidentally fell off the car. It's all just a rumor. My mother-in-law has already asked a doctor."
Seeing Shen Zi's smug look, Shen Qi's eyes flickered and he said, "Could it be that something good happened to my second sister? Why is her face so full of joy?"
Shen Zi just smiled and said nothing. Shen Qi did not ask any more questions. After arriving at the courtyard where she lived, she pulled Shen Jin aside to talk. However, Shen Zi could not help asking, "Third sister, what does your third brother-in-law like most in the border town?"
What do you like most? Is it about food, clothes, play, or daily activities? Shen Jin lowered her eyes slightly. She almost never talked about Chu Xiuming in front of outsiders. "I don't know."
"How could you not know?" Shen Zi felt that Shen Jin didn't want to tell her, so she asked with a gloomy look in her eyes, "I'm afraid you don't want to say it."
"Yeah." Shen Jin did not deny, "I don't want to say."
Shen Zi sneered, "I didn't expect that my third sister would become bolder after returning from her trip to the border town."
"Because I'm the Earl's wife." Shen Jin reminded.
Shen Jin said as a matter of course, "Second sister, because I have a husband."
At this moment, Shen Jin was like a rabbit showing off his power, completely different from his previous image of a bullied person. Others were relying on the power of others, while Shen Jin was relying on a leopard and stretching out his rabbit claws to scratch others!
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