Chapter 059
Zhao Ma's room was not far from Shen Jin, and she was soon called over by An Ning. She didn't even change her clothes, but put on a coat outside and came over. Looking at the pale Shen Jin, she hurriedly asked, "Madam, are you feeling unwell?"
An Ning quickly took her coat and put it on Shen Jin. Shen Jin grabbed Madam Zhao's hand. Madam Zhao felt that her hand was very cold and she was even more worried. Shen Jin trembled before saying, "Madam, is my husband in danger?"
"Madam, are you having a nightmare?" While holding Shen Jin's hand, Madam Zhao asked Anping, who heard the noise, to go to the kitchen to fetch some hot water.
Shen Jin bit her lower lip and said, "Mammy, I'm afraid my husband is in danger."
Madam Zhao's expression changed and she asked, "Why do you say that, Madam?"
Concubine Chen also came over wearing her coat. Seeing the situation in the room, she asked with a worried look on her face, "Do you need to call a doctor?"
Shen Jin shook her head and said, "Mammy, I'm afraid... I'm afraid they are going to attack my husband. Send someone back to the Yongning Earl's Mansion and tell Manager Zhao about the imperial physician and what my mother said about Concubine Xu."
Seeing Shen Jin's expression, Madam Zhao said, "I will go right away."
Shen Jin nodded, and Concubine Chen's face also changed. She was particularly worried. If something bad happened to Earl Yongning, it would be difficult for her daughter. Seeing Nanny Zhao hurried out to make arrangements, Concubine Chen came over, sat by the bed, hugged her daughter and said, "You are pregnant. Earl Yongning is not a fool. I think he has already made preparations."
"Yeah." Shen Jin leaned in his mother's arms, gradually calmed down and said, "Maybe I think too much."
Concubine Chen touched her daughter's head and comforted her, "I'll have someone make you some red date soup. Go to sleep after you have it. When you wake up tomorrow, go and greet the princess."
Shen Jin took Concubine Chen's hand and whispered, "Mother, please sleep with me."
"Okay." Concubine Chen did not refuse. After the maid brought the red date soup and asked Shen Jin to drink it, she took off her clothes and lay on the bed, reaching out to gently pat her daughter's back.
Anping and Anning breathed a sigh of relief when they saw this, but they were still worried about the general's safety. They looked at each other and didn't want to sleep anymore. They turned off the lights and stood guard outside.
Shen Jin couldn't sleep, and Concubine Chen didn't force her to sleep. She just asked, "Do you want to talk to me?"
"Yeah." Shen Jin responded.
Concubine Chen asked, "But what did you dream about that woke you up?"
"I haven't fallen asleep yet." Shen Jin didn't hide anything from Concubine Chen, and told her mother about some of the things that happened to Emperor Cheng. "My mother and I were detained in the palace, and they forced me and my husband to return to the capital. I always feel like I've seen this before. When I think about it carefully, it's somewhat similar to Concubine Xu's."
If Shen Jin hadn't mentioned it, Concubine Chen wouldn't have forgotten Concubine Xu, but now that Shen Jin said this, thinking back, it was really a little bit subtle. Shen Jin said, "In this way, thinking back to the earlier times, it was also somewhat similar. The baggage had to be delivered in the end, but it was just a little difficult later. It wouldn't hurt anyone, but it was disgusting."
Concubine Chen was a little amused when she heard this. When Shen Jin said this, it would naturally make people think that the methods were really similar, but most people would not associate the two together. The methods used by Concubine Xu were just those used in the ordinary harem. Although they would disgust people, they would not hurt people's lives. What really frightened people in the harem were the methods used by Princess Rui.
And Emperor Cheng... those little tricks he used resulted in the loss of many lives. No matter whether he refused to provide rescue to the border town or shirked the responsibility of delivering food and supplies, a day's delay meant hundreds or thousands of lives were lost. Even if Concubine Chen had not experienced it personally, she felt chilled and angry when she heard it now. After all, no matter what those soldiers were fighting for, they were protecting the country and people of Tianqi. Emperor Cheng was wary of Chu Xiuming, but he only dared to use such despicable means. But had he ever thought about how many innocent people would die under the hooves of the barbarian army if the border town was really not defended, and even Tianqi would be in danger.
Or did Emperor Cheng want to kill Chu Xiuming, but at the same time he had extra confidence in him? He thought Chu Xiuming would definitely win the battle? If that was the case, why did he do those things that would only make people dislike him and add to the hatred?
Concubine Chen felt that she could not understand Emperor Cheng's thoughts, and she could not guess how Shen Jin connected the two things.
But she didn't know it was just a coincidence. However, because Concubine Xu was the person Shen Jin hated the most before she got married, and Emperor Cheng was the person Shen Jin hated the most after she married into the border town, since they were both hated in their hearts, Shen Jin naturally associated the two, and then gradually discovered that the two did have some similarities, such as those incomprehensible thoughts and actions.
"Mother said that when Concubine Xu is too proud to speak, she will do things that she thinks are smart but are actually inexplicable." Shen Jin whispered, "We can find some clues based on those things."
"Yeah." The one who knows the other best is always the enemy. Concubine Xu never took Concubine Chen and her daughter seriously. However, she didn't know that because Concubine Xu almost harmed her daughter, Concubine Chen hated Concubine Xu a long time ago. So to be honest, Concubine Chen knew Concubine Xu particularly well, so she seized the opportunity and took revenge.
Shen Jin sees through many things but never speaks it out. In fact, her personality is influenced by Concubine Chen. Concubine Chen was just tempered by the hardships in the palace, but Shen Jin doesn't want her daughter to go through those things, so she slowly teaches and influences her daughter, just because she doesn't want her daughter to become bad-tempered or depressed because of the injustice of the palace.
Who knew that it was also an opportunity for Shen Jin. Concubine Chen and Shen Jin seized the opportunity, and Princess Rui kept Shen Jin by her side.
Concubine Chen saw clearly that the real master of the Rui Palace was not the Rui Prince, but the kind-looking Rui Princess. Concubine Chen even suspected that the Rui Princess's favor had contributed to Concubine Xu's favor, because the Rui Prince's favor for someone like Concubine Xu posed no threat to Rui Princess. Even the heirs of the palace might have been caused by Rui Princess's manipulation.
Therefore, Concubine Chen never thought of competing with Concubine Xu for the favor of Prince Rui, but she quietly caught the eye of Princess Rui. That's why she was promoted to concubine after giving birth to a daughter. For the sake of her daughter, Concubine Chen was even more dull when facing Prince Rui, and was even more respectful and obedient to Princess Rui. She only hoped that Princess Rui would choose a good marriage for her daughter because of her sensibleness and let her daughter live happily in the future.
Concubine Chen's efforts were not in vain. If Emperor Cheng had not intervened, Princess Rui would have carefully chosen a husband for Shen Jin. Although he would not be better than Shen Qi, she would not be like Shen Zi, who married into a family that was sweet on the outside but bitter on the inside.
Concubine Xu is just the opposite of Concubine Chen. Concubine Xu is favored by Prince Rui and becomes more and more arrogant, but she doesn't know that she has already been tricked by Princess Rui. The matter of the maids in the palace is one of them. The maids arranged by Princess Rui for Shen Qi and Shen Jin did not restrict their personalities, but just taught them some rules and etiquette carefully, and even often talked to them about some truths. But the maids arranged for Shen Zi, Shen Jing and Shen Rong... The three of them looked smart but were actually confused, and liked to bluff, which was also due to the tricks of the maids.
Even after Shen Qi got married, Princess Rui kept Shen Jin by her side and taught her attentively. Whether it was to divert Prince Rui's attention from Shen Zi and the others, or for other plans, it finally made Prince Rui pay attention to Shen Jin, and the life of Shen Jin and her daughter in the mansion became much better.
Princess Rui can be said to be a heroine, and she is not jealous of others. She saw that although Shen Jin's appearance was not as good as her sisters, she was well-behaved and cute, with a unique and naive temperament. She did not force her to become well-behaved and dignified, but asked the nanny to bring Shen Jin here for training, and even her clothes and appearance highlighted her advantages.
However, being naive does not mean being stupid. Princess Rui did not intend to ruin her, so she polished Shen Jin to become more and more transparent, just like an unpolished jade. Concubine Chen polished out the earliest form, and Concubine Chen carved it carefully to create the Shen Jin before she got married.
After marrying to the border town, those experiences continued to nourish Shen Jin, making her more transparent and smooth. It is this kind of Shen Jin that people hold in their hearts.
Unlike Shen Jin, Concubine Xu also wanted to raise her three daughters well, but she was not as skilled as Princess Rui. Shen Jin's cuteness comes from within, while Shen Rong, raised by Concubine Xu, also appears cute and adorable, which is okay when viewed alone, but when standing next to Shen Jin, people would feel that it was a bit deliberate and she was inferior.
Shen Zi's marriage was chosen by Concubine Xu and Shen Zi themselves. They thought they had chosen a perfect family, but they didn't know they had fallen into the trap of Princess Rui. This was the second reason. It might even be that Princess Rui just saw through their ambitions and took advantage of them a little.
Concubine Xu and Shen Zi have ambitions, but they do not have the strength and ability to match their ambitions.
Originally, Princess Rui kept Concubine Xu and the others because she thought it was harmless and just for fun. However, when Princess Rui felt that the situation in the capital was about to change, she took action to get rid of Concubine Xu and the others, because Princess Rui has always been cautious and did not want to cause trouble because of a momentary carelessness.
Shen Zi is already married. Even if she is a nuisance, it will only be to the Zheng family. She has nothing to do with the Rui Palace, let alone threaten the Princess Rui and her children. Shen Rong is smart, and the most important thing is that she knows she is afraid of being criticized, so she has self-awareness. It is harmless to keep such a person. Concubine Xu and Shen Jing are both smart but cannot recognize themselves. Smart people are not scary. The scariest thing are those who are obviously stupid but think they are smart. No one can predict what stupid moves they will make. The Princess Rui didn't have the energy to pay attention to them, so she naturally dealt with them.
Princess Rui and Cui Xi said that they still underestimated Shen Jin, but they didn't know that Shen Jin was just forced to grow up again because of the crisis and life-and-death situations in the border town.
Because Shen Jin mentioned Concubine Xu, Concubine Chen recalled many past events. Shen Jin was silent for a while because she had something on her mind. After a long while, she said, "Mother, I am very uneasy."
Concubine Chen didn't say anything. She knew that her daughter needed someone to listen to her now, and there were some things her daughter could only say to herself. Shen Jin whispered, "I always feel that... he is not a smart person." Shen Jin didn't say who she felt that he was, and Concubine Chen didn't ask, but they both knew it in their hearts.
Shen Jin actually guessed that Chu Xiuming went to quell the bandits not because of Emperor Cheng's order, but because he wanted to go or had a reason to go. Emperor Cheng did not think so, he only thought that his plan was successful. But what happened in Minzhong that made Chu Xiuming go there even at the risk of taking a risk?
I think it's because of pirates, but it's a little different from what Emperor Cheng knew about pirates.
In fact, Shen Jin had been wondering why Emperor Cheng sent Doctor Wang, a gynecologist, and said that he was here to treat Prince Rui's injuries. It was a bit too weird. If Emperor Cheng had directly said that it was for the female members of the mansion, people probably wouldn't have thought so much about it.
Shen Jin never wanted to think badly of people, but considering what Emperor Cheng had done in the past, it was really impossible for him to think of anything good. If it were someone else, Shen Jin wouldn't think so much.
In fact, Emperor Cheng is so open and generous that people would praise him as a wise ruler or a considerate subject. But now... Shen Jin felt more and more uneasy the more he thought about it. He also thought of what his mother said about Concubine Xu. Even if he felt that some of Emperor Cheng's behaviors were similar to Concubine Xu, Emperor Cheng was the ruler of a country after all. He just wanted to tell Shen Jin, I already know that you have Chu Xiuming's child, so you better be careful.
But thinking of his mother's last words, Shen Jin was shocked. Since Emperor Cheng tried every means to get Chu Xiuming to go to Minzhong, and Minzhong was full of Emperor Cheng's confidants, could it be that he had done something on the way or in Minzhong, so as to kill Chu Xiuming and put the blame on the pirates? It was because the plan was about to succeed that he was proud of himself. He had eliminated a major threat but could not let everyone know, so he made a stupid move and sent the imperial physician over...
If there wasn't a concubine named Xu in the palace, judging from Concubine Xu's personality, no one would be able to think of these things. After all, Emperor Cheng is the ruler of a country... But even so, Shen Jin found it a little hard to believe. If Emperor Cheng was really like this, how did he sit on the throne?
Shen Jin fell asleep unknowingly, but Concubine Chen was no longer sleepy. She understood what her daughter had not finished saying. In fact, it was the same reason why Princess Rui dealt with Concubine Xu and Shen Jing. However, Emperor Cheng was the emperor, so her daughter could only worry.
Because she had something on her mind, Shen Jin got up early in the morning, but Concubine Chen got up even earlier. Seeing her daughter's appearance, she didn't say anything. She just asked someone to help her daughter wash and comb her hair, and watched her eat breakfast. Then she asked An Ping and An Ning to accompany Shen Jin to the main courtyard. Madam Zhao didn't go with them, but sent Shen Jin out of the courtyard, "Don't worry, Madam, I have already arranged it. I'm afraid that Manager Zhao has already received the news."
"Yeah." Shen Jin responded and said nothing more.
When they arrived at the main courtyard, they saw Princess Rui and Shen Qi talking to Prince Rui. Seeing Shen Jin, Shen Qi smiled and said, "I think my sister is worried about father. If not, she would sleep until noon before getting up."
After hearing his daughter's words, Prince Rui felt delighted and said, "Jin girl is pregnant, why don't you sleep a little longer?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Jin smiled and said, "I wasn't able to chat with father for a few words yesterday." There was a hint of grievance and dependence in her voice, which softened Prince Rui's heart and made him feel more that he had treated his daughter badly in the past.
Prince Rui said, "Bring a chair for Jin girl. You should rest more since you are pregnant."
"I understand, father." Shen Jin laughed, looking both well-behaved and sensible, "My mother also said the same thing, which made me even lazier."
Princess Rui smiled and said, "You are lazy and like to eat, so don't blame me."
Shen Qi pulled Shen Jin to sit with her, and the two sisters leaned against each other affectionately. Then she said, "Father, you must get better soon."
Prince Rui nodded, feeling particularly satisfied that his virtuous wife and daughter were by his side.
However, Prince Rui was injured after all, and it was not good to keep him covered. After a while of talking, Princess Rui took her two daughters and left. The maids helped Prince Rui take off his clothes and applied medicine again.
Shen Jin then said, "Mother, I have something to ask you."
Princess Rui took a look, nodded and said, "Okay, Qi'er, you go back first."
Shen Qi moved her lips and wanted to say something, but seeing the look in Princess Rui's eyes, she couldn't say anything. She nodded and said, "Then my daughter will go see her brother."
"Yes." Princess Rui agreed.
Shen Qi then left with Shuang Qiao. Princess Rui held Cui Xi's hand and led Shen Jin to the pavilion in the garden. An Ning followed Shen Jin. When they arrived at the pavilion, a maid had already arranged everything. After Princess Rui and Shen Jin sat down, she stood aside and said, "You guys go down."
"Yes." Except for Cui Xi and An Ning, all other maids retreated.
Cui Xi poured red date tea for Princess Rui and Shen Jin, then stood outside the pavilion. An Ning glanced at Shen Jin, and when she saw her nod, she also went outside.
Shen Jin said, "Mother, I feel uneasy about His Majesty's appointment of an imperial physician." She had no intention of hiding anything or beating around the bush. It would be truly foolish to play tricks on Princess Rui, not to mention that she was seeking advice now.
Princess Rui had actually guessed what Shen Jinlai meant, and asked, "What do you think?"
Shen Jin bit her lower lip, and said with a little more worry on her face, "I'm worried about my husband."
Princess Rui nodded and said, "Your Majesty's thoughts are unfathomable, and we cannot guess them."
For some reason, Shen Jin felt that the words "unfathomable" spoken by Princess Rui were tinged with irony.
Shen Jin looked at Princess Rui without saying anything. Seeing how calm she was, Princess Rui valued her even more and said, "Although you are the wife of the Earl of Yongning, you are also the princess of my Rui Palace. The prince and I will always be able to protect you."
Princess Rui continued, "The Earl of Yongning is a man who is capable of great things. I think he has his own plans in mind. Besides, the outcome is not something we can decide. Since the imperial physician is here, please do not let down His Majesty's kindness. You are pregnant now, and it is not good for you to worry too much."
Princess Rui didn't say any more. Shen Jin looked at Princess Rui's expression and stopped asking. She just accompanied Princess Rui to drink red date tea and had lunch together at noon. Because Prince Rui also got up at noon, not only Princess Rui and Shen Jin's sisters, but also Shen Xuan, Shen Xi and Shen Hao came. Shen Rong was not feeling well, so Princess Rui didn't send anyone to call her. Instead, she served a few dishes in the name of Prince Rui.
After dinner, a few people chatted with Prince Rui for a while, and then Shen Jin returned to the yard.
Nanny Zhao had been waiting in the courtyard for a long time. Shen Jin nodded when she saw her. Concubine Chen asked, "Do you understand?"
"I don't quite understand." Shen Jin said.
Concubine Chen nodded and said nothing more. After Shen Jin sat down, she looked at Nanny Zhao. Concubine Chen sent the servants out of the room and asked someone to open the windows and doors. Just as she was about to leave, she heard Shen Jin say, "Mother, please stay too."
After thinking for a while, Concubine Chen asked, "Is it okay?"
Madam Zhao said, "There is nothing to hide."
Concubine Chen sat down again. Sisters Anping and Anning stood guard at the door and window respectively. Shen Jin told Madam Zhao what Princess Rui said. After listening, Madam Zhao said, "The steward also asked me to ask Madam a few questions."
"Hmm?" Shen Jin looked at Aunt Zhao with a puzzled look on her face. It was clearly she who asked someone to ask Manager Zhao, so how come Manager Zhao asked her? Before her husband left, he also told her to go to Manager Zhao if she had any questions or problems.
Madam Zhao said, "First, if something happens to the general, how will that person treat Madam?"
Shen Jin's body trembled and his face turned pale.
Although Nanny Zhao felt distressed, she still asked, "Second, if something happens to the general, how will the mansion treat the madam?"
This time, not only Shen Jin, but also Concubine Chen felt weak and covered in cold sweat.
Madam Zhao narrowed her eyes and asked, "Third, if something happens to the general, what will Madam do?"
After asking the three questions, Nanny Zhao stopped talking and poured warm water for Shen Jin and Concubine Chen.
If anything happened to her husband, Emperor Cheng would definitely not keep her, let alone the child in her belly, because she was Chu Xiuming's wife, and the baby in her belly was the Chu family's flesh and blood. With the Chu family's status in the army and Chu Xiuming's prestige in the army, Emperor Cheng would not let Chu Xiuming's child grow up, and he was even more unwilling to see someone from the Chu family hold military power again.
But there is Chu Xiuyuan in the border town, but why...
"I have a question too." Shen Jin looked at Nanny Zhao and asked, "Is Chu Xiuyuan not a direct descendant of the Chu family?"
Nanny Zhao looked at Shen Jin with admiration in her eyes and said, "Yes, this is no secret. The Second Young Master is not the general's biological brother, but the general's cousin."
Shen Jin did not ask why a cousin had the surname Chu, thinking that it was because there were some things that were difficult to say. Shen Jin nodded, and understood why Emperor Cheng did not take Chu Xiuyuan seriously. In the final analysis, it was just because Emperor Cheng felt that Chu Xiuyuan was not legitimate, but he did not know Chu Xiuyuan's talents. He was afraid that Chu Xiuming was deliberately protecting him.
As for the second question, it's no wonder that Princess Rui said how much the palace could protect her. How much they could actually protect her probably depends on the condition of her husband. If her husband is fine, the palace will naturally do its best to protect him. If not... Prince Rui and Princess Rui would never sacrifice the entire Prince Rui Palace for her married daughter.
Even if it was Shen Qi who took over today, the result would probably not change, because Prince Rui still had to protect more children, and Prince Rui had no real power... There was really little he could do, and to protect her he would have to take advantage of Emperor Cheng's fear of her husband.
Although Shen Jin understood, he didn't feel any resentment, but he did feel a little cold-hearted.
Just like what Princess Rui said, the outcome is not something they can decide. At first glance it sounds like the outcome depends on Emperor Cheng, but if you think about it carefully it also depends on Chu Xiuming. This is why Chu Xiuming wanted to keep Shen Jin. As long as he is fine, Shen Jin will be fine.
If something happened to Chu Xiuming, what would she do? Shen Jin's eyes were a little confused, and her hands subconsciously placed on her belly. If there was no child, and Chu Xiuming was in trouble, she would just stay with him, but now... Shen Jin was unwilling, because she couldn't let their two children lose the opportunity to grow up before they grew up.
Concubine Chen also thought that if Chu Xiuming got into trouble, would Emperor Cheng still keep Shen Jin, the wife of the Yongning Earl, and her unborn child? By then, neither the King Rui nor the Princess Rui would be alone for Shen Jin... Concubine Chen somehow thought of the rumors about Chu Xiuming, saying that he killed someone because he was dissatisfied with the appearance of his fiancée, saying that... Did the three fiancées who died before they got married really die accidentally? The more Concubine Chen thought about it, the more she felt heartbroken. Emperor Cheng said that he had no daughters of the right age, so he asked the King Rui to choose his daughter to marry the Yongning Earl, but he clearly had two daughters of the same age as Shen Jin.
If it was really not the right age, then Shen Jin could also be said to be not the right age, but because Emperor Cheng was the emperor, and Prince Rui would not go against the emperor's words for such a concubine's daughter, even Princess Rui... Princess Rui had never met Chu Xiuming at that time, and she might have known something in her heart, but in the final analysis, it was just sacrificing Shen Jin.
Shen Jin was lucky to meet someone like Chu Xiuming, but what if Chu Xiuming was really as the rumors said? Even if he wasn't as scary as the rumors said, Shen Jin's life would be hard if there was even a little bit of truth in it. Would the Rui Palace help Shen Jin?
No, Concubine Chen only found out later that when the border town was besieged, Shen Jin had written a letter to King Rui for help, but what was the result? It fell on deaf ears, and even she didn't know about it. I'm afraid that Princess Rui knew about it, but she had given up on Shen Jin in her heart.
But later, Chu Xiuming came back and repelled the barbarians again. Whether for the sake of her useless mother or for some other reason, Shen Jin wrote a letter to the Rui Palace again, asking for a lot of food and the like, which was considered as an active effort to ease the relationship with the palace.
After all, Princess Rui was willing to help Shen Jin as long as it did not endanger herself and her biological children, which could be considered as making friends with Chu Xiuming. However, in other cases... it was Shen Jin who was often abandoned.
Concubine Chen felt as if her heart was broken. She thought her daughter had figured it out a long time ago, but she only understood so much now. If she had known this earlier, she would have hanged herself at the gate of Prince Rui's mansion after her daughter got married, making it impossible for them to hide the news.
Shen Jin touched her belly and said, "Did my husband leave a message for Manager Zhao?"
Madam Zhao said, "I'll keep it."
Shen Jin looked at Madam Zhao, who said, "The general told everyone to listen to Madam."
"Oh." Shen Jin thought for a moment and said nothing more, "If you can send my mother and I away from the capital or hide us, how confident are you?"
I think Emperor Cheng will also send someone to tell Chu Xiuming that he knows that she is pregnant, to warn Chu Xiuming or to confuse Chu Xiuming's mind. No matter what Emperor Cheng's purpose is, as long as Shen Jin is not in his hands, it will be fine.
"Five points." said Nanny Zhao.
Concubine Chen said, "In this case, Jin girl, you should go back to the Yongning Earl's Mansion."
Shen Jin shook his head and said, "It would be even harder to leave the Yongning Marquis' Mansion."
Concubine Chen asked in confusion, "Why?"
"I don't know." Shen Jin said as a matter of course.
Concubine Chen looked at Shen Jin, and Shen Jin explained, "My husband asked me to live in the palace. I guess you think the palace is safer or easier to escape?" She just trusted Chu Xiuming.
Madam Zhao said, "That's right, because there are too few people in the Yongning Marquis's Mansion."
Concubine Chen finally understood. There were only about twenty people in Yongning Marquis's Mansion. Shen Jin had no chance to escape in the chaos. However, there were more than a hundred people in Ruiwang Mansion. If she could make a mess and escape, she would have a better chance. "What if we only send Jin girl away?"
"Six points." said Nanny Zhao.
Concubine Chen had already made up her mind, "Then let Jin go."
Shen Jin looked at Madam Zhao and asked, "What if you only send a child?"
"Eight points." Nanny Zhao understood that Shen Jin had already made up his mind. She also knew this lady very well. When the general was around or there was no danger, she would be very well behaved and harmless. However, if she really encountered trouble, she would not back down.
Concubine Chen now understood. She looked at Shen Jin and hugged her in her arms, saying, "If you had not been born in this palace, you would not have to suffer so much."
Shen Jin rubbed Concubine Chen's face gently, just like when he was a child. Seeing this, Nanny Zhao sighed in her heart and retreated, carefully closing the door.
In fact, before really meeting Chu Xiuming, Shen Jin had thought about how it would be if she was not born in a royal palace. She would not need fine clothes and delicious food, as long as she could live well with her mother. But now... she was glad in her heart. If she was not the daughter of Prince Rui, she would not have the chance to marry Chu Xiuming.
Shen Jin couldn't say this to Concubine Chen, "Mother is fine. My husband promised me that he would come back safely."
"I just feel that there are so many heartless people in this mansion." Concubine Chen said gritting her teeth.
Shen Jin realized that her mother was probably upset about the palace. After thinking for a while, she said, "Actually, mother, I would be lying if I said I wasn't heartbroken. But after all... Take mother for example. She went to the palace with you to serve the empress dowager. She didn't know whether my husband and I would come back. If we really didn't come back, she and you would be in trouble. But she still went because she was not the most important thing in her heart. I think mother was also prepared to save more of you and her."
"And if it was my sister or my brother today, my mother would still choose to sacrifice herself in order to give more people a chance to survive." Shen Jin didn't want to become too resentful, but she wasn't the type to sacrifice herself for others. Even though she knew in her heart that if she ran away with her mother, the Rui Palace would be implicated, she would still run away if she had the chance, it was just because the most important things in their hearts were different.
Concubine Chen sighed, "You are just too kind."
Shen Jin smiled with her eyes curved, and she wasn't prepared to tell her mother all that. She liked being the obedient daughter who needed to be protected in her mother's heart.
Concubine Chen looked at Shen Jin's belly and now only hoped that Chu Xiuming could really return safely.
Shen Jinhui asked how confident he would be if it were a child. It was not a casual question. It would take Chu Xiuming a lot of time to travel from the capital to central Fujian, and it would take time even after he arrived. Even if Emperor Cheng wanted to take action, he would have to wait until Chu Xiuming and the pirates really fought each other. And those pirates had just looted and would not go ashore in a short time. Chu Xiuming was not a reckless person. He had never come into contact with the soldiers in central Fujian. How could he rashly take them to the sea?
Not only that, Shen Jin felt that according to Emperor Cheng's personality, even if he really got the news that Chu Xiuming was in trouble, he would not take action against Shen Jin until he was really sure whether it was true or not. It would also take a lot of time to send the message back and forth, and Shen Jin was now two months pregnant. As long as seven months passed, if the situation was not good, Shen Jin would try her best to get the child out earlier and let Madam Zhao and others arrange to send the child away.
This is just the worst option, and Shen Jin feels that Chu Xiuming will be fine. "Mother, my husband will come back." Because he promised.
Concubine Chen didn't say anything else, just nodded.
Shen Jin touched her belly gently. Although she was not pregnant yet, their child was inside.
Concubine Chen exhaled a few breaths slowly and calmed down, then said, "I have something to tell you too."
"Hmm?" Shen Jin looked at Concubine Chen.
Concubine Chen said, "The princess told me and the prince the night of the earthquake."
Shen Jin looked at Concubine Chen, who touched her daughter's head and spoke slowly, "The thirty-seventh year of Yongjia..."
Yongjia was the reign title of the previous emperor. It is now the twenty-fifth year of Yongqi, and Emperor Cheng has been on the throne for twenty-five years.
"At that time, the late emperor's brother, the King of England, colluded with the barbarians to rebel. The late emperor was caught off guard and was defeated step by step. The King of England's army approached the capital, and then the crown prince..."
Shen Jin was shocked. What Concubine Chen said was totally different from what she knew. The Crown Prince was not killed by the King of England, and the Crown Princess did not die for the Crown Prince. It was not Emperor Cheng who turned the tide and made the late Emperor pass the throne to him before his death...
But what about the Chu family? At that time, the King of Ying not only secretly sent the military map of Tianqi to the barbarians, but also let the barbarians hide in his fiefdom. He led his troops to attack the capital, and those barbarians tied down the Chu family's forces.
"The Chu family had a girl who was the prince's concubine." Concubine Chen said.
Shen Jin bit her lip. No wonder she only heard that the prince was killed by Yingwen and the princess committed suicide for love, but there was no news about other people in the prince's mansion. Shen Jin didn't care about these things at the beginning, so she didn't pay special attention to them. Now she thinks it's strange.
Even Emperor Cheng's brothers, except Prince Rui, either died of illness or were killed by Prince Ying. It seems that these are the truths that Emperor Cheng just wants everyone to know.
Concubine Chen said, "That's all the princess told me. I don't know anything more."
Shen Jin bit her lower lip and nodded without saying anything else, but she still felt strange in her heart. Did the prince really have no orphans? What did the Chu family do afterwards? And there were many strange things, maybe my mother didn't know or... But why would my mother secretly help my husband? Could it be that there were some things that she didn't say?
After Concubine Chen finished speaking, she touched her daughter's face and said, "I'll go to the kitchen to check. You were startled last night, and you're pregnant. You can't use too much of those tranquilizers. I'll make you some soup to nourish you."
"Okay." Shen Jin agreed, understanding that Concubine Chen wanted her to ask Nanny Zhao. After all, it involved the Chu family's secrets, and although Concubine Chen was Shen Jin's mother, it was not good for her to hear too much.
Concubine Chen went out but did not see Nanny Zhao. Only Anping and An Ning were there. After asking, she found out that Nanny Zhao was worried about Shen Jin, so she went into the kitchen as soon as she came out.
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