Chapter 143
What happened after the third election
Those who received the invitation were naturally happy, and those who didn't also had their thoughts in mind. Some were able to remain calm, while others started to try to find ways to get their girls to go with them. Even if they were not chosen, it would still be good to be familiar to the noble man and gain some honor from him.
After Chu Xiuyuan ascended the throne, he wanted to find a better house for Chu Xiuming. After all, a prince's mansion is bigger than a marquis's mansion. However, Chu Xiuming refused. The Chu family didn't have many people to begin with, so no matter how big the mansion was, it would be useless. Their family still lived in the original Yongning Marquis's Mansion, but some specifications had changed, and the plaque of the Yongning Marquis's Mansion was also changed to Ning Wang Mansion.
Chu Xiuming was not in the mansion that day, and Concubine Chen did not come out either. All the affairs in the mansion were handed over to Nanny Zhao. Nanny Zhao selected a courtyard as a place to entertain guests and redecorated it. Princess Rui came early that day with Shen Qi to help Shen Jin receive guests.
There was a time written on the invitation. When the time was up, the gate of Prince Ning's Mansion was closed. Anyone who came late would not be allowed in. Shen Jin was not afraid of offending anyone now anyway. However, no one came late this time. Instead, everyone came early.
Several children were left in the main courtyard and not brought out. Shen Jin felt that it was a good thing that she didn't bring the children with her, as there were far more people who came than she invited. Some were brought by relatives, and some were sisters from home. Each of them was dressed elegantly, or gorgeously, or simply and beautifully. She didn't know how they discussed it, but few of them wore the same clothes.
Princess Rui was talking to someone she knew well. Shen Qi was beside Shen Jin, whispering to Shen Jin about the newcomers. Shen Jin felt dazzled and couldn't help but sigh, "Looking at these girls, I feel old."
Shen Qi glanced at her younger sister, whose face was so tender that it seemed like water could be squeezed out of her. Her eyes darkened slightly. Shen Jin was now the mother of three children, but she still looked like an unmarried girl, full of joy. And she herself? She always felt that she had aged a long time ago, but it was true. With Chu Xiuming's love and care, Shen Jin was carefree every day, as if she was happier than before she got married.
What's more, Shen Jin has an indescribable charm. She no longer has the youthfulness of the past. She is still delicate and naive, but also has a restrained brilliance, like a pearl that has been carefully polished and maintained. It is not dazzling, but particularly eye-catching.
"If my sister says she's old, how can I say good things about myself?" Although Shen Qi was jealous of Shen Jin's current situation, she was not confused. She couldn't afford to offend Shen Jin now, not even King Rui could afford to offend Shen Jin.
Shen Jin took Shen Qi's hand and said with a smile, "Sister is also very young and beautiful."
"You're just sweet-talking." Shen Qi turned his head to look at Shen Jin, gently touched her face, and said, "The one wearing the light purple dress is..."
Shen Jin took note of all the people one by one and occasionally talked to a few girls. Shen Jin was a good-tempered person and these girls were all from prominent families. Moreover, it was obvious that whether they could enter the harem depended on Shen Jin, so they naturally would not say anything that would make people unhappy. Some girls surrounded Shen Jin and talked to her, while others, whether they were aloof or not, just sat aside and did not come over on their own initiative. After Shen Jin passed by, they just nodded reservedly and did not say much.
Neither Shen Jin nor Shen Qi had ever thought of seeing Shen Zi again. Shen Zi no longer had the brightness and beauty she once had. She looked old, like the pampered Princess Rui. She was extremely beautiful back then, and her extravagant dress was enough to hold her own, but now her face looked yellow. There were two girls with her, who were probably her aunt or her husband's relatives. Shen Zi saw Shen Jin and Shen Qi talking and laughing in a low voice from afar, and hatred and jealousy flashed in her eyes. She pursed her lips and thought of her husband's mother-in-law's words, suppressing the anger in her heart. It was Sister Shen Jin's blessing that she could come today, or even delay it. Although everyone knew that Shen Zi and Shen Jin were not on good terms, and Prince Rui had not even seen his daughter since returning to Beijing, she could not help but be proud of her special status. If she really insisted on following a family with a marriage certificate, it would be difficult for them not to bring her along.
But in this way, both her face and her dignity would be gone. But Shen Zi was more afraid of being divorced. She knew in her heart that she had not given birth to a son for her husband yet, and she was at odds with her family. She no longer had a favored mother to support her, and she could not even see her father or enter the gate of Prince Rui's Palace. If she was really divorced, she would have no way to survive.
Shen Zi clenched her fists, her long nails stinging her palms. Then she took the two girls beside her and stepped forward, forcing herself to bow to Shen Qi and Shen Jin, saying, "Big sister, third sister."
Shen Qi looked at Shen Zi's appearance and felt a little sad. Even if there were many dirty things between the two of them, Shen Qi felt sorry for Shen Zi at this time. Shen Qi knew something about Shen Zi's situation. Although her husband had many concubines, she was not the first one. What's more, because of her status, the dignity of the main wife could still be maintained. There was also her child, and if she coaxed her husband, he also had the intention to change his mind.
And Shen Zi? Now she has lost even the dignity of a principal wife.
Shen Qi looked at Shen Jin. She was not the one in charge now. Shen Jin looked at Shen Zi and smiled and nodded. His attitude was very gentle, but this kind of gentleness was the same as it was to other people. Shen Zi breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his eyes slightly to introduce the two people around him. One of them was a girl from the Zheng Mansion, and the other was a girl from Madam Zheng's family.
Shen Jin looked at them and said, "They are all very beautiful. Let's have fun."
The two girls were obviously much happier, their eyes sparkled. The girl from Zheng's house said in a sweet voice, "I've always heard my sister-in-law mention the two elder sisters. I only realized today after seeing them that the two elder sisters are even prettier than what my sister-in-law said."
Shen Jin couldn't help laughing out loud, and even Shen Qi didn't know what to say. Would Shen Zi say good things about them? Not cursing them was good enough. Shen Zi's face changed, but he didn't dare to lose his temper, because this little girl was the youngest girl in the Zheng Mansion, and both Master Zheng and Madam Zheng loved her very much.
Shen Qi shook her head and said, "Have fun, sister, let's go."
"Yeah." Shen Jin responded and left with Shen Qi.
Seeing this situation, Miss Zheng's face changed. She was about to chase after them, but was stopped by An Ning, who had been following Shen Jin. An Ning smiled and said, "Ladies, if you need anything, just tell the maid." After that, she left with Shen Jin and the others.
After walking around, Shen Jin went back with Shen Qi. She took out a list in front of Shen Qi and crossed out many names, including the one written by Princess Rui. Shen Qi frowned and asked, "This girl from the Yu family..."
"I think she may not want to participate in this queen election." Shen Jin paid special attention to these girls. The girl from the Yu family was the one who stayed far away. Even when Shen Jin went over, she just nodded and left after not staying for long.
The corner of Shen Qi's eye twitched. The girl wanted to act noble and dignified, but she went too far. Who would have thought that she would be rejected like this.
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