"She slapped Ming'e just because Ming'e said 'betrayed her master for personal gain'?"
Shen Mingzhuang knew that the girl sometimes seemed quite clever and wary of strangers, but since Liu Wenxin and she came from the same mother's womb, she regarded Liu Wenxin as a sister, so she naturally lacked some rationality.
But she never expected that Liu Wenxin would be so arrogant. She was just a concubine, did she really think she was the mistress of the harem?
Thinking about it now, the fact that she became Jiang Wang's woman in the book was probably not so simple.
She deliberately provoked her at the time, but she didn't blame her. She only blamed herself for misjudging people and treating a wolf as a lamb.
Liu Wenxin must have already figured it out. Now that she holds a fatal weakness in her hands, rather than being controlled by her in every way in the future, she might as well enter the palace and become the emperor's woman. After all, there are quite a few women in the harem who climbed from maids to the emperor's bed and turned their lives around overnight. Song Jingxi is a living example.
Song Jingxi was not favored in the past, so Liu Wenxin felt that Jiang Wang looked down on lowly concubines. Later, Jiang Wang unusually stayed overnight at Changchun Palace, which made Liu Wenxin fall in love again.
If Song Jingxi can be favored, why can't she?
Shen Mingzhuang thought calmly, but a subtle, barely perceptible bitterness spread through his heart.
"She said a few more things, some of them were rather insensitive." Shen Mingrong thought for a moment and said, "Liu Wenxin's behavior has changed so much, yet her family insists on sticking with her. I'm worried that if something happens to Liu Wenxin in the future..."
Although she helped her family send several thousand taels of silver to Liu Wenxin in the palace, she was still very worried.
But she couldn't say much at home, and besides, this was just her personal speculation. Her uncles and elders wouldn't listen to her word alone to know the truth of the matter.
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhuang knew what she meant.
But she will soon sever ties with the Shen family; she doesn't want to get involved in these matters anymore.
But then she thought of how Shen Ming'e had taken that slap for her sake, and she couldn't really pretend that she didn't know anything.
“Mingrong, you are the eldest daughter of the family. If you can’t even get involved in this matter, what can I say?” Shen Mingzhuang looked at Shen Mingrong and said bluntly, “Besides, my eldest uncle has been an official for many years, and my second uncle and even my third uncle have their own unique insights into doing things. Since they have tacitly approved of some things, it is not appropriate for you or me to say anything more.”
Then, after thinking for a moment, he added, "But I'm also worried about Ming'e."
Hearing her say this, Shen Mingrong felt a little warmer. She was afraid that Shen Mingzhuang really wouldn't care about anything now. Shen Ming'e wasn't a bad person. If she really got revenge on Liu Wenxin because of her, and Shen Mingzhuang didn't care, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to trust her in the future.
“Ming’e is now of marriageable age. As the elder sister, I am in an awkward position and cannot come forward. You are now the wife of the heir of the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion. The families you associate with are of high status, and you must know many wives whose families have eligible unmarried sons.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingrong's heart tightened. Although she was living comfortably in the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, it didn't mean she could use her status to help her family. Moreover, if the Rongguo Duke's Mansion wanted to make connections, it would be difficult to persuade those nobles of high status. Therefore, upon hearing Shen Mingzhuang's words, she couldn't help but clench her handkerchief.
Unexpectedly, Shen Mingzhuang changed the subject, saying, "I think Ming'e is too simple-minded to marry into a wealthy family. If we were to find her a prominent family, she would be devoured. It would be better if she could marry into a respectable, scholarly family."
She still thought Pei Jingtai was quite good.
Ultimately, she could only play a supporting role in this matter; she wasn't the one who made the decisive difference.
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingrong breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile. "I'll talk to the Duchess tomorrow and go home to ask my third uncle and the elders in the family what they think."
Shen Mingzhuang nodded slightly, while Shen Mingrong sat down and finished his cup of tea without saying a word.
Seeing that it was almost noon, Shen Mingzhuang had someone prepare food, intending to have Shen Mingrong eat at the North Garden.
Shen Mingrong waved his hand repeatedly: "No need, no need. I'm eating medicinal cuisine for all three meals now, so I won't stay and eat here. It would be too much trouble to have too many dietary restrictions."
Hearing her say that, Shen Mingzhuang decided not to stay.
But Shen Mingrong still hesitated, and after a long while, he finally made up his mind and looked at Shen Mingzhuang: "Ninth Sister, what exactly is in the Cold Palace? Can't you really tell me?"
Shen Mingzhuang looked at her without saying a word, and Shen Mingrong knew that she had made up her mind, so she had no choice but to leave disappointed.
After seeing Shen Mingrong off, she returned to her room. Manhuan led the people to serve the dishes. When she turned around and went into the room to invite her young mistress to lunch, she found her young mistress standing still under the west window, staring blankly at the plum blossoms outside the window.
“Miss…” Man Huan called out softly.
Shen Mingzhuang snapped out of his daze, a slight smile playing on his lips as he walked over. "What's wrong?"
For some reason, Manhuan felt a little disappointed.
She stepped forward to help Shen Mingzhuang up before whispering, "Miss, you must still be very sad about Wenxin's matter, right?"
Shen Mingzhuang was somewhat surprised by her words. She smiled and glanced at Man Huan, who was almost as tall as her at the age of fourteen or fifteen. She said "Oh" and then drawled, "Why do you say that?"
Man Huan lowered her eyes, looking somewhat dejected, and said, "We've been through so much together, I really didn't expect that she would be the one to betray us."
Yes, we've been through so much together, and I even took her with me in the most critical moments. We've practically shared a life-or-death bond, yet she still betrayed me so easily. It's truly heartbreaking.
“Ke Manhuan, it’s not that you won’t be betrayed just because you have more experience. People’s hearts are the most important. I once told you the story of the farmer and the snake. Have you forgotten it?”
Manhuan nodded and said sullenly, "Miss, I understand."
Thinking of something else, Manhuan shook off her disappointment and said, "Miss, since we won't be going to the palace anymore, why don't we find two more people to serve us?"
Now, most of the people around Shen Mingzhuang have left, and there are hardly any useful people left.
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhuang nodded. "What's your idea?"
Although this girl is young, she has always been very opinionated and insightful, so Shen Mingzhuang trusts her to manage the affairs of his household.
She believed that with years of training, this girl would one day be able to stand on her own.
Upon hearing this, Manhuan did not refuse and asked directly, "Miss, do you still remember Miss Xue Rong who used to serve you in the manor?"
Shen Mingzhuang naturally remembered, and she nodded.
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