Shen Mingshu was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses. Shen Mingrong had already helped Gu Shi into the house.
Shen Mingxi looked at Shen Mingshu with a half-smile and said, "Shall we go inside?"
"Go in if you want, no one's stopping you," Shen Mingshu said coldly, her eyes slightly red.
"Oh well."
Shen Mingxi was only being polite to her in name only, so upon hearing this, she stopped pretending and walked inside.
Zhao was overjoyed today. Wan and Shen Xingtai chattered excitedly beside her, saying auspicious words. Seeing this, An, the old nanny beside Zhao, said in a charming tone, "Young Master is so sensible and intelligent. How old is he? He can already say auspicious words. He is indeed the master of our Shen family. He has been clever since he was a child!"
Zhao and Wan both liked to hear this, and then a clever lady chimed in, "That's right, do you think just anyone can become the Crown Prince's tutor? If you're not quick-witted, you probably can't do it!"
When one person spoke, a group of people echoed, and Zhao Shi was surrounded by congratulations and well wishes, as if she were the center of attention.
Zhao felt like she was being lifted up to the heavens, her heart filled with the joy of honey. The child, however, did not understand any of this. He looked at his mother, Wan, with his big eyes and said, "Mother, I've been so obedient. Can I ask you for something?"
Hearing her son's mature-sounding words, Mrs. Wan couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. She pulled her son to her side and asked him gently, "What do you want?"
"Wife," Shen Xingtai said without hesitation, "Mother, find me a wife."
Everyone was stunned for a moment. Someone couldn't help but burst out laughing, and the room erupted in laughter. Seeing that Madam Wan looked embarrassed, someone spoke up to defuse the situation, saying, "Look, it's true that Young Master Xingtai is clever. Others his age only know how to ask for candy and snacks, but Young Master Xingtai already knows how to ask for a wife. He even knows to ask his mother for one. This just proves the saying, 'Marriage and family are arranged by parents and matchmakers!'"
A single sentence softened Wan's expression. She smiled and nodded, intending to let the matter drop. However, Shen Xingtai refused, holding his mother's hand and insisting that she agree to his request.
Unable to handle the commotion, Madam Wan could only nod and say, "Alright, alright, Mother will do whatever you want. When you're a little older, Mother will find you a wife, okay?"
Just think of it as teasing the child. Wan's heart, as an old mother, was a little saddened by her son's words, but she could only comfort herself in this way.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xingtai immediately became delighted. He nodded and then innocently uttered the words that almost made Madam Wan vomit blood: "Then how about letting Yan'er be my wife in the future?"
The room fell silent once again. It was unclear when the outside had also quieted down. Someone announced that the Crown Prince had arrived. As soon as the words were spoken, Jiang Xuan walked in with a tense expression.
"You wish! Yan'er would never be your wife."
Shen Xingtai blinked and looked at Jiang Xuan who walked in, as well as Aunt Rong behind Jiang Xuan and cousin Yan'er.
Shen Xingtai couldn't understand what was going on. Madam Wan had already started scolding her son, "You're getting more and more outrageous! You're still the Crown Prince's tutor, yet you speak so carelessly. The Crown Prince knows all this, but you don't? I'll tell your father later, and you'll be in big trouble!"
After saying this, he turned to look at the Crown Prince, stepped forward, knelt down, and bowed. Everyone was also taken aback by this sudden turn of events and stepped forward to bow to the Crown Prince.
"No need for formalities. Today is Madam Zhao's birthday banquet, and I am here uninvited. Please don't stand on ceremony because of me."
Everyone was stunned by these words. The Crown Prince was only five years old, yet he could act like a little adult. He was completely different from Shen Xingtai, who was asking his mother for a wife!
Jiang Xuan had no idea what everyone was thinking. She walked up to Shen Mingrong, looked up at her, and said, "Aunt Rong, please don't let Yan'er become Xingtai's wife. Xingtai said he's going to marry many wives in the future, but I'll only marry one. I can make Yan'er my empress."
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingrong was so frightened that he almost took two steps back. Fortunately, Jiang Xuan's voice was not loud, and there were only maids around, so no guests heard it.
Shen Mingrong patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that Jiang Xuan might say something even more shocking. He quickly pulled the children outside to talk.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was looking, Jiang Xuan secretly tugged at Lu Yan's little pigtail. Lu Yan turned her head and glared at Jiang Xuan unhappily. The two little ones thought that no one had noticed their interaction, but it was seen by the little maid next to Shen Mingrong.
Once they reached the deserted corridor, Shen Mingrong breathed a sigh of relief and asked Jiang Xuan, "Xuan'er, what did you call me just now?"
Jiang Xuan didn't know why Aunt Rong would ask such a question, but answered without thinking, "Aunt Rong."
Shen Mingrong nodded, "Since Xuan'er regards me as your Aunt Rong, then you must never say such things again in the future."
"Why? I really want Yan'er to be my future empress." Jiang Xuan didn't understand Shen Mingrong's concerns and asked with some confusion.
Shen Mingrong was both amused and exasperated. She didn't know if a five-year-old could understand reasoning with him, but if she didn't say anything, she was genuinely worried that Jiang Xuan might tell his father or someone else what he had just said, and people would think that someone had instigated the Crown Prince to say such things.
Being an empress is not something anyone can do, and such words should not be spoken lightly.
"I asked my father, and he said that my cousin Yan'er can only study with us for another year. If she turns seven, she will no longer be able to enter the palace to study with us. The one who will be with me after she turns seven will be the future Crown Princess, and the Crown Princess will become the Empress."
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