After some time, she found Chi Yan under the marriage tree. He was holding a red ribbon and hanging it on the tree. She looked at him with suspicion: "Didn't you not believe in this?"
Chi Yan's hand trembled slightly; she hadn't expected her to come out so quickly. She feigned composure and hid behind her back.
"What?"
Seeing his attempt to cover up his misunderstanding, Shen Tangning became even more curious. She raised an eyebrow and stepped forward, saying, "What did you write? Let me see."
Taking advantage of his height, Chi Yan pressed her head down with one hand and raised the red silk high with the other, his ear tips turning a suspicious red: "That won't do."
Taking advantage of her inattention, he tossed the ribbon in his hand and hung it on a high branch. Only after confirming that it was so high that she couldn't reach it even if she jumped did he release the restraints with satisfaction.
As he lowered his head, he saw Shen Tangning staring at him intently. Her gaze made him feel guilty, and he awkwardly took two steps back.
She slowly smoothed her hair, and seeing that she hadn't messed it up, she glared at him, gave a cold snort, and walked out.
Chi Yan turned around to make sure the red silk was hanging securely, then took a few steps to catch up: "What did you talk about with that master?"
Shen Tangning smiled slightly and said slowly, "I won't tell you."
They hold grudges quite a bit.
He spotted the box she was holding: "What's in this?"
"Guess for yourself."
"Tsk, I'll sneak a peek later."
"..."
With this incense, Shen Tangning slept much more soundly at night, and she didn't dream for several days in a row.
*
Shen Chang's crimes were quickly proven, and Emperor Chongde's decree was issued—
Shen Chang was beheaded at the Meridian Gate and his head was displayed to the public. All of the Shen family's property was confiscated.
As for the other members of the Shen family, they were unaware of the situation and were not implicated. In fact, Shen Ci performed a meritorious service by putting aside his own family ties, and was therefore promoted.
But his reputation was never very good. People would say all sorts of nasty things about him. No one dared to talk about him to his face, but they would always spit on him behind his back.
The marriage with the Pei family had fallen through, and now that the Shen family was in dire straits, no one dared to propose marriage to them.
"Isn't this perfect? My father has passed away and I still have to observe three years of mourning. Luckily, I'm not engaged, so I won't hold back any girls."
Shen Ci spoke in a relaxed tone, seemingly unaffected by the rumors circulating outside.
His features had somehow shed their youthful naiveté, and he had gradually become more mature and composed, capable of standing on his own.
Shen Tangning didn't know what to say, and her mood was somewhat low: "If we wait another three years, you'll be twenty."
Shen Ci scoffed: "Didn't Chi Yan also marry his elder sister when he was twenty?"
Chi Yan glared at him with a dark face, her tone slightly smug: "That's because I'm lucky, I accidentally married your older sister. Look at your attitude, I want to see what kind of celestial being you can marry!"
They almost came to blows over a disagreement.
These two are equally bad, both despicable and disliked by everyone, so neither should criticize the other.
Shen Tangning rubbed her temples and spoke, and they finally quieted down:
"As children, we should go and see our father off on his final journey."
Shen Ci thought for a moment and nodded: "I'll listen to my elder sister."
...
So they agreed to go to the prison again the next day.
Upon learning of his impending death, Shen Chang appeared to have aged ten years overnight.
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