At this moment, where no one could see, Mother Shen glared fiercely at the fourth son, Shen Qingbo, several times, as if she would smash his head if he dared to speak.
"Jiaojiao, there are many good things. Take a look at the others and take what you like."
Shen Jiaojiao lowered her head deeply, a flash of resentment passing through her eyes.
As expected, there's no blood relation. No matter how well things were said before, he's still wavering now!
In the past, her fourth brother would have given her the Wenxi Poison-Repelling Chopsticks without hesitation, but now he's letting her choose something else.
It's just different.
When Shen Jiaojiao looked up again, her face was full of smiles.
"Okay, Fourth Brother, I'll take a look at the other gifts."
Shen Mingzhu looked at the Wenxi Poison-Repelling Chopsticks in her hand, but couldn't see anything special about them.
[Host, this is a valuable item. These rhinoceros horn-shaped poison-repelling chopsticks were previously given to Consort Li, and it was because of these chopsticks that Consort Li escaped several assassination attempts in the harem.]
Oh, really?
System, yes.
Listening to Shen Mingzhu's conversation with the system, Shen's mother thought that since Shen Jiaojiao had been having close contact with the Second Prince Yan Yunxuan, it was obvious how the Wenxi Poison-Repelling Chopsticks ended up in the hands of Consort Li in the harem.
Unexpectedly, my "daughter" is also quite remarkable!
What Shen's mother could think of, Shen Qinghong and Shen Qingbo could naturally think of as well.
Immediately, the way they looked at Shen Jiaojiao changed a lot.
Shen Qingbo, in particular, has become much more sober.
Shen Jiaojiao picked out a jade hairpin and a jewelry box inlaid with jewels from overseas.
Shen Mingzhu then took the red coral bracelet and put it directly on her wrist.
"Mother, I've made my choice."
"Don't you like anything else?"
Mother Shen asked her with a smile.
"This is enough!"
Hearing Shen Mingzhu's heartfelt words, Wang was deeply moved.
She had been pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, but in reality, she had been paying close attention to the situation.
Could it all be true?
She knew that Madam Xie had sold off some of the servants in her household. She opened her shrewd eyes and asked Granny Gui to help her up.
"I'm tired. You young people should get along well."
After saying that, she gave Shen Mingzhu and Shen Jiaojiao a meaningful look and left.
Although she left, she kept reflecting on whether it was right or wrong for her to try to keep Shen Jiaojiao.
Humans are, after all, emotional beings.
Fine, she'll give her another chance!
If that doesn't work, just quickly give her a dowry and marry her off.
Today's events have had a significant impact on Shen Qingbo.
After Shen Mingzhu and the others left, he pulled his older brother to his study.
"Big brother, is it true?"
Shen Qinghong: "It should be true."
At least in the past few days since they started listening to Shen Mingzhu inner monologue, their parents have verified all her true thoughts, and they are all accurate.
"Big brother, do you think I'll really be... you know...?"
Shen Qinghong looked at his youngest brother and said solemnly,
"Qingbo, don't worry, your brother won't let any of this happen!"
"Besides, our parents already know, and they'll definitely stop it!"
"Big brother, my Wenxi Poison-Repelling Chopsticks! You mean Shen Mingzhu, no, Sister Mingzhu, will return them to me?"
He now has three people taking care of him personally: two bodyguards and one maid.
They all grew up with him since childhood, and they even signed a lifelong contract. So who betrayed him?
After Shen Qinghong left, Shen Qingbo sat quietly in the study, reflecting on everything that had happened that day, his temples throbbing with pain.
Is Shen Mingzhu's statement credible?
After all, that was her true feeling, and logically speaking, she had no reason to make things up.
Is Jiaojiao really not good to him as she claims?
Shen Mingzhu didn't think too much about it. She enjoyed a sumptuous dinner and then slept until mid-morning the next day.
She lingered in bed for a while before slowly getting up.
It's so great to just idle up!
After washing up, the maids brought out the food from the kitchen.
"Hmm, not bad!"
After the meal, Madam Shen arrived with her maids.
"Mingzhu, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. Every year, the palace invites the families of officials of the fifth rank and above to a banquet. Get ready; the manager of Jinlu Pavilion will come to your courtyard to take your measurements for your clothes later. Don't go anywhere else."
"I understand, Mother."
[Guagua, Jinlu Pavilion is doing so well, whose is it?]
[Host, the owner behind Jinlu Pavilion is His Highness Crown Prince Yan Beichen.]
Wow, the Crown Prince is something else! He even owns a shop that makes a fortune every day!
[Host, listen to what you're saying. Anyone who can become the crown prince must have some skills. Besides, without money, who would work for you?]
Shen Mingzhu smiled broadly.
[Guagua, you're right!]
Upon hearing this, Chen's mother almost stumbled and fell.
Because she knew that the Golden Thread Robe was a shop owned by a wealthy merchant in Jiangnan, and that it turned out to be the Crown Prince…
She learned this secret...
Well...
Can this kid release the gossip after she leaves?!
The answer is obviously no!
...
The autumn air is crisp and clear, and the falling leaves paint the earth in a golden hue. The withered yellow leaves dance in the wind, like gold paper scattered from the sky, a truly enchanting sight.
Soon, the annual Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the eighteenth year of the Yuanjing era, is the most important festival in the Great Yan Dynasty besides the New Year.
The entire capital was filled with joy, and the people were all immersed in the atmosphere of reunion.
Early in the morning, Shen Mingzhu was pulled out of bed by her maids, washed up and put on makeup, and finally rode in a carriage with her mother to the palace.
Inside the palace, at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Emperor Yuanjing Yan Linghan and his ministers enjoyed themselves together.
Inside the main hall, Shen Mingzhu sat with her mother, occasionally exchanging pleasantries and chatting with the wives and young ladies of other ministers. Everything was so wonderful.
Shen Mingzhu looked at the wilted fruit in front of her, showing no interest whatsoever.
Shen Jiaojiao followed behind the second branch of the Shen family with a smile on her face, chatting with her close female friends while occasionally glancing at Shen Mingzhu before turning her head away unintentionally. Shen Mingzhu found this extremely boring.
Why doesn't Shen Jiaojiao stay with her mother?
The reason, of course, was that the second branch of the Shen family fully supported keeping Shen Jiaojiao in the mansion. Since the second branch had no daughters, Shen's mother was particularly kind and arranged for her "good sister-in-law" to bring Shen Jiaojiao to banquets in the future.
This move has also sparked much discussion.
Mother Shen didn't care.
Now, she cares even less!
All she needs to do is take good care of her pearl!
Soon, the Emperor, along with the Empress, the Imperial Concubine, and other concubines, took their seats. After everyone knelt down to pay their respects, various pastries and delicacies were brought out by the palace maids.
Shen Mingzhu had just taken a bite of a chestnut cake when Yan Yunxuan stood up abruptly.
Father, on this auspicious day, when people and the moon are reunited, I have fallen in love with the second young lady of the Marquis of Changping's mansion, Shen Jiaojiao. I humbly request that Your Majesty bestow her upon me as my principal wife."
After Yan Yunxuan finished speaking, he glanced in the direction of Shen Jiaojiao, his eyes filled with affection and his determination to win her over.
[Tch! You scumbag, do you think I like you? Get lost, get as far away as you can!]
And so, a rebellious voice resounded throughout the entire palace hall.
A wake-up call!
Deafening!