SFS Chapter 199 The Princess Enters the Capital
Chapter 199 The Princess Enters the Capital
Shen Shaoheng's eyes were fixed on the hill, and a brightly colored skirt fluttered in the breeze.
The woman wearing the skirt was dressed in a thin summer shirt, which clung to her slender figure as the wind blew, making her slightly protruding belly particularly noticeable.
Although the person was wearing a veil, Shen Shaoheng recognized her at a glance.
His eyes were fixed on her abdomen, a storm raging within them. The calm expression on his face crumbled inch by inch, and he could no longer maintain his composure.
That's...his child?
Shen Shaoheng tightened his grip on his side, never imagining that his bloodline would continue in this world.
In an instant, all my emotions surged into my heart.
He just thought Mei Ruoxue was foolish. She had clearly escaped the fire and could have lived the life she wanted again, so why did she keep this child?
It's still the child of a rotten person like him.
All the resentment and self-loathing were released and relieved at this moment.
Mei Ruoxue heard that the Chengen Marquis's mansion had fallen and that Shen Shaoheng had been spared but was to be exiled to the frontier today.
She left the Marquis's mansion and, following Shen Qingtan's instructions, became an apprentice at the Shuiyue Nunnery to learn the zither. A few days later, she discovered that she was nearly two months pregnant.
Having regained her freedom, everything in the Marquis's mansion was now a thing of the past for her.
She considered it for three days and decided to keep the child.
She will never marry another man in her life; she only wants to pass on her family's traditions.
She claimed to be a widow and never thought of telling Shen Shaoheng about the existence of the child.
Now that Shen Shaoheng is in trouble, Mei Ruoxue, after much deliberation, finally decided to come and see him off.
After this parting, we may never meet again in this lifetime.
Regardless of what the future holds for him.
She thought that he must feel some comfort knowing that he had another child at this moment.
Mei Ruoxue lifted the thin veil of her hat and met his gaze. In his eyes, there was an emotion she could not understand.
She subconsciously took two steps forward, as if to get a better look, but he turned his head away and gradually walked towards her, slowly passing by her without ever glancing in her direction again.
Mei Ruoxue watched Shen Shaoheng's retreating figure as he walked further and further away. He sang a poem in a drawn-out tone, which reached her ears from afar.
"The phoenix hairpin hangs askew, tears fall on you; the rose blooms, but I am not destined to be with you. The small building is lonely, the new rain and moon are bright; neither can the moon be as round as a hook."
-
When Shen Qingtan saw Shen Shaobai, the two siblings reconciled.
Shen Shaobai, who was originally depressed, has now begun to cheer up, which has put Shen Qingtan at ease.
The only one I'm worried about is Shen Shaoheng.
However, with Shen Shaobai looking after him, Shen Shaoheng should be fine.
After returning to the Duke's Mansion with Zhao Yi, they went to Lanxue Garden, where they saw Guan Mama, who served the First Madam, waiting at the gate.
She asked, "Aunt Guan, does Mother want us to come over?"
Madam Guan smiled and said, "This old servant has come to convey a message to you on behalf of the eldest madam. A distant cousin of the old madam's side has come to the capital to visit relatives and is staying at our mansion. Please arrange a courtyard for the young master to stay in."
A look of surprise flashed in Shen Qingtan's eyes: "The old lady's distant cousin?"
Mrs. Guan replied, "They are not cousins from the main family, but from a collateral branch."
Shen Qingtan understood the situation, watched Guan Mama leave, went into the house, and sat down on the daybed.
She asked, "Second Master, do you know the background of this young master?"
Zhao Yi soaked a handkerchief in warm water, wrung it out slightly, and handed it to Shen Qingtan to wipe her face.
“I heard my grandfather mention a few days ago that this cousin is from the same family as my grandmother, and they are almost five degrees of kinship. Nominally, he came to the capital from Jiangnan to visit relatives, but in reality, he came to meet her.”
Zhao Yi said gently, "The third branch's daughter, Wan, has reached marriageable age. Grandmother has arranged for this cousin to live in the mansion, which probably means she has the idea of arranging a marriage."
Shen Qingtan slowly wiped her face with a handkerchief, thinking to herself that Zhao Wan was already fifteen years old, and the old lady had been looking for a husband for her.
"If Grandmother is interested in arranging a marriage, then we cannot be negligent."
Shen Qingtan had made up her mind. She stuffed the handkerchief into Zhao Yi's hand, called Liu Yue in, and instructed her to tidy up Qin Garden to entertain her cousins.
Liu Yue agreed and was about to leave to take care of it when she remembered something else.
"Second Grandma, the people from Third Grandma's courtyard have been acting suspiciously at our gate these past few days."
When Liu Yue mentioned the people from the second branch of the family, her eyes were full of disgust: "I've been keeping watch for a few days and I've discovered a strange place. They don't go near it; they just wait at the door. As soon as you show your face, they leave."
Shen Qingtan couldn't help but think of what Qiu Chan had said, and frowned, saying, "You should be more careful. With the Marquis's mansion gone, Shen Mingzhu has lost her backer, and who knows what she might do."
"Yes." Liu Yue left Lanxue Garden.
After resting for a while, Shen Qingtan decided to change her clothes and went into the inner room.
Zhao Yi followed her slowly into the inner room.
He glanced at a stack of men's robes on the couch, their colors mostly dark. "These are... prepared for me?"
“These are the clothes I prepared for Father.” Shen Qingtan examined the robes and explained, “He hasn’t been back to the capital for many years, and he only ever wears the same two sets of clothes. As his daughter, I’m preparing a few sets of clothes for him to change into.”
Zhao Yi: "..."
Shen Qingtan took out a piece of cloth and carefully put away the robe, intending to send it to the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion the next day.
Turning around, she saw Zhao Yi pursing her lips, staring at the bundle placed on the cabinet.
She suddenly realized that Zhao Yi's unspoken words might have been mistaken for the clothes being prepared for him.
"Your mother arranged for someone to make summer clothes for you. The standard size for the public school is four sets, but your mother secretly added money to make four extra sets, enough for you to wear all summer." Shen Qingtan held his cold fingers: "Don't you have enough to wear?"
Zhao Yi shook his head; he was just envious of his father-in-law.
They had been married for several months, and she had not personally bought him any clothes.
Shen Qingtan saw through his thoughts and poked his chest with her finger: "I made you a set of clothes. Your father has never enjoyed such treatment. Between you two, who is envious of whom?"
Zhao Yi chuckled slightly, took her fingers, pulled her into his arms, and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, about to say something.
Tingxue's voice came from outside: "Second Master, Second Madam, news has come from the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion that the Princess Consort has arrived in the capital."