Chapter 85 (1/2)
Chapter 85: The Day of Marriage (Part 1)
Time quickly past like it was flying by and in a twinkling of an eye it was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, it was an auspicious day and was good to go get married and it was the day the long widowed Prince Yu to marry a Wangfei. After Prince Yu had been widowed for so many years, the residence of Prince Yu is finally welcoming a new mistress. However everyone was well aware that this was not something to be happy about. Just like the previous Prince Yu’s Wangfei, who could know when will the happy occasion become a funeral.
The target that was marrying into Prince Yu residence is the Shen family’s Di daughter of the second household in the capital. There were three Di daughters in the Formidable Great General residence, Shen Miao was famous for being an idiot, Shen Yue’s talented reputation was well known and Shen Qing was considered to be beautiful, generous and capable, and this last such good female was going to get married to Prince Yu kind of person. This made others unable to bear but to let a sigh go.
“That Shen Gui has gone crazy.” There was someone who was speaking softly in the crowd that was looking at the commotion. “Is not this watching one’s daughter jumping into the fire pit? This is sinful.”
“What do you know.” Another person disapproved, “I heard from my official Biao Older Brother, that this Eldest Shen Young Lady had illicit sexual relations with Prince Yu and is already pregnant. If it was not because that is a Royal flesh and blood, she would be drown.”
“Ah. What you said is real?” The surrounding people heard that and all of them were surprised as they did not know about this before.
That person shook his head proudly, “It is so. Heard that during the returning banquet in the Palace, hundreds of civil and military officials had witnessed it, and heard that this Shen family Eldest Young Lady was not pitiful at all and brought trouble to herself.”
“Indeed if it is like this. To be pregnant before marriage, this offend the public morals.”
“Really, does not know what shame is.”
“How did the Shen family’s Second household taught such a daughter that harmed General Shen’s noble and benevolent character. Really she is humiliating the family status.”
“What does this got to do with General Shen? General Shen is not in the Ding capital all year and even his daughter was raised by the two other households.”
Everyone’s lively discussion and comments were diverse and all the conversation were words of despise for Shen Qing. From the initial sympathy to the later spitting and cursing, seemed to have passed only a short moment of time. Even Shen Gui’s and Ren Wan Yun’s bones were picked.
That person who initially said that Shen Qing was pregnant, only quietly smiled and disappeared into the crowd.
In the Shen residence, the matchmaker was putting makeup on Shen Qing.
Ren Wan Yun stood behind Shen Qing and tightly twisted the handkerchief in her hands and could not wait to shred it into pieces. She raised her daughter up well but now had to watch as Shen Qing jumped into the fire pit. No mother would not love their own daughter and to Ren Wan Yun, everything that had happened felt like someone cutting into her flesh with a knife.
What was different was that Shen Qing did not have such strong emotions as Ren Wan Yun. She sat quietly at the seat and let the matchmaker move around and that matchmaker smiled and said, “Eldest Young Lady, this old one will thread one’s face. Face threading is somewhat painful, Eldest Young Lady must tolerate and after it, one will be able to be a beautiful bride.”
It was still alright if these words were not said but when these words were said, Ren Wan Yun only felt pain in her heart and she almost fainted. Shen Qing only looked woodenly at herself in the bronze mirror. If it was not for her blinking eyes, one would think that she was a corpse.
The matchmaker also grew apprehensive towards Shen Qing’s expression as she took a thin cotton thread from a box and started threading. This face threading made one’s face fair and clean but it was very painful and normally a noble young lady would delicately cry out with some pain. But when they were doing the threading, Shen Qing was still expressionless as if she was dead.
“Qing-er.” Ren Wan Yun could not help but shed tears.
When the matchmaker saw such a scene, of the bride not having the joy of being one, but her whole body was filled with despair, she understood a little in her heart. She did not say any auspicious words and quickly put Shen Qing’s makeup on and found an excuse to depart.
Only Ren Wan Yun and Shen Qing were left in the room with a few maids.
Ren Wan Yun’s tears could not stop, it was only a short few months but she has aged so much that she had now the looks like those of an older woman, her face was much older and her white hairs have increased. How could one see that previous plump gorgeously wearingly smart lady.
“Mother, do not worry.” It was Shen Qing who spoke first. Her voice was hoarse and it sounded strange, she seemed to cry yet as if she was laughing, “Today what I have suffered would not be in vain. I will take revenge myself.
“Qing-er, Mother let you down.” Ren Wan Yun went up and hugged her.
Shen Qing woodenly let her mother hug her and said in a hoarse voice, “Father and Mother cannot help but even so I will take my own revenge.” Her tone was gloomy but that burst of grievances could be felt by everyone. Shen Gui looking on coldly by the side, Ren Wan Yun’s apprehension, their inability to face up to Shen Qing’s marriage, and finally Shen Qing hate of her own parents.
It was like a strike of lighting for Ren Wan Yun to be hated by her own daughter. But she knew how the matter came to this step and it was not necessarily without her reasons. If she had not schemed against Shen Miao in the beginning, if she went out and took a look in Wo Long Temple or perhaps if she had not written to Prince Yu about the wrong person, perhaps then Shen Qing would not have fallen into such a desperate situation like now.
She reluctantly smiled, “Qing-er must not be afraid, Mother swear to definitely take revenge for you. And your Second Older Brother would definitely not let that little slut off.”
In the big hall of the Shen residence, Old Shen Furen’s expression was serious as she sat on the seat in the middle, and Shen Yuan Bo was half laying in her arms as if he feared Old Shen Furen’s ruthless expression and obediently dared not move.
“Make what up.” Old Shen Furen said, “After doing such a shameless thing, she still have face to increase the trousseau. Number Two, you have raise a good daughter.” Old Shen Furen was vain and superficial and loved to have face outside. This time what happened to Shen Qing could not be hidden from her, and knowing that all the civil and military officials were aware of Shen Qing’s shameful deed, Old Shen Furen felt that her old face was lost and naturally hated Shen Qing and her mother.
Shen Gui quickly consented and could not wait to divorce Ren Wan Yun on the spot.
Shen Qiu expression upon hearing this was weird, seemingly like he wanted to laugh. Most likely Old Shen Furen herself had forgotten that she was originally a songstress, and speaking of which how much better could she be comparing to Shen Qing. She really thought that she was an unmarried daughter of a noble house who was as clear as ice and as clean as jade.
Shen Wan did not make any sound and Chen Rou Qiu would not take the initiative to attack when Old Shen Furen was that angry. As for Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan, they stood largely on the spot as if they had not heard Old Shen Furen’s words.
Old Shen Furen finished throwing out her temper, “The dowry cannot be too much. This kind of daughter is not worth my Shen family’s money.”
When such words were spoken, Luo Xue Yan had a layer of contempt in her eyes. Old Shen Furen was most biased against Eldest household and even if one valued males and belittled females, but Shen Qing grew up under Shen Old Furen. One obviously knew that Shen Qing’s marriage into Prince Yu’s residence was a tragic start, by giving more money perhaps Shen Qing could live more comfortable, but one did not think that Old Shen Furen would be so stingy to that level and be that ruthless. Indeed a female born from the lowest level that could not be seen in public.
Shen Gui agreed, he had always had the attitude of a filial son and Old Shen Furen upon seeing him obedient, her expression was much warmer. When her eyes fell onto Shen Xin, she was about to say something when suddenly Shen Yue exclaimed, “Second Older Brother.”
Everyone looked at the direction of Shen Yue’s eyes and there from the door walked in a young male, wearing a stone green long robe. This male looked upright and upon closer inspection, looked a sixth or seventh similar to Shen Hui but there was a touch of pride in his brows.
This was not anyone else but the Shen family’s Second household’s eldest Di son, Shen Yuan.
Chapter 85: The Day of Marriage (Part 2)
In the Second household, Shen Yuan was naturally clever and quick-witted, compared to Shen Qiu’s military power where each step all depended on himself, Shen Yuan depended on his genius. Since young, he would score the top ranks in the exams and afterwards had the attention of nobility and went into a career in court. But previously, he had to be posted for three years in the outskirts for training purposes and this year was the last, and he would be an official in the Ding capital after the year ends. Who knew that Shen Qing would fall into a mishap and it seemed that he rushed back so that he could see the day his Younger Sister married off.
Even Shen Yue could not help but hid behind Shen Wan. Shen Wan patted She Yue’s back as his eyes fell onto Shen Yuan.
Towards Shen Yuan, there were a number of people in the Shen residence that were somewhat afraid of him. Perhaps it was that Shen Yuan had fame at such a young age or from one’s intuition one felt that he had deep thoughts even though he was young. In short, Shen Yue and the previous Shen Miao were all very afraid of him.
The happiest person was no other than Old Shen Furen. She waved her hands to Shen Yuan in pleasant surprise, “Yuan-er.” Shen Yuan Bo in Old Shen Furen’s embrace also called out crisply, “Second Older Brother.”
Shen Yuan then only smiled and gave Old Shen Furen a greeting, “Grandmother.” Then he touched Shen Yuan Bo’s head, “Yuan Bo grew taller again.”
“Afraid that Yuan boy has rush back.” Chen Rou Qiu smiled, “The journey must be tiring, why not take a rest first?” Now that Ren Wan Yun is not here, she was the one managing the Shen residence so naturally she had a matriarch appearance on.
Shen Yuan turn around and glanced at Chen Rou Qiu. She did not know why but Chen Rou Qiu had a sinking feeling and spontaneous fear. After a year of not seeing, Shen Yuan became one that was unable to see through. Chen Rou Qiu was naturally smart and when the children were young, she had secretly tripped Shen Yuan but he was unexpectedly smart and much later, it was Chen Rou Qiu that suffered. Chen Rou Qiu thought that Ren Wan Yun was lucky to be able to give birth to a clever son, so even if one were to be dissatisfied with the Second household, Chen Rou Qiu did not dare to completely annoy the other.
“No need.” Shen Yuan said, “I return this time is just to see my Younger Sister get married. If one rest then it would be too late.”
Speaking of Shen Qing, the atmosphere became a little awkward and Old Shen Furen did not delve into it. Shen Yuan also did not move as his eyes almost did not hesitate to look over to the person standing next to Shen Qiu, Shen Miao.
“Not seeing for a long time, Fifth Younger Sister has also changed a lot.” He narrowed his eyes, “Indeed, females changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood, Fifth Younger Sister changed so much that I somewhat cannot recognise.”
Shen Miao calmly looked at him, Shen Yuan’s eyes were probing sinisterly, as if they were a poisonous snake slithering in the marsh and tightly wrapping around that made one feel crept out. She smiled lightly, “Second Older Brother stayed the same as always.”
Chen Rou Qiu’s eyes paused, Shen Yue was somewhat rejoicing at another’s misfortune and Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan coincidentally frowned at the same time. But Shen Qiu smiled as he continue the conversation, “Exactly, Second Younger Brother looks like there is no change.” He lead the conversation to him and it provoked Shen Yuan to look at Shen Qiu as he said meaningfully, “Did not think that now Fifth Younger Sister’s and Eldest Brother’s relationship is actually this good.”
“Since its real siblings, so feelings are naturally good.” Shen Miao smiled warmly, “If Second Older Brother go down to see Eldest Sister, perhaps one can catch her before her makeup.”
Shen Yuan looked at Shen Miao deeply and smiled, “Yes. I will go now.” Having said that, he bowed to Old Shen Furen, “Grandmother, I will go and take a look at Younger Sister first. I as an Older Brother is not by Younger Sister side and now she is to get married today, one is not sure if she would be bullied in the future and could only speak a few words to her so this one will leave first.” Finishing, he turned around and quickly left without looking at anyone.
From the beginning to the end, not a word was said to Shen Gui.
In the past, even though Shen Gui’s and Shen Yuan’s relationship was not particularly close but they were after all father and son, and Shen Gui highly regarded Shen Yuan so he took more care of him, and Shen Yuan also treated Shen Gui with respect. There was obviously some problems with today’s attitude. Shen Gui was livid as he clenched his fists. Old Shen Furen gazed at him with a complicated look and also felt something stuffed in her heart so she waved her hands, “Support me back to the room.”
Old Shen Furen did not plan to go to the wedding banquet tonight. To what Old Shen Furen sees, those who were invited to participate in the wedding banquet were high ranking or nobles, so they would have known the ins and outs of this marriage. To throw such an old face of hers away, it would impact her fortune so she let Zhang Mama support her back to the room at that moment.
After Old Shen Furen left, it was somewhat awkward in the hall. Shen Yue looked at Shen Miao and asked, “Fifth Younger Sister, what did you gift Eldest Sister as part of her dowry?”
“Just some jewellery only.” Shen Miao lightly said.
Shen Yue replied with an “Oh.” Seeing that she had a cannot be bothered look, although she was angry in her heart, she dared not show it in front of Shen Xin and couple and quietly stood by Chen Rou Qiu’s side.
Shen Wan looked towards Shen Xin, “Eldest Brother, now that Yuan-er has return, what is next?”
“What does Yuan Boy got to do with me?” Shen Xin said puzzled, “I cannot control my own Jiao Jiao and Qiu Boy but I need to manage Number Two’s son? Number Three, your Third household has less people so if there is nothing the matter then you should also help Number Two, after all you are all real brothers.” He spoke with meaningful and heartfelt words.
Shen Xin was one that looked straightforward and honest but the words he spoke were like poisonous snakes. This could be seen by the Marquis of Lin An, Xie Ding, who he had not spoken properly for decades. When he said those words, Shen Wan had yet to respond but Chen Rou Qiu was so angry that her nails were embedded into her palms. Everyone knew that the Third household had a thin line and Chen Rou Qiu other than given birth to Shen Yue, there were no sons at all. Even though it was said that Shen Wan had deep feelings towards Chen Rou Qiu, but Old Shen Furen had already wanted to give concubines to Shen Wan numerous times because of Chen Rou Qiu’s lack of pregnancy. Shen Xin was poking knives into Chen Rou Qiu’s heart.
“Yes, DiXiFu (aka Younger Brother-in-law’s Wife).” Luo Xue Yan also smiled as she spoke, “Do not keep worrying about other family’s matter. One know that both of you are kind but it is also time for you to think about your own matters. Yue Girl is already so grown up, in future when she get married there would not be any brothers to help out, it would be considered as lacking.”
Shen Miao’s eyes were stirring with laughter. Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan were not experts at the battles in the courtyards but their battlefield experience made them feel more sensitive and intuitive toward others. Shen Wan and couple wanted to sow discord but were swallowed by Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan in the mix.
“Younger Sister, let’s go and take a look at Eldest Younger Sister.” Shen Qiu patted Shen Miao’s shoulder, “Your makeup is still at my place.”
Shen Miao knew that Shen Qiu had something to say to her, so she nodded her head and greeted a few people before heading to the Western courtyard with Shen Qiu.
“Younger Sister, Shen Yuan is hostile to you.” Shen Qiu said.
“I know.”