Chapter 199 Part 1 - Secret (Part 1) (1/2)

Chapter 199: Secret (Part 1)

“So you be the concubine and I will be the wife.”

Shen Miao looked enquiringly at Lu Wan-er. With Lu Wan-er’s graceful tone of voice, one did not know where did it came from. Initially when she heard Lu Wan-er’s words just now, she felt that it was not false that each of the Lu family was intelligent. However this words made Shen Miao feel that she was unable to know what was Lu Wan-er bottom line as one did not know if Lu Wan-er was really a fool or not to discuss about Imperial matters.

“If Young Lady Lu has the heart, one can talk to His Highness about it.” Shen Miao smiled gently, “It is useless to say these to me.”

“I naturally know of it.” Lu Wan-er looked at her in slight disdain, “I am here to tell you this today, only because that one hope that you have some self-knowledge and take the initiative to speak to His Highness of your willingness to be the concubine.”

Shen Miao almost laughed out. She raise her lips slightly and said, “This is someone I will not do.”

“What did you say?” Lu Wan-er’s eyes widen, seemingly did not expect that Shen Miao would actually refuse.

The volume of their conversation was somewhat loud that the surrounding Furens’ gaze all directed towards them. Shen Miao did not hide away from them and smiled, “With regards to the matter of being a concubine, I will not do it. Matters of brining in concubines for one’s husband to spread out the branches is something I will not do. At the beginning when Prince Rui of First Rank came to my Shen residence to propose marriage, he had already said that there would not be any other female in the Inner Courtyard of the Prince residence. If it wasn’t that, I would not marry so far away to Long Ye.”

The surrounding Furen was stunned when they heard it.

On matters of relationship, it was not fair between males and females. In the Inner Courtyard of males, there would be three wives and four concubines and no matter if it was Great Liang or Ming Qi, it was not that there was no couples without anyone else but it was very rare. Ordinary males would not be able to withstand the temptation, much less the wealthy families, official families and the Imperial family.

Prince Rui of First Rank had a handsome and romantic appearance, with a powerful position that he gained at a very young age thus the world that he faced would be filled with flowers. How could a person like him would only have one woman in his entire life?

This lady from the Shen family of Ming Qi indeed had a really big face and did not know how high the sky was and how thick the earth was!

Lu Wan-er was so angry that her face was ashen as she said word by word, “Rui WangFei of First Rank, this is jealously. A female jealously meant that one has a dereliction of virtue.”

Shen Miao smiled, “Most likely it is. I have always been jealous easily. If Prince Rui of First Rank had not proposed this condition, I most likely would not been tempted.”

Lu Wan-er was so angry that she could not say anything.

Shen Miao’s attitude was like a thorn that made others unable to take action. The surrounding Furens were also flabbergasted. Initially when Shen Miao came to Long Ye, she did not live with her tail between her legs or lowered her head to be insignificant but instead was so arrogant that she even offend the Lu family, that Emperor Yong Le had to restrain from. One did not know where had she gotten the courage from or was she so stupid to such a point.

Naturally Shen Miao was not afraid.

Even if Emperor Yong Le was not satisfied with her and wanted to bestow another marriage to Xie Jing Xing, he would not bestow Lu Wan-er to Xie Jing Xing. Even though Lu Wan-er said that she would provide a boost to Xie Jing Xing’s career when she marry Xie Jing Xing, not to mention that Xie Jing Xing do not rely on female’s ability to climb up, even Emperor Yong Le would not dare to let Xie Jing Xing marry the Lu family easily.

With regards to Consort Jing, most likely one was helpless on it. However if Lu Wan-er also entered the doors of the residence of Prince Rui, then both brothers of Great Liang’s Imperial family would have relations with the Lu family. It was not a good thing for an outside family to have such power. Fu Xiu Yi could use Shen Miao and tie the Shen family together because the Shen family was loyal by nature but the Lu family already had bigger ambitions.

Be it emotions or reasons, Lu Wan-er would not be Emperor Yong Le’s choice. Even if this current moment of Shen Miao strongly rejecting Lu Wan-er’s suggestion was passed to Emperor Yong Le’s ears, it would still be along the lines of Emperor Yong Le’s mind.

When Lu Furen and Lu Wan-er were both frozen in place, one heard a light chuckled from the opposite side, “WangFei of First Rank is indeed one who is disposition. Prince Rui of First Rank is young yet valued relationship and righteousness, he is indeed a rare male.”

Shen Miao looked towards the speaker. That person sat beside Ji Yu Shu’s mother and was a slightly thin Furen. Wearing a tea green coloured robe and had a darker completion with straight eyes but because of one’s mature age, it seemed to make her distance from others. Her eyes were somewhat long that seemed to be studying meticulously when looking at others, as if they could see through others. It made others feel uncomfortable and at first glance, one could tell it was a shrewd and intelligent person.

Ba Jiao took the chance of pouring tea for Shen Miao to softly speak by her ears, “That is Ye Furen of the Prime Minister residence.”

With only this sentence, Shen Miao understood. Civil Ye family and military Lu family. It was assumed that this Ye Furen was a person of the Ye family of the Prime Minister residence, who was the two famous aristocratic family of Long Ye. Unlike the Lu family, which was somewhat arrogant, this Furen of the Ye family was much more restraint but could also let Shen Miao feel that she was even more difficult to deal with

Ye Furen looked at Shen Miao and suddenly smiled, “The relationship between Prince Rui and wife is very affectionate. It seemed that during the Imperial Hunt, WangFei would also be following along.”

Shen Miao said with a smile, “This is still to be discussed with His Highness.” She was unable to talk freely or recklessly. One feared that the entire room of people today in this Bright Summer Banquet had ill-intentions, thus she dared not take anything lightly.

“It is WangFei’s first time here, thus one do not know of the beauty of the Imperial Hunt. It is an interesting event that WangFei most likely could also join in the fun.” Ye Furen continued.

However Lu Furen and Lu Wan-er did not speak as they were blocked by Shen Miao today and was very unhappy in their heart. Now that Ye Furen was speaking, they did not have any intention to help.

Shen Miao looked at that Ye Furen. She seemed to be forcing her to comply to attend this hunt.

Ji Furen, who was sitting beside Ye Furen, spoke with a smile, “Everyone must not force Rui WangFei already. Rui WangFei is young of age and like what Ye Furen said, it is her first time and one feared that there would be some shyness. Those who go to the hunt were all old acquaintances so naturally one have to think about it.

She had taken the initiative to resolve the problem for Shen Miao.