Edited by Tnyhy
Chapter 150: Forcing a Marriage (Part 2)The night skies was like black ink and when Shen Dong Ling returned to her own sleeping chambers in Cai Yu Yuan, Wan YiNiang was already asleep. Shen Dong Ling sneaked out behind Wan YiNiang's back and Wan YiNiang thought that Shen Dong Ling had long rested.
Shen Dong Ling's maid, Xing Hua, asked, "Young Lady is really helping Second Young Lady to marry?"
"Marry. Why not marry?" Shen Dong Ling watched as Xing Hua locked the door and she sat on the couch before picking up the teacup to take a sip, and revealed a completely different smile than before, "The Wang family is an official family, Wang Bi's official's career is infinite and his inner courtyard is clean. With my birth background, it is not possible to marry into the Wang family in this lifetime. Since there is such an opportunity like this, only a fool would not firmly hold onto it."
"So that is to say," Xing Hua smiled, "That Second Young Lady is also considered to be doing a good deed."
"Good deed?" Shen Dong Ling laughed with some ridicule, "Could it be that you think that there are good-hearted and good-natured people in this Shen residence?"
The maid was startled and was somewhat confused, "Young Lady means…"
"I spared all effort to help her like this, but you have to know that once the marriage is changed and the matter is exposed, the first thing Shen Yue will do is to throw all the dirty water on me. It would definitely be me who thought of a plan to steal her marriage and it is her, Shen Yue, that is gravely wronged. Even if the Second household knew the reasons behind, in order not to let the Wang family become their enemies, they will say it is my fault. As for Old Furen." Shen Dong Ling laughed coldly, "A Shu daughter naturally would not be as important as a Di daughter. In any case, it would be me who will be sacrificed."
Xing Hua had a look of incredulity on her face, "But Second Young Lady previously said that she will clarify for Young Lady, and not let Young Lady be held responsible…"
"Is Shen Yue such a good-hearted person?" Shen Dong Ling shook her head with a smile, "Everyone in this residence is selfish. Why do you think that Shen Yue put herself in place of others like this? If she was really this selfless, then she would not let me marry on her behalf."
"That being the case," Xing Hua questioned, "Then why does Young Lady still want to marry on behalf? If the dirty water will be poured onto Young Lady, then what can be done?"
Shen Dong Ling smiled without a care, "Do not worry. Since I can marry on her behalf, then I will definitely do a through preparation. Xing Hua, you must remember that everyone in this Shen residence are wolves, tigers and leopards. Everything that one wants, it is better to do it oneself instead of begging others, and what Fifth Younger Sister did was very good. So once there is an opportunity to leave the Shen residence, I would not be reluctant."
Xing Hua nodded her head to some extend, before she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Should this matter be told to YiNiang?"
"It is not necessary." Shen Dong Ling refused resolutely, "YiNiang is timid and would definitely not agree for me to marry on Shen Yue's behalf. One will just explain to her clearly after the matter is successful."
Xing Hua retreated only then.
Coincidently, in the Shen residence's Qiu Shui Yuan, there were people who were talking about Shen Yue's marriage.
"Yue-er had not eaten for the whole day today and her body could not withstand it." The one talking was Shen Wan. He had doted on Shen Yue for so many years, and if Shen Yue did not keep thinking of the person that should not be thought of, Shen Wan would not have punished her like this.
"The things that I send people to deliver, she would not eat." Chen Rou Qiu sighed, "I have let Third Lady to send some to her, most probably she had eaten it."
"Third Lady?" Shen Wan frowned, "Since when did Yue-er got along so well with her?" In Shen Wan's eyes, Shen Dong Ling was a Shu daughter and Shen Yue would lose some of her identity if she was too close with her, thus he was not very happy to hear about it.
Chen Rou Qiu said with a smile, "It is only these few days that she gotten along well. Initially there was still Eldest Lady to talk to Yue-er but afterwards Eldest Lady was gone. There were no other sisters in the residence, so Yue-er is rather lonely on normal days. I see that Third Lady is honest and since Yue-er likes playing with her, I did not obstruct to it."
Shen Wan no longer spoke and only listened to Chen Rou Qiu speaking, "It is just that I worry that if Yue-er keep on making trouble, what if she created such a din like now during the day of marriage?"
"Locking her up for a few days will do. You are her mother, at that time you then speak some tender words to Yue-er." Shen Wan said, "If it is really not enough and she still create a nuisance during the day of marriage, then one will think of something then."
When Chen Rou Qiu heard this, her heart jumped. In front of her, Shen Wan was always gentle and it was rare for him to be this tough. Chen Rou Qiu was after all a female and could hear the impatience in Shen Wan's words. She thought about Old Shen Furen's continuous mention of getting Shen Wan to bring in concubines, she felt somewhat restless. She then embraced Shen wan's waist, "After Yue-er marry off, Master then can relax with this Qie for a few days. These days Master is probably not happy in the matters of court and did not really talk to this Qie. This Qie feels restless in one's heart."
Even though Chen Rou Qiu's age was not young, but because of proper maintenance and her knowledge of exactly what men's heart was thinking, Shen Wan would eat it up when she acted coquettishly. Who knew that today Shen Wan would only pat her hands and smile, "Let us wait and talk about it when Yue-er marriage is completed."
There was some sense of perfunctorily in the tone of voice.
Chen Rou Qiu's heart gradually sank and the hands that was embracing Shen Wan's waist gradually tightened.
Shen Miao received Pei Lang's letter.
With the lamp light shining, Shen Miao read the entire letter. The letter mentioned that Fu Xiu Yi, seemed to have found some inkling between Shen Miao and Prince Rui thus in order to feel it out, he had purposely pushed the matter of Princess Ming An to Shen Miao in front of the Qin Crown Prince. In the future if HuangFu Hao take action towards Shen Miao, one would only need to watch Prince Rui's action to determine his suspicion.
On the contrary, Shen Miao did not expect that Fu Xiu Yi would thought of this stratum this quickly and after much thinking, she then understood. After being husband and wife with Fu Xiu Yi for so many years, it was not the first time for Fu Xiu Yi to find evidence with the smallest of clues. Besides, if Fu Xiu Yi was really incompetent and could not discover anything, then he would not have been standing till the end of the game of the heir apparent among the Princes.
However Shen Miao was not very worried as HuangFu Hao was one who was not impulsive. Moreover it involved the Shen family, thus HuangFu Hao would not take rash action and at least would investigate it properly.
At the end of the letter, it said that if Shen Miao really have any friendship with the Great Liang's Prince Rui, if she met any trouble, one should request from help from him. Prince Rui of the Great Liang have many talented people and would encounter less difficulties when taking action.
Shen Miao felt the last paragraph was somewhat odd. There was no connection between Pei Lang and Xie Jing Xing, and the most important thing was that with Pei Lang's cautious nature, it was somewhat strange for him to mention to request help from others. However there was no doubt that this was Pei Lang's letter, so Shen Miao did not think of anything else and she did not take these words for real. She then cast the letter to the warm flame. The flame engulfed the letter and instantly became ashes.
There was a large red wooden role of bamboo strips on the table. That was an invitation sent from the Shen residence, as Shen Yue would be married to the Young Master from the residence of the Minister of Land, Wang Bi. One did not know what the Shen residence people were thinking, to actually send this banquet invitation to the Shen mansion. Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan took a glance at it and did not bother, and naturally Shen Miao would not even go up to touch that. However Shen Miao did not think that Shen Yue would be able to marry to Wang Bi at the end.
The Shen Yu of the previous life was deeply obsessed with Fu Xiu Yi and did not hesitate to endure so many years, so how would Shen Yue be willing to marry others in this lifetime?
As she was thinking, she heard someone knocking on the windows. When she turned around to look, Xie Jing Xing was already entering without invited.
He lazily looked at the red bamboo strips and raised an eyebrow, "You want to go?"
It was assumed that Xie Jing Xing also knew about the matter of the marriage between Shen Yue and Wang Bi. It ought to be true that when Chen Rou Qiu and Shen Wan did things, it would would be done in full complement. This was to show that their daughter was also precious and would definitely invite lost of guests for a big banquet. In addition the Minister of Land was acquainted with numerous officials in court and many high ranking officials were close to him, thus it was also appropriate to send more red bamboo strips. One could not say for sure but almost the entire Ding capital was aware of it.
"Not going." Shen Miao casually threw the red bamboo strips on the table.
Xie Jing Xing seemed to have long expected that she would say that and in a flash entered the room. Shen Miao sat in front of the table as Xie Jing Xing crossed his arms and stood at the side, "Shen Yue is locked up in the ancestral hall and Shen Dong Ling just went over to take a look."
Shen Miao looked at Xie Jing Xing somewhat astounded and hesitated before asking, "You even go to the Shen residence?" Xie Jing Xing was the Prince Rui of the Great Liang, why did he need to do things unsolicitedly like a thief? Never mind about coming often to the Shen mansion's courtyard to roam around, he actually secretly went to peep at the movements of the people in the Shen residence?
Xie Jing Xing choked on Shen Miao's words for a while, "Of course it was not me who went."
Shen Miao understood clearly, it was most probably Xie Jing Xing sent this subordinates over, but she still find it a little strange in her heart. The people in the Shen residence did not have half a shred of relations with Xie Jing Xing so why did Xie Jing Xing instruct people to monitor the movements in the Shen residence? Could it be for herself?
"You are not happy that Shen Yue is getting married?" Xie Jing Xing questioned.
"The people in the Shen residence have nothing to do with me. Could it be that I still have to rejoice for her?" Shen Miao said, "Furthermore, there is still the matter if this marriage can be completed or not, so what is there to be happy about?"
Xie Jing Xing's lips hooked up and he sat down opposite of Shen Miao before he stared at her, "You seemed to understand it?"
"You specifically came over to tell me that Shen Dong Ling and Shen Yue are at the same place, are not you referring this the matter to me?" Shen Miao smiled mindlessly, "Shen Dong Ling and Shen Yue would at the end exchange the marriage. Fortunately Shen Yue looked for Shen Dong Ling. With Shen Dong Ling present, there will not be an error in the exchange."
In the Shen residence, Shen Miao had never knew what kind of role Shen Dong Ling played. In the last lifetime, Shen Miao had not paid much attention to this Shu sister. After her rebirth, she however seen clearly in quite a lot of things. Shen Dong Ling was actually very similar to a person. Shen Dong Ling was very similar to Fu Xiu Yi, both had the ability to endure. Shen Dong Ling had endured for so many years that now when Shen Dong Ling was brought up in Shen residence, anyone would felt that she was easy to grasp as one wishes, a Shu daughter without characteristics and also had a good temper. Then it was such a person like this who lived safely under Ren Wan Yun's control till now and from what it seemed, in the entire Second household, it seemed that Shen Dong Ling and Wan YiNiang were the winners.
Shen Miao dared not underestimate such people like this.
Xie Jing Xing smiled, "How did you know about the exchanging of marriage?"
"Because Shen Yue is unwilling." Shen Miao said, "Shen Yue is not willing to marry to Wang Bi, but unfortunately Chen Rou Qiu and Shen Wan had exchanged the eight character cards and the marriage is firmed up. To Shen Yue, this kind of person, this is a forced marriage. Shen Yue has always been proud and arrogant and for so many years, everything was smooth for her, so how could she accept this arrangement? Shen Dong Ling appearance was not at all accidental. Most probably, one had the heart to escape, one had the intention to stand in. Coincidently it is an excellent transaction."
Xie Jing Xing was listening as Shen Miao spoke, even though there was a lazy smile on his face, he seemed to like hearing Shen Miao analysing the opponent, and felt that Shen Miao's serious appearance was somewhat interesting.
He said, "Forced marriage? Wang Bi is compatible enough for Shen Yue."
"Unfortunately he is not the person Shen Yue keeps in her heart." Shen Miao lightly sneered, "People who has a one-track mind like Shen Yue, will never change their original aspiration. In order to marry to the person one like, in order to not be forced into marriage, she would always think of a method out."
"What about you?" Xie Jing Xing suddenly asked.
Shen Miao frowned.
Xie Jing Xing said carelessly, "If there is a day where you are also forced into marriage by others, what would you do?"