Shen Lian stiffened, turning back to look at Hua Rong with an expression of disbelief.
How could the events Hua Jing described be so different from what had actually happened?
When had she ever humiliated Shen Wan? It was clearly Shen Wan who had humiliated her.
“What did she say?” Old Madam Shen emerged from the inner chamber, her face dark as she shouted.
Hua Jing glanced at Shen Lian and replied loudly, “Reporting to the Old Madam, the Second Young Miss demanded that the Eldest Young Miss give up the Crown Prince to her.”
“And that counts as humiliation?” Shen Lian exclaimed loudly.
Hua Rong shot an angry look at Shen Lian while wiping away tears. “The Eldest Young Miss reasoned with the Second Young Miss, saying that marriage matters are entirely up to the head of the family and the Madam to arrange. The Second Young Miss then said…”
Hua Jing continued, “The head of the family and the Madam favor the Eldest Young Miss, so naturally they would send her into the Eastern Palace to become the Crown Princess. The Eldest Young Miss has already received so much affection—even if she doesn’t marry the Crown Prince, the head of the family and the Madam can find her the finest man.”
Then, Hua Rong went on, “Today, all the noble young masters who came to our mansion were looking at the Eldest Young Miss, admiring her. Yet the Second Young Miss kept saying that the Crown Prince doesn’t like the Eldest Young Miss and only likes her.”
Hua Jing cried, “After that, the Second Young Miss pushed the Eldest Young Miss into the lake and started shouting loudly. If Nanny Song hadn’t arrived in time to stop the Second Young Miss and prevent the young men from entering the Nine-Corridor Pavilion to see the Eldest Young Miss fall into the water, who knows how much more humiliation the Eldest Young Miss would have suffered.”
After Hua Rong and Hua Jing’s account, Shen Lian still didn’t think she had done anything wrong. “Was what I said wrong? How could it be considered humiliation? The Crown Prince likes me, not…”
“Bang!” Old Madam Shen picked up a teacup from the table and hurled it heavily at Shen Lian.
A piercing scream followed immediately. “Ah…”
Shen Lian covered her face, dodging the flying teacup.
But this action only deepened Old Madam Shen’s shame and anger. “How could a noble young lady from a distinguished family utter such vulgar, flattering words? Yet you had the nerve to say them and even dared to boast shamelessly in front of Wan’er, polluting her ears.”
Old Madam Shen couldn’t contain her anger. Ever since Shen Wan discovered she wasn’t the legitimate daughter of the Shen family, Jing Miaoyi had been cold-shouldering Shen Wan for ten days to half a month.
Old Madam Shen had watched this unfold, and since Shen Lian hadn’t made any mistakes, she had chosen to turn a blind eye.
Who would have thought that Shen Lian, having only returned to the Shen family for half a month, would harbor such grand ambitions?
Old Madam Shen couldn’t swallow this anger and turned to scold Jing Miaoyi. “This is the wild, uncouth legitimate daughter of the Shen family you insisted on bringing back. Look at her—where is the slightest demeanor of a legitimate daughter? How can she compare to my Wan’er? Do you want the Shen family to be ruined by such a fool?”
Jing Miaoyi’s face turned extremely unpleasant.
All the rules she had taught Shen Lian these days had been in vain.
But what was even more shocking came next.
After enduring Old Madam Shen’s humiliation, Shen Lian lashed out at her. “What kind of person I am is exactly what the Shen family made me. It was you who insisted on bringing me back. Did I beg the Shen family to find me and bring me back?”
As soon as these words fell, everyone in the room gasped, looking at Shen Lian with astonishment and strange expressions.
Even Old Madam Shen was stunned by Shen Lian’s terrible attitude and vulgar words.
She dared to defy filial piety, talk back, and argue.
Jing Miaoyi was utterly stunned by Shen Lian’s words, her mind blank as she shouted in fury, “Shen Lian, kneel down at once and apologize to your grandmother!”
“She disrespected me first. Why should I apologize to her? Eldest Sister grew up pampered in the Shen family, while I was left to fend for myself outside. If anyone should apologize, it’s your Shen family to me—”
Slap!
Jing Miaoyi could bear no more and struck Shen Lian hard across the face.
Shen Lian spun several times before crashing heavily into a nearby table and chairs, crying out in pain, “Ah!”
Meanwhile, Jing Miaoyi was both furious and regretful for having kept Shen Lian.
Just then, the eldest son of the Shen family entered the room.
Seeing her eldest son, Shen Chengxiao, arrive, Jing Miaoyi pointed at Shen Lian, her face flushed with anger. “Take her out of the mansion, send her away. Let it be as if our Shen family never had such a daughter. Now!”
Shen Lian shuddered violently. She had only just attained this life of luxury and had no desire to leave.
“No, no, please don’t! I won’t go! Mother, please don’t abandon me again!” Only then did Shen Lian realize the gravity of the situation. She hadn’t expected her outburst to drive Jing Miaoyi to discard her so decisively. She threw herself at Jing Miaoyi’s feet, wailing in anguish.
Jing Miaoyi felt something wet and filthy clinging to her feet, nauseating her to the point of retching.
Shen Lian’s ignorance and vulgarity extinguished whatever maternal affection Jing Miaoyi had left for her, leaving only seething rage.
“Pull her away at once and send her out of the mansion.”
Two sturdy maids forcibly dragged Shen Lian from Jing Miaoyi’s feet.
Shen Lian struggled fiercely, screaming loudly, “I won’t go! You owe me this…”
As she was nearly dragged out of the room, Shen Lian grabbed hold of Shen Chengxiao’s robe. “Brother, save me! I don’t want to leave the Shen family. I don’t want to go…”
Shen Chengxiao glanced indifferently at Shen Lian’s hand, looking down at her from his height. “Release her.”
“Eldest, we cannot let her go. She pushed Wan’er into the pond, and Wan’er remains unconscious to this day. The Shen family absolutely cannot keep her any longer.” Old Madam Shen turned back, looking at the unconscious Shen Wan on the bed. She took Shen Wan’s hand and glared furiously at Shen Lian.
Shen Chengxiao frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on Shen Lian’s half-disfigured, almost demonic face. He rubbed his temples and said, “Grandmother, Mother, I came to tell you that the Crown Prince insists on choosing Second Sister as his Crown Princess.”
“What?” Old Madam Shen exclaimed in shock, glaring at Shen Lian and pointing at her. “The Crown Prince has taken a liking to someone like this?”
After speaking, Old Madam Shen turned back to look at Shen Wan’s celestial beauty.
Which eye of the Crown Prince had gone blind to fancy Shen Lian!
“Father is doing his utmost to dissuade him. Tomorrow, he will enter the palace to discuss the matter of the Crown Princess with our aunt, the Empress. For now, let us keep her here, confine her to her courtyard. We can decide her punishment once this matter is settled.”
Shen Lian trembled several times but offered no further resistance this time, knowing the Shen family would not discard her for the moment.
The Shen father and son had believed there was still room for negotiation in this matter. Yet, less than three hours after the family banquet concluded, an imperial decree of marriage arrived from the palace.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shen Lian, legitimate daughter of the Minister’s household, distinguished in character and appearance, virtuous and dignified, is hereby betrothed to the Crown Prince as his Crown Princess. A propitious date shall be selected for the wedding…”
Upon hearing the contents of the decree, Shen Zhengyi nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
The Shen family spent fifteen years nurturing their eldest legitimate daughter, yet in the end, the Crown Prince chose a crude, ill-mannered, and unsightly creature.
“Minister, it is late at night. The Crown Prince has already retired. Please discuss your matters with His Highness tomorrow!” At the Eastern Palace, Li Changfu stopped Shen Zhengyi from entering.
Shen Zhengyi pushed Li Changfu aside, kicked open the Evergreen Hall, stormed into the Crown Prince’s bedchamber, and knelt heavily on the floor. “Your Highness.”
He raised a sword high above his head with both hands and cried out loudly, “Please kill your humble servant.”