Mo Junli abruptly rose from his bed, pushed aside the bed curtains, and saw Shen Zhengyi entering the hall with a sword in hand. His expression shifted. “Uncle, what is the meaning of this?”
“The legitimate second daughter of the Shen family, Shen Lian, has been frail since childhood and was raised in a manor, unrestrained by etiquette. She is crude, ignorant, ugly, and lacks manners. She will surely anger His Majesty in the future, leading to the execution of the entire clan. It would be better if you grant this guilty official a swift death now.”
“This…” Mo Junli frowned disapprovingly, which only deepened his pity for Shen Lian’s situation. Thus, despite Shen Zhengyi’s lengthy explanation, Mo Junli only saw the Shen family’s favoritism toward Shen Wan. “Minister Shen, I know that the palm and the back of the hand are not the same, but your partiality toward the eldest daughter is excessive. I happen to admire Second Miss Shen’s unrestrained, free-spirited nature.”
“Your Highness.” Shen Zhengyi looked up at Mo Junli, his face ashen. “It is not that this guilty official favors the eldest daughter and neglects the second, nor is it that I maliciously belittle the second daughter. The truth is, the second daughter simply cannot hold her own in proper society.”
“How can she not hold her own?” Mo Junli grew annoyed, suddenly standing up from the bed and taking two steps toward Shen Zhengyi. “When I saw Second Miss Shen at the Shen family banquet today, she was courteous and gentle.”
“She may not be as lively and spirited as Eldest Miss Shen. Perhaps she is not skilled in horsemanship, archery, or games like cuju. But what need do I have for a Crown Princess who excels in everything?”
“A quiet temperament like Second Miss Shen’s more closely resembles my mother, the Empress, and she would be better able to settle her heart and fulfill the duties of a Crown Princess, managing the affairs of the Eastern Palace.”
“I knew all along that your Shen family was determined to force Eldest Miss Shen into the Eastern Palace. That is why, after returning from the Shen residence, I requested an imperial edict from His Majesty for the marriage. Minister Shen, do you intend to defy the imperial decree?”
“This guilty official would not dare.” Shen Zhengyi exclaimed loudly before bowing his head heavily to the ground.
“Then why have you entered the Eastern Palace armed with a weapon? Could it be that you intend to force me to marry Eldest Miss Shen as Crown Princess instead?” With this, Mo Junli’s impression of Shen Wan worsened further.
Perhaps Shen Wan had resorted to crying, making a scene, or even threatening suicide at home, forcing Shen Zhengyi to enter the palace and pressure him.
Considering this, Mo Junli found it highly plausible. “Let me tell you, I will not marry Eldest Miss Shen as Crown Princess. It would be best for your family to seek another prominent match for her sooner rather than later and cease giving her false hope.”
“Your Highness…”
“Minister Shen!” Mo Junli, thinking Shen Zhengyi remained unwilling to relent, felt a surge of anger. “This is my final decision. Do not force me to put my mother in a difficult position.”
“This guilty official has no intention of forcing Your Highness. I only wish to ask you.” He slowly raised his head, his gaze firm as he looked at Mo Junli. “Are you truly determined to make Shen Lian your Crown Princess?”
“Yes, my mind is made up. She is the one I have chosen. Regardless of her shortcomings, I will personally guide her to become a Crown Princess that satisfies the Shen family. I will not disappoint you, Minister Shen. Please, you may leave.”
“Very well. Since Your Highness has chosen her, I hope you will not regret it in the future.” Shen Zhengyi bowed to him, then rose and left the Eastern Palace.
Li Changfu hurried forward. “Minister Shen’s favoritism is truly excessive. For the sake of the Shen family’s legitimate eldest daughter, he actually entered the Eastern Palace armed with a sword in the middle of the night. Minister Shen is known throughout the court as the most adherent to etiquette and law.”
Mo Junli’s face was cold. Originally having little fondness for Shen Wan, he now felt intense disgust toward her. “I truly underestimated that Shen Wan. Help me change clothes—I am going to see my mother.”
Meanwhile, as soon as Shen Zhengyi stepped through the gates of the Shen residence, a messenger from the palace arrived right behind him.
This time, the one delivering the imperial decree was once again Zhao Yi, the chief eunuch of the Palace of Heavenly Purity: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shen Wan, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Minister’s Shen family, is gentle, dignified, learned, and talented. Xie Ci, the legitimate eldest son of the Duke of Zhenguo’s Residence, is brave, skilled in battle, and handsome in appearance. The two are hereby betrothed, a perfect match, to be wed on an auspicious day.”
Shen Zhengyi, who had just stepped down from the carriage, nearly tripped over the threshold.
For a moment, the Shen family did not know whether to rejoice or grieve.
“The eldest young lady is awake! The eldest young lady is awake!”
By the time Shen Wan woke up, she had already learned about the imperial betrothal from Hua Rong.
Old Madam Shen had been keeping vigil by her side for a long time. When Shen Wan opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the old madam’s reddened eyes.
Upon hearing the news of Shen Wan’s awakening, Shen Zhengyi rushed to Linglong Pavilion at once.
He stood before the bed, looking at his exceptionally talented and beautiful eldest daughter, his brows deeply furrowed. “The Crown Prince has already chosen your younger sister as the Crown Princess.”
“Father, I know. Grandmother, this is a great joy, a good thing. No matter whom His Highness chooses, as long as it is a daughter from our Shen family, it is enough.” Shen Wan had not expected things to go so smoothly.
Didn’t the Crown Prince like Shen Lian? Then she would simply deliver Shen Lian right to him. With her own obstacle removed, she wanted to see if the two would still feel the thrill of their secret affair.
When faced with the crude and unbearably ugly Shen Lian, would the Crown Prince have nightmares?
“Wan’er, that unsightly creature cannot be compared to you. She…”
Shen Wan tightly grasped Old Madam Shen’s hand. “Grandmother, it is because of me that younger sister was left to wander among the common people. I took her identity and status. Etiquette and rules can be taught. The wedding date has not yet been set—the Shen family still has plenty of time to hire strict governesses to carefully instruct younger sister. As for… younger sister’s other flaw, I understand Father and Grandmother’s concerns. Rest assured, I will do my best to see if I can help treat the birthmark on younger sister’s face.”
“It can be treated?” Shen Zhengyi’s eyes lit up. If the birthmark on his second daughter’s face could be removed, there would be no further worries.
Shen Wan looked at Shen Zhengyi and said, “Father, your daughter can try, but I cannot guarantee the birthmark can be removed. However…”
“Good child, speak quickly. Don’t keep your father in suspense.” Old Madam Shen moved directly from the stool to the edge of the bed. If it could be cured, it would be the best possible outcome at present.
“While at the Medical Sect on Muxian Mountain, I once read an ancient text. There was a prescription in it that could be made into a medicinal film to be applied to a person’s face, covering scars, wounds, or birthmarks.”
Old Madam Shen asked excitedly, “Can it remove or lighten the birthmark?”
“No, Grandmother. This prescription can only be used short-term, not long-term. It contains musk, and prolonged use may carry the risk of infertility. It is not a permanent solution, but it can temporarily resolve younger sister’s current predicament. After the betrothal, Her Majesty the Empress will surely summon younger sister to the palace.” After Shen Wan finished speaking,
Old Madam Shen and Shen Zhengyi exchanged a glance.
“You just said you could try to treat the birthmark on your younger sister’s face.”
“Yes, I can treat her while also preparing the medicinal film for my sister. The medicinal film is for emergency use and requires someone to monitor it closely, ensuring my sister does not use it for an extended period.”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Shen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Without waiting for Shen Zhengyi to carefully consider, she said, “Then it’s settled. Once you’ve recovered your health…”
“Grandmother, my health is not a concern. I plan to return to Muxian Mountain tomorrow to ask my master for that ancient text and also inquire if he has any methods to cure my sister’s birthmark.”
Shen Zhengyi’s eyes darkened slightly. “Why not take your sister directly to Muxian Mountain to seek out your master, Immortal Doctor Li? Your eldest brother can escort you there.”
“Everything is as Father arranges.” Shen Wan lowered her gaze slightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
Shen Zhengyi did not trust her.
But it didn’t matter. Muxian Mountain bordered Huaizhou Prefecture, and this trip was not for Shen Lian.
What Shen Wan hadn’t anticipated, however, was…
Shen Zhengyi, taking advantage of the city gates’ curfew, had his eldest son, Shen Chengxiao, escort Shen Lian to Muxian Mountain to seek treatment first.
It was no wonder Shen Zhengyi was known as an old fox in the political arena. To ensure nothing went wrong, they avoided her and sent Shen Lian directly to Muxian Mountain for treatment—this was Shen Zhengyi’s way.
Everyone knew that the one originally intended to be sent to the Eastern Palace was Shen Wan.
She excelled in every way compared to Shen Lian, yet in the end, the Crown Prince chose the second-born daughter of the Shen family, who seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Likely, Shen Zhengyi feared she harbored jealousy and might harm Shen Lian under the guise of treatment, which was why he bypassed her and acted first.
After all, she truly had no intention of curing the fetal toxin on Shen Lian’s face.
But Shen Zhengyi, arrogant and overconfident, believed he could manipulate power, never suspecting that Shen Wan had already set her pieces in place.
This trip for Shen Lian would not be so smooth!