Before Shen Zhao could think more deeply about it, the Crown Prince Xiao Xuanzhou entered the Orchid Garden hand in hand with Shen Qingrou, passing through the corridors and courtyard.
In full view of everyone, he walked straight onto the platform for Shen Zhao’s coming-of-age ceremony.
Everyone present rose to bow to Xiao Xuanzhou, and Shen Zhao was no exception.
But instead of acknowledging them, he directly confronted the Shen family.
“Lord Shen, your Shen household is truly biased.”
Before anyone in the Shen family could react, Xiao Xuanzhou continued his rebuke:
“Fifteen years ago, Madam Shen gave birth to twin daughters. Why did your family keep one daughter in the manor to be pampered, while casually abandoning the other at a country estate?”
Shen Zhao noticed a flicker of panic cross her father Shen Huaiming’s face.
Shen Huaiming had only just opened his mouth, preparing to explain, when Xiao Xuanzhou immediately turned around, raised his hand, and pointed at Shen Zhao.
“Miss Shen, you tell me. Why were you the one allowed to stay in the Shen residence instead of your younger sister? Did you use some kind of sorcery on your own family to force your sister out?”
Shen Zhao lifted her eyes to meet Xiao Xuanzhou’s gaze.
From the moment she was born, the Imperial Astrologer had declared that Shen Zhao possessed the fate of a Phoenix Star.
As for the Crown Prince, the astrologer had likewise proclaimed him to possess the fate of an Emperor Star.
On the very day he was born, he was established as heir to the throne, and throughout the nation, no one dared object.
Although her father Shen Huaiming held the prestigious rank of Minister of Revenue, second rank, he still dared not put on airs before this young Crown Prince. Instead, he constantly flattered him with utmost respect.
Her parents had also instructed her to obey Xiao Xuanzhou in everything and never defy him.
Now, meeting him again after another lifetime…
Shen Zhao no longer wanted the position of Crown Princess, nor did she wish to remain the so-called Phoenix Star in the eyes of the world.
And she no longer wanted to love Xiao Xuanzhou.
She wanted everything the Shen family desired to end in failure.
Everything her mother longed for, forever unattainable.
The high offices and noble glory her father and brothers sought all reduced to nothing.
So Shen Zhao answered bluntly:
“The Imperial Astrologer said that as the elder daughter, I carry the fate of the Phoenix Star, while my younger sister bears the fate of the Lone Fiend Star. She was never meant to be born. If she stayed in the residence, she would bring ruin upon our father, mother, brothers, and future husband. So my parents abandoned her.”
She could hear the heavy breathing of her father and brothers, and also the sharp intake of breath from Cui Xuenian.
The next moment, a thunderous voice of fury crashed down upon her head.
“You were born on the same day why are you the Phoenix Star while Qingrou is cursed with the fate of a Lone Fiend Star, doomed to be abandoned by her parents?”
It was exactly the same accusation Xiao Xuanzhou had hurled at her before her death in her previous life.
Pitifully, in that lifetime, she had never known another woman lived in his heart.
She had devoted herself wholeheartedly to being his Crown Princess.
She believed that as long as she handled everything perfectly and made no mistakes, he would at least give her dignity.
One day he would ascend the throne as Emperor, and she would become Empress.
But unfortunately…
Things had not gone as she wished.
Shen Zhao replied lightly, “Because I was born before my younger sister.”
“Then you must have stolen Qingrou’s fortune and rushed to be born first.”
Shen Zhao thought Xiao Xuanzhou must be insane. Suddenly, she heard a man’s low chuckle nearby.
She turned her head slightly and looked beneath the ceremonial platform.
Only then did she realize there was still someone present who had not knelt before the Crown Prince.
That man was the Duke Jin, Xie Chenyu.
Not only had he refused to kneel, he lounged lazily in a grand chair, reclining against the backrest with both hands resting casually on the armrests.
As Shen Zhao looked at him, Xie Chenyu was also looking at her.
Xie Chenyu said, “Can unborn babies really decide which sister is born first and which second?”
Xiao Xuanzhou replied righteously, “Duke Jin, your knowledge is too shallow.”
“I once heard among the common people that when a woman carries twins, one child will steal the nourishment of the other in the womb, forcing itself to grow faster and be born earlier.”
At this point, Xiao Xuanzhou lowered his eyes to Shen Zhao again and barked:
“It must have been Shen Zhao stealing Qingrou’s nourishment in the womb and seizing the auspicious timing of the Phoenix Star for herself. That is why Qingrou ended up burdened with the fate of a Lone Fiend Star.”
“Shen Zhao, I never expected you to be so calculating even before you were born.”
“Your Highness must not speak recklessly.” Shen Zhao not only showed no fear of the Crown Prince’s words, but sharply rebuked him instead.
The Shen family felt their hearts leap into their throats at Shen Zhao’s every word and action.
Xiao Xuanzhou also became even more enraged after hearing her scolding tone.
Before he could voice his own reprimand, Shen Zhao loudly continued:
“By saying such things about me, isn’t Your Highness also describing yourself?”
“Shen Zhao, you dare speak to me like this now?”
“I am merely advising Your Highness to speak with caution.”
The current Empress and Shen Zhao’s mother, Cui Xuenian, were biological sisters. The Cui family had a history of producing twins.
Back then, when Cui Xuenian carried twin daughters, the Empress was also pregnant with twin sons.
Xiao Xuanzhou, too, had been the elder brother, destined to bear the Emperor Star fate. The prince born alongside him was extremely frail and underweight. Since twins were often premature, the younger prince ultimately did not survive.
By speaking of Shen Zhao in this way, Xiao Xuanzhou was effectively slapping his own face.
Though Shen Zhao’s words were full of hidden mockery, her expression remained calm.
“Has Your Highness forgotten? The prince born alongside you failed to survive because he weighed less than two jin at birth, while Your Highness yourself weighed a full eight jin.”
“If Your Highness says such things about me, won’t the people of the world also conclude that Your Highness was already scheming in the womb absorbing your brother’s nourishment, which caused the other prince’s death?”
“You…”
Xiao Xuanzhou was momentarily speechless from Shen Zhao’s retort.
His eyes widened slightly, his chest rising and falling heavily as he realized he was in the wrong.
With a flick of his sleeve, he argued stubbornly, “That was because he lacked fortune, while I am someone blessed by fortune.”
“Your Highness is absolutely right,” Shen Zhao replied calmly. “It is because Your Highness is blessed that you became the Crown Prince admired by all. Likewise, I too am blessed, which is why I possess the fate of the Phoenix Star and am destined to become Your Highness’s future Crown Princess.”
Xiao Xuanzhou’s expression darkened immediately.
Beside him, Shen Qingrou covered her face and began sobbing softly. Then she turned and hurried down from the ceremonial platform.
Xiao Xuanzhou quickly chased after her, grabbing her arm.
“Rou’er, don’t leave. I searched for you for half a year before finally finding you. I will definitely give you the position of Crown Princess.”
After saying this, he led Shen Qingrou back onto the coming-of-age ceremony platform and announced his decision from above.
“Minister Shen, prepare the coming-of-age ceremony items for Second Miss Shen immediately. I will personally attend Rou’er’s ceremony.”
Shen Zhao glanced at the expressions of her father, brothers, and mother.
None of them looked pleased.
Everything prepared for the coming-of-age ceremony had been made exclusively for her one of a kind.
Now that Xiao Xuanzhou demanded the Shen family hold a ceremony for Shen Qingrou as well, there was no way they could produce another set of ceremonial robes and jewelry of equal quality in such a short time.
So…
“Your Highness, this is too sudden. We only prepared things for the eldest daughter…”
“Then give Shen Zhao’s things to Rou’er.”
Exactly as Shen Zhao had expected.
The bond she had shared with Xiao Xuanzhou for over ten years as childhood sweethearts could not compare to the life-saving favor her younger sister had given him half a year ago.
In her previous life, she had thought Xiao Xuanzhou only cared especially for her sister because he loved those connected to Shen Zhao.
But now, looking back, the signs had always been there.
Her family, her beloved, and even her younger sister had all kept the truth hidden from her until she joyfully married the Crown Prince, only to discover their schemes and deceptions, ending in a tragic death.
A cold laugh echoed silently in Shen Zhao’s heart, while the beating of her heart had long since gone numb.
She raised her hand and removed the jeweled hairpin from her head, placing it back into its box.
“Very well,” she said. “I am willing to give all of these things to my younger sister.”
Including you, Xiao Xuanzhou.