Fengyi Palace.
A young girl with a pale and somewhat weak complexion was kneeling in the hall, her attitude respectful and devout.
The Empress sat on high, her gaze toward the girl filled with affection.
“Mingtang, have you decided what reward you want?”
Shen Mingtang nodded obediently. “Replying to Your Majesty the Empress, this subject-daughter has decided.”
She was a concubine’s daughter of the Shen family. A month ago, she had unexpectedly taken a sword for Prince Rui, the Empress’s legitimate son, during an assassination attempt.
Shen Mingtang couldn’t say whether she was unlucky or fortunate. She had been reborn just a moment before blocking the sword for Prince Rui, watching with her own eyes as the blade pierced her chest.
Just as in her previous life, she was gravely injured and brought back to the palace by Prince Rui for treatment.
But what followed was different from her past life.
In her past life, she had refused the Empress’s kind offer to let her recuperate in the palace, insisting on returning home. There, her wound had worsened due to her concubine mother’s deliberate neglect.
She was then forced to give the credit to her legitimate elder sister, securing the title of County Princess for her and helping her marry into a princely manor.
As for her own fate…
On the day her legitimate sister returned for her post-nuptial visit, she had people sever Shen Mingtang’s tendons in her hands and feet, then tossed her into the snow to freeze to death.
After her death, her spirit was inexplicably bound to Prince Rui’s side. It was only after he ascended the throne and completely settled scores with the Shen family that she thought she would finally be reincarnated. Instead, she was reborn.
Reborn, she decisively accepted Her Majesty the Empress’s kindness, staying in the palace to recover and winning the Empress’s affection.
She would use the Empress’s power to make those who had harmed her receive the ending they deserved!
Today, her legitimate mother, Qin shi, had brought her legitimate elder sister, Shen Mingyue, to the palace specifically to take her home.
Before Shen Mingtang could speak again, an eager voice suddenly came from behind her.
“Is younger sister going to ask for a reward for our family or for yourself?”
Shen Mingtang turned to meet the gaze of her legitimate elder sister, Shen Mingyue. She recalled how Shen Mingyue had just threatened her in private to ask for the County Princess title for her, and a cold smile grew in her heart.
She said deliberately, “Elder Sister, rest assured, I remember to ask for our family.”
Shen Mingyue breathed a sigh of relief, the corners of her lips curling up uncontrollably in a look of smug satisfaction.
Soon, she would become the County Princess admired by everyone in the capital, a standout among the noble ladies.
Qin shi frowned slightly, not understanding the riddle the two sisters were speaking.
Before she could think further, she saw Shen Mingtang speak. “This subject-daughter wishes to request an official title for my legitimate mother.”
At these words, Qin shi froze for a moment. “Mingtang?”
Behind Qin shi, the smile on Shen Mingyue’s lips stiffened.
Shen Mingtang, however, was still smiling.
She would never forget how, just before her death in her previous life, Shen Mingyue had gloatingly told her that she was, in fact, Qin shi’s biological daughter.
Concubine Zhou and Qin shi had given birth at the same time, and the concubine had bribed the midwife to swap her and Shen Mingyue.
Thus, Shen Mingyue became Qin shi’s daughter, a favored daughter of heaven born to the primary wife, showered with love.
And Shen Mingtang became Concubine Zhou’s daughter, the despised mud born of a concubine. Under Concubine Zhou’s suppression, even the servants of the Shen family could step on her.
“Shen Mingtang, you promised me!” Shen Mingyue cried out in alarm.
Everyone’s gaze first fell on Shen Mingyue’s face, then on Shen Mingtang’s.
The Empress, as if she hadn’t heard Shen Mingyue, simply smiled and asked Shen Mingtang.
“Why don’t you ask for something for yourself?”
Shen Mingtang said softly, “Replying to Your Majesty, filial piety is the foremost of all virtues. This subject-daughter does not desire anything for myself. My legitimate mother has always cherished me, and I wish to show her my filial respect.”
She then turned back to apologize to Shen Mingyue. “I have wronged you, Elder Sister. You asked me to request the title of County Princess for you, but I cannot be so shameless as to ask Her Majesty the Empress for my legitimate mother’s title and then also for your title of County Princess.”
Seeing that she had laid the matter bare right in front of the Empress, Shen Mingyue’s face flushed red, but for a moment, she couldn’t think of an excuse to defend herself.
The Empress’s gaze fell on Shen Mingyue’s face as she said coolly, “I didn’t expect a legitimate daughter of the Shen family to have such ambition at such a young age. To have the gall to contend for a reward your younger sister earned with her life—this has truly been an eye-opener for me.”
Shen Mingyue’s face turned deathly pale, and her legs gave way as she knelt on the floor. “This subject-daughter wouldn’t dare.”
“Your Majesty the Empress, it is this subject-wife who has failed to discipline her daughter. The two sisters were just joking in private. Your Majesty, please don’t take it seriously,” Qin shi explained hurriedly.
In her haste, she inadvertently triggered a coughing fit and quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief to suppress the sound.
A sour feeling welled up in Shen Mingtang’s heart, yet she couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for Qin shi’s frail body.
Suppressing the itch in her throat, Qin shi looked up at Shen Mingtang and forced a smile. “Mingtang, how could your legitimate mother be worthy of an official title? It’s not worth asking for me. Quickly, ask for a reward for yourself.”
“You are worthy,” Shen Mingtang said, her heart clenching painfully.
The Empress smiled and nodded. “She is indeed a sensible and filial child. I am very fond of her.”
She looked at Madam Shen. “You have been blessed by Mingtang’s good fortune. Today, I will make an exception and bestow upon you the title of a second-rank Madam.”
In the several hundred years since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, most of the women granted official titles were madams from high-ranking noble families. But she was fond of Mingtang, and considering her merit and filial piety, making an exception to grant Qin shi a title was no great matter.
Qin shi had no choice but to stand and express her gratitude.
She had been married into the Shen family for many years, and her husband, Shen Yuanshan, had striven in his official career for years, yet he was merely a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice of the junior fourth rank.
She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant in the capital. With her merchant background, her status among the wives of officials was quite low.
It wasn’t that she had never imagined that one day, through her husband or son becoming a high-ranking official, she too could become a respected titled madam.
But she had never expected that her title would be obtained for her by a concubine’s daughter.
The Empress had the mother and daughters stay for a meal before ordering people to send them out of the palace, along with some other rewards.
The Shen family’s carriage was parked at the palace gate. Standing beside it was a neatly dressed, stern-faced, and rigid-looking mama.
“Mama Yu?” Shen Mingtang was surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Mama Yu was one of Prince Rui, Xiao Beili’s, personal attendants. While Shen Mingtang was recuperating in the palace, Mama Yu had been sent to visit her several times.
Mama Yu stepped forward and curtsied. “His Highness said that the Second Miss Shen saved his life, so he specially ordered this old servant to escort you back to your residence.”
Shen Mingtang thought of that perverse and unpredictable man.
That day, when she had thrown herself into Xiao Beili’s arms to block the sword, the moment the blade entered her body, he had gripped her neck, about to toss her away.
She had clung desperately to his hand, begging him to protect her for three years, or else she would follow him as a ghost even in death.
While she was recovering in the palace, Mama Yu from Xiao Beili’s side had come to see her several times.
She hadn’t expected that, just as she was about to leave the palace, he would have Mama Yu personally escort her.
Shen Mingtang knew that although Prince Rui appeared gloomy and cold, he was, in fact, a person who valued loyalty and honor.
Otherwise, in her past life, the first thing he did after taking power wouldn’t have been to settle scores with the Shen family to avenge her.
Soon, the group returned to the Shen residence.
The moment Shen Mingyue stepped through the door, she couldn’t help but speak in a snide tone. “Younger Sister had better learn the rules properly from this mama. After all, failing to do what you promised someone is indeed a sign of having no manners.”
Thinking of how her County Princess title had flown away like a duck in her hand, she wished she could tear Shen Mingtang to shreds on the spot.
Qin shi frowned and chided, “Mingyue, don’t speak nonsense.”
Seeing Qin shi protecting Shen Mingtang, Shen Mingyue grew even more incensed and lashed out at her. “She got you an official title, so you’re pleased with yourself, aren’t you? Do you have any idea that it was exchanged for my County Princess title!”
“Mama, she has no manners. Teach her a lesson!” Shen Mingtang said suddenly.
Before anyone could react, Mama Yu at her side moved at the word.