“During the half-month leave for the newly selected maidens to return home, the Imperial Harem will send an etiquette Ma'am to teach the palace rules. If the legitimate elder sister maintains her aloof demeanor, constantly speaking of her disdain for Royal wealth and status…”,“If it reaches His Majesty's ears, His Majesty's displeasure with me is one thing, but if the legitimate elder sister is punished because of it, and the Shen is implicated, how could I ever live with myself…”,{
Everyone present instantly broke out in a cold sweat!
“Nan Qiao is ignorant, what does that have to do with Xiao Zhu? Xiao Zhu, please do not blame herself for this.”
Shen Father said coldly, “The wedding preparations for both families are almost complete. Send someone to notify the Lu family tonight; let her marry tomorrow, so she doesn't encounter the Ma'am from the palace.”
Zhou was greatly alarmed!
“My lord, no!”
“Nan Qiao's wedding is still a month away. She is our legitimate daughter; how can you bear to let her marry so hastily and with such grievance?!”
Shen Father's attitude was beyond reproach.
“With her temperament, who knows what trouble she'll cause if she stays at home!”
“If you're unwilling, then you can go to the Lu family with her!”
Zhou was so frightened she dared not utter a sound, nor did she dare show dissatisfaction with Shen Zhinian openly. She could only lower her head and wipe away her tears.
Shen Zhinian's current glory was originally meant for her daughter, but Nan Qiao, as if blindfolded by lard, insisted on marrying Lu Jianglin.
What kind of sin was this!
Shen Zhinian smiled faintly, not surprised by Shen Father's firm attitude.
Because he doted on Shen Nanqiao, but cared more about the Shen's future.
As for why Shen Nanqiao had to be sent away now, it was, of course, because the Imperial Harem had strict rules, and one misstep could lead to eternal damnation. For the next half-month, Shen Zhinian did not want anyone to disturb her while she learned the palace rules.
……
The next day, Shen Nanqiao married.
Although the Shen had made arrangements overnight, there was only one night's time, so everything felt very rushed.
Shen Zhinian was already a Xiao Zhu and found it inconvenient to meet outside men, so she did not show her face from beginning to end. However, she was well aware of everything that happened in the main courtyard.
Compared to her previous life when she entered the palace as a Guiren, taking nearly eighty percent of the Shen's silver and good things, Shen Nanqiao's dowry in this life was greatly reduced!
Moreover, the Lu family was poor; not to mention an eight-bearer sedan chair, they couldn't even afford to hire a welcoming party.
In her previous life, Shen Zhinian was at least married into the Lu family with a large red sedan chair.
But in this life, because time was too rushed, Lu Jianglin only temporarily found a donkey cart…
Fuqu was dumbfounded upon hearing this.
“The Eldest Young Lady's temperament is the most aloof; she actually agreed?!”
Lin Momo gloated, “How could that be? The Eldest Young Lady agreed to marry Young Master Lu, but she cried and made a fuss, refusing to get into the donkey cart.”
“After all, the master temporarily changed the wedding date, and time was so rushed, so the Lu family cannot be blamed for being impolite. In the end, it was the Madam who couldn't bear it and ordered the steward to arrange a carriage for them.”
Fuqu shook her head.
“A woman marrying without a sedan chair, without a welcoming party, and riding in a carriage arranged by her maternal family—it's truly unheard of!”
Lin Momo snorted coldly.
“This is the marriage the Eldest Young Lady personally snatched; whether it's good or bad, she has to bear it herself!”
She had previously felt that Xiao Zhu was wronged by having her marriage snatched, but now it seemed that it was all thanks to the Eldest Young Lady's muddled thinking!
Shen Zhinian smiled.
This was just the beginning; the “good” days at the Lu family were still to come!
……
Inside the carriage.
Dressed in a large red wedding gown, Shen Nanqiao no longer showed her usual aloofness, shedding tears continuously.
Which official's legitimate daughter hadn't fantasized about the grand scene of her own wedding? She was no exception.
But Shen Nanqiao never dreamed that her marriage would be so rushed and shabby, even worse than that of ordinary commoners!
It was all because of that manipulative illegitimate daughter, Shen Zhinian; she would not let her off!
To put it nicely, the Lu family was a family of scholars and farmers; to put it bluntly, they were commoners. If Lu Jianglin hadn't achieved the Xiucai degree and had a good reputation for talent among Shen Father's disciples, he would never have been able to secure such a good match!
Therefore, even though the Shen family sent people to notify them late at night that the wedding would be at dawn, the Lu family dared not voice any objections.
Originally, being able to marry the legitimate daughter of a sixth-rank official made Lu Jianglin so envied by his classmates that he would wake up laughing from his dreams!
But the Shen family moved the wedding date forward by a month, catching them off guard and causing him to marry without any face. Lu Jianglin couldn't help but feel a few resentments.
He even secretly wondered if there was something wrong with this legitimate daughter, which was why the Shen family was in such a hurry to marry her off?
However, he had always known how to endure, and the Shen family had produced a Xiao Zhu, so he dared not neglect Shen Nanqiao under any circumstances, and would occasionally turn back to comfort her gently.
“…Nan Qiao, this humble scholar knows that you are wronged today, but please rest assured, when this humble scholar achieves high honors in the future, I will certainly make up for it with a grand wedding that will make all the women in the capital envious of you!”
Shen Nanqiao already felt that Lu Jianglin had unlimited potential, otherwise she wouldn't have snatched Shen Zhinian's engagement as soon as she was reborn. Moreover, Lu Jianglin was handsome, and his tone when speaking to her was so gentle.
Shen Nanqiao's heart immediately felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey, and these grievances and unhappiness no longer seemed to bother her as much.
“Lu Lang, I believe in you! You will definitely pass all three examinations and become a marquis and prime minister!”
Lu Jianglin smiled and shook his head.
“Passing all three examinations is not that easy, let alone becoming a marquis and prime minister? Nan Qiao, you think too highly of this humble scholar.”
“No!”
Shen Nanqiao's tone was incredibly certain!
“If I say you can, then you definitely can!”
“Lu Lang, you have the talent of a Zhuang Yuan, which is why I married you without hesitation!”
What man doesn't want to be recognized by his wife?
Listening to Shen Nanqiao's adoring voice, Lu Jianglin's dignity and vanity were satisfied like never before!
“Good, for Nan Qiao, this humble scholar will definitely work hard!”
He didn't know yet what would happen if he couldn't live up to Shen Nanqiao's high expectations for him…
……
“Xiao Zhu, a Miss Zhao who claims to be your friend is asking to see you.”
In the early morning, Shen Zhinian had just finished breakfast when she heard the maid's report.
“Invite her in quickly!”
Before long, a bustling figure strode in and bowed to Shen Zhinian.
“This subject's daughter, Zhao Yungui, greets Shen Xiao Zhu! Xiao Zhu is auspicious…”
Shen Zhinian stopped her from bowing.
“Zhao Meimei, there are no outsiders here, do we still need to observe such formalities between us?”
Zhao Yungui chuckled “hehe” and sat down on the chair without ceremony.
She suddenly thought of something, and her eyes instantly turned cold.
“Zhinian Jie, I have something I want to tell you.”
Shen Zhinian guessed what she was going to say and ordered all the servants to leave, keeping only Handan, Fuqu, and Lin Momo, her three trusted confidantes.
“Have you found out?”
Zhao Yungui nodded and said coldly, “After I went back that day, I asked the manor doctor to test the tea on the handkerchief, and it actually contained…”
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