Chapter 5

The Queen finally decided to hold the poetry meeting after the first winter snow.

Compared with the brilliant flowers in spring and the pleasant scenery in autumn, appreciating the snow and composing poems in winter also has a unique artistic conception ^[1]is a term referring to a concept or idea in art that evokes certain feelings or thoughts..

Now that the Crown Prince is old enough, his marriage can no longer wait. The capital has not been peaceful in the past few years, and the Prince has lived in fear.

It was a rare occasion that the situation in the capital had improved in the past two years, and the status of the Eastern Palace had become increasingly stable. The Crown Princess asked the Queen to help her set up a plan to invite suitable women with good family backgrounds and talents from the capital to meet the Crown Prince.

Ever since Shen Ruojin entered the palace that day, the entire Wenyuan Marquis Mansion has been in a state of anxious waiting.

The few hours that Ruojin was in the palace were almost the longest period of time that Old Madam Shen had ever experienced.

Apart from Old Madam Shen, the person most likely to help Shen Ruojin break through the siege ^[2]is a term referring to overcoming obstacles or challenges. is Shen Yu. Luo Xin is worried about Ruojin and is even more worried about Tao Sheng’s future situation. The remaining three children, Shen Ruolin, Shen Ci, and Shen Yue, also have their own thoughts.

Shunpin in the palace ^[3]is a term referring to a rank of female officials in ancient China. is the cousin of Old Madam Shen. She is quite prestigious in the palace and is on good terms with the Queen. With Shunpin’s help, Shen Ruojin’s chances of being selected are not small. Moreover, she is attending the flower-viewing banquet with a mission, which seems like a fight to the death.

Fortunately, Shen Ruojin’s trip to the palace went very smoothly. When she left the palace again, her identity had changed. She had changed from being the daughter of a marquis to a companion of the princess who could enter and leave the Eastern Palace, and she officially took up the post after the new year.

When the news of Shen Ruojin’s selection reached her home, the entire mansion was decorated with lights and was bustling with laughter.

In order to celebrate Shen Ruojin’s selection as the study companion of Princess Hui’an, the daughter of the Eastern Palace, the Wenyuan Marquis’s residence held a banquet and invited a troupe of actors. After a few days of excitement, they remembered that there was still one important thing that had not been done—

The issue of Tao Sheng returning home to recognize her relatives has not been resolved yet.

Now that Shen Ruojin was chosen as the princess’s companion, the old lady felt more confident. When Shen Yu mentioned the matter of bringing Tao Sheng back, she couldn’t help but make a suggestion. If she was an orphan from a distant relative or the daughter of an old friend, and she had no one to rely on at home, the old lady wanted to adopt her. If she was brought home in the future, even if something happened that damaged the reputation of the Marquis’ Mansion, it would not damage her own reputation too much.

Luo Xin no longer had any hope in Madam Shen’s conscience. Thinking of her biological daughter who had been lost for many years and now had no home to return to, she felt like eating her^[4]is a figurative expression indicating Luo Xin’s intense anger and frustration toward Madam Shen..

She gently moved the lotus-patterned blue and white cup in her hand twice and said to the old lady leisurely, “New Year’s Day is coming in a few days. Now the family is all well, and the Marquis has been appreciated by the emperor and has been given an assignment. Now you insist on saying that the elders of Tao Sheng’s family have passed away. I’m afraid it’s a bit unlucky.”

Mother Zheng, who was next to Luo Xin and serving him, understood what her master meant and said, “Yes, this year is the best for our mansion in recent years. The Marquis has been appreciated by the Emperor, the eldest son has been newly crowned as the Crown Prince, we found our second daughter, and Miss Ruojin has been selected to enter the Eastern Palace. It’s not wise to speak ill of ourselves.” 

Tao Sheng is his and Luo Xin’s biological daughter. Shen Yu also thinks the old lady’s idea is inappropriate: “Mother, please don’t worry about this. Madam and I have already discussed it and told everyone that Ruojin and Tao Sheng are twins. The delivery was rushed, and we lost the sister. Fortunately, God has shown mercy and let us find Tao Sheng.” 

Madam Shen frowned and said, “This method is good, but don’t mention it right away. If she has any ideas and pushes the issue, it could end badly.”

What she meant was to set stricter conditions first. If Tao Sheng disagrees, then they can propose this one, so she won’t make other unreasonable demands.

Shen Yu agreed, saying, “Mother and Madam are right. Let’s do it this way. It’s almost the end of the year, and bringing Tao Sheng back will also add some joy to the mansion.”

Two days later, Shen Yue personally took Tao Sheng to the Marquis’ Mansion, saying that her father and mother were ready to celebrate her birthday.

Tao Sheng only knew that she was born in winter. Later, her adoptive parents set New Year’s Eve as her birthday based on the orphanage’s instructions, and they celebrated her birthday on this day for many years.

Tao Sheng’s birthday in her previous life was also on the 18th day of the twelfth lunar month. She didn’t expect that her birthday would be on the same day again after traveling through time. It really felt like it was God’s will.

If her guess was correct, today’s birthday banquet would be a confrontation, and it would also be a great opportunity for her to explain everything to everyone in the Marquis’ Mansion and get rid of the plot.

Since the day Shen Yu came, there has been no news from the Marquis’ Mansion. Tao Sheng’s identity is unclear, and they have never expressed a desire to recognize her, all for the sake of the feelings of the other fake daughter.

Su Jia has been saying bad things about the Wenyuan Marquis Mansion to Mother Tang these days.

Today, Su Jia went to the outskirts of Beijing to buy New Year’s goods and hasn’t returned yet. Mother Tang, who was left at home, sent Tao Sheng out. When she saw Shen Yue, she looked down on him, like seeing a big hammer standing upright in the wind, and was very indifferent.

Shen Ruojin also received news early in the morning about Tao Sheng’s arrangements for entering the mansion today.

Judging from the attitudes of the elders, his position in the mansion will not be shaken by Tao Sheng’s arrival. However, he thought that he would soon enter the palace and wouldn’t be able to accompany his grandmother and father every day. If Tao Sheng kept acting obediently and trying to please them, would he no longer have a place in the mansion over time?

After all, they are the closest relatives, connected by blood, and he is just an outsider without any blood relationship.

The maid Biqin saw Shen Ruojin sitting in front of the dressing table without moving and couldn’t help but whisper to her, “Miss, the banquet is about to start. Do you want to go over?”

Shen Ruojin knew that today’s birthday banquet at the Marquis’ Mansion was quite grand. Shen Yu specially invited a troupe of actors, and Luo Xin sent invitations to clan members. This day had always been Ruojin’s birthday, but now it had become Tao Sheng’s home court.

Everything that needs to be prepared today is to announce the existence of Third Miss Shen, Tao Sheng to everyone.

Ruojin grew up in the Marquis’ Mansion for more than ten years. Old Madam Shen doted on her, her father Shen Yu protected her, and the three brothers of the Shen family loved her. No matter what banquet or celebration it was, she was the undisputed protagonist and focus of the mansion.

But today, she has to give the leading role to Luo Tao Sheng, who has been wandering outside for more than ten years and wants to call her sister right from the start.

How can Luo Tao Sheng, who has no idea about the preferences of her elders, is ignorant of etiquette, and is stubborn and inflexible, compete with her?

Shen Ruojin glanced at herself in the mirror. Her complexion was pretty, elegant, and dignified. Although she was not as beautiful as Marquis Madam Luo Xin and Tao Sheng, she had a unique sense of girlish cuteness, which was just the right level of beauty.

She smiled slightly: “Of course I will go.”

Since it is not your home ground, then make it your home ground.

Shen Ruojin had asked the maid to inquire with the servant beside Shen Yue and learned that Tao Sheng had been taken back by her eldest brother Shen Yue and was now talking to their father in the study in the front yard.

Shen Ruojin then went to the front yard with the hat she had made.

_

Over the years, Shen Yu had only had one close face-to-face contact with Tao Sheng, which was in the carriage that day when he took her home.

After that meeting with Tao Sheng, Shen Yu discovered some of her traits, such as she didn’t care much about her living situation and material conditions, spoke too imaginatively, and was indifferent to the glory and future of the Marquis’ Mansion.

Luo Xin insisted on having a grand birthday party this time and wanted to publicly acknowledge Tao Sheng’s identity in front of the clan members. Shen Yu didn’t want to go against his wife’s wishes, so he thought of calling Tao Sheng to his study first and giving her some instructions to prevent her from saying anything inappropriate in front of the clan members that could make things difficult for everyone.