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That very evening, Qin Yumo ordered the preparation of several invitations, stating that a poetry gathering would be held at the Princess’s estate the next day. These were sent to Prince Shen and several young masters.
This action inevitably caused some controversy.
Some people believed that Qin Yanshu was still in prison, and Qin Guoju and Madam Qin had been frantically trying to save their son, seeking help from every possible source. The lady of the house was almost daily in tears, and Qin Zilan, the legitimate daughter of the Qin family, had been visiting her half-brother every few days, attempting to persuade the princess to intervene and rescue him.
Yet Qin Yumo, as the illegitimate son of the Qin family and Qin Yanshu’s brother, remained indifferent to Qin Yanshu’s plight, showing no intention to save his brother from the beginning. Instead, he had the leisure to host a poetry gathering, which was seen as the behavior of an ungrateful wolf.
Others suspected that Qin Yumo was deliberately retaliating against the Qin family, due to Madam Qin’s previous poor treatment of him and the fact that his concubine mother had died at the hands of the current lady of the house.
But no matter what was said, Qin Yanshu was his brother, and they were a family connected by blood. Being unfilial to his father and stepmother, disrespectful to his brother, and not helping when he was in danger, was enough to make some noble sons feel contempt for him.
Especially those legitimate sons with illegitimate brothers in their families, they believed that the superiority of the legitimate son was a given, and if the illegitimate son lived poorly, it was because of his lowly fate. If he lived well, he should be grateful. Madam Qin, no matter how harsh she was, had at least ensured that Qin Yumo never lacked food or clothing and had the opportunity to study. She had not abused him.
Now, having the chance to ask the princess for help but not doing so, was seen as an act of ingratitude, the behavior of an ungrateful wolf.
However, Qin Yumo couldn’t care less about what they thought.
He carefully considered and sent out several invitations. Those who wished to come were welcome, and those who didn’t were not forced.
On the same day, Princess Jiayu also hosted a flower appreciation banquet at her estate. It was said that she had invited many good sisters, including Princess Jiahe and the legitimate daughter of the Qin family, as well as Gu Yanran, the cousin from the Regent’s household.
Early in the morning, Gu Yanran, who had dressed meticulously, arrived at the Golden Courtyard. Just as Shen Ning was about to go out, she looked up and saw Gu Yanran walking in from outside the courtyard, raising her eyebrows slightly: “What’s the matter?”
“Cousin-in-law.” Gu Yanran curtsied and smiled faintly. “Princess Jiayu sent me an invitation yesterday, inviting me to attend the flower appreciation banquet today. Would you like to come with me?”
As she said this, there was a clear sense of pride and satisfaction on her face, as if receiving an invitation from Princess Jiayu was a highly honorable event.
Shen Ning couldn’t help but find it strange. Did these idle women of the inner quarters take pride in receiving invitations?
Or was it because the invitation came from Princess Jiayu?
“I don’t have time.” Shen Ning tossed these words and turned to walk towards the medicine room.
“Cousin-in-law.” Gu Yanran frowned subtly, completely unable to understand Shen Ning’s reclusive and solitary nature, even thinking that she was deliberately imitating the Regent’s aloof and unapproachable demeanor. “Aren’t you bored staying in the house all day? Even the cold and heartless cousin doesn’t stay indoors all the time. He’s busy with government affairs and just doesn’t like to engage in idle chatter with people, but he still goes out to meet others when necessary. You should also go out for a walk. Even though Princess Jiahe didn’t send you an invitation, as long as you’re willing to lower your stance, I believe Princess Jiahe would still welcome you—”
“Are you done with your nonsense?” Shen Ning looked at her coldly. “If you are, then get lost.”
Gu Yanran’s expression stiffened, and she clenched the handkerchief in her hand, turning to walk away.
“Shi Qi.” Shen Ning’s face remained expressionless as she stared at Gu Yanran’s back. “Follow her. I want to know what dirty schemes Princess Jiayu is plotting again.”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t normal for Princess Jiayu to invite Gu Yanran to a flower appreciation banquet at this time.
……
After Shi Qi left, Shen Ning went to the medicine room again. The antidote had been successfully concocted and was ready to be administered when Ji Yucang’s poison acted up later that month.
Time really flew by.
Before she knew it, she had been married to Ji Yucang for almost two months.
Shen Ning stood by the window, looking at the serene and tranquil scenery outside, and suddenly felt as if it were a different world—she felt like it was just three months ago, she was still the Princess of Nan Dynasty, who had fought on the battlefield for seven years only to end up in a miserable state. Unexpectedly, upon opening her eyes, she had become the legitimate daughter of the Duke of the State in Yong Kingdom, and then, before she could fully accept her new identity, she had married the Regent, Ji Yucang.
It all happened so quickly, as if it were a three-day cycle of reincarnation.
“Princess Consort.” Mama Yu walked over and reported from the courtyard, “The stable boy says that the prisoner is shouting and demanding to see the Princess Consort.”
Shen Ning returned to her senses, thinking of Han Rong, who had been locked in the stable for a night, and turned to walk outside: “Bring him here.”
“Yes.”
Shen Ning left the medicine room and sat down in the warm pavilion in the courtyard, instructing Shi Qin to prepare the stove and tea-making utensils for brewing tea, and also brought over two portions of snacks.
Han Rong, dragging his injured body, had frozen in the stable overnight, his face pale and shivering.
When he was brought before Shen Ning, he looked so disheveled that not a trace of the demeanor of the Loyal and Brave Marquis could be seen.
Shen Ning sat in the warm pavilion, draped in a not-too-thick cloak. Before her, tea was brewing over the fire, the fragrance curling up and refreshing to the soul.
“Why do you want to see me?” Shen Ning’s gaze lifted slightly. “Did you sleep well last night?”
Han Rong, dragging heavy shackles on his feet, stood outside the warm pavilion as if he would rather die than submit: “I want to know why you have such strong hostility towards me. There must be a misunderstanding between us.”
“A misunderstanding? I remember you were the best at pretending.” Shen Ning’s voice was indifferent and leisurely, as if she were chatting with a long-lost friend. “This time, you’ve really disappointed me.”
Han Rong looked up at her: “When have you ever seen me?”
Shen Ning’s voice was cold and emotionless: “In the dead of night, every day I think about tearing you limb from limb.”
“You must have been misled.” Han Rong looked at her coldly. “If you are truly the disciple of War Goddess Princess, you should know that I was the one she loved most. We knew each other and were together for over ten years. War Goddes Princess led the army to battle for seven years for the stability of her country, and I waited for her for seven years. When we married, we were already beyond the normal age for men and women to marry. She promised to love me for all her life, and I promised to protect her forever—”
“You wanted to see me just to tell me these things?”
Han Rong emphasized with a heavier tone: “I just want to tell you that no matter who has been sowing discord in front of you, no one knows about the feelings between Jiuli and me. No one has the right to doubt my feelings for her!”
“What a righteous speech, but I’m afraid you’ve even fooled yourself.” Shen Ning sneered with a cold smile. “Are you afraid to believe that I am the God of War, Princess Jiuli herself?”
“I hope you stop pretending to be a ghost!” Han Rong’s pupils suddenly contracted, a sharp and piercing light flashed by, followed by a cold laugh. “I don’t believe you are Princess Jiuli. She is already dead. Are you using her identity to deliberately retaliate against me?”
“I am indeed pretending to be a ghost, but that doesn’t stop you from paying the price for what you’ve done.” Shen Ning said coldly, her expression cold and merciless. “Han Rong, you should admit your own incompetence. From beginning to end, you’ve been nothing but a spineless coward living off a woman. Everything you’ve gained is because of War Goddess Princess, yet you dare not admit it. You selfishly think that by killing her, no one would know the truth?”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Han Rong’s face changed dramatically, and he denied fiercely, the shackles on his hands clanking loudly. “I did not harm the Princess. I loved her. She was my most beloved wife. How could I harm her? If you are truly her disciple, then someone must have been sowing discord in front of you, deliberately trying to make you see me as an enemy. Don’t be fooled by them!”
Shen Ning sneered coldly: “Fooled? Wasn’t it you who truly fooled the War Goddess Princess? You deceived her for over ten years, with such deep pretense and such superb acting skills. Why can’t you act now? Is it because the title of Loyal and Brave Marquis makes you feel superior, so you don’t need to act anymore? Because the War Goddess Princess is dead, you can now act high and mighty over others? Your Emperor can also rest easy?”
“Nonsense! You’re talking nonsense!” Han Rong was emotionally agitated, denying everything without restraint. “I didn’t. I loved the Princess deeply. I loved her more than anyone else in this world—”
“Han Rong, you truly make me feel disgusted.” Shen Ning picked up a cup of tea and walked out of the warm pavilion, step by step towards Han Rong. “This is the tea I just brewed. Would you like to taste it?”
Han Rong’s face turned deathly pale, and he instinctively stepped back: “You… what do you want to do?”