Chapter 12: An Ominous Omen

The Duke of the State was a favored minister of the late Emperor.

The current young Emperor, who had just ascended to the throne, naturally trusted and valued these ministers favored by the previous Emperor, so the Duke of the State’s request for an audience with the Emperor was smooth.

Inside the Diligent Government Hall, the fifteen-year-old Emperor sat upright behind the dragon table, holding a scroll in his hand, his handsome face showing no discernible emotion: “Unbearable abdominal pain?”

“Yes.” Duke Shen knelt on the ground, “It is a time of many troubles for the Shen family. I hope Your Majesty will forgive us.”

The young Emperor’s tone was indifferent: “Is it the symptoms of poisoning?”

“I do not know.” Duke Shen smiled bitterly, “I invited a physician, and after the examination, he said it was not poisoning and could not determine the cause of the illness.”

“That is indeed strange.” The young Emperor smiled faintly, a few points of enigmatic light flickering in his black eyes, “Let Imperial Physician Sheng go with you. He specializes in difficult and complicated diseases.”

“Yes, thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.” Duke Shen repeatedly expressed his gratitude before following a young eunuch to the Imperial Medical Office.

“It seems that the Duke of the State’s residence is not very peaceful either.” The young Emperor stood on the steps of the hall with his hands behind his back, watching the Duke of the State leave, his eyes dark and gloomy, “Yesterday, the eldest daughter was humiliated and lost her purity. Today, the second daughter suffers from unexplained abdominal pain… Is this some kind of bad omen?”

The eunuch attending him stood behind, not daring to speak.

There were many spies and informants in the capital, and there were plenty of people with access to information.

The news that the Duke of the State had invited Imperial Physician Sheng to his home to examine his second daughter’s pulse quickly spread among the princesses and noble ladies. At that time, Princess Jiahe was inviting several noble ladies to admire the flowers in the garden, and they were in the midst of a lively discussion about the Shen family.

“The eldest daughter was insulted and lost her purity yesterday, and today the second daughter suffers from unexplained abdominal pain? What is the Duke of the State’s residence up to?”

“Shh! You must not mention the loss of purity again. The Regent has ordered that anyone who brings it up will suffer consequences.”

A woman dressed in luxurious clothes leaned against the railing, sneering coldly: “Once purity is lost, it’s lost. Sealing everyone’s mouths doesn’t change the facts. How ridiculous.”

“Princess, please be careful with your words!”

“What’s there to be afraid of? At the grand wedding ceremony in three days, this princess will surely ask Shen Ning how she still has the face to live in this world. If this princess were her, I would have long ended my life with a white silk.”

“I heard that the arm of the Qin family’s young master was broken by her. Is it possible… that the abdominal pain of Shen Yan is also her doing?”

“Sisters turning against each other?”

“Who knows? Maybe the Duke of the State’s residence plans to have the second daughter marry in her place, and Shen Ning, worried about her marriage being taken away, angrily poisoned Shen Yan…”

The sky gradually darkened, and the sunset shone through the window.

Two hours of rest had dispelled Shen Ning’s drowsiness, and the shadows under her eyes had faded considerably. After washing up, her appearance was even more stunningly beautiful.

Outside, the idle gossip had already turned into a storm, but she had no desire to care about it at all. She called Lan Zhi and Lan Hua into the room.

“I’m hungry. Go to the kitchen and bring something to eat.”

“Yes.” Lan Zhi turned and left.

Lan Hua stayed in the room and made tea for Shen Ning: “Imperial Physician Sheng from the Imperial Medical Office came earlier and carefully examined Shen Yan’s pulse, but the cause of the illness has not been determined yet.”

Shen Ning didn’t speak, sitting quietly by the window and taking a sip of tea.

Of course, the imperial physician couldn’t determine the cause of the illness because Shen Yan wasn’t sick and hadn’t been poisoned.

The food Shen Yan had sent her at noon contained only a sleeping potion and a bit of an aphrodisiac, which could cause a person to fall into a brief coma, lose consciousness, and do things that would tarnish their reputation.

As for why she did this, there must be some ulterior motive.

Shen Yan didn’t want to eat it because she was worried that if she did, she would also fall asleep or lose control due to the aphrodisiac, leading to the failure of her plan.

However, what she didn’t know was that the sleeping potion and aphrodisiac had little effect on Shen Ning. At most, they would make her sleep a bit deeper and more soundly.

As for Shen Yan’s abdominal pain…

Shen Ning’s gaze shifted to the window, a strange light flickering in her eyes, the curve of her lips revealing a chilling indifference.

“Shen Ning, what is your heart made of? Yan is screaming in pain, yet you’re here demanding food and drink. Are you even human?” Shen Shian barged in, anxiously berating Shen Ning. He must have been extremely worried throughout the day, “What did Yan do to you for you to be so cruel to her?”

Shen Ning turned her head, looking at him coldly: “Do you need me to take her to the Ministry of Justice and have the Minister of Justice adjudicate this case?”

“You—” Shen Shian was momentarily speechless, then gritted his teeth, “If you didn’t poison her, why did she suddenly have abdominal cramps?”

Shen Ning said coldly, “Yesterday, if she hadn’t bribed the bandits, how could I have been humiliated?”

“What are you talking about?” Shen Shian looked at her in shock, “Shen Ning, what nonsense are you spouting? What does this have to do with Yan? You…”

“So what does her abdominal pain have to do with me?” Shen Ning’s eyes were cold as a blade, “Weren’t you the one who started this irrational accusation?”

Shen Shian’s face stiffened, unable to say a word in response.

“Get out.”

Shen Shian clenched his fists, convinced in his heart that this matter was related to Shen Ning, but he was frustrated by the lack of evidence.

Even the imperial physician couldn’t determine the cause of the illness, and Yan hadn’t been poisoned. How could he blame Shen Ning for this?

Whether it was poisoning or some other cause, they needed to find the reason to make an accusation.

Shen Shian’s face was gloomy. He spoke in a low, appeasing tone, “Yan is your sister after all…”

“If you’re willing to kneel in the courtyard for two days, by the day of my wedding, Yan’s abdominal pain might just heal without medicine.” Shen Ning’s tone was calm, as if giving him a chance to choose, “You can try it.”

“So you did do something?” Shen Shian looked at Shen Ning as if he had finally caught her, his anger uncontrollable, “How can you be so venomous? Shen Ning, you are the eldest daughter of the Shen family, and Yan is your sister. Is this how you treat your own family?”

Shen Ning’s gaze was cold and hard, staring at him unblinkingly, layers of frosty waves seemed to surge in her eyes, faintly revealing a bloodthirsty aura.

Shen Shian felt a chill in his heart from her gaze: “I…”

“Get out.”

Shen Shian clenched his fists and turned to leave, his sleeves fluttering.

As expected, Imperial Physician Sheng was also at a loss after arriving.

He examined Shen Yan three times, using all the methods of inspection, but couldn’t determine the cause of her illness at all.

His words even hinted that Shen Yan might be feigning her condition.

After hearing this, the Duke of the State looked at Shen Yan with added suspicion.

“Father, I… I didn’t…” Shen Yan was in so much pain that she shivered, the waves of intense pain in her abdomen surpassing each other, tormenting her to the point of wishing for death, “It hurts, your daughter is really in pain… Ah!”

The Duke of the State’s brows were tightly knit. Seeing her pale face and the beads of cold sweat on her forehead, she didn’t seem to be faking it. He could only suppress his impatience and personally escort Imperial Physician Sheng out.

Everyone was helpless, able only to watch Shen Yan suffer.

Shen Ning was to be married in three days, and the Duke of the State’s residence was busy preparing her dowry, with no time to spare for Shen Yan.

In his helplessness, Shen Shian came to the Begonia Courtyard again in the evening. Looking at Shen Ning, who was reading by the window, he gritted his teeth and spoke, “What do you want to make her stop the pain?”

Shen Ning remained silent, as if she hadn’t heard his words.

“You lost your purity, and Qin Yanshu was still willing to have you. That was your luck. I don’t think Father and Mother did anything wrong, but my attitude was indeed not good. I admit my mistake to you.” Shen Shian said coldly, “If I’m willing to kneel for two days, will that appease your anger?”

Shen Ning lowered her eyes to read, not saying a word, her expression indifferent and calm.

“I hope all of this can end within these two days.” Shen Shian continued on his own, “If you have any dissatisfaction, you can have someone whip me. I won’t resist, but after two days, all grudges will be wiped clean. From then on, you are still a daughter of the Shen family. You are not allowed to tarnish the reputation of the Duke of the State’s residence or do anything that harms the interests of the Duke of the State’s residence. Can you promise this?”

Shen Ning turned the page of her book, indifferent to his self-righteous demands.

“Shen Ning—”

“Young Master Shen, you must not be disrespectful to the Regent’s Consort.” Lan Zhi walked over, warning him sternly, “If you continue to offend your superior, I will report it truthfully to the Regent.”

Shen Shian said coldly, “I’m talking to my sister. What does it have to do with the Regent?”

Lan Zhi reminded him respectfully yet firmly, “Miss Shen is now the Consort of the Regent. Rank comes first, and sibling relations come after.”

“You—” Shen Shian clenched his teeth tightly and turned to walk out, lifting his robe to kneel in the courtyard, “Shen Ning, I’m willing to be punished. I hope you keep your promise!”