Chapter 34: The Turn of Fortune

She had only ever heard of sharing a husband, not sharing a wife. Princess Pingyao truly dared to think outside the box.

Qin Zhilan’s face turned red with embarrassment: “Princess Consort, this is a rumor.”

“I don’t think it sounds like a rumor.” Shen Ning held her tea cup, leisurely taking a sip, “Originally planning to marry both a wife and concubines, to have both in his arms, but unexpectedly, it’s the brothers who are marrying together, one big and one small… Tsk, the turn of fortune really does make one feel comfortable.”

Pfft.

Yan Zheng couldn’t hold back her laughter, her small face turning red: “I’m sorry, I… I didn’t mean to…”

Qin Zhilan clutched the corner of her clothes tightly, her clear and beautiful face a mix of green and pale, extremely embarrassed.

“Princess Consort.” Gu Yanran pursed her lips, her eyes carrying a hint of reproach, “Even if you have resentment towards Young Master Qin, there’s no need to humiliate Miss Qin like this. Moreover, Miss Qin sincerely wishes you well in finding a good husband. How can you repay kindness with malice? Could it be that the Princess Consort still harbors feelings for Young Master Qin?”

Still harboring feelings for Qin Yanshu?

This statement was indeed quite vicious, casually slandering her with accusations of being fickle and promiscuous.

“Miss Gu, you seem to be the one who can’t forget Young Master Qin, given how you’re defending him.” Shi Qi, standing beside Shen Ning, frowned, looking displeased at Gu Yanran, “If the Regent finds out that you’re slandering the Princess Consort in front of outsiders, I wonder if he’ll still let you stay in the estate.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Gu Yanran’s face turned deathly pale, and she stiffened on the spot.

Shen Ning turned her head to glance at Shi Qi, somewhat surprised that Shi Qi, who was usually silent and reserved, could be so sharp-tongued.

Shi Qi lowered her eyes and bowed her head respectfully.

“It seems this Princess Consort isn’t very popular.” Shen Ning’s tone was indifferent, “A flower viewing banquet with six people, and five of them harbor hostility towards me—”

“Seven people.” Yan Zheng raised her hand timidly, “I should count as one too.”

Shen Ning’s expression paused for a moment, then she nodded slowly: “Yes.”

“I won’t invite anyone who disrespects the Princess Consort in the future, to avoid displeasing you.” Yan Zheng assured, “My garden is too small. In the future, I’ll only invite the Princess Consort. We can drink tea and chat together.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Gu Yanran, Shen Yan, and Qin Zhilan immediately felt like they were sitting on pins and needles, their expressions uniformly stiff and awkward.

Qin Zhilan was relatively composed, as she had her own circle of friends she frequently interacted with.

Shen Yan was Shen Ning’s sister, a sister who was not favored by her elder sister. If Shen Ning took her seriously, then in the future, any banquet where the Princess Consort was present, she would not be able to participate, wouldn’t that be a significant loss?

However, the Duke of the State’s household was, after all, a noble and prestigious family, and there were no shortage of noble ladies from other families who were on good terms with her.

Gu Yanran was the most uncomfortable one among the three.

She lived in the Regent’s estate as a guest. Before the estate had a Princess Consort, some officials’ daughters would invite her to their banquets and gatherings. They would flatter her, curry favor with her, and even some men would repeatedly show their interest in her.

Although Gu Yanran was determined to marry the Regent, she also enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention.

But now that the Regent had married a wife, a woman whose reputation had been tarnished, and this Princess Consort was so overbearing and unreasonable, not understanding the slightest bit of gentleness and virtue.

She thought that at a banquet with many noble ladies, her reputation and her unique temperament would surely become the target of everyone’s attacks, after all, she had offended so many people in such a short time.

Unexpectedly, Shen Ning was such a tough opponent.

After the Regent’s estate had a mistress, any invitations from the outside would surely be sent to the Princess Consort first. Although there would be no shortage of invitations for the cousin, what if the Princess Consort didn’t get along with her?

Gu Yanran pursed her lips, knowing that for the sake of her status in the circle of nobility, she should apologize to Shen Ning. But in front of outsiders, she really couldn’t bring herself to do it, so she only sat there with a sullen face, not saying a word.

The atmosphere became somewhat delicate.

Even though Shen Yan and Qin Zhilan knew they were unwelcome, it was inappropriate for them to leave immediately at this time. Otherwise, it would confirm the fact that they had a rift with Shen Ning.

Yan Zheng was the sister of Prime Minister Yan, innocent and without guile. But it was precisely people like her who acted more purely. If she mentioned something in front of her good sisters, it would cause even more people to avoid them.

“Eldest Sister.” In the end, it was Shen Yan who spoke first, holding her tea cup and actively moving closer, her smile carrying a hint of ingratiation, “I wasn’t intentionally making things difficult for you earlier. We sisters are connected by blood. How could I harbor any hostility towards you? It’s just that Princess Jiahe’s temper is too overbearing. I was worried that you might suffer if you clashed with her head-on, so I… If I’ve caused any misunderstanding, may I offer you an apology with this tea?”

With someone taking the lead, the second person naturally had a way out.

Gu Yanran picked up her tea cup and stood up, walking over to Shen Ning and kneeling down in front of her: “Please forgive me, Cousin-in-law. I had the same intention as Sister Yan. If I’ve caused any misunderstanding, I am willing to accept punishment, just to ensure that you feel at ease.”

Qin Zhilan watched the two spineless women coldly, pretending to pick up the tea in front of her and take a sip.

“Eldest Miss! Eldest Miss!” A servant rushed in from outside, “There’s an imperial decree from the palace!”

The people in the garden turned to look in unison.

“There’s an imperial decree from the palace.” The servant anxiously pointed outside, “The eunuch delivering the decree found out that the Regent’s Princess Consort is here and directly brought the decree to the Prime Minister’s residence. He also said… He also said to please invite the Regent’s Princess Consort to come out and receive the decree.”

Yan Zheng’s expression changed, and she looked at Shen Ning with concern: “Could it be that Princess Jiahe went to the palace to complain?”

“I told you not to offend Princess Jiahe, but Eldest Sister wouldn’t listen.” Shen Yan’s brow furrowed slightly, her face showing a worried expression, “She’s a princess. After being humiliated, wouldn’t she go to the palace to complain to the Empress Dowager?”

Shen Ning stood up and met Yan Zheng’s worried gaze, saying indifferently: “Today’s flower viewing banquet was not very pleasant. I’ll invite you to the Regent’s estate another day to play. I’ll give you a few pots of orchids as compensation.”

“Thank you, Princess Consort. I will definitely come as a guest, but there’s no need for the flowers.” Yan Zheng was uneasy, “Princess Consort, if the Empress Dowager makes things difficult for you—”

“It’s fine.” Shen Ning turned and walked outside.

Shen Yan watched her back, her eyes gradually turning cold.

Princess Jiahe went to the palace to complain, and the Empress Dowager summoned her. Shen Ning’s trip to the palace now was a one-way path to death.

It was said that on the night of their marriage, Shen Ning had made Princess Jiahe suffer greatly. With old and new grudges to settle, how could the Empress Dowager easily let her off?

Shen Ning, may you find your own fortune.