Chapter 4: An Edict from the Palace

The Shen family did not sleep at all that night.

Old Lady Shen was so angry that she wished to skin Shen Ning alive and even incited Shen Yunlin to report to the authorities, hoping that the officials would take Shen Ning, this demon, to the court and have her beaten to death.

However, family scandals should not be made public.

Shen Yunlin only said that he would find a way to deal with it. Alerting the authorities would turn the Duke of the State into a laughingstock for the entire capital, and if the matter were blown out of proportion, it might even lead to punishment.

But Shen Ning had committed such a grave error, and he would never let her off easily.

He mobilized all the servants and guards of the Shen family to the outside of the Begonia Courtyard, tightly surrounding the gates and walls, ensuring that not even a fly could escape.

When the eastern sky began to brighten, Mrs. Shen came to the Begonia Courtyard once again.

Shen Ning had changed into a simple and plain outfit and was sitting in front of the dressing table, carefully examining her reflection in the mirror. Due to a night without sleep, there were slight shadows under her eyes.

But this could not conceal Shen Ning’s beauty.

Her eyes were bright, her teeth were white, her cheeks were full, and her skin was flawless.

The legitimate daughter of the Shen family was indeed strikingly beautiful.

No wonder, even with her reputation ruined, Qin Yanshu still couldn’t forget her and was even willing to risk his own reputation to sneak into her chamber at night.

Unfortunately, this Shen Ning was not the same as before, and his unspeakable intentions were doomed to go unfulfilled.

“Ning.” Mrs. Shen entered the inner chamber, anxiously glancing at her son tied to the bed, then sat down in front of the dressing table, clearly prepared for a long conversation. “Your father has made up his mind. You can only marry Qin Yanshu as a concubine for our Shen family to have any peace. This matter has nothing to do with your elder brother. Can you let him go first?”

If it were another woman who had been violated, she should have committed suicide on the spot to preserve her chastity and protect the family’s reputation.

But Qin Yanshu insisted on taking her as a concubine, and the Shen family was unwilling to give up this marriage alliance. Old Lady Shen issued a strict order that Shen Ning must go to the Qin family as a concubine.

A woman who had lost her reputation would become a concubine in the Qin family, and in the future, the mistress of the house would surely discipline and torment her. Staying in the inner courtyard to serve her husband and the mistress, without having to go out and show her face, she would naturally not have to endure so much gossip from the outside.

Moreover, the Qin family was the Imperial Uncle’s residence. When the emperor began to govern personally, Qin Yanshu would definitely shine in the court and would support the Duke of the State’s residence, especially in helping Shen Shian establish himself in the court.

Therefore, this marriage was vital.

If Shen Ning were still the same as before, their plans might have succeeded.

Alas.

Shen Ning did not speak, quietly placing a golden gemstone hairpin in her hair, her expression indifferent.

“Mother only has you as a daughter and naturally wishes for your well-being.” Mrs. Shen lowered her eyes, her eyes beginning to redden. “But Mother must also consider the Shen family, consider your elder brother and your sisters, Ning. Mother knows that being violated is not your fault, but in this world, once a woman’s reputation is ruined, it is ruined. They will look down on you, slander and humiliate you. Mother doesn’t want this either…”

“My innocence is still intact.” Shen Ning turned her head, looking at her with a blank expression. “Those bandits did not really harm me.”

“How is that possible?” Mrs. Shen clearly did not believe her words. “The guards and maids who protected you are dead. How could they have spared you? And besides… even if what you say is true, everyone knows you’ve lost your innocence. They won’t believe you… Ning, just agree to marry Qin Yanshu. With his protection, no one will dare to gossip about you in the future, and they won’t mock the Duke of the State’s residence for this matter…”

“Leave.”

Mrs. Shen’s voice stopped abruptly, looking at her in disbelief: “What did you say?”

Shen Ning’s voice was chilling: “Leave.”

“Shen Ning, you’re being insolent!” Mrs. Shen’s face was losing its composure as she stood up suddenly, glaring at her angrily. “I am your mother, and you dare to be so rebellious and disrespectful to your own mother?”

Shen Ning stood up, calmly meeting her gaze, her words clear and forceful: “Your daughter Shen Ning died after being violated yesterday. The one who lives on is not your daughter, and you are not her mother. Therefore, whether she lives or dies in the future, or whether anyone marries her, none of it requires you to decide for her.”

Since no one in this family treated Shen Ning as a human being, she had no obligation to fulfill her filial duties for Shen Ning.

They were merely strangers.

Shen Ning was dead, and she had taken over Shen Ning’s body. In the future, she would definitely find the culprit who caused Shen Ning’s death and help her seek revenge.

As for the rest, stay away.

“You!” Mrs. Shen’s face turned ashen as she pointed at Shen Ning, looking deeply hurt and unable to accept her attitude towards her. “Shen Ning, you’ve really disappointed me too much!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a maid rushed over: “Madam, madam! There’s an edict from the palace!”

An edict?

Mrs. Shen’s expression changed as she turned to look at her: “An edict?”

“Yes.” The maid nodded uneasily. “The master has ordered you to bring the eldest young master and the two young ladies to the front hall to receive the edict. You must hurry.”

Mrs. Shen’s face showed panic.

This imperial edict must have something to do with Shen Ning.

The Empress Dowager in the palace was Qin Yanshu’s aunt, and with such an incident, she would certainly not agree to let Shen Ning marry Qin Yanshu, and even becoming a concubine would be a disgrace.

Therefore, this might be an edict ordering death.

Mrs. Shen turned back, looking at Shen Ning, whose expression remained unchanged, and said coldly: “There’s an edict from the palace. Release your elder brother immediately and come with me to receive the edict. If it’s an order from the Empress Dowager, I’m afraid even the wish to marry Qin Yanshu as a concubine will become a luxury.”

Shen Ning’s expression was indifferent as she walked to the bedside and untied Shen Shian from the bedpost.

Shen Shian had been tied up for two hours, and by now, his face was pale with a hint of green, his hair was disheveled, and with his mouth gagged, he couldn’t speak. However, his eyes were fixed on Shen Ning as if he wished to tear her apart.

Shen Ning grabbed his hair with one hand and clutched his neck with the other, pushing him to walk out.

“Shen Ning!” Mrs. Shen was almost driven mad with anger. “We’re going out to receive the edict! You—”

“Mother.” Shen Ning’s eyes were cold. “If you say one more word, I’ll strangle him to death.”