Chapter 5: Betrothed to the Regent?

Mrs. Shen met her icy gaze and felt as if her blood had stopped flowing, shivering involuntarily.

Shen Ning paid her no more attention and, ignoring Shen Shian’s struggles, dragged him out roughly.

The Duke’s residence was vast, with many guards, and the path from the Begonia Courtyard to the main hall was long.

If a fight broke out later, it would surely be a case of two fists being no match for four palms.

Moreover, the Duke’s residence had its own soldiers and weapons.

Shen Ning seemed to already see the scene of arrows flying through the sky.

If it were in an open and flat area outside, she could risk her life and still find a way to escape, but within the walls of the Duke’s residence, with continuous fighting, she feared she would run out of strength…

Shen Ning’s mind raced, considering how to carve out a path to survival from this dead end.

She had endured through even the most difficult situations before, there was no reason to wait for death in this second life.

However, Shen Ning did not expect that she wouldn’t have to search for a chance at life herself, someone handed her a path to heaven.

Upon arriving at the main hall, the Duke and the younger generation of the Shen family were already there, and the old lady was also slowly walking over with the support of her nursemaid.

The moment Shen Ning appeared with Shen Shian, numerous eyes fixed on her face, filled with nothing but disgust and hatred, devoid of the past affection for a daughter and sister.

“Elder Sister.” Shen Yan approached with reddened eyes, as if she had been worried all night. “Please let go of Eldest Brother first, we are all family…”

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree obviously did not expect to see such a scene, his eyes full of confusion as he looked at Shen Ning and Shen Shian, who was firmly restrained by her: “Miss Shen, what is this…”

“Eunuch Zhou, you may not know, but the Shen family has produced a monster!” Od Lady Shen couldn’t wait to speak, her tone full of anguish, “A monster!”

The eunuch’s gaze fell upon Shen Shian’s face: “What has Young Master Shen done?”

Old Lady Shen stiffened and quickly spoke: “No, no, it’s not Shian. The monster I’m talking about is Shen Ning. She… she… oh!”

The eunuch understood and met Shen Ning’s cold, piercing eyes, feeling a slight tremor in his heart. His expression suddenly turned playful: “The Shen family, receive the decree.”

Old Lady Shen stiffened and quickly led her family to kneel down.

“Shen Ning.” Duke Shen Yunlin looked coldly at Shen Ning, who stood motionless like a wooden statue, her right hand still firmly gripping Shen Shian’s neck, and he was furious, “Kneel down!”

“It’s alright if Miss Shen doesn’t kneel.” The eunuch quickly interjected, the smile on his lips carrying a hint of profound meaning, “To be honest, Duke, this is a marriage decree.”

As soon as the words fell, everyone in the Shen family suddenly froze.

“A decree to betroth Miss Shen to the Regent.” The eunuch chuckled, bending down to hand the decree to the Duke, “I won’t read it out loud. The Emperor said that the eldest daughter of the Shen family, Miss Shen Ning, is virtuous and gentle, humble and obedient, and is the perfect match for the Regent.”

Everyone in the Duke’s residence stared blankly at the eunuch, as if they couldn’t understand what he was saying.

Virtuous and gentle? Humble and obedient?

Wasn’t this like saying something blatantly false with a straight face?

Mrs. Shen was shocked: “Betrothed to the Regent?”

The eunuch nodded: “The Emperor has always thought that Miss Shen was particularly suitable, but only heard that Miss Shen had a prior engagement with a young master from the Qin family, so he didn’t interfere too much. Upon hearing that Young Master Qin broke off the engagement yesterday, the Emperor felt that it was fate between Miss Shen and the Regent.”

The Shen family was dumbfounded.

They couldn’t understand what he was saying at all.

Did the Emperor only hear about the Qin family’s withdrawal of the engagement and not why the Qin family withdrew it?

Betrothed to the Regent?

How… how is that possible?

Could this decree really be from the Emperor? The Emperor hasn’t even begun his personal rule, yet he dares to take it upon himself to arrange a marriage for the Regent?

Is he tired of sitting on the throne?

And what about the Regent? What is his reaction?

Will he just let the Emperor arrange his marriage?

Does the Regent know that Shen Ning lost her innocence yesterday and is now no longer pure?

“Duke?” the eunuch looked at the Shen family’s stunned expressions, puzzled, “is this reaction from excessive surprise?”

Duke Shen came back to his senses and spoke hastily: “Eunuch, does the Regent know about the arranged marriage?”

The eunuch nodded: “The Regent is naturally aware.”

“But… does the Regent agree?”

The eunuch smiled and nodded: “He agrees.”

“However…” Duke Shen looked lost, “does the Regent know… does he know that Shen Ning was attacked when she went out yesterday and has already… has already…”

“The Regent only said to marry in three days and welcome the eldest daughter of the Shen family, Shen Ning, as his bride. He didn’t say anything else,” the eunuch’s smile faded a little, “If you’re really worried, Duke Shen, you might as well go to the Regent’s residence and ask in person.”

After saying this, he turned to leave with a few young eunuchs.

“Eunuch, wait a moment.” Shen Ning finally spoke, her voice indifferent, “I have something to say.”

The eunuch turned his head, his attitude extremely respectful: “Miss Shen.”

“The Regent wants to marry me?”

“Yes.”

“Alive or dead?”

The eunuch was taken aback and instinctively replied: “Naturally alive.”

“What if the bride is dead or crippled?”

“This…” the eunuch chuckled dryly, “if the Regent considers it a provocation, I’m afraid the entire Duke’s residence will face an unprecedented disaster.”

“Understood.” Shen Ning finally took pity and released her grip on Shen Shian, then kicked him so he fell face down on the ground, “Thank you, Eunuch Zhou.”

Eunuch Zhou looked at her actions in astonishment: “No, no need for thanks.”

Miss Shen was indeed fierce, no wonder the Regent took a liking to her.

Eunuch Zhou’s gaze toward Shen Ning now held a bit more reverence. He bowed his head and cupped his hands: “I will take my leave first. Please stay, Miss Shen.”

The Duke hurriedly got up to see him out.

Shen Ning turned around expressionlessly and walked back to the inner residence without looking back.

“Shen Ning,” Old Lady Shen stood up and called out to her coldly, “have you met the Regent?”

Shen Ning acted as if she hadn’t heard the question and left indifferently.

“What kind of attitude is this?” Old Lady Shen was furious and turned to Shen’s wife, “This is the good daughter you’ve raised, with no manners or upbringing!”

“Calm your anger, mother.” Mrs. Shen lowered her head to apologize, “Although we do not know why the Emperor suddenly arranged this marriage, Ning is now the Regent’s fiancée. If these words are overheard, it could bring disaster to the Shen family.”

Old Lady Shen was about to angrily scold, but the words stopped at her lips, after all, she had some reservations and left, angrily leaning on her cane.

“Mother, how did this decree come about so strangely?” Shen Yan frowned, looking delicate and confused, “The Regent is powerful and brutal, with influence throughout the court and the country. It’s impossible for him not to know about yesterday’s events. His sudden decision to marry Elder Sister as his wife, don’t you think it’s too abnormal?”

If Shen Ning were pure and innocent, that would be one thing.

But her reputation has been tarnished, and the news spread like wildfire yesterday. The Qin family couldn’t even wait half a day before hastily sending someone to call off the engagement.

Not to mention the powerful Regent.

How could he possibly marry an impure woman as his wife?

Isn’t this a joke?

Mrs. Shen’s expression was solemn: “I don’t know what’s going on either—”

“The Shen family is probably about to face a great disaster.” Duke Shen returned, holding the decree like a hot potato, his expression extremely ugly, “The Regent’s consort can be anyone, except for an impure woman. This decree is filled with strangeness and unease.”

“Is it that serious?” Mrs. Shen looked shocked and suspicious, “Could it be that the Regent’s health is poor, and this is just for the sake of a lucky marriage?”

“What does a woman like you understand?” Duke Shen coldly glanced at her, “Can the Regent’s health be improved by a lucky marriage?”

Mrs. Shen’s expression changed, and she dared not speak further.

The Duke furrowed his brow tightly.

Even if it were truly for a lucky marriage, it would be harmful in every way to the Duke’s residence.

The Emperor will begin his personal rule next year, and the power struggle with the Regent will only intensify. If anything happens to the Regent, Shen Ning’s fate as a companion in death is almost certain.

The Regent’s confidants might even consider the Shen family the main culprit.

If the Regent miraculously remains unharmed, Shen Ning’s loss of chastity will eventually lead the Shen family to ruin.

“What should we do then?” Shen Shian’s tone was cold, “Is the arranged marriage really the Emperor’s intention?”

He had been tied up for two hours during the night, with his mouth gagged. Now that he could finally speak, his voice was somewhat hoarse, and his complexion was extremely ugly.

The Duke didn’t speak and walked heavily towards the central courtyard.

It wasn’t until they reached a secluded spot that he spoke indifferently: “Without the Regent’s consent, this decree would not have left the palace.”