Chapter 62: Etiquette of Respect and Humility

Back at the Golden Courtyard, Shen Ning received an invitation card sent by Mrs. Shen.

“Madam Shen mentioned that tomorrow morning she will bring Miss Shen over to pay respects to the Princess Consort” The maid respectfully reported, “The attendants sent by the Shen family also mentioned that the Princess Consort and they are all relatives, connected by blood, and that the past unpleasantness was all to preserve the family’s reputation, forced to be strict with the Princess Consort. They hope the Princess can be magnanimous and understand their good intentions.”

Shen Ning placed the invitation card aside and calmly instructed, “Inform the staff that I am not feeling well and will not be receiving guests tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

In the following days, Shen Ning focused on developing the antidote, exercising in the morning after drinking her tonic, and delving into the apothecary in the afternoons, showing no interest in matters outside the residence.

During these few days, several invitations arrived from the outer courtyard, inviting her for tea or to appreciate flowers, all of which Shen Ning ignored.

As time passed, the Regent also became busy, almost disappearing from sight all day long.

In the blink of an eye, it was nearing the end of September, with only three days left before Shen Yan entered the palace as a consort.

A messenger from the Duke of the State’s residence came with a message: Madam Shen missed her daughter and invited Shen Ning back home for a small gathering.

This time, Shen Ning didn’t refuse. After a simple dressing up, she took a carriage back to the Shen family.

Mrs. Shen personally welcomed her, warmly ushering Shen Ning into the mansion.

“Inviting you home today was at your grandmother’s behest. Firstly, to offer you an apology, and secondly, because she misses you and wants to have a good talk with you.” Mrs. Shen led Shen Ning towards the ancestral hall, “Grandmother is getting older, and her previous strictness was also for the sake of the family’s reputation. Ning, can you forgive us?”

Shen Ning remained silent.

Forgive?

The person they wanted forgiveness from was already deceased, and as a newcomer, she had no authority to grant forgiveness.

“Both the Regent and the Emperor come from noble backgrounds.” Mrs. Shen tried to grasp her hand, “Ning, the Shen family’s prosperity is tied to the royal family’s. You—”

Shen Ning avoided her hand and coldly replied, “Who is the Shen family tied to in terms of prosperity or loss?”

Mrs. Shen was taken aback, “Ning?”

“With the Regent or with the Emperor?” Shen Ning’s gaze turned icy, her tone tinged with disdain, “Is the Emperor willing to share in your prosperity and losses?”

Mrs. Shen frowned, “Ning.”

“Allowing me to come back to visit, have a meal, drink tea is fine.” Shen Ning’s attitude was indifferent, distant, as if keeping others at arm’s length, “But don’t expect anything more.”

Seeing Mrs. Shen struggle to respond, she eventually smiled and said, “Let’s go see the grandmother first.”

Upon entering the ancestral hall, the attendants all knelt down to greet the Regent’s Princess Consort. As the Shen family crossed the threshold, they saw Shen Yan leaning against old Lady Shen.

After half a month of learning palace etiquette, Shen Yan appeared more dignified, graceful, and composed, shedding her previous childish demeanor.

When Shen Ning entered, Shen Yan stood up and respectfully greeted her, “Elder sister.”

However, compared to Shen Ning’s air of cold superiority, Shen Yan’s gentle demeanor seemed somewhat lacking in presence.

“We are all family, no need for formalities.” Mrs. Shen quickly interjected, “Ning, please have a seat.”

Two maids brought a chair and placed it on the right side, below the head seat where the old lady sat. Shen Ning sat down expressionlessly, took the tea offered by the maid, and lightly scraped the rim of the cup with the lid.

“Ning.” Mrs. Shen’s tone was much gentler than before, “In two days, your younger sister will enter the palace as a consort. Although you and your sister have different statuses, her marriage into the royal family is inevitable. I hope that you sisters, despite your differences, can maintain a close relationship in the future and harmoniously represent the Shen family.”

Shen Ning remained silent.

The old lady’s expression darkened as she stared at Shen Ning for a while before speaking softly, “For a woman to lose her purity, especially in prominent families, can be fatal. My attitude that day was not the best, but it was done for the family’s reputation. Now that you are married to the Regent, you are considered nobility. From now on, every word and action must uphold the dignity of the royal family and the Duke of the State’s residence.”

Shen Ning lowered her eyes to the tea cup, saying nothing.

The old lady’s face turned somber, “Shen Ning—”

“If grandmother insists on upholding the dignity of the royal family and the reputation of the Shen family, why haven’t you done so yourself?” Shen Ning lifted her gaze, her eyes cold and indifferent, “As the Regent’s Princess Consort, I am considered a noblewoman here, while you, grandmother, mother, and sister are subjects’ wives and daughters. Where is the respect for hierarchy and etiquette? Where are the rules between rulers and subjects?”

As Shen Ning finished speaking, the old lady’s face froze, then turned pale, and then flushed red, “Shen Ning, what do you mean? Do you want me, your grandmother, to kneel to you? You—”

“You yourself said you wanted to uphold the dignity of the royal family.” Shen Ning interrupted, “In such a grand estate as the Duke of the State’s, if the grandmother can’t even follow the rules she teaches her granddaughter, wouldn’t it be laughable, making the Shen family appear like a petty, insignificant household?”

The old lady’s face shifted between pale and red, her anger barely concealed, unable to form a retort.

“Elder sister.” Shen Yan frowned, dissenting, “Grandmother’s teachings are for public appearances. Today, as family, we should prioritize filial piety in our conversation. If outsiders were present, grandmother and mother should naturally adhere to the proper etiquette. If even among family we strictly adhere to hierarchies, isn’t that a bit too rigid?”

Shen Ning looked at her, a hint of a smile playing on her lips, “Why are you in such a hurry? I’m just challenging grandmother’s notion of royal dignity and family reputation. As for how you conduct yourself after entering the palace, whether you continue to adhere to filial piety or maintain the rules of hierarchy between ruler and subject, that’s your own business. I have no interest in interfering.”

Shen Yan pursed her lips, “Elder sister, we are also—”

“What did you say?” Shen Ning raised an eyebrow.

“When the Emperor assumes full power, I will be his consort. If the Regent relinquishes his regency, he will also be a subject, right?”

Shen Ning’s lips curled slightly, her smile tinged with sarcasm, “You want to discuss rulers and subjects with me?”

Shen Yan clenched her lips, “It’s not that I want to discuss, but the Emperor and the Regent were originally—”

“Let’s wait until the Emperor assumes full power.” Shen Ning glanced at her impassively, “If the Duke of the State’s residence is powerful enough, they can assist the Emperor in reclaiming the political authority from the Regent, and then the whole Yong Kingdom will obey him. There’s no need to speculate here.”

After this statement, she placed down the tea cup, “I believe you invited me back today not to apologize but to make me understand my position. In the future, when I see Shen Yan, I should be more respectful and polite to her. After all, she will be the Emperor’s consort, while I am only the Regent’s consort, right?”

Mrs. Shen felt awkward, “Ning—”

Shen Ning stood up, turned around without a word, and left.

“Elder sister!” Shen Yan followed, “Wait for me, elder sister.”

Shen Ning paused slightly, then turned to look at her expressionlessly, “What else do you want to say?”

“Elder sister.” Shen Yan approached her softly, “We are family, real sisters. I have no reason to make things difficult for you. What happened those days, whether by grandmother, mother, or me, was all done for the family and personal interests. I was worried that your loss of virtue would make it difficult for me to marry in the future. I thought you could understand.”

“And?” Shen Ning nodded slowly, “I can indeed understand. What else do you want to say?”

Shen Yan fell silent for a moment, “Elder sister has married the Regent, and the Emperor has decreed to name me as a consort. The impact of your loss of purity in the past no longer exists. Naturally, I no longer hold any grudges against you. I hope we can continue to maintain our sisterly bond as before.”

Shen Ning looked at her disdainfully, “You want to maintain sisterly love, and I have to comply with you? Shen Yan, do you need to go to the river to reflect on yourself?”

Shen Yan’s expression froze.

As Shen Ning turned and left, she stood there alone, her face darkened as if poisoned.