Chapter 8: The Regent Arrives

Madam Qin brought quite a few people with her.

The Qin Family’s guards surrounded the entrance of the Shen residence, with four robust servants and over ten maids.

The overwhelming presence almost blocked the entrance completely.

“Madam Qin.” Shen Yunlin hurried to the front courtyard, apologizing with a face full of apology. “I’m truly sorry. I never expected Yanshu and Shen Ning to have such a big conflict. It was our negligence, but this matter is indeed an accident…”

“An accident?” Madam Qin wore a dark green satin dress with a string of precious coral beads around her neck, exuding an air of elegance and arrogance. “Yanshu, a grown man, had his hand broken by Shen Ning, and you’re telling me it’s an accident? This was clearly intentional! Duke, I don’t wish to cause you too much trouble. Please hand over the culprit and have her beaten to death in front of me. Today’s matter will be considered settled.”

Shen Yunlin stiffened and quickly explained: “Madam Qin may not be aware, but today the Emperor issued an imperial decree to betroth Shen Ning to the Regent…”

“Is the Duke using the Regent to intimidate me?” Madam Qin’s eyes turned sharp, obviously not buying it. “You have many daughters in the Shen family! If the eldest is beaten to death, there’s still the second daughter to take her place. The Regent only wants a daughter from your Shen family, there’s no distinction between the eldest and the younger, is there?”

Despite Shen Yunlin’s preparation to apologize, he didn’t expect her to be so difficult. However, the situation was stronger than the people involved, so he had to apologize repeatedly: “Madam Qin, please calm your anger. Yanshu and Ning have genuinely cared for each other in the past. Today’s incident occurred because Yanshu, upon hearing the news of the imperial decree, impulsively barged into Ning’s chamber, leading to this accident. If we’re talking about mistakes, Yanshu isn’t entirely innocent, is he?”

“You’re saying Yanshu brought this upon himself?” Madam Qin’s face turned grim, her voice stern and overbearing. “Your Shen family is indeed skilled at turning the tables! I’ve told Yanshu long ago that Shen Ning, that wretched woman, isn’t worth his affection. He insisted on clinging to old feelings, and this suffering he’s endured is indeed what he deserved. But Shen Ning, that wretched woman, is the real culprit—”

“The Qin family boasts of being a noble and pure household, yet Madam Qin turns out to be a vulgar shrew with a mouth full of filth.” Shen Ning stepped out, looking coldly at the scene before her. “No wonder she raised Yanshu, that shameless thief who sneaks into women’s chambers at night!”

Madam Qin’s face stiffened: “You… what did you say?”

“I mean, the big wretched woman Madam Qin raised the little wretched man Yanshu.” Shen Ning’s gaze was like a knife. “Madam Qin didn’t understand?”

Madam Qin’s expression lost control at a visible speed, her face turning ashen, with veins bulging on her forehead: “Shen Ning, you dare to curse me? You, a little wretched woman, dare to curse me? Someone! Beat her to death for me! Why are you still standing there? Grab her immediately! I want to beat her to death while she’s still alive. Did you hear me? I want her dead—”

The servants and maids, who were obviously carefully selected, responded to Madam Qin’s orders and were about to grab Shen Ning.

Shen Ning stood motionless, the murderous intent in her heart slowly fermenting, her hands clenched at her sides.

Just as the tension was at its peak, a loud voice suddenly sounded from outside:

“The Regent has arrived!”

The air suddenly became still.

Madam Qin’s furious expression froze on her face. The servants, who were just a step away from Shen Ning, stopped abruptly, and the maids’ faces unanimously showed fear.

Shen Yunlin and Old Lady Shen turned their heads towards the entrance.

Shen Ning also looked over, her face expressionless, her eyes calm to the extreme, without a trace of emotional fluctuation.

Eight black-clad guards with swords entered in unison, lining up on both sides, their heads bowed and eyes lowered, their demeanor extremely respectful.

A man in a dark purple robe stepped over the threshold, his figure tall and slender, his features cold as if painted, his eyes icy like the edge of a blade, with a sharp chill hidden at the corners of his eyes.

His facial features were distinct and sharp, naturally handsome with a hint of arrogance and contempt, exuding an aura of intimidating pressure that sent chills down one’s spine.

This was a terrifying man.

Madam Qin’s face turned deathly pale, and she stammered: “The… the Regent…”

“The Regent has arrived, why aren’t you kneeling?”

Madam Qin was startled and immediately knelt on the ground, and naturally, everyone else knelt down in a rush.

The Qin Family had knelt, so naturally, the Shen couldn’t remain standing.

Shen Yunlin suppressed the unease in his heart and led everyone in kneeling to pay respects: “Greetings to the Regent.”

Given the status of the Duke of the State, even when entering the palace to meet the Emperor, he could often be exempted from kneeling, except for major occasions.

However, the Regent before them had never been one to offer such favors.

Wherever he went, no one had ever been able to speak to him standing up.

The sixteen guards around him were elusive, capable of beheading someone with a single stroke of their blade, without even a word of warning.

No one dared to risk their head to challenge his temper.

Yet today, there was an exception.

From beginning to end, Shen Ning only watched him. Not only did she not kneel, but her gaze also remained unchanged.

“I heard someone was bullying my wife.” The man spoke indifferently, his tone seemingly calm, yet it seemed to carry a chilling aura of killing intent. “I found it interesting and came to see for myself who this person is who doesn’t fear death.”

Madam Qin’s face turned deathly pale: “Please listen to my explanation, Your Highness—”

“Save your explanation for later, I’m not interested in hearing it.” The man walked up to Shen Ning and lifted her chin with his hand. “Do you want me to kill them all?”

Shen Ning stared unblinkingly at the man before her, her first thought surprisingly being that he looked quite good, appearing to be decisive and ruthless.

Marrying him wouldn’t be a loss.

“A bit of slander doesn’t hurt the skin or the flesh, there’s no need to kill them.” Shen Ning’s tone was indifferent, clearly not considering Madam Qin as a threat. “It’s just that Yanshu came to see me earlier. Not only was he certain that the Regent would disdain me as a soiled flower, my chastity already lost, but he also behaved improperly towards me, so I broke one of his arms.”

“Well done.” The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, a strange light flickering in his depths. “My queen doesn’t need to be merciful or soft-hearted, and she certainly can’t allow herself to be bullied without retaliating.”

Shen Ning looked at him, her face expressionless: “Didn’t you hear the main point of what I just said?”

“Soiled flower, lost chastity?” Ji Yucang’s lips curled slightly, the chill in his eyes piercing. “In the future, if these eight words come out of anyone’s mouth again, I will cut out their tongue.”

With that, his cold gaze swept across: “Did everyone hear that clearly?”

Madam Qin knelt on the ground, trembling, and nodded: “Heard… clearly…”

“Understood, Your Highness!” The eight guards responded in unison.

Madam Qin was startled, only then realizing that the Regent’s words were directed at his subordinates, meaning that anyone who dared to slander his wife would have their tongue cut out.

He was indeed a cruel and heartless Regent.

“The Shen residence is filled with foul air, I don’t wish to stay any longer.” Ji Yucang turned and walked out, his voice indifferent. “Tonight, I’ll have someone send over the wedding dress. You should try it on.”

Shen Ning didn’t speak, only watching calmly as the tall and slender figure left the Shen residence, taking with him the eight guards as sharp as blades.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, no one dared to speak.

Everyone knelt on the ground like stone statues, their faces pale with fear, their expressions clearly showing they were still in shock.

A gust of wind blew through the air, and Madam Qin involuntarily shivered.

That wretched woman Shen Ning had actually caught the eye of the Regent?

Was the Regent blind?

Ignoring so many dignified and noble daughters of prestigious families, he chose to marry a soiled flower whose chastity was lost?