Chapter 45 Ning Consort’s Banquet

After the Crown Prince left, Shu Yuwan finally had the chance to digest the news he brought and found it somewhat unbelievable.

Why would the Ning Heir want to marry her? A divorced woman with a child~

The development of events was truly beyond her expectations!

Marry the Ning Heir?

Shu Yuwan pondered over this possibility.

As she was now, a divorced woman with a child, she had to consider the reputation of the Shu family’s women. Not to mention doing anything, even going out was inconvenient. But if she became the wife of the Ning Prince’s heir, not only would it be much more convenient, but Wenyue would also have someone to rely on in the future.

However!

Shu Yuwan chuckled at her own wishful thinking.

The Ning Heir acted on his whims, but how could the Ning Consort allow a divorced woman with a daughter to enter the family?

Shu Yuwan put her thoughts to rest.

…

In just a few days, Qing Dai happily reported that there were no more rumors about Miss and the Ning Heir circulating outside~

Shu Yuwan sighed, realizing that the Ning Consort was indeed powerful and capable.

Thinking back to the advice the Crown Prince gave her that night, the Crown Prince must have known that the Ning Heir couldn’t make decisions about his marriage.

If she remarried, Wenyue living conditions would worsen, so it was better to stay in this small courtyard.

—-

On the other side.

Zhao Qing Qing, who was initially pleased, was thinking of causing more trouble for Shu Yuwan.

According to the innkeeper’s report, these days people were discussing the topic of the Ning Prince’s heir and the legitimate daughter of the Shu family in the taverns. Immediately, someone questioned it, or brought up other more interesting matters!

“Ha, what you’re saying is unbelievable. Women from noble families report their movements to their households and have numerous attendants. How could they possibly meet men in secret! Unbelievable, I know something interesting…”

“This legitimate daughter of the Shu family rarely goes out from the grand estate. The Ning Prince’s heir has only recently returned to the capital. How could there be anything between them? This fabrication is too far-fetched! The Anding Marquis’s third son and the merchant’s daughter are not matched because one is a man who can freely enter and leave the residence, while Zhao is a merchant’s daughter who manages things on her own.”

“How long has the Ning Prince’s heir been back in the capital~”

…

Moreover, the people they arranged to speak were immediately targeted and taken away as soon as they spoke in secluded places!

Zhao Qing Qing found out that besides the Shu family’s people, there were also people from the Wang family and the Ning Prince’s residence working behind the scenes, so she dared not act recklessly.

If she attracted attention to herself and implicated others, it would be disastrous. She couldn’t afford to offend the Ning residence and the Wang family at the moment.

Zhao Qing Qing sighed, feeling frustrated that the Fifth Prince was currently too weak, leaving her in such a predicament.

She needed to help the Fifth Prince step onto the stage and ascend to that position soon so that she could truly stand out. The current Third Lady of the Anding Marquis’s residence was really nothing!

On the Shu family’s side.

Just as Madam Shu was relieved to see the rumors about her daughter gradually dissipating, she soon received an invitation to the Ning Consort’s spring banquet.

Normally, such an invitation would be normal, just to attend and wait for the banquet to end.

But in the current situation.

Madam Shu wondered about the meaning behind the invitation from the Ning Consort.

Madam Shu asked someone to call Shu Yuwan over.

“Has the Ning Heir given you a response since then? What does the Ning Prince and the Ning Consort mean?”

Shu Yuwan shook his head, “Not yet.”

“It’s probably the Ning Consort’s disagreement at this time.”

Madam Shu nodded.

“Probably to quickly decide on a bride for the heir, inviting me is probably to make sure I see it and not harbor any unrealistic hopes.”

In the evening.

Minister Shu returned home, and Mrs. Shu was still not very happy.

Minister Shu comforted, “We can afford to raise a daughter, so why be so upset? You yourself know it’s not very likely.”

“It’s not like what King Ning said so solemnly. I still hold a bit of hope in my heart.” Mrs. Shu said unhappily.

“We can’t accompany our children for a lifetime! Even if Yucheng, Yuyang can visit Shu Yuwan regularly in the future, it’s still different. I hope she can have someone caring by her side.”

Minister Shu smiled, “You, on one hand, are straightforward, and on the other hand, so sentimental.”

“In this world, there are few truly caring couples like us. Children have their own destinies. We just need to protect them as best as we can, and let the rest go with the flow.”

After Minister Shu comforted her, Mrs. Shu’s mood finally calmed down.

There are no perfect things in the world, relative perfection is perfection!

Unexpectedly, the next day, the Ning sent another invitation, asking Mrs. Shu to bring Miss Shu Yuwan!

This time, Mrs. Shu was even more confused.

Mrs. Shu hurried to Shu Yuwan’s place. Unexpectedly, the invitation from the Ning Consort also reached Shu Yuwan’s courtyard.

“Shu Yuwan, if you don’t want to go, just decline the invitation, it’s fine.”

Shu Yuwan nodded, “I was thinking the same. The Ning Consort probably just wants to see me out of curiosity, to see what kind of person I am that caught the eye of their son. In reality, I don’t have much interaction with Prince Shinzi, so I don’t know why he suddenly had such thoughts.”

Mrs. Shu was surprised, “Shu Yuwan, you know? I told Yuyang not to tell you! That rascal!”

Shu Yuwan saw her older brother taking the blame, and quickly said, “It wasn’t Big Brother who told me.”

“Then who was it?”

Shu Yuwan hesitated, steadied herself, and said, “I found out unintentionally.”

Mrs. Shu was angry, “This Prince Shinzi really doesn’t know his boundaries. Before discussing with Prince Shinzi and the Ning Consort, how could he spread this around? There were already rumors before, and now with this commotion, do they want you to live?”

Seeing this blame shift from her older brother to King Ning, Shu Yuwan didn’t know what to do.

“Mother, Prince Shinzi didn’t make a scene. I found out unintentionally, so don’t worry.”

Shu Yuwan really didn’t dare to tell her mother about the Crown Prince sneaking in at midnight, afraid she would overthink.

After the mother and daughter discussed, they replied to the invitation together, declining the Ning Consort’s banquet invitation.

Unexpectedly, the next day, the Ning Consort actually sent her personal maid to the Shu Residence.

“Mrs. Shu, the Queen has not seen Mrs. Shu for a long time and misses her dearly. Also, Miss Shu Yuwan of the Shu family, there were some rumors in the capital recently that tarnished Miss Shu’s reputation. Our Queen has already rectified them one by one. It is said that Miss Shu is talented and virtuous. Our Queen is eager to meet her. If Miss Shu is truly unwell, our Queen says she will visit another day to inquire.”

The maid was courteous and polite, but her words were quite assertive.

Mrs. Shu was not very pleased, but she also knew that this trip was unavoidable; the Ning Consort insisted that they, mother and daughter, must go.

“In that case, please inform the Queen that we will attend the banquet with my daughter.”

With the confirmation, the maid politely took her leave.