Although the ending was somewhat anticlimactic, the confrontation between the Dao Sect and the Yuan Gate, and the standoff between the Eastern Xuan Region's alliance of super sects and the Demon Prison, still swept through the Eastern Xuan Region like a storm, centered on the Otherworldly Demon Domain.
It even spread beyond the Eastern Xuan Region to places like the Northern Xuan Region and the Southern Xuan Region, and even crossed the natural barrier to the Western Xuan Region, passing over the ocean to the Chaotic Demon Sea and the Demon Territory.
However, these events did not affect the people of the Dao Sect.
After a lively procession into the Prince's Mansion and paying respects to heaven, earth, and the elders, Shen Miaoyin entered the newly decorated bridal chamber.
Inside the room, the original hustle and bustle suddenly quieted down, with only the large red wedding candles burning silently, occasionally dropping a piece of wax.
"Granny Sun, have someone tidy up the side room and prepare a bowl of hangover soup, keep it warm."
Her gentle voice carried a hint of unquestionable authority, startling the old nanny who had been sent by the Princess Consort to serve the Young Madam, and she quickly agreed.
"Yes, Young Madam!"
After saying that, Granny Sun tactfully led the maids out, and Lily followed, carrying a tray.
Once outside, Lily handed the tray to Granny Sun, who didn't let the maids around her take it, but reached out and took it herself.
"The master's family has a joyous occasion, this is the Young Madam's reward for you, everyone gets a share!"
"This old servant thanks the Young Madam!"
"This servant thanks the Young Madam!"
Under Granny Sun's lead, the maids bowed to the room, and then happily retreated. This reward looked like it was quite generous.
Some of the maids who had been unhappy that outsiders received celebratory money while they got nothing, now had their dissatisfaction completely disappear. Especially after receiving the brocade pouch and seeing the gleaming silver inside, they secretly marveled at the Young Madam's generosity.
"Alright, now that you've all received your rewards, serve the Young Madam well. If anyone dares to betray us, this old woman will skin them alive!"
Granny Sun didn't have any thoughts about receiving the same reward as the other maids. The Young Madam was new and treating all the servants equally was a smart move, which would prevent a lot of petty squabbles in the future.
However, Granny Sun was an old hand and had seen a lot, but these lowly maids might not be the same. So, to avoid causing unnecessary trouble, Granny Sun needed to give them a warning, which was also her duty.
"Yes, Granny Sun, this servant understands!"
Shen Miaoyin listened to the faint sounds from outside, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her face. Wan Shi was still the same Wan Shi, meticulous in her thoughts. Of course, if she wasn't meticulous, she wouldn't have tried so hard to get her into the Prince's Mansion.
In her previous life, even after the bride was secretly switched, Wan Shi didn't choose to make a scene. Instead, she welcomed Shen Zhihua in. It was just a pity that Shen Zhihua was too much like her parents, and was too stupid. Otherwise, she would have been the one to reign over the world.
It could only be said that a person who was too stupid, even if given the position of Empress, wouldn't know how to handle it. (Naming Empress He, who was simply stupid to the extreme. Compared to Empress Lü Zhi in a similar situation, Empress He was like the difference between a human and a paramecium.)
"Lily, go to the kitchen and get some light food."
While instructing Lily, Shen Miaoyin took the initiative to lift her veil and began to organize her belongings in the room.
Her dowry was very, very large. Although "ten miles of red makeup" was a bit of an exaggeration, it was only a little bit. However, there weren't many things placed in the room. Besides clothes and jewelry and rouge commonly used by young women, there was only a zither stand, a guqin, a sword, a precious carved bow, and a specially made chain mail.
This guqin was one of her mother's relics and her mother's favorite guqin, named Colorful Phoenix Singing on the Qi.
Shen Miaoyin carefully placed the zither stand aside, then meticulously wiped the body of the guqin before solemnly placing it on the zither stand.
"Dong!"
Her slender fingers gently plucked the strings, and the melodious and clear sound of the guqin slowly rang out, echoing in the room.
Xiao Jin, who had been plied with a lot of wine, reluctantly arrived at the backyard with the help of a maid. However, as soon as he stepped into the backyard, Xiao Jin heard the sound of the zither, and his brow furrowed slightly.
But soon, Xiao Jin's furrowed brows relaxed. The meticulous melody was like a clear spring, pure and elegant, and like a divine bird singing, aloof and clear.
Having spent several years in brothels, Xiao Jin was not very drunk to begin with, and now he was completely awake. He glanced at the two maids his mother had arranged to send him over, gently waved his hand, and walked into the room on his own.
Gently pushing open the door, Xiao Jin's footsteps stopped at the doorway, unable to move forward. It wasn't because the woman playing the zither was too ugly; on the contrary, the woman was very beautiful, very, very beautiful, so beautiful that Xiao Jin didn't know how to describe it.
A large, bright red phoenix robe embroidered with gold thread was like a gorgeous phoenix feather draped behind the woman. The train behind her was like long plumes, and she wore a golden phoenix crown on her head. The whole person was like the Queen Mother of the West descending to earth, dignified and majestic, noble beyond words.
She was different from Wan Wan. Wan Wan was also very beautiful, with a face like a peach blossom, skin like creamy jade, Dai Eyebrows like distant mountains, and eyes like rippling water, with a myriad of charms, like a delicate flower, making him want to take care of her.
But the woman in front of him, whom he was meeting for the first time but had already become his wife, had features as dignified as her whole person, with a kind of aura of being the mother of the world, bringing peace and prosperity to the country.
Standing outside the door, looking at the stunningly beautiful woman inside, Xiao Jin once again felt a very absurd feeling in his heart. It was as if the person inside was not his Young Madam, but his mother. The temperament of the two was indeed somewhat similar, and even his mother was slightly inferior.
Lily and Servant Sword, who were serving beside her, looked towards the door when they heard the movement. After seeing Xiao Jin, they bowed in salute, but did not take the initiative to speak, obviously not wanting to disturb Shen Miaoyin's interest in playing the zither.
Xiao Jin didn't mind these things, but just stood at the door, quietly listening to the Colorful Phoenix Singing on the Qi.
"Dong!"
After Shen Miaoyin retracted her slender jade fingers from the strings, she noticed that the door was open, and a handsome young man with delicate features and rosy lips and white teeth was standing outside.
Without thinking, Shen Miaoyin knew that this was Xiao Jin. After all, she had seen this man in her previous life, and at that time, this man had even thought of forcibly taking her back to be his empress.
In her previous life, Xiao Jin was a very ambitious and controlling emperor. He wanted to control everything in his own hands and hold everyone in his palm.
However, the current Xiao Jin looked very young and was not yet the unpredictable emperor.
"This concubine greets the Young Master. This zither is my beloved possession. I was worried that something might be wrong, so I couldn't help but try it out. However, my skills are not good enough, and I have made the Young Master laugh."
Shen Miaoyin got up and took the initiative to give Xiao Jin a blessing. Every move was impeccable, and she had obviously learned court etiquette.
Except for lifting her own veil!
But this actually relieved Xiao Jin's embarrassment. If he were to lift the veil, Xiao Jin really wouldn't know what to do. First, he didn't dare. The woman in front of him, dressed as an empress, wouldn't give Xiao Jin ten guts to lift the veil.
But the person in front of him was his wife whom he had married with proper ceremony. If he didn't lift the veil, Shen Miaoyin would be laughed at by the entire capital tomorrow. Of course, that wasn't important. The main thing was that Xiao Jin would have to suffer.
Fortunately, when Xiao Jin came in, Shen Miaoyin was not wearing a veil, which relieved him. Anyway, the veil had already been lifted. Besides the maids, there were only the Young Master and the Young Madam in the room. It couldn't have been lifted by an outsider.
"Young Madam is too modest. Although I don't understand music, I can hear that Young Madam's zither skills have the style of a master."
Xiao Jin gave a dry laugh, feeling awkward standing there, so he spoke very politely, like an outsider.
Shen Miaoyin looked at the honest and well-behaved Xiao Jin, and her face did not have an arrogant expression, but was unexpectedly gentle.
"The Young Master has drunk a lot of wine. This concubine has already had someone prepare a sobering soup."
Lily took the initiative to pick up the tray and brought the warm sobering soup to Xiao Jin. Xiao Jin turned his head to look, and then his pupils shrank slightly.
At this time, Xiao Jin noticed that on the other side of the room, there were actually two large wooden racks, one with a complete set of slender chain mail, and the other with swords and bows.
Looking at the bows and swords that were obviously not ordinary, Xiao Jin remembered an old story.
Although the Shen family was not a famous family, the Xue family was a family of generals. Shen Miaoyin was known as a Tiger Girl in her childhood. It was said that, cough cough, it was just said that the Crown Prince and several other princes were often beaten by this Tiger Girl when they were young.
Immediately, Xiao Jin, who was only a little embarrassed, instantly became restrained, and his eyes were a little evasive when he looked at Lily.
"Cough cough, I can do it myself."
Xiao Jin didn't dare let Lily get close. He knew that Shen Miaoyin had a personal maid who was a female guard trained in the palace, highly skilled in martial arts. He couldn't guarantee that Lily didn't know martial arts.
Mainly, Xiao Jin had self-awareness. He knew that the things he had done were indeed quite absurd, but if they weren't absurd, he wouldn't have done them.
It's just that, in the past, he enjoyed himself, but now, he could only suffer the consequences himself. Even if Lily really beat him up for the things he had done in the past, on behalf of Shen Miaoyin, he could only accept it.
Complain? Xiao Jin couldn't afford to lose face like that, and who would he complain to? 'Is there any official in the court who would allow me to complain to them?'
"This concubine knows that the Young Prince has someone he loves and is devoted to. I have already had the servants clean up the side room. If the Young Prince is unwilling to stay in the main room, he can rest in the side room."
Just as Xiao Jin was drinking the sobering soup, Shen Miaoyin's gentle voice sounded again, making Xiao Jin's heart rejoice. He finished the large bowl of sobering soup in a few mouthfuls, and then quickly said.
"Young Madam, I'm a little tired, so I'll go and rest first."
With that, Xiao Jin turned around and left, without the slightest hesitation, as if he was afraid that Shen Miaoyin would go back on her word.
Watching Xiao Jin's hurried departure, Lily looked at her mistress with some confusion, and said with a puzzled expression.
"Little... Young Madam, why didn't you ask the Young Prince to stay?"
"You can keep the person, but you can't keep the heart, so why force it? Alright, let's all rest early, don't be late tomorrow morning."
Shen Miaoyin didn't explain too much, not because she didn't trust Lily, but because some things only needed to be known in her own heart.
After taking off the phoenix coronet and putting it away, Shen Miaoyin changed her clothes with the help of Lily and Servant Sword, and then went to sleep.
Nothing was said overnight. The next morning, Shen Miaoyin got up early to wash up, and then sat in front of the dressing table, starting to put on new makeup. From today onwards, she was a married woman, so naturally she couldn't wear the maiden hairstyles she used to wear.
But just as Lily was helping Shen Miaoyin with her makeup, Granny Sun from last night hurried in and knelt down in front of Shen Miaoyin with a thud, wailing.
"Young Madam, this old servant deserves to die, this old servant deserves to die, I didn't keep an eye on the Young Prince."
"Hmm? Granny Sun, don't worry, get up first, and speak slowly, explain clearly."
Shen Miaoyin frowned slightly, which frightened Granny Sun even more, making her lower her head and not dare to glance up. After hearing Shen Miaoyin's words, she said in a low voice.
"Young Madam, last night when the Young Prince was resting in the side room, this old servant had people watching the Young Prince, but who knew that before dawn today, the Young Prince secretly left the Prince's Mansion."
On the second day of the wedding, the Young Madam had not yet offered tea, and the Young Prince had already run away. This was simply absurd, and it was also a dereliction of duty on the part of their servants. At best, they would be beaten, and at worst, they would be sold off.
Who didn't know that the Prince's Mansion attached great importance to this Young Madam, and the Princess Consort had repeatedly warned the servants in the mansion early on, telling them not to slight the Young Madam in any way, but the current situation was that even if the Young Madam was kind and gentle, she would inevitably be furious because of this.
However, Shen Miaoyin was not angry because of this. She understood Xiao Jin's thoughts a little. He was not stupid, on the contrary, he was very smart, but precisely because he was too smart, he had to do some absurd things.
Prince Liang was already a meritorious general, and the Young Prince Liang must not be a talented person, or even of average talent. Only a tiger father with a dog son could ensure the stability of the Yue Kingdom.
As for today's absurd matter, it was estimated that Xiao Jin was also a little afraid of her, and when facing fear, there was not necessarily the best way, but there was definitely the most useful and comfortable way in the short term—escape!
So, Xiao Jin ran away directly. Anyway, at most, he would be scolded by the Princess Consort a few times, or be punished by her. In that case, he could face her, his strong wife, with equanimity.
Strong? Don't you see, the once strong Jin Dynasty dominated the Central Plains and looked down on all sides, but in the end, it ended up in a tragic situation of the Three Families Dividing Jin.
"Then do you know where the Young Prince went?"
Shen Miaoyin's voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of warmth that soothed people's hearts, which gradually calmed down Granny Sun, who was still a little flustered.
"Reporting to the Young Madam, it seems..."
Granny Sun hesitated, mustered up her courage and secretly glanced at this incomparably noble Young Madam. Seeing that there was no anger on the Young Madam's face, she carefully said.
"It seems he went to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion."
The Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion was actually a brothel, and the most famous one in the entire capital.
"This matter is not your fault. If the Young Prince wants to leave the Prince's Mansion, you wouldn't dare stop him. It's good to know where he went. Send a few clever servants to follow the Young Prince secretly. The Young Prince is of noble birth, don't let anyone offend him."
Shen Miaoyin said methodically, as long as she knew where he went, she wouldn't bother worrying about what Xiao Jin did.
"As for Father and Mother Consort, I will explain it myself."
Granny Sun breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and immediately, a sense of relief after surviving a disaster rose from her heart.
The Young Madam is indeed from a prestigious family, truly kind and virtuous. Such a generous master is rare. In the future, she must serve her well.
"Yes, this old servant will go and make arrangements."
Granny Sun responded softly. With the Young Madam's words, Granny Sun quickly calmed down. As long as she sent someone to keep an eye on the Young Prince and ensure nothing happened, she could return to report in time if something did happen.
"Also, send a few maids to follow Servant Sword."
"Yes!"
After Servant Sword and Granny Sun left, Shen Miaoyin quickly dressed and made her way to the main hall.
Before she even got close to the main hall, a servant had already gone in to announce her arrival. As soon as she approached, Shen Miaoyin was welcomed inside.
Stepping over the threshold, Shen Miaoyin looked up and saw a majestic and imposing man sitting at the head of the table, with a dignified woman beside him.
Shen Miaoyin stepped forward, obediently knelt on the prepared cushion, and paid her respects to the two elders.
"Your daughter-in-law greets Father Prince and Mother Consort, may Father Prince and Mother Consort be well!"
Offering tea at the first meeting was the custom. Shen Miaoyin didn't say anything too intimate. As a member of the imperial family, she followed the rules and etiquette. That was what respect was!
Prince Liang Xiao Ji and Princess Consort Wan Shi, who were sitting at the head of the table, had been wearing stern faces before Shen Miaoyin entered, not to give the Young Madam a hard time, but because they were so angry that they wanted to slam the table. However, in order not to show their anger to the Young Madam, they deliberately kept their faces tight.
As for deliberately giving the Young Madam a hard time, that kind of thing basically only appeared in storybooks. It wasn't that it was impossible, but that any normal person wouldn't do that.
The Young Madam was also a member of the imperial family recorded in the Court of the Imperial Clan. At least on the surface, the imperial family's etiquette and face needed to be maintained. Otherwise, rumors would spread, and the Court of the Imperial Clan would start to assert its presence.
In addition, some people may not know that the crime of treason was both easy and difficult to define.
It was easy to define in that as long as the emperor thought you had it, you had it. It was difficult to define in that if you didn't have enough status, you weren't qualified to be charged with this crime.
Imagine, if one day, the Young Madam suddenly said or did something, would the Prince's Mansion be implicated?
At this moment, seeing Shen Miaoyin's calm expression, Xiao Ji and Wan Shi's hanging hearts gradually settled down. Even Xiao Ji looked at that understanding and gentle face, and his expression was a little dazed.
Wan Shi also felt a little emotional. No wonder she could never win against that woman in her life. Even the daughter she taught was so impeccable. It was not difficult to imagine how stunning that woman must have been.
While the Prince Liang and his wife were feeling emotional, the maid standing aside was suffering. She couldn't stand still while holding the tray, and she couldn't walk over. Fortunately, Shen Miaoyin spoke at this time.
"Give them all to me."
The maid's face lit up slightly, but she didn't bring them over immediately. Instead, she turned to look at the Princess Consort. After seeing the Princess Consort nod, she bowed and brought the tray to Shen Miaoyin's side.
Shen Miaoyin first took a cup of tea and handed it to Prince Liang Xiao Ji, saying softly.
"This cup of tea, your daughter-in-law offers to Father Prince on behalf of the Young Prince. The Young Prince is young and acts unrestrained. I hope Father Prince will be tolerant!"
Xiao Ji only glanced at it twice before voluntarily shifting his gaze, accepting the tea offered by the Young Master, taking a light sip, and then setting it aside.
"This cup of tea, this daughter-in-law offers on behalf of the Young Master to Mother Consort, past events are like smoke, many thanks to Mother Consort's magnanimity!"
Wan Shi looked at Shen Miaoyin with a somewhat complicated gaze. This daughter-in-law, whom she had painstakingly sought, was even more outstanding than she had imagined. It was just a pity that a phoenix should have perched on a parasol tree, but the parasol tree had fallen to a pheasant!
Shen Miaoyin, however, maintained her composure. After offering tea on behalf of Xiao Ji, she then picked up her own cup of tea and presented it to Prince Liang, Xiao Ji.
"This cup of tea, the new bride Shen offers to Father Prince. The new bride is newly arrived and may be lacking in her handling of affairs. In the future, I hope Father Prince will be more tolerant!"
Xiao Ji had accepted the previous cup of tea without the slightest hesitation, but this time, Xiao Ji paused for a moment, then sighed softly, accepting the teacup with a hint of relief in his eyes, taking a few sips before saying with emotion.
"Good tea!"
After sighing, Xiao Ji then untied a waisttablet from his waist and handed it to Shen Miaoyin, saying softly.
"This is the Tiger Token, which commands the Prince's Mansion guard, capable of commanding a thousand men. Previously, it was all under your Mother Consort's control, but your Mother Consort's health is weak, and the aura of war is too heavy, so from now on, you will be in charge."
"Thank you, Father Prince!"
Faint traces of bronze-yellow could be seen on the black token. It was quite heavy and thick in the hand. One side of the token had the character "Tiger," while the other side was engraved with a tiger descending the mountain.
This token, in her previous life, had saved the Xiao family's empire at a critical moment, and the person who led the troops was none other than Princess Consort Wan Shi.
Although Wan Shi came from a scholarly family, she also became well-versed in military books after marrying into the Prince's Mansion, and even learned riding and archery from Prince Liang. Usually, when Prince Liang was not in the capital, this Tiger Guard was under Wan Shi's control.
There was no doubt that this token was very important, but it was also a hot potato. In her previous life, the Princess Consort had hardly used it. It was true that this token was bestowed by the Emperor, but some things were given to you just for the sake of giving them, not for you to use.
Prince Liang handing the Tiger Guard over to Shen Miaoyin was not only because he felt guilty, but also to show his support for Shen Miaoyin. With the Tiger Guard in hand, Xiao Jin could only be manipulated in front of Shen Miaoyin. Moreover, Shen Miaoyin was the most suitable person to control this token. The Emperor had absolute trust in her, even unwavering belief!
"This cup of tea, this new bride offers to Mother Consort, this new bride is foolish, and hopes that Mother Consort will give more guidance in the future."
After accepting the token, Shen Miaoyin once again picked up a cup of tea and handed it to Princess Consort Wan Shi. Wan Shi accepted it, smiled, and took two light sips before picking up a wooden box from her side, clearly having prepared it in advance.
"My health is weak, so in the future, the Prince's Mansion will have to rely on you to manage it."
As the Princess Consort spoke, she also handed the wooden box in her hand, which contained the Prince's Mansion's treasury, to Shen Miaoyin, causing Shen Miaoyin to be slightly stunned, because in her previous life, the Princess Consort had firmly held onto the power of the Prince's Mansion.
In fact, in her previous life, Wan Shi had originally planned to hand over the management of the Prince's Mansion to Shen Zhihua after she entered the door.
Although the Prince's Mansion had a large estate, the true foundation of the Prince's Mansion was still Prince Liang. Therefore, Wan Shi was not afraid that Shen Zhihua would lack experience and not understand these things. If she didn't understand, she would teach her. Who was born knowing everything?
Besides, that Shen Zhihua was still Shen Miaoyin's younger sister. Since they were sisters, even if she was not as good as Shen Miaoyin, she would still have some wisdom. With some teaching, she would definitely be able to manage the Prince's Mansion. In the future, after she and the Prince had passed away, she would also be able to help Xiao Jin support this family.
Anyway, when Prince Liang was around, the Prince's Mansion was not afraid of being tossed around, and no one would really dare to gnaw at the Prince's Mansion's estate. She and the Prince would support it for a few more years, and they would definitely be able to teach her.
But who would have thought that even though Wan Shi had set her expectations extremely low, it still exceeded her expectations. That Shen Zhihua was simply a foolish and jealous woman. If she didn't have a good older sister, the Princess Consort would have wanted to directly divorce her at the time, and then go to the Shen residence to snatch a bride, snatching Shen Miaoyin over.
The people in the capital only saw that Prince Liang was at the height of his power, holding heavy troops, and holding a position of great authority, but they did not know the dangers involved.
Of course, the current Emperor and Prince Liang were brothers born of the same mother, and Prince Liang had risked his life for the Emperor. Moreover, the Princess Consort and their only son were both in the capital, so the Emperor would naturally not be suspicious. Even if the new Emperor ascended the throne, Prince Liang could at most hand over his military power to ensure the safety of the Prince's Mansion.
But what about after Prince Liang's death? At that time, where would Xiao Jin go? At that time, the capital would be a dangerous place, especially the imperial family.
How many of the sons of the founding Emperor had died at the hands of the Emperor? How many generals did Prince Liang have? In the future, the Crown Prince might not be able to rest assured after ascending the throne. Therefore, the Princess Consort needed to seek a talisman for Xiao Jin, for the Prince's Mansion, preferably one that could protect Xiao Jin for a lifetime, and it would be even better if it could protect the next generation.
And Shen Miaoyin was this talisman. As long as Shen Miaoyin was still around, unless the Prince's Mansion rebelled, their lives would be safe.
In the entire Yue Kingdom, no one dared to touch Shen Miaoyin, at least, before the Old General's prestige completely dissipated, no one could touch her!
Wan Shi understood very well that since it was a talisman obtained through seeking, there was no need to hold onto these things any longer. It would be better to be generous. With Shen Miaoyin's abilities, managing the Prince's Mansion should not be a problem. Moreover, she had never quarreled with Madam Shen, who constantly targeted her in the Shen Residence, which showed that Shen Miaoyin was a generous person.
Taking a step back, even if Shen Miaoyin was truly the kind of strong and overbearing person, Wan Shi would accept it. At most, she would just suffer some grievances, considering it all for the sake of ensuring her beloved son's smooth life.
Truly, the hearts of parents are all the same!
Wan Shi had planned everything in advance for Xiao Jin, and her expectations for Shen Miaoyin were actually set very low, yet also very high.
But today, Wan Shi realized that there was a reason why Xue Pingzhao had defeated so many noble young ladies in the capital back then. The daughters she taught were all so perfect.
Last night, after hearing that Xiao Jin had gone to the side room for the night, Wan Shi dared not fall asleep all night, fearing that Shen Miaoyin would be ashamed and angry, and cause a scene in the Prince's Mansion, but Shen Miaoyin did not.
This morning, Xiao Jin directly sneaked out, and Wan Shi was again worried, constantly thinking about how to appease Shen Miaoyin, and even prepared to humble herself to let Shen Miaoyin vent her anger.
But this time, Shen Miaoyin not only did not make a fuss, but even helped that good-for-nothing son everywhere, taking care of his face in every way, sending people to watch over Xiao Jin. It could be said that sometimes, she, as a mother, was not as broad-minded as Shen Miaoyin.
"You have been wronged last night and this morning. In the past, the Prince and I spoiled Jin'er. In the future, you should discipline him as you see fit. No matter what happens, I will stand by your side. You don't need to worry too much about the Empress Dowager; I will talk to her."
Wan Shi looked at Shen Miaoyin with some emotion, feeling much more relaxed. Xiao Jin had always been her worry!
"Also, in the future, you don't need to be so restrained at home. You don't need to call us Royal Father and Royal Mother. In the hearts of the Prince and I, you are our own daughter."
Although Xiao Ji did not respond, he did not deny it either.
After Shen Miaoyin took the wooden box, she stood up with Wan Shi's support, holding Wan Shi's hand, with a faint smile on her face, following Wan Shi's words, and said in a gentle tone.
"Mother, you are too kind. There is no grievance. The Young Master has always been wise, and he has kept your teachings in mind. It's just that he is young and has not settled down yet."
As soon as these words came out, Wan Shi's face also showed a bit of a smile. She also felt sorry for her beloved son. Xiao Jin was extremely intelligent when he was young, but being born in the Prince's Mansion was his luck and his misfortune. Under the intentional 'indulgence' of the Empress Dowager and even the Emperor, Xiao Jin's behavior gradually became dissolute.
Wan Shi wanted to control him back then but could not, and could only watch and suffer in her heart, but now, someone can finally understand her difficulties.
"I have long heard that the Shen family's daughter is both beautiful and intelligent. Seeing her today, it is truly better to meet in person than to hear about her!"
"How can I be as good as Mother says? Miaoyin is just doing what she should do."
Xiao Ji, who was sitting on the side, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw the Princess and Shen Miaoyin becoming so close so quickly. No matter what, this time, he had schemed against Shen Miaoyin, and he felt guilty in his heart. Naturally, he didn't want Wan Shi and Shen Miaoyin to be at odds.
Therefore, when Wan Shi took the initiative to talk about letting Shen Miaoyin manage the household last night, Xiao Ji acquiesced, fearing that Shen Miaoyin would be wronged, and specially gave her the Tiger Token and Tiger Guard.
But now it seems that he was overthinking it. Also, Wan Shi was able to put aside her past grievances and accommodate him in every way, and even took the initiative to help Xue Pingzhao handle her funeral affairs when Xue Pingzhao passed away, helping to put all of Xue Pingzhao's dowry under Shen Miaoyin's name, which shows that Wan Shi is also a virtuous woman.
"Alright, it's getting late. Today, I should leave the capital."
Xiao Ji said in a deep voice. He should have gone to the border several days ago. If the Shen Residence had not suddenly agreed to this marriage, he would not have wanted to miss it, and would not have stayed in the capital until now.
And today, the wedding is over, this cup of tea has been drunk, and it is time to leave the capital. Although there have not been many battles on the border recently, the affairs are still heavy, and the food and fodder for the people and horses are all major matters.
"Prince, have you brought everything?"
Wan Shi, who was originally pleasantly surprised by Shen Miaoyin, couldn't help but feel a little down at this time, and said with some reluctance.
Since the death of the old general, Prince Liang's stay in the capital has not been long each time, and each time it is a hasty gathering followed by a hasty farewell.
This time, it was the longest time Wan Shi and Prince Liang had been together in recent years, and it was also the time Wan Shi was most reluctant to part with him. Her beloved son was newly married, and her daughter-in-law was knowledgeable, reasonable, virtuous, and virtuous. She happened to have free time, but she had not yet had time to talk with Prince Liang before she had to leave.
"Mother, don't worry, in a while, perhaps you will be able to see Father again."
Shen Miaoyin stepped forward and took Wan Shi's arm, half supporting Wan Shi's body, and whispered softly, so softly that even Xiao Ji, who was standing next to her, did not hear what she said.
Wan Shi was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and subconsciously turned her head to look at Shen Miaoyin. She immediately understood that with Shen Miaoyin's intelligence, it wouldn't be difficult for her to guess her intention of wanting Xiao Jin to marry her. Yet, she still married into the Prince's Mansion, presumably having a way to change the current situation.
With this understanding, Wan Shi's mood improved a lot. Although still somewhat reluctant, her eyes held a hint of anticipation as she smiled and took Shen Miaoyin's hand, saying,
"That rebellious son is absent, so I have to trouble you to accompany me in seeing the Prince off."
"Mother, what are you saying? The Young Master is just worried that meeting would anger the Prince. He specifically asked me to prepare some things for the Prince."
As Shen Miaoyin spoke, she turned her head to look at Lily, who stepped forward with a look of trepidation and bowed, saying,
"Reporting to the Young Madam, the medicinal herbs are ready and are in the front yard."
"Medicinal herbs?"
Xiao Ji couldn't help but be taken aback. After reacting, his heart was filled with mixed feelings.
The border region was already a harsh and cold place, with food and supplies being extremely scarce, let alone precious medicinal herbs. Although individual medicinal herbs weren't expensive, good ones were unaffordable for ordinary soldiers, and the army couldn't provide them either. However, there were frequent battles at the border, creating a great demand for medicinal herbs, requiring a lot of money.
With the imperial court's limited funds, there wasn't much left after food and supplies. Xiao Ji had even used all of his salary to cover the expenses, which wasn't much, and he didn't care about that little bit of money.
As for more, even if Xiao Ji had the intention, he wouldn't dare to do so. A little bit of salary could be said to be for stabilizing the morale of the army, but if he gave too much, the Emperor would start to become suspicious.
And now, this batch of medicinal herbs...
"Father, rest assured, His Majesty and Father are brothers born of the same womb, with deep and profound brotherly love. Naturally, he trusts you."
If someone else had said this, Xiao Ji would definitely suspect whether they were deliberately trying to put him in an unjust situation. But since it was Shen Miaoyin who spoke, Xiao Ji already believed it by thirty percent. Although still somewhat puzzled, Xiao Ji didn't ask any further questions.
On the other hand, Wan Shi's eyes flashed when she heard Shen Miaoyin mention "brothers born of the same womb" twice. If she remembered correctly, His Majesty had a total of four sons. Three sons had died young, and the deceased Empress had only left behind two princesses. The eldest prince, who was also the Crown Prince, and the fourth prince were born to the Noble Consort, while the second prince was born to the Consort Shu.
"Prince, since it's Jin'er's kind intention, you should accept it."
"Father, these medicinal herbs are just ordinary herbs, not very valuable, worth no more than a hundred taels. In the harsh and cold border region, although it's just a drop in the bucket, it can still be of some use."
Shen Miaoyin followed up with her persuasion. In her previous life, she had guarded the border region with Lin Rongxuan, so she was very familiar with the harshness of the border.
A drop in the bucket? This was simply providing charcoal in the snow! Although little, it could save lives in critical moments!
At that moment, Xiao Ji didn't refuse any further. He, like his teacher, was a general who loved his soldiers like his own children.
Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, Ink Plum.
Ink Plum was the best pavilion in the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, and also the residence of Wan Wan, the courtesan of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.
Usually, the Ink Plum Pavilion was at its quietest in the morning because, generally at this time, Prince Liang's heir and Wan Wan were still resting.
However, today, this elegant and tranquil pavilion was unusually noisy.
Inside the pavilion, Xiao Jin, who had arrived early in the morning, was quietly eating breakfast, occasionally looking up at the stunningly beautiful woman sitting across from him, who was also quietly accompanying him for breakfast.
The woman's appearance was truly extremely beautiful, different from Shen Miaoyin's dignified and graceful beauty. The woman wore no makeup, yet she was incomparably gorgeous.
Her forehead was fair, her willow eyebrows were slender, her eyes were like autumn water, her face resembled delicate flowers, her lips were neither thin nor thick, and were very red. Her delicate nose was perfectly shaped. Dressed in a green dress, she was both delicate and unconventional, bright but not showing any vulgarity.
At this moment, the woman was quietly eating breakfast, as usual, without any crying or fussing, which made Xiao Jin feel a little uncomfortable.
Xiao Jin would rather Wan Wan cry to him, make a fuss with him, or even hit him and scold him, he could accept it all, but he couldn't stand Wan Wan's lack of any attitude.
Was she indifferent? But for so many days and nights, the two of them had poured out their hearts to each other, so many days and nights, the two of them had slept in each other's arms. Were those all fake?
"Wan Wan, about yesterday's matter..."
Xiao Jin couldn't help but want to take the initiative to explain. He simply couldn't refuse what happened yesterday. If a knife had been held to his neck, Xiao Jin would have dared not to marry, at worst, he would have died. However, everything was laid out there, and Xiao Jin couldn't refuse the marriage, let alone embarrass Shen Miaoyin that night.
In fact, leaving early this morning was not only an escape but also a silent protest from Xiao Jin. He wanted to refuse everything, even if it was just a tiny, seemingly insignificant matter.
He didn't leave the Prince's Mansion last night because of Shen Miaoyin's face. Xiao Jin couldn't let her be humiliated. However, not offering tea to his elders this morning was more about him not wanting his own face. As for his own face, Xiao Jin never cared about it, and even wished to trample it underfoot.
However, before Xiao Jin could explain, the woman opposite him reached out and covered Xiao Jin's mouth with a handkerchief, lowering her eyes and saying with a hint of sadness.
"Young Master doesn't need to say more. Wan Wan understands. After all, Wan Wan comes from a humble background. Therefore, Young Master shouldn't have left the Young Madam so early to come looking for Wan Wan. Even if Young Master doesn't care about his own reputation, he should think about the Young Madam's reputation."
"But in my heart, there is only you. 'Wishing for one heart, never to be apart until old age.' Did you forget that this is what you wrote to me back then?"
Xiao Jin's expression became somewhat agitated. As far as he was concerned, whether it was the Prince's Mansion or this vast capital, it was just a cage. Only here, only this pavilion, was a place that belonged solely to him.
In this pavilion, which was considered lowly in the eyes of outsiders, Xiao Jin could have his own joys, sorrows, and happiness, and could be Xiao Jin, instead of the Prince Liang's heir that everyone envied, blessed by the Emperor and doted on by the Empress Dowager!
"Young Master, don't be agitated. Wan Wan remembers it all. This is Wan Wan's vow to Young Master. Wan Wan always keeps it in her heart. It's just that Young Master doesn't belong solely to Wan Wan. Young Master, do you understand?"
In Wan Wan's curved Willow Eyebrows, there was a hint of sorrow, blocking her beautiful eyes that were full of charm, making it difficult for Xiao Jin to see clearly. However, he imagined that they must be filled with tears, which made Xiao Jin feel a pang of heartache.
Putting her jade hand into Xiao Jin's big hand, Wan Wan leaned over and nestled into Xiao Jin's arms, softly comforting Xiao Jin.
"As long as Young Master still remembers Wan Wan, Wan Wan will be satisfied. Wan Wan will still be in the Ink Plum Pavilion, waiting for Young Master, only hoping that Young Master will still remember Wan Wan in the future."
Xiao Jin, who was already feeling uncomfortable with the words stuck in his heart, felt even more sorry for the beauty in his arms. He tightened his arms slightly, wanting his body to remember the warmth of the beauty, and kept rubbing his chin against Wan Wan's smooth forehead.
After being hugged for a while, Wan Wan's emotions seemed to have returned to their previous state, and a delicate smile reappeared on her face as she said softly.
"Young Master, the food is getting cold. Let's eat first."
Looking at the smile that reappeared on Wan Wan's face, Xiao Jin felt a pain in his heart and responded according to Wan Wan's wishes.
"Okay."
And so, the two embraced each other and finished the meager meal affectionately.
After eating, Wan Wan took the initiative to stand up from Xiao Jin's arms, like a wife in an ordinary family, and got up to clean up the dishes on the table.
Watching Wan Wan take the dishes to the kitchen, Xiao Jin's face also showed a bit of a smile. However, when Wan Wan re-entered the room, Xiao Jin's expression suddenly changed.
"The meal has been eaten, and Young Master should return to the Prince's Mansion. Yesterday was Young Master's wedding, and Young Master came to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion this morning. Wan Wan is already very grateful, but the Young Madam is still waiting for Young Master at the Prince's Mansion."
Looking at Wan Wan, who mentioned the Young Madam in every sentence but never thought about herself, Xiao Jin only felt a blockage in his heart.
When everyone used to say that he was absurd, only Wan Wan understood him and would comfort him and accompany him in the dead of night. Now that he had been forced to marry another woman, she was still so understanding, thinking of him and his Young Madam in every way.
Originally, Xiao Jin, who had secretly escaped from the Prince's Mansion in the morning, still felt a bit guilty towards Shen Miaoyin, but at this moment, this guilt had been completely replaced by the debt and pity he felt for Wan Wan.
Yes, he had left early on the second day of his marriage, but didn't he stay at the Prince's Mansion on his wedding night? The world would only scold him, the heir, for acting absurdly, and how many people would blame her?
Moreover, her reputation for being virtuous had already spread throughout the capital. The world would only pity her and cherish her. At worst, Shen Miaoyin could push everything onto him, and the world would believe her.
But his Wan Wan only had him. If even he didn't want her, then where in the world would she find a place to stay?
Immediately, Xiao Jin hardened his heart and made a decision.
"No, I'll stay with you today. Anyway, she doesn't care if I'm at the Prince's Mansion. Maybe she'll find me an eyesore when she sees me!"
Anyway, his mother often disliked him, and that Shen Miaoyin probably felt the same.
"Young Madam, if you continue to act like this, Wan Wan will no longer see you when you come to the Ink Plum Pavilion in the future. You must not let Wan Wan affect the relationship between you and the Young Madam."
Wan Wan furrowed her Dai Eyebrows, directly threatening Xiao Jin with herself. She knew that Xiao Jin cared about her very much.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin was naturally furious, but beneath his anger, he felt even more pity. To him, Wan Wan was the kindest woman in the world, always thinking of him and siding with him. But fate was so unfair. If Wan Wan had a background like Shen Miaoyin, she wouldn't have ended up in this place of entertainment.
"If Wan Wan won't see me, then I will wait outside the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion day and night, never leaving!"
"Why must Young Madam do this? Wan Wan is just a floating weed in this world, not worth Young Madam's efforts."
Looking at Xiao Jin's solemn expression, Wan Wan's eyes filled with tears, and she no longer mentioned Xiao Jin returning to the Prince's Mansion.
Xiao Jin was right about one thing: if he were still hanging around Shen Miaoyin, she would really find him annoying.
Wan Shi, the Princess Consort, wasn't just talking about letting Shen Miaoyin manage the household; she was serious, including giving her the Tiger Token from Prince Liang.
After Shen Miaoyin and Wan Shi saw Prince Liang off from the Prince's Mansion, they returned inside. The Princess Consort hadn't rested well the night before, so she went back to her room to rest, while Shen Miaoyin began to take over the management of the Prince's Mansion.
The first thing she did was to take control of the Tiger Guard. So, Shen Miaoyin put on a scarlet cloak and went directly to the martial arts field of the Prince's Mansion.
Although the Prince's Mansion wasn't as large as the imperial palace, it still covered nearly a hundred acres. A mere thousand people could still be accommodated. However, usually, these Tiger Guards mostly gathered in the martial arts field of the Prince's Mansion in the early morning. Then, a team of people would be left to guard the Prince's Mansion, and the rest would go to the training ground of the Surveillance Gate Guard through the side door next to the martial arts field.
After all, this thousand-man Tiger Guard was originally selected from the left and right Surveillance Gate Guards. They were still members of the Surveillance Gate Guard, and even their monthly salaries were received from the palace. It was just that, on the surface, they were the Prince's Mansion's guard.
The Tiger Guard was said to be given to Prince Liang as his personal guard, but who knew what it was really for?
Today, the Tiger Guard had obviously received orders in advance. At this time, they were almost all in the martial arts field, not going to the training ground of the Surveillance Gate Guard.
When Shen Miaoyin walked into the training ground, the eyes of nearly a thousand Tiger Guards all turned to look at her. Their gazes were filled with fanaticism and admiration. Shen Miaoyin knew that they weren't admiring her, Shen Miaoyin, but her identity, her maternal grandfather, the God of the Army of Yue Country!
Then, with an order from Feng Jun, the Tiger Guard Lieutenant, instantly, nearly a thousand Tiger Guards knelt on one knee almost simultaneously and shouted loudly.
"We pay our respects to the Young Madam!"
Although there were only a thousand people, the shout was like thunder, rolling in. The overwhelming aura of bleak made Lily's legs weak. If Servant Sword hadn't supported her in time, Lily would have fallen to the ground. Even Servant Sword, who had practiced martial arts for many years, felt intimidated.
But Shen Miaoyin, standing at the front and facing this elite force directly, had a calm expression. Her Dai Eyebrows, which were a bit more assertive than those of ordinary women, now revealed a sharp aura. Her eyes swept across each face, showing no fear, but instead giving the Tiger Guard soldiers considerable pressure.
"Good! From today on, you will be under my command."
Shen Miaoyin seemed to have returned to her previous life. At that time, at the border, she stood in front of countless soldiers in this way, her voice not loud, but always resounding powerfully.
The scarlet cloak fluttered in the cold wind of early spring, like a blood-stained cloak, or like a wing spread by a phoenix.
Shen Miaoyin stayed in the martial arts field for a full half an hour, carefully watching the Tiger Guard's training, and even giving some pointers, before leaving.
Shen Miaoyin knew very well that her background could easily allow this Tiger Guard to accept her, a woman, as their commander. But at the same time, she also had to show the talent that matched her background in order to convince this elite force.
The descendant of the God of the Army was not a mediocre person, and the family of generals did not produce unworthy daughters!
And the effect was very significant. At least, compared to the Princess Consort, Shen Miaoyin could almost be said to have done it effortlessly. After all, she originally had a family background and had been at the border for many years in her previous life.
When guarding the border, Lin Rongxuan was the kind of brave man. His martial strength was indeed fierce, but he didn't know anything about training soldiers. It was all managed by Shen Miaoyin.
Just as she returned to the courtyard from the martial arts field, Shen Miaoyin had just sat down and hadn't had time to open the account books that Granny Sun had prepared when she saw Granny Sun walking in respectfully and saluting.
"Young Madam, the Young Master just sent word that he will be dining at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion at noon, and told you not to wait for him. Young Madam, do you think we should send someone to invite the Young Master back?"
Having gradually understood Shen Miaoyin's personality, Granny Sun also began to speak more boldly. She really felt that the Young Master was too unfair to the Young Madam. The Young Madam is such a good woman, but the Young Master insists on staying with that foxy woman in the brothel. He even abandoned the Young Madam on the second day of their marriage and stayed in the brothel, which is simply absurd.
Shen Miaoyin remained noncommittal to Granny Sun's words, nor did she blame her for being talkative. Her first principle in doing things is to follow the rules. As long as one follows the rules, she is easy to talk to. And she would naturally not mind people like Granny Sun, who are beginning to side with her, the new bride. On the contrary, she would teach them.
"With the Prince absent, the Prince's Mansion is under the Young Master's control. If he wants to taste the delicacies of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, then let him go. By the way, does the Young Master have enough money on him? I've heard of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion's reputation even when I was still a maiden."
After hearing Shen Miaoyin's words, Granny Sun couldn't help but open her mouth. The Young Madam is truly understanding and exceptionally intelligent.
She only needs to pass on these words later, and then the Young Master will not be indulging in a place of pleasure, but merely being a little gluttonous, liking the delicious dishes of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.
Although it's a bit of an ostrich move, it at least maintains the face of the Young Master and the Prince's Mansion.
"The Young Madam is right, this old servant was being too talkative."
Granny Sun first seized the opportunity to admit her mistake, and then responded.
"The Young Master probably doesn't have much money on him. In the past, the Young Master often ran up debts at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. He usually gets money from the Princess Consort before settling them. The Empress Dowager also occasionally bestows rewards."
The Princess Consort would naturally not give Xiao Jin money voluntarily. This "getting money" probably means directly acting shamelessly and taking money from the treasury. As for the Empress Dowager's rewards, the Empress Dowager would definitely give them, but probably more often, the debts were too high to ask the Princess Consort for, so he could only go to the palace to ask the Empress Dowager.
Shen Miaoyin could guess how Xiao Jin got the money without even thinking.
"What is the Young Master's monthly stipend?"
"Reporting to the Young Madam, the Young Master and you both have a monthly stipend of one hundred taels!"
This monthly stipend is neither too much nor too little. After being recorded by the Court of the Imperial Clan, one can start receiving the monthly stipend from the age of five. Someone like Shen Miaoyin, who married into the royal family, can start receiving it after marriage.
In reality, it's already quite a lot. You should know that an average family of four, that is, a couple with two children, only needs two jin of rice a day, which is only ten dou of rice a month. One tael of silver is enough to buy one hundred dou. (For ease of calculation, one tael of silver is roughly equal to one thousand wen, and one dou of rice is about six jin)
Three to five taels of silver is barely enough for a family of four's food, clothing, and expenses for a year.
Not to mention, the Prince's Mansion and the palace often have rewards. If Xiao Jin hadn't spent it, he would have several tens of thousands of taels of silver by now. Perhaps, according to the Empress Dowager's doting on Xiao Jin, it might have already exceeded one hundred thousand taels.
But now, not only does Xiao Jin not have money himself, but he also doesn't know how much money he has asked the Princess Consort and the Empress Dowager for.
In just over two years, Xiao Jin has already poured so much money into it. The Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion is worthy of its name as the number one money pit in the capital.
Sure enough, it's easy to extract money from women, and it's even easier for women to extract money from men. After all, since ancient times, there has been no shortage of men who would throw away a fortune to win a beauty's smile.
"Take my monthly stipend for this month and send it to the Young Master. Lily, take another one hundred taels from my private treasury and send it to the Young Master together."
The last sentence was said to Lily, who was standing beside her. Lily and Servant Sword, one is to protect her closely, and the other is a personal maid, so most of the time, Shen Miaoyin uses Lily.
However, after saying that, Shen Miaoyin remembered something again and added to Granny Sun.
"By the way, there's no need to report this matter to Mother. Don't disturb Mother, understand?"
"Yes, Young Madam!"
Granny Sun responded in this way, but in reality, she didn't really intend to hide it from the Princess Consort. Shen Miaoyin didn't really intend to hide it from the Princess Consort either, she just didn't want this kind of thing to disturb her now.
Shen Miaoyin still has a lot of affection for Wan Shi, her adoptive mother in her previous life. The two of them truly had a mother-daughter relationship. She only recognizes two mothers in her life, one is her biological mother, who protected her for the first half of her life and taught her for the first half of her life, and the other is Wan Shi, who protected her for the second half of her life and also taught her for the second half of her life.
However, Granny Sun was stopped by Shen Miaoyin after only taking two steps.
"Granny Sun, there's one more thing. Have the Young Master return to the mansion for a bath after having lunch at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, and then go to the palace. If the Young Master asks, just say that the palace has invited him, understand?"
"This... this old servant understands!"
Granny Sun hesitated for a moment, her mind involuntarily recalling the Princess Consort's instructions to her, and the promise to the Young Madam, then she agreed.
Although there was a suspicion of falsely conveying the Empress Dowager's decree, the Princess Consort often used this method in the past, and the Empress Dowager had never blamed her. At worst, the Princess Consort had said before that she could help the Young Madam speak to the Empress Dowager.
In that case, it would be better to agree first, and then inform the Princess Consort when she woke up for lunch.
After Granny Sun withdrew, Shen Miaoyin began to look through the Prince's Mansion's account books. Of course, she wasn't scrutinizing them one by one, as she wouldn't be able to finish even half a morning.
Shen Miaoyin first wanted to find out what assets the Prince's Mansion had, and then slowly check the accounts. After checking the accounts and having a clear understanding, she would make plans.
Xiao Jin, who was staying at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, did not expect that the Prince's Mansion would not only not urge him to return, but even send him two hundred taels of silver notes. This was completely beyond Xiao Jin's expectations.
According to Xiao Jin's idea, if he, the Heir Apparent, stayed at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion during the day, even if Shen Miaoyin didn't ask him to return to the mansion, his mother would definitely ask him to return to the mansion for the sake of Shen Miaoyin's reputation.
At that time, he could take the opportunity to argue with Wan Shi, and then stay at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion with peace of mind, staying here to accompany his Wan Wan.
However, Xiao Jin never expected that the Prince's Mansion would allow him to continue staying at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. This was simply a fantasy!
"Dahai, who asked you to bring me these silver notes?"
In fact, before asking this question, Xiao Jin already had the answer in his heart. In the past, his mother had always opposed him coming to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. Now that he had just gotten married, it was even more impossible for her to give him silver notes. Therefore, the answer was obvious, it was only his newly married Young Madam, Shen Miaoyin.
But, did that woman have a problem with her brain? She actually gave money to openly support him visiting brothels? Did she not care about her own reputation?
"Reporting to the Heir Apparent, it was the Young Madam who asked this humble one to bring it. One hundred taels are from the Young Madam's monthly allowance, and the other one hundred taels are from the Young Madam's dowry."
Zhang Dahai, who had been following Xiao Jin for several years, scratched his head and said, glancing at his own Heir Apparent while speaking.
"The Young Madam also said that since the Prince is not in the mansion, you, Heir Apparent, are in charge. If you like the delicacies of this Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, then do as you please. The Princess Consort is being taken care of by the Young Madam."
The last sentence was added by Granny Sun on a whim when she was conveying the message.
"The Young Madam really said that?"
Xiao Jin looked at Zhang Dahai with disbelief. If Zhang Dahai hadn't followed him for many years and was deeply trusted by him, he would have suspected that Zhang Dahai was crazy, how could he say such absurd words.
He came to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion to taste delicious food?
However, to be fair, the food made by Wan Wan was indeed excellent, and Wan Wan was also understanding, considerate, and always spoke up for Shen Miaoyin.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jin suddenly realized that it seemed that from beginning to end, Shen Miaoyin had never mentioned Wan Wan, and had never taken the initiative to mention anything related to her, nor had she ever said anything bad about her, and even helped him smooth things over everywhere.
Although this excuse was very outrageous, Xiao Jin knew that it was an extremely clever method, at least, it could help the Prince's Mansion retain some face.
It seemed that this Shen Miaoyin, apart from making him a little afraid, was indeed very good, always siding with him, helping him, and not making things difficult for him.
This made Xiao Jin, who had always been isolated and helpless in the Prince's Mansion, suddenly have a very absurd idea in his heart—perhaps, he could let Shen Miaoyin help him bring Wan Wan back to the Prince's Mansion!
In the next moment, Xiao Jin couldn't help but shake his head, driving this absurd idea out of his mind, but some things, once they took root in his heart, would sooner or later sprout, and then, grow wildly out of control.
Xiao Jin took the silver notes with a complicated expression. Just as he was about to turn around, Zhang Dahai, who was standing in front of him, suddenly slapped his head as if he had remembered something.
"Look at my brain, I almost forgot the important thing, Heir Apparent, after you have lunch at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, you have to return to the mansion to take a bath, and then go to the palace."