Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 114.2
Zhang momo smiled and said, “I was just about to tell you, one quarter of an hour, one quarter of an hour will do. If you can’t hold on, you can ask my husband to help you.'”
Shen Zhen’s small hands suddenly clenched into fists.
After talking about sleeping together, it’s time to start saying things that all women in the world would find offensive.
Zhang momo said softly, “When you get pregnant, you can no longer serve your husband. If you see anyone good around the heir apparent, you should take the initiative to ask him to take a concubine. It’s his business whether to take one or not. If you ask, you will be known as a virtuous woman.”
Zhang momo continued, “Although the heir apparent has no concubines, he may have maids who serve him all year round. After you enter the mansion, you can observe them. If there is a favored one, you don’t have to wait until she gets pregnant. You can promote her to a concubine as soon as possible.”
Hearing this, Shen Zhen was stunned at first, then nodded woodenly.
After Zhang momo looked at her, she knew that she didn’t understand the intricacies of it, so she explained: “Although women should not be jealous and should be tolerant, they still need to have some skills when they enter the inner courtyard. If you give ‘them’ a title, it is equivalent to imprisoning ‘them’. You must know that concubines are not like maids. Once they live in their own courtyard, they can no longer serve their husbands at all times. Do you understand, miss?”
Shen Zhen let out a long sigh, “Thank you, momo. I will definitely keep it in mind.”
Zhang momo has been dealing with women all her life, both inside and outside the palace, and has seen all kinds of people. How could she not see what kind of person Shen Zhen is? After hesitating for a long time, she still said something inappropriate, “Miss, when you look at a man, you can’t just look at his appearance. You should know that many people have lived their whole lives knowing their faces but not their hearts. A man who looks decent at home may have a mistress outside. Although the Lu family is decent, you have to be careful.”
Zhang momo‘s words were a bit heartbreaking.
Shen Zhen didn’t know whether Lu Yan had any little girls around him, and she never asked, but Shen Zhen knew that he could keep a mistress.
After Zhang momo left, Shen Zhen lay down on the bed. Shen Shu entered the room and saw mixed feelings in her eyes, so she guessed what Zhang momo had told her today.
This happens to everyone before they get married.
Shen Shu patted her head and said, “What’s the matter? Don’t you want to get married?”
Shen Zhen closed her eyes in despair and said sincerely, “There are so many things to do in order to get married, just thinking about it makes me so tired.”
She has to serve her parents-in-law, deal with the relationship between sisters-in-law, and take care of her younger sister-in-law.
Moreover, that man still needs a child to inherit the title. In the future, she will have to take charge of the household affairs. Not only does she need to give birth to a child for him, but she also has to give birth to a son. After the son is born, she will have to give him a concubine… After she gives him a concubine, if the concubine gives birth to illegitimate sons and daughters, they will also be under her control…
The little lady seemed to have imagined a miserable life in her mind.
Thinking of this, Shen Zhen said thoughtfully: “Now that things have come to this, I finally understand what my second sister said.”
“Which one?”
“I envy Shen Hong.” I envy Shen Hong for being able to marry a wife without having to get married.
Shen Shu couldn’t help but laugh at her, “Where’s the energy you had to comfort me two days ago? I told you long ago, being a girl at home is the most comfortable.” These words were truly what Shen Shu really thought. She married Li Di, which was considered lowly, but even though there was a huge difference in social status, she had to serve Wen every morning during those four years.
Shen Shu touched Shen Zhen’s soft hair with pity and thought to herself: I hope when you marry him, you won’t suffer the grievances that I have suffered.
Shen Zhen kicked her legs on the couch, and then lay motionless, like a salted fish that had accepted its fate.
Shen Shu patted her plump buttocks and said with a smile: “Zhen’er, do you want to go to the street with your sister?”
Shen Zhen turned over and sat up, “Yes.”
——
After Third Lady Shen “saw through life”, Lu Yan finally hit the first stumbling block in his life.
Lu Yan frowned as he looked at the case file in his hand, rubbing his eyebrows from time to time.
Recently, the Ministry of Works has been expanding the city gates, and Jingzhao Prefecture was supervising the work. Although Minister Shen has never made things difficult for him, he can see that his father-in-law has a lot of opinions about him.
At this moment, Yang Zong hurried in, handed over a list, and said, “Master, the Honglu Temple has just submitted the list of all the nations that will come to the court.”
Lu Yan took it, quickly browsed through it, found the Uighur, and stopped.
Sure enough, everything before his eyes was completely different from what he had dreamed of.
Princess Yonghe was among them.
“Let’s go.” Lu Yan stood up.
Yang Zong frowned and asked, “Where are you going, Master?”
Lu Yan said: “To go and deliver the message to Lord Shen.”
——
Lu Yan rode his horse towards Baoning lane, but as soon as he arrived at the Shen Mansion, he heard the incessant sound of axes and chisels. Turning his eyes, he saw a dozen carpenters building a wall with rammed earth.
He paused and clenched the list in his hand.
The wind in late autumn was indeed really cool.
Yang Zong whispered at the side: “Shall I go over and knock on the gate?”
Lu Yan took a deep breath and uttered a low “hmm”.
Shen Wenqi was drawing the blueprint for the ancestral hall in his study when a servant knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
The servant bowed and said, “My Lord, the Governor of Jingzhao is waiting outside.”
Shen Wenqi paused, “Who?”
“Governor of Jingzhao.”
Shen Wenqi put down his pen and said, “Hurry up and call him in.”
Lu Yan was led into the study. He bowed and saluted, and the words’ father-in-law ‘rolled around his tongue before saying, “’Lord Shen.”
Shen Wenqi glanced at him and said, “This is not the court. Sit down and talk.”
Lu Yan’s adams apple moved, “I came here today because I have something to say to Lord Shen.”
Shen Wenqi smiled and said, “Lu Yan, just speak frankly if you have anything to say.”
The word “Lu Yan” made Lu Yan’s scalp tingle again.
He quickly handed over the list in his hand, “This is what the Honglu Temple just sent to me. At the end of this year, Princess Yonghe will return to the court.”
As soon as the words fell, the sound of axes and chisels stopped abruptly.
Shen Wen quickly picked up the list in front of him, his eyes fixed on the lower left corner, unable to recover for a long time.
When he looked up again, his gaze towards Lu Yan could not help but soften…
