Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 133 Extra 6
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was already autumn.
The young girl’s belly had gradually grown round.
Qingxi helped her into the carriage, speaking softly, “Madam, do be careful.”
Shen Zhen nodded absentmindedly, lifted the curtain with her hand, and said to the coachman, “Return to the Shen residence, quickly.” Her eyes were full of urgency as she spoke.
This time, the carriage did not head toward Baoning Lane.
After Shen Zhen’s wedding, Shen Wenqi hurried back to Eastern Henan during the season when rivers dried and the land thawed to complete the construction work that had been left from the previous year.
Spring soil was different from the moist and loose soil of autumn. Building dikes with spring soil not only saved over sixty percent of the cost but also made the dikes more durable with the changing seasons.
With this contribution, and the money saved, Emperor Chengyuan was overjoyed and granted the Shen family a new residence.
The residence was located in Chang’an’s prime location—Chongyi Lane. It was extremely close to the Duke Zhenguo’s estate.
Shen Zhen stepped down from the carriage, holding her waist with one hand, and entered the Shen residence.
After passing through the decorative archway, she walked toward the front courtyard. Just as she reached the entrance, she saw Shen Shu sitting in the pavilion, a full and cold cup of tea at her side.
“Sister,” Shen Zhen greeted.
Shen Shu came back to her senses. “Zhen’er, what brings you back?”
Shen Zhen sat beside her with a smile on her lips. “Sister, I’ve heard everything. What on earth is going on?”
Shen Shu’s expression stiffened.
She thought: If you already know, then surely everyone else does too.
As for what really happened—it all started from the beginning.
With Shen Wenqi repeatedly earning merit, Shen Zhen marrying into the Duke Zhenguo’s estate, and now pregnant, the Shen family name naturally rose with the tide.
The Shen family, once kicked while down in the sixteenth year of Yuanqing, had now become a hot commodity.
Right after the emperor granted the residence, many people who had nothing to do with him sent housewarming gifts to the Shen Mansion. That would be fine, after all, the officialdom in Chang’an was complicated and many things were beyond one’s control…
What truly caught Shen Shu off guard—was that someone had come forward with a marriage proposal.
Though the Shen family’s eldest daughter had been divorced, her looks, background, and talent were all top-tier. The Jin dynasty had an open-minded atmosphere, and since she had no children, countless men with intentions had begun to stir.
Or rather, ever since Shen Shu broke off with the Li family, many men in Chang’an had stopped sitting still.
In the past few days, matchmakers had come knocking frequently.
The second son of Grand Censor Hong Cheng, Hong Pei, and the Marquis of Huaixi—whose wife had died three years ago and who hadn’t remarried—both extended olive branches to the Shen family.
Shen Shu rubbed her forehead, uneasily saying, “Don’t believe the gossip. I won’t marry again.”
Just then, Qingli came from afar and bowed, saying, “The third madam has arrived.”
As soon as the words landed, both Shen Zhen and Shen Shu’s faces darkened.
What was Zou-shi doing here at this time?
Before long, Zou-shi arrived, smiling broadly. She stopped and said to Shen Zhen, “Oh my, what a coincidence that I came today and Zhen’er is here too. If I had known, I would’ve brought your cousin Lu along. You two used to be so close.”
Shen Zhen pressed her lips into a thin line.
She could still clearly recall the words Zou-shi said when she and Shen Hong went to borrow money:
“Oh Zhen-zhen, you think too highly of your third uncle! Yes, he works in the Ministry of Justice, but that’s got nothing to do with the Dali Temple! With your father imprisoned there, we’re helpless to assist.”
And after Shen Zhen left, Zou-shi turned to Shen Lu and said: “Don’t associate with her anymore. You lend in emergencies, not to those in long-term need. Understand? If I lend her money, how are you going to marry in the future? Who will we rely on to live? Your father’s already being pushed around at court. Can she help with that?”
“A person needs face, just like a tree needs bark. Lose that, and there’s nothing left.”
Thinking of this, Shen Zhen gave her no courtesy.
But someone like Zou-shi wasn’t afraid of cold shoulders. She looked down at Shen Zhen’s belly, placing a hand on it, and asked, “How many months now?”
Shen Zhen brushed away her hand. “Second Aunt, why have you come today?”
Zou-shi couldn’t help grumbling to herself at Shen Zhen’s cold tone—clearly married up, even the way she talks has changed.
With a smile, she said, “I’m here for Shu Shu.”
Shen Shu raised a brow and smiled faintly. “For me?”
Zou-shi replied, “Yes, Shu Shu. I heard about the Marquis of Huaixi’s marriage proposal. What are your thoughts?”
“I won’t marry,” Shen Shu said bluntly.
Zou-shi’s eyes widened. “Won’t marry?? Shu Shu, that’s the Marquis of Huaixi! If you marry, you’d be a legitimate Marchioness.” Not feeling that was enough, she added, “The Marquis has no children. Do you know how many young maidens in the capital—still unmarried—wish they could marry him?”
The words “still unmarried” were emphasized heavily.
As if to say: Think about your own status before you refuse.
Shen Shu smiled and said, “Then why doesn’t Third Aunt have cousin Lu marry him?”
Zou-shi laughed along, “Oh my, if the Marquis of Huaixi were to take a liking to Lu-girl, I’d probably wake up laughing from my dreams. I’d absolutely have her marry early and live in comfort. But alas, he’s set his sights on you. Lu-girl doesn’t have that fortune.”
Shen Shu continued, “So if he takes a liking to me, I must marry him? Otherwise, I’m ungrateful?”
Zou-shi was choked by her words and took a deep breath. “Now, child, what kind of talk is that?”
Neither Shen Zhen nor Shen Shu responded.
Zou-shi stepped forward and took Shen Shu’s hand, murmuring, “I know you both blame me. But Shu Shu, people are sometimes forced by circumstances. If your third uncle had real power, why wouldn’t we have helped back then? The truth is, we were useless. When disaster struck, we could only think about saving ourselves. There was no other way… He’s been drowning in guilt, drinking every day. If your grandmother were still alive and saw him like this, her heart would break. You are siblings from the same mother—how deep can the grudge be?”
After Shen Zhen’s wedding, Shen family’s second and third sons came to Shen Wenqi, knelt without saying a word.
Even with his iron heart, Shen Wenqi’s resolve was shaken by their cries of “Big Brother.”
If it weren’t for Shen Shu’s icy gaze, he might’ve even reached out to help them up.
Zou-shi shed a few tears. “But this time, I truly am thinking for your sake. A girl’s youthful years pass quickly. You may not want to marry now because you can still choose. But later? When you’re older, it’ll be hard to find someone like him! For a second marriage, the Marquis is as good as it gets! And if you really plan never to remarry, then when Shen Hong takes a wife, are you going to keep living here in the Shen household?”
Shen Zhen’s gaze grew darker and darker as she listened. Clutching her belly, she suddenly cried out, “Sister, Sister, my stomach hurts!”
Shen Shu immediately told Qingli, “Go, fetch the doctor.”
Zou-shi, who had given birth herself, could tell at a glance Shen Zhen was faking. But what could she do? Since Shen Zhen wanted to rest inside, could she just stand there awkwardly?
Zou-shi tugged at her clothes and said slowly, “Shu Shu, I’ll come another day.”
Once inside, Shen Zhen was still rubbing her belly. Shen Shu teased her, “Alright, stop pretending, she’s gone.”
Shen Zhen grinned, a dimple forming on her cheek. “Sister, how did our third uncle’s family get involved with the Marquis of Huaixi?”
“It’s not about the Marquis.” Shen Shu replied, “Your third uncle has held the position of Secretary in the Ministry of Justice for five years now. The Marquis of Huaixi’s younger brother is the Vice Minister of Justice. They only came today to ask for a favor.”
Shen Zhen said, “If sister doesn’t want to marry, then don’t. No one can force you.”
Shen Shu smiled at her. “Rest here a while. I need to talk to Father.”
Passing the lotus pond, Shen Shu looked at her third uncle’s study being shut and followed the servant toward the front gate.
She walked up and pushed the door open. Shen Wenqi looked up suddenly, “Shu Shu.”
“I won’t marry.”
Shen Shu knew clearly—if it weren’t for her father opening the door for the first matchmaker, the rest wouldn’t have come.
Shen Wenqi put down his brush and sighed deeply, “Shu Shu, I only want what’s best for you.”
Shen Shu looked into his eyes and said softly, “Then why didn’t you remarry when Second and Third Aunt tried to persuade you to take a new wife?”
Shen Wenqi slammed the table. “That’s different! Your mother and I were faithful to each other our whole lives. With you four, it is enough for me! But that Li Di—that bastard! Why should you give up remarriage because of him? Shu Shu, there are plenty of good men in our Jin dynasty. If you don’t like any of them, I won’t force you.”
Shen Shu said word by word, “Then just assume I don’t like them, alright? Assume I’m arrogant and picky—I don’t like Hong Pei with his children from concubines, nor the Marquis of Huaixi who’s fifteen years older than me.”
“There’s one more,” Shen Wenqi said. “Liu Che, a Registrar from the Ministry of Works. He was your student. Though from a humble family, he is diligent and upright. I brought him up myself. He has only a father and a younger brother. He will visit the residence tomorrow. I’ll find a chance for you two to meet.” Worried she’d overthink, he added, “Don’t underestimate humble origins. Even Zhou Shu’an, the Minister of the Dali Temple is from a humble background—but his bearing far surpasses those pampered nobles in the capital.”
Zhou Shu’an.
Hearing that name made Shen Shu’s heart tremble slightly.
After what she had done to him—if she were to marry someone else now… wouldn’t that be burning bridges?
She knew how stubborn her father was. If she didn’t meet this Liu Che and reject him personally, he’d think she still had feelings for Li Di.
She gritted her teeth and said, “Fine.”
