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Marriage of the Di Daughter

Chapter 174 Part 2: Face

The servants in the Shen mansion were the same ones, but the atmosphere was much more somber than before. As soon as Princess Yongning entered the Shen mansion, she removed her bamboo hat. Here, she didn’t need to conceal herself. None of the Shen family’s servants came forward to greet her, all lowering their heads and pretending not to see her. After Princess Yongning walked to the front, they looked at her with strange expressions from behind.

Princess Yongning was utterly discomfitted, but she hadn’t seen Shen Yurong yet. Besides, all the servants in the Shen mansion were like this, she couldn’t just replace them all in one go. If it was in the past, it would have been a simple matter of snapping her fingers for Princess Yongning. But now she was a commoner, and at least until Cheng Wang succeeded, she couldn’t be like before and had to live like an ordinary lowly person.

Princess Yongning was very familiar with the paths in the Shen mansion. She wanted to go to the front hall first and find a maid to summon Shen Yurong to see her. However, when she arrived at the front hall, she immediately saw mother Shen.

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Madam Shen was sitting in a rattan chair in the front hall, scolding a young maid. The maid trembled, unable to lift her head as she was being berated, apparently for spilling a little tea while serving Madam Shen, which had provoked her fury. However, anyone with eyes could see that Madam Shen was merely using this as an excuse to vent her anger. It was such a trivial matter, why was she subjected to such harsh words?

Much of it stemmed from pent-up frustration.

Princess Yongning walked inside, and Mei Xiang called out, “Madam Shen.”

Mother Shen turned around in surprise, and upon seeing the two of them, she immediately stood up, a familiar smile spreading across her face, and said, “Your Highness.”

“Madam Shen,” Princess Yongning felt a little relieved seeing that Mother Shen’s attitude towards her was still the same as before. She said, “I’ve come to see Minister Shen.”

It was probably because she used “I” instead of “this princess”, mother Shen paused for a moment, and recalled that she had been demoted to a commoner. The smile on mother Shen’s face faded slightly, and she first ordered a servant to summon Shen Yurong, who was in the study. After the servant left, mother Shen asked, “Princess, what exactly does the Emperor’s decree mean? You….. have you really been demoted?”

Princess Yongning forced a smile and said, “It’s only temporary.”

Her thought was of course once Cheng Wang raised his army, Emperor Hong Xiao’s edict would naturally be meaningless. However, she couldn’t be too explicit. Mother Shen, being a mere woman, didn’t understand such things. Hearing Princess Yongning’s words, she assumed it was a lie to perfunctory her. She immediately said, “So to say, you have no means to speak in front of the Emperor regarding Yurong’s official position?”

“Not now.” Princess Yongning frowned. The sudden rise in mother Shen’s voice was ear-piercing in her ears.

Mother Shen’s disappointment was immediately and clearly visible on her face. Although she had learned of Princess Yongning’s demotion to a commoner, a sliver of hope lingered in her heart. Princess Yongning was the most favored daughter of Consort Dowager Liu, and her elder brother was Cheng Wang. If Consort Dowager Liu could say a few good words to the Emperor, perhaps he could rescind his decree. She was unaware of the delicate relationship between Cheng Wang and the Emperor. As a woman confined to the inner quarters, before Shen Yurong became the top scholar in the imperial examination, mother Shen was merely an illiterate ordinary woman. How could she possibly know many affairs?

Shen Yurong’s insistence on resigning from his official post despite her objections had already greatly disappointed mother Shen. Now, hearing Princess Yongning’s words, mother Shen felt a sense of darkness in the boundless future. Princess Yongning was now an ordinary person and unreliable, and her own son had also lost his official position. It seemed that the Shen family’s future was truly over.

Thinking of all this, mother Shen looked at Princess Yongning, a sudden surge of resentment rising in her heart. If Princess Yongning hadn’t been pregnant, married into the Li family, and hadn’t broken ties with them in the throne room, their Shen family wouldn’t have ended up in such a state. It was Princess Yongning who ruined her son!

“You’re not a princess anymore…..” mother Chen put on a fake smile, “People outside are saying all sorts of things. If you don’t have anything important to say, it’s best not to come here easily. You know, outsiders will gossip if they see you. Our Yurong has already been forced to resign because of your affair. If this continues, afraid we, mother and son won’t be able to stay in Yanjing.”

Mei Xiang and Princess Yongning both looked at mother Shen in astonishment. In the blink of an eye, mother Shen’s face changed completely!

This opportunistic and nasty face instantly infuriated and disgusted even Princess Yongning, who had seen all sorts of people. She almost wanted to have Mei Xiang throw this mean-spirited woman out the door. But the next moment, Princess Yongning restrained herself. This was Shen Yurong’s mother, and Shen Yurong was the most filial son. She couldn’t argue with mother Shen, at least not stoop to her level.

“Madam Shen,” Princess Yongning said in a high voice, “I’ve already said, this is only temporary!”

Startled by Princess Yongning’s voice, Madam Shen shut her mouth for a moment. However, the warmth in her gaze towards Princess Yongning was gone. It was as if she were looking at a stubborn rogue, feigning compassion by not exposing her, but filled with malicious malice to see her make a fool of herself.

Just then, a voice came from behind, “Mother.”

It’s Shen Yurong who had arrived.

Upon seeing Shen Yurong, Princess Yongning was overjoyed and called out, “Minister Shen,” her expression filled with endless grievance and sorrow.

Shen Yurong looked at mother Shen and said, “Mother, the princess and I have something to discuss, leave first.”

“Oh,” Mother Shen pulled him back. She wanted to give her son some advice, since this woman had dragged him into this mess, but she was also wary of Princess Yongning’s arrogant temper. In the end, she could only say, “Speak quickly, it’s time to eat when you’re done.”

Shen Yurong nodded, and Princess Yongning was extremely happy, believing that Shen Yurong was speaking up for her in front of his mother. She eagerly stepped forward and took Shen Yurong’s hand. Mother Shen glanced at her, restrained herself, and then left.

It’s December!! I love the festivities in this month. This year though I dread the end of the year with the piles of work to be sorted >.<