HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 574: Who Isn't a Beauty?

Chapter 574: Who Isn’t a Beauty?

This was why Shen Yingruo was lost in despondency – the Emperor was, after all, just the Emperor.

His Majesty wanted her to make a choice: whether to be like her strong-willed elder sister who would only ever be a Shen family woman or to be grateful for His Majesty’s years of care and be his understanding, thoughtful niece.

“County Princess…” Madam Tan moved her lips but didn’t know how to comfort her. In truth, Shen Yingruo understood everything and now faced a difficult choice.

“Nurse, do you know that night when I went to find Father, Elder Sister said I was both Father’s daughter and His Majesty’s niece? Father wouldn’t treat me well because he didn’t want me caught between two sides – this was all he could do for me as a father.” Shen Yingruo raised her head to look out the window, her eyes dim and lifeless. “I was naive enough to think I could truly have both…”

With a soft, self-mocking laugh, Shen Yingruo said bitterly: “Indeed, how could there be kindness in this world without reason?”

“County Princess, you…” Madam Tan’s brow twitched. “You mean to…”

Shen Yingruo folded the letter once, then threw it into the fire basin: “I should repay His Majesty’s kindness.”

“County Princess!” Madam Tan raised her voice, then realizing her impropriety, lowered it again. “Do you know if you marry Prince Xun, you’ll be…”

“Change from being a Shen to being a Xiao-Shen?” Shen Yingruo lowered her eyes to watch the flames consume the letter. “Isn’t Elder Sister also a Xiao-Shen?”

“This…” Madam Tan moved her lips, not knowing what to say. The Crown Princess marrying the Crown Prince was her own choice, and also the inevitable result of the Western Border and His Majesty’s entanglement. Whether for the Shen family’s private interests or His Majesty’s, the Crown Princess’s marriage into the royal family was unavoidable. But Shen Yingruo had a choice.

“I know, Elder Sister married for the Shen family.” Shen Yingruo raised her head again to look at Madam Tan. “Nurse, before I met Elder Sister, I was still naive, a young lady dreaming of romance and marriage. But later, when Elder Sister came to the capital, I thought she would be resentful, bitter, raging against fate’s unfairness to her.

Later I realized I was wrong. She was so composed and calm, wise and decisive. She was truly the eldest daughter of a noble family who put family first, while I only thought of fine clothes and jewelry, delicacies and poetry, young love and beauty.

Thinking about it now, I was truly just a little girl. Is romance so important? Worth spending a lifetime pursuing, planning, and scheming for? Even if I can’t be as ambitious as Elder Sister, why can’t I do something else? So that in my life, whether long or short, when I look back at the final moment, I can be proud, knowing I didn’t waste it?”

“County Princess, don’t act rashly.” Madam Tan sensed something in Shen Yingruo’s thoughts that made her nervous.

“I’m perfectly clear-headed right now.” Shen Yingruo’s gaze grew increasingly determined. “Marriage is marriage, regardless of who it’s to. Prince Xun is young and talented, accomplished in both civil and military arts, isn’t he the prime choice for capital ladies? Look no further than the second daughter of the Pingyao Marquis House – hasn’t she been trying everything?”

How could Shen Yingruo not see Yu Sangning’s intentions?

She was just bored, and someone came to flatter her and entertain her, passing along some outside gossip. She had no interest in Wang Changfeng herself but enjoyed watching Yu Sangning’s antics.

“Marriage is for life, one should find someone they love…”

“Nurse, do you think Elder Sister loves the Crown Prince?” Shen Yingruo asked.

This left Madam Tan speechless. Others might see the Crown Prince and Crown Princess as inseparable and deeply in love, but they were from the Shen family and understood Shen Xihe better than anyone – she was someone who didn’t need romance, devoid of such sentiment. Between them lay the irreconcilable divide between the royal family and the Shen family. No one could predict where they would end up.

“If His Majesty wants me to marry, I’ll marry. It saves others from scheming over my marriage.” Shen Yingruo said with a light, mocking laugh. “If His Majesty thinks I’ll follow my husband’s lead and use me to control Father and the others, he’s miscalculated.

If His Majesty can maintain some genuine feelings, and Prince Xun isn’t too unreasonable, I’m willing to be a virtuous Princess Xun.

But if His Majesty means to use the handsome man strategy on me, and Prince Xun agrees to it, they shouldn’t blame me…”

Her bright almond eyes flashed with sharpness. She would respect those who respected her. But whoever tried to use her should be prepared to be used in return.

She turned to sit before the mirror, touching her increasingly beautiful face since coming of age: “Who isn’t a beauty…”

If Prince Xun was willing to be a good husband and not drag her into these grudges, she would be a good wife.

If Prince Xun wanted to use his looks against her, she had her beauty to use against him.

By complying with His Majesty now, using her marriage to repay his years of care and favor, she would no longer owe him anything. From then on, His Majesty would just be His Majesty to her – they would be sovereign and subject, no longer uncle and niece.

“County Princess, why not consult with the Crown Princess before deciding?” Madam Tan suggested.

Shen Yingruo shook her head gently: “Elder Sister won’t interfere with my marriage, nor do I need to tell her why I’m agreeing to it. I just need to handle myself well.”

Madam Tan thought for a moment and didn’t try to persuade her further.

The Western Border matter was essentially concluded after Shen Xihe uprooted those who had bewitched Madam Geng.

Madam Geng had gone completely mad after learning Geng Zhongji wasn’t her son.

Wang Changfeng came daily to pay respects, always asking when they would depart. They had only come to find Shen Yueshan, and now that things had developed this way and everything was settled, they should return to the capital soon.

“Next month is the Crown Prince’s wedding. Since we’re already in the Western Border, and the Crown Princess only has this one elder brother, we can’t miss this wedding. I’ve already written to inform His Majesty.” Xiao Huayong received Emperor Youning’s reply and handed it to Wang Changfeng. “His Majesty has agreed. If Prince Xun is eager to return to the capital, he may go ahead first.”

At this point, with Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe wanting to attend Shen Yunan’s wedding, and them already being on the Western Border, wouldn’t it be unreasonable if Emperor Youning forcefully recalled them?

There truly weren’t any particularly urgent matters in the capital requiring the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s return, so Emperor Youning hadn’t even thought of preventing Xiao Huayong’s request.

After reading it, Wang Changfeng said: “Changfeng was ordered to ensure the Crown Princess’s safety, only to escort the Crown Princess and Your Highness safely back to the capital.”

This indicated he would stay. No one was happier about Wang Changfeng staying than Bu Shulin. She had been having fun, rarely seen around, loving the Western Border’s grasslands and deserts where she could gallop freely. The Western Border horses made her drool with desire.

The Western Border ladies had captivated her – yes, the ladies.

As a lady herself, Bu Shulin naturally preferred the company of other ladies. However, in Wang Changfeng’s eyes, this just served as evidence of the Shunan Crown Prince’s fondness for wine and women.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Chapters