Chapter 381: Another Adopted Daughter
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
However, since he had helped Mistress this time, he would help again the next time.
It was not impossible for Mistress to win him over.
Sang’er smiled and didn’t compel Song Rui.
“Young Master, you have misunderstood. Mistress only wants to thank you.
“Moreover, Mistress is the mistress of the household in the Prime Minister’s residence and is a family member of the Master’s family. Isn’t it the same whether you work for the Master or the Mistress?”
Song Rui looked at Sang’er and saw her smiling brightly.
In response, he also smiled and nodded.
“Miss Sang’er is right.”
Sang’er gave Song Rui a look that implied, “If you get my drift.” She chatted with Song Rui for a while longer before leaving.
On the way back, Sang’er was in high spirits.
When she thought about how Song Rui smiled at her, she felt as if she had tasted honey inwardly.
Meanwhile, Song Rui’s expression clouded over soon after Sang’er turned around and walked barely a few steps.
Then, he turned around, closed the door, and went back to his room.
A mere servant girl actually had such outrageous thoughts toward him. It really made him feel nauseous.
Sigh! His wife was still the best.
Unfortunately, it was too late now. Even if he went to their secret courtyard house, he wouldn’t be able to see his wife tonight.
Song Rui took off his clothes and lay on the bed. As a strong sense of longing for his wife filled his mind, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
In his dream, he had returned to Mountain Spring Town. He was practicing calligraphy and painting with his wife, as happy and carefree as free spirits.
The next day, Song Rui followed Minister Shen’s instructions and arranged for people to publicize the news that Shen Rong was on the verge of death.
Although he missed Qin Xiaoyao very much, Song Rui controlled himself.
He was thinking he would send a message to his wife as soon as the matter was over.
After a busy day, in the evening, news of Shen Rong’s serious illness spread out in the capital.
According to the news, the Young Miss of the Prime Minister’s residence had not even gone to Fahua Buddhist Temple to offer incense.
The news about her having an affair with a scholar and even dying for love were all fake.
The real situation was that Young Miss Shen had contracted a serious illness and had been recuperating in the residence.
The Prime Minister had even invited the imperial physician to treat her.
Unfortunately, her condition could not be treated. Miss Shen’s current condition was still very bad.
When Minister Shen heard the news reported by the servant, he had a satisfied look on his face.
The person he had taken a fancy to certainly lived up to his expectations. Song Rui was indeed quite capable.
After dismissing the servants, Minister Shen ordered someone to look for Song Rui.
Before long, Song Rui arrived at the study.
After entering the room, Song Rui bowed respectfully to Minister Shen.
“My lord!”
Minister Shen raised his head to look at Song Rui. “You may rise,” he said.
Song Rui straightened up upon receiving the word.
Minister Shen sized up Song Rui. While he was satisfied with Song Rui, he couldn’t help but feel regretful.
It was such a pity. He really wanted Song Rui to be his son-in-law. He even wanted to groom him to take over his position as Prime Minister.
It was all that unfilial daughter’s fault. She had done such a shameful thing and even dared to jump off the cliff to die for love.
Now, that unfilial daughter was no longer around. He could only give up on the marriage.
He really felt that it was a pity…
“My lord…” Song Rui gave Minister Shen a reminder when he saw the older man staring at him in a daze.
Minister Shen quickly came back to his senses and withdrew his gaze from Song Rui.
“Our Shen residence has let you down with regard to the matter of that unfilial daughter.
“When this matter is over, I will make it up to you,” he said.
Song Rui quickly bowed to Minister Shen.
“My lord, your words are too harsh. I am also responsible for the Young Miss’s matter. If it wasn’t for the fact that I didn’t understand Young Miss’ intentions, Young Miss wouldn’t have…”
“Hmph!” Minister Shen snorted scornfully and interrupted Song Rui.
When he saw Song Rui looking at him, his expression softened a little.
“What did it have to do with other people when she committed something so disgraceful?
“It’s good that she’s dead now. So now she can’t bring disgrace to me and the Shen family!”
Song Rui wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, he didn’t say anything.
When Minister Shen saw this, he felt a little better.
He thought to himself, “This kid did have some feelings toward my rebellious daughter. What a pity…”
Suddenly, he thought of something and looked at Song Rui again.
“Other than that unfilial daughter, 1 have another adopted daughter…”
That was right. Although he only had one wife in the Prime Minister’s residence, he had other women outside.
Naturally, he had other children.
Not only did he have an illegitimate daughter, but he also had an illegitimate son.
He had already arranged for the illegitimate son to be placed under the care of a branch family and had already paved the way for him.
As for his illegitimate daughter, he had no other arrangements for her for the time being.
In the past, he did not bring his daughter into the residence because of the Mistress and the Jia family.
However, now, with the death of that unfilial daughter, his wife would definitely not let matters rest.
Anyway, he was going to fall out with her, so this time, he might as well make it a complete fallout.
It would also be a timely reminder to the Jia family and the Empress that the current Shen Hongyu was no longer the scholar that they could easily manipulate.
Song Rui was shocked.
He raised his head and looked at Minister Shen.
Adopted daughter? What adopted daughter? He hadn’t found out anything about this before.
It was not easy for him to arrange for Shen Rong to leave. He didn’t want a Shen Rong Number Two to come here!
“Thank you for your l
When he saw this, Minister Shen sighed.
He got up from his chair, walked to Song Rui’s side, and patted his shoulder.
“I know what you’re thinking.
“But now, Rong’er has already passed away. A gentleman should not be worrying about having no wife. You have to look to the future.”
As he spoke, Minister Shen looked at Song Rui.
“Lian’er is my adopted daughter in name, but in reality, she is also my flesh and blood.
“When you marry Lian’er, you don’t have to marry into my Shen family.”
Song Rui’s eyes flickered.
A satisfied expression appeared on Minister Shen’s face.
He patted Song Rui’s shoulder again.
“If you become my son-in-law, I can let you rise to the top and even take over my position as the Prime Minister in the future.”
Song Rui immediately looked at Minister Shen.
When he saw that Minister Shen was looking at him with an increasingly satisfied gaze, he avoided Minister Shen’s gaze.
After a moment, he looked at Minister Shen again.
“On A/Iistress’s side…” he spoke up.
Mrs. Shen only had one child with Minister Shen. Since that girl called Lian’er was also Minister Shen’s flesh and blood, it could only mean that she was born from another wife.
Everyone said that Prime Minister Shen was a devoted man and only married one woman.
Even when Mrs. Shen only gave birth to a daughter, he did not take in any new concubine.
Now, it seemed that this old fox was not devoted after all. He was just doing it secretly.
After following the old fox for so long, he should have known that this old fox was not a good person.
At the end of the day, Song Rui was the only one who truly loved his wife. From the bottom of his heart, he only wanted his wife.
Indeed, he was the most devoted one in this world.
A smile broke out on Minister Shen’s face.
“You don’t have to worry about that.
“The Mistress will agree to let Lian’er enter the family,” he said confidently.
He was only bringing his daughter into the Shen residence and not bringing his kept woman into the residence. How could the Mistress not agree?
If she didn’t agree, then her position as the mistress of the Prime Minister’s residence would have to be adjusted.
A look of hesitation flashed across Song Rui’s face again as he bowed to Minister Shen.
“The funeral of Young Miss is imminent. Let’s discuss this matter at a later date,” he said.
If he rejected him directly, the old fox would definitely be suspicious, so Song Rui could only calm him down first.
Minister Shen nodded.
“That’s true. We should wait..”