Chapter 388: Humiliation?
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“I will arrange for you to take the position vacated by Official Wang.” Minister Shen finally relented.
Song Rui’s face lit up.
“Thank you, my lord!” He thanked Minister Shen excitedly.
Minister Shen gestured with his hand and smiled.
“We’re family. There’s no need to be so polite.”
Then, he instructed Song Rui on some other matters before dismissing him.
Song Rui’s expression darkened the moment he walked out of Minister Shen’s study.
Minister Shen knew that Mrs. Shen was trying to win him over, but the old fox only gave him a few verbal words of admonishment.
Was he certain that Song Rui would give up on relying on Mrs. Shen and the Jia family for the sake of the rosy picture he painted?
Well, alright. He wasn’t prepared to rely on Mrs. Shen. However, cooperation was inevitable.
In addition, with regard to the Jia family behind Mrs. Shen and the Empress… Who said that he wouldn’t join them?
Putting the Jia family aside for now, he had always been in contact with Empress Jia.
After all, that person held Song Rui in very high regard…
After walking out of Minister Shen’s courtyard, Song Rui originally planned to go back to his own courtyard, but he realized that someone was already waiting for him outside.
That was right. He was the caretaker of the Prime Minister’s residence and also Minister Shen’s trusted aide.
“Lord Song.” When the caretaker saw Song Rui, he came forward and bowed.
Upon seeing Song Rui gesture at him, he straightened up.
“The horse carriage is already waiting outside. The coachman will take Lord Song to Second Miss,” he said.
Song Rui’s eyes clouded over momentarily.
The old fox had asked him to go to Shen Lian just now to accompany Shen Lian to relax, euphemistically speaking.
In reality, he wanted Shen Lian to capture his heart.
Shameless old thing. In order to tie Song Rui down, he was even willing to make use of his own daughter.
“Mm-hmm,” he replied indifferently.
Song Rui immediately changed his direction and headed toward the main gate of the Prime Minister’s residence.
The caretaker watched Song Rui leave and remembered the change in his expression.
After Song Rui walked away, he went to Minister Shen’s courtyard.
Not long after that, the news of Song Rui taking a horse carriage to meet Shen Lian reached Mrs. Shen’s ears in the rear courtyard.
The news included details of Song Rui pulling a long face when the caretaker went to invite him.
“Hmph! Does Shen Hongyu think that everyone is like him? That kid Song Rui looks respectful on the surface, but he’s actually very arrogant,” Mrs. Shen said as she dressed up in front of the mirror.
Through the bronze mirror, she saw Sang’er, who was reporting the news to her with a worried expression. She could not help but smile.
“Don’t worry.
“It was only Shen Hongyu’s wishful thinking to betroth Shen Lian to Song Rui.
“With me around, this matter will not succeed so easily.”
Sang’er’s eyes flickered.
“Besides, compared to Shen Lian, perhaps Song Rui likes you more,” Mrs. Shen continued.
Sang’er’s face lit up with joy when she heard this.
Sensing that she had forgotten her manners somewhat, Sang’er quickly restrained her expression.
Then, she shyly said to Mrs. Shen, “Mistress, you are making fun of Sang’er.”
“Haha!” Mrs. Shen laughed in amusement.
“I’m not making fun of you.
“Although Song Rui doesn’t come from an influential background, he’s truly talented. The title of the Immortal Poet alone is enough to make up for his lack of background.
“Besides, he’s no longer a mere commoner now. Even if his position isn’t high, he’s still formally a sixth-grade official of the Ministry of Appointments.
“Yet Shen Hongyu doesn’t think it is humiliating to him to let him marry a shameful illegitimate daughter.”
Sang’er was surprised, but thereafter, she was secretly delighted.
However, it was only for a moment before the secret joy disappeared.
According to Mistress, Young Master Song might not be interested in Shen Lian.
Then what about her? Her status was even lower than Shen Lian’s…
Mrs. Shen saw through Sang’er’s thoughts and smiled again.
“Although your status is not as good as Shen Lian’s, at least you have a clean background.
“Furthermore, you will be the concubine and Shen Lian will be the wife. There’s no basis for comparison between the two of you.” After saying this, a hint of disdain flashed across Mrs. Shen’s heart.
Although Shen Lian was an illegitimate daughter, she was still Shen Hongyu’s daughter. A servant girl actually dared to compare herself to Shen Lian.
This girl was really brazen.
However, even though she despised the maidservant in her heart, Mrs. Shen did not show it on her face.
The more Sang’er was obsessed with Song Rui, the more loyal she would be to her.
When Sang’er heard this, a hint of dissatisfaction flashed across her heart.
There was definitely no way she could compare herself to the deceased Eldest Young Miss.
However, Shen Lian was just an illegitimate daughter.
Moreover, Young Master Song was forced by Master to marry this woman. It was a disgrace to Young Master Song’s reputation.
In the future, if she followed Young Master Song, she might not lose out to Shen Lian in winning Young Master’s heart.
In fact… perhaps Young Master Song would be more biased toward her…
As she thought of this, Sang’er could not help but feel a little smug.
Mrs. Shen caught a glimpse of Sang’er’s reaction in the mirror and found it even more ridiculous.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
Mrs. Shen looked at the door.
“Who is it…” Sang’er asked.
“Mistress, Eunuch Xiao Dezi is here. He said that he received the Empress’s decree to invite you to the Palace.” A servant’s voice immediately rang out from outside.
Mrs. Shen’s expression froze as she exchanged glances with Sang’er.
“Alright,” she said.
“Please ask Eunuch to wait for a moment. I will pack up and follow him into the palace.”
“Yes, Mistress!” The voice outside the door responded and left.
Mrs. Shen then instructed Sang’er to continue to help her dress up.
Thereafter, she changed her clothes and went out.
In the end, the Empress still came looking for her.
Rong’er had only been gone for a short while, and Rong’er’s aunt was already forcing her to allow Shen Hongyu to replace her own daughter with an illegitimate daughter.
“Mistress…” Sang’er called out worriedly when she saw Mrs. Shen’s gloomy expression.
Only then did Mrs. Shen look at Sang’er. When Sang’er saw that look, she became afraid and lowered her head.
“Don’t worry. 1 will not fall out with the Empress.
“However, 1 will not compromise easily.
“My Rong’er is the only Young Miss in the Prime Minister’s residence.” She would never allow Shen Lian to usurp her daughter’s position.
With that, Mrs. Shen left, leaving behind a fearful Sang’er.
In the Empress’s sleeping chamber.
After receiving the summon, Mrs. Shen followed Xiao Dezi into the inner hall.
In the hall, Empress Jia was still feeling unwell and lying in bed.
The bed curtain had been lowered down, so no one could see the person inside.
Mrs. Shen did not look at her and went forward to bow.
“Your humble official’s wife hereby pays her respects to Your Royal Highness. May the Empress live for thousands of years!”
A hand finally reached out from behind the bed curtain.
Immediately, the two palace maids standing by the side hurried over.
One of them helped to lift up the bed curtain while the other went to support Empress Jia.
With the help of the palace maid, Empress Jia got up from the bed.
“Cough, cough… Elder Sister, please rise quickly. We sisters don’t have to be so formal,” Empress Jia said as she looked at Mrs. Shen.
“Thank you, Your Royal Highness!” Mrs. Shen answered.
When she straightened up, she realized that Empress Jia’s complexion was very poor, and the look of grave illness hung heavily on her face.
She had known that the Empress was not in good health, but she did not expect it to be so serious.
Empress Jia and Mrs. Shen’s eyes met. When she saw Mrs. Shen’s worried expression, a pale smile appeared on Empress Jia’s face..