Chapter 394: Shen Lian Asking For Help
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Empress Jia’s eyes lit up. She knew that she had achieved her first goal.
“It’s very simple. Get rid of the mother but keep the child,” she said.
Minister Shen was shocked and raised his head to look at Empress Jia.
Empress Jia’s expression was gentle as if what she had just said was just a casual chat about the weather.
“Deal with Shen Lian’s birth mother and put an end to the daughter’s thoughts. Then, bring her into the residence and raise her under the name of my elder sister.
“In this way, my elder sister will become Shen Lian’s adoptive mother and take over the status of being her mother.
“Only then can the Jia family and I treat her as one of our own.”
Ignoring Minister Shen who was still in shock, Empress Jia continued, “In addition, there are two young ladies in the Jia family.
“If you don’t mind, you can take one of them as a concubine and carry on the family line.
“As for the other person, how about you let Lord Song take her?” Empress Jia looked at Minister Shen with an inquiring expression.
Minister Shen was even more shocked.
He did not expect Empress Jia to make such an arrangement in order to control the Shen family.
Should he agree now?
If he agreed, the Shen family would once again form a close alliance with Empress Jia and the Jia family.
At this juncture, it was not necessarily a good thing to stand with the Jia family again.
However, if he didn’t agree, he would be breaking off relations with the Jia family.
Next, he would have to face retaliatory measures from Empress Jia and the Jia family.
Most importantly, he was afraid that he would no longer be able to pave the way successfully for Song Rui.
If that happened, many of his plans and arrangements had to be scrapped.
“Er… Isn’t it asking too much of the Jia family’s young miss to marry Song Rui as a concubine?” Minister Shen said.
As for him, he felt there was no harm in taking in a concubine.
Empress Jia smiled.
“It’s not considered asking too much. As long as Minister Shen and Lord Song agree to this, Lord Song will immediately be promoted to the position of an official in the Ministry of Appointments.
“He will be a fifth-grade official in the Ministry of Appointments. And he’s still young, with an infinitely bright future. It is not a loss to the Jia family to marry off a concubine’s daughter to become a concubine.”
Minister Shen’s eyes flickered.
He thought to himself that Empress Jia had indeed guessed correctly that he wanted Song Rui to fill the position vacated by Official Wang.
“In that case, I shall do as Your Royal Highness say,” he replied.
The corners of Empress Jia’s mouth curled up as she nodded in satisfaction.
Three days later, when Official Wang retired and returned to his hometown, Song Rui took over his position and was promoted to the position of an official in the Ministry of Appointments.
The moment the Imperial edict was issued, all the ministers congratulated him.
Song Rui had once again become the most worthwhile new upstart to cozy up to in the Imperial Court.
On this day, Song Rui had just finished drinking with his colleagues and was preparing to return to the residence. A servant suddenly appeared and blocked Song Rui’s way.
After inquiring, he found out that Shen Lian had sent him.
Shen Lian was actually in a hurry to see Song Rui.
Song Rui only hesitated for a moment before agreeing to meet Shen Lian.
The servant was very anxious and led the way on horseback.
Song Rui sat in the horse carriage at the back, speculating why Shen Lian was looking for him.
In the end, he arrived at the place before he could figure out why.
He followed the servant and quickly arrived at Shen Lian’s courtyard.
As soon as Song Rui appeared, Shen Lian quickly walked over.
“Young Master Song!” she shouted anxiously with red-rimmed eyes.
She even went forward to grab Song Rui’s hand without any regard for etiquette.
Song Rui evaded her touch and Shen Lian did not succeed in her attempt.
His action also sobered Shen Lian up a little.
She glanced at her maidservant, who then gave the male servant an eye signal.
Following that, the two of them excused themselves from the courtyard.
When he saw this, Song Rui frowned.
He was just about to say that this was inappropriate and that they had to avoid arousing suspicion.
Shen Lian bowed to him respectfully.
“Young Master Song, 1 beg you to help me!”
Song Rui was caught off guard.
Just as he was about to ask what had happened, he saw Shen Lian raise her head and look at him with a pair of teary glistening eyes.
“Father gave my mother poison and wanted her to commit suicide.
“I’m begging you, Young Master Song. Please help me plead with Father.
“Boo hoo hoo! My mother… my mother doesn’t want anything! She doesn’t get in the way of anyone even if she’s alive!
“Boo hoo hoo… I… 1 have always been with my mother since young, with the two of us relying on each other. I can’t live without my mother…”
Shen Lian was crying her eyes out. If Song Rui had not avoided her earlier, she would have thrown herself into Song Rui’s arms again.
Song Rui frowned and remained silent.
The old fox had told him about the conditions he discussed with Empress Jia.
However, he didn’t realize that other than taking in the daughter of the Jia family as a concubine, there was also this condition.
Then again, it was not that strange. In order to stabilize Mrs. Shen’s position in the Shen family’s residence, how could Empress Jia be soft-hearted?
“Young Master…” Shen Lian called out worriedly when she saw that Song Rui didn’t respond.
Song Rui’s eyes finally flickered, but he looked at Shen Lian with a troubled expression.
“Young Master…” Shen Lian panicked and called out to Song Rui again.
“I know that this matter has put Young Master in a difficult position, but… but other than Young Master, I don’t know who else I can ask for help from. Boo hoo hoo…” Shen Lian cried helplessly. It was heartbreaking to see her.
However, Song Rui was definitely not one of the people who felt heartache for her.
At this moment, Song Rui was not only not feeling heartache. On the contrary, he was feeling extremely annoyed.
Didn’t know who else to ask for help?
Wouldn’t it be more convenient to look for the old fox directly?
She clearly did not want to offend the old fox and lose the opportunity to enter the Prime Minister’s residence.
What a hypocritical woman.
Hmph! All the women in the world were indeed hypocritical. Only his wife was always true to herself.
“Er…” Song Rui suppressed the disgust in his heart and put on a troubled expression.
Shen Lian immediately looked at Song Rui.
“Please help my mother beg for mercy. If Father doesn’t want my mother to appear, she can hide or go far away. She won’t ruin Father’s plans!”
Song Rui glanced at Shen Lian and sighed.
“It is very difficult to change Minister Shen’s mind once he has decided,” he said.
Shen Lian’s face turned pale. She unwittingly took a step back, almost losing her balance.
Song Rui looked at Shen Lian with a hint of pity in his eyes.
Eventually, he said, “But there might be another way.”
Shen Lian was surprised for a moment, then her face was filled with joy as she immediately looked at Song Rui.
“What way?” she asked anxiously.
Song Rui appeared troubled again.
“Young Master…” Shen Lian shouted anxiously. She was afraid that Song Rui had changed his mind, but didn’t want to say it.
Song Rui looked at Shen Lian again.
“Fake her death to deceive Minister Shen and the others,” he said after a moment of hesitation.
Shen Lian’s eyes widened.
A trace of hesitation flashed across her eyes.
Then, as if she had made up her mind, she looked up at Song Rui again.
“How do we do it?” she asked in a low voice.
If this matter was exposed, her father would definitely be furious.
However, she only had one mother. How could she watch her mother die for her?
Therefore, she decided to take some risks.
After she married Young Master Song, she would become respected due to her husband’s noble status.
At that point, even if someone found out that her mother was still alive, they probably wouldn’t dare to do anything to her mother.
“I have a drug that can allow people to fake their deaths. After taking it, their breathing and pulse will stop. As long as she takes the antidote on time, she can come back to life.”
Song Rui looked at Shen Lian.
“At that juncture, as long as we find the right opportunity to rescue your mother in time, we can hide this matter from everyone.”
Shen Lian was utterly shocked.
“Young Master, is what you say true?” she looked at Song Rui with some suspicion.
“It’s true,” Song Rui replied.
“After 1 save your mother, you can personally feed her the antidote.
“It’s just that you have to arrange well where your mother will go in the future..”