Chapter 393: Empress Jia’s Manipulative Talk
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“But my elder sister has suffered greatly in this matter.”
Faced with Minister Shen’s surprised gaze, Empress Jia continued, “Just like you, my beloved minister, she experienced the pain of losing her daughter. What she received next was not her husband’s concern, but house arrest.”
Minister Shen’s heart shuddered and he subconsciously avoided Empress Jia’s gaze.
Empress Jia continued, “Not only that. Her husband also concealed the news of her daughter’s death and made changes in name to mourn for her.”
Minister Shen lowered his head as his eyes darted around, not knowing how to respond.
Empress Jia continued again.
“What’s more, her husband even tried to take his illegitimate daughter into the residence… to replace her daughter.”
At this point, Empress Jia’s expression had already turned frosty.
“I wish to ask you, my beloved minister. If you were my elder sister, are you able to swallow this insult?”
Minister Shen’s heart shuddered again. He quickly stood up and bowed to Empress Jia.
“Your Royal Highness! There is another story behind this matter, and it is not entirely what the Mistress said!”
“Oh? Then why don’t you tell me what’s going on?” Empress Jia effected an angry look.
Minister Shen hurriedly continued, “The order to put the Mistress under house arrest in the courtyard is to prevent her from finding out about Rong’er’s death in case she couldn’t take the blow.
“As for Lian’er…
“I did not take her into the residence to replace Rong’er.
“She is only my adopted daughter. After entering the residence, she will also come under the Mistress’s name.
“I have been husband and wife with the Mistress for nearly twenty years. How could 1 do such a despicable thing?”
Minister Shen spoke with certainty. If Empress Jia did not know the real reasons, she would have almost believed his words.
“In that case, is Shen Lian really the illegitimate daughter that you raised outside?” Empress Jia quickly said. There was an undisguised anger in her tone.
The matter of Minister Shen keeping women outside was already an open secret to the Jia family and her.
However, everyone did not bring the matter up publicly because they wanted to preserve their pride and dignity.
Now, the cover was completely removed.
Minister Shen was stunned.
His expression darkened, and then he raised his head to look at Empress Jia.
Following that, he admitted it outright. “Yes.”
Empress Jia’s eyes flickered.
“Then do you still remember what you promised me and my father when you asked to marry my elder sister?” she asked.
Minister Shen’s expression darkened further.
“I remember,” he said in a low voice.
How could he not remember such a great humiliation?
When Empress Jia saw this, she did not rush matters. Instead, she sighed and picked up the teacup on the coffee table.
Then, she took a sip.
“Actually, I don’t blame you for breaking the promise you made back then.
“After all, you are already the Prime Minister of the Imperial Court. It’s indeed unfair for you to keep to one woman for decades.”
Minister Shen was caught off guard. The anger in his heart was substantially dispelled.
To his surprise, Empress Jia did not pursue the matter further after bringing up this topic.
“What I find strange is that you gave my elder sister a dream that all women look forward to. Yet, you shattered that dream with your own hands.
“Shen Hongyu, the harm you’ve done to my elder sister is much deeper than you think.”
Minister Shen was stunned.
When he thought of his arrogant wife, he felt a rare sense of guilt.
When Empress Jia saw this, she continued, “Previously, when you were keeping a woman outside, I advised Elder Sister to turn a blind eye.
“After all, all men flirt.
“As long as you don’t make these things public and as long as she is still the only mistress of the house in the Prime Minister’s residence…”
Minister Shen lowered his head and did not answer.
Over the years, he had indeed done so.
Although he had other women outside, he had never allowed those women to appear in front of his wife.
On the other hand, his wife had punished his lover when she found out that he was keeping a woman outside.
At that juncture, there was a fight between them.
In the end, the Mistress gave in as long as he did not bring her out in the open, thereby ending the quarrel.
All these years, although he and his wife were no longer loving, they were still respectful to each other.
If nothing had happened to Rong’er, this situation would have continued.
However, who would have thought that Rong’er chose to commit suicide?
He had no choice but to choose Lian’er to replace Rong’er.
All of this was not entirely for himself, but for the Shen family.
Empress Jia glanced at Minister Shen and sighed again.
She put down the teacup.
“The reason you and my Jia family and I have always been able to help each other is because you married my elder sister and Rong’er was born to you two.
“But now, you want to bring Shen Lian into the residence.”
Minister Shen raised his head and was about to explain when he was interrupted by Empress Jia.
“And you also want to betroth Shen Lian to Rong’er’s previous fiance.”
As Empress Jia spoke, she looked at Minister Shen.
“If I remembered correctly, you’re preparing to nurture Lord Song to support the Shen family, correct?”
She still remembered that guy Song Rui.
Previously, she had intended to win over that person to be her Xiangyang’s Prince Consort, but she was rejected by that person.
Coupled with the fact that Minister Shen came to her and pleaded with her, she gave up on her previous thoughts.
She didn’t expect that silly girl Shen Rong to be so lacking in common sense.
Not only did she give up such an outstanding man, but she was also seduced by a poor scholar and even committed suicide.
It was fine if her elder sister alone was born without any scheming tendencies, but she had even raised her daughter into such a useless person.
Now, Shen Rong was gone.
The connection between Minister Shen and Empress Jia and the Jia family was broken. In the future, how were they going to maintain the trust between them?
Minister Shen’s expression was solemn as he sighed in his heart.
If Shen Rong had not died, how would things have come to this?
He had cooperated with the Empress and the Jia family for many years. If he had no other choice, he would not be willing to offend them and cause trouble for himself.
He had no choice but to make such arrangements.
Thus, Minister Shen responded, “Yes.”
He still had to pave the way for Song Rui and plan for the Shen family’s future.
These things could not be hidden from the Empress.
Empress Jia glanced at Minister Shen and smiled, but her smile was tinged with chilliness.
“In that case, my elder sister’s worry is not without reason.
“My beloved minister, if you can bring Shen Lian into the residence today, by tomorrow, you will be able to bring Shen Lian’s mother into the residence.
“Moreover, today it’s Shen Lian Number One. Tomorrow it might be Shen Lian Number Two, Shen Lian Number Three, or even more.”
Minister Shen wanted to explain but was interrupted by Empress Jia again.
“My beloved minister, are you trying to say that it won’t be like this?”
Empress Jia smiled.
“It might not be the case now.
“But you still want to betroth Shen Lian to the future head of the Shen family.
“As Song Rui’s status rises and he becomes more powerful, won’t Shen Lian have other thoughts? Don’t you think she would want to fight for the status of her birth mother?
“At that point, there will be many things that you can’t do as you please, my beloved minister.”
Minister Shen frowned. The words that he had prepared were stuck in his mouth.
This was because he knew that what Empress Jia said had a high chance of becoming a reality.
However, as long as Song Rui could take over his position and support the Shen family, what happened to the Jia family at that time would have nothing to do with him.
Nevertheless, now, he wanted to pave the way for Song Rui, so he couldn’t offend Empress Jia and the Jia family.
After hesitating for a moment, Minister Shen finally said, “Then what does Your Royal Highness have in mind?”
When he uttered this, it was as good as making a concession..