TCPCHW Chapter 126

The Crown Prince Chases His Wife

Chapter 126        Flower Festival

In “Dream Liang Record: The Full Moon of the second lunar month,” it is said that “On the fifteenth day of mid-spring, the Flower Festival arrives, marking the peak of spring when flowers vie for attention, making it the best time for outings.”

In the Imperial Garden inside the imperial palace.

Today, a flower-viewing banquet was being held in the garden. At the start of the feast, the Empress instructed the concubines not to hold back and to enjoy themselves freely.

The Empress sat at the head of the table, occasionally chatting with Princess Changle, Feng Yunchao. All four favored concubines were present, while other ladies of the court either sat or stood around the garden, admiring the flowers and playing with the fish.

The garden was lush with green trees, vibrant flowers, and dancing butterflies. The gentle sound of string instruments blended with the gurgling of the water, occasionally interrupted by the laughter and chatter of the palace ladies, creating a scene full of beauty and life.

However, if one listened closely, it would be evident that the name “Shen Shiying” was on everyone’s lips among the scattered conversations of the concubines.

“Shen Shiying was once recognized as the most beautiful woman in the capital. As the most sought-after noblewoman, all the prestigious families were vying to marry her. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion was nearly overwhelmed by suitors.”

“I also heard that Shen Shiying almost ended up in that position herself,” said one concubine, gesturing subtly toward the Empress.

Everyone turned to see the Empress calmly sipping her fine wine, seemingly unfazed by the recent rumors about Shen Shiying circulating in the capital.

A few concubines discreetly withdrew their gazes, pretending to admire the flowers before them, and continued their discussion, “I heard that on the day of the Duke of Zhenguo’s birthday banquet, the Emperor personally left the palace to congratulate him. That same day, Shen Shiying made an appearance at the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion. I can’t believe the Emperor wasn’t there specifically to see her.”

“They say Shen Shiying is stunning, even at over thirty, she still looks like a young woman in her twenties. I really don’t know how she manages to stay so youthful.”

“Maybe she encountered a fairy in some remote ancient temple over the years…”

“A fairy? More like a devil, haha…” The group erupted into laughter, the petals of the flowers trembling in response.

As their laughter subsided, one of them cast a glance at Xu Jieyu, who was playing with butterflies not far away, and lowered her voice, “I heard that since the Emperor returned to the palace that day, he hasn’t summoned any of the concubines again, not even stepping foot into the harem. Even Imperial Concubine Ning and Xu Jieyu, who were most favored before, have been left out. Could it be… that the Emperor is doing this for Shen Shiying?”

“I happened to see that recently, there have been Taoist priests frequently coming and going from Baohua Hall in the Yongshou Palace Garden. It seems they’ve set up an alchemy furnace to brew elixirs inside.”

“Do you think the Emperor is inspired by Shen Shiying and wants to maintain his youth as well?”

“What’s so strange about that? Don’t think I didn’t notice you asking the Imperial Hospital for beauty recipes yesterday, with all those ointments and pills.”

“Women are naturally vain; it’s not the same.”

“Hey, how do you know I went to the Imperial Hospital for a prescription? You must have gone to ask too…”

“Stop it, stop it. Don’t change the subject.”

“Do you think the Empress wouldn’t mind Shen Shiying?”

As soon as the words fell, they all turned their gazes back toward the Empress. At that moment, the Empress suddenly lifted her gaze, her cold eyes piercing through the group. They were all startled, quickly averting their eyes and mumbling some idle chatter to mask their fear.

———-

The Empress withdrew her gaze and took a delicate sip from her colorful wine cup decorated with phoenix motifs before slowly placing it down.

In recent days, she had caught wind of the rumors surrounding Shen Shiying’s return to the capital and understood the complex expressions from the lower-ranking concubines who had just looked at her.

However, as for Shen Shiying…

If these women were hoping for a spectacle, they would surely be disappointed.

Before she married, the Empress was well aware of the emperor as well as Duan Wang of Youzhou and the Eldest Princess of Anyang had close ties with the Shen siblings, Shen Shiying and Shen Shiyan of Duke of Zhenguo Mansion.

Back in the day, the Shen siblings were of noble birth, strikingly beautiful, and carried themselves with great charm, earning admiration from many young nobles and ladies in the capital.

However, Shen Shiyan married early, and he didn’t marry a princess but rather an orphan daughter of a general from the Pingxi Army. This news took the noble families by surprise and led to speculation that the Duke of Zhenguo might prefer to keep his children’s marriages away from the imperial family.

As expected, not long after, Shen Shiying became engaged to Qin Wenzheng, who was then merely a Hanlin scholar from a reputable family.

The noble families of the capital were lamenting that perhaps the Duke of Zhenguo, Shen Changshan was worried that his achievements might provoke the imperial family’s jealousy, which prompted him to hastily arrange marriages for his children to avoid ties with the imperial family and the powerful elite.

Over the years, the Empress had observed the Emperor’s actions closely and could not help but sense his special feelings for Shen Shiying. However, Shen Shiying conducted herself with propriety and after her marriage, she rarely entered the palace and often declined invitations to palace banquets, never giving the Empress cause for discomfort.

Why would the Empress hold any grudges against Shen Shiying? There were enough scheming women in the harem for her to worry about.

But Imperial Concubine Shu was not as open-minded as the empress. To her, Shen Shiying was like a thorn in her heart, an irritation that she could never remove.

As she watched a palace servant set a plate of Baihua pastries on the table before her, Imperial Concubine Shu spoke coldly, “Take it away.”

The servant, bent over and still holding the dish, trembled at her command. She quickly retrieved the colorful porcelain plate filled with the pastries and returned it to the gilded tray, backing away in haste.

Imperial Concubine Shu downed a sip of cold wine, her heart brimming with resentment.

In the past, the Emperor had repeatedly asked her to invite her sister-in-law Shen Shiying to the Chengqian Palace for casual gatherings. Although Shen Shiying had never accepted an invitation, each time the Emperor had commanded the imperial kitchen to prepare a feast.

Imperial Concubine Shu had once mistakenly thought this was a privilege granted to her, but none of the dishes or wines were to her taste. Each banquet always featured a dish of Baihua pastries, which were never eaten.

It was only later, when she returned to the Prime Minister Qin Mansion for a family visit, that she discovered Shen Shiying actually enjoyed Baihua pastries. Yet, she had no sweet tooth and the pastries were merely for appearance, to please Shen Shiying’s mood, and afterward, they would be given to the servants, which can be considered as making the best use of everything.

Imperial Concubine Shu’s hatred grew. She loathed the Emperor, despised Shen Shiying, and now felt animosity toward Qin Yan as well.

In recent days, every time the Imperial Concubine Shu thinks about Shen Shiying returning to the capital safe and sound, she finds it hard to swallow.

How did Shen Shiying not die at the cliff back then?

Imperial Concubine Jing was quietly pondering how to find a suitable opportunity to smoothly send her son, Prince Feng Yi, away from the capital.

It seemed that the Emperor and the Taizi intended to keep the two princes here, so… what about the Empress Dowager in Shou’an Palace?

Imperial Concubine Duan was also lost in thought, glancing at the young Feng Yuyao, who was playing with a branch of apricot blossom in her hand, feeling a tinge of worry.

If she was not mistaken, after Taizi’s wedding, the marriage arrangements for several princes and princesses would also be on the agenda.

Imperial Concubine Duan wanted to meet Shen Shiying, but it was unlikely that Shiying would easily enter the palace.

Then, perhaps the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet?

——

Xu Jieyu, only seventeen or eighteen years old, in the bloom of youth, despite having lost the Emperor’s favor in recent days, still couldn’t resist her desire to enjoy the spring. She rolled up her sleeves, holding a bamboo net, and skipped happily alongside a young palace maid, chasing butterflies.

Xu Jieyu had been practicing her dancing skills since childhood, her body agile and graceful. Dressed in a soft green palace outfit, she flitted among the flowers, chasing butterflies which was a truly delightful sight that made passersby stop and admire.

Recently, Imperial Concubine Ning had been very low-key. She had just asked the Empress to resign from her position due to feeling unwell. As she passed by the narrow path next to Xu Jieyu, she kept her eyes straight ahead, intending to leave without a word.

With her sharp eyes, Xu Jieyu caught sight of her rival and instantly halted her movements. She pulled a silk handkerchief from her pocket to wipe away a bit of sweat and stepped forward a couple of paces to block Imperial Concubine Ning’s path.

“Oh, the main character has returned, and you, the substitute, have been sent to the Cold Palace? Hehehe…”

Without waiting for Imperial Concubine Ning to respond, though she didn’t need any reply, Xu Jieyu turned and skipped back into the flower garden, resuming her butterfly-catching antics.

Imperial Concubine Ning’s gaze followed Xu Jieyu’s retreating figure, and her heart filled with shock.

How did she know?

How many people in the palace were aware of the Emperor’s special feelings for Shen Shiying, and how many were discussing behind her back that she was merely a stand-in, what a joke…

Shen Shiying!

——–

Shen Shiying moved into the mansion that Qin Yan had prepared for her, making it easier to arrange affairs with her subordinates. She personally inscribed a plaque that read “Jiaoyuan.”

Jiaoyuan was an expansive estate formed by expanding several houses, featuring top-notch landscaping techniques and exquisite decorations that rivaled the once-renowned “Xiyuan,” the finest garden in the capital.

As Shen Shiying admired her daughter Qin Yan’s grand vision, she felt a wave of guilt. How had her daughter grown into the remarkable person she was today without her mother by her side all those years?

Several members of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion suggested holding a housewarming feast for Shen Shiying, but she politely declined. After days of long travels and busy schedules, she simply wanted to take this opportunity to rest and enjoy some leisure time.

In the past few days, Shen Shiying had hosted a number of visitors at Jiaoyuan, including old close friends from her youth and Madam Zhu of Qin Mansion, the wife of the Ministry of Works, whose position had become somewhat delicate.

Originally, Qin Yan had sent someone to invite Shen Shiying to the Princess Mansion in Xishan that day, but Shen Shiying had turned it down, as she had another matter to attend to.

Choosing this day was perfect.

The Flower Festival was a time to enjoy the beauty of blossoms in full bloom, which was far more dazzling than anything else.

As Shen Shiying prepared to leave, Shen Huai came to report, “Miss, Shizi Xie from the Marquis of Yongding Mansion has come to visit.”

From the day Shen Shiying returned to the capital, Qin Yan arranged for steward Shen Huai to come and assist her. After all, Shen Huai had once been Shen Shiying’s retainer, so it felt like a return to his original position.

On the day Shen Shiying arrived in the capital, she learned much from Shen Ying, who had been sent to greet her, about the events she had missed over the years. Later, with Shen Huai’s additions, she gained further insight into certain people and matters, truly broadening her horizons.

Shen Shiying did not refuse Xie Changyuan at the door, instead, she had Shen Huai bring him to the main hall. She then stood up, preparing to meet the son of an old acquaintance, who was also the fiancé she had once chosen for Qin Yan.

In the main hall of Jiaoyuan, Xie Changyuan instantly recognized that the woman entering was indeed Qin Yan’s mother, Shen Shiying. The resemblance between mother and daughter was striking, both were exceptionally beautiful.

Xie Changyuan promptly stood and cupped his fists in greeting.

“Greetings, Aunt Ying. I am Xie Changyuan.”

Shen Shiying did not put on airs. After nodding, she walked confidently to the main seat and gestured for Xie Changyuan to take a seat.

Xie Changyuan instructed his servant Li Zhong to bring forward a delicate brocade box and handed it to Shen Huai, who stood beside Shen Shiying.

“I would like to apologize to Aunt Ying…”

Xie Changyuan’s words were interrupted by Shen Shiying raising her hand.

“If this is about your marriage with Yan Yan, there’s no need for concern, that was merely a joke between me and your mother from years ago,” Shen Shiying’s voice was slightly cold, carrying a hint of sarcasm.

Xie Changyuan felt somewhat awkward, realizing that Aunt Ying had likely heard the whole story, including the ridiculous comment he made about canceling the engagement at the city gate.

Shen Shiying did not allow Shen Huai to take the gift Xie Changyuan had brought, instead, she picked up her teacup and took a small sip. After putting it down, she addressed him directly.

“Changyuan, your mother, Princess Anyang, and I have been close friends for many years. I am truly sorry to hear about her passing.”

“Please take back the gifts you brought, but as for the betrothal gifts I gave your mother, you must either return them or dispose of them properly.”

“If that item appears on another woman, I, Shen Shiying, cannot bear the shame, nor can the Marquis of Yongding Mansion afford such disgrace.”

Xie Changyuan immediately understood that Aunt Ying was referring to the incident during the autumn hunting when A Yan had brazenly worn Qin Yan’s hairpin.

The guilt and regret in Xie Changyuan’s eyes were unmistakable as he began to explain, “Aunt Ying, Qin Yan and I should not have ended up in this situation. It was all a series of misunderstandings. I and she…”

Once again, Shen Shiying raised her hand to silence him.

Shen Shiying tried to remain patient with the son of her deceased friend, but her voice still carried a chill.

“Changyuan, you are already married, and Qin Yan is engaged and about to marry. Discussing this further is pointless and not very appropriate.”

“Here’s a piece of advice for you. If your ability to discern women is lacking, you may still face difficulties with them in the future.”

She instructed Shen Huai to see him out, then turned and left the garden, accompanied by her subordinates.

After returning to his mansion, Xie Changyuan took out the jade hairpin that symbolized their engagement from years ago. He sat in his study, holding the hairpin for a long while, and finally slammed it down onto the table with a loud “bang,” cracking the surface.

When he moved his hand away, the white jade hairpin was reduced to dust, its original form completely unrecognizable.

Xie Changyuan took off a fragrance pouch from his waist, carefully emptied its contents, and then meticulously placed the powdered remnants of the hairpin into the pouch, tying it tightly.

Was this finally the end of all ties?

Yet why did he still feel so unsettled?

———–

In previous years, Song Mei would host flower-viewing banquets at Xiyuan, where the wives of officials would lavish praise on her in hopes of glimpsing the beauty of the garden. This flattery only made Song Mei more arrogant and oblivious to reality.

Though Xiyuan had been walled off at Qin Yan’s insistence this year, Song Mei still wanted to maintain her image and decided to host a small gathering in the front courtyard of the Prime Minister Qin Mansion.

During the banquet, the wives frequently cast their eyes toward the direction of Xiyuan, their expressions tinged with regret.

The most famous garden in the capital was left to waste like this, what a tragic waste!

But Song Mei was lost in her thoughts, burdened by worries.

A few days prior, Qin Nian had returned to the mansion.

On that day, Qin Nian wore thick makeup and covered her face with a veil. She hurriedly entered the mansion with her head bowed, heading straight to Song Mei’s courtyard.

When Song Mei forcibly lifted Qin Nian’s veil, the sight made her cover her mouth and cry out in shock.

She then noticed the bruises on Qin Nian’s wrist, and as she pulled back her daughter’s clothing, she saw more unsightly marks all over her body.

How could her daughter have been beaten so badly?

Qin Nian claimed it was an allergic reaction to flower pollen, but both mother and daughter immediately recalled the incident from last year when Qin Yan had splashed scalding tea on Imperial Concubine Shu and Qin Nian in Chengqian Palace.

Qin Nian did not conceal anything and told Song Mei the truth.

Recently, He Xiao had made it clear that he wanted Qin Nian to attend to him personally, but in reality, he treated her like a servant.

He Xiao was tormenting Qin Nian, frequently beating her or throwing bowls and cups at her.

Qin Nian had complained to her father-in-law, the Minister of War He Yanming, but He Yanming feigned ignorance and did nothing.

With no other options, Qin Nian returned to her maternal home for help.

“Mother, please ask Father to help me get a divorce. I can’t live like this anymore.”

But Song Mei knew that for the sake of his reputation, Qin Wenzheng would never allow Qin Nian to divorce He Xiao.

Several ladies’ conversations interrupted Song Mei’s thoughts, “The Qin family’s courtyard has no concubines, only the sole favor of Madam Qin. It’s truly enviable.”

“Prime Minister Qin is really good to Madam Qin.”

“Yes, Madam Qin is indeed fortunate.”

……

Song Mei could only force a dry laugh.

The ladies had agreed beforehand not to mention Madam Qin’s daughter or her legless son-in-law at the banquet, especially since their only son had gone to Shuobei. It was truly a tragic situation.

———-

Suddenly, a loud clamor of “bang, bang, bang” echoed from the neighboring Xiyuan.

The group turned to look, seeing several tall treetops shaking before a loud crash signaled that something had fallen, disappearing from sight.

The ladies gasped and a few immediately stood up, stepping back.

What on earth was happening over there?

The following loud crashes sounded more like a building being torn down, and the dust that wafted over prompted everyone to rise from their seats.

The banquet could no longer continue. Song Mei looked apologetic as the guests, fueled by their curiosity, took their leave, instructing their attendants to go check on the situation outside Xiyuan.

After sending off the guests, Song Mei immediately sent someone to investigate the circumstances at Xiyuan. However, the messenger returned, reporting that the main gate of Xiyuan was tightly shut, with guards from the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion stationed outside, preventing anyone from seeing what was happening inside.

Song Mei had her suspicions. Could it be that Shen Shiying was there right now?

——

Half an hour later, Qin Wenzheng, who had been at the ministry office, received the news and hurried back.

At the entrance to Xiyuan, he was stopped, and soon after, Shen Huai emerged.

“Miss has invited you in, Prime Minister Qin.”

Qin Wenzheng heard Shen Huai refer to Qin Yan as “master,” so who was the “miss” that Shen Huai mentioned?

Shen Shiying?

Qin Wenzheng suppressed his mix of excitement and anxiety as he followed Shen Huai into Xiyuan.

This was the first time he had stepped into this garden, which he had lived in for many years since Qin Yan had taken it back. A wave of familiarity washed over him.

Meanwhile, the situation outside Xiyuan was quickly reported to Song Mei by the spies she had sent.

As they rounded the shadow wall, Qin Wenzheng immediately spotted a woman sitting in a large chair with her back to him.

Dressed in a red gown, Shen Shiying leaned against the chair’s back, her legs casually crossed atop a large stone by the pool in front of her, lazily observing her subordinates as they violently dismantled parts of the garden.

Shen Huai stepped forward, saying, “Miss, Prime Minister Qin is here.”

Time seemed to freeze for Qin Wenzheng. He automatically ignored the chaos in the garden. In his eyes, there was only that beautiful woman, once the object of his affection, his former wife, and the mother of his daughter.

When he returned to Xiyuan all those years ago, he would often see such a scene. Back then…

Another series of loud crashes echoed, and a large tree fell toward a nearby building, jolting Qin Wenzheng out of his daze.

One by one, trees were uprooted, and flower petals were sent flying in the air, creating a scene of tragic beauty in Xiyuan.

Shen Shiying’s eyes flickered with satisfaction as she slowly rose, dusting off her dress before striding toward the stunned Qin Wenzheng.

He gazed at her in awe, realizing that Shen Shiying’s beauty was still as striking as it had been in her youth. There were no signs of aging on her face, if anything, she seemed to carry an added depth of maturity.

She…

With a sharp “slap,” a heavy blow sent Qin Wenzheng’s head turning sideways.

He cupped his stinging cheek in shock, looking up at Shen Shiying.

Her voice was cold as she spoke, “This slap is for all those years I wasted on you.”

“Back then, under the pretense of wanting to teach our daughter, you brought Song Mei into the mansion, but it turned out to be your childhood sweetheart. I was kept in the dark, believing Song Mei was there to educate my daughter, only to find out she ended up in your bed instead.”

“If you want to rekindle your relationship with your childhood sweetheart, you could have just told me directly. Instead, your family resorted to such despicable tactics. It’s truly disgusting.”

“If you want to take a concubine, I wouldn’t stop you. We could just live our own lives in peace.”

“I proposed a divorce, yet you kept avoiding the topic, dragging it out until I had to leave the capital with Yan Yan.”

“Qin Wenzheng, I never imagined you could be so shameless, breaking into the storeroom of Xiyuan to take what’s mine, transferring my assets to Song Mei’s name. It really opened my eyes.”

Qin Wenzheng felt extremely ashamed and said nothing. He did not expect Shen Shiying to really be alive.

“Pa!”

Shen Shiying slapped Qin Wenzheng on the other side of his face again.

“This slap was for my Duke of Zhenguo Mansion.”

“Qin Wenzheng, you are a man of noble birth and well-read. You are capable of doing such a thing as equal wife.”

“Pah!” Shen Shiying slapped Qin Wenzheng so hard that blood oozed from the corners of his lips.

“This slap was for my daughter, Yan Yan.”

“Xiyuan is my dowry garden, yet you let Song Mei live in my house and even allowed her daughter to take over Yan Yan’s room.”

“You truly have some nerve!”

Qin Wenzheng endured each slap, unable to defend himself against Shen Shiying’s accusations, only hoping she would calm down.

——–

Shen Shiying looked at her ex-husband, Qin Wenzheng, a mocking smile curling at the corners of her lips.

“I heard that Song Mei has put a green hat on you? That son you insist on having to continue the family line… may not even be yours?”

Her words hit a painful spot for Qin Wenzheng, and he felt immense shame, wishing he could just disappear into the ground.

The initial conflict between Qin Wenzheng and Shen Shiying stemmed from his desire for her to bear more children soon after she had just given birth. Shen Shiying had refused, leading to a series of conflicts between them, otherwise, there wouldn’t have been any involvement with Song Mei.

Just as she finished speaking, Shen Huai came in to report, “Old Madam and Madam Qin have arrived.”

Qin Wenzheng’s heart tightened, what were they doing here? Wasn’t this just adding chaos?

He was about to speak when Shen Shiying raised her hand to signal Shen Huai, who immediately left the room.

——

Song Mei had heard that the prime minister had entered Xiyuan. Worried that he might meet Shen Shiying and cause some unexpected changes, she quickly became anxious. Then she decided to invoke the presence of the old madam, only she could handle Shen Shiying.

Song Mei still thought that Shen Shiying was just a daughter-in-law in the Qin family…

As Song Mei helped the old madam into Xiyuan, guided by Shen Huai, he did not stop the servants from the Qin Mansion from following them in.

The moment the old madam saw the ravaged state of Xiyuan, her anger flared up instantly, “This is outrageous!”

Shen Shiying sneered, “What’s the problem? It’s my own garden, and I can do as I please.”

Both the old madam and Song Mei turned to look at the couple standing to the front right.

The woman in red who had spoken was Shen Shiying? How had she remained unchanged after all these years?

Seeing Shen Shiying still as stunning as ever, perhaps even more charming with age, Song Mei felt a surge of crisis in her heart.

She turned to Qin Wenzheng and gasped, “What happened to you, Prime Minister?”

The old madam hurried over, pulling away Qin Wenzheng’s hand that covered his injured cheek, gasping as well, “My son, who did this to you?”

The old madam turned around and glared at Shen Shiying, saying viciously, “Shen Shiying, it must be you, the vicious woman. I only regret not letting Wenzheng divorce you sooner!”

Shen Shiying’s eyes were sharp. This old madam was still acting like a wicked mother-in-law who tortured her daughter-in-law. Did she really think that Shen Shiying was a soft persimmon that was easy to control?

Shen Shiying raised her hand and gestured, and several subordinates in black tights quickly jumped out from behind him and kicked Old Madam Qin, Song Mei, and the servants they brought into the pool in a few moves.

“Ah…”

“Killing people…”

“Save me……”

For a moment, screams, cries for help, and sounds of people splashing into the water were heard one after another. The scene in the water was chaotic and miserable.

“Shen Shiying, you…” Qin Wenzheng was trying to stop her but was also pulled into the water.

“Who dares to touch my daughter!” A strong male voice came from the gate of Xiyuan.

It was the Duke of Zhenguo, Shen Changshan, and the Shizi, Shen Shiyan, who were striding over with sword in hand.

When Shen Changshan walked outside the gate of Xiyuan, he heard the old woman of the Qin family cursing Shen Shiying. He was so angry that he hurried into the garden only to see that Shen Shiying had knocked the person into the water.

The water in the pool wasn’t deep, but it was still a bit chilly for spring, and the old madam and Song Mei were struggling to cope. Their servants tried to help them out of the muddy water, but they kept stumbling and dragging others down with them, creating a more chaotic scene.

Shen Changshan gripped the hilt of his sword, fighting the urge to draw it.

The harsh words the old madam had flung at Shen Shiying earlier made it clear what kind of life Shen Shiying had endured during those years while he and Shen Shiyan were serving in the Northwest Army.

Shen Shiying had indeed tried to make her marriage work. Having lost her mother at a young age, she had once intended to treat Qin Wenzheng’s mother as her own.

But instead, they had exploited her kindness, pushing their advantage step by step.

It was truly a case of good intentions being squandered.

——

After about a stick of incense had burned, the people from the Prime Minister Qin Mansion began to emerge from the now-muddied pool. Just as the old madam was about to unleash a torrent of curses, Shen Changshan spoke first, “Throw them out.”

With that command, the guards from the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion surged forward and pushed the people of Prime Minister Qin Mansion out. The servants quickly shielded the old madam and Song Mei, retreating toward the main gate, rolling and scrambling to escape the onslaught.

However, Shen Shiyan stared at the embarrassed Qin Wenzheng. He had long disliked his ex-brother-in-law. If he hadn’t left these people to wait for Shiying to come back and deal with them herself, he would have wanted to take people to Prime Minister Qin Mansion to beat them up himself.

Shen Shiyan flew forward and kicked Qin Wenzheng to the ground, then grabbed Qin Wenzheng’s collar and beat him hard in the face and stomach.

Another stick of incense passed, and everyone in Prime Minister Qin Mansion was thrown out of Xiyuan.

“Get out of here!

The Duke of Zhenguo, Shen Changshan, stood at the gate of Xiyuan and said angrily to the people of Prime Minister Qin Mansion who were lying on the ground and screaming.

The servants of Prime Minister Qin Mansion hurriedly helped several masters up and limped away from the place.

It was not that they didn’t want to leave, it was that they insisted on catching and beating them up before letting them leave, right?

This scene was also seen clearly by the servants left behind by several women who had just attended the banquet at Prime Minister Qin Mansion, and they hurried back to report.

Oh, my goodness! The people from the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion beat up Prime Minister Qin, Old Madam Qin, and Madam Qin Song!

Shen Shiying continued to order her subordinates to completely demolish Xiyuan.

They must be dirty to dare to touch my things. And now, they are ruined.

The past is gone.

Never mind, never mind.


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