Chapter 327: Chapter 325: Must Personally Deliver the Item into Her Hands
Shen Yinning couldn’t understand.
The carriage had already arrived at the gates of the Duke Mansion.
Although Shen Yan had been promoted and granted titles, the atmosphere in the mansion was far from good.
Shen Yinning led Xue Mianmian to the entrance of the Hanging Flower Hall, where a maid of the Shen Family went inside to report: "Madam, the Commandery Princess has arrived!"
Shen Yinning stepped over the threshold: "Zhaozhao has come to visit Aunt. Oh, Second Sister is here too?"
"Cousin." Shen Xinya greeted her with a bow.
Mrs. Qin rolled her eyes.
She wondered which Commandery Princess had come to visit, only to realize it was Shen Yinning!
This little brat born to Cheng Hui, out of all times, chose to come now—clearly just to watch the spectacle!
Yesterday, the two nations formed an alliance, but for some inexplicable reason, the Crown Prince of Yan accused Erlang of causing significant harm to the civilians of Yan Country. He demanded that the Shen Family formally apologize and the Emperor strip her husband’s military authority, or else he would refuse to proceed with the peace talks.
At the time, half of the officials supporting peace were present. On hearing this, they began criticizing and berating Erlang, claiming that for the sake of peace between the two nations, the Shen Family should voluntarily relinquish military authority, or else they were intentionally inciting war.
Her husband couldn’t bear such an unjust accusation and was forced to agree to hand over his military command.
The Emperor praised her husband and elevated him with titles, even granting Xinghan the status of Princely Heir.
But what use is such a reward? It’s nothing but empty fame, devoid of any real power.
Now, on the surface, the Duke Mansion seems prosperous and full of grandeur, but in truth, it is far worse than before!
Thinking of this, Mrs. Qin felt enraged.
Seeing Shen Yinning, newly titled as Commandery Princess, standing before her with a smug smile as if showing off, her anger surged even more.
She always said that a woman’s virtue lies in lacking talent, and thus never pushed Xi’er to study seriously. Yet, who would have thought that this little brat Yinling would gain the Emperor’s favor and be personally granted the title of Commandery Princess through her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? It was a slap to her face!
Feigning a smile, she said, "Oh, what wind has blown Yinling here today?"
Shen Yinning sat down unceremoniously and glanced around the hall: "I haven’t visited for a long time and find myself rather nostalgic."
Mrs. Qin rolled her eyes once more.
Nostalgic, she says. This wretched girl’s mind is full of schemes; she’s probably just pondering how to get back at them!
Straightening her back, she assumed the posture of the mansion’s mistress and said slowly, "Yinling, though your parents are no longer with us, we are still your uncle and aunt. You should visit the mansion more frequently instead of avoiding it. Otherwise, people may think either that you don’t wish to come or that we, as your guardians, are mistreating you."
Shen Yinning lowered her eyes and smiled.
Xue Mianmian coughed softly and nudged her with her elbow, hinting for her to ask about the key.
Shen Yinning glanced at Mrs. Qin and probed: "My father once built two secret rooms and a dungeon within the mansion. I wonder if Uncle is still using them?"
"Secret rooms and a dungeon?" Mrs. Qin furrowed her brow. "I’ve never heard that there are such places in the mansion."
Seeing her reaction, Shen Yinning realized the mansion indeed didn’t have any secret rooms or dungeons that were unknown to her.
This meant the bronze key her brother had given her wasn’t intended for the Duke Mansion.
She was just about to stand up and take her leave when a young maid rushed in frantically: "Madam, Madam, something terrible has happened! The Young Madam and the eldest young master are arguing again—it’s about to escalate into a fight!"
"What?!" Mrs. Qin slammed the table in fury. "I’ve always said we shouldn’t have brought her into the family, but Xinghan wouldn’t listen. And look at the outcome—so many years, and she hasn’t produced a single heir. If she doesn’t voluntarily request to leave, what face does she have to quarrel with Xinghan?! And I wonder what kind of upbringing the Princess Qinghe gave her daughter!"
Ignoring Shen Yinning, she stormed off toward the courtyard while cursing.
Xue Mianmian was curious: "Zhaozhao, the Young Madam they’re referring to—isn’t she the Commandery Princess of Qinghe?"
Shen Yinning thought of that cold and desolate woman.
Had her father and brother not encountered misfortune, the Commandery Princess Qinghe would likely have married her brother by now.
She was meant to be her elder sister-in-law.
She said, "Let’s go and take a look."
The two quietly made their way to the Shen Family’s rear courtyard, where many maids and women gathered in the hallways to watch the commotion. Mrs. Qin stood to the side, holding her mouth, pale with fright.
Shen Yinning curiously looked under the corridor.
Tension brewed beneath.
Lu Minmin, the Commandery Princess Qinghe, dressed in white and wielding a sword, held the sharp edge against Shen Xinghan’s neck. Her unadorned face was strikingly cold, exuding an air of unapproachability.
Shen Xinghan stood motionless, his eyes slightly reddened, staring fixedly at Lu Minmin.
Mrs. Qin couldn’t help but stomp her foot and cry out: "Put the sword down, put it down! Lu Minmin, do you have any regard for your husband or for me, your mother-in-law?! If you don’t put the sword down, I’ll kill you, you unfilial thing!"
She cursed venomously, actually stepping forward to slap, scratch, and pinch Lu Minmin.
Lu Minmin avoided her hands coldly and redirected her sword toward Mrs. Qin, issuing one icy command: "Leave."
Mrs. Qin’s eyes widened in disbelief: "In all my years, this is the first time I’ve heard a daughter-in-law telling her mother-in-law to leave! Lu Minmin, is this the kind of upbringing they teach at the Prince Qinghe Mansion?!"
"Mother!" Shen Xinghan grabbed her arm. "I’m talking to Minmin—what are you meddling for? Steward Liu, why are you standing there? Take my mother away immediately!"
Mrs. Qin adamantly refused to leave, weeping and wailing, determined to make a scene and put Lu Minmin in her place.
Shen Xinghan impatiently shot the steward a look.
The steward understood and promptly had Mrs. Qin escorted away with the help of others.
Only then did Shen Xinghan turn back to Lu Minmin.
He stared at her cold and ethereal face for a long time before speaking hoarsely: "After all these years, you still can’t forget him? Minmin, I have treated you well during these years..."
Lu Minmin gripped her sword tightly, mountains of resolve in her expression: "I want to leave the mansion."
Shen Xinghan stood motionless, silently denying her request.
Lu Minmin raised her sword, aiming it at Shen Xinghan’s heart: "I want to see her. I promised him that if the Crown Prince of Yan ever came to the capital, I would personally deliver the item to her hands."
Shen Xinghan grabbed the sword.
The blade sliced into his palm, fresh blood dripping unrelentingly to the ground.
With a sideways glance, he issued an order to the nearby guards: "The Princely Heir’s wife is tired; escort her back to her chamber."
"Shen Xinghan!"
Lu Minmin struggled, but the guards forcibly led her back to her room, locking the door and windows securely.
Shen Xinghan wrapped his wounded hand in a cloth, his eyes cold as he surveyed the kneeling maids in the courtyard: "Who informed my mother?"
The maid responsible trembled, sweat soaking her back.
Shen Xinghan gave her a cold glance before stepping down the stairs: "Beat her to death."
"Princely Heir, spare me!"
The maid desperately kowtowed and pleaded, but Shen Xinghan didn’t even turn his head.
Shen Yinning and Xue Mianmian, hiding at the courtyard entrance, witnessed everything.
Xue Mianmian whispered: "Zhaozhao, it’s surprising that your cousin, bad as he is, has treated the Commandery Princess Qinghe rather well. I’ve heard she refuses to share his bed, yet he hasn’t forced her, nor has he taken concubines or acquired any maids for companionship. Just now when he asked the Commandery Princess Qinghe if she couldn’t forget ’him,’ could ’he’ be your brother?"
Shen Yinning nodded: "Perhaps."
"The Commandery Princess Qinghe wants to leave the mansion to see someone. I wonder who she wants to meet..." Xue Mianmian was nearly racking her brains over the Shen Family’s affairs. "She’s been secluded in her chambers for years and hasn’t appeared at any banquets."