Shen Yingruo is about to come of age, and His Majesty has ordered the preparations for the ceremony. It is not as grand as the one for Shen Xihe, and is not held in the palace but in the Shen Mansion. However, it is also hosted by the Ministry of Rites, the Palace's Department of Internal Affairs and the Six Bureaus, and Shen Xihe will also be in attendance.
Those who came must be dignitaries. The guest list for Shen Xihe's coming-of-age ceremony was personally reviewed by Shen Yueshan and Emperor Youning. Not everyone was qualified to attend the ceremony, but Shen Yingruo was different. She could invite whomever she wanted.
Yu Sangning wanted to attend the ceremony, but Yu Sangzi had already been granted marriage, and Shen Yingruo had no friendship with Yu Sangzi, so naturally she would not invite her. Yu Sangning had no way to ask her sister to go, so she had to find a way on her own.
"She... why is she still thinking about this now?" Biyu was puzzled.
Since her target is Yu Sangzi's marriage, and Yu Sangzi doesn't even want to go, could it be that she is going for Prince Zhao's palace
Shen Xihe couldn't figure out Yu Sangning's thoughts for a moment. Even if it was for attending Shen Yingruo's coming-of-age ceremony, it was just Shen Xihe's guess. She never bothered about unimportant people.
But she didn't expect that when she returned to the mansion, someone was waiting for her.
The warm orange light divided the Princess' Mansion into two parts, one half in light and the other in darkness. In front of the gate hidden in the darkness stood a slender and graceful figure. She was wearing the colorful and gorgeous clothes of the Tibetan royal family, which was very different from the girls in Kyoto and attracted attention at first sight.
Shen Xihe climbed the stairs and walked silently to the door, facing Princess Yaoxi.
"Princess." Shen Xihe greeted first.
Princess Yaoxi was obviously very familiar with the etiquette of the Han people. She must have made sufficient preparations for the marriage. She returned the gift to Shen Xihe and said, "Princess, I have something to say to you."
Shen Xihe could probably guess why she came. She thought for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement, inviting Princess Yaoxi into the mansion.
"I have something to say to the princess alone." When they arrived at the main room, Shen Xihe asked the servants to prepare tea and snacks. Princess Yaoxi looked at the servants around her and spoke.
Shen Xihe gave Zhenzhu a wink, and Zhenzhu led everyone out one after another, leaving only Shen Xihe and Princess Yaoxi in the room.
"I beg the princess to help me enter the East Palace." Princess Yaoxi stood up and bowed deeply to Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe also stood up and supported Princess Yaoxi: "Princess, I'm sorry I can't help you."
"Princess, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne. He will take a concubine sooner or later. You will not be the only one in the Eastern Palace." Whether it is the Celestial Empire or their Tibetans, the kings have never had only one wife or concubine. "If I enter the Eastern Palace, I will respect you as the emperor and will not compete with you for favor. Princess, you should know that even if I give birth to a prince, I will not have the right to inherit the throne."
What she needs is help, and Shen Xihe needs a good reputation. They can benefit from each other.
Princess Yaoxi did not understand Shen Xihe. Shen Xihe did not need a reputation for being virtuous. She was not a jealous woman, but she was not someone who needed to use Xiao Huayong and disregard Xiao Huayong's feelings in order to show off her virtues.
If one day, Xiao Huayong told her that he wanted to take a concubine, she would definitely take on the responsibility of a crown princess and fulfill her duties. She would not do Xiao Huayong's bidding for her own benefit.
Anyone else, even a girl who has feelings for Xiao Huayong as the future Crown Princess, would be tempted by Princess Yaoxi's proposal.