Shen Xining sneered. She knew that there was no possibility between her and Jiang Wei. They had never crossed the line, but Shen had never given up trying to discredit her in front of her father. Shen Xining had suffered a lot at her hands, but she remained calm.
"Father, I understand your concerns, but this is a special period, so it's just what outsiders say. If this kind of talk spreads in the family, I'm afraid it will have a bad impact."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Shen glanced at Shen.
"Ningning is right. Don't mention this kind of thing again. They have been childhood sweethearts and there are already many criticisms about them. You are still talking nonsense here. Isn't this causing trouble?"
Shen's face froze.
"Yes, the master is right. I will never mention this again."
Shen Xining's eyes turned slightly.
"Father, I'm a little tired after the long journey, so I'm going back to rest."
Father Shen nodded repeatedly.
"Go quickly. The small kitchen at home has prepared your favorite dishes. When you have rested enough, ask them to cook for you. Please let me know if there is anything missing."
Shen Xining smiled. She was the eldest daughter in the family. There was a hint of mockery in her eyes when she looked at Shen. Although her mother died when she was young, she had never lacked the dignity she should have. But Shen was not smart and insisted on stepping on her. So don't blame her.
Shen was humiliated by Shen Xining and originally planned to make a big fuss about her being kicked out, but she didn't expect Shen's father to be so biased. Shen was so angry that she smashed a few cups and glasses before she could barely breathe. Shen Xiyao was frightened by the scene in the room. She quickly ran to Shen and spoke softly.
"Mother, don't be angry. She is just feeling proud for a moment. Why bother arguing with her over such a small matter?"
Upon hearing this, Shen hugged Shen Xiyao and cried. This was her daughter who she gave birth to after ten months of pregnancy. How was she inferior to Shen Xining? The only difference was that she crawled out of her belly. But now she could not catch up with Shen Xining in anything. Now Shen Xining was going to marry the prince soon. It was a pity for her daughter who was full of talent. She didn't know how long it would take for her to be spoiled.
"Yaoyao, mother will definitely find a good marriage for you, so that Shen Xining will be far behind."
Nowadays, is there any better marriage than Shen Xining’s
Isn't the Crown Princess the future Queen? How could the position of being above everyone else be given to Shen Xining for nothing? Shen Xiyao's eyes flashed with jealousy. She patted Shen and whispered like a venomous snake.
"Don't worry, mother. This may not go so smoothly."
Shen looked at her inquiringly, but Shen Xiyao did not say anything directly. She just went to Shen Xining's yard in the evening, carrying a bowl of porridge. Shen Xining had just woken up and was not surprised to see her coming. It would be a rare thing if her sister did not come today.
"Sister, you've been traveling a long way, so there's nothing I can do for you. The only thing I can do is to prepare a bowl of porridge. Yaoyao prepared everything herself, from preparing the ingredients to making it successfully. I hope you don't mind."
It was just a child's trick. Shen Xining glanced at the porridge and Shen Xiyao felt nervous.
"Sister, is there anything that suits your taste?"
"Of course not. Since it's the porridge cooked by my stepsister, why wouldn't it be to my taste?"
After Shen Xining finished speaking, he drank up the porridge. Shen Xiyao was stunned for a moment, and Shen Xining looked at her and smiled.
"Anything else stepsister?"
"No, no, I mean you should rest more, it will help your body recover. After all, you're going to get married soon, right?"
Indeed, tomorrow is the day for her father to report to the emperor. Shen Xining stared at the bowl of porridge in front of her, the corners of her mouth rising slowly. She was thinking about what reason to find to reject this marriage. After experiencing the incident with the fourth prince, Shen Xining has deepened her inherent impression of the imperial city. There have been countless swords and guns during this period. If there was no other way, Shen Xining would definitely not want to enter the palace. Now, she would delay it as long as possible.
At night, a scream suddenly came from Shen Xining's yard.
"Miss, your face!"
After examining it, the doctor shook his head.
"Your daughter is allergic to lotus seeds. I'm afraid she has eaten a lot of them. It will take at least half a month for her face to recover to normal."
Father Shen scolded angrily.
"It's been more than half a month. Tomorrow I will go to the palace to respond to the emperor's decree. What should I do now? "
Shen Xiyao stood aside, timidly.
"Father, don't be angry. My sister may just not want to leave home so early, so she resorted to this desperate measure."
Father Shen widened his eyes.
"What did you say? Did your sister eat the lotus seeds on purpose?"
"I, I don't know either... My sister is usually very sensitive about lotus seeds. She chose such a sensitive time to be allergic to lotus seeds. This is bound to arouse speculation."
Shen Xining had a veil on her face. When she heard this, her eyes filled with tears and she looked at Shen Xiyao with disbelief.
"Xiyao, I haven't eaten since I came back today. In the evening you came and gave me a bowl of porridge, which was the only thing I ate today. Now I haven't mentioned it to my father, why are you like this? Could it be that I, as your elder sister, have done something wrong to you?"
Father Shen's expression eased a lot, and he said sternly.
"Xiyao, please explain, are you messing around?"
Shen Xining narrowed his eyes and knew what his father was like. Even though Shen Xiyao really did it, he was afraid that he would start to cover up for her. At this time, a maid suddenly knelt on the ground and began to cry.
"Master, Madam, Second Miss, this is all Zhuzhu's fault. Zhuzhu saw that as soon as the eldest lady came back, she took away all of the master's attention. The second lady stayed up late to copy scriptures for the master a few days ago, but now, the master seems to have forgotten everything and only has eyes for the eldest lady."
"You bastard! How dare a maid interfere in the affairs of the mansion! Who the hell are you! Someone, take him away and give him thirty lashes of the cane, and drive him out of the mansion. After this, no one is allowed to mention this matter again!"
After giving the orders, Mr. Shen strode out, and Shen Xining's yard returned to silence. Only Mother Wang, who grew up with Shen Xining, looked at Shen Xining's acne-covered face with heartache.
"The master seems to be on your side every time, but who can't see that he never intends to really deal with the mother and daughter? Even this old servant saw through the little trick just now. How could the master not see it when he is in the officialdom?"
Shen Xining patted Mother Wang's hand, her eyes turned up, her spine straightened, she looked inexplicably charming, and her expression was determined.
"Some people's pride won't last long. This matter will never pass like this. Mother Wang can rest assured."