A group of people returned to the Shen family in a mighty stream. Shen's father had already gone to bed, but when he heard the servant come to report, he hurriedly put on his clothes and got up. When he saw Shen Xining's outfit, he was furious, but he couldn't say much in front of Xie Zhaoan, so he just smiled awkwardly.
"I am so sorry, Fourth Prince. My daughter has always been naughty. I am afraid that she has come up with some new tricks today and disturbed you. Please forgive me."
Xie Zhaoan waved his hand.
"No problem."
Father Shen breathed a sigh of relief, and Shen Xining was about to bow nicely and leave, but Xie Zhaoan's tone became tense again.
"But if it wasn't me that met today, but someone else, I'm afraid the strict family tradition of the Shen family would be ruined. Don't you think so, Master Shen?"
The last three words were pronounced with unusual emphasis, and Father Shen looked a little flustered. He pointed at Shen Xining and raised his voice.
"Shen Xining, you have been naughty since your mother passed away. I thought you lost your mother at a young age and never paid much attention to you, but I didn't expect that you would become lawless. Come, take the eldest lady to the ancestral hall and kneel for three days. You are only allowed to eat at noon every day, and no one is allowed to bring her more food. Do you understand?"
Shen Xining gritted her teeth. Now, no matter how many reasons she had, it was all in vain. The man in front of her was really seriously ill and had caused her to this point.
Xie Zhaoan looked at her with an innocent look on his face.
"Why is Miss Shen looking at me like this? Could it be that you have an objection to Master Shen's suggestion?"
"I dare not! Xining has benefited a lot from what father and the fourth prince said, so I dare not complain. Xining will go to the ancestral hall to kneel as punishment. Please rest assured, father and the fourth prince."
The woman left leisurely. Mr. Shen wanted to say something more, but Xie Zhaoan waved his hand to indicate that he was sleepy, and the farce ended completely.
After Shen's father returned to his room, Shen couldn't help but test him, with a hint of complaint in her words.
"Who is this Fourth Prince? Why does he sound so overbearing when he speaks? How did Xining get involved with this person? I made my family worry for nothing. I couldn't sleep for half the night."
Father Shen held her hand and sighed.
"It's my incompetence after all. Although I'm the Grand Tutor, I'm still just a pawn under the imperial power. Now is a turbulent time. If I'm not careful, my family may be destroyed. I can't help but be more patient. I just pity Xining."
Shen patted Shen's father on the shoulder and sighed.
"Xining is a smart child. She will understand your painstaking efforts."
However, there was a hint of disgust in her eyes. Even if she became the Grand Tutor, she still had to be controlled by others. Sooner or later, her daughter would become the most noble woman in the world. When that time came, she would not care about anyone's attitude.
Sooner or later, Shen will be killed by her foolish ambition.
Inside the ancestral hall.
Shen Xining sat on the couch, eating the fruit handed to him by Chun Xing, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.
"When I was chasing that horse just now, I almost lost half my life. Fortunately, you were here."
Haruyuki handed over another apricot, feeling a little distressed.
"Miss, why didn't you defend yourself a little more just now? It's clear that there's something fishy going on with the Fourth Prince."
Shen Xining swallowed the apricot and smiled.
"Even if father knew that the Fourth Prince really had problems, what can he do?"
One is a prince, the other is a minister. Besides, now is a time of trouble, it is better to have less trouble than more, the result will be the same.
However, today was not a complete waste. She seemed to understand where Xie Zhaoan got the confidence to make the prince want to get rid of him.
Although he did not catch up with him, Shen Xining could conclude that there was a mine not far ahead, which was the economic lifeline of the country. Xie Zhaoan actually had a mine, and considering what he had done in the past few days, could it be that he really wanted to be the emperor
Thinking of this possibility, Shen Xining's eyelids twitched twice.
If it's true, what will the Shen family do? Isn't this marriage with the prince...
It has to be delayed... at least, until the late emperor dies and everything is settled, it won't be too late for her to get married. Her father has always been cautious in the court. If she enters the harem, it will only benefit the new emperor and not cause any harm. However, the road ahead will probably become more difficult.
The decision has been made, and Shen Xining feels much more at ease.
The news that Shen Xining was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall spread throughout the Shen family the next day. After Shen Xiyao got up and heard the news, she was in a very good mood and even ate a lot more.
"God has mercy on you, Shen Xining, oh Shen Xining, you have come to this day. Don't think that you can do whatever you want just because you are the eldest daughter and your father favors you. Now, you have been kneeling in the ancestral hall for three consecutive days. I am afraid you will have to recuperate for ten days or half a month. When you recover, you may be waiting for my engagement with the prince."
The maid was terrified.
"Miss, please don't say this casually. If others hear it..."
"So what if they heard it? I am not afraid of them. When I become the queen, second only to the emperor and above all others, I will make all these people kneel at my feet and thank me."
Shen Xiyao frowned and looked at the shivering maid with some impatience.
"Okay, go down."
Shen Xiyao went out to the garden, but unexpectedly met Xie Zhaoan here. After she bowed, she was unwilling to communicate more. She looked down on a powerless prince.
Xie Zhaoan blocked her way.
"Second Miss Shen, you look pretty good today."
Shen Xiyao frowned.
"Fourth Prince, I don't understand what you are saying. What does my complexion have to do with you?"
"I'm just curious, is it because Miss Shen entered the ancestral hall?"
Shen Xiyao's body froze, and after a while, she pursed her lips.
"Of course not. My sister and I have always had a good relationship. She was taken to the ancestral hall. As her younger sister, I am extremely worried and am about to go to my father to plead for her."
Xie Zhaoan nodded and pretended to be casual and said, "I see. I thought your relationship was not good. It seems that my information was wrong. What a pity. I thought you and Third Brother were a perfect match and wanted to help you. I didn't expect that I misunderstood. In this case, Second Miss Shen, I am sorry for being rude. I will leave now."
Shen Xiyao gritted her teeth. When Xie Zhaoan was about to leave, she stepped forward to stop him and told everyone around her to leave. Then she said, "Fourth Prince, what do you mean by that? How can you help me? The contract between my sister and the Shen family was ordered by the emperor. Could it be that you can disobey the emperor's order?"
Her eyes were full of suspicion. Xie Zhaoan pursed his lips and a flash of contempt passed through his eyes, so fast that she had not yet reacted, and he continued speaking.
"Of course not this stupid method. I have plenty of ways. However, Miss Shen, I need your sincerity."