Chapter 54: The Road Ahead

Shen Yunyao's days were very leisurely.

Although Granny Shen and Granny Ma had come specially to teach her etiquette, they obviously did not impose strict demands on her.

Actually, whether it's the palace's rules or the rules of a wealthy household, put simply, it's just a matter of status.

As long as one's conduct is dignified and one's actions have basis, then basically there won't be any major problems.

The kind of situation Shen Yunyao had seen in movies and TV shows, where every move must be absolutely standard, simply does not exist.

"Young Madam, the palace's etiquette is just this: when you see a noble person, you bow; besides, if you don't have a noble's permission, it's best not to stare directly at them!"

"Of course, Young Madam, your status is already extremely noble."

"Among the masters in the palace, except for a few, you may treat those you see with an ordinary heart!"

"Even some junior masters who have just entered the palace, upon seeing you, must still pay their respects!"

Upon Granny Shen saying that, Shen Yunyao became unsettled.

"Granny Shen, the ruler and subjects have their order; your words—"

"Young Madam, what Granny Shen said is actually already quite tactful."

Granny Ma beside her added an explanation, "You are the Empress's sister-in-law; you understand that, right!"

"I know!"

Xie Zian is the Empress's twin brother; otherwise, how could he be called Prince Consort?

"You see, in this palace, the Empress is the most noble woman; among the women of the inner court, who would not show respect to the Empress!"

"To make things difficult for you, isn't that slapping the Empress's face!"

"Who would dare!"

Upon Granny Ma saying that, Shen Yunyao understood.

This amounts to leaning on a big tree to enjoy the shade; of course, it can also be said to be borrowing the tiger's might.

However, no matter the situation, at least it let her realize that her future days should not be too hard to endure.

Of course, the premise of all this is that she and Prince Consort Xie Zian can live together in marital harmony.

A wife gains honor from her husband!

If Xie Zian does not treat this wife of his as anything, then who else would care about her?

"Young Madam, the palace's etiquette is easy to talk about; the trouble lies in the Xie family's rules."

"The Xie family has been passed down for a long time; some of its rules are even more intricate and strict than the palace's. In this regard, we two old servants cannot advise you!"

"However, I have heard that the Prince Consort plans to establish another residence; as for whether it will succeed, that's really hard to say!"

Granny Ma is obviously quite adept at chatting about gossip.

Shen Yunyao also asked her for quite a bit of gossip about the capital.

"Granny Ma, what is the relationship between the Prince Consort and the Grand Preceptor?"

"Good!"

"Very good!"

"Anyway, I haven't heard of any underhandedness between them!"

"Because the Empress and the Prince Consort were the late-in-life blessings obtained by Old Master Xie and Old Lady Xie when they were forty; Old Master Xie was then busy with state affairs, and Old Lady Xie lacked energy, so the Empress and the Prince Consort were basically raised by Grand Preceptor Xie and his wife."

"Young Madam actually does not need to worry about discord between sisters-in-law."

"The Grand Preceptor's Lady Zhen comes from the Henei Zhen family, and the Zhen family is likewise a long-established clan of our Dayong."

"The women of this clan are renowned for their virtue!"

"To put it bluntly, the great clans of Dayong all consider marrying a Zhen family maiden an honor."

"……"

Upon hearing Granny Ma's high praise of the Zhen family maiden, Shen Yunyao inexplicably felt as if she had embarrassed Xie Zian.

However, this marriage was not sought by her; it was Xie Zian who sought to marry her, so she has nothing to be embarrassed about.

Moreover, she might not necessarily be inferior to the Zhen family maiden.

……

Three days passed in a flash.

Shen Yunyao's time each day was arranged to be full.

Either she was learning etiquette, or she was listening to the two grannies talk about matters of the capital.

Although the two grannies would always be by her side, some things still need to be understood in advance; one can't always rely on the two grannies to remind her in time!

Shen Yunyao waited until the morning of the day she left Liu Cheng before seeing her Fourth Uncle, Shen Zhen.

"Girl, I had originally prepared a unique dowry for you, but since you are marrying into the capital, and moreover marrying that fellow Xie Zian, I cannot send this dowry out!"

"Fourth Uncle, no matter what dowry you prepare, I will not disdain it!"

Shen Yunyao had no idea that Shen Zhen wanted to adopt her into his household; in her view, a dowry was just material goods.

"This won't do!"

"What Fourth Uncle has promised cannot be taken lightly!"

"Just wait—whether before your wedding or after it, Fourth Uncle will surely find you another special dowry!"

"On this journey, be careful in all things!"

"Sometimes, when wronged, just endure it for a while."

"As long as the green hills remain, there's no fear of lacking firewood!"

Fourth Master Shen gave Shen Yunyao a few words of advice, then stepped back.

Madam Lu gazed at Shen Yunyao in the carriage; thousands of words welled up in her heart, finally condensing into a simple "Safe travels."

As for Third Father Shen, her biological father, he merely nodded and said, "Go to the capital first; next year, we'll all go to the capital, and by then, returning to your natal home will be closer!"

After this, saying more is useless.

In three days, Shen Zhen also thought a lot.

He seemed to understand why the Lu family had said such things to him.

His wife probably also realized her debt to their daughter.

She is unable to change anything.

She can only rely on him!

He is her husband, and should be her reliance for showing prestige before others.

But he has wasted these years, never realizing where he went wrong.

Fortunately, there is still time; they have decades left in their lives, and everything can still be made up for.

……

The convoy quickly left Liu Cheng.

Shen Yunyao and Cuiyu shared a carriage; Grandma Shen and Grandma Ma were in the carriage behind.

As for the other maids and dowry attendants, they were in the carriage further back; the grand procession slowly left Liu Cheng, heading north.

County magistrate Ou Feng, in plain clothes, stood on the gate tower, watching the carriage procession gradually fade away, and he finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Heavens, finally he's gone!"

"May heaven bless you, smooth journey!"

Ou Feng also had a rough time these three days.

With the eunuch Wang De Shun, who came to Liu Cheng bearing the imperial edict, the palace guards patrol Liu Cheng every day; we don't know what will be written on those memorials when they return to Jingcheng.

Ou Feng these three days, every day he was on edge, fearing a major incident would occur in Liu Cheng's jurisdiction.

Fortunately, nothing happened.

These years, the weather has been favorable, the harvest truly good.

Otherwise, there would be many drifters on this street, which would truly be the death of Ou Feng.

Dayong law: if civilians flee their homes due to famine year, the localities they pass through must do their best to settle them.

What does settling entail?

Providing food is mandatory!

Arranging lodging is also necessary.

If the local conditions are good, these drifters can also directly register residence, be allocated land, and from then on settle down here.

Ou Feng let out a sigh of relief, but the eunuch Wang De Shun, who delivered the imperial edict, felt his heart rise.

Before departure, he received a letter saying that thieves had set their sights on the fiancée of the imperial uncle, namely Shen Yunyao!

(End of chapter)