Chapter 235

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Ren Minmin knew herself very well, especially since the Guogong's wife had nagged her enough that she had long since developed calluses on her ears from hearing those tiresome words.

She waved her hands frantically and stepped back, tears welling in Ren Minmin's eyes as she said she absolutely could not do it; those princes' back courtyards were in chaos, and she was just an extra dish being sent to them in those household intrigues that even the Principal Wife couldn't handle.

Shen Yao:... Quite self-aware

"Elder Sister Shen, I'm not going. Will something happen at the Third Prince's place?"

Ren Minmin was torn; although the Third Prince looked very much like Third Brother, in her heart this person was merely a lofty prince, not her own elder brother.

However, the entire Guogong Fu had been forced to take sides, and Ren Minmin was well aware of the Third Prince's weight.

If, if the Third Prince got into trouble because of this, she might as well take a gamble and try it herself; it was better for one person to suffer misfortune than for the entire Guogong Fu to eat melons together.

The struggle for the new emperor had always been cruel and dangerous.

Their Guogong Fu could neither escape nor hide; this was something Ren Minmin had known long ago.

"Rest assured, once the people from the Guogong Fu arrive, there will still be plenty of time."

The Third Prince had fainted, but not only the Third Prince; there were several other princes as well.

The schemer was hiding very deeply, perhaps afraid of leaving evidence that would arouse the Emperor's suspicion, so they acted with bound hands and feet.

It could only be said that the Third Prince was less of a threat than the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

After all, one was born of the Empress, and the other had a maternal grandfather who held military power.

During this time in Jingcheng, Shen Yao had long since seen through the faces of these powerful noble families.

Still in the mood to have a cup of tea with Ren Minmin, Shen Yao reminded Ren Minmin that after today, until the situation calmed down, she had best not go out.

Shen Yao toyed with the cup and bowl in her hand, "Some reasons need not be said by me; you understand them yourself." If a plan was ruined, anyone would vent their anger.

Shen Yao naturally had no fear with her cultivation realm, but Ren Minmin was ultimately a naive young girl; once innocently implicated, only harm would remain.

Ren Minmin nodded seriously, indicating that she would hide in the mansion and not come out when she returned; as for anything else, she knew nothing at all.

Soon, the people from the Guogong Fu arrived, led by the Guogong Fu's new heir, Ren Minmin's own elder brother.

Ren Minmin told the other party the news, concealing Shen Yao's role in it, to avoid the possibility of Shen Yao being implicated.

"Alright, I know about this matter. The Noble Consort in the palace has also received the news. You return to the mansion as soon as possible; you need not worry about other matters."

Ren Dage's decisiveness was more resolute than Shen Yao had imagined; in just a few words he sent Ren Minmin away, and as for the remaining Shen Yao, Shen Yao said she would return to the farmstead and would not stay in Jingcheng for the next period of time.

Ren Dage:...

Ren Dage said that was fine; he silently nodded, turned around, and led a group of strong and sturdy people directly rushing into the restaurant opposite.

"So, all five princes who married Principal Wives were schemed against?"

Boarding the carriage back to the farmstead, Shen Yao relied on the system to continue eating melons.

After all, the Hidden Talisman could hide traces, but it was still not good to be too unrestrained in the Imperial Palace's Inner Courtyard; Dragon Qi had restraining relationships with many things in this world.

Shen Yao was ultimately not a true cultivator, and her dantian problem was difficult to solve, so her melon-eating journey could only rely on the system.

The system was very cooperative at this time; it was a country bumpkin and loved this kind of thing, chattering nonstop in her mind, "Yes yes, five proper princes, this is truly a grand gesture. The Emperor is furious in the Imperial Study and wants to issue an imperial decree for a strict investigation."

Even the Emperor had dispatched the dark guard forces in his own hands, all to ferret out the mastermind.

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, "The matters here are interconnected; are you sure that the Emperor, being so passive, can ferret out the mastermind behind the scenes?"

How could she not believe it? Even if this Jiang Guo Emperor was a wise ruler.

The system pondered for a while, "Even if they can't catch the person, they can make the other party hesitate to act for fear of harming the innocent."

They definitely wouldn't dare do this again in the future; openly framing five princes in a restaurant in the city, and using this most despicable method. Tsk, if it were one of them, they'd probably be so angry they'd kill someone.

"Hesitate to act for fear of harming the innocent? They've already achieved their goal and retreated with success."

Still hoping the mastermind behind the scenes would commit another crime? The system was too naive.

"If it weren't for us butting in horizontally, the Third Prince would definitely be the one screwed the worst. Do you still remember who the woman lying on the Second Prince's bed is?"

Shen Yao's counter-question directly caused the system to glitch; the system was silent for a while, then stammered, "That person seems somewhat familiar; let me go look for them."

Shen Yao thoughtfully told the system there was no need for such trouble; she could say, "She is a maidservant of the Xian Guogong Dizhi, that concubine who has already borne a son."

System:!!!!

"Wasn't this person taken into the Xian Guogong Fu? How did she end up at the restaurant?"

The system's mechanical sound sounded flustered, especially since this melon was too explosive; they were sure they came to the Mortal World and intended to walk the cultivation path, so how did they get dragged into a power struggle and harem intrigue drama?

"Yes, how did she get out herself? You must know that the Second Prince's background is naturally connected with the Xian Guogong and the Zhen Guo General's Mansion all the way."

Lowering her head to touch her wrist, Shen Yao had not yet said that the bed partners of the other several princes were all heavyweights; only the Third Prince had gotten a bargain—a daughter of a minor official with no complex background behind her, so marrying her into the mansion was fine.

As for the others, tsk!

There weren't many who could be married back, and they weren't easy to silence either; some were entangled.

System:...

The system dared not speak, obediently closed its mouth and continued watching the show, while Shen Yao rode the carriage back to the farmstead. As soon as she got off the carriage, she happened to see a familiar face, a little servant, waiting in the original place.

"Miss Shen, our young master has recently obtained several herbs with good medicinal properties; I wonder if you have time?"

The little servant behaved very politely, especially since the person before him was very likely to be his master.

Shen Yao smiled, "If so, please lead the way."

The little servant laughed and made an 'ei' sound, saying as he walked that his young master had put all his energy into this; the implication being that he had no time to meddle in outside matters.

Yo ho, could it be that the news spread so fast it had already reached Ren Chengzhou's ears?

But it was also possible; although Ren Chengzhou lived at the farmstead, the Guogong Fu still had confidants there, so sending a message was convenient.

Arriving at the small courtyard where Ren Chengzhou was staying, Shen Yao entered and immediately saw Ren Chengzhou with his head lowered, fiddling with several herbs that had already been sun-dried.

"Young Master Ren"

"Miss Shen"

The two nodded to one another, and taking the medicinal properties of the herbs as a starting point, they began to discuss.

Until the topic came to a pause, Ren Chengzhou brought up the matter of the capital's restaurant.

"Not hiding it from Young Master Ren, at the time I was in the tea house across the street; I only knew the restaurant was lively, the internal situation was unclear, but since the Guogong Fu heir arrived afterward, he ought to know some things."

"Miss Shen misunderstands; Ren is not asking about what happened at the restaurant, merely thinking that with Miss Shen in the surroundings, she might be implicated by certain ill-intentioned people.

Why not temporarily reside at the farmstead? Though untalented, Ren can provide Miss Shen with assistance."

However you put it, Ren Chengzhou is a Prince; he may not be favored by his parents, but that does not mean other people of Jiang Guo can freely humiliate him.

Shen Yao's public persona is a divine doctor of superb medical skill, yet her background is completely blank. Such a situation makes it very easy for people to manipulate her; Ren Chengzhou is also worried Shen Yao will become a scapegoat in the affair — do not think too highly of those nobles' character; when it comes to comparing rottenness, they are far, far ahead.

Knowing Ren Chengzhou meant well, Shen Yao did not refuse; she nodded, indicating she would stay at the farmstead during this period, and that if anything came up on Ren Chengzhou's side, he could ask her to come over anytime.

The master-disciple relationship between the two was only a formality; moreover, Ren Chengzhou was still Shen Yao's patient, and daily recuperation and medicine all had to go through Shen Yao's hands.

……

In the following time, Shen Yao simply stayed at the farmstead living a quiet life.

The farmstead here had people and fields; Shen Yao could occasionally go to the back mountain to gather herbs, and with Ren Chengzhou inviting her company, it was simply more comfortable than living in the capital.

Not only that, during one routine consultation Shen Yao also heard about the capital's situation.

The five Princes were implicated, each shutting their doors to reflect; the court saw a swath of officials fall, including the prominent Xian Guogong Fu — the entire direct line was beheaded, the rest all exiled to Lingnan, and within three generations no one was allowed to take the imperial examinations or hold office.

As for why Xian Guogong Fu was caught, "Evidence of their contact with an enemy state was found in the mansion; they had no defense."

Ren Chengzhou pursed his lips and did not say that all of this was exposed by that concubine-born woman, afraid of frightening Shen Yao.

In truth Shen Yao had long known everything clearly; she also knew the chief culprit of this affair was the seemingly insignificant Fourth Prince who had even schemed against himself.

Even that concubine-born woman was the Fourth Prince's spy; the one she loved was also the Fourth Prince, including the child she bore being swapped and protected.

The Xian Guogong heir was stupid, Xian Guogong himself was muddleheaded; this branch's downfall was completely within Shen Yao's expectations.

Only, the Fourth Prince is also quite miserable; the woman in his bed was the Grand Tutor's most favored concubine at the time.

You must know that for this concubine, the Grand Tutor even fell out with his original wife.

Hand resting on the handkerchief she had taken out, Shen Yao mentioned Ren Minmin who had been hiding in the Guogong Fu; time passed quickly, and the New Year was approaching again.

"This New Year, I received a letter from the palace, requiring me to set off and enter the palace."

Ren Chengzhou was unhappy; he hated the palace's atmosphere, loathed the palace's struggles.

There was a time when he was not like this; perhaps when he slowly grew up and understood the difference between himself and the Third Prince, his state of mind changed.

"Miss Shen, I wonder what kind of appearance I have in Miss Shen's eyes?"

Ren Chengzhou gazed at Shen Yao; he wanted to try, even if he would ultimately fail.

Shen Yao was stunned for a moment, then said seriously, "Young Master Ren is a gentleman."

Ren Chengzhou's expression softened, like a clear breeze in the woods, the bright moon embraced in his arms.

"Ren wishes to seek Miss Shen's hand in marriage; I wonder if Miss Shen would grant Chengzhou a chance."

Afraid Shen Yao would be too embarrassed to refuse, Ren Chengzhou made clear he was not forcing her; today's matter was known only to the two of them, and even if she refused nothing would spread.

Shen Yao steadied her mind, only saying it was too sudden; though she had no betrothal, she had also not considered marriage, "Please give me time to think, Young Master; three days from now, regardless, Shen Yao will make her attitude clear."

"Three days? Host, why not agree immediately?" Clearly in her heart she was willing.

On the way back, the System popped up to speak, not forgetting to remind her that Ren Chengzhou's body was in excellent condition, and if the Host did not agree there were other noble ladies in the capital; a Prince has no trouble finding a wife.

Shen Yao was unhurried, "The more precious the thing, the more it deserves heart and effort.

I merely delayed three days; if he cannot wait even three days, then it means we have no destiny."

Ren Chengzhou is the first choice, but not the only choice; Shen Yao has absolutely no need to be that anxious.

Watching the System's unpromising appearance, Shen Yao felt nothing but disdain in her heart.

"You really are living more and more backwards; you've watched the palace dramas this long and haven't made half a bit of progress."

Who knows what it runs off to do normally; sometimes Shen Yao even suspects whether this System is a disguised gossipmonger — it simply loves gossip too much, and its actual usefulness to her is pitifully small.

"Host, I'm also doing this for your good," after all, you won't find another tool person like Ren Chengzhou.

Could it be that on the days it's absent it just eats melons? Or does it help the Host find people?

Pity those with outstanding spiritual roots are too rotten, and those with ordinary spiritual roots have other flaws.

"Enough; when you have time, turn your gaze to the mountain forests; Spiritual Qi Revival will certainly be accompanied by all manner of marvels.

Then there will be some Demons and Monsters harming the mortal world; that will be the time for us to act."

Shen Yao had already decided on the arrangements for the next matters; she only waited for the capital's affairs to settle, then she would leave to travel far and earn merit.

The System obviously also thought of the merit angle; after all, even when the Host gathered herbs she could run into several spirit grasses that had obtained opportunities; how much more those wild beasts originally living in the mountain forests — wild beasts are far more intelligent than plants that have not gained sentience.

With a whoosh, without waiting for Shen Yao to urge it, the System ran far away again.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao was already used to the System's bustling, hurried manner; perhaps because they completed their missions well, the two got along increasingly casually.

Returning to the farmstead, Shen Yao spent three days behind closed doors declining guests; Ren Chengzhou endured three days of bitter waiting here, until Shen Yao spoke the words he was willing to hear.

The reserved and elegant noble son rarely lost control; his whole person was visibly happy.

Pity Ren Chengzhou had to enter the palace; when he returns again it will still be after the New Year festival.

Having made up his mind to return and petition the Emperor for a marriage decree, Ren Chengzhou promised Shen Yao that in the future he would treat her with single-minded devotion and absolutely no second thoughts.

Actually it wasn't necessary to go that far; Shen Yao had long since seen through these matters of love between men and women.

Perhaps at first one might get carried away by emotion, but after a long time it's just that.

Smiling as she watched Ren Chengzhou board the carriage and leave, Shen Yao withdrew her gaze.

On the second festival since arriving in Jingcheng, Shen Yao spent it alone at the farmstead; since no one came to disturb her, Shen Yao passed the festival in ease and comfort.

Especially because the weather was cold, no personnel entered the surrounding mountain forest anymore, making it all the more convenient for Shen Yao to gather all manner of miraculous herbs.

Storing the gathered herbs into Space Storage, Shen Yao spent each day either concocting alchemy or reading books and practicing calligraphy, using the remaining time to practice the prepared cultivation technique.

Waiting until after the holiday for Ren Chengzhou to return, in his hand still holding the Imperial Edict of Cifu spoken by the Emperor's golden mouth and jade words.

The wedding date was set for the fifth month.

"The wedding banquet will be held in Jingcheng, at the residence vacated by Xian Guogong Fu.

Once we are married, if you wish to reside at the farmstead, we will return together."

Ren Chengzhou felt an apology, never expecting that matters in the palace would be so unscrupulous.

The finger drawn into his sleeve unconsciously clenched tight; Ren Chengzhou's Yan Wu toward the palace rose to its peak.