Chapter 141

Shen Shuangning blinked: "What bird?"

Shen Ling was even more confused, utterly bewildered.

"It's that joke-telling bird, all yellow and green—you've seen it too." Jingyu recalled while describing the scene.

Originally, Emperor Xuwen only wanted to demote Lanxiang by two ranks, confine her for half a year, and deduct her salary for a year, as a warning.

After all, she was a woman he had genuinely doted on, and now she was pregnant too, so he truly couldn't bear to be harsh with her.

But when Lanxiang heard she was no longer an imperial consort, she couldn't take it, truly stirred up her fetal qi, and was then half-carried, half-dragged into the palace by the attendants.

But no sooner had she entered than she heard an indescribable sound from inside; Emperor Xuwen thought someone was indulging in lust in broad daylight in the Brocade Palace, flew into a rage, and ordered the man and woman to be seized.

As it turned out, the sounds were coming from a talking parrot!

Yet the captured parrot showed no sense of danger at all, happily continuing to emit sounds that made faces flush and ears burn.

Lanxiang fainted dead away at once.

All because the parrot was imitating the very sounds Lanxiang made when she coupled with the guard—matching tone perfectly, the woman's high-pitched, the man's low, intertwined.

It was as if a live spring palace was being performed.

Especially the parrot, which even mimicked Lanxiang's tone, saying: "Your Majesty, he's old; this palace has long grown tired of him—you're the one with stamina......"

Emperor Xuwen's face turned black-and-blue on the spot; already in poor health, he then vomited a mouthful of old blood upon encountering this.

That guard was quickly dragged out—identified by Eunuch Zheng, who attended Lanxiang.

The guard confessed without reservation and was then beheaded on the spot; Lanxiang, naturally, could not survive.

Despite her loud protests that the child in her womb was imperial offspring, no one believed her.

Lanxiang never imagined she would ultimately fall to a petty beast; years of scheming turned to nothing in an instant. Indeed, it was the parrot Xiao Jingyuan had once given her in exchange for a jar of pearl cream.

Lanxiang died, and the palace maids and eunuchs who served her were all dragged out and beaten to death; the Brocade Palace ran red with blood.

Jingyu naturally didn't see this scene, for she had first helped the ailing Emperor Xuwen away; later, passing by the Brocade Palace, she saw the vermilion gates shut tight and a thick scent of blood drifting out.

"That's how it happened." Jingyu took a sip of tea, cleared her throat, and said, "I've lived in the palace for eighteen years, and this is the first time I've encountered such a thing—hmph, she got what she deserved."

Shen Shuangning deeply agreed: "Self-inflicted misery cannot be survived."

Jingyu added: "Still, Heir Xiao also put in considerable effort here—those who used private punishment on you had their fingers chopped off at his command."

Because of this, Jingyu's opinion of Xiao Jingyuan improved greatly, and the entire Duke of Rong's manor felt deep gratitude toward him.

Shen Shuangning's feelings were mixed, but she remained silent.

In this life, Xiao Jingyuan has indeed helped her a great deal.

The imperial consort's death caused no great stir; rather, a few days later an incident sparked a sizable commotion—the heir of Prince Yan's manor used all his military merits to petition His Majesty for a bestowed marriage.

And whom he sought to marry was none other than the Fourth Miss of the Duke of Rong's manor—Shen Shuangning.

That day, the imperial edict of bestowed marriage arrived; Xiao Jingyuan tucked it away, mounted a reddish-brown horse, gathered his entourage and betrothal gifts, and went to the Duke of Rong's manor to propose.

Such swift and decisive action caught everyone in the Duke of Rong's manor completely off guard!

But earlier, Princess Yan had arrived at the Duke of Rong's manor before him.

At dawn, the princess sent a visiting card to the Duke of Rong's manor, then went in person to pay her respects, first calling on Old Lady Shen.

One must know that previously Old Lady Shen had wanted to arrange a meeting between Shen Shuangning and Xiao Jingyuan, but Princess Yan declined, saying, "Miss Shen is still too young to bear the responsibility of being the prince's consort; Miss Song would be steadier and more capable."

Although matchmaking is supposed to be mutual, being turned down isn't exactly humiliating, yet Old Lady Shen, who always strove to be strong, harbored a hint of resentment.

Thus the Yan prince's consort came bearing rich gifts, sat in the old lady's warm pavilion to discuss the marriage; the old lady held her teacup, sipping slowly, smiling on the surface but her words held a hint of distance.

"Just the other day the consort said, 'Our Ning girl is too gentle; I fear she cannot uphold the Yan prince's household.' The old lady set down her teacup, her gaze falling on the consort with a touch of teasing, 'How is it that your mind has changed so soon?'"

In the presence of the Shen family's matriarch, the consort is ultimately a junior.

Yet when the consort earlier spoke thus of Shen Shuangning, other ladies stood by watching the spectacle, paying no heed to the old lady's dignity; now why should she bother to preserve the consort's face?

Thus the old lady lightly said, 'Could it be that because the Song family's daughter married into the Eastern Palace, you now come back for our Ning girl? We do not take what others discard.'

Those words were exceedingly grating.

The consort's visage darkened; she almost flicked her sleeve and left, but thinking of Xiao Jingyuan she ultimately restrained herself.

Lady Liu also sat nearby; hearing her mother-in-law's barbed remarks, she too felt the words went too far, yet she said nothing.

She knew full well how much the consort had once looked down on Ning Ning.

Today the consort came in person; it is not that she has changed her mind, but rather she is compromising for the heir's sake.

Lady Liu, having been through it herself, knows well that a woman needs her husband's affection, but without her mother-in-law's approval, her future days will surely be fraught with obstacles.

The Xiao heir having rescued Ning Ning several times is commendable, and she has revised her opinion of Xiao Jingyuan, but since it concerns her daughter's lifelong matter, Lady Liu will not readily assent.

Moreover, she has not yet asked Ning Ning's opinion; she will only consent if Ning Ning nods, otherwise even if the Yan prince's mansion were the emperor himself, she would not agree.

Seeing Lady Liu's attitude remain lukewarm, the consort felt ever more uneasy, yet she could understand, for were she in Lady Liu's place, she might act the same.

Who made her treat Shen Shuangning that way in the first place?

"A flicker of embarrassment crossed the consort's face, yet she spoke candidly: 'Old lady, you jest. Earlier I misjudged, taking the Fourth Miss for a hothouse flower; only later did I learn she is outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, one who knows when to advance or retreat, possessed of courage, a rare excellent young woman.'"

"Ah Yuan, this child, has always been upright in his intentions; since he has set his heart on the Fourth Miss, I, as his mother, naturally will follow his lead."

The meaning of her words is that she also appreciates Shen Shuangning, and she is pleased to see this marriage come to pass.

The consort paused, her tone growing more sincere: 'Earlier my view was narrow; I hope the old lady and Madam Shen will not hold it against me. This time I have come in earnest to seek the Fourth Miss's hand for my son.'

The old lady, who yields to softness but not to hardness, seeing the other side lower her stance, felt her displeasure dissipate largely, becoming much more at ease, and her face showed a hint of genuine smile.

But Lady Liu spoke up: 'If the suit is sincere, why is only the consort here, with no sign of the heir?'

The consort knew full well—Xiao Jingyuan was at this very moment in the palace seeking an imperial edict of marriage.

This child is usually steady and strategic, fearing nothing, yet this time he actually worries that the Duke's manor may refuse to give their daughter to him.

The night before, he had specially come to see her, his mother, imploring her to first go to the Duke's manor to steady the situation, while he himself went to obtain a guarantee.

But these inner details cannot yet be revealed.

At Lady Liu's remark, the Shen matriarch snapped back to attention, the brows she had just relaxed furrowing again slightly.

Yeah, since they said they've settled on Shen Shuangning, why isn't he showing himself? Could it be that he's still putting on airs as the Yan Prince's heir? If he lacks even this sincerity, our State Duke's Manor's young lady certainly can't just marry him so easily.

The Yan Princess glanced and saw the Old Madam Shen furrow her brows again, her heart giving a thump; she quickly spoke for her son: 'Old Madam Shen, Madam Shen, don't worry—it's not that Xiao Jingyuan doesn't value this; he went to the palace early, perhaps held up by an urgent matter, and will surely arrive shortly.'

No one knew whether Xiao Jingyuan had obtained an imperial edict, and the Yan Princess also couldn't just say it outright.

Upon hearing that, Old Madam Shen and Lady Liu's expressions eased a little. After all, the Yan Princess had come in person, her attitude was sincere, so it wasn't good to keep harping on it.

At this point, Old Madam Shen and Lady Liu still thought it was merely a marriage discussion; whether to settle it or not still needed further observation.

Among aristocratic families, no one decides a marriage on the very day they discuss it and slaps the board to finalize it; doing so would be too hasty.

At this moment, Shen Shuangning was swinging on a swing in her own courtyard, exuding an air of leisure.

The front hall's commotion had already been reported in full detail by sharp-eared Aheng.

'Miss, the Yan Princess said the heir has entered the palace; what do you think… what is he doing in there?' Aheng peeled an orange, unable to curb her curiosity, 'Speaking of such a major marriage matter, he really shouldn't be absent.'

Shen Shuangning didn't know what Xiao Jingyuan was up to, and her thoughts drifted to a faraway place.

In her previous life, when the marriage was discussed, Xiao Jingyuan had been dispatched elsewhere, and only the Yan Princess came herself.

Back then, she was full of admiration for Xiao Jingyuan, hadn't even seen his face, and eagerly urged her parents to agree to the marriage on the spot.

The news of the State Duke's Manor's legitimate daughter's reluctant marriage spread, and it was hardly a glorious matter.

But she was immersed in the joy of being able to marry her beloved, paying no heed to the outside gossip; looking back now, it truly brought shame upon her parents.

Later, when she saw Xiao Jingyuan again, it was the night before their wedding, and he came to see her of his own accord.

The man stood before her with a cold expression, showing no affection on his face, and said indifferently, 'Agreeing to our marriage is merely due to the circumstances; it has nothing to do with affection. Be a good heir's consort, and I can guarantee your life will be safe, you'll enjoy boundless wealth and honor—if you ask for too much, you'll only invite trouble.'

She was happy to see him, yet felt a sense of loss and heartbreak, for he did not like her.

She didn't give much thought to what he had said back then.

In her previous life, Shen Shuangning was merely a sheltered young lady from an aristocratic family, overly protected, so her horizons were narrow and she was somewhat naïve; she had no idea what dangers the State Duke's Manor faced then, nor how formidable the Yan Prince's mansion was.

To Shen Shuangning at that time, Xiao Jingyuan's words sounded like the Yan Prince's mansion was forced into an alliance with the State Duke's Manor, which was why he was willing to marry her.

But Shen Shuangning, reborn into this life, knows the fact is nothing like that.

The Yan Prince's mansion fundamentally doesn't need any assistance from the State Duke's Manor.

Know that the Yan Prince's mansion controls a third of the empire's military power, has always held a higher status than the State Duke's Manor and wields greater influence; only the State Duke's Manor needs to rely on them, and there is absolutely no situation where they would need the State Duke's Manor.

Even if Xiao Jingyuan didn't marry Song Xizhi, there are plenty of other candidates for the heir's consort; how could it possibly have to be her?

The fact is, because State Duke Shen Lang serves in the Capital Garrison, he has attracted covetous attention from all sides; as his only daughter, they naturally set their sights on her too—saying she is surrounded by tigers and wolves is no exaggeration.

But once Xiao Jingyuan married her, those with ulterior motives would finally give up their thoughts.

Thinking this, Shen Shuangning felt a hard-to-describe emotion rise in her heart.

In her previous life, Xiao Jingyuan might have had a bit of interest in her, but he didn't like her; yet he sacrificed his life to resolve the State Duke's Manor's predicament. Although later the main branch of the State Duke's Manor still ended up with a miserable fate, she blamed him entirely......

As she was pondering, a stern cadence of horse hooves suddenly came from outside the courtyard wall, growing nearer and stopping before the manor gate.

The commotion was no small matter; those unaware might have thought an entire division's army had arrived.

Aheng's oranges fell to the ground in fright: 'What's going on? Is the State Duke's Manor being surrounded?!'