Chapter 108: A Poisonous Snake Enters the House, Lin Xuefu's Life or Death Is Uncertain
Shen Qing gave her the right to choose, "If you want to talk, I will try my best to find a solution for you. If you don't want to, I won't force you. You have grown up and have your own way of doing things."
Shen Shuyu was silent for a moment, but still chose to speak: "Eldest sister, recently... the third prince has been pestering me. Moreover, the third prince came to the Yining Marquis's Mansion in person yesterday. I secretly heard his conversation with my father. He said that he wanted to marry me as a concubine."
When the word "concubine" was mentioned, a cold color flashed across Shen Shuyu's eyes.
Concubine means concubine.
Xie Ling taught her since she was a child that even if she married into a poor family, she could not be a concubine, because she didn't want Shen Shuyu to be like her, suffering from everyone's contempt. Even if Shen Yian treated her sincerely, she knew many of the sufferings.
The third prince, Chu Lingxi?
Shen Qing was a little surprised, "Have you ever been friends with the third prince?"
Shen Shuyu pursed her lips and finally nodded.
The two met in Chenglu Temple in December last year.
In December last year, in order to successfully obtain the amulet, Shen Shuyu chose to spend the night in Chenglu Temple to copy Buddhist scriptures, but encountered heavy snow and was trapped in Chenglu Temple for half a month before returning to Shengjing.
During that time, Shen Shuyu met Chu Lingxi, who was also trapped in Chenglu Temple. The two hit it off at first sight, and walked in the snow to appreciate plum blossoms and watched the moon together on a snowy night.
As expected, the two fell in love, but it was not until the eve of leaving Chenglu Temple that Shen Shuyu knew that the so-called Lingxi was just a pseudonym, and his real identity was Chu Lingxi, the third prince of Da Chu.
Almost the entire Shengjing knew that the position of the third prince's consort was reserved for Gu Tingyan. Although the two did not have a substantive engagement, this matter was already decided by Concubine Shu and Prime Minister Gu.
And this also means that no matter how much Chu Lingxi likes Shen Shuyu, he cannot give her the status of a principal wife.
Therefore, the moment she knew Chu Lingxi's identity, Shen Shuyu chose to cut off this bad relationship.
After that, the two of them did not meet privately again until they met by chance on the Dragon Boat Festival a few days ago.
However, after the unexpected meeting, Chu Lingxi seemed to have forgotten the agreement and appeared in front of her again and again. Yesterday, he even wanted to marry her.
After listening, Shen Qing was silent for a moment, and then looked up at Shen Shuyu, "Do you still have feelings for the Third Prince?"
Shen Shuyu bit her lip and nodded, but after a moment she said seriously: "Eldest sister, although I still like him, I will never marry him as a concubine. I would rather live alone for the rest of my life."
"Have you made it clear to him before?"
"Yes, he also promised me that we will never meet again in the future."
Shen Qing thought for a moment before speaking: "As far as I know, the Third Prince is stubborn. My father rejected him yesterday, but it does not mean that he has given up this idea. If he really asks His Majesty for an imperial decree to grant marriage, I am afraid that this matter will never turn around."
Shen Shuyu's expression froze. If Chu Lingxi really asked for such an imperial decree, she would never disobey it, otherwise the entire Yining Marquis's Mansion would be implicated.
"Sister, can His Majesty agree to such a request?"
Shen Qing shook her head, "It's hard to say. Although you are the daughter of the Marquis's family, it is a good match for you to marry into an official family as the main wife, but the problem is that the Third Prince is a royal child after all, and His Majesty favors Concubine Shu, so it's hard to say what the result will be."
There is another point that Shen Qing did not say. She was afraid that Chu Lingxi would have some bad thoughts about Shen Shuyu.
Shen Shuyu frowned tightly, "Sister, what should I do?"
As if to prove her determination to Shen Qing, Shen Shuyu repeated again, "Sister, I will not marry the Third Prince as a concubine."
Looking at the coldness gradually condensing in Shen Shuyu's eyes, Shen Qing grabbed her hand and comforted her: "Don't worry, my father and I will not allow things to go to this point."
After speaking, Shen Qing pulled Shen Shuyu's hand, and Shen Shuyu understood and moved closer to Shen Qing.
Shen Qing whispered a few words to Shen Shuyu, and the shock on Shen Shuyu's face became more and more obvious, "Eldest sister, this... is it really possible?"
Shen Qing nodded, "Well, go back, remember to tell my words to father and mother."
After speaking, he added: "I won't go back with you. According to my guess, the third prince is most likely aware of your going out. If I go back with you, I'm afraid there will be trouble again."
Shen Shuyu stood up, still a little worried about Shen Qing, "Eldest sister, then I will go back first. You must be careful when you are alone in Yangling Marquis Mansion. I'm afraid they will bully you."
Shen Qing smiled, "Don't worry, I will be fine."
Shen Shuyu left reluctantly.
...
As Shen Qing thought, when Shen Shuyu went out, the third prince's people hid in the dark.
As soon as Shen Shuyu walked out of Yangling Marquis's mansion, she was stopped by a servant in blue clothes, who said that the Third Prince invited her to a teahouse.
Shen Shuyu's face turned cold instantly, and she refused without thinking, "Go back and tell your master that I am not familiar with him, so there is no need for us to have tea and talk."
Chu Lingxi had expected Shen Shuyu to refuse, so he asked the servant in blue clothes to bring a letter.
When he opened the letter and saw the familiar handwriting on it, Shen Shuyu felt strange in his heart.
However, when he saw the content behind, Shen Shuyu's face gradually froze.
After closing his eyes, Shen Shuyu calmed down his mood and said to the driver outside, "Let's go to the teahouse."
...
Just after noon, Mu Jin sent a message saying that the wife of Yangling Marquis had started to select the second batch of servants again, and asked Shen Qing if he wanted to go over and take a look.
Shen Qing refused directly.
It was the beginning of the afternoon, the sun was scorching, Shen Qing was not ready to go again.
Having gotten up early today, Shen Qing was already a little sleepy, so he planned to take a nap on the couch with Tuanzi in his arms.
However, just as Shen Qing fell asleep, he was awakened by the noise outside.
As the noise became louder, Shen Qing's sleepiness instantly dissipated, and he called out to the door, "Haitang."
Chan Yi went to deal with the matter of Yangling Hou's wife buying and selling servants, Fu Yi was busy with the small pharmacy that Shen Qing built for her these days, and Mu Jin was always watching the movements of each courtyard, so Haitang was the only one left by Shen Qing's side.
Hearing Shen Qing's voice, Haitang pushed the door open and walked in, "Madam, did I wake you up?"
Shen Qing nodded and asked, "What happened?"
Haitang responded respectfully, "Madam, something happened at Fuyun Pavilion. Madam is now checking each courtyard."
Hearing that something happened at Lin Xuefu's place, Shen Qing instantly became more alert, "What happened?"
"Just now, Madam called the matchmaker to bring a group of servants over. Aunt Lin just accompanied Madam to choose for a while, and then she said she had a headache, so Madam allowed her to go back first.
However, not long after, someone from Fuyun Pavilion came in a panic, saying that many snakes had entered Fuyun Pavilion, and by coincidence, one of them just happened to get into Aunt Lin's boudoir.
Aunt Lin was bitten by a snake and fainted on the spot. I heard it was a poisonous snake."
Shen Qing paused, there was a snake?
And it happened to enter Lin Xuefu's Fuyun Pavilion?
But there is something more important right now, "Is Aunt Lin still alive?"