"The War Prince is truly generous..."
"Yes, he even gives such expensive gifts when the official's son or grandson gets married..."
Shen Lixue listened to the murmurs and smiled faintly. The items in the Zhanwang Mansion's storeroom were divided into first, second, and third grades. The beads in the box were third-grade gifts that she had casually picked out. For Lei Cong and Shen Caixuan's wedding, giving them third-grade gifts was already a bargain. Giving first or second-grade gifts would be an absolute waste.
However, she did not expect that the third-class gifts from the War King's mansion would be considered rare treasures when presented to everyone.
Shen Yingxue gritted her teeth in anger. The War King actually sent Shen Lixue to deliver such a valuable gift. He really trusted her. Wasn't he afraid that she would keep it all for herself?
As they talked about the beads, everyone thought of Shen Lixue, who had given them to them. Looking at Shen Minghui, the Lei family lowered their voices and whispered amongst themselves.
"I heard that Princess Lixue has severed her father-daughter relationship with Prime Minister Shen..."
"It must be because Prime Minister Shen is a bad person!" Prince Zhan is highly skilled in martial arts and tactics, and he is also very good at judging people. He has recognized Princess Lixue as his adopted daughter. Princess Lixue must be a smart and kind person. Her conflict with Shen Minghui is definitely Shen Minghui's fault.
"I think so too. The princess brought gifts and attended the banquet, but she didn't offend him. Yet he still chased her away. Even if he lost face and didn't want to see her, he could have just stayed far away. Why did he have to make the relationship so strained!"
Who is the War Prince? He is the Azure Flame War God who has made great military achievements. The officials trust and respect him far more than Shen Minghui, who is only good at writing. They saw what just happened clearly and pushed all the blame onto Shen Minghui.
Shen Minghui couldn't tell everyone that he was wary of Shen Lixue. He was speechless and stared intently at her departing figure, his face growing even more gloomy. This rebellious daughter was his jinx; wherever she was, he was bound to be unlucky.
A tall, slender figure in blue entered the Grand Commandant's residence. Shen Yingxue was the first to see him. She quickly straightened her clothes and hair, and gracefully stepped forward to greet him, her beautiful face beaming with a charming smile: "Prince Zhan!"
"Miss Chen!" Dongfang Zhan smiled politely, but his smile was indifferent and distant, and his gaze towards her was also somewhat cold.
Unaware of her own intentions, Shen Yingxue's smile deepened. After watching the wedding ceremony, she had invited Prince Zhan to walk around, subtly hinting that she wanted to accept him...
She was a typical lady from a respectable family in ancient times, and was taught from a young age to be reserved. She would not tell Dongfang Zhan that she liked him, but would only hint at it to him so that he would say it first.
"Zhan..." Shen Yingxue glanced at Dongfang Zhan shyly and timidly. Just as she was about to ask him if he wanted to go to the auditorium together to watch the ceremony, Dongfang Zhan's blue figure had already passed her and walked quickly towards the auditorium.
Shen Yingxue stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to leave or stay, her face flushing red and then turning pale.
The sound of women giggling came from afar. She quickly came to her senses and looked at Dongfang Zhan, whose tall, blue figure was striding forward. Twenty meters in front of him, a slender figure in scarlet was walking. It was Shen Lixue.
Shen Yingxue gritted her teeth in anger. In front of everyone, how dare she seduce Prince Zhan? What a shameless slut!
Shen Minghui's expression was also very unpleasant. He glared at Shen Yingxue and strode forward. His serious voice drifted through the air: "The ceremony is about to begin. Don't just stand there, get to the wedding hall!"
When Shen Lixue arrived at the wedding hall, Grand Commandant Lei, Madam Lei, Lei Hong, and Madam Lei were all sitting in the main seats with smiles on their faces. The guests were either sitting or standing on the left and right sides, smiling as they watched the newlyweds. Lei Cong, dressed in a red suit, and Shen Caixuan, holding a red ribbon, stood quietly in the center of the living room, casually looking around.
The crackling of firecrackers signaled the auspicious time. The master of ceremonies stepped to the right front and loudly proclaimed, "First bow to Heaven and Earth!"
Lei Cong, holding the red ribbon, bowed towards the door. At the other end of the ribbon, Shen Caixuan stood straight and motionless. The matchmaker frowned, grabbed her shoulders and pressed her down hard, but she stubbornly resisted and refused to bend over.
The matchmaker glared at her fiercely, then subtly pressed her head down and nodded slightly, a gesture that went unnoticed by the onlookers.
Shen Lixue saw it, and a beautiful smile curved her lips. Once inside the hall, Shen Caixuan still refused to marry Lei Cong, which conveniently facilitated her plan…
"Bowing to our parents again!" the master of ceremonies announced once more.
Lei Cong turned around, his brows furrowing slightly, and still bowed to Grand Commandant Lei, Lei Hong, the old lady, and Madam Lei. Shen Caixuan was also forced to face them, standing straight and refusing to kneel. The matchmaker frowned again and kicked her hard in the back of the knee. Shen Caixuan fell to her knees with a thud.
"Shen Caixuan doesn't want to marry Lei Cong!" A gentle voice suddenly rang in her ears. Shen Lixue turned her head and looked at Dongfang Zhan's handsome face, which was magnified infinitely. A gentle smile flashed in his deep eyes.
“Prince Zhan has also come to attend the ceremony!” Shen Lixue frowned and subtly distanced herself. When did he arrive? She was so focused on observing Shen Caixuan that she didn’t even notice that an acquaintance had come to her side.
Looking at the newlyweds in the room, Dongfang Zhan said calmly, "Lei Cong wasn't very willing to marry Shen Caixuan either. This marriage is not perfect!"
Shen Lixue smiled faintly: "Politics and marriages based on interests, how can they ever be perfect!"
"Husband and wife bow to each other!" the master of ceremonies chanted again.
After the final week, Lei Cong and Shen Caixuan will be a real couple.
Shen Caixuan struggled fiercely, trying to refuse the ceremony, but the matchmaker held her tightly and forced her to lower her head.
The matchmaker secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The ceremony was complete, and they were husband and wife. In that instant of relief, Shen Caixuan quickly looked up!
Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened, and with a flick of her slender fingers, a silver light shot out, cleverly piercing the fluttering red veil and tearing off the festive veil embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water. Shen Caixuan's sallow complexion, her mouth stuffed with a cotton cloth, and her angry and resentful expression appeared before everyone, forming a stark contrast with her festive red dress and displaying boundless mockery.
The guests' laughter and congratulations came to an abrupt halt. They looked at each other, puzzled. What had happened?
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. Shen Caixuan's face, which used to be very fair, had now turned yellowish-black. Dongfang Heng's guards reported that she had been tied up outside and exposed to the sun by the Lei family. Had she been exposed to the sun for a month?
Commander Lei's face instantly turned extremely ugly. He glared fiercely at Lei Hong. Hadn't the matter been settled long ago? How did it turn out like this?
Lei Hong was also shocked. After regaining his senses, he glared at Lei Shi and Shen Minghui. Shen Caixuan actually didn't want to marry into the Grand Commandant's mansion. Why didn't they say so earlier? Seeing this situation in front of everyone, the crime of forcing someone into marriage was firmly attached to them. They couldn't clear their name even if they jumped into the Yellow River. They had completely disgraced the Grand Commandant's mansion.
Shen Minghui gave an awkward, dry laugh and sighed, "My daughter suffered a shock a few days ago and her emotions have been unstable. I did this to prevent her from hurting anyone!"
Commander Lei's face darkened again. Everyone in the capital knew about Lei Cong and Shen Caixuan. Was his statement that Shen Caixuan was traumatized implying that his grandson had raped his daughter?
Shen Caixuan's mouth was gagged, so she couldn't speak. She whimpered and shook her head repeatedly, looking at everyone present with pleading eyes. Large tears kept sliding down her haggard eyes.
Lei Taiwei quickly gave the matchmaker a wink. Marriage is a matter of parental consent and matchmaker's words. Shen Caixuan's parents both agreed to her marriage, and there were already the traditional betrothal rites. Moreover, the two had already had relations, so forcing them to get married was for their own good. Even if people gossiped, they couldn't say anything.
"The auspicious time is almost over, hurry up and send her to the bridal chamber!" The matchmaker chuckled, picked up the red veil from the ground, and covered Shen Caixuan's face with it.
Shen Caixuan's eyes turned cold. She raised her elbow and slammed it hard into the matchmaker's chest. She used all her strength in the blow, and a sharp pain shot through the matchmaker. She screamed and clutched her chest, staggering backward.
Shen Caixuan quickly pulled her wide red sleeves back, revealing her hands, which were bound with ropes. She shook them incessantly, pleading for help from the crowd.
The guests were sweating profusely. Even if it was for the good of their children, there was no need to go so far. How could the dignified Prime Minister Qingyan force his daughter to marry?
While they were inwardly complaining, none of the guests went to help. This was a high-ranking official's family matter, which they had no right to interfere with, nor could they afford to offend him.
Shen Minghui's face instantly turned ashen. He glared at Shen Caixuan and shouted angrily, "Caixuan's illness has flared up! Bring the medicine now!" What a rebellious daughter! If she's unhappy about the marriage, she can say so in private. How dare she embarrass him in front of so many people!