Chapter 1 Dreaming

　　Yong'an Marquis Mansion, Lotus Fragrance Hall.

　　This hall is three rooms wide and is built overlooking the lotus pond.

　　It is early summer, and when the lotus breeze blows into the room, it creates a sense of bright, vast and distant artistic conception.

　　In the side room of the hall, there is a six-panel screen painted with a pattern of butterflies perching on carnations.

　　Shen Yuan was holding his breath, standing behind the screen with his maid Biwu. The two of them could just see Shen Hongliang, the Marquis of Yong'an, sitting in the main seat, and Kang Ping Bo Lu Chen, who came to propose marriage.

　　——"This matter should not be delayed any longer. I also ask Uncle Kang Ping to set a wedding date for his eldest daughter, Shen Yuan, as soon as possible after he returns home."

　　"Of course, please rest assured, my Lord."

　　The first person to speak was Shen Yuan's father, Yong'an Marquis Shen Hongliang.

　　He is now just over 40 years old and serves as the Minister of Works in the court.

　　Although the position of Shangshu is of the second rank in the court, the Ministry of Works is ranked last among the six ministries.

　　Officials working in the Ministry of Works are not as likely to have the opportunity to make money as officials in the Ministry of Revenue.

　　They are not as powerful as the officials in the Ministry of War who hold real power over the army and horses, nor are they as powerful as the high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Personnel who can directly appoint and dismiss officials of all ranks in the court.

　　Although Shen Hongliang has the hereditary position of marquis, in a capital city full of princes and dukes, although the Shen family can be regarded as a noble family with great reputations, compared with other noble families with illustrious status, it always seems The climate is a bit different.

　　The current emperor of the Daqi Dynasty is young and weak, and the late emperor had left three important ministers to take care of him. The power of one of them is even higher than that of the six ministries.

　　It can be said that he has great power and is able to cover the sky with one hand.

　　This person is Lu Zhiyun, the fifth uncle of Kangping Marquis Lu Chen, who visited the Marquis' Mansion today.

　　Lu Zhiyun now holds the position of Prime Minister in the Cabinet. Several years ago, he inherited the title of his father and brother, and is also a prominent Duke of Zhenguo.

　　The young emperor's biological mother, Empress Dowager Lu, was the eldest daughter of the Lu family, and Lu Zhiyun could be respectfully called the uncle of the state. In order to show his reliance on this powerful uncle, the young emperor granted him a higher position such as the imperial tutor and the supreme pillar of the state.

　　The common people in the capital, and even the noble families, are aware of one fact.

The person who truly holds power in the Daqi Dynasty today is not the emperor.

　　But it was the Prime Minister - Lu Zhiyun.

　　The reason why Shen Hongliang wanted Shen Yuan to marry Lu Chen was that he wanted the Shen family to have a relationship with the Lu family.

　　Lu Chen's father, Lu Zhiyu, was the illegitimate son of the old Duke of Zhenguo, Lu Hongang. Lu Zhiyu once died in the battlefield for Qi Chao and was a famous military general. Therefore, the late emperor posthumously conferred the title of Earl of Kangping on him after Lu Zhiyu's death.

　　Lu Zhiyu's only son, Lu Chen, inherited his father's title. He has now separated from the Lu family and built his mansion on the west side of the Lu family's private garden, Shaoyuan, very close to the Zhenguo Mansion where his fifth uncle Lu Zhiyun lives.

　　Shen Yuan was immersed in her own thoughts when she heard Bi Wu beside her lower her voice and whispered in her ear: "Miss, I think this Earl Kangping is a dashing and gentle young man from aristocratic family. If you really marry into the Earl's mansion, it will be a good marriage."

　　Through the layer of gauze on the screen that was neither dense nor sparse, Shen Yuan could not clearly see what Lu Chen looked like, but he could still make out the handsome outlines of his facial features.

　　After hearing Bi Wu's words, Shen Yuan smiled gently, but that smile did not reach his eyes.

　　Shen Yuan just nodded gracefully.

　　She knew in her heart that if her half sister Shen Yu and her mother had not disappeared a few months ago, her father would not have brought her, the eldest daughter whose fate was incompatible with the Shen family, back from her hometown in Yangzhou.

　　She, the eldest sister, was even forced to marry in place of her younger sister.

　　It had only been a few days since she arrived in the capital from Yangzhou Prefecture. Before she had time to get familiar with the environment of the marquis's mansion, she had to marry the Earl of Kangping, whom she had only met once.

　　Just as she was thinking this, a servant from the Lotus Fragrance Hall came to the side room and said respectfully to Shen Yuan, "Miss, Lord Kangping invites you to the Daishuang Pavilion for a chat."

　　After saying that, Bi Wu raised her eyes and observed Shen Yuan's expression.

　　Before marriage, an unmarried woman could meet her husband in her parents' home. This was probably what Yong'an Marquis Shen Hongliang wanted.

　　Shen Yuan replied in a gentle voice: "I understand."

　　——

　　The Daishuang Pavilion is surrounded by countless rugged rocks and is also surrounded by lush and flourishing black cypress trees.

　　Lu Chen was wearing a moon-white dress and standing under the pavilion with fluttering wings. Looking from afar, he was tall and slender with beautiful eyes, and his temperament was gentle and elegant.

　　"Mr. Kangping."

　　After Shen Yuan called respectfully, he walked slowly to Lu Chen.

　　This was the first time Shen Yuan met Lu Chen formally.

　　Lu Chen's appearance is one in a million handsome. He has the melancholy temperament unique to scholars, and his every move exudes the hint of pride of a young man from an aristocratic family.

　　After Shen Yuan saw the appearance of her future husband, she felt calm.

　　Lu Chen's attitude was also modest. After he nodded slightly and said "Miss Shen", he cast his slightly gloomy eyes on Shen Yuan.

　　Shen Yuan wore a sky-blue double-breasted long gown today. The cloud shoulders under the stand-up collar were embroidered with fresh and elegant floral patterns.

　　Her skin was already fair, and the light blue color made her snow-white skin and black hair stand out even more, giving her a sense of classical gentleness and gracefulness.

　　Lu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.

　　He looked at Shen Yuan's face again.

　　Shen Yuan was not embarrassed by Lu Chen's unreserved gaze, but he still subconsciously lowered his eyes slightly.

　　Shen Yuan, the eldest daughter of the Shen family, was raised in Yangzhou since childhood and was known as the most beautiful woman in Yangzhou.

　　Now it seems that she really deserves the title of the most beautiful woman in Yangzhou.

　　Not to mention Yangzhou Prefecture, even in the capital, there are not many girls from aristocratic families who are more beautiful than Shen Yuan.

　　That lotus face looks like heavy fog from a distance and like rippling autumn water from close up.

　　Her eyebrows and eyes are soft and gentle, and her temperament is elegant and bookish, but she does not have the pampered air that is common among noble ladies in the capital.

　　Shen Yuan is a great beauty with both good looks and body structure, but her face and facial features are not very aggressive. One can even sense her slender, timid and fragile nature.

　　To be fair, although Shen Yu looks 50% like her elder sister Shen Yuan, she is not as beautiful as Shen Yuan at all.

　　But if you say Shen Yuan is gentle, elegant and quiet.

　　Then Shen Yu would be beautiful and bright.

　　Both of them have their own strengths.

　　Thinking of this, Lu Chen gradually withdrew his complicated gaze.

　　Shen Yuan is very good.

　　She is a beautiful and dignified lady from a noble family.

　　It's just that she is not the one in his heart.

　　She is not his Yuer.

　　——

　　After Lu Chen left the Yong'an Marquis Mansion, Shen Yuan and Bi Wu returned to the courtyard where they lived in the mansion.

　　The environment of this courtyard is quiet and elegant, and every detail is exquisitely decorated. The original owner of this courtyard was Shen Yu and her daughter.

　　After the two of them disappeared after encountering banditry in a temple in the far suburbs, the courtyard became idle.

　　A few days ago, after Shen Yuan was brought back to the capital, he was settled here by Yong'an Marquis's second wife Liu.

　　Although this courtyard is very comfortable to live in, Shen Yuan inexplicably thought of the phrase "the cuckoo occupying the magpie's nest", and when she thought of this phrase, she felt a little blocked in her heart.

　　Her mother's maternal family, the Tang family, had been salt merchants for generations. Later, Shen Yuan's uncle Tang Wenbin entered the officialdom and even became the prefect of Yangzhou.

　　The Tang family is wealthy and prosperous. Although Shen Yuan is not a spoiled person, he was raised by his uncle and aunt since he was a child, and he had the best food and clothing.

　　Coming to the capital from Yangzhou unexpectedly, it is inevitable that I will have the problem of choosing a bed.

　　Shen Yuan hadn't slept well these past few days. Seeing that she was not in good spirits, her maid Bi Wu said with concern, "Miss, why don't you go back to your bed and take a rest for a while? You've been really tired these past few days."

　　Thinking of the complicated look Lu Chen gave her, Shen Yuan just nodded at Bi Wu.

　　Then, with Biwu's help, she took off the cloud shoulder with exquisite embroidery.

　　Shen Yuan lay on the bed with a tired look on her face, while Bi Wu carefully covered her with a thin blanket and fanned her gently to dispel the early summer heat.

　As Shen Yuan felt sleepy, words like "the honor of her mother's family" and "the words of the matchmaker" kept popping up in her mind, like shackles that imprisoned her.

　　She could clearly sense that Lu Chen had no fondness for her.

　　And her feelings towards Lu Chen were also faint.

　　Shen Yuan had no idea how this marriage arranged by his parents would turn out.

　　She only hoped that she could treat her future husband with respect, and that would be enough.

　　Thinking of this, Shen Yuan finally closed her beautiful eyes and gradually fell asleep.

　　——

　　The musical instruments of the Central Plains are very interesting.

　　For example, suona.

　　In the long and luxurious wedding procession, its tone can be high and loud.

　　During funeral ceremonies, its voice can be like crying and complaining, expressing all the sorrow and grievances.

　　In the dream, Shen Yuan suddenly found himself in a bridal sedan, wearing a heavy phoenix coronet and bridal robe, and was slowly moving towards the residence of the Marquis of Kangping with the wedding procession of the Marquis's Mansion.

　　However, when Shen Yuan listened to the cheerful suona music, he felt no joy at all.

　　The scene in the dream suddenly changed.

　　Shen Yuan, wearing a red veil with a pattern of mandarin ducks playing in the water, sat gracefully on her and Lu Chen's wedding bed. Under the wedding quilt were countless longans and peanuts, symbolizing the early birth of a son.

　　Listening to the blessings from the matchmaker and the maids, Shen Yuan felt nervous while waiting for Lu Chen to enter the bridal chamber.

　　The six long windows revealed exquisite carvings. With a creaky sound, the mahogany door was pushed open.

　　The maids called out "Master Lu Chen" in unison, and Shen Yuan gradually held his breath.

　　The handsome groom, wearing a bright red wedding suit and holding a jade ruyi in his hand, slowly lifted the bride's veil.

　　The wedding ceremony for a marriage between aristocratic families was the most complicated. Although Shen Yuan was a little tired, she still smiled at her husband the moment the veil fell to the ground.

　　"Sir."

　　When Shen Yuan raised his eyes to look at Lu Chen, he was met with his calm, indifferent, even cold eyes.

　　That look also made her heartbeat suddenly pause.

　　But Shen Yuan quickly concealed her lost mood, but the smile on her lips became fainter and fainter.

　　The matchmaker reminded Lu Chen, "Master, it's time for you to drink the wedding wine with your wife."

　　The maid had brought a small sandalwood table, on which lay two half-empty gourds connected with a red string.

　　When Shen Yuan smelled the odor of strong liquor, he felt a little sore in his eyes for some reason.

　　Lu Chen glanced at the wedding wine on the table, then fixed his gaze on Shen Yuan's face, "Madam, you are tired today, please rest early."

　　As soon as he finished speaking, Bi Wu, who was standing next to Shen Yuan, changed his expression.

　　When she looked at Shen Yuan at a loss, Lu Chen had already left the bridal chamber.

　　Shen Yuan's soft lips opened and closed slightly, and finally she watched his figure gradually disappear.

　　It turned out that in the dream, today was not only the wedding day of Shen Yuan and Lu Chen.

　　It was also the day when Lu Chen took in a concubine.

　　Shen Yuan's half-sister Shen Yu returned to the Shen family after going through untold hardships. Her father Shen Hongliang loved Shen Yu the most and always claimed that Shen Yu was practicing in a temple in the suburbs with her mother to pray for the family, which was why she did not return home.

　　So even though Shen Yu had been missing for several months, Shen Hongliang still managed to preserve the reputation of his beloved daughter.

　　But after Shen Yu returned to the Marquis' Mansion, Shen Yuan became the redundant person.

　　Although Shen Yu married Lu Chen into a wealthy family, there was love between them.

　　Shen Yuan was willing to return the title of Countess that originally belonged to Shen Yu to her again.

　　But Lu Chen's mother, Mrs. Lu, did not want Lu Chen to marry another concubine, not to mention that this concubine had been missing for several months. No one knew what she had experienced during this period.

　　After many twists and turns, the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion and the Kangping Earl's Mansion finally reached an agreement.

　　Lu Chen married Shen Yuan as his wife and took Shen Yu as his concubine.

　　In this way, Lu Chen can also enjoy the happiness of having many wives.

　　The sisters can also take care of each other, which can be considered a happy marriage.

　　The wax tears from the wedding candles fell all over the floor.

　　Outside the house, a light rain began to fall.

　　Shen Yuan called the maids and old women out, and sat on the wedding bed alone again.

　　She was a newlywed, and in such a situation, she was alone in an empty room on her wedding night.

　　In fact, Shen Yuan's requirements were not very high.

　　Her marriage to Lu Chen was arranged by her parents for the glory of the Shen family.

　　She only hoped that Lu Chen could give her the respect that a husband gives to his principal wife.

　　But tonight, Lu Chen was unable to do anything.

　　So he wanted to give Shen Yu his preciousness on this night.

　　Instead of giving her the respect she deserves as the legal wife.

　　The person he loved was Shen Yu.

　　And his first time would naturally be given to Shen Yu.

　　——Tick, tick, tick.

　　Shen Yuan looked at the wedding candle that was about to burn out, and a few wet tears fell on the back of his fair hand.

　　——

　　——"Since you are a hen that can't lay eggs, then don't be jealous! You vicious woman, you killed my grandson, what can you use to pay for it!"

　　Lu Chen's mother sat on the armchair in the main hall, pointing angrily at Shen Yuan who was kneeling on the ground, and burst into tears.

　　Shen Yu was lying in the room after her miscarriage and was not here.

　　Lu Chen comforted his mother's emotions, and when he looked at Shen Yuan, his eyes were filled with coldness.

　　Shen Yuan knew he was dreaming.

　　It was still a nightmare. She wanted to wake up from it desperately, but she couldn't.

　　Her soul seemed to be trapped in a barrier.

　　And she couldn't control Shen Yuan who was kneeling on the ground.

　　She felt her state of mind, had the same senses as her, yet seemed to be floating above her body.

　　Lu Chen asked Shen Yuan harshly: "I let you take the position of Countess, what are you dissatisfied with? Why did you want to harm Yu'er and her child? Why?"

In the dream, Shen Yuan's eyes were filled with resentment, but he looked at Lu Chen silently.

　　My mother-in-law said she was a hen that couldn't lay eggs.

　　But she didn't know that Lu Chen had never touched her since they got married.

　　Lu Chen and she both accused her, Shen Yuan, of killing Shen Yu's child.

　　But only Shen Yu himself knows how his child died.

　　——

　　In that depressing and desperate dream, Shen Yuan was ordered by his mother-in-law to kneel outside the hall for three days.

　　It rained continuously in the capital during those days.

　　Shen Yuan knelt in the heavy rain for three days.

　　She could also feel the pain in her knees in the dream, as if they were being pierced by several needles, from kneeling for so long.

　　Shen Yuan's biological mother died early, and the Marquis of Yong'an did not dote on his daughter, and could even be described as cold and indifferent.

　　Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent her to Yangzhou to be raised for nineteen years just because of a Taoist priest's words.

　　During these three days, Yong'an Hou Shen Hongliang also sent a message, saying that the vicious woman Shen Yuan should be dealt with by the Lu family.

　　The head of the Lu family is Duke Lu Zhiyun.

　　At that time, the Tatars were in rebellion, so Lu Zhiyun went to the northern garrison with the captain of the central army, Qiao Pu, and it was unknown when they would be able to return to the capital.

　　How to deal with Shen Yuan was left to be decided by Kangping Earl Lu Chen.

　　Everyone would think that since Lu Chen loved his concubine Shen Yu so much, he would at least deal with Shen Yuan according to Daqi's laws this time.

　　The wife killed the concubine's son and was to be taken to Shuntian Prefecture to be flogged.

　　Shen Yuan was not sent to Shuntian Prefecture, but to the Lu family's villa in the far suburbs.

　　The environment there was rough, and for Shen Yuan, who was born into a noble family, eating coarse food every day and doing farm work was a cruel punishment.

　　Shen Yuan was originally a healthy woman, but the three days she knelt in the rain still caused her to contract tuberculosis.

　　In fact, Lu Chen and her mother-in-law's cold attitude towards her was not enough to chill her heart.

　　What really chilled her heart was the Shen family's attitude towards her.

　　Her father only had Shen Yu in his eyes, and she was just the eldest daughter who could be used. He needed her for marriage, so he brought her from Yangzhou to the capital.

　　After she was framed by Shen Yu, her father chose to believe Shen Yu without hesitation and refused to give her any chance to explain.

　　Not to mention that he was protecting her, his eldest daughter, as a father.

　　——

　　After Shen Yuan arrived at the villa for a few days, he felt that he did not have much time left, so he gave his indenture and all his savings to his dowry maid Bi Wu.

　　Fortunately, Biwu was a loyal maid who stayed with her until the end, so her end was not so miserable.

　　In the dream, it rained almost every day in the villa in the suburbs.

　　On the day Shen Yuan died, the thunder disturbed her and frightened her.

　　She could watch Biwu holding her body and crying in the form of soul consciousness.

　　But no matter what, she just couldn't wake up from this terrible nightmare.

　　——

　　The thunder was deafening, but Shen Yuan didn't know why he suddenly dreamed of Lu Chen's fifth uncle, Lu Zhiyun.

　　Moreover, in this dream, the pavilions, waterside terraces, grass and trees in the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion were all extremely real.

　　It was three days later that the Qi Dynasty army returned victoriously.

　　After returning to Beijing, Lu Zhiyun did not return home immediately, but went to the palace to meet the emperor. Therefore, when he returned to the Duke's Mansion, he was still wearing a straight red robe official uniform.

　　Shen Yuan always knew that he was the most unique existence in this dynasty.

　　He had power over the government and the country, and he could be said to be holding the lifeline of the entire dynasty.

　　Therefore, his official uniform was naturally not the ceremonial uniform worn by ordinary officials, but was specially made for him by the emperor.

　　The embroidery on the patch on the front of the shirt was naturally not the crane that a first-rank civil servant should have.

　　Instead, it is a dignified and majestic, even ferocious and brutal unicorn.

　　Although Lu Zhiyun has been immersed in officialdom for many years, he was a military man when he was young. Therefore, when he wears this kind of loose and solemn official uniform, he has a tall, majestic, and mature temperament like a pine tree.

　　The lightning and thunder are frightening.

　　The heavy rain is as powerful as toppling the sea.

　　Lu Zhiyun's subordinates were holding an umbrella for him and walking with him to the screen wall of the mansion.

　　The subordinate said respectfully, "Sir, the rain is too heavy. Would you like to... take shelter in the corridor first?"

　　As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Zhiyun did not say anything, but walked straight to the corridor.

　　The oil-paper umbrella covered the upper half of the man's face. From Shen Yuan's soul consciousness perspective, she could not see Lu Zhiyun's entire face.

　　The half face under the umbrella eaves has a tall and delicate nose, cool and thin lips, and a cold and resolute jawline.

　　Shen Yuan had met Lu Zhiyun several times before, and he was actually an extremely handsome man.

　　It's just that his aura is too cold and majestic, which often makes people ignore his appearance and only remember that he is a powerful and ruthless official who should not be easily provoked.

　　At that time, there were also two servants taking shelter from the rain in the corridor.

　　The two of them did not notice that their master had returned home, and they were still sitting side by side in the side building.

　　One of the servants looked at the falling rain and said with emotion: "The eldest daughter of the Shen family was also unlucky. She died a few days after being sent to the manor. Alas, what a sin."

　　"Boom——"

　　A loud thunder suddenly sounded, piercing through the clouds and splitting the silk.

　　After being startled, the two servants naturally noticed that standing behind them was their master Lu Zhiyun.

　　The man is tall and has been immersed in power for many years, so what he reveals inadvertently is the authority of a superior.

　　Just standing there gives people an invisible sense of oppression.

　　When the two servants saw this, their expressions changed.

　　The two of them were about to greet Lu Zhiyun.

　　But he spoke in a cold voice, as if he was suppressing some unknown emotion, and asked sternly, "Who did you say died in the manor?"

　　The author has something to say:

　　The protagonist's name is Yun (Yun), so we give him a friendly nickname, Uncle Yun.