Chapter 15: Seizing the Dowry and Returning to Yangzhou

 The thin silk jacket that Shen Yuan wore outside was straight-tube, with a collar that reached below her knees and was embroidered with clouds and night-blooming cereus. She had a slender figure to begin with, and this slightly loose jacket made her look even thinner.

　　Although thin, it still retains the beauty of a well-proportioned figure.

　　Today she also tied a long silk vest around her waist, which made her slender waist look even more slender, and her figure was graceful and well-proportioned.

　　Prince Ying glanced at her and thought that even if he didn't look at her face, just looking at her figure, she could be considered a very pretty woman.

　　He had not yet left the women's hall, so the women in the group still half-bowed their heads to show respect for him.

　　Prince Ying glanced at them and ordered, "Everyone get up."

　　After the women answered yes, Prince England looked at her, and the strange beauty raised her palm-sized face.

As soon as he saw Shen Yuan's face clearly, he was stunned.

　　To describe this face simply as beautiful would be an understatement.

　　There are countless beautiful concubines of all kinds in Prince Ying's palace. He usually gets bored of them after playing with them for a few days and goes to look for some new beauties.

　　As for Shen Yuan, besides having the standard features of a beauty, such as fair skin, black hair, delicate eyebrows and eyes, her temperament and appearance are also unique.

　　It has both the classical and gentle elegance, and also a hint of delicate and fragile feeling.

　　Prince Ying couldn't think of a suitable word to describe Shen Yuan's beauty.

　　I silently said in my heart, she is really a living fairy.

　　"Which family is that girl from?"

　　Prince Ying glanced at the attendant behind him and asked with raised eyebrows.

　　The attendant replied respectfully, "Your Highness, from what I have seen, this girl seems to be the eldest daughter of the Yong'an Marquisate."

　　The eldest daughter of the Yong'an Marquisate?

　　As soon as these words were spoken, the smile on Prince Ying's lips deepened.

　　He then said, Lu Chen's marriage was going well, how come it was suddenly ruined?

　　He didn't believe that Lu Zhiyun didn't interfere.

　　The eldest daughter of the Shen family.

　　She is still the woman that Lu Zhiyun likes.

　　Tsk, interesting.

　　Prince Ying held the jade belt around his waist and finally strode out of the women's hall.

　　But in his heart he was thinking that Shen Yuan was not only beautiful, but also had a good family background and was a legitimate child.

　　It just so happened that his late wife had passed away for many years, and recently he had been thinking about marrying a second wife.

　　Now it seems that his second wife, the princess, has arrived at his doorstep.

　　However, he still has some personal matters to deal with in Yangzhou. If this matter is not handled properly and Lu Zhiyun finds out, it will be a big trouble.

　　Prince Ying shook his wide sleeves, his expression already filled with joy.

　　But there is no rush for this matter.

　　After some time, as soon as he returns to Beijing from Yangzhou, he will marry this beautiful eldest daughter of the Shen family into his mansion as a princess.

　　——

　　Since it was the prince's birthday, the dishes on the table were exquisite and luxurious. On the green jade plates were some rare birds, animals, seafood and rare mushrooms.

　　Not to mention meat dishes, even just vegetarian dishes, the preparation process is extremely sophisticated.

　　For example, the dish of Wang Taishou's Eight Treasures Tofu in front of Shen Yuan may not look very impressive at first glance, but the production process is very complicated.

　　This dish is made with mushrooms, pine nuts, melon seeds, minced chicken and ham, and is stir-fried with rich chicken broth, which is a test of the cooking time. (1)

　　Most of the dishes in Beijing are rich in oil and sauce, and taste very delicious.

　　But Shen Yuan grew up in Yangzhou after all, and naturally prefers light and sweet food, so when eating at the table, he only moved his chopsticks a few times.

　　During the dinner, the ladies were talking about what had just happened.

　　But someone lowered his voice and said, "I saw the Duke of Zhenguo stop by the women's hall for a while, and even glanced over here. I don't know which girl he was looking at. It's really strange."

　　"...However, the British prince seemed to have looked at us as well. Alas...it's a pity for the girl he liked."

　　Shen Han had sharp ears at this time, so he heard the whispers of the ladies.

　　Seeing Shen Yuan concentrating on eating, he came forward and whispered in her ear, "Sister, I think His Royal Highness Prince Ying seems to like you. Who knows, you might become a princess in a few days."

　　After saying this, Shen Yuan slowly placed the ivory chopsticks in his hand on the jade chopstick rest.

　　In fact, she had already sensed that her sister's attitude towards her had changed greatly since she went to Shaoyuan for the banquet that day.

　　In the past, she felt that although Shen Han didn't like her as an elder sister, he still treated her with due respect and courtesy.

　　But ever since the Shaoyuan Banquet, Shen Han always spoke in a sarcastic tone whenever he saw her.

　　——"Sister, if you can really marry Prince Ying, it would be a rare blessing. After all, the position of princess is more honorable than the imperial decree bestowed upon our grandmother by the late emperor. Sister, are you not tempted at all?"

　　Shen Han's voice was not very loud.

　　The girl from the Zhao family who was sitting next to her couldn't hear clearly what she said.

　　Shen Yuan felt slightly irritated for no reason, so he whispered in Shen Han's ear in a cold voice, "I don't think I'm attracted to you, but you. If you think it's a blessing, then you can take it. I don't think Prince Ying is looking at me, maybe he is attracted to you because of your beautiful and lovely face. It just so happens that you two hit it off, maybe in a few days I will have to call you Princess Princess."

　　After he finished speaking, Shen Han's almond-shaped eyes suddenly widened.

　　She didn't expect that her elder sister, who was always gentle and easy-going, would be so ruthless when she started to challenge others.

　　After Shen Yuan said this, the slight anger on his face gradually disappeared.

　　He left the table with Biwu in his arms, intending to stroll around the garden.

　　After Shen Yuan left the women's hall, Shen Han was so angry that he couldn't eat any more food.

　　She spat inwardly with a look of annoyance on her face.

　　Then he taunted her in a very low voice, "You're already so old and can't even get married, yet you're still being picky."

　　——

　　Just a few steps after Shen Yuan left the women's hall, he saw Lu Zhiyun's attendant Jiang Zhuo.

　　Seeing Jiang Zhuo bowing to her respectfully, as if he had something to say to her, she stopped and asked softly, "Master Jiang, why are you looking for me...is there something?"

　　Jiang Zhuo replied truthfully: "Please come with me, Miss Shen."

　　Shen Yuan knew that Lu Zhiyun wanted to take this opportunity to see her, so she nodded.

　　In a short while, Jiang Zhuo led the master and servant to Guanyuntai in Guiyuan.

　　This Guanyun Terrace is backed by a long corridor and has a single-eaved hip roof. A revetment is also built under the terrace.

 This platform is also an excellent viewing spot for admiring the strange rockery carved with Taihu stone.

　　Lu Zhiyun was already standing inside, leaning on the railing, seemingly thinking about something.

　　From Shen Yuan's angle, he could just see the man's exquisite profile. The majestic and luxurious python robe he wore was also dignified and eye-catching.

　　Although Lu Zhiyun is not very young, he is still charmingly handsome.

　　Jiang Zhuo and Bi Wu did not follow, and Lu Zhiyun did not notice Shen Yuan immediately.

　　At this moment, Shen Yuan suddenly had a guess in his mind.

　　Thinking of the incident of Shao Yuan losing the handkerchief, she felt that the reason why Shen Han had always been making things difficult for her was most likely that she actually admired Lu Zhiyun.

　　A breeze gradually rose, and the branches and leaves of the surrounding lush bamboos swayed gently, making a rustling sound.

　　At this time, Lu Zhiyun finally noticed Shen Yuan's presence and turned to look at her.

　　Shen Yuan pursed her lips slightly, and when she saw him looking at her, she did not try to avoid the man's gaze.

　　She looked at Lu Zhiyun at this moment, and there was a rare hint of gentleness between his features.

　　He fiddled with the jade ring on his thumb and whispered to her, "Come here."

　　Shen Yuan did not walk towards him as he was told. Instead, he slowly lowered his eyes and replied timidly, "My Lord told me the other day to be careful in front of men outside my family."

　　After hearing this, Lu Zhiyun was so angry that he laughed.

　　Seeing that Shen Yuan rarely showed her stubbornness, he walked towards her.

　　As Shen Yuan subconsciously stepped back, the man's mature and cold aura was already spraying towards her, and his tall figure instantly covered her, giving her a sense of oppression without any anger.

　　"You are a vengeful person."

　　After Lu Zhiyun finished speaking in a low voice, Shen Yuan's eyelashes trembled again and again: "Sir..."

　　——"Tell me, what is your purpose in approaching me again and again?"

　　As soon as the man finished speaking in a low and mellow voice, Shen Yuan didn't know how to reply to him.

　　After all, Lu Zhiyun is the prime minister of the current dynasty who holds high power. Being in his position, he is naturally extremely suspicious of others.

　　He is not a fool.

　　Of course, it can be seen that many of her actions are actually deliberate attempts to approach me.

　　Even deliberately teasing.

　　At this moment, under Lu Zhiyun's questioning, Shen Yuan only felt that he was suddenly enveloped by the sensitivity and fragility hidden deep in his heart.

　　She tried to hide her uneasiness and asked calmly, "What do you think is the reason?"

　　Lu Zhiyun's eyebrows were deep, and he only replied in a low voice: "I want you to answer it."

　　He is too shrewd and seems to be able to see through people's hearts at a glance.

　　Shen Yuan felt like crying but had no tears. In fact, she had also heard Shen Han's sarcasm just now.

　　Her nose suddenly felt sore, and she choked back, "Sir, do you think I'm too old?"

　　After hearing this, Lu Zhiyun was silent for a moment.

　　Then he smiled mockingly, and stopped pressing Shen Yuan. He just replied calmly: "You are not even 10 years old yet, how can you be considered old?"

　　Shen Yuan would also understand the other meanings implied by his words.

　　Lu Zhiyun is thirty-three years old this year, a little older than her.

　　"You haven't answered my question yet."

　　Lu Zhiyun did not forget what he wanted to ask her.

　　At this moment, Shen Yuan's eyes were filled with tears, and she looked like she was about to cry under the man's questioning.

　　Seeing this, Lu Zhiyun's brows seemed to move slightly. He stretched out his hand and made a move to get closer to Shen Yuan.

　　Shen Yuan continued to step back, biting his lip and replied, "Sir, I'll go back first."

　　She ignored Lu Zhiyun's words "Stop", and almost ran away from Guanyuntai.

　　After meeting Lu Zhiyun again, Shen Yuan finally made up her mind based on his attitude towards her.

　　He was not a man she could afford to offend.

　　She really shouldn't have approached him so boldly just because of that dream.

　　The reason that supported her to do these things was all because of how good Lu Zhiyun was to her in her previous life. She has always been grateful for what Lu Zhiyun did for her in her previous life.

　　But this life is not the previous life after all.

　　But what if he didn't have such deep feelings for her in this life?

　　His attitude towards her was always tentative and distant.

　　Meeting her is more like finding a way to pass the time in a busy schedule.

　　Then the sense of security in her heart would no longer be enough to support her to get close to him.

　　——

　　Not long after Shen Yuan left the table, Shen Han also left. She strolled around Guiyuan casually, but was always searching for Lu Zhiyun's figure with her eyes.

　　Before Shen Yu disappeared, he had already arranged his marriage before her.

　　The arranged marriage was with the handsome and elegant Earl Kangping of the Lu family.

　　But after learning about this, Shen Han was not really jealous of Shen Yu.

　　Because she already had a man she loved in her heart.

　　This man was the powerful Prime Minister Lu Zhiyun.

　　Shen Han walked around Guiyuan for quite a while but didn't find the person she wanted to see, and she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

　　At this moment, Lu Zhiyun's subordinates, the Jiang brothers, walked out from Guanyun Peak.

　　Upon seeing this, Shen Han immediately found a lush forest to hide in.

　　But Jiang Feng was walking side by side with his brother, and he sighed: "After all, Miss Shen is so honorable that she even invited the Duke to attend the banquet at Prince Ying's place."

　　After hearing this, Shen Han's heartbeat suddenly stopped.

　　Miss Shen?

　　Are you talking about her?

　　In fact, Shen Han had already guessed it in her mind when she was in the women's hall just now. The direction Lu Zhiyun was looking at was obviously where she was.

　　Shen Han was a little bit unbelievable, but gradually became excited.

　　It turns out that Lord Lu was really looking at her!

　　It seems that he, like her, also has feelings of admiration for her.

　　The reason why he came to Guiyuan for the banquet was, as Jiang Zhuo said, he wanted to take this opportunity to see more of her!

　　——

　　A few days later.

　　Recently, Shen Yuan finally figured out a way to take back the dowry from her stepmother.

　　In fact, since she moved into the Yong'an Marquis Mansion, she discovered that Liu was an extremely superstitious person. She often carried a Buddhist necklace in her hand, and would always chant "Amitabha" when encountering something.

　　Every month, she would invite some nuns from the nunnery to come into her house and go to her courtyard to discuss Buddhism with her.

　　After Shen Yuan inquired several times and came up with an idea in her mind, she took Biwu to the Fahua Temple to discuss the matter with her old friend, Abbot Niankong.

　　But when he arrived at the Buddhist temple, Shen Yuan met an unexpected person——

　　Lu Zhiyun was wearing a round-necked blue shirt today. He was standing side by side with Niankong beside the mottled ancient wall, and they looked like they were having a very pleasant conversation.

　　The man had a tall and sturdy stature. Shen Yuan rarely saw him wearing such light-colored clothes. His maturity suddenly added a sense of coldness and alienation, as if he was out of touch with the world. However, his face was still extremely handsome.

　　She really didn't know that Nian Kong actually knew Lu Zhiyun.

　　Shen Yuan concealed his embarrassed thoughts, and when he walked up to the two of them, he greeted them face to face one by one.

　　Nian Kong noticed Shen Yuan's uneasiness, so he said to her in a gentle voice, "I still have something to say to Lord Lu alone. Miss Shen, why don't you go to the dormitory and sit for a while first?"

　　Seeing that Nian Kong had something to discuss with Lu Zhiyun, Shen Yuan naturally did not want to delay him, so he nodded gently, turned around and took Biwu into the dormitory.

　　After the Guiyuan Banquet, she made up her mind.

　　After she has finished the things at hand, she will never take the initiative to approach Lu Zhiyun again.

　　Shen Yuan felt that Lu Zhiyun was just looking for something new.

　　There were many beautiful girls from aristocratic families in the capital, and there was nothing special about her.

　　After she took back the dowry prepared for her by her uncle from Liu, she found an excuse to return to her hometown in Yangzhou.

　　Shen Hongliang didn't like his eldest daughter. Now that she had broken off the engagement with Lu Chen, he no longer needed her to arrange a marriage for the Shen family.

　　After she returned to Yangzhou, she took her dowry and redeemed Mr. Yuan Wu's Plum Blossom Academy from the salt merchant named Hu.

　　She will revitalize Plum Blossom Academy on behalf of Mr. Yuan.

　　After she returned, she would never go back to the capital, a place she didn't like very much.

　　As for Lu Zhiyun.

　　Shen Yuan felt that he was busy with official duties, and after she went to Yangzhou, he might forget about her in a short time.

　　Anyway, even if she suddenly returned to Yangzhou and disappeared from Lu Zhiyun's sight, it would not have any impact on him.

　　After all, he couldn't run from the capital to Yangzhou to find her.

　　And today might be the last time they see each other.

　　——

　　It was not until they saw Shen Yuan's frail figure enter the dormitory that Nian Kong and Lu Zhiyun withdrew their gaze.

　　Nian Kong then held up the Buddhist beads, placed his palms in front of him, and said to Lu Zhiyun in a very serious tone: "Lord Lu, Shen Yuan is a very good girl. Although she looks a little weak, if she really marries into the Duke's Mansion, she will definitely be a good wife and mother. She will be able to manage the affairs of the mansion very well."

　　The corners of Lu Zhiyun's thin lips drooped slightly, his eyes were cold and deep, and no emotion could be seen from his face.

　　Nian Kongfu warned again earnestly: "Don't miss her this time..."

　　As soon as he finished speaking, a faint halo finally appeared in the man's cold and deep eyes.

　　Lu Zhiyun stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as straight as a pine tree.

　　After a moment, he finally replied to Nian Kong, whispering: "Well, after I finish dealing with the things on hand, it will be time for more mistresses to take charge of the household affairs in the Zhenguo Mansion."

　　The author has something to say:

　　PS: The descriptions of clothing in the text are mainly from the Ming Dynasty , but occasionally there are costumes from the Song Dynasty . The male protagonist's official uniforms and public uniforms are generally purely exquisite and are all from the Ming Dynasty.

　　But the heroine's clothes sometimes have some elements from the Song Dynasty. In fact, the clothes and hair of the character on the cover are imitations of the Song Dynasty, and there is pearl makeup on her face.