Shen Li sized up the two Concubine Lius secretly.
These two new concubines were twin sisters. They looked about seventy percent alike, with the same willow-leaf eyebrows, cherry-like lips, and fair, shiny complexions.
Just their clothes were very different. The elder sister, Concubine Big Liu, was wearing a bright pink sheer dress with a very low neckline, which accentuated her impressive figure.
The younger sister, Concubine Small Liu, was dressed in a jade-green cross-collared dress, looking like a gentle and delicate young lady. One could see a bit of scholarly elegance from her every move.
The elder one was charming and passionate, while the younger one was fresh and refined, gentle as water.
Unexpectedly, Shen Junming was so lucky.
It seemed that the person who sent these two to Shen Junming had spent a great deal of effort cultivating them.
Concubine Big Liu, who was sitting in the front row, saw that Shen Li just sat there drinking tea without saying a word. So she first flashed a big smile and said, "I've heard before that the eldest young lady is extremely beautiful. Now that I've seen you, it's really true!"
Concubine Small Liu quickly chimed in.
"Exactly! It's only when I saw the young lady today that I knew what real beauty was!"
In response to the compliments from the two Concubine Lius, Shen Li just replied indifferently, "You two concubines are overpraising me!"
The two concubines didn't show any less enthusiasm because of Shen Li's words. Concubine Big Liu still smiled and said, "Before we came to the mansion, we sisters had heard of the eldest young lady's good reputation outside. They said that you are intelligent and capable, and at a young age, you've been managing all the affairs in the mansion!"
"Eldest young lady, although we sisters haven't read many books, we do know how to calculate and keep accounts. If there's anything the young lady needs help with in the future, just speak up. We sisters will surely share your burdens!"
Shen Li didn't decline. She just replied vaguely, "If I need to trouble the concubines in the future, I hope you two won't mind!"
Concubine Big Liu quickly replied, "How could we mind? We'd be more than happy to relieve the young lady's worries!"
"In that case, I'll thank you two concubines here first!"
The three of them chatted for a while more, and then the two concubines got up to take their leave.
Ming Yue watched the charming backs of the two concubines as they left. She looked at Shen Li and said, "Miss, these two Concubine Lius don't seem simple at all!"
Jiao Yue nodded upon hearing this. "Exactly! Although Concubine Big Liu was smiling all the time, I just felt a bit creeped out. Miss, although they seemed to be trying to curry favor with you today, they won't do anything bad to us, right?"
Shen Li shook her head. She couldn't figure this out either. It wasn't unusual for a concubine to be literate, as many people liked the company of a charming woman while reading.
But it was rare for a concubine to be able to keep accounts and manage the household. In this era, it was the main wife who managed the household, and concubines were supposed to serve their husbands with their beauty. Proper families wouldn't let concubines interfere in household affairs.
In Shen Li's opinion, these two Concubine Lius didn't seem to be here to be concubines. They seemed more like they were here to be the main wife.
And who would go to so much trouble to send such all-round concubines?
This was really thought-provoking.
"Don't worry about them for now. They have someone else to deal with first!"
Jiao Yue nodded excitedly. "Right! Let them fight with the Second Madam. We'll just watch the show!"
As if thinking of something, Shen Li gave a mysterious smile. "It's not interesting if only those three fight. The more people, the more exciting it is. We'll have a better time watching!"
Shen Junming was in high spirits now. The two new concubines he had taken in were one gentle and considerate, the other bold and forthright. They served him very well, and he was so happy that he didn't want to leave.
Now, when he looked at Shen's face, with the wrinkles that even thick powder couldn't cover and the not-so-fair and smooth skin, he felt a bit disgusted. But today, he had something important to discuss with Shen, so he came to her courtyard.
Seeing Shen Junming enter her courtyard, Shen wasn't particularly happy. Instead, she said sarcastically, "Now the master is finally willing to come to my courtyard again. I really feel so honored!"
Shen Junming ignored Shen's sarcasm. He still smiled and said, "What are you saying, madam! We've been husband and wife for many years, and our feelings are deep. How can they compare with you? They're just playthings, not even a tenth as good as you!"
Shen Junming tried to flatter her by reaching out to hold Shen's hand, but she slapped it away with a "pop".
Shen Junming looked embarrassed. In his heart, he disdained it. Compared with Shen's wrinkled hand, he preferred to touch the fair, delicate hands of the beautiful concubines.
Shen didn't appreciate Shen Junming's flattery. She still spoke sarcastically, "The master's words will surely make those two beautiful concubines sad! It must be their fault that they didn't serve the master well, which is why the master has time to come to me! It seems that I'll have to talk to them properly some other day!"
"You..." Shen Junming finally got a bit angry. He had shown his goodwill again and again, but Shen had become even more demanding.
Wasn't it just that he had taken in two concubines?
Looking around the capital, who else was like him, with only two maidservants serving him for more than ten years?
He had given Shen more than ten years of glory. He had done enough for her. What else did she want? She had made him lose so much face that he couldn't even hold his head up in front of his colleagues!
If this were in other families, he would have divorced her. He hadn't blamed her harshly, but now she was still throwing a tantrum.
Putting away his smile, Shen Junming straightened his clothes and said seriously, "I'm here today on business! It's about Miao'er's marriage. Madam, you'd better stop being so emotional!"
Hearing Shen Junming's words, Shen was about to retort. What did he mean by saying she was being emotional? But when she thought of Shen Miao, her only daughter, she held back. She softened her expression towards Shen Junming.
"Master, what's going on?"
"At the court meeting this morning, some officials proposed that the Fourth Prince, the Seventh Prince, and the Tenth Prince are all old enough. It's time to discuss their marriages!"
"Someone really proposed it? What did the emperor say? Did he agree?" Shen couldn't help clenching the handkerchief in her hand and asked anxiously.
"Today, the Marquis of Xuanping led a group of meritorious veteran officials to propose it on the spot! The emperor couldn't refuse even if he wanted to! So he could only nod!"
Shen Junming recalled the emperor's obviously angry and pale face at the court meeting this morning and felt scared.
Hearing this, Shen was first shocked. "The old Marquis of Xuanping, why would he interfere in the Fourth Prince's marriage? Isn't the queen always at odds with Concubine Chen? The Fourth Prince's marriage should be the concern of Concubine Chen and the emperor. Why is he meddling?"
Shen Junming also shook his head and couldn't answer Shen's question.
"Then, master, how will the Fourth Prince's marriage be discussed? Do you think our Miao'er should participate? Will there be a conspiracy in this? What about the matter between our Miao'er and the Fourth Prince?"