"Do you need my help?" Shen Miao looked at Shen Zhen behind her through the mirror in front of her.
"Yes. Please, Second Miss, save my brother!" As Shen Zhen spoke, she put away the comb in her hand and knelt in front of Shen Miao. "As long as you save my brother, I'll do whatever you ask without a single complaint!"
Shen Miao twirled a lock of her hair and stared at her veiled face in the mirror. Expressionlessly, she said, "Why did you stop? You can't even comb my hair properly, yet you claim you'll do whatever I say. That doesn't sound very sincere."
Shen Zhen had no choice but to get up from the ground and pick up the comb to continue combing Shen Miao's hair.
"Didn't you ask me for help? Tell me. How can I help?"
"Second Miss, my brother is currently locked up in prison. Father went to see Lord Liang today, but Lord Liang doesn't want to release my brother. I was thinking, could the Fourth Prince go and talk to Lord Liang to let my brother out?"
Shen Miao looked at the jewelry on the dressing table, occasionally picking one up to admire. "It won't be difficult for the Fourth Prince. It's just a matter of a single word!"
Hearing this, Shen Zhen immediately showed a big smile on her face. "Really! Thank you so much!"
"Don't thank me so soon. I'll help you, but there's a condition. Only if you agree to it can I go ahead and help you."
"Second Miss, just tell me what to do. I'll definitely do it!"
"Hehe! Don't agree so quickly. This matter won't be easy. You'd better think it over before you agree. Don't go back on your word later." Shen Miao turned around and looked at Shen Zhen.
There was still a smile on Shen Zhen's face, but her eyes, which had been swollen from crying during the day, looked a bit comical. But on closer inspection, she was still a pretty young girl.
Shen Miao sized up Shen Zhen's face carefully from top to bottom without showing any emotion, and nodded in satisfaction.
"It's like this. There's a Lord Ji in the east of the capital. He's a second - rank official in the court. He's 32 years old. His first wife passed away, and he wants to take a new wife. What do you think, sister?"
Shen Zhen didn't expect Shen Miao to suddenly bring up this matter. She was a bit slow to react and stammered, "It's up to father and mother to decide my marriage according to the order of parents and the words of matchmakers. I... I don't dare to make my own decision."
Hearing this, Shen Miao's smiling face turned cold. "You're right, sister. Since that's the case, it's getting late. You'd better go back quickly. I'm going to bed!"
"Second Miss!" Shen Zhen opened her mouth, and then seemed to understand. "Second Miss, do you want me to agree?"
Shen Miao took Shen Zhen's hand and said, "Sister, Lord Ji's official position is no lower than father's. He's also a favorite of the emperor and has a lot of influence in the court. Once you marry him, you'll be the main wife. You should know that with your status as a concubine - born daughter, it's hard to get such a good marriage! This is a once - in - a - lifetime opportunity. You mustn't miss it!"
Although Shen Zhen was a bit slow - witted, after staying in the Shen Mansion for some time, she had become a bit smarter. She knew that for a man and a woman to get married, the man should propose marriage to the woman's family.
"Second Miss, why doesn't Lord Ji come to our mansion to propose marriage?"
Shen Miao rolled her eyes and immediately said, "Of course he will propose. But I'm asking for your opinion first. If you agree, I'll arrange for Lord Ji to come and propose."
"But... I don't even know what Lord Ji is like. Is it... not a good idea to agree to marry him like this?" Shen Zhen lowered her head and twisted her fingers.
"What's the problem? There are plenty of men and women who get married without even meeting each other. What's so special about you? Moreover, don't you want to save Shen Zhang? As long as you agree, I'll go to the Fourth Prince and get Shen Zhang released."
"Really?" Shen Zhen asked doubtfully.
"Absolutely true! Why would I lie to you!" Seeing that Shen Zhen was still hesitating, Shen Miao continued, "Although Lord Ji was married before, his former wife passed away early and didn't leave any children. As long as you marry him and give birth to a child in a year or two, you'll secure your position. Moreover, Lord Ji holds real power. He can support you in the future. Even if something like this happens again, you won't have to beg others everywhere. Lord Ji can solve it for you!"
Shen Zhen was tempted by Shen Miao's words. After hesitating for a while, she still didn't dare to agree on her own. "Second Miss, could you wait for me to ask my aunt and I'll tell you tomorrow?"
Shen Miao turned around to look at the mirror and said indifferently, "It's up to you. But let me tell you, prison is no place to stay. The longer Shen Zhang stays in there, the more dangerous it will be."
"If you agree now, I'll go and talk to the Fourth Prince tomorrow. But if you tell me your answer tomorrow, I can only go to the Fourth Prince the day after tomorrow to ask him to save Shen Zhang. Thirty boards are beaten every day. After one round, the skin will bleed. If it's beaten a few more times, even if one doesn't die, one will be crippled. I don't know if he can hold on for that long."
Shen Zhen's heart rose little by little as Shen Miao spoke. In the end, she felt as if her heart was hanging in mid - air, making it hard for her to breathe.
Finally, Shen Zhen nodded and agreed.
"Good! That's the right decision! You've chosen a bright path for yourself. In the future, when you enjoy good fortune, don't forget me, the matchmaker who brought you this opportunity!"
There was a big smile on Shen Miao's face. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Shen Zhen. Shen Zhen felt a bit shy after being flattered by Shen Miao's words. She lowered her head and stopped talking.
...
The next day, Lord Liang heard Shen Zhang's case again in the afternoon. There were many more people gathered outside the capital magistrate's office than the day before.
"Defendant Shen Zhang, I ask you, do you admit that you killed Qin An?"
Shen Zhang was also kneeling in the courtroom. Although his face was pale, his back was always straight. "My lord, I didn't kill Qin An! I don't admit it!"
"Good! With both witnesses and physical evidence, you're still so stubborn!" Lord Liang looked at Shen Zhang with an angry expression.
"My lord, I have a few words I'd like to ask you!"
"What words? If you're still trying to quibble, then don't say anything. The evidence is conclusive. There's no room for you to quibble!" Lord Liang held the gavel in one hand and said impatiently.
"Yesterday, I had a few words I wanted to ask the witness Niu Er. I wonder if my lord would allow it?"
Lord Liang immediately looked at Shen Zhang warily. "What do you want to ask? The witness made it clear yesterday that he saw you come out of Qin An's room with his own eyes. What else do you have to complain about?"
Hearing this, Shen Zhang immediately bowed to Lord Liang on the upper seat and said, "My lord, please make a careful investigation. I do have some doubts in my heart, so I want to ask. Maybe after I ask the questions, I'll figure it out and then I might just admit my guilt directly!"
Lord Liang was greatly interested in Shen Zhang's words. He had always been bothered by Shen Zhang's refusal to admit his guilt. Now that he heard that Shen Zhang was finally willing to give in, he simply said, "Fine! Ask away. Summon Niu Er!"