As more noble ladies came to offer their congratulations, Weirui informed her aunt and then led the young and old noble ladies to play in the courtyard.
The autumn wind was not cold but rather refreshing. The noble ladies from various families didn't want to stay cooped up in the flower - hall. Seeing that the flower scenery in the Xue Mansion was nice today, they all came out to enjoy the flowers and have fun.
Princess Jiayang loved hosting banquets the most. Over these days, Weirui had long shed her former timidity and was quite proficient in dealing with people. However, today was the Xue family's show, and she was a guest. Naturally, she didn't want to steal the limelight. So she just helped a few daughters from the collateral branches of the Xue family to entertain the guests.
Shen Yuning was going to marry into the prince's mansion and become the princess consort of the regent. Among the young ladies present, even those who were usually spoiled were cautious in their words and deeds today and would never voice their innermost thoughts.
What thoughts?
Naturally, it was about how Shen Yuning, originally a merchant - class woman, could marry into such a high - ranking family. She was going to be the regent's principal wife! How many young ladies here wished for such a position but couldn't get it?
Even if their families had the intention of sending them into the prince's mansion, they could only be concubines. The woman in the red wedding dress in the room was the principal wife.
No matter how envious they were in their hearts, they didn't show it on their faces at all. Instead, they put on an amiable appearance. Even some little sisters who usually had conflicts were getting along happily at this moment.
Just then, a particular voice rang out: "I heard that when the regent was wandering in the countryside, he was with Shen Yuning. At that time, the regent was quite young and didn't know much."
These words were quite thought - provoking. What did it mean that the regent was too young and innocent? It meant that Shen Yuning took advantage of the regent's inexperience and seduced him into falling in love with her.
All the young ladies present were stunned. Some who knew a bit of the inside story nodded in agreement. They also heard that the reason the regent took a fancy to Lady Shen was that she had raised him for a few years when he was a child. It was said that they had always addressed each other as siblings.
If it weren't for that Lady Shen's schemes to seduce him, why would the regent fall in love with an older spinster?
Moreover, after Lady Shen returned to the Xue family, there were many suitors, but she rejected them all. Why was that? Could it be that she was no longer a virgin?
Tsk tsk.
In just an instant, the noble ladies exchanged several meaningful glances.
Weirui looked up and saw that the one who had spoken was Xue Yujiao, the trouble - maker who always wanted to stir up trouble.
She merely raised her eyebrows slightly and nodded at Xue Yujiao: "You're right. When the regent was in the countryside, he was my uncle for a few years. I even learned to read and write from him."
The noble ladies were a bit taken aback when they saw Weirui admit it so openly.
Weirui then changed the subject: "However, Miss Xue got one thing wrong. The regent is no ordinary person. Do you think he was as naive and innocent as you at that age?"
This teasing remark made everyone cover their mouths and laugh.
Xue Yujiao didn't expect that this young girl could so deftly counter her words.
She rolled her eyes and sneered: "So, according to you, the regent was already smitten with women in his teens?"
Weirui looked at her leisurely. Such bold words about a man's affection for a woman were really inappropriate. By the time Xue Yujiao realized it, she regretted it deeply.
But Weirui didn't give her a chance to regret. Instead, she burst out laughing and said casually as if talking to others: "Come to think of it, I always wondered why Uncle Xuanzhi kept pestering my aunt when she was so busy. It annoyed my aunt so much that I even got angry with him."
Did this mean that the admirer was interested while the beloved was unresponsive?
Weirui continued joking: "I even gave him some advice back then, but he was too timid, always afraid that my aunt would scold him. Tsk tsk. Now that he's a prince, things are different. I'm afraid my aunt won't dare to scold him anymore."
A 15 - year - old noble lady with bright eyes asked: "Your aunt dared to scold the regent? Isn't she afraid that he'll get angry?"
Weirui shook her head: "When the prince was in the countryside, how could he reveal his true identity to us? My aunt thought he was a collateral descendant of the Jiang family."
In the minds of the noble ladies, there was an image of the regent hiding his identity in the countryside, living under a merchant - class woman. Only when he found the right opportunity could he return to the capital, follow General Zhu, and regain his identity to avenge his humiliation.
Some of them started to wonder. According to Shen Weirui, Lady Shen used to be annoyed by the regent and often scolded him. Now the regent insisted on marrying Lady Shen. Could it be... could it be that he wanted to take revenge on her after marriage?
Xue Yujiao originally wanted people to think that Shen Yuning was shameless. However, with just a few words from Shen Weirui, instead of making people think badly of Shen Yuning, everyone became interested in the regent's past in the countryside.
Weirui was really good at speaking. In just a few words, she let everyone know how busy and exhausted Lady Shen used to be.
She also told some stories about the hardships of rural women, which made everyone tearful.
"Do people really sell their daughters at will?"
A 10 - year - old girl asked with a sob.
Weirui nodded seriously and then looked in the direction of Xue Yujiao: "My aunt and Miss Xue were wrongly exchanged at birth. Miss Xue, who once lived in the countryside, knows this best. She was even sold by her elder brother back then."
Xue Yujiao's past was not a secret in the noble circle. However, no one had ever said it so bluntly. Now that it was out in the open, everyone's eyes were fixed on Xue Yujiao.
Xue Yujiao hated it when others mentioned her days in the countryside. She couldn't bear it at this moment. She shouted: "Shen Weirui, you... Shen Jingui is not my elder brother. He did all kinds of bad things. He's Shen Yuning's elder brother."
Weirui nodded wistfully: "Yes, he's not your elder brother. But still, he was your elder brother for 15 years... I know he's a bad person. You've really suffered."
There was nothing but pity on her face. But the noble ladies present exchanged glances. Yes, Xue Yujiao was so arrogant. Wasn't it because she grew up with that Shen elder brother? They were probably not good people.
Xue Yujiao's mind was in a mess. She clearly felt that Shen Weirui was speaking ill of her, but she couldn't find a single bad word.
She racked her brains for a while, and then blurted out: "I remember. You're Shen Jingui's daughter. You're the daughter of that bastard! You're just a little bastard!"
Weirui didn't even frown. She just nodded with red eyes and looked around: "Yes, Shen Jingui is my father. You don't know what kind of life I had before my aunt came back. Even after my second uncle and aunt took me away, Shen Jingui still found me and wanted to sell me... My mother, my mother was sold by him!"
Hearing Weirui's sad past, the young ladies around felt extremely sympathetic. They comforted her one after another, saying that it was all in the past and not worth mentioning. Now that she was the granddaughter of Princess Jiayang, no one would dare to sell her.
Weirui's eyes were red. She seemed to be trying hard to hold back her tears and forced a smile that was uglier than crying: "At that time, I thought I was going to die. I didn't expect that when my aunt knew I was missing, she immediately asked the prince to look for me. The prince also tried his best to protect me and saved me from Shen Jingui. After that, I never wanted to admit that he was my father again. How could there be such a cruel father?"
The noble ladies beside her sighed: "You're right. No wonder your aunt took you so far away and built the Rongchang Commercial Firm so big. It turns out that rural women are so pitiful."
Another person said: "It's all good now. Your aunt is an official, so she can speak for the people. Moreover, many laws in the Great Zhou Dynasty have been revised. Women can now make their own decisions and are no longer under the control of their fathers and brothers."
Inside the room, Shen Yuning was sitting there blankly, completely unaware of what was going on outside. From time to time, someone would come in to offer their congratulations.
Everything in front of her was red. Her veil had been put on, and the wedding maid beside her was chattering on and on. She didn't listen. Her head just felt swollen.
She was busy, and Xuanzhi was even busier. After they met in the Hall of Diligence in Government last time, they hadn't seen each other again. But Xuanzhi would often send her all kinds of things, as if he wanted to move the entire treasury to her.
In fact, she didn't lack anything. But Xuanzhi's actions made her feel deeply touched. He cared about her.
However, not long ago, they were still siblings. Were they really going to become husband and wife?
He had been her younger brother for six years, and she had raised him for three years. Those days together seemed to have passed a long time ago, yet it also seemed like it was just yesterday.
Shen Yuning closed her eyes. All she could see were images of the boy with a foxtail grass in his mouth.
He was no longer a boy. He had grown up.
He was 19 years old, in the prime of his life. And she was already 22, older than him. She would also grow old faster than him in the future.
Shen Yuning reached out to touch her face and found that she had put on a thick layer of makeup today. It felt so unreal.
The wedding maid said it looked good. The wet nurse and the maids also said that on this joyous occasion, she should look her best.
Shen Yuning didn't know if she really looked good like this. When she was a child, she liked to put on makeup and wear flowers. But later, after she opened the embroidery workshop, she was too busy. Just remembering to wash her face every day was already good enough.
Thinking of this, she felt panicked. She didn't like to dress up or take care of herself. Now, thanks to her youth, she didn't look any different. But in the future, she would look much older than ordinary young ladies.
What about Xuanzhi then? Xuanzhi was capable and liked to practice martial arts. He was in better shape than others on a daily basis. In the future, he would surely look younger than ordinary people.
In that case, wouldn't the gap between them be even wider?
Shen Yuning couldn't sit still anymore. She stood up and was about to lift the veil to apply some moisturizing lotion on her face.
But just as she stood up, the wedding maid rushed over and said happily: "The groom is here!"