Shen Baozhu was so exhausted that she fell asleep in Shen Heqing's arms before they even reached the main courtyard.
Looking at the little one sleeping soundly in his arms, Shen Heqing said lovingly, "Falling asleep without even having dinner. Baozhu must be completely worn out."
This remark won the unanimous agreement of the others.
Upon returning to the main courtyard, all the people in the princess mansion, except for the sleeping Shen Baozhu, gathered in the study. Even Concubine Yun was there.
Concubine Yun didn't go to the front of the mansion to welcome Shen Haiyan. Instead, she came to the study early to wait. So when she saw Shen Haiyan's injuries, tears welled up in her eyes and she almost collapsed to the ground. "Third, third young master, which damned brute hurt you like this?"
A warm feeling welled up in Shen Haiyan's heart. At the same time, he found it even more ridiculous. Concubine Yun cared about him, while his own father acted as if nothing had happened.
Shen Danqing supported Concubine Yun and briefly explained what had happened, which startled Concubine Yun.
She said in panic, "What kind of misfortune is this! First the little princess and then the third young master had accidents... Eldest young master, Danqing, you must be more careful!"
Shen Heqing averted his eyes, his tone full of helplessness. "Auntie, after Baozhu fell into the water, Bai Xinrou poisoned my tea. It made me feel dizzy and my eyes hurt at school. That's why I asked for leave and stayed at home."
"Don't scare Concubine Yun." Seeing Concubine Yun trembling with fear, Princess Jingning reminded her.
Shen Haiyan took the initiative to comfort Concubine Yun. "Auntie, don't worry. Shen Yunfeng has always ignored the second elder brother. He won't do anything to him."
This remark surprised everyone, especially Shen Heqing and Shen Danqing. They exclaimed in unison, "What does it have to do with Shen Yunfeng?"
The innocent looks of his two elder brothers made Shen Haiyan not want to say anything.
Princess Jingning sorted out the matter briefly and woke up Shen Heqing and Shen Danqing. "Shen Yunfeng was too calm, even a bit impatient. The princess mansion has been peaceful for these years. As soon as he and Bai Xinrou made a move against Baozhu and Heqing, less than half a month later, Haiyan had an accident... Judging from Shen Yunfeng's expression, it should be related to him."
Then Princess Jingning looked at Concubine Yun. "I've found out that Shen Yunfeng has a woman he can't forget. In his letters, he discussed divorce with that woman. After the divorce, he would welcome the woman into the house and then give Danqing to her. They mentioned in the letters that you were a substitute. Has Shen Yunfeng ever revealed anything to you?"
Princess Jingning sent people to investigate but couldn't find any trace of the woman. So she wanted to take a chance and ask Concubine Yun.
After giving birth to Shen Danqing, Concubine Yun rarely had contact with Shen Yunfeng. She recalled carefully. "Does the character 'yun' count?"
Concubine Yun was not outstanding among the dancers. Back then, when Shen Yunfeng saw her dancing, his expression was calm. It was not until the master told her to pour wine for the honored guests that Shen Yunfeng heard her being called 'Yunyun' and then asked her to serve beside him.
Shen Haiyan sneered. "Shen Yunfeng is still playing the pure - love card. Does the woman in his heart know that he has four children, not only took concubines but also got entangled with the cousin?"
"He's so shameless! He's old enough to be the cousin's father!"
Everyone was speechless, and the study fell into silence.
It was not until Princess Jingning spoke up. "Shen Yunfeng's current goal is to get a divorce and marry that woman into the house. But I don't understand why he wants to harm Baozhu and you..."
"What else could it be? It's for money and reputation," Shen Haiyan sneered. "The imperial edict from the former emperor doesn't allow divorce unless one of them commits a huge mistake. He doesn't want to bear a bad reputation, so he shifted this matter onto mother."
"There are many places in the Shen family that need money. Although he is favored, he is not the most beloved one in the Shen family. The eldest son is the apple of the old lady Shen's eye. If it weren't for elder brother, Shen Yunfeng would have been driven out by the old master Shen long ago."
"If anything happens to Baozhu, elder brother, or me, we can all blame mother for not taking good care of us. Then they can drive mother away. Elder brother can take the imperial examination, and they can give the second elder brother to the woman he loves. Baozhu is dispensable. It would be best if I left with mother. Shen Yunfeng would be overjoyed."
Shen Haiyan was just rambling on, but he didn't know that he had guessed Shen Yunfeng's thoughts and plans correctly.
...
Just as dawn broke, the sound of gongs and drums came from outside the princess mansion.
An old Taoist priest, accompanied by two young Taoist priests, was beating gongs and drums outside. They were also throwing money as they walked, which attracted half of the people in the capital.
Princess Jingning hadn't slept yet. When she rushed to the outside of the mansion in a hurry with Baizhi, the old Taoist priest was already saying that Mu Lanyue was a jinx to her relatives. Even when she was still in the womb, she had caused the death of her uncles. After she was born, she had caused the death of her mother.
Fortunately, the great general was brave enough to send this jinx daughter away, which bought them temporary peace.
But the good days didn't last long. Now Mu Lanyue's jinx fate was resurging. She had even caused the misfortune of her own son. In the future, she would also bring bad luck to the people of Dayong. She was simply an evil star.
The old Taoist priest described it vividly, as if he were telling a story.
The on - looking people started shouting and纷纷 asked how to prevent the evil star from bringing bad luck to them.
Princess Jingning sneered. "What a good Taoist priest! What nonsense are you talking about? Did you just make up my name out of thin air?"
"Come here, arrest this Taoist priest!"
The old Taoist priest was thin - faced, with a long and white beard. He was dressed in a Taoist robe, looking like a hermit. But he kept squeezing into the crowd of people, still throwing silver coins in his hand. The servants of the princess mansion just couldn't catch the Taoist priest because the people were scrambling to pick up the money.
The two young Taoist priests were very nimble. While dodging the servants, they kept shouting about the jinx.
These words were spoken so smoothly, as if they had been well - rehearsed.
The unsuspecting people began to whisper to each other. In fact, they didn't really care about the truth. They just wanted to have a laugh. Moreover, they had picked up a lot of the money thrown by the Taoist priest.
Naturally, they sided with the Taoist priest.
Because of Shen Haiyan's injury, Princess Jingning hadn't slept all night. Now, hearing the Taoist priests' words about the jinx and the whispering of the people, her face turned pale.
This was a matter that Princess Jingning didn't want to mention. Being brought up in public by the Taoist priest, she felt a sense of powerlessness.
She was mentally and physically exhausted. Coupled with the fatigue of these days, she fainted directly.
Baizhi quickly supported Princess Jingning. She glared angrily at the Taoist priest. "Bah! What a lousy Taoist priest! You'll surely be struck by lightning one day!"
"I'll help the princess back. You guys continue to catch him. If you catch the Taoist priest, there will be a generous reward!"
Shen Yunfeng watched this scene from the dark and couldn't help laughing. "It's worth all the planning I've done since half a year ago. After today, the whole capital will know that Mu Lanyue is a jinx. If I get injured at this time and then propose a divorce... Even the emperor will understand me."
"After all, who would want a wife who is a jinx to her relatives, and now even to her husband and son?"
...
Ping Hai came to the princess mansion early in the morning with several eunuchs to deliver gifts. From afar, he saw a bustling crowd in front of the princess mansion. He walked closer and asked, "What's going on here?"
A on - looking person said, "It's the Taoist priest exposing a jinx! Who would have thought that Princess Jingning is a jinx to her relatives. She not only caused the death of her mother but also her uncles."
"How powerful the generals of the Mu family were. They were all killed by this woman."
"You came late. You don't know that she even wanted to drive the Taoist priest away. Fortunately, the Taoist priest was not afraid of power and insisted on getting justice for the generals of the Mu family!"
Ping Hai's head was about to explode. Bullying the only daughter of the Mu family and getting justice for the Mu family's generals?
Did these people know what they were talking about?
When he heard that Princess Jingning had been fainted by the Taoist priest, Ping Hai had an idea. He suddenly thought this was a good opportunity.
He called a young eunuch over. "You go to the last house in Ming'an Street and ask Guard Zhao to bring a few people to the princess mansion to help Princess Jingning arrest the Taoist priest."
Then he told the eunuchs behind him, "You guys stay here and keep an eye on the situation. I'll go back to the palace."
He was going back to the palace to find the emperor to support Princess Jingning. By then, the guards would stand at the door, and the imperial edict would be announced. He would let the Taoist priest and the people see who was really the one bringing bad luck!