Duke Jing's younger sister

The breeze was gentle, the gauze curtains were swaying, and the white smoke from the golden tripod incense burner had not yet dissipated.

On the scarlet carpet, Shen Beiqi acted as a cushion underneath, while Shen Li was held firmly in his arms.

The person in his arms was warm and soft, with a faint fragrance wafting around her sleeves, which made him suddenly remember the night of drizzling spring rain and the faint fragrance that permeated his nose.

Shen Beiqi's Adam's apple rolled up and down, and his throat felt a little hoarse.

At the moment of falling, Shen Li covered her lips tightly with both hands, fearing that any sound would disturb the two passionate people in the inner room.

Her ears were filled with the sound of a heavy and powerful heartbeat, like a drum beating out rapid beats in her ears.

It was like an invisible hand, tightly strangling her throat, making it impossible for her to breathe and suffocating her.

Shen Li couldn't even tell whether it was her heartbeat or her brother's.

She was stunned for a moment until Shen Beiqi patted her shoulder. Then she came to her senses and climbed away from him with a red face.

Back on the deck, all the officials who had come to the banquet had already dispersed, leaving only Luo Jue, Luo Cheng, Shen Zhiyan, Xiao Wenyuan and others.

Shen Li's cheeks were flushed as if blood was about to drip out, and even the tips of her ears were a little red.

Shen Zhiyan asked in confusion, "Did you find the things? You went in to drink, why is your face so red?"

It would have been fine if Shen Zhiyan didn't remind him. After all, those present were all outsiders, and no one would be so rude as to stare at Shen Li's face.

When she said this, she successfully drew everyone's attention to Shen Li's cheek.

Luo Cheng looked at it and nodded secretly: Well, it is indeed very popular!

It’s almost brighter than the color of his clothes!

Luo Jue glanced at Shen Beiqi, then at Shen Li, with a faint smile on his lips.

"I didn't find it," Shen Li shook her head and evaded the question, "The windows are closed inside, it's too stuffy."

When she returned to Xiao Wenyuan's pleasure boat, Shen Li's pleated skirt had long been dried by the wind, leaving only a circle of slightly yellowish marks from being wet.

The setting sun hangs obliquely, and the sky is full of sunset clouds.

The smoke is vast and the orange-red afterglow is sprinkled on the sparkling lake surface.

The magnolia forest in the distance was also covered with a thin red veil, becoming dreamy and like a peach blossom fairyland.

Inside the cabin, Xiao Wenyuan was talking in a low voice with Shen Zhiyan. They occasionally looked at each other and smiled shyly. The man was in love with her and the woman was interested in him.

Xingping and Baozhu sat at the stern of the boat, chattering about something.

Luo Cheng drank his tea while Shen Li sat quietly, but her eyes involuntarily glanced at the tall, sky-blue figure at the bow of the boat.

Losing the handkerchief was not a big deal, but her secret was hidden on it.

However, even if it was picked up by the cleaning maid, after seeing the words on it, she probably wouldn't be able to guess the meaning, right?

At this point, this is all she can do to persuade herself.

"If it weren't for your two sisters today, how would you have dealt with it?"

Luo Jue and Shen Beiqi stood facing the wind, and asked with a half-smile, "Holding a beauty in your arms?"

"If the prince insists on forcing someone on me, do you want me to refuse?"

Shen Beiqi put his hands behind his back and looked towards the distant white flower forest that was illuminated by the red glow of the sunset glow. The alcohol in his peach blossom eyes dissipated slightly and was reflected in the glow of the sunset glow.

Luo Jue nodded in agreement, "In my opinion, Linlang is a small matter. If you take her in, she will be a concubine at most. The big deal is the Fourth Princess."

Shen Beiqi was silent.

When Chinese medicine was used at the last celebration banquet, he suspected that it was the Fourth Princess's doing.

It’s a pity that the palace is heavily guarded, so even if he wants to investigate the truth, he has no way to start.

The matter could only be handed over to the third prince Xiao Wencong to investigate. As a prince, it would be much easier for him to act in the palace than for him.

Seeing Shen Beiqi didn't say anything, Luo Jue started to persuade him.

"You should hurry up and find a wife. The Fourth Princess' feelings for you are obvious. When the Fourth Princess reaches the age of marriage in half a year, she will try to persuade her. His Majesty has always doted on the Fourth Princess. When an imperial decree comes, how will you respond?"

"Legal wife?" Shen Beiqi murmured, his fingertips lightly touching the white silk handkerchief in his sleeve.

Shen Beiqi thought of Shen Li.

He wanted to marry her as his principal wife and give an explanation to her and the Jiang family.

But she didn't want to and rejected him.

Come to think of it, he had forced himself on her, so that night must have been a terrifying nightmare for her.

If I ask her to marry me now, she would be extremely reluctant.

Shen Beiqi sighed slightly, "It's time to find a wife."

Seeing the two standing at the bow for a long time, Shen Li specially brought them tea. As soon as she approached, she heard Shen Beiqi's voice.

He said...it's time to find a wife.

The fingers holding the tray trembled slightly, she turned around as if in a daze, and walked back into the cabin with heavy steps.

Luo Cheng took a look at her instantly pale face, and turned his head to look at the bow of the boat in confusion. The sea was calm, nothing happened, and no one fell into the lake and drowned.

Luo Cheng felt completely puzzled. It was fine just now, but what happened in such a short while?

A woman’s heart is as deep as the sea. The ancients were right!

……

Xingping felt that something was wrong with her daughter.

After returning from boating on the lake, he sat by the couch, not eating, drinking, or talking, staring blankly at the flickering candle flame, as motionless as a wooden sculpture.

Zi Yuan pulled Xing Ping into the courtyard and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with you, young lady?"

"I don't know!" Xingping was puzzled. "That candle...is different from the one we used before?"

Ziyuan stretched out her finger and tapped Xingping's head vigorously, "What does this have to do with candles?"

The candlelight flickered red, Shen Li stared blankly, but his mind was extremely clear.

Shen Beiqi is already twenty-three years old. He is the eldest son of the second branch of the Shen family. He is two years younger than him and already has a son and a daughter.

He should have gotten married a long time ago, and found someone who was of equal status, and lived in harmony and love until old age.

She should be happy for her brother, shouldn't she?

But she had naively thought that after the Jiang family was rehabilitated, perhaps she would have the courage to stand by his side.

She actually had such an unrealistic hope.

She forgot how high the moon was and how far the distance between heaven and earth was.

Even if the Jiang family was rehabilitated, the brilliant Shen Beiqi was not something she could even dream of.

Tears silently slid down her cheeks, dripped from the edge of her jaw onto the table, and shattered into tiny stars under the flickering candlelight.

……

The sixth day of April is the 70th birthday of Luo Quanliang's mother, Lady Luo, the Marquis of Wenchang.

The entire Shen family went to the Luo family for a banquet.

Because Yang and Shen Beiqi had something to talk about, the mother and son rode in the same carriage, while Shen Li and Shen Zhiyan rode with Ren Jiaorui.

Ren Jiaorui didn't want to pay any attention to Shen Li, and complained to Shen Zhiyan all the way, saying that she forgot about her cousin when they went boating on the lake.

She ignored Shen Li, and Shen Li was left alone.

Ren Jiaorui always secretly looked at Shen Li, and when Shen Li looked over, she quickly turned her head away.

Shen Li was puzzled and turned away without looking at her.