The beauty of the Hou family and the king's plan

Yanran Pavilion where Shen Yan lived was a two-story building. Shen Baozhao's Zhaoming Garden was much smaller than Yanran Pavilion.

Zhaoming Garden was originally just a small courtyard next to Chenxiang Garden, the residence of the master and mistress of the second house.

There are only three main rooms, one is used as a bedroom with a toilet, one is a bright hall for receiving guests, and one is used as a study.

Since Bao Zhao was reborn, he no longer needed a maid to stand guard at the foot of his bed. So Qingkong and Bixiao lived in the side room next to him.

When Princess Nanhua was alive, Baozhao lived with his parents in Chenxiang Garden.

When Lady Nanhua became pregnant with the fifth young master, she asked her wet nurse to move Baozhao to Zhaoming Garden, a small courtyard next to Chenxiang Garden, so that she could take care of her daughter at any time.

Later, the Lady of Nanhua County died, and Baozhao continued to live here without moving to a more spacious place.

Thinking of Princess Nanhua, Shen Baozhao could no longer remember what she looked like.

There are many portraits of her in my father's study, and I have the impression that she was an extremely beautiful woman.

She spoke softly and always smiled at Baozhao, revealing a pair of dimples.

Those were truly the happiest days for Shen Baozhao. Being doted on by his parents was like being immersed in a jar of honey.

Unfortunately, the good times did not last long, and Shen Baozhao still remembers that night.

Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and the sky was as bright as day. The wind was blowing so hard that the trees were about to break. Heavy rain poured down from the dome.

The old women came out of my mother's room carrying basins of blood. I could still hear my mother's screams.

Then it gradually disappeared. Bao Zhao pulled at his father's clothes and looked at his father's uneasy expression.

Suddenly the door opened and the midwife with blood on her hands ran out in panic, saying that the second wife was not well.

The father was so excited that he wanted to rush in, but unfortunately the delivery room was filthy, and the old lady and the first wife sent people to stop him.

No one noticed that little Baozhao ran in and saw his mother for the last time.

Princess Nanhua looked at Baozhao, pulled the corners of her mouth, and wanted to smile at her.

Raising his hands with force, Bao Zhao walked closer and put his ear close to her. He only heard the Lady of Nanhua County say in his ear: "Live well," and then he had no strength left.

The young Shen Baozhao did not understand what the Nanhua County Lady meant, and he never told anyone about it.

So, is the father who loves his mother deeply aware of this?

Shen Baozhao looked at the dripping faucet beside him. It was past midnight and his father should be home soon after leaving the government office.

"Qingkong, come with me to the small kitchen." Baozhao ordered.

Zhaoming Garden is too small. The small kitchen Shen Baozhao was talking about was the small kitchen in Chenxiang Garden where his father, Mr. Shen Er, lived.

It was very close, and Shen Baozhao and Qingkong arrived in a moment. After instructing the kitchen maid to prepare the ingredients, Baozhao rolled up his sleeves and started kneading the dough.

Qingkong chopped the meat into small pieces according to Shen Baozhao's request.

The dough was seen tossing up and down in Shen Baozhao's hands, and soon it became thin and dense noodles, which were then put into the pot and cooked in boiling water.

After marinating the chopped meat, add the secret sauce and stir-fry until fragrant. Serve the cooked noodles, cover them with the fragrant topping, and then serve with refreshing shredded cucumber and carrot.

A bowl of tempting noodles with soybean paste is ready.

Shen Baozhao also cooked a hot meat pie soup. At this time every day, my father should be in the study with my younger brother to review his lessons.

He took the food to the study in Chenxiang Garden. Xia Song, the doorman, smiled when he saw Shen Baozhao coming.

Since the fourth young lady was ill, she seemed to have regained her senses. She brought food to the second master at this time every day. If there was too much, she could give it to the servants at a discount.

I have to say that the fourth young lady's cooking skills are really good. Xia Song couldn't help but touch his fatter face and laughed foolishly.

In the evening, the sun was setting in the west, and the rays of light were pouring into the study through the partitions. The colorful light and shadows cast on the two people, one big and one small, in the study.

The second master was wearing a royal blue robe embroidered with pine and cypress branches. Although he was almost forty, he looked like a handsome young man in his thirties.

The Second Master and his son put down the books in their hands when they saw Shen Baozhao. The Fifth Master Shen Jie Ling looked at the food box in Baozhao's hand and faintly smelled a fragrance.

Then he stood up and asked with a smile: "What delicious food did Fourth Sister bring today?"

Shen Baozhao opened the food box, took out two small bowls, and gave one to the second master and one to the fifth young master.

The father and son began to eat without hesitation and finished the meal in a short while.

The Fifth Young Master wanted more, but Bao Zhao stopped him, saying, "Fifth Brother, don't eat too much. If you eat too much, you won't be able to eat in the evening."

The remaining portion was given by Qingkong to Xia Song. Xia Song's eyes narrowed into slits, thinking that his young lady was really beautiful and kind.

After Master Shen had eaten and drunk his fill, he stared in a daze as he looked at his daughter, who was looking more and more like his wife.

"Zhao'er, your second sister will be married tomorrow. Father has a lot to do tomorrow to entertain guests.

You don't need to send food here." Master Shen Er said.

Shen Baozhao thought about it and still did not tell the second master Shen that the first lady Wang wanted to find her to marry in place of her.

After staying for a while, he left Chenxiang Garden and walked slowly along the corridor, thinking.

It is said that Mr. Shen II was a top scholar in the imperial examination. He was as handsome as the moon and the breeze, and the Nanhua County Lady fell in love with him at first sight.

He persuaded his maternal grandfather, Prince Yu, to come and propose marriage.

But for so many years he was just a small sixth-rank editor in the Hanlin Academy.

The biggest reason was probably to make way for the eldest son. The eldest son, Master Shen, was already the Minister of Rites, and even the old Marquis Shen had retired from the cabinet a few years ago to make way for his eldest son.

The Shen family has three outstanding people. The talent of the second master Shen is not inferior to that of the first master Shen, and may even be better.

It was just for the sake of family honor and disgrace, and with the death of Princess Nanhua, he had no interest in a career in politics.

Fortunately, the fifth young master was very smart since childhood, and was personally taught by the second master Shen.

This year, when he was just ten years old, he was going to take the imperial examination. The second master used all his talents to educate his youngest son and neglected to take care of his daughter Shen Baozhao.

It was only when Bao Zhao insisted on marrying Chen Ke that he realized his daughter's intentions. Unfortunately, it was too late.

No matter how Master Shen tried to stop it, he could not stop this marriage from going ahead.

The second master had a kind fatherly heart. Later, every time Baozhao returned to the marquis's mansion, he would receive silver bills, jewelry, land deeds, etc. sent by his father's servants.

This is because he is deeply afraid that his daughter is not living a happy life, so he can only make up for it financially.

In her previous life, she was betrayed, and soon the Duke of Lu's Mansion announced that the Crown Prince's wife, Shen Baozhao, had passed away.

My father already had both legs broken and his health was getting worse.

The passing of his fifth brother had already dealt him a fatal blow, and the news of his own death should have been the last straw that broke the camel's back.

When the person who brought the news of the death came to the Marquis's mansion, my father was so angry that he was unable to save his life.

Thinking of this, Shen Baozhao looked up at the fiery sunset in the sky and forced back the tears that were about to flow.

Following the corridor, we soon arrived at Zhaoming Garden.

The maid from Yanran Pavilion had been waiting at Baozhao's place for a long time. Seeing Shen Baozhao coming back slowly, she stepped forward and asked, "Where did the fourth young lady go?

Our second young lady will be getting married tomorrow. She may not be able to sleep today, so we want you to go over and keep her company."

"Does the Fourth Miss need to tell you where she's going? You're such an unruly thing." Bixiao lifted the curtain and came out of the ear room, scolding the maid.

The girl looked unconvinced and said, "I have delivered my message.

"Fourth Miss, please hurry over and don't keep Second Miss waiting for too long." Then he ran away in a hurry.

Bixiao's face flushed with anger, and she said, "This second young lady is too arrogant. Young lady, you haven't had dinner yet."

Shen Baozhao nodded and asked the maids to serve the meal.