Happy Spring Every Year

"Empress Shufei?"

Zhao Huaizhen also tilted his head slightly in confusion.

I have never heard of any connection between the Shen family and the Cui family or Brother Huailang. Why does Concubine Shu suddenly want to see Jiasui?

She turned around and looked at Shen Jiasui with concern in her eyes, but Shen Jiasui shook his head gently at Zhao Huaizhen.

No matter why Concubine Shu wanted to see her, there was no need to drag Huaizhen into it.

"Princess, I'll be back soon. Please lead the way, eunuch."

Zhao Huaizhen watched Shen Jiasui leave with the eunuch, frowned slightly, turned around and left quickly.

Shen Jiasui followed the eunuch inside and did not ask Concubine Shu's intentions. Instead, he looked at the surrounding scenery.

The Imperial Garden is a royal garden. Shen Jiasui had heard of it a long time ago. It has everything from mountains and rivers, pavilions, exotic flowers and plants, rare birds and animals. It is a place to relax, enjoy, host banquets, or go outing and hunting.

Particularly famous is the wintersweet forest in the Imperial Garden. It is said that at night, the lights and flowers complement each other, making it look like a fairyland on earth.

If she had some free time tonight, she would really like to go and see it for herself.

Along the way, Shen Jiasui was secretly worried, but fortunately nothing happened.

Walking all the way inside, after entering Zhuhua Pavilion, we were led by a palace maid. As we stepped into the main hall, a warm fragrance hit us in the face.

It is the coldest time of the year outside, but it is as warm as spring inside the house.

Shen Jiasui knew the rules and didn't even raise his eyelids.

In her ears was the light footsteps of the palace servants coming and going busily. After a quarter of an hour, no one came to greet her.

Fortunately, when it comes to endurance, Shen Jiasui has it in spades. She stood still like a wooden stake.

After an unknown amount of time, the rustling sound of clothes rubbing against each other came from the inner room, and a nonchalant voice rang out:

"Let her in."

Soon, a maid came to Shen Jiasui and said with a smile, "The queen was taking a nap just now. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Come in."

Shen Jiasui raised his head upon hearing this, which made the nanny's eyes light up.

Perhaps it was the heat in the pavilion, but the girl from the Shen family's face was stained with a layer of red, which made her look charming and beautiful.

With such a beautiful appearance, it’s no wonder that the young master would be attracted to her.

Nanny Qin is already quite old. She is the wet nurse of Concubine Shu and followed Concubine Shu into the palace from Cui's mansion, so she still calls Cui Mingjue "Young Master".

After entering the inner room, Shen Jiasui knelt down and saluted, then raised his eyes and retracted his gaze.

The woman on the beauty bed was extremely beautiful, but she did not look lazy. It was obvious that the nap the nanny mentioned was just an excuse.

Shen Jia racked his brains but couldn't figure out the reason why Concubine Shu invited him today, so he simply calmed down and tried to deal with it improvisationally.

"Raise your head." Concubine Shu said calmly.

Shen Jiasui raised his face but not his eyes, and heard Concubine Shu hum lightly, "She's quite good-looking."

She stood up from the couch, walked to Shen Jiasui, and said softly:

"I heard that Mingjue's words and actions were inappropriate and had offended Miss Shen. As Mingjue's aunt, I want to apologize for him."

Shen Jiasui hadn't expected Concubine Shu to bring up this matter, and immediately shook her head and said, "Your Majesty, please excuse me. It was just a misunderstanding. Young Master Cui and I have long since reconciled."

Concubine Shu lowered her eyes and saw Shen Jiasui's frank expression when he mentioned Cui Mingjue. She couldn't help but frown slightly and suddenly changed the subject.

"I heard that Miss Shen had broken off an engagement?"

Shen Jiasui nodded and said, "Your Majesty, it is true."

Concubine Shu took a few steps and suddenly raised her voice, "That young man from the Lu family was engaged to Miss Shen for many years. Now he has changed his mind and called off the engagement. Is Miss Shen unwilling to accept this?"

Shen Jiasui already felt that this question was very abrupt, but he did not want to offend the noble man rashly, so he lowered his head even more and said respectfully:

"If you are in two minds, you should make up your mind. I am just glad that the marriage was not completed, and I don't feel any regret in my heart."

After hearing these words, Concubine Shu became a little dazed.

When still in the boudoir, which girl doesn't hope to find a husband who loves her wholeheartedly?

After all, Shen Jiasui is an inexperienced girl and still has some naivety.

You must know that in this world, there are very few men who will stay with one person until old age.

Fortunately, it seems that Miss Shen has no feelings for the young man from the Lu family, so Mingjue doesn't suffer any injustice.

Thinking of this, Concubine Shu began to have some approval for Shen Jiasui, and her voice became softer.

"I met Miss Shen today and felt that we were quite compatible. If Miss Shen has someone she likes, please let me know. I can ask His Majesty for a marriage decree on her behalf."

Shen Jiasui couldn't hide her surprise when she heard this, but her expression became even more respectful. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I don't have anyone I'm attracted to right now, nor do I have any intention of getting married."

Concubine Shu looked at Shen Jiasui carefully, and seeing that her words did not seem false, she turned around and returned to the couch.

I have hinted so clearly that if Shen Jiasui is interested in Mingjue, he should get close to her as soon as possible.

But Shen Jiasui looked like he was trying to avoid Mingjue, and it was obvious that he was going to let Mingjue down.

Thinking of this, Concubine Shu's tone also turned cold.

"In that case, it is I who am meddling."

"But I still want to advise Miss Shen: Don't hesitate because of a bad judgment. If you come across a good person, you must seize it immediately."

"If you look down on others, you're a little tactless..."

She had considered it carefully these days and felt that if Mingjue could marry Miss Shen, it would indeed be a good thing for Yu Lang'er.

She wanted the Emperor to grant them a marriage directly, which would also help Mingjue achieve his wish, but the Shen family was a military family after all. Although General Shen had given up his military power, he was still the focus of attention from all sides.

In this case, it would be best if the two young people fell in love with each other, so that the marriage can come together smoothly.

However, Shen Jiasui was obviously ungrateful.

Such obvious words of criticism made Shen Jiasui's expression change quietly.

Could it be that Concubine Shu meant to bring her and Cui Mingjue together?

Isn’t Cui Mingjue the Cui family’s treasure?

There are so many young ladies in the capital, and even considering the forces behind them, there are many that are more prominent than her General Dingguo Mansion.

Besides, she had broken off an engagement before, so she didn't have a good reputation in Beijing.

Did Cui Mingjue know about this? Or was he also under pressure?

Shen Jiasui's mind was racing. Just as he was about to respond respectfully, he suddenly heard a loud voice from outside the pavilion: "The Emperor has arrived—"

Concubine Shu's expression changed slightly, and she hurriedly got up from her bed to greet him. Before she even left the inner room, a stone-blue figure stepped towards her.

"See Your Majesty."

There was a rush of people kneeling on the floor in the house.

"Your Majesty, weren't you talking to the eldest princess? Why are you here at this time?"

The soft voice of Concubine Shu was heard, and she was already leaning against Emperor Sheng.

Emperor Sheng walked steadily and sat down on the beauty couch. He said calmly, "Ning'er was clamoring to go play in the front, so I decided to come over and rest."

Concubine Shu listened with a smile, and winked at Nanny Qin, indicating that she should take Shen Jiasui out.

Nanny Qin understood and led Shen Jiasui and the other palace maids to stand up together. However, Emperor Sheng still saw it and raised his eyebrows slightly, "Shufei, what is this?"

Shen Jiasui hurriedly knelt back down, and Concubine Shu smiled and explained, "Your Majesty, this is General Shen's beloved daughter."

"Oh?"

Emperor Sheng's eyes were dim, and a hint of interest flashed across his face.

"Keep your head up."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu gently clenched her hands under her sleeves.

Although His Majesty is not fond of beauty, this young lady of the Shen family has bright eyes and a lively spirit, which makes her different from ordinary ladies.

Not to mention others, she had been in this deep palace for a long time, and when she saw Miss Shen just now, her eyes lit up.

Don't...

Shen Jiasui looked up again.

Emperor Sheng looked at Shen Jiasui in silence for so long that Concubine Shu became a little restless.

She opened her lips slightly, about to smooth things over, but Emperor Sheng suddenly spoke at this moment, his meaning unclear.

"I heard that it was you who protected the Crown Princess at Prince Rong's mansion. Even Xiuzhi's mother... was saved by you?"