Princess Menglang is hard to change, the whole capital is embarrassed for her

Watching Censor Cui leave, the Second Prince and Shen Zhaojiang secretly wiped their sweat.

The two continued to walk out. Shen Zhaojiang didn't know what the second prince was going to say, but it was not easy for him to leave early, so he began to feel uneasy.

After a moment of silence, the Second Prince finally spoke, "Sir Shen, I have something I would like to ask for your help."

Shen Zhaojiang hurriedly stopped and bowed, saying, "Second Prince, you are too polite. I dare not take it as a beg. Second Prince, please feel free to tell me what you want. As long as I can do it, I will do my best."

The Second Prince hesitated for a moment and said softly, "I want to marry your eldest daughter, Shen Li."

"what?"

Shen Zhaojiang tripped and almost fell. "You, what did you just say? Who do you want to marry?"

"The eldest lady of your house, Shen Li."

The air suddenly became quiet.

Shen Zhaojiang looked at him in disbelief and couldn't help but repeat himself, "Are you talking about my eldest daughter, Shen Li?"

"Yes, that's right." The second prince said firmly.

Shen Zhaojiang was stunned and didn't know what to say for a moment.

A few days ago, the Second Prince and Li'er were at loggerheads at the banquet at Marquis Guanyong's mansion. How come he wants to marry her home the next moment?

"Second Prince, are you serious? This kind of thing is no joke."

"Of course I'm serious. How could I joke about something like this?"

"But...but you and my daughter, the two of you..."

Shen Zhaojiang stuttered, feeling that his brain was not enough and he couldn't keep up with the pace.

The Second Prince smiled, extended his hand in a gesture of invitation, and said, "Let's talk while we walk. There are so many people here that some things are not convenient to say."

While they were standing there saying these few words, a few more people passed by, stopped to salute and greet them.

Shen Zhaojiang hurriedly followed the second prince's pace and walked towards the hitching post.

The Second Prince's soldiers and guards were there, and the security was tight, so no one would hear what they said.

"This is also what Mother intended," the Second Prince said. "You and I both know exactly how the First Lady of the Chongguo Mansion died. The reputation of the Mansion has been severely damaged, and people like Cui Yushi have seized on the rumors to impeach us. For now, the only way to resolve this dilemma is for me to marry Miss Shen. If I can successfully marry Miss Shen, the rumors about the Yao family persecuting Miss Shen will be dispelled, and the cause of Mrs. Yao's death will not be excessively speculated. And as you know, Fang Yao's military power..."

They both looked up at the same time and looked around.

"My mother's intention is to ask Lord Shen to help facilitate this marriage. My father is also very concerned about Miss Shen's affairs and went to the palace to question her. If my father knew that Miss Shen and I could have a happy marriage, he would surely be very happy."

After all, the empress dowager and the emperor had expressed this idea in front of Fang Yao. They liked Shen Li as much as the princes and princesses. With Shen Li, the empress dowager and the emperor would look up to him.

As for Fang Yao's obstruction...

The second prince's eyes were dark and unclear, and it was unknown what he was thinking of.

Shen Zhaojiang finally understood what the second prince meant, and he naturally agreed.

The second prince is the queen's legitimate son and has a great chance of inheriting the throne. If Li'er can become the second prince's consort and then the queen, the Shen family's ancestral tomb will be filled with joy.

Just when he was about to get excited, Shen Li's cold eyes suddenly flashed through his mind, and his heart sank and he became deflated.

"To be honest, Second Prince, I am deeply grateful for the kindness of the Empress and Second Prince, and I am extremely willing to do so. However, Second Prince must also be aware of my family's situation. Li'er's marriage is currently decided by her uncle Fang Yao, and I have no say."

He felt ashamed when he said this.

"Master Shen, you are clearly Miss Shen's biological parent, yet you don't even have the final say in her marriage. Is Master Shen willing to accept this?"

I am not willing to accept this, absolutely not willing to accept this.

But what can he do?

This was the grace Fang Yao earned through his military merits, and it was an order personally issued by the Emperor. What could he do if he was unwilling? Who would dare to disobey?

Shen Zhaojiang felt a mixture of emotions, as if his heart was in turmoil.

Just as he was secretly worried, he heard the Second Prince say, "I do have a plan. Lord Shen, would you like to hear it?"

"Listen, please teach me, Second Prince!"

"In a few days, the wife of the Jiangnan Weaving Master Wen will come to the capital. My mother is planning to have her hold a banquet. When the time comes, please ask Lord Shen to bring a few young ladies from the mansion to the banquet."

When Shen Zhaojiang heard that it was another banquet, his eyelids twitched.

How many banquets has Shen Li attended since she came back?

Something happened at every game.

He is now afraid of the word "banquet". The second prince wants to use the banquet again. Is it possible?

"I'm sure the Second Prince has also considered what happened at the Marquis of Guanyong's mansion last time. My wife later told me that Li'er has a master protecting her. Isn't the Second Prince afraid that the master will ruin your plans at the banquet?"

"Besides, my father-in-law has scolded my husband and me several times because of the incident at the Guanyong Marquis' Mansion. If he knew that I was plotting against his own daughter with the Second Prince, he would bring people to my house and break my legs."

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and felt really scared when he thought about it.

"My wife plotted against Li'er, earning her an unkind reputation from my father-in-law. As Li'er's father, I wonder what my father-in-law would say if I did the same thing again. However, I understand in my heart that this time is different from the last time. This time, thanks to the kindness of the Empress and the Second Prince, Li'er is blessed to have caught your eye. I..."

If this happened, the Shen family would be able to produce a queen. Shen Zhaojiang was so excited that his mind was in a mess and his speech became incoherent.

"Li'er definitely won't attend the Wen family banquet. That's my wife's sister's house. I'm not afraid of being laughed at by the Second Prince. Li'er and my wife don't have a good relationship. If I ask her to attend the Wen family banquet, she'll definitely become suspicious."

The second prince's eyes flashed with Shen Li's unruly look, and he understood.

"Miss Shen, don't you listen to the teachings of your elders at home?"

"No," Shen Zhaojiang shook his head, looking troubled. "I haven't been around for so many years, and this child hasn't learned much about the rules. Moreover, because of her biological mother, she has some misunderstandings about her family, and her relationships aren't very good. If I tell her about going to the Wen family for a banquet, she'll definitely say something like, 'What does it have to do with me if it's someone else's relatives?' This child is very difficult to manage."

When he said this, the second prince laughed.

It sounds more interesting than those well-behaved ladies, and being with such a person is quite exciting.

Shen Zhaojiang didn't know why the Second Prince was laughing. He clasped his hands together and said thoughtfully, "Actually, there is another way..."

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details!"

"The banquet will be held at my Shen family. I'll select the name list myself, so I don't have to worry about the person behind Li'er showing up. I'll invite all the princes to come, using the excuse of welcoming Madam Wen..."

The Second Prince, upon hearing this, became concerned and asked, "Didn't you just say that Miss Shen wouldn't pay any attention to Madam Wen? Now you're using the excuse of welcoming Madam Wen. What if she doesn't attend?"