You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Xie Wanru, who was eating with her head down, noticed Xiao Yan's gaze. Her hand holding the chopsticks paused slightly, but her many years of experience had taught her self-control. Even if there were turmoil in her heart, she would not show it and would quickly return to normal.

She did indeed once love Xiao Yan, but that love vanished the moment Xiao Yan ordered the execution of the entire Xie family in her previous life.

"Dongzhu, this crispy duck is really delicious."

Xie Wanru pretended to be nonchalant and picked up a piece of meat from her plate to feed Dongzhu behind her.

The maids' meals were different. Xie Wanru handed it to Dongzhu, who habitually opened her mouth. Both mistress and servant forgot that this was a palace banquet.

Some of the ladies, seeing Xie Wanru like this, secretly muttered to themselves, "How can the eldest daughter of the Xie family be so unruly?"

Because in most people's eyes, maids are servants, and are inferior beings. No matter how well they get along with their servants, they would never share a pair of chopsticks with them.

The Empress also noticed Xie Wanru's actions. She had been feeling somewhat guilty towards Xie Wanru and frequently glanced at her side. Seeing Xie Wanru and her servant Dongzhu enjoying themselves, she did not feel impolite but rather found it amusing.

"If Wanwan likes it, I will have someone make another one for you tomorrow. If there's anything else you'd like to eat these next few days, just tell Aunt Caiyun. Don't be shy, and stay in the palace to keep me company."

The Empress's words were gentle and sincere, yet she had already negotiated with Xie Wanru several times today, with an undercurrent of subtle compensation.

Xie Wanru smiled faintly, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes. She understood the Empress's intentions perfectly well.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am flattered. The delicacies in the palace are certainly unforgettable, but I hope to take this opportunity to listen to Your Majesty's teachings and learn some wisdom in governing the country and managing the household, so as not to disappoint Your Majesty's expectations."

Xie Wanru was also good at polite conversation, so she remained calm and answered fluently.

Upon hearing this, the Empress's eyes flashed with approval, and she nodded slightly in encouragement.

"Good child, I am very pleased that you have this intention. You don't need to be too reserved with me. I like your true nature. If it weren't for General Xie's refusal, feeling that it was unreasonable, you, my little girl, would be calling me Mother."

These words not only affirmed Xie Wanru, but also seemed to convey a message to everyone present—that in the face of true nobility and refinement, the boundaries of status are not insurmountable.

The Emperor nodded in Xie Wanru's direction, indicating that he agreed with the Empress's statement.

Xie Wanru was not born to the Empress, nor was she of royal blood, but because the Empress and the Emperor favored her, she was a person of great prestige.

In an instant, the ladies who had previously criticized Xie Wanru's behavior all restrained their expressions and began to re-examine this seemingly ill-mannered eldest daughter of the Xie family.

Madam Shen and Shen Nian'an exchanged a glance, both of them harboring obvious hatred in their eyes.

Xie Wanru was clearly favored by the Emperor and Empress, but after two years of marriage into the Shen family, she never made any plans for her husband, Shen Nian'an. Now that she has adopted Shen Yanzhi, she doesn't properly educate her child.

“Mother, I think my second sister-in-law will be even more arrogant when she goes back this time. She dared to slap me before, even when she didn’t have the Empress’s support. Now she might even dare to slap you.”

Shen Nianqing gave a mocking snort and then turned her gaze to Crown Prince Xiao Long, who was talking to someone. In her eyes, Xiao Long was the most handsome man in the world at that moment, and just one glance was enough to make her lose her soul.

"She dares!"

Madam Shen's face darkened, and her eyes flashed with ruthlessness.

Although she didn't necessarily expect her daughter-in-law to be obedient to an extreme degree, she really couldn't handle someone like Xie Wanru.

Every day, it's driving her crazy.

Shen Cong'an was originally serving food to Shen Mo. Shen Mo had suffered too much over the years, which made him even more frail than Shen Yanzhi, despite being older. So Shen Cong'an was trying to get Shen Mo to eat more.

Noticing the gazes from those above, he didn't deliberately look up, only glancing at them out of the corner of his eye. Xiao Yan's gaze fell on Xie Wanru among the women; anyone present who wasn't blind could basically see it.

"Father, the Emperor bestowed a safety amulet upon Mo'er. Could you give Mo'er a wooden box for it? Mo'er would like to treasure it."

Shen Mo, his belly bulging from eating, stopped to catch his breath.

"So that Mo'er won't get it dirty, hehe."

Although he was young and greedy and loved to eat, he ate in a very good manner, slowly and deliberately.

Shen Cong'an originally thought that Shen Mo not only needed to be taught palace etiquette, but also needed to be reminded of some ordinary things. However, he did not expect that the child was just ignorant, not ill-mannered. It can be seen that although his biological parents were poor, they raised their children very well.

Shen Cong'an was extremely gratified to hear him say that.

"Since His Majesty bestowed it upon Mo'er, it belongs to Mo'er. It is fine if it is damaged unintentionally. But if Mo'er puts it away and never uses it, wouldn't that be a betrayal of His Majesty's intention in giving Mo'er the safety amulet?"

The imperial gift should indeed be carefully preserved, but it's just a safety amulet. His Mo'er will surely receive much more in the future. Right now, he actually hopes that Mo'er will wear it, as it might be "more useful" than his junior uncle Xu Jing.

"Father is right, Mo'er understands, then Mo'er will definitely wear it carefully."

Shen Mo smiled radiantly, once again making Shen Cong'an feel the joy of having a child.

He initially felt it was his responsibility to adopt Shen Mo, but as they spent more time together, he was moved by Shen Mo's well-behaved and sensible nature.

"Be careful as you are, but nothing is more important than Mo'er herself, understand?"

Shen Cong'an gave instructions.

He had heard Xie Wanru tell him what happened on the day of the adoption. For the sake of a book, he didn't even care about his own safety. That was the bad thing about Shen Mo.

honest.

"But what if Father... is something very important?"

Shen Mo raised his little face and asked.

Aunt Wan had said something similar before, but he was not the grandson of the Marquis of Yong'an, nor was he related to Shen Cong'an by blood.

He was afraid of being disliked because of his mistakes or lack of manners.

“Mo’er is the most important, but Mo’er is not a thing. Mo’er is my most precious treasure.”

Shen Cong'an tenderly touched Shen Mo's small hand with his fingertips; the scars on it were still clearly visible because they had not yet healed.

After learning about Mo'er's background, he made a decision in his heart that he would protect this child.

"Ah."

Shen Mo nodded to indicate that he understood, but his eyes were slightly red, so he quickly lowered his head to eat, not wanting Shen Cong'an to see him crying. Across from him, Xie Wanru looked at the father and son enjoying each other's company and couldn't help but smile with relief.