Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 479

After the public announcement that Shen Lingjun was engaged, the Shen family and the Yongning Marquis's residence finally had two days of peace and quiet.

On the other hand, after the emperor successively favored two princesses from Western Qi, he was overjoyed and his attitude towards the Western Qi delegation improved considerably, at least on the surface. He even held a grand palace banquet to entertain the Western Qi delegation, celebrate the marriage alliance between the two countries, and sign the peace treaty.

The palace banquet invited the vast majority of imperial relatives and noble families, including the Shen family and Shen Lingjun.

Shen Wei claimed illness and refused to attend. The emperor knew he would never go to such an occasion, so inviting the Shen family was just a formality, and the emperor didn't really care about him.

The Shen family refused, but Shen Lingjun still went anyway, otherwise it would be too inappropriate. Anyway, she was already "engaged" to Mo Chonggui, so she should go openly and honestly.

The palace banquet was held at Hualu Palace. Because there were so many people, the banquet was set up in the open-air garden, and the format was quite free.

The many high-ranking officials and nobles of Bei Yi, in front of the emperor and out of respect for him, treated the Western Qi delegation with some courtesy, barely maintaining the etiquette of hospitality.

At the banquet, Shen Lingjun saw for the first time Huo Sizhen, the crown prince of Western Qi who had said he wanted to marry her as part of a political alliance.

Huo Sizhen was clearly adept at social maneuvering, handling the courtiers and relatives of Bei Yi with ease and without any awkwardness, as if the relationship between the two countries was truly very friendly.

After the banquet, everyone strolled and rested in the garden. Shen Lingjun wanted to find a corner to be alone, but she saw Huo Sizhen walking towards her.

“Mrs. Shen.” Huo Sizhen’s eyes lit up, looking genuinely interested in her.

"Seeing is believing. Madam Shen is indeed as legendary as they say, a beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky, with unparalleled elegance. I have long admired Madam Shen, but unfortunately I am a step too late. Madam Shen is already taken, which is truly my greatest regret in life."

As Huo Sizhen spoke, he raised his wine glass towards Shen Lingjun.

"I would like to offer a toast to Madam Shen."

Shen Lingjun had originally planned to use this opportunity of toasting to give Huo Sizhen some slow-acting poison.

Although Huo Sizhen spoke with great enthusiasm, he seemed to be very vigilant. Behind him were two attendants who looked like experts, both of whom stared intently at Shen Lingjun, giving her no chance to make a move.

Since he couldn't make a move, Shen Lingjun lost interest in playing along with Huo Sizhen.

She didn't clink glasses with him, but simply said, "Since the Crown Prince of Western Qi knows that I am already engaged, please watch your words to avoid causing any unnecessary misunderstandings."

Seeing that she ignored him, Huo Sizhen withdrew his hand from the air, holding the wine glass. He wasn't annoyed, but simply raised an eyebrow.

"Madam Shen is so talented and beautiful, with a kind heart and noble status, yet she married a eunuch. It is truly a grievance. I have heard that the head of the Eastern Depot is cruel and perverted, ruthless and cunning, and has absolute power in Bei Yi. Madam Shen must have had no choice but to be engaged to him."

He lowered his voice as he spoke.

"I have deep feelings for Lady Shen and have come here solely for her sake. If you marry me and return to Western Qi, you will one day become a Noble Consort. Wouldn't that be better than marrying a eunuch and living a life of widowhood? In any case, it's just an engagement, and we haven't actually gotten married yet. If Lady Shen is willing, she can go and break off the engagement with that eunuch. In the name of the greater good of peace, no one in the world will have anything to say. I will also do my best to help her and ensure that Lady Shen gets rid of this marriage."

This is already quite explicit.

However, Shen Lingjun couldn't afford to turn against him here, because the surrounding area was full of guests from the palace banquet. If she raised her voice, it would attract everyone's attention, and the scene would inevitably become unpleasant.

Shen Lingjun simply gave a mocking sneer.

"Crown Prince of Western Qi, don't treat everyone like fools. Are all the women in your country so despicable that they have to come to a neighboring country to snatch a married woman, and when they can't snatch her, they even encourage others to abduct her? Is this the behavior of a crown prince of a dignified country like Western Qi?"