She remarried a cold-faced, powerful man, and the scumbag regretted it and cried his heart out.

The group's words all sided with Shen Jingshu, and Madam Wang was quite frightened by this display of force.

"Your Highness, please forgive me... I really didn't mean it that way..."

The Crown Princess, however, was not about to let it go easily. With a cold face, she questioned, "Second Madam Jiang, you just said that Miss Shen was a jinx and even cursed the Commandant. What were your intentions?"

Seeing the situation was turning sour, Jiang Yuan quickly stepped forward to plead, "Your Highness, please calm down! My wife was rude and spoke without thinking. Please forgive her! She was just confused for a moment and had no intention of disrespecting His Majesty or Her Majesty the Empress!"

Wen Huaizhang's expression softened slightly. He had no intention of causing any trouble today, especially since this Wang was just an ignorant woman. To argue with her would be beneath his dignity.

"Alright, Madam Jiang, you must remember that trouble comes from the mouth. In the future, you must not speak so recklessly."

Wang felt as if she had been granted a pardon and repeatedly agreed, but in her heart she hated Shen Jingshu to the core.

This jinx made her lose face in front of so many people as soon as she arrived. I'll make her pay in the future!

Wen Huaiyu was always one to enjoy watching a good show. He was secretly pleased to see Wang Shi suffer a setback, but he also knew that it was not the right time to add fuel to the fire. So he pursed his lips and whispered to Wen Huaiqing beside him, "Fourth Brother, this Shen Jingshu is really amazing. She made these people shut up with just a few words."

Wen Huaiqing's eyes were deep and unfathomable, and he did not respond. He had not expected Shen Jingshu to be so composed.

Shen Jingshu ignored Wang Shi and looked at the official in charge of rites, "May I ask, official in charge of rites, what should be done for this final step?"

The master of ceremonies wiped the sweat from his brow and said with a forced smile, "Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Shen Jingshu nodded, knelt down in front of the empty prayer mat, and kowtowed heavily.

"It's done!"

Thus, this unique wedding ceremony came to an end.

There was no groom, no exchanging vows, and no subsequent nuptial cups or wedding night pranks; Shen Jingshu alone completed all the rituals.

Shen Jingshu stood up, looked around, and finally her gaze fell on the Crown Princess.

"Thank you for your kindness, Crown Princess."

The Crown Princess smiled gently, "No need to be so polite."

Shen Jingshu said nothing more, brushed away the old woman's hand, and turned to walk towards the backyard. Yaoqin and Jinse quickly followed, and the three of them soon disappeared from everyone's sight.

It's truly regrettable that such a joyous occasion ended in this way.

The wedding banquet was held outside the mansion, benefiting the common people and ensuring the dignity of the wedding.

The atmosphere inside the hall was extremely oppressive. The guests looked at each other, exchanged glances, and then got up to say goodbye, afraid of being tainted by bad luck.

After everyone had left, only a handful of people remained in the hall.

Gu Zhong walked to Lu Ming's side and asked, "Prime Minister Lu, what do you think?"

Lu Ming glanced at him and said, "The Shen family girl is no ordinary person, so I am relieved."

Gu Zhong nodded. "In that situation just now, she was able to remain so calm and even used the situation against her, causing Wang to suffer such a great loss. This is truly something that no ordinary person can do."

“Jin’an has always had good taste,” Lu Ming sighed.

Gu Zhong understood his unspoken meaning. As Jiang Jin'an's uncle, although they weren't particularly close, they were still relatives. "I hope he can return safely."

Shen Jingshu returned to the bridal chamber, dismissed the servants, and sat alone on the wedding bed.

This room was specially arranged for Jiang Jin'an before she left, and it was exquisite and thoughtfully decorated in every way.

A painting of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix hangs on the wall, symbolizing good fortune; a pair of jade ruyi scepters with dragons and phoenixes are placed on the table, exquisitely carved; even the bed curtains are made of the finest brocade, embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water.

But now, the joy filling the room only makes her loneliness all the more apparent.

Yaoqin and Jinse stood by, both feeling uneasy.

"Jinse, has there been any news from Wuchen?" Shen Jingshu asked.

Jinse shook her head. "Not yet. But don't worry, Miss. Wuchen has already gone to investigate the source of the information as you instructed, and I believe we will have results soon."

Shen Jingshu nodded, then said, "From now on, please call me Madam."

Just then, Wen Yin, Gu Shiyi, and Lu Linlang walked in.

Wen Yin spoke first: "Jing Shu, are you alright?"

Shen Jingshu smiled and said, "What could possibly be wrong with me? Why are you all here?"

"We were worried about you, so we came to check on you," Gu Shiyi said bluntly. "That Wang woman is really too much! If my mother hadn't stopped me, I would have slapped her twice!"

Lu Linlang chimed in, "This kind of person really needs to be taught a lesson, so she won't cause trouble in the future."

Shen Jingshu said calmly, "Why bother arguing with her?"

"You're quite magnanimous." Gu Shiyi rolled her eyes at her. "However, you've completely offended the Jiang family today. You're probably going to have a lot of trouble in the future."

"So what if I offended them? I never intended to have anything to do with them anyway. Besides, with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess around, they wouldn't dare to do anything to me."

“That’s true.” Wen Yin nodded. “However, you should still be more careful in the future. After all, it’s easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark.”

"Thank you for reminding me, I will keep that in mind."

As the group was talking, Ziyuan, a palace maid serving the Crown Princess, came to deliver a message that the Crown Princess wanted to see Shen Jingshu.

After a moment's thought, Shen Jingshu told Wen Yin and the others to go back first, and then followed Zi Yuan to the front hall.

The Crown Princess sat at the head of the table. When Shen Jingshu entered, she dismissed everyone else.

"I'm sorry you had to go through this today."

Shen Jingshu curtsied and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I am deeply grateful that Your Highness has upheld justice for me."

"You are a very perceptive person, and I won't beat around the bush with you. What are your plans regarding Lord Jiang's matter?"

Shen Jingshu was silent for a moment, then said, "Naturally, I will stay at the Jiang residence and wait for his return."

The Crown Princess asked, "How can you be so sure he will come back?"

"In life, you must see people, and in death, you must see corpses."

The Crown Princess looked at her, remaining silent for a long time. Finally, she nodded. "Very well. But you must remember, the Jiang family is not like the Pingyang Marquis's mansion. In the future, you must not act impulsively, and think thrice before you act."

Shen Jingshu replied yes.

After giving a few more instructions, the Crown Princess returned to the East Palace.

On their wedding night, Shen Jingshu lay alone in her empty room, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

The next morning, she got up early, and after washing up, she changed into a simple dress and had Yaoqin style her hair into a simple double-heart bun, with only the magnolia hairpin in her hair.

She first offered incense to Jiang Jin'an's parents, and then went to the front courtyard of the Jiang residence.

The Jiang family's servants had already received instructions and were waiting there, each with a different expression.

Shen Jingshu sat down in the main seat in the hall, her gaze sweeping over everyone. "I know that some of you have some complaints about me. But now that I have married into the Jiang family, I am a member of the Jiang family. From now on, I will set the rules for this Jiang family."

She paused, then continued, "I know what you're thinking. You just think that with my husband gone, I, a weak woman, can't support this family. But let me tell you, as long as I, Shen Jingshu, live, the sky over the Jiang family won't fall! Anyone who dares to disobey me will face my wrath!"

Her words were powerful and resounding, startling all the servants present.

Just then, Wang entered with her son, Jiang Sinian.

She wore a peach-colored jacket today, and a large silk flower was pinned to her hair, which looked particularly striking against Shen Jingshu's plain clothes.

"Oh, what are you doing? Setting rules?" Madam Wang said sarcastically. "A jinx who killed her husband before even entering the house dares to swagger around here? Doesn't she fear shortening her own lifespan?"