After Reincarnating, the Ice-Cold Prince Won’t Leave Me Alone - Chapter 15
Chapter 15: The So-called Blessing
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Shen Mingjiao looked at this comical farce and waved her hand in disinterest.
She was not a man. What was the use of having this dramatic ‘crying, throwing a tantrum, and hanging herself’ show?
“Enough.”
Madam Cui slammed the table and the porcelain cup fell to the ground.
The place immediately fell silent. Third Madam seemed to have been so frightened that she forgot to cry.
Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Madam Cui stared at Shen Mingjiao and said bluntly, “Since you won’t listen to your uncle who is trying to reason with you, as your grandmother, I order you to bring Yao into the residence to be a concubine after your wedding.”
Shen Mingjiao shook her head in amusement. What a bold statement.
She looked up and met Madam Cui’s disgusted gaze. “Grandmother, what you said is interesting. You’re speaking as if I’m the one who is going to get a secondary consort. Besides—”
She pointed at Shen Mingyao, whose eyes were red.
“His Highness is not blind. With my face in front of him, why would he fall for rough rubbles?”
Her tone was arrogant and conceited.
With a thud, Shen Mingyao fainted from anger.
Madam Cui pointed at her with trembling hands. She was so angry that she could not speak.
Shen Jian stared at her. “Fourth Girl, are you really determined to disagree?”
Shen Mingjiao sat down again and played with the fan in her hand in boredom. When she heard this, she said with a faint smile, “If Uncle can find someone more beautiful than me, I might consider it.”
Shen Jian also smiled. “Don’t you want to know where your sister is?”
After saying this, Shen Mingjiao’s expression changed. Her eyes had never been so cold.
Shen Mingjiao had an older sister who was three years older than her.
Eight years ago, there was a sudden plague in the Ren state capital where her father was. In order to be safe, her father sent someone to take the two sisters back to the capital. On the way, they encountered bandits and her sister lured them away in order to save her.
In her previous life, she had never given up on looking for her sister, but she had never found anything.
It was also at that time that Shen Jian jumped out and used her sister’s whereabouts as a threat to make all kinds of requests. At that time, she had already established a foothold in the Prince’s Mansion. As long as it was not too much, she would try her best to satisfy it. She only wanted to find her sister as soon as possible.
However, she later realized that this person was just lying to her.
She stared at Shen Jian without blinking and gritted her teeth. “You still have the cheek to mention my sister. Back then, you clearly had the ability to, but you didn’t send anyone to look for her. If you had sent someone, my sister might have been found long ago. Don’t you think it’s ridiculous to use this to threaten me?”
Shen Jian’s heart skipped a beat under her penetrating gaze. How did she know?
At that time, Second Brother had asked him to bring people to pick up Shen Mingjiao and her sister. When he arrived, he only saw the smashed carriage and Shen Mingjiao, who was carefully covered in the grass and unconscious.
At the same time, news of his second brother’s sacrifice came, so he didn’t hesitate to bring Shen Mingjiao back to the capital.
As for Shen Mingshu, she was very likely to be kidnapped. Even if she was found, her reputation would have been damaged. Since that was the case, there was no need to waste so much effort!
…
Shen Mingjiao quickly walked out of Shou’an Hall, her anger still lingering.
When she passed by the garden, she bumped into someone. She took a step back and apologized. When she looked up and saw that it was a rather exquisite and handsome Young Master, her gaze paused. She apologized again and turned to leave.
The Young Master stared at her face and blushed. He stammered, “It’s… it’s alright… I was careless when I was walking…”
After saying that, he scratched his head. “My surname is Fang. I’m a friend of the eldest young master of the residence. May I know who you are?”
Shen Mingjiao was already used to this kind of gaze. She said calmly, “I’m the fourth lady of the mansion.”
She said this to tell the other party that she was already engaged so that there would not be any trouble caused.
As expected, the Young Master looked disappointed when he heard that. He stood there silently and watched the person leave.
When she was completely gone, he took out a light purple handkerchief from his sleeve and sniffed it.
Shen Mingjiao, who had walked far away, touched her waist and smiled ambiguously.
…
For the past few days, the residence had been peaceful, as if the matter from that day had been settled.
On this day, the Duchess invited Shen Mingjiao to the Daxiang Monastery to pray for blessings. This was an unwritten rule among the nobles in the capital. Before a woman got married, she would go to a famous temple to pray for the harmony of the married couple.
Shen Mingjiao obediently got into the carriage. She did not show any strange expressions even though Shen Mingyan, who was also about to get married, did not come along.
When she arrived at the entrance of the temple, she realized that many women had come to offer incense today. There was a car blocking the way.
Madam Li frowned unhappily and asked the maidservant to go down and see what was going on.
Not long after, the maidservant returned and said that the carriage in front was General Zhongyong’s wife’s carriage.
When Madam Li heard this, she sighed and did not say anything else. She quietly waited for the carriage to pass.
General Zhongyong had once contributed greatly to Great Xia and sacrificed his life for the country. He only left behind his newly married wife. Because of his contributions, Emperor Jinghe gave her the title of the Nation-Defending First Lady.
Fortunately, the carriage of the general’s residence quickly passed by. The few of them entered the temple and arrived at the main hall where they prayed for blessings. Shen Mingjiao knelt down with the others and offered an incense to Buddha.
Although she did not believe in Buddhism, she believed that temples existed for a reason. Since she was here, she should have basic respect and reverence regardless of her purpose of visit.
She turned her head and saw a wife in her forties kneeling beside her. Her hair was combed neatly and she wore Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist all year round. The Emperor had given her the title of the Nation-Defending First Lady. Ever since her husband passed away, she had been devoted to Buddhism.
Meanwhile, Madam Li greeted her enthusiastically at the side. After all, although General Zhongyong had passed away many years ago, his connections in the imperial court were still there.
The Nation-Defending First Lady had a kind smile on her face. It was obvious that she didn’t want to talk to her.
Madam Li was displeased. She glanced at Shen Mingjiao. “Stay in the monastery for the night and return tomorrow morning.”
Shen Mingjiao nodded obediently.
After entering the meditation temple, Shen Mingjiao wiped the sweat off her forehead and asked Haitang to get some hot water. She wanted to take a bath.
After closing the door, she collapsed on the chair tiredly. A fragrance seemed to waft into her nose, and then she felt her entire body heat up.
Shen Mingjiao suddenly sat up and rushed to the door. She pushed it and found that the door was locked from the outside.
Her heart tightened. Sensing something, she instinctively turned her head and met a pair of dazed eyes. She just realized that a man had been standing behind her. Upon closer look, she realized that it was the exquisite-looking Young Master she had met in the Duke Mansion’s garden that day.
Shen Mingjiao took a step back and asked coldly, “Why are you here?”
That person stared at her in a daze. His misty eyes coupled with his exquisite and obedient face made him look pitiful. He opened his mouth and said in a clear voice, “Miss, help me! I feel so uncomfortable!”
With that, he reached out to wrap his arms around Shen Mingjiao’s waist.
At this moment, Shen Mingjiao seemed to hear the sound of approaching footsteps outside the door.
