sbdcsierra Chapter 36 Lou Li
Chapter 36 Lou Li
yesterday.
Shen Cong'an had instructed Shen Mo that the Emperor might ask him who he was today, and had also patiently taught him about etiquette in the palace.
Shen Mo is very smart; he understands things quickly and remembers them very well.
"Thank you father."
Shen Mo was overjoyed. He not only had a father, but a loving father. He was no longer an orphan.
Afterwards, the group sat in separate tables in the Imperial Garden, with the women in one group and the men in another.
The Third Prince couldn't help but glance at Xie Wanru, who was smiling radiantly, a few more times.
Xie Wanru is still the same Xie Wanru, beautiful as a flower, with a free and unrestrained nature, like a unique new star, standing out among people.
"Wanwan is here. You haven't been to the palace much since you got married. What? You've forgotten me now that you have a husband?"
When the Emperor saw Xie Wanru, he was very friendly.
"My lord, please see your Majesty."
Xie Wanru bowed in greeting. Although she was the emperor's adopted daughter, because her father and brothers were still alive, she did not address the emperor and empress as "father" and "mother" like others.
After the Emperor asked this question, he noticed the loneliness in the Empress's eyes. After so many years of marriage, how could he not understand?
"If Wanwan has nothing to do tonight, she can stay in the Empress's palace for a few days."
The Emperor glanced coldly at the Marquis of Yong'an below.
He admitted that he did not want his sworn brother Xie Yun to become too powerful and threaten him, so he repeatedly hinted that he did not want Wanwan to marry into a family that was too prominent, including his own third prince.
He preferred the Crown Prince to the Third Prince.
Xie Yun didn't want his daughter to marry into a wealthy family, only to have a showy appearance. In the end, by chance, he chose the Shen family to put the emperor at ease.
But now, Wanwan is not happy.
Marquis Yong'an noticed a cold gaze. When he slowly looked up, the Emperor was already looking elsewhere, at Shen Nian'an, Xie Wanru's husband, who was serving tea to a child.
Shen Nian'an refused to share a room with Wanwan and adopted a son of the Shen family under Wanwan's name. The Shen family really didn't take him, the emperor, seriously.
The imperial palace was heavily guarded and ordinary people could not stay there, yet Xie Wanru was invited.
Madam Shen immediately gave Shen Nian'an a meaningful look, and when Xie Wanru returned to her seat, Dongzhu came to convey the Shen family's message.
“Miss, the old lady said that you should stay in the palace to keep the Emperor company. The young master is close to you, so he will stay to keep you company as well.”
Dongzhu's words were conveyed, but her eyes were full of contempt.
Seeing that her young lady was close to His Majesty and the Empress, she immediately fawned over them, practically wearing her sycophancy on her sleeve.
"Just ignore what they say. Even if I stay in the palace with the Empress, what's the point of bringing Shen Yanzhi along? Heh."
Xie Wanru said in a low voice.
She's not stupid anymore; she won't bring someone else's son into the public eye.
In her past life, she often brought Shen Yanzhi to the palace to broaden his horizons, get closer to the emperor and empress, and prepare him for the future. However, Shen Yanzhi said that Xie Wanru was using his obedient and cute nature to please the empress and emperor.
What a joke! Without Xie Wanru, the Empress and His Majesty would never have noticed Shen Yanzhi.
Dongzhu understood and went to report back.
"That Xie Wanru! I don't know what's wrong with her lately, she won't do a single thing I ask her to do."
Madam Shen's face darkened slightly, but she was helpless.
"Second sister-in-law is really selfish. She is so popular with the Empress, but she is unwilling to help our Shen family in the slightest."
Shen Nianqing gave a cold snort.
Not only did Xie Wanru not help the Shen family, but she also slapped her several times recently. She really hated this woman. One day when she becomes the Crown Princess, she will definitely slap Xie Wanru's face instead.
Thinking of this, Shen Nianqing looked at His Highness the Crown Prince with a blush on her cheeks.
"I really shouldn't have let An'er marry such a selfish woman. She doesn't care about her husband's family at all. What's the point of having her?"
Old Man Shen only dared to mutter to himself, completely unaware of Shen Nianqing's ulterior motives.
Then, the banquet slowly began.
The music was melodious and pleasant, and the dancers moved gracefully to the music, like nimble and graceful butterflies, bringing a unique viewing experience to this royal banquet.
Xiao Yan's gaze returned to Xie Wanru.
She got married, but she doesn't seem happy.
"Since Your Highness likes the scenery over there so much, why don't you sit down and enjoy it at your leisure?"
Lou Li's voice rang out calmly.
A man in a blue robe walked up to Xiao Yan.
"Lord Lou, you're overthinking it. I was just looking at that tree over there. Besides, beautiful scenery is best appreciated from a distance. If it gets into the picture, it won't be as beautiful."
Xiao Yan sneered.
"It doesn't matter, Your Highness can explain it however you want, as long as Your Highness doesn't have any improper thoughts. After all, the person Your Highness wants to marry is my sister, Lou Yao. If Your Highness has another woman in your heart, my Lou family's daughter will not marry her."
Lou Li lightly waved his folding fan, appearing calm and aloof.
"You mean I have to listen to you in everything?"
Displeasure rose in Xiao Yan's eyes, tinged with a hint of darkness.
Upon hearing this, Lou Li smiled faintly, a smile that contained both contempt for Xiao Yan's words and a hint of sarcasm.
Do they think they can be fooled so easily? They want the support of the Lou family but also want to save face.
If it weren't for my younger sister's preference, how could the Lou family possibly stand on the side of the Third Prince?
"Your Highness is too kind. The Lou family has always been sensible and would never force anyone to do something against their will. I was merely reminding Your Highness. I hope Your Highness can clarify your own desires as soon as possible, so as not to cause misunderstandings among others, and not to let down those who have treated you sincerely."
Xiao Yan's eyes flickered slightly. He naturally understood what Lou Li meant. His marriage to Lou Ling was almost at the point of being officially granted.
The Emperor hesitated, but Grand Tutor Lou was urging him on, so it shouldn't be long. However, if the Lou family was unwilling, he would indeed not be able to marry Lou Ling, which was a fact. But what he disliked most in his life was being threatened.
He looked at Xie Wanru again and saw her talking softly with the Empress, her smile gentle. Had he really missed such a woman?
When he first met Xie Wanru, he was attracted to this lovely and courageous girl. When Xie Wanru was young, she often went to the palace to accompany the Empress, and he would occasionally see her.
As he grew up, he fell in love with Xie Wanru, drawn to the power and influence of the Xie family. He believed that if he could marry the Xie family's only legitimate daughter, he could rival his elder brother, the Crown Prince.
However, his father did not agree to his marriage to Xie Wanru.
So he had to find another way out and befriend other women, but he didn't expect that Xie Wanru would turn around and marry him.
She also married the second son of a marquis.
What gives Shen Nian'an the right to so easily obtain what he has always dreamed of? Xie Yun was unwilling to marry her daughter to him, yet she married this kind of man!