Chapter 3: Seeking Marriage to the Mentally Impaired

The banquet hall fell into an eerie silence.

In an instant, all eyes fixed upon Xiao Jingren.

His face darkened immediately. Though he forced a twitch at the corner of his mouth, his gaze urgently sought out Shen He.

Shen He avoided his eyes, a cold sneer forming in her heart.

She could even imagine the words he was about to utter.

From the high seat, the Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered with surprise.

She had expected Shen He to unwaveringly choose Xiao Jingren.

Yet unexpectedly, it was the mentally unfit Sixth Prince who won her favor.

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly and spoke in a low voice, “Ahe, have you truly made up your mind?”

“My loyalty is resolute,” Shen He replied softly but firmly.

Unnoticed by her, a man lurking in the shadows suddenly brightened in his gaze.

“I recall you were once betrothed to the Third Prince...” The Empress Dowager hesitated but still asked.

She knew Shen He’s nature well; once she commits to something, she would not turn back even if the sky fell.

The rumors in past days were not without truth.

But what could have made her suddenly change her mind?

The Empress Dowager’s heart was heavy with worry, fearing Shen He might be going against her true feelings.

Shen He narrowed her eyes, her voice tinged with grievance, “The Third Prince’s status is noble; I, as a daughter of General Shen, know I am unworthy and dare not...”

The rest of her words were left unsaid, but the implication was clear.

Xiao Jingren abruptly stood up, disregarding all etiquette, and spoke immediately, “Ahe! I have never looked down upon your family background!”

Shen He lowered her eyes and sneered coldly.

She of course knew that as the legitimate daughter of General Shen, her marriage into the royal family was merely to appease the public.

But she would not let Xiao Jingren have his way.

He still had his use.

She took a small sip and said, “No need to speak further, Third Prince. My heart is made up. I hope Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager will grant your consent.”

Silence fell over the banquet once more.

In the corner, the man whose eyes had shone with joy now dimmed little by little.

The Emperor was silent for a moment, glanced at the Empress Dowager, and seeing no objection from her, sighed and said, “Ahe is still young. Matters of marriage require careful consideration. This matter shall be discussed again in due time.”

The Emperor’s word was final.

No one dared to oppose.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Shen He bowed lightly.

As the banquet resumed its lively atmosphere, she quietly slipped away without a sound.

Outside, Shen He breathed deeply of the fresh air and leaned against a corridor pillar to steady her emotions.

She squinted slightly, keenly sensing movement behind her, a faint smile curling at her lips.

As expected, he had followed her out.

Behind her, Xiao Jingren’s face was tinged with thin anger as he hurried over, his large hands gripping Shen He’s shoulders tightly.

Using his momentum, Shen He turned around, her bright eyes brimming with tears, locking straight onto his gaze.

His fury instantly subsided.

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Jingren put on a patient expression and asked, “Ahe, what is the meaning of this today?”

Shen He wiped her tears and spoke softly, “I know Your Highness has great ambitions. Though I am the legitimate daughter of the Shen family, I lost my mother young and lack maternal clan support. I am alone and powerless. If I insisted on marrying you, wouldn’t I be hindering your future?”

Her gaze slowly settled on his features inch by inch. “But the Emperor sees clearly that my heart belongs to you. Even so, he has not relented. I am deeply grateful for His Majesty’s favor yet truly fearful.”

“Why say such things! Our feelings are mutual; why heed the scorn of others?” Xiao Jingren urged anxiously.

He had paved the way for so long; Shen He had originally been fond of him. If she changed her mind now, how could he proceed in the future?

Yet fortunately...

Xiao Jingren’s eyes wandered over her tear-streaked face. Believing she spoke against her own will, he felt reassured that her feelings for him ran deep.

He gripped her hands firmly. “Ahe, whatever happens, my devotion to you is unwavering to death.”

Shen He felt as if ants crawled all over her body, immersed in a greasy chill.

A barely perceptible shiver ran through her.

Xiao Jingren’s face before her slowly merged with that from her past life.

Watching his lips move, Shen He felt disgusted.

She wrenched her hands free and turned away. “Third Prince, do you truly mean this?”

“Of course!” Xiao Jingren hurried to prove himself. “If not, why would I have handed over half my fortune to you?”

A cold smile flickered at Shen He’s lips.

Half his fortune?

What a flattering phrase.

Months ago, during the border wars, a great number of refugees fled south. To consolidate his power, Xiao Jingren recruited the displaced.

But he was powerless to properly settle them.

At that time, Shen He devised a plan to help him: after gathering the refugees for her own use, she invested a thousand taels of silver to purchase a coal mine outside the city.

Now, the mine finally began turning a profit.

Xiao Jingren’s sudden claim that this half fortune was his was nothing but an attempt to reap undeserved benefits.

Yet that thousand taels of silver came entirely from the Shen family.

How could she yield to his wishes?

She intended not only to stabilize the mine but to make Xiao Jingren share the burden.

Shen He wiped away her tears and gently tapped Xiao Jingren’s shoulder.

“I know Your Highness holds me dear,” she began, hesitating mid-sentence, “but...”

“What is there between us that cannot be said?” Xiao Jingren asked.

Shen He hesitated, then reluctantly spoke, “The mine is now profitable, but the Shen family’s savings were never abundant. If the funds do not keep pace, those refugees...”

She left the rest implied.

Xiao Jingren understood immediately.

He had long coveted the mine after seeing the genuine silver and gold, eager to claim it as his own.

Now that Shen He brought it up, he agreed at once: “Don’t worry, I will find a way for the funds.”

*

By evening, the banquet had dispersed.

After reminiscing with the Empress Dowager, Shen He returned to her residence, glancing back every few steps.

Before reaching the main hall, she heard faint sobbing from afar.

“Sister is good in every way. Father favors her; it’s only right...”

Her steps faltered, a blaze of fury ignited in her eyes.

Her sweet stepsister, Shen Jiao.

In her past life, had it not been for Shen Jiao whispering in her ear, Shen He would not have fallen into such a trap so easily.

Shen Jiao had long been secretly involved with Xiao Jingren. Knowing she could not persuade their father, she used Shen He to coerce him into the court’s power struggles.

Only at death did she realize Shen He was never truly their father’s child.

Everything Shen Jiao did was merely to pave the way for Xiao Jingren!

A shadow of darkness flickered across Shen He’s eyes.

They want to play games?

She will see it through to the end!