vrcanaries Chapter 1091 Shen Nanqiao admits his mistake (102 million reward points plus additional chapter)
Chapter 1091 Shen Nanqiao admits his mistake (102 million reward points plus additional chapter)
There was melodious music and constant congratulations in the hall.
Gu Jinxiao sat there, like the most silent rock. No one could see a single ripple in his calm amber eyes.
When it was Shen Nanqiao's turn to present his gift, everyone in the hall focused their attention on him, with an expression that they were looking forward to a good show.
After all, the discord between the Shen sisters has long been no secret in the capital.
Shen Nanqiao took a deep breath, suppressed the resentment surging in his eyes, put on a submissive and weak expression, and slowly stood up under Shen Maoxue's warning gaze.
She was dressed in a simple and low-key manner today, wearing a lotus-colored brocade dress with only a pearl hairpin in her hair. Compared with the ladies in the palace who were all dressed up in jewels, she looked particularly plain, even with a paleness that showed a deliberate weakness.
Behind Shen Nanqiao followed the equally nervous Luoluo.
In their hands, the two men held a rosewood brocade box that was about half a person's height. Even though the lid of the box was not opened, one could already tell that it was valuable.
Shen Nanqiao walked lightly to the steps and bowed down, her posture very humble: "Your servant, the wife of Xingyang County Magistrate Lu Jianglin, Shen Nanqiao, congratulates the Royal Concubine Chen on her birthday. May the Royal Concubine live a long and healthy life and have a long life of grace!"
Her voice was soft and trembling, with a barely perceptible sob, as if filled with endless regret and expectation.
When Shen Nanqiao raised her head, her eyes were just red, and her eyes were mixed with awe, grievance, and a kind of humble flattery: "I know that my words and deeds in the past were inappropriate, and I have failed the kindness of the Royal Concubine Chen."
"These days, I have been reflecting on my past in the Mountain Resort. Whenever I think of the past, I feel anxious and uneasy..."
As he said this, Shen Nanqiao gestured to Luluo to open the lock of the brocade box.
When the lid of the box was opened, inside was a "double-sided embroidered kang screen with the theme of longevity and happiness" inlaid with mother-of-pearl and various precious stones.
The frame of the screen is made of fine red sandalwood, polished to a mirror-like finish, inlaid with auspicious cloud patterns outlined by mother-of-pearl, and dotted with colorful gems, shining brightly.
The most precious things are the two huge embroidered screens. One side features a picture of "Wanfu" with auspicious patterns such as bats, Buddha's hands, and longevity peaches that are lifelike.
The other side is a "Wanshou" picture, with the seal-style "Shou" characters in various shapes arranged and combined in an exquisite manner.
The double-sided embroidery is extremely delicate, the stitches are dense, and the color transition is natural. It is obviously made by a top embroiderer, and I don’t know how much effort she put into it.
This gift is priceless and the thought that goes into it is precious!
However, anyone with a discerning eye knew that with Lu Jianglin's newly-minted position as the magistrate of Xingyang and the Lu family's meager financial resources, it was impossible for them to prepare such a lavish gift. This must have been the work of Minister Shen.
"This... This is a small gift from me, Your Highness, please accept it."
Shen Nanqiao's voice was filled with cautious pleading, and she looked eagerly at Shen Zhinian who was sitting on the high throne: "I dare not ask for forgiveness from Your Majesty, but I only hope that Your Majesty will consider our blood relationship and allow me to stay by your side in the future to make up for my past mistakes."
Everyone in the hall looked at her with scrutiny, looking at Shen Nanqiao's weak posture as she tried to mend her ways, then looking at the priceless kang screen, and finally all eyes fell on Concubine Chen.
Shen Zhinian sat upright in her seat, the smile on her beautiful face still gentle, but deep in her eyes there was a clearness that saw through everything.
With her intelligence, how could she not see that Shen Nanqiao's expression of regret, humility, and the look of being on the verge of tears were all deliberately acted out.
There was only a sense of indifference and coldness in Shen Zhinian's heart.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, the curve of her lips deepened a little, like the warm sunshine in spring. Then she raised her hand slightly, signaling Fuqiu to take the heavy brocade box forward.
Shen Zhinian's voice was clear and soft, with just the right amount of intimacy: "What are you talking about, sister?"
Her eyes swept across Shen Nanqiao, then to Shen Maoxue, and finally she looked around at everyone in the hall with a smile. Her posture was graceful and elegant, with the unique grace of a favored concubine.
"You and I are sisters, we are connected by blood, we are blood relatives, how can there be any deep hatred or grudges?"
"It's just that we were young and had different personalities, so there were occasional misunderstandings in words. How could it be worth it for my sister to take it to heart and say whether to forgive or not?"
Shen Zhinian's tone was light, as if all the past confrontations and conspiracies were just insignificant bickerings between little girls.
She looked at Shen Nanqiao with a kind of indulgent tolerance: "Sister, you have recovered from your illness and returned to Beijing. I am only happy in my heart."
"This screen of longevity and happiness is full of deep meaning, and I like it very much. Sister, when you have time in the future, just come to Zhongcui Palace often. We are all family, so don't be so estranged from each other."
Shen Zhinian's words were gentle and appropriate, and they easily resolved the situation of confession and forgiveness that Shen Nanqiao had deliberately created into a small misunderstanding between the sisters.
It not only saved the Shen family's face and demonstrated his magnanimity, but also drew a clear line invisibly.
Shen Nanqiao was just a sister who could move around, not an arm that Concubine Chen needed to rely on or be close to.
Shen Maoxue showed a gratified smile on his face, and quickly echoed: "Empress Chen is right! A family should be so harmonious!"
Shen Nanqiao's nails hidden in his sleeves almost dug into his flesh.
If it wasn't for that vicious woman Shen Zhinian who sent someone to assassinate her and killed the child in her belly, I'm afraid she would really think that the other party was the kind and generous Concubine Chen!
Shen Zhinian clearly hated her to death, but he couldn't act as if he was close to her in front of everyone. He must be feeling very aggrieved, right?
Shen Nanqiao forced out a grateful smile and bowed deeply again: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! Your Majesty is so magnanimous, I am so grateful!"
When she stood up, her body seemed to sway slightly due to excitement, and was supported in time by the green radish beside her, which made her look more sincere and affectionate.
However, under Shen Nanqiao's lowered eyes, surging resentment almost burst out!
Shen Zhinian's few light words were like a soft knife dipped in poison, which not only trampled all her regrets underfoot, but also positioned her as an insignificant character who needed to be tolerated.
This scene of deep sisterly love was seen by everyone in the hall, and they had different thoughts.
Some people believed in Concubine Chen's magnanimity.
Some people secretly laughed at Shen Nanqiao's affectation.
Some people also lamented that the Shen family was after all the maternal family of Concubine Chen.
At the banquet for the ladies of honor, Lin Wan was holding a cup of tea, with a very cold arc at the corner of her lips, and her eyes were full of all-knowing sneer.
How bold and unrestrained Shen Nanqiao was when she was hanging out with her husband in the Summer Resort, but now she has become so pitiful?
Pretending!
Seeing Shen Nanqiao trying to please Concubine Chen, Lin Wan secretly guessed in her heart -
Is Shen Nanqiao worried that her scandal with her husband will be exposed, and that the Lu family, the Shen family, and even the Imperial Concubine Chen in the palace will not tolerate her? So now she can't wait to act out a sisterly love in front of everyone, so as to find a backer for herself?