The Shen family finally accepted the fact that ‘Shen Miao would be marrying to Prince Rui’ and since the marriage had been settled, the request of marriage was sent and the list of betrothal gifts had been prepared so the female side had to show their attention to this marriage. Even though Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan did not agree for Shen Miao to marry Prince Rui, if they did not prepare well, other people would feel that they did not value Shen Miao.

Even with his last breath, Shen Xin would not be willing to let others look down at his daughter. It was just that the list of betrothal gifts that Prince Rui had sent over was just too shocking that preparing the dowry had become a problem.

Originally Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan both had military lineage and due to the military merits in the early years, they had receive many rewards. Both of them were not in Ding capital for most of the year thus other than the portion that was given to Old Shen Furen and the public fun, they did not touch the rest. There were only two children in the residence and Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan was not bias to any, dividing everything to half. This was in fact considered very broad minded.

However in the two years in Xiao Chun City, they had invested a lot of money into the Luo family army and thus the Shen family’s wealth was not as substantial as before. But everything was blamed on the list of betrothal gifts that Prince Rui sent. Even when the Shen family was in their heyday, it would also be difficult to carry it on their backs.

Previously Shen Qiu still felt that Prince Rui was bragging as this list of betrothal gifts was enough to marry ten high-ranking noble families’ daughters. It might be that Prince Rui was joking with the Shen family but on the second day, Tie Yi moved two chest of gold geese by the orders of Prince Rui, almost scaring Shen Qiu to stumble.

That was something that even the Empress Dowager would treasure but Prince Rui gift it as a ‘good omen’ and just place it in a random box to send it over.

After that, everyone believed that Great Liang was really rich and Prince Rui was really squandering money like dirt. This list of betrothal gifts was not a joke and Shen Miao’s dowry had become a big problem.

Shen Qiu took the initiative to give Shen Miao his portion of the money, that was left to him to marry a wife, and said, “One cannot be short-sighted. How could one let Younger Sister’s dowry be lesser than half of what Prince Rui’s list of betrothal gifts? If one reached Great Liang, others would look down. Our Shen family’s Young Lady is the best and Prince Rui gifting such betrothal gifts, whereas our dowry is so little, one does not know if he would look down. One cannot be muddleheaded. The very most one can pawn the antiques in my room. Even though we are poor, we cannot lose face.”

Shen Xin seemed to be taking it into consideration.

Shen Miao, “…”

The Shen family was in any case considered one of the richest family in Ding capital but why from Shen Qiu’s mouth, it seemed that it was very improvised and one had to pawn the things in the house to make up the dowry?

One did not fear that others would laugh their heads off upon hearing it.

Because it was the end of the year, the big and small matters in Ding capital was much more relaxed and Shen Miao’s marriage was bestowed by Emperor Wen Hui. Perhaps Emperor Wen Hui knew that the Shen family had a lot of dissatisfaction about the marriage in their hearts, he specially gave Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan a period of leave so that they could accompany Shen Miao and only return after Shen Miao’s marriage was completed.

Naturally Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan were happy as their minds were all focused on Shen Miao even without the Emperor’s approved leave. Shen Qiu and Luo Ling were in the army and upon reaching the end of the year, there would not be much work thus these days they were in the residence, helping Luo Xue Yan on New Year’s stuff or helping Shen Miao around.

The entire family was in the hall chatting leisurely, with the freshly made snacks by the chef and the charcoal burning brightly. Luo Tan smiled towards Shen Miao, “Youngest Biao Sister, once the year is over, you will be married off. Even though it is not possible to embroider one’s wedding dress now, you still have to prepare something for yourself. You should get the embroidery maidens over to quickly measure and speed up the process to finish the dress.”

When the females in Ming Qi were to be married, they would embroider their wedding dress. Generally when the engagement was done early, they would start to embroider a few years ahead. Those who settled their engagement later would instruct the tailor to make a wedding dress before stitching a few patterns on it, to symbolise that it was personally done. Like that, there would signify harmonious intention.

The Shen family originally was not anxious about Shen Miao’s marriage as they wanted to start looking for suitable young talents after the year was over and at that time it was just suitable for Shen Miao to start embroidering her wedding dress. Who knew that Emperor Wen Hui would hand out an Imperial decree and it disrupted everything. It was impossible for Shen Miao to personally embroider a wedding dress thus nothing could be done.

Luo Xue Yan smack her head and said worriedly, “I have almost forgotten about this matter these days. Tan-er is right, Jiao Jiao’s wedding dress have to be prepared. I am not familiar with Ding capital’s embroidery maidens so later I will ask those closer Furens where the best clothes and jewelry can be bought. Jiao Jiao’s wedding dress cannot be done sloppily.” After finish speaking she looked at Shen Miao and smiled, “Jiao Jiao’s stature is slip and would look good in a wedding dress.”

When Shen Miao heard about it, what appeared in her mind was that day when Xie Jing Xing pulled her into his embrace and the sentence that he said ‘after hugging one would know’. She could not help but felt that her face was a bit hot.

Shen Qiu asked, “Younger Sister, why is your face so red? Should a physician be called over to take a look?”

Luo Ling’s gaze flashed but he kept his head down and did not speak a single word.

Luo Tan was smilling and spoke to Luo Xue Yan on what kind of patterns to be embroidered on the wedding dress to make it festive and saw a servant running in from outside, “Furen, Master, there is someone at the door requesting for a visit.”

“Didn’t one already said that these days guest are not welcome? Aren’t the main doors closed?” Shen Xin said unpleased, “Why did you not refuse?” He wanted to enjoy a few days of peace left and thus rejected everyone as he did not want to see everyone who come to Shen mansion.

The servant was almost in tears, “It’s. It’s His Highness Prince Rui of Great Liang.”

Luo Tan’s eyes widen and Shen Qiu stood up instantly and ask murderously, “What is he here for?”

The servant said, “This lowly one did not ask.”

Before the last word fell, one heard a low pitch voice that sounded from behind the servant.

“To gift a wedding dress.”

Behind the servant, a tall and straight figure emerged. The servants in the Shen mansion might not be eye-catching but each one of them were considered proper and upright and after following Shen Qiu for so long, they also had some traces of heroism. However as compared to the person behind, it was like there was some dirt on their faces.

The purple gold robes were swaying as his smile had some traces of laziness but it did not repulse others and seemed to be somewhat cynical. However the silver mask gave out a slight cold which made him look somewhat deep and unpredictable. Even if one was unable to see his appearance, the outline of his face was good to look at. In particular when one walked leisurely over, elegantly and nobleness made one unable to turn their eyes away from the strong light.

He said, “Prince Rui.”

Even the person reporting their name was so arrogant and impudent.

Shen Qiu almost pulled out his sword. He slammed his hand onto the table and the plates on the table that had snacks shook. He asked, “You are Prince Rui?”

Prince Rui nodded his head.

“Why are you marrying my Younger Sister? What conspiracy are you plotting?” Shen Qiu shouted.

Luo Tan’s jaw almost fell out. Shen Qiu’s hostility towards Prince Rui was just too great. Even though everyone had such thought in their hearts, it was too rude to directly ask someone about it.

“Jiao Jiao is gentle, sensible, dignified and generous. I have been admiring greatly and requested the marriage earnestly. Fortunately the Emperor is broadminded and was not insulted.” He slowly said with a smile.

Shen Miao could not help be shiver. She was really not used to hearing Xie Jing Xing using such a gentle tone to speak. One had known that at the beginning when they were not familiar, every time Xie Jing Xing see her, it was all sounding her out, treating her indifferently and ridiculing.

Shen Xin and Shen Qiu suddenly became furious. Prince Rui’s remarks was praising Shen Miao on the surface but also said that he had admired Shen Miao and the more he said the worst it became. What did it mean that the Emperor was broadminded and was not insulted? Other people might not know but they knew it clearly that it was obviously Prince Rui that forced Emperor Wen Hui to pass the Imperial decree. The broadminded of the Emperor was forced and not being insulted? Who was not being insulted?

Shen Qiu and Shen Xin were like two cannons and there was only a shortage of a spark before they blew up. This Prince Rui had done all the bad things and for what reason did he come over to wag his wolf’s tail.

However Luo Xue Yan’s gaze soften.

How a female view a male and how a male view another male were different. When a female view a male, one would look at the details. Prince Rui did not use ‘this Prince’ but use ‘I’. When referring to Shen Miao, he did not use ‘Fifth Shen Young Lady’ but instead use ‘Jiao Jiao’. If it was just for the military power of the Shen family, Prince Rui had already achieved his goal and this was not necessary. Regardless of whether this moment was sincere or an act, it was very good that he wa willing to spend the effort to it. For instance with Fu Xiu Yi, when Shen Miao was initially admired Fu Xiu Yi, at one end Fu Xiu Yi made Shen Miao sway but he did not stay away or reject but also did not accept and was not willing to spend effort to please. Thus the Shen family was not willing to let Shen Miao be together with Fu Xiu Yi. Not only because Fu Xiu Yi’s identity would pull the Shen family into the water, it was because Fu Xiu Yi did not love Shen Miao at all.

If one love another, one would be willing to put in effort for her. If one was not willing to spend a little effort then what would be expected for the future?

As Luo Xue Yan sized Prince Rui up, she saw that Prince Rui was willing to spend effort and it was already much better than she had though. What more was if one were to compare about appearance and temperament, it was difficult for Prince Rui to give others a bad feeling.

Compared Fu Xiu Yi’s breezy attitude and air of a Prince of being sleek, smooth and evasive, Prince Rui was lazy and unbridled but one could see the true nature. For such true nature to be present from an Imperial family, it was even more valuable. Luo Xue Yan hoped that the husband that Shen Miao married to, would not put a false face when interacting with Shen Miao.

She said, “Your Highness Prince Rui.”

“My name is Yuan and the style name is Jing Xing.” Prince Rui said, “Furen can call me Jing Xing.”

Shen Miao almost choke on the tea.

Luo Xue Yan was somewhat surprised as the people in the Imperial family were most particular with regulations. Even between blood brothers, one would often pay attention to this and that. For people in Great Liang to be in Ming Qi, it was considered to be very noble guests moreover Prince Rui was the blooded Younger Brother of Emperor Yong Le. One did not expect that he would let others call him by his styled name.

Only when one’s relationship was extremely close, could one let others call their styled name.

Luo Xue Yan’s gaze of Prince Rui soften even more as she said, “Jing Xing, sit down first.” He then instructed Jing Zhe, “Serve the tea.”

Shen Qiu and Shen Xin immediately looked at Luo Xue Yan in shock. They did not expect Luo Xue Yan to treat this Prince Rui this good in such a short time. When Luo Ling saw it at the side, he looked at him with some attention.

“Jing Xing.” Luo Tan suddenly said, “Is this not the name of Ding capital’s residence of the Marquis of Lin An’s heir?”

Shen Miao was holding the teacup but her heart was somewhat weak.

Xie Jing Xing’s daringness could cover the entire Heavens. He actually dared to say his little name here. Was it he had felt that since Su Ming Feng and Princess Rong Xing had already known his true identity, there was no issues having a few more people know about it? Moreover anything related to his identity would lead to another’s suspicions and not only Xie Jing Xing did not avoid it, the still bring it up out rightly.

Even if one was drinking tea, Shen Miao felt that she was getting drunk.

Shen Qiu felt indignant in his heart and seeing that Luo Xue Yan letting Prince Rui sit down and instructed the servants to serve tea, he became unhappy and said after listening to Luo Tan’s words, “Correct. Prince Rui must not know who the heir of the residence of the Marquis of Lin An is right?”

Prince Rui turned his head to look at him, “Oh? Who is that person?”

“He is also called Xie Jing Xing and is the eldest Di son of the residence of the Marquis of Lin An. Everyone say Southern Xie, Northern Shen, their Xie family are like our Shen family, Ming Qi’s military lineage aristocratic families. Xie Jing Xing is the Xie family’s Little Marquis and he is a rarely seen young talent. Just one person and with a single stroke, he was able to flip over countless of people and one did not even mention about his civil and military skills, he also have a handsome and flawless face. He is considered a young talent that all of Ming Qi respected and one would exclaim good when hearing of him.” Shen Qiu sighed, “Unfortunately Heavens is jealous of heroic geniuses. He fell early on in the battlefield in Northern Jiang.” He changed the topic of conversation and looked at Prince Rui provocatively, “One do not know what is Your Highness Prince Rui’s feeling about this person of the same name? Comparing to that person with both matchless military and civil abilities, what are your chances of winning?”

Shen Miao, “…”

“Hearing Vice Marshal Shen’s words, it seemed that one admires this Little Xie Marquis?” Prince Rui slowly asked.

“That is of course.” Shen Qiu said it so vehemently and ignored Luo Xue Yan’s eye signals but saw Shen Xin’s encouraging gaze and continued, “He is the hero in my heart that no one can replace.”

Shen Miao supported her forehead.

If possible, she really wanted to pretend that she did not know Shen Qiu.

Looking at Xie Jing Xing, he must be feeling extremely rejuvenated.

Translator: Dying of secondhand embarrassment for Shen Qiu and my hands are itching to take a needle and pop XJX’s big ego that has become even more inflated.