Early the next morning, Shen Zhuzhu came to the living cabin, which was also the dining hall. Breakfast had been prepared. Shen Zhenzhu found that Shen Li had already arrived first and was lowering his head to eat.
Shen Zhenzhu was a little surprised. Shen Li would wait for her to have breakfast with her every day. Why didn't he wait today?
Shen Zhenzhu sat down across the small table, glanced at Shen Li, and found that her eyes were red, so she asked with concern: "Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Shen Li lowered his head to eat without saying a word. At this time, the maid brought Shen Pearl's breakfast.
Shen Li wiped his mouth with a wet wipe, stood up and said, "I'm going back to the cabin!"
"You haven't had tea yet?"
“I don’t want to drink anymore!”
Shen Li lowered his head and hurried away.
Shen Pearl looked back at her niece's retreating back. She realized that this little lady had lost her temper. She must have discovered it last night.
Shen Pearl shook her head slightly, smiled bitterly and sighed.
Shen Li was sitting in the room in a daze. The door opened and Shen Zhenzhu walked in gently and closed the door again.
Shen Li immediately turned his back and said coldly: "What are you doing here?"
Shen Pearl sat down behind her and asked, "Did your grandfather tell you something?"
"He said it. He said that I represent the Shen family, and even the entire Jiangnan gentry, to marry His Highness Jianguo. That's why he sent me to the capital. I am full of hope, but what did last night mean? My aunt actually..."
Shen Li looked excited, her chest heaved violently, and tears welled up unsatisfactorily.
She wiped her tears and said bitterly: "I just hate that we are at sea now. If we were on land, I would jump out of the car immediately and walk back to Wuxing."
Shen Pearl held her niece's hand and said softly: "Things are not what you think. Please listen to me and tell me slowly."
Shen Li tried to break free from her aunt's hand, but failed, so she had to turn her head away.
Shen Zhenzhu sighed and said slowly: "Do you remember when your cousin went crazy?"
Shen Li nodded, and Shen Pearl added: "He was stabbed to death by a strong woman. Although he brought it upon himself, I, a mother, was heartbroken and cried every night. I once thought about becoming a nun and becoming a Buddhist nun. , I have been living for the rest of my life. It was not until Lu Anfeng, a famous doctor from Jiangnan, diagnosed my pulse and said that I could have another child that I saw a glimmer of hope in my heart."
"I know, you have always said you want to have another child, and we all thought you wanted to adopt one."
Shen Zhenzhu smiled bitterly and said: "If I could give birth, who would be willing to adopt him? But to give birth to a child, you can't just rely on women, you must have a man. But do you know? How difficult it would be for me to remarry!"
Shen Li whispered: "I heard my mother say it's because of your identity!"
"That's right! The former Crown Princess, who still holds the title of First-class Lady, how can she remarry so easily? Frankly speaking, if Li Fuguo hadn't taken over the power, broke the rules, and agreed to let me take Shi'er back to Jiangnan for medical treatment, I would never have had the chance to return. My mother-in-law is basically going to die of old age in the palace, let alone remarry, I can’t even think about it.”
"Then can you remarry now?"
Shen Zhuzhu nodded, "After His Royal Highness came to power, he promulgated a decree to encourage widows to remarry, including concubines in the palace. As long as they have no children, they can return to their natal family and remarry. Shi'er died. According to the new decree, I can indeed remarry. , your grandfather also advised me to remarry, but I don’t want to.”
"Why?"
"Your grandfather introduced me to two people. One is Yu Jinchang, the third master of the Yu family. He is fifty-two years old. His wife died of illness last year. The other is Zhang Xin, the governor of Huzhou. He is forty-nine years old. His wife also died. He has three sons at home. The eldest son is one year younger than me. I want another child, not another husband. Do you think they can give me a child?"
"Yeah! They're a little too old.
"Here's the problem. I'm in my thirties this year. A man who can have children will never marry me. Of course they want to marry a young woman of 17 or 18 years old. More importantly, I don't want to force myself to marry someone like myself." A man I don’t like.”
"His Royal Highness the Supervisor"
"He is the only man I have ever been attracted to besides my husband. He can give me a strong sense of security and a kind of reliance. Ah Li, you have to know that if a woman's husband dies, her son dies, and her family loses control. If you are not welcome, your father threatens to kick you out of the house. How important is that kind of fear, helplessness, sense of security and dependence to this woman?"
At this point, Shen Pearl's tears couldn't help but well up. Shen Li held her aunt's hand tightly and wiped her tears, "Aunt, I'm not angry anymore. I understand that he is indeed very important to you."
Shen Pearl smiled and touched her niece's face, "I don't want to be his concubine. I am already thirty-three years old and will be old and yellow in two years. If I become his concubine, it won't be long before I stay alone." I have just escaped from this fate of being trapped in a palace, and I never want to fall into it again. In fact, I just want to have another child. Whether it is a boy or a girl, I will have someone to rely on for the rest of my life."
"Ah! Wouldn't it be possible for His Royal Highness to oversee the country?"
Shen Pearl blinked slyly, "He is willing to be this stallion!"
The aunt and niece looked at each other, covered their mouths and laughed secretly.
Shen Li hugged her aunt's neck and apologized: "It was my fault, I misunderstood my aunt!"
"You are jealous."
Shen Zhenzhen asked with a smile: "Where is Mr. Gu?"
"I don't know, maybe it fell into the Qiantang River!"
Both of them couldn't help but giggle. Shen Pearl hugged her niece and asked, "Did you fall in love with him that night?"
Shen Li nodded lightly, "Just like my aunt said, he gave me an unprecedented sense of security. That night, when there was a bloody storm on the river, he held me tightly and protected me. I suddenly felt that becoming his woman was really a blessing. A very happy thing.”
"You are right, security is very important to women, but you have to remember one thing, no matter how much you like him during this period, you cannot easily commit yourself to him, because there is still the matter of the princess. You represent the Shen family and the Jiangnan nobles, not brothel singers, cannot let the princess look down upon you, do you understand what I mean?"
Shen Li nodded repeatedly, "I remember!"
The journey was calm and the fleet sailed smoothly. Ten days later, the fleet arrived in Quanzhou.
Early in the morning, Zhang Ping, deputy envoy of Fujian Province and governor of Quanzhou, led more than 100 governors, chief governors and other officials of various states in Fujian Province to the dock to welcome His Royal Highness the Governor.
Chen Huan concurrently served as the observation envoy of the Fujian Road. Chen Huan also served as the observation envoy of the two Zhejiang Roads. His official office was in Jiangning County, Runzhou, which was too far away from the Fujian Road.
Therefore, although Zhang Ping is the deputy envoy of Fujian Dao Observation, he is actually the highest official of Fujian Dao. For this reason, he also holds the title of Censor Zhongcheng, which means that he has the power of impeachment.
Li Ye hadn't seen Zhang Ping for many years, and he was particularly friendly when meeting old friends. Zhang Ping was very understanding of people and the world. He saw that there were two women following Li Ye, but Li Ye didn't introduce them, so he didn't ask any more questions.
But Zhang Ping still prepared a special carriage for the two women.
Surrounded by officials on horseback, several large carriages drove towards the city.