Volume One, Chapter Four: Letting Shen Nanxing Take the Blame
Princess Yuan Zhao gave a slight nod, and the group, led by the Prime Minister’s wife, moved into the spacious, well-lit hall.
Along the way, Su Yunyan clung fearfully to Shen Nanxing’s side, gripping his arm tightly.
“Brother, what should we do? If they give me fifty lashes, I won’t survive.”
Shen Nanxing’s eyes darkened as he reached out to pat the back of Su Yunyan’s hand.
“Don’t be afraid. The young heir of the Yongning Marquis has already awakened. Even though the Marquis’s household is powerful, our General’s family is not afraid.”
The ladies in the hall, who had been sipping tea and chatting, fell silent at that moment.
Seated on the main throne, the Princess spoke with the authority befitting a royal princess.
“I was feeling unwell today and therefore did not attend the Prime Minister’s flower-viewing banquet. But I heard something happened here, so I came to see for myself.”
“The matter has been explained clearly by the Prime Minister’s wife. Su Yunyan, the adopted daughter of the Shen family, pushed the young heir of the Yongning Marquis’s household into the water, nearly causing his death. Fortunately, the young mistress of the Shen family possesses excellent medical skills and saved the young heir from the brink of death.”
The Princess’s gaze turned to Jiang Jinshu, a trace of a smile playing in her eyes.
“For the sake of the young mistress of the Shen family, Su Yunyan shall receive fifty lashes, and from now on, she need not attend any banquets.”
“Guards, carry out the punishment.”
Soon, several men came to arrest Su Yunyan.
Frightened, she quickly hid behind Shen Nanxing.
“Brother, what should we do? What should we do?”
Her hand pressed against her belly, her voice lowered.
“The child…”
Jiang Jinshu, standing beside the Princess, noticed Su Yunyan protecting her belly and curled her lips into a cold smile.
Su Yunyan had secretly been involved with her own brother, conceiving a hidden child; the gossip in the imperial city would drown her.
Shen Nanxing shielded Su Yunyan behind him.
“Your Highness the Princess, Yunyan is but a fragile girl. How could she possibly endure fifty lashes? The young heir has already awakened, and the Shen family is willing to make a formal apology.”
At that moment, the young heir who had accompanied the Princess spoke.
“General Shen, who’s pretending to be weak now? When Su Yunyan pushed the young heir into the water, there was no sign of weakness. Are the laws of the Great Zhou merely a formality? Does anyone who commits murder or arson just have to shed some tears to escape punishment?”
After speaking, he coughed several times.
Jiang Jinshu looked up, surprised to see the heir of Prince Jin’s household, Zhou Shiyu. Why would he speak in her favor? Hadn’t he always been ill and confined at home?
Several guards were already pulling Su Yunyan forward to carry out the punishment, while the Princess’s guards blocked Shen Nanxing from protecting her.
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In the end, in a panic, Su Yunyan was pressed onto a bench.
“Brother, save me… Brother…”
Shen Nanxing had not expected the Princess to have two experts accompanying her, who now held him firmly.
“Your Highness Princess, Yunyan belongs to my Shen family. I, Shen Nanxing, have also proven myself on the battlefield. Is this how Your Highness treats the family of a meritorious subject?”
As the lashes were about to fall, Su Yunyan could no longer hold back.
“Stop! I am pregnant.”
“If you strike me today, it would be a case of killing two lives with one blow. You would be harming the eldest grandchild of the Shen family.”
Her words stunned everyone in the hall.
The executioners paused just in time.
Jiang Jinshu clenched her handkerchief and spoke.
“Sister, are you truly willing to lose your honor just to avoid punishment? I haven’t heard that mother arranged a match for you. Even if there had been a betrothal, it’s impossible to be pregnant before marriage.”
Seeing the situation beyond salvaging, Shen Nanxing gave up resistance, pushing aside those restraining him, lifting Su Yunyan, and shielding her behind himself.
“Jiang Jinshu, Yunyan is indeed with child.”
He then looked toward the Princess.
“It is said that Your Highness the Princess is kind-hearted. I do not believe you would allow a pregnant woman to be beaten to death. This matter concerns the Shen family and the Yongning Marquis’s household; the Shen family will give a proper explanation. I respectfully ask the Princess not to interfere.”
Princess Yuan Zhao furrowed her brow slightly.
The Prime Minister’s wife and the Lady of the Yongning Marquis were also surprised: the adopted daughter of the Shen family was pregnant? And with Shen bloodline?
Whispers and disdainful glances in the hall made Shen Nanxing and Su Yunyan flush with embarrassment, wishing they could disappear.
Jiang Jinshu, incredulous, spoke again.
“This is impossible! How could this be? You are siblings—how could there be a child? Shen Nanxing, Su Yunyan, this concerns the reputation of the Shen family. You cannot fabricate such lies to escape punishment.”
Zhou Shiyu glanced at Shen Nanxing protecting Su Yunyan, then at Jiang Jinshu, and said gravely:
“Miss Jiang’s parents sacrificed for the Great Zhou. Since General Shen married Miss Jiang, he should treat her well. How could he be involved with his own sister? Such disgrace to Miss Jiang—does the Shen family think they can bully her because her parents are gone and she has no backing?”
His words earned sympathetic looks toward Jiang Jinshu from everyone present, especially the ladies with daughters, who looked at Shen Nanxing and Su Yunyan with disdain.
Su Yunyan nervously pressed her belly and said:
“Jiang Jinshu, I am indeed pregnant. Isn’t Physician Liu still here? Have him check my pulse—I carry the eldest grandchild of the Shen family. If you dare strike me today, my mother and brother will never forgive you.”
Very well. Jiang Jinshu bowed deeply to the Princess.
“Your Highness, what happened today is truly baffling. Perhaps we should have Physician Liu examine her pulse.”
The Princess nodded.
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“Physician Liu, since you are here, please examine Miss Su’s pulse carefully.”
Physician Liu stepped forward and examined Su Yunyan’s pulse, thinking today at the Prime Minister’s residence had been quite an eventful day—first witnessing the thirteen life-saving needles, and now such a scandal.
“Your Highness, this young lady is indeed two months pregnant.”
Su Yunyan looked triumphantly at Jiang Jinshu.
“Jiang Jinshu, did you hear? I am two months pregnant now. You cannot let them beat me, or my mother will never forgive you.”
Jiang Jinshu pressed her handkerchief to her teary eyes, swaying as if about to collapse.
“How could this be? You are siblings—how could this happen?”
“This is madness…”
Luckily, Cai Ping hurried over to support her.
“Madam, are you alright?”
Jiang Jinshu, tears shining on her lashes, looked at Shen Nanxing with utter disappointment.
“Husband, no wonder you wanted me to take the blame for Su Yunyan—because she carries your child. But I am your lawful wife.”
“Even if my parents are gone, I thought I could still support you. If you despise me, then so be it. Find some noble lady to marry. Why must you be involved with your own sister…”
The Lady of the Yongning Marquis spoke up.
“Today, I have truly learned what kind of upbringing the Shen family has. Their son and daughter run wild… General Shen pushed his lawful wife forward to bear the blame. No wonder he kept pressuring the young mistress to confess in the guest room.”
Everyone understood now: Jiang Jinshu had been asked to cover for Su Yunyan earlier. Could a person be more shameless?
Princess Yuan Zhao’s expression grew even graver.
“This is indeed the first time I have witnessed such a scandal.”
The crowd whispered and pointed fingers.
Su Yunyan, hearing the murmurs, pressed closer to Shen Nanxing, whose face darkened.
When the crowd had finished their spectacle, Jiang Jinshu bowed with tears in her eyes.
“Your Highness, I do not know what to do. My husband has had a child with my younger sister-in-law. This is truly…”
She bit her lip, swallowing her pain.
“But the child in Su Yunyan’s belly carries the Shen bloodline. As the young mistress of the Shen family, I must consider the heir. My husband disregards his reputation and the whole Shen family to be with Su Yunyan, which must mean he truly loves her.”
As for the punishment, it might be better for my husband to bear it for Su Yunyan, thus sparing her life and satisfying the Yongning Marquis’s household.”