The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

When Shen Liang received the news of his mother Dou's death, he suddenly stood up and was about to leave, but was tightly grabbed by the sleeve by the lady sitting next to him.

"What are you going to the Prince's mansion for?" Madam Shen's voice was extremely low, yet it was as cold as ice.

"Haven't we, the second wife's family, lost enough face already?"

"That's my mother! Ah Cheng is dead. Am I, as her son, not even allowed to go and bring her back?"

"Do you think Shen Xuan and Xie Yu would give you that kind of face?"

Shen Liang: "Even if Mother has a thousand faults, she at least gave Father two sons. She deserves some credit, if not merit. I just don't believe Father's heart is really that hard!"

Madam Shen felt as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, and she could no longer suppress the pent-up frustration and resentment she had been holding back for days.

"If Father had even a shred of affection for our second and third wives, he wouldn't have been in such a hurry to separate us! What did we get in return for the division of the family property? Just a little bit of inheritance, a few insignificant properties—what could that possibly do? Did he ever do anything for you in your official career? In his heart, there was only ever Shen Xuan, his only son. What are we to him?"

"Elder brother... Elder brother is in officialdom, and Father has never interfered," Shen Liang weakly retorted.

"That's because Shen Xuan is capable enough; he doesn't need to!"

Madam Shen interrupted him sharply: "Fine, fine, I won't stop you. Go now, go to the Prince's Mansion and bring back that body, hold a grand funeral. Just wait and see what people in the capital will say about our Shen family's second branch tonight! Xuan'er's marriage is still undecided. If people find out what sordid things happened that led to our expulsion from the Prince's Mansion, do you think any respectable family would be willing to marry their daughter into the family! And Lan'er..."

Mentioning her daughter, Madam Shen's voice choked, and her eyes instantly reddened: "My Lan'er has such a tragic life... She was separated from the family at a young age and didn't have the chance to be properly engaged. Now, even the position of a concubine is something to be fought over and fought for, and she's ended up in this state! If we were still in the Prince's Mansion, still the esteemed second branch of the Dingshan Prince's Mansion, who would dare to treat my daughter like this?!"

The more she thought about it, the more she hated Dou Shi. She hated that her mother-in-law had been gossiping while she was alive, and now that she was dead, she was dragging her children and grandchildren down with her.

Why couldn't she have died sooner, taking all her shady schemes with her and let them rot in the ground!

In that way, they could at least maintain the dignity of being sons of the royal family, instead of being stuck in this limbo, being secretly ridiculed.

Shen Liang was rooted to the spot by her barrage of questions. He opened his mouth, but all the words stuck in his throat.

How could he not know that everything his wife said made sense?

Father had long since stopped interfering in affairs, and the only ones who could make decisions in the Prince's Mansion were the eldest brother and his wife. Given the deep hatred the eldest brother had for Mother, it was already an immense favor that he was allowed to bring the body back; there was absolutely no way he would be allowed to hold a funeral in the Prince's Mansion, let alone a grand funeral.

But if we bring them back for burial, what will the outside world speculate?

Although they had separated and lived in different residences, in official circles, others still somewhat feared his surname "Shen" and the unbroken ties between him and the Prince of Dingshan's mansion.

If it were to become clear to others that they had long been estranged from the Prince's Mansion, or even harbored deep resentment, it would undoubtedly be adding insult to injury.

The struggle and despair ultimately overwhelmed that little bit of filial piety he had as a son.

Dou's body lay in the deserted courtyard of the Prince's mansion for three days before being discovered by a servant on routine patrol.

When the news reached Xie Yu, she was trimming a pot of orchids under the window.

After hearing the report, she didn't stop what she was doing, but simply said, "Send a message to Second Master. After all, she is my birth mother."

She thought that, no matter what, Shen Liang would come and take her away.

However, less than half a day after the letter was sent, a reply arrived.

Xie Yu unfolded the carefully worded and evasive note, glanced at it a few times, then chuckled and casually handed it to her husband, Shen Xuan, who was standing next to her.

"Look at him, he truly is a son born to the Dou family."

Shen Xuan took it and quickly glanced through it.

The letter simply stated that the eldest brother and sister-in-law were in charge of all the arrangements for their mother's funeral, and that the second branch of the family was too busy to handle the arrangements. It expressed gratitude for their efforts and conveyed a sense of estrangement and shirking responsibility.

Shen Xuan's lips curled into a very faint smile, but there was no hint of amusement in his eyes: "As expected. This isn't the first time he's acted this way."

They had originally planned to give Shen Liang a good talking-to if he came to pick them up.

We must not let Dou's affairs affect Shen Chengbai's marriage.

Unexpectedly, Shen Liang didn't even show his face, but only sent this letter that evaded the main issue and shirked responsibility.

Shen Xuan tossed the letter aside as if it were stained with something unclean, and gave instructions to the steward who stood with his hands at his sides.

"In that case, there's no need to wait any longer. Find two people to drag the body out of the city and bury it in an inconspicuous place. The weather is getting warmer, and it won't smell good if it's left in the yard."

"Yes." The butler acknowledged the order, bowed, and withdrew.

Xie Yu then picked up the pre-rain Longjing tea in her hand, gently blew away the floating leaves, and took a sip.

The tea had a refreshing aroma, and her brows relaxed, as if she had just dealt with a trivial chore.

In the grandeur of this vast royal palace, the life or death of Lady Dou was but a wisp of dust that would soon be scattered by the wind.

As the weather grew hotter, preparations began for the palace to relocate to the summer palace.

Inside the East Palace Study

Xie Yanzhao sat behind his large rosewood desk, reviewing memorials and writing with his vermilion brush.

Shen Tinghe then sat on a small couch beside him.

It's less about her keeping someone company and more about her finding a comfortable place to stay.

Sometimes she would pick up a pen and sketch a few lines, sometimes she would flip through a few pages of a newly acquired storybook.

On the small table beside her were several of her favorite delicate pastries and a cup of perfectly warm honey osmanthus drink. She was as carefree as a pampered cat.

After reviewing a folded book on river channel repair, Xie Yanzhao rubbed his temples wearily, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the small couch.

His Yuan Yuan was leaning against a soft brocade cushion, one hand supporting her chin, the other casually resting on the edge of the storybook, her eyes half-closed, her expression languid and content.

He put down his vermilion pen, got up, and walked over.

He sat down by the couch, stretched out his arm and gently lifted the person up, placing them on his lap and pulling them into his embrace.

Shen Tinghe nuzzled against his chest, then naturally tilted her head back and kissed his chin: "Finished approving?"

"No," Xie Yanzhao lowered his head and touched her smooth forehead with his cheek, "It's because I miss Yuan Yuan."

Shen Tinghe chuckled softly, her fingers twirling the Chinese knot buttons on his clothes.

That's just how he is; as long as she's not within his reach, even if she's only a few steps away, he feels she's far away.

Sitting on his lap is not as comfortable and free as lying on the couch by myself.

She noticed the lingering fatigue in his eyes, and her heart softened. She reached out and pinched his chin, leaned in, and planted a sweet, pastry-scented kiss on his lips as compensation.

A smile spread across Xie Yanzhao's eyes as he tightened his grip on Xie Yanzhao's arm, clearly enjoying the gesture.