After giving her contraceptives, she went mad, criticizing the prince for turning white-haired overn

"Over the years, my sister has been separated from you and father, and every day she longs to see you."

"Now that you and Father have come to our residence, I feel much more at ease."

"This amulet is something I personally obtained for you at Wanfo Temple over the years."

Yu Jingshu looked at the amulet in Shen Rou's hand, and her eyes immediately reddened.

"cousin."

"I've been so sorry for you these past few days, and you still prayed for this amulet for me."

Shen Rou smiled gently and reached out to pull Yu Jingshu into her arms.

"Shu'er, wear this amulet carefully; it will surely keep you safe and sound."

"If I'm not mistaken, after the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet this year, Consort Liu will have Prince Chen take you as a concubine."

Shen Rou spoke calmly, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

"Tomorrow, my second aunt and I will also be going to the palace. My second aunt will put in a good word for you with Consort Liu."

Yu Jingshu bit her lip tightly, feeling both guilty and moved.

She knew that Shen Rou had liked Prince Chen for many years.

Now that Prince Chen has been intimate with her, Shen Rou is so tolerant and gentle towards her.

"Cousin...actually, I didn't mean to do it that day."

"His Highness Prince Chen has taken a liking to Cousin Ning and asked me to lure her to the edge of that pit so he could play the hero and have physical contact with her, thus making it seem natural for him to marry her."

She glanced at Shen Rou discreetly and continued:

"Unexpectedly, several arrows were shot from the shadows. I panicked and fell in."

"It was a cold day, and it was snowing. No one came to rescue me and His Highness, so His Highness held me to keep warm."

"Later, he said he couldn't hold back anymore... so we..."

"Alright," Shen Rou interrupted her, her tone somewhat impatient.

The more Yu Jingshu said this, the more it sounded like she was showing off to her.

"Cousin, I...I need to make things clear to you," Yu Jingshu said, biting her lip and looking aggrieved.

"That day, Your Highness and I... during that intense moment, you called out Cousin Ning's name."

After she finished speaking, she subconsciously observed Shen Rou's expression.

She wanted to make Shen Rou distance herself from Shen Ning and hate Shen Ning.

She is Shen Rou's biological younger sister.

Shen Rou remained expressionless, took a deep breath, and focused her gaze on the amulet.

"What's the point of saying all this now? The die is cast."

She gently placed the amulet into Yu Jingshu's hand.

"You've always been my own sister, no other man could ever compare to you."

"Shu'er, this amulet was specially blessed by Abbot Xuanming. You must wear it carefully."

Yu Jingshu nodded slowly, clutched the amulet tightly in her palm, and then carefully put it into her bosom.

After Yu Jingshu left, Shen Rou slowly raised her hand to cover her chest.

A surge of anger welled up inside me, and I couldn't get it out.

The thought of Yu Jingshu's intimate moments with Prince Chen was like a knife stabbing into her heart, causing her unbearable pain.

"Miss." Xiangling came in from outside the door and placed a shimmering, colorful brocade robe on the couch.

"It was sent by the Second Madam. She said it's what I should wear when I go to the palace to see Consort Liu tomorrow."

Shen Rou turned her head to look at the gorgeous dress on the couch, then turned her gaze to Xiang Ling.

"I will be entering the palace tomorrow. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to reveal the Empress Dowager's preferences."

"In any case, I am determined to impress everyone at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet."

Xiangling smiled and said, "Consort Liu has always doted on you, Miss, so she'll probably be willing to tell you."

Shen Rou sighed and waved to Xiang Ling.

"Xiangling, come here."

Xiangling quickly went over and leaned down to kiss Shen Rou's lips.

"Go to the Treasure Pavilion in the south of the city and tell them..."

Xiangling asked with a puzzled look, "Could there be fakes among the items from the Treasure Pavilion?"

Shen Rou smiled slightly: "Of course."

"South Sea pearls are so precious, and they're not available in Yanjing, but there are plenty of fakes."

"Do as I say, and make sure you buy that thing back."

Xiangling: "Yes, Miss."

-

As night fell, Zhaohua Courtyard was quiet.

Shen Ning lay on the couch, closing her eyes to rest.

Ziyuan tiptoed in from outside the door and whispered, "I heard that the eldest young lady gave the cousin a good luck charm today."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ning opened her eyes, a cold smile flashing across them.

"She is indeed deeply in love with Prince Chen."

"Between Yu Jingshu and Prince Chen, she chose Prince Chen."

Shen Ning sat up and looked at Zi Yuan.

"Tonight you will keep watch in the outer courtyard. If you see anyone entering my room, do not stop them."

Zi Yuan asked, puzzled, "Miss, why is that?"

Shen Ning: "For no reason."

In her previous life, at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, she was almost betrothed to the old and ugly Ming King.

The Prince of Chen helped her out of her predicament, for which she has been eternally grateful ever since.

In this lifetime, I'm afraid I won't have the chance.

She wanted to go with the flow and, incidentally, completely extricate her brother Shen Yan from this mess.

And to give that person who schemed against her a satisfactory answer.

"Just do as instructed."

Zi Yuan: "This servant understands."

-

As night deepened, the Zhaohua Courtyard was completely silent.

Shen Ning lit a calming incense in the room, then lay in bed with her eyes half-closed, quietly observing the movements in the room.

It was past midnight, and the night was deep.

A dark figure gently pushed open the door of the room and tiptoed in.

Although the person was masked, Shen Ning recognized her at a glance as Xiang Ling from Shen Rou's courtyard.

After entering the room, Xiangling looked around and then began to quietly search through the cabinets and boxes.

A short while later, she pulled out a small rosewood box with a gold-painted begonia pattern from deep inside a drawer.

The box was only the size of a palm, yet it was fitted with a delicate brass lock.

Xiangling took out a piece of thin wire from her bosom, fiddled with it in the keyhole a few times, and the latch gently popped open.

The box was opened, and a pearl the size of a longan was embedded in the center of the dark velvet.

The pearls were lustrous and radiant, casting a soft, hazy glow even in the dimly lit room.

Xiangling's eyes lit up, and she quickly took out another pearl from her sleeve.

The two pearls are similar in size, but upon closer inspection, the later pearl appears slightly less lustrous.

She took the pearls out of the box, put them into a brocade pouch in her bosom, and carefully put the fake pearls she had brought back into the box.

Then the lid was closed, locked, and everything was restored to its original state.

After obtaining the pearl, she searched around the room and found Shen Ning's handkerchief. She then turned and left the room.

-

The next morning.

Not long after Shen Ning woke up, news of her searching for the handkerchief in the courtyard reached Shen Rou's ears.

Shen Rou sat upright by the window, holding a cup of tea, and took a small sip.

"Ning'er has reached the age to get married, and it's time for her to get married. As her eldest sister, it's my duty to take care of her."

She put down her teacup, her tone calm.

"After all, Prince Ming once saved the Empress Dowager's life and was the Empress Dowager's favorite. His status in Yanjing was unmatched."

"Ordinary women wouldn't even be able to get close to the Ming Prince's mansion."

Xiangling smiled and said, "What the young lady says is true."

"Now, countless eyes in Yanjing are fixed on the two young ladies of the Shen family's eldest branch."

"The second and third young ladies are too outstanding. If they are kept in the manor, they will eventually become a source of trouble."

You're right.

Shen Rou smiled as she got up, changed into the gorgeous clothes that Madam Yu had sent her yesterday, and went to Madam Yu's courtyard.

When Madam Yu saw her arrive, she said softly, "You must be careful what you say when you go to the palace to meet Consort Liu today."

"Although I have often brought you to the palace over the years, and the Imperial Concubine likes you very much and regards you as her future daughter-in-law."

"But she is, after all, a member of the harem, and her thoughts are unpredictable. We must be careful in everything we do."

Shen Rou smiled gently: "Second Aunt, don't worry, Rou'er will never let you down."

Shen Rou knew how much Consort Liu had doted on her over the years.

Even though there was a previous engagement, Consort Liu plotted to break it off, determined to marry Prince Chen.

"That's good then," said Madam Yu.

"Let's go, into the palace."

-

Inside Zhaohua Courtyard.

Shen Ning looked at Bai Zhi, who was tidying up the cabinet.

As Bai Zhi tidied up, she muttered under her breath, "Miss, I still can't find your handkerchief."

Shen Ning smiled and said, "No need to look anymore."

She walked to the dressing table and instructed, "Baizhi, take out the South Sea pearls that Linglong sent yesterday."

"I've been wearing it for the past few days."

"Yes, Miss." Bai Zhi turned around and went to her own room.

A short while later, the brocade box was handed to Shen Ning.

The brocade box was opened, and Shen Ning picked up the round pearl, examining it closely against the light, her eyes calm and serene.

Over the years, Shen Rou has gained a lot of benefits by virtue of her status as the eldest daughter of the Shen family's main branch, and has won the favor of Consort Liu.

This time, let her taste it for herself.

"This one is the real South Sea pearl."

"If you want to use my things to please the Imperial Concubine, you'd better see if you have the luck."

"That's a poison pearl."