noffsinger Chapter 457 Someone is Gossiping
Chapter 457 Someone is Gossiping
Fu Jinyuan and Shen Suian brought their son to pay a visit to the two elders of the Shen family.
Although Jiang had met Shen Sui'an a few days ago, she still talked to her a lot today.
While Shen Sui'an was chatting with Jiang, he was observing Shen Jianglin playing with Cheng Ge'er in the courtyard.
She had already believed that Shen Jianglin had become stupid, but seeing him playing with Cheng Ge'er like a child was really... hard to describe.
"Mother, you have worked so hard."
It was really unfair for Jiang to marry Shen Jianglin. Before, she had to endure Shen Jianglin's favoritism towards his concubine and his disdain for her being the daughter of a merchant. Now she had to endure her husband becoming a fool.
"It's not hard, it's a hard life." Jiang rolled her eyes quietly, then laughed out loud, "I've seen through it now, so I'll just watch Cheng Ge'er grow up."
Shen Sui'an really felt sorry for Jiang.
She is still so young, but she has to live as a widow for most of her life.
If Jiang hadn't been her stepmother, she would have wanted to persuade Jiang to divorce. Maybe she could have found someone who understood her and spent the rest of her life with her.
"If you don't want to see him, I'll have someone send him back to Yong Dynasty," said Shen Sui'an.
Jiang said quickly, "That won't work. If you send him back, who knows if someone will use him to deal with you. It's better to keep him in front of you."
"Don't always blame me. Has the prince been staying in the palace recently? Do you know who serves him?" Jiang lowered her voice.
Shen Sui'an was slightly stunned. Why did they talk about Fu Jinyuan?
"Originally, he was served by Yu Bai and two guards, but they were not men of pure character and were not suitable for the palace. I heard that a young eunuch was promoted instead." Shen Sui'an said.
"I heard that there are a lot of young and beautiful palace maids in the palace. The previous emperors liked beautiful palace maids. Now he is too sick to get up, but the palace maids are still there. Who knows if these palace maids will have any thoughts." Jiang reminded Shen Sui'an.
Shen Sui'an frowned, "Mother, have you heard any rumors elsewhere recently?"
"How can it be just a rumor? There is no smoke without fire. There must be some signs for others to mention it like this." Jiang was anxious for Shen Sui'an.
Of course, she believed that Fu Jinyuan was still sincere to Shen Sui'an, but who could guarantee that there would not be times of negligence?
All the women in the gang have a thousand tricks in their minds. What if one of them uses some shameful means and the prince really falls into their trap?
"Mother, who is gossiping?" Shen Suian's eyes turned slightly cold. The person who said these words clearly had ulterior motives.
"What's wrong? I heard people whispering when I was invited to a tea party yesterday." Jiang immediately became nervous.
Shen Sui'an explained, "The emperor is just sick, not dead. The women in the palace now belong to the emperor even if he doesn't favor them."
"If word gets out that the prince has had any affair with a palace maid, how will the world view the prince? Wouldn't that be treasonous?"
He really tried every possible means to ruin Fu Jinyuan's reputation.
Jiang thought about it carefully and figured it out.
She slapped her thigh in annoyance.
"I was actually tricked." Jiang was extremely angry. When she heard that a woman seduced her son-in-law, she was filled with righteous indignation and wanted to slap the shameless woman.
I didn't understand it for a moment. Even if she was just an inconspicuous maid in the palace, she was considered the emperor's woman. As a son, Prince Chen, unless he was really crazy, would not be ambiguous with his father's woman at this time.
"All of the Second Prince's men have fallen, so why are there still people trying to frame Prince Chen?" Jiang was very confused.
Shen Sui'an pursed his lips and said, "Mother, who are you listening to when they gossip about you?"
At this time, Old Lady Shen, who had gone to the bathroom, came back into the room. Seeing the mother and daughter talking happily, she smiled and joked, "The mother and daughter are talking about private matters again."
"I'll tell you later." Jiang said softly.
Shen Sui'an did not continue the topic and sat next to Old Madam Shen, "Grandma, mother said she wanted to go to Huguo Temple to pray for blessings. You can go out with us then."
"We have been in the capital for so long, but we haven't really appreciated the scenery here."
Now is a good time to travel while the weather is not yet the hottest.
Old Madam Shen said, "I haven't been out for a long time, and I feel like my old bones are stiff."
"It's settled then. I'll arrange it." Shen Sui'an said.
……
In the water pavilion, Old Master Shen and Fu Jinyuan were playing chess.
Fu Jinyuan's black chess pieces were advancing steadily in the early stages, like a commanding general, leading his chess pieces across the chessboard. Although Old Master Shen's moves were mediocre, he had been in a stalemate with Fu Jinyuan's black chess pieces, keeping a close eye on them. Later on, the stable situation began to change.
The black pieces began to attack strongly, and the two sides fought back and forth, and the situation gradually became tense.
Until there was a sudden change later.
Old Master Shen laughed out loud, "Good, good, good!"
"The prince's chess skills have improved greatly."
"Grandfather, you are too kind. It was you who taught me how to play chess." Fu Jinyuan said respectfully.
Playing chess was indeed not his forte, but every time he visited Old Master Shen, he would play chess with him. After a long time, he naturally made some progress.
"This chess game is actually about how to behave. Your Highness has been assisting the Crown Prince in handling government affairs recently. Have you gained anything?" asked Old Master Shen.
Fu Jinyuan pursed his lips, and after a moment, he said in a cold voice, "It's been less than a month, and some people in the court have already begun to take sides, secretly suggesting that I compete with the prince."
This is the inevitable result.
Old Master Shen asked, "So what do you think?"
"I have never thought about what to think. The prince is just young and can't sit still, not that he doesn't know anything." Fu Jinyuan said in a deep voice.
"He's a better fit than me."
Fu Jinyuan has said more than once that he has no jealousy towards the prince, and will not compete with the prince, but some people just don't understand.
"If you want something, you have to give it up. It depends on what you want to get." said Old Master Shen.
"With your status, even if the crown prince ascends the throne successfully, as long as you stay in the capital, others will compare you with the crown prince. The crown prince is a kind child, and you are also loyal, but others will not think so."
Fu Jinyuan closed his eyes and said, "Grandfather, what should I do?"
"The prince is fifteen years old. He never had the opportunity to gain experience before. Now that he has an older brother to rely on, he naturally still thinks of himself as a child." said Old Master Shen.
There have been too many cases of quarrels between royal brothers, and Old Master Shen doesn't want to see this pair of brothers go to that extent.
Fu Jinyuan pondered for a long time, "Grandfather, I think I know what to do."
"Have the Mu family army and Zhou Bian's elite troops set a time to return to the border?" asked Old Master Shen.
Everyone in the royal capital knew that there was a camp of elite soldiers ten miles away. Although it was not far or close, it gave people a particularly oppressive feeling.
Fu Jinyuan's face darkened. "Except for the first day when he went to the palace to see the Queen Mother, Mu Chengtian has been claiming to be sick and has not come to the palace. I have never seen him since then."