The Double
Chapter 335 - 122: Prince Consort_3

Chapter 335: Chapter 122: Prince Consort_3

This was a blatant threat.

Shen Yurong, who was now being treated differently by Prince Cheng, had not yet played to his strengths, making Prince Cheng regard him as a confidant. Prince Cheng was bound to rebel sooner or later, and it seemed there was a good chance he would succeed. In this unpredictable world, Shen Yurong also wanted to achieve something great.

Princess Yongning could be his stepping stone, or she could be the obstacle in his way. She could build a bridge between Shen Yurong and Prince Cheng, or she could shatter it.

He knew she was capable of either.

As Shen Yurong looked at her, Princess Yongning smiled at him tenderly and murmured, "Mr. Shen, just promise me... promise me..."

He knew she was naturally impatient. When she had taken a fancy to him, despite him having a wife, she quickly disposed of Xue Fangfei. The patience she had spent on him was unprecedented, and perhaps he should feel fortunate that Princess Yongning’s patience with him had been so long. Once her patience wore thin and she turned to someone else, he would never have a chance again.

A chance to change his destiny.

Shen Yurong chuckled lightly.

His smile contained a hint of strange irony, which disappeared in a flash, turning into a profound tenderness as he said, "Alright."

Princess Yongning’s smile froze, and she looked at him, "What did you say?" She had braced herself to be rejected once more, but she had simultaneously decided that this time she would not back down, whether through threats or enticements, through force or seizing by might; she was determined to become Madam Shen, regardless of whether Shen Yurong was willing.

But to her surprise, he said he was willing.

Princess Yongning leaped up, and in an instant, her naturally proud and somewhat harsh face showed a childlike, genuine joy. She hugged Shen Yurong’s neck and said happily, "Mr. Shen, you agreed! Tomorrow I will go to the palace and tell my mother, and let her speak to the imperial brother about this!"

Shen Yurong affectionately patted her back, hugging her in return, while the servants all bowed their heads. With Princess Yongning’s back to him, therefore, no one saw the indifference that flitted through Shen Yurong’s eyes.

He knew where Princess Yongning’s bottom line was, so he had to take just the right amount. Often, a little more is too much and a little less is insufficient; he had to be patient and not rush, so that slowly, very slowly, he could acquire what he wanted.

When leaving the Princess’s Mansion, Princess Yongning was very reluctant to part.

She hoped that Shen Yurong would stay the night, but he would not consent. He said that with his current status, many people at court were watching him, looking for something to grasp onto. If someone caught him by the tail, it could lead to troublesome matters.

Princess Yongning had no choice but to let it go. Thinking that since Shen Yurong had agreed, she would soon become his legitimate wife and firmly monopolize him, she felt that a moment’s separation was acceptable.

Shen Yurong left the Princess’s Mansion, the streets, and headed back to the Shen family.

The Top Scholar’s Mansion was resplendent, as new as when it was first bestowed by the emperor. The gatekeeper saluted him, and Shen Yurong walked to the courtyard where he stopped by the flower beds.

The gentle smile he had maintained suddenly cracked, and then, bending over as if nauseated by something, he retched violently.

Feeling dizzy and oppressed in his chest, he thought he saw a pair of feet. Looking up from them, he saw the most familiar face that had lain beside him.

The woman had stunning features, capable of toppling kingdoms. She said nothing, just watched him quietly, unchanging as ever, yet in those cool eyes, Shen Yurong still saw mockery.

Just as he mocked Princess Yongning.

He reached out to touch the blurry shadow, but it shattered.

Mother Shen’s voice arose, "Yurong, what are you doing?"

Shen Yurong shook his head, stood upright, and said softly, "Nothing," then returned to his room.

Nothing. To win something, you must lose something. Although he had lost some things that occasionally saddened him, he had gained much more.

He had finally changed his fate; he was no longer the poor scholar everyone looked down on.

A life completely different from the past was just beginning.

...

Ten days after Jiang Li left Tongxiang, a letter finally reached Jiang Yuanbai’s hands confirming her return to Yanjing.

Not only the letter of return, but also the sensational rumors swirling through Yanjing City. Rumors were that Jiang Family’s Second Miss, Jiang Li, had caused a major disturbance over a criminal case in Tongxiang of Xiangyang and had even led villagers to the capital to file a complaint.

This incident caused an uproar in Yanjing City, which had never seen such a bizarre occurrence. A daughter of an Official Family, merely returning home to visit relatives, somehow got involved in a criminal case. As if the criminal case were not enough, she also led villagers to the capital — did she intend to act as a righteous official, aspiring to become a government official herself?