After Reincarnating, the Ice-Cold Prince Won’t Leave Me Alone

Chapter 13: The Betrothal

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Shen Mingjiao felt that the current royal family was definitely the most benevolent in history.

If this had happened in the previous dynasty or the previous Emperor’s era, anyone with eyes would know who the story was written about.

Who knew how many times his family would have been exterminated?

At this moment, Cui Liu walked in. She looked at the satisfied master and servant and said, “Fourth Miss, Third Uncle is here for the betrothal today. Madam wants you to go to the reception hall.”

Shen Mingjiao didn’t even look up. “Tell your Madam that I’m busy embroidering the dowry and don’t have time.”

In the past, she had to maintain a relationship with these people in order to avoid trouble.

But now, since she had the backing of the Prince’s Estate, she did not need to care about the feelings of others. Why should she suffer and do something she did not like? With her current status, Madam Li could only hold it in no matter how unhappy she was.

Cui Liu’s heart skipped a beat. However, when she thought about how the other party was about to marry into the Prince’s Mansion and was no longer an invisible person that could be ignored, she could only hold in her anger and leave with a forced smile.

Haitang made a face at her from the back as she left.

…

Cui Liu returned to the reception pavilion and announced Shen Mingjiao’s words to everyone in a crisp and clear voice.

Madam Li glanced at Cui Liu and sighed sadly.

“Don’t think too much about it. Fourth Girl has lost her parents since she was young. She’s the most pitiful. Usually, if there’s anything good in the residence, it will also be shared with Fourth Girl. However, for some reason, this child keeps her head lowered and doesn’t dare to look at anyone.”

She smiled in relief. “It’s alright now. Since the Prince has taken a fancy to her. She doesn’t have to live cautiously anymore.”

Although she said that, everyone only thought that Shen Mingjiao was an ingrate who had become ungrateful after gaining power.

A mean-looking middle-aged woman snorted coldly. “Madam is too kind-hearted. In my opinion, you’ve raised her hard. If she doesn’t respect you, it just means that she is unfilial.”

Her companion beside her tugged at her. After all, she was the future Princess Consort. It was a huge crime to be unfilial at this time.

Then, a young woman lowered her voice and said, “I heard that the Prince is only willing to marry her because she used despicable methods to cause an interaction with him. The Emperor bumped into them coincidentally, so the Prince had no choice but to marry her…”

Another person immediately came over curiously and lowered her voice. “Didn’t you say that the Prince only did that to infuriate Princess Su…”

“Sigh! And you believe that? Why would the wise and mighty Prince do such a childish thing? I think she might have done something…”

Thanks to what was written in all kinds of storybooks, everyone did not have a good impression of Shen Mingjiao, the Princess Consort who had suddenly appeared. They felt that the Prince was forced to marry her.

Even if some people didn’t believe it at first, they would subconsciously think that Shen Mingjiao was indeed a scheming bad woman after hearing it more often.

Madam Li picked up the teacup and covered her slightly curled lips.

Although it was an undeniable fact that Shen Mingjiao was going to marry into the Prince’s Mansion, and the Marquis had also instructed her to keep Shen Mingjiao in control, whenever she thought of that face in her memory, she did not want that little b*tch to have an easy time.

Shen Mingyan listened to these people talking about Shen Mingjiao and felt secretly happy. However, she couldn’t help but despise herself.

At this moment, a servant came to report that the people from the Ministry of Rites had come to deliver the wedding clothes and other things to the Fourth Miss.

In an instant, the expressions of the people who were discussing excitedly froze. The entire reception hall seemed to have been pressed on the pause button. It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Madam Li quickly reacted. She smiled and asked someone to send the things directly to the Fourth Miss’s Rose Courtyard. She said that this was the custom of the Prince’s marriage.

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief when they heard that. Yeah? This was just a process that the royal family had to go through for their wedding. It was not a big deal.

However, in the next moment, a servant came to report that Eunuch Hua, the head steward of the Prince’s Mansion, had arrived. There was also a large group of guards carrying boxes behind him. They said that they were here on the orders of the Prince to deliver the betrothal gifts to the Fourth Miss.

Madam Li suddenly stood up and followed the servant out the door. The others also widened their eyes in surprise and followed behind curiously.

At the entrance of the Duke Mansion, Eunuch Hua was directing people to move boxes of things into the residence, which attracted the attention of the surrounding neighbors. At the same time, he could not help but be puzzled. Wasn’t it rumored that the Prince was forced to marry this Miss Shen?

Eunuch Hua seemed to think that it was not enough. He took the thick gift list from his attendant, cleared his throat, and began to sing loudly.

“A five-foot-tall red coral…”

“Ten pieces of shark silk brocade…”

“One thousand taels of gold…”

“Painting Saint Wu Daozi’s work, the Painting of the Heavenly Child-Giving King…”

With every word, the guard carrying the chest would gently open a corner. It was extremely high-profile, but everyone was already stunned by the various rare treasures.

How was this just a betrothal? This was like emptying out all his wealth! Any one of the items inside could already be used as the family heirloom in some small families.

Madam Li and the others welcomed the rows of guards carrying boxes. Just as she was about to step forward and speak, she heard Eunuch Hua’s high-pitched voice coming from afar.

“A piece of supreme-grade glass that weighs five kilograms…”

“A hot spring manor in the suburbs of Beijing…”

“A thousand acres of good farmland…”

“108 shops on Beijing’s East Street…”

With every sentence, everyone’s eyes widened. By the time they listened to the end, their hearts could barely take it and their legs almost went weak such that they fell to the ground.

It was not that they had not seen the world, but these things were too precious!

Ignoring all else, just the 108 shops in the east of the city earned them countless profits every year.

At this moment, everyone understood why rumors could not be trusted.

Madam Li looked at the priceless items passing in front of her. Her face alternated between green and white. In comparison, the betrothal gifts that Pei Ji had given her previously seemed like a joke.

Shen Mingyan’s nails dug into her palms. Today was supposed to be her big day, but Shen Mingjiao had stolen the limelight.

At this moment, the guilt of snatching the marriage away disappeared. It was replaced by a faint hatred.

Madam Li suppressed her emotions and instructed someone to carry these things to the large storeroom.

At this moment, Eunuch Hua, who had finished reading the gift list, walked over and looked at her with a smile. His words were not polite at all.

“There’s no need for Madam to worry. These things are for our Princess Consort. Naturally, I have to personally send them to the Princess Consort’s courtyard and have them taken away when the Princess Consort is married.”

Having her thoughts exposed, Madam Li’s expression was a little ugly. However, considering the other party’s identity, she could only force a smile in response.

…

In the Rose Courtyard, Shen Mingjiao had just sent off the people from the Ministry of Rites and was arranging for two Etiquette Nannies to stay.

Eunuch Hua walked in with a smile. When he saw her, the smile on his face became even brighter. He took a few steps forward and was about to bow to her.

Shen Mingjiao rushed forward to hold him up. “Eunuch, there’s no need to be so polite.”

This was her old friend from her previous life. It could be said that she had interacted much more with Eunuch Hua than Feng Lisheng.

Then, she instructed Haitang, “Bring me the sour plum soup hanging from the well.”

Eunuch Hua raised his eyebrows and said excitedly, “The Princess Consort is indeed infatuated with His Highness. You even found out about such a small matter like my liking for sour plum soup!”