The beauty of the Hou family and the king's plan

Yanran Pavilion is not far from Zhaoming Garden.

Madam Shen's Rongde Hall is on the central axis of the inner courtyard of the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion. Yanran Pavilion is on the east, and Zhaoming Garden is on the west. From Zhaoming Garden to Yanran Pavilion, it spans most of the Marquis's Mansion.

The sky gradually darkened, and the corridors of the mansion were all lit with hexagonal palace lanterns. There was no wind, but the occasional sound of insects could be heard passing by the garden. Bixiao led the way in front of Shen Baozhao with a lantern. After walking for a long time, they finally arrived in front of Yanran Pavilion.

The gatekeeper must have received instructions early in the morning. When she saw Shen Baozhao coming, she bowed, took the lantern from Bixiao and said, "Fourth Miss, Second Miss is waiting for you in the room."

Bao Zhao led Bi Xiao inside. The second young lady, Shen Yan, was known as a talented woman in Kyoto. She was well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and was very popular.

I also like to be refined. The yard is not planted with flowers and plants, but densely packed bamboos. There are various varieties, big and small. They are well cared for and thrive.

It is evergreen all year round, especially in summer, when sisters often play chess, play the piano, gather and have fun in the pavilion next to the bamboo forest.

Shen Yan must be enjoying the feeling of being sought after.

As soon as Shen Baozhao entered the main room, he saw a woman wearing a moon-white skirt embroidered with peach blossoms and a pink shawl on her shoulders. Her black hair flowed down her back and her ears were decorated with bright moon pendants. Even her profile was very beautiful, like a fairy in the moon.

It must be said that the daughters of the Shen family all have good looks. Otherwise, the concubine in the palace would not have been the most favored concubine in the harem for so many years and still stand firm.

When Shen Yan saw Bao Zhao coming, she stood up, took her hand and walked to the bedroom. She said to Bi Xiao, "I want to let your daughter sleep in Yanran Pavilion today, so you can go back first."

Bixiao was unwilling, so she said, "I still have to help my young lady wash up at night."

Shen Yan calmed down after hearing this and said, "Do I still need a maid to serve your young lady?"

There are indeed a lot of maids in Yanran Pavilion. According to convention, the daughter of the Marquis's mansion has two first-class maids, four second-class maids, and eight third-class maids. This does not include the maids who manage the house, as well as the maids who sweep the floor and wash the clothes.

"Bixiao, you go back first. I often come to my second sister's place. I'll ask Hongling to help me wash up in the evening." After Bao Zhao finished speaking, he glanced at Shen Yan.

Sure enough, Shen Yan's face changed and she couldn't help but tighten her grip on Shen Baozhao's hand.

She said unnaturally: "Hongling had something to do at home, so she asked for leave and went home yesterday. It's the same if I let Lvliu serve you."

Hong Ling helped Shen Yan to meet the prince secretly and was beaten to death with sticks a long time ago.

Shen Baozhao pretended not to know, and said with wide eyes: "Is that so, Hongling doesn't take the master seriously?"

"Second sister, you are going to get married tomorrow. No matter how big the situation is at home, you should not ask for leave. She is your personal maid. Shouldn't she accompany you to the Duke of Lu's mansion?"

"I'm going to tell my aunt that Hongling is bullying my second sister by relying on her parents' status. You're kindhearted." Hongling's father is the steward of the eldest master, and her mother is also in charge of the sewing room. The whole family is the confidant of the eldest wife.

After saying this, Shen Baozhao pretended to go find Wang to file a complaint.

Shen Yan quickly pulled her back. She didn't expect that her fourth sister, who was usually gentle and weak, would hold on to the Hong Ling matter today.

"Good sister, I know what's going on. Hongling's parents have asked for mercy for her, and she's going to marry in the south. She won't go with me to the Duke of Lu's Mansion." Shen Yan said perfunctorily.

"Is that so? Then Bixiao, you go back first. I will stay at my second sister's place tonight." Shen Baozhao winked at Bixiao, who nodded and left.

Shen Yan heaved a sigh of relief, thinking that this fourth sister had discovered something. It turned out that she was still as stupid as before.

The two of them sat down on either side of the chaise longue, drinking tea while Shen Yan perfunctorily responded to Shen Baozhao.

"Second sister, I heard from my aunt that you were ill some time ago. I was very worried. Now it seems that you are much better now." Shen Baozhao said slowly.

Shen Yan smiled unnaturally and said, "Thank you for your worry, Fourth Sister, I'm fine now."

Shen Baozhao patted his chest with the hand holding the handkerchief, and said as if relieved, "That's good. Yesterday, my aunt joked with me that she wanted me to marry in place of my sister, but I was really shocked."

"Mother must be joking with you." Shen Yan was afraid that Bao Zhao would be confused after hearing what she said, so she quickly explained.

Bao Zhao smiled and said jokingly, "Second sister, you are so excited that you can't sleep tonight. Why are you looking outside? Is someone coming?"

Shen Yan collected her thoughts and responded, "No one wants to come. I'm just a little reluctant to get married tomorrow."

"Second sister, you and the Prince of Lu are in love with each other. You can come back often in the future. There is no need to be reluctant to leave." Shen Baozhao said deliberately. Reluctant, huh, I'm afraid you can't bear to leave His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Shen Yan smiled, but that smile obviously did not reach her eyes.

Soon, a maid brought two cups of hot milk and placed them on the small table in the middle of the chaise longue.

"Fourth sister, come and try some fresh milk." Shen Yan greeted her warmly.

The green and white porcelain soup bowl was painted with a green bamboo forest, and the thick white milk in it looked very pretty. Shen Baozhao picked up the soup bowl and pretended to drink it, looking at Shen Yan's expression as if he had to swallow a breath.

Sure enough, this cup of milk was spiked with something. They thought highly of her, and it wasn't just the knockout drug.

So what? Shen Baozhao drank it all in one breath.

Seeing Bao Zhao finish drinking, Shen Yan breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled and said, "It's getting late. Fourth sister, I have to get up early tomorrow morning. Let's wash up and rest early."

Shen Baozhao nodded and wanted to get up, so he pretended to faint on the chaise longue and knocked over the blue-and-white porcelain soup bowl.

Shen Yan walked closer and nudged Bao Zhao, pretending to call her twice in a low voice. She was relieved when she saw that she didn't move.

At this moment, a man came out of the side room. He was wearing an ice-blue long gown with narrow sleeves and a jade belt around his waist. He was tall and strong, with long eyebrows and a pair of sinister eyes.

Shen Yan nodded to the person who came and called out, "Second Brother."

Shen Jiemin seemed very unhappy about cleaning up his sister's mess, and ordered impatiently: "Change the fourth sister into wedding clothes and get her to bed."

"The bride-picking party will arrive tomorrow morning, and I will carry her to the sedan chair myself."

"Can the effect of this knockout drug last that long?" Shen Yan couldn't help but ask.

Shen Jiemin smiled. It was meant to be a graceful smile, but it looked a little vulgar on his face. He snorted coldly, "Knockout drug? I also added Ten Fragrance Softening Powder and All Sounds Silence Pill."

"Even if she wakes up, what's the use? She's weak all over, can't struggle, and can't speak. She can do whatever she wants."

After that, he turned to Shen Yan and said, "This is all caused by you. Otherwise, Fourth Sister's marriage could bring other greater benefits. Now it can only be like this."

Shen Yan was the daughter of Wang and the eldest master, and was loved by the whole family since she was a child. But the only thing she was afraid of was her second brother. Now she didn't dare to refute when she was scolded.

"What if the Duke of Lu finds out tomorrow?" Shen Yan asked.

"So what if they find out? We have already worshipped heaven and earth, so the Duke of Lu's Mansion has to acknowledge it even if they don't want to.

Then I will say that it was Fourth Sister who was in love with Chen Ke, and she designed to knock you out so that she could put on her wedding dress. Then you will also become a victim, which is the best of both worlds. "After Shen Jiemin finished speaking, Shen Yan looked at him with admiration.

"Okay, you must not make any more mistakes." Shen Jiemin left Yanran Pavilion and went to the outer courtyard.