Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1427 Shen Zhinian Observes the Lady

Shen Zhinian sat at the head of the table, picked up an iced grape with her slender fingers, and took in the entire scene.

She did not speak, but just listened quietly, with a faint smile on the corner of her lips, but her eyes seemed to glance at the noble ladies below her who were on the list of remarriages.

The noble lady straightened her back immediately when Shen Zhinian's gaze swept over her.

A noble lady in a moon-white dress with gold threads lowered her eyelashes and pretended to look intently at the tea leaves floating in the cup, but her ears were slightly red.

The other one, who was wearing an apricot yellow silk shirt, took the opportunity to look up and quickly glanced in Shen Zhinian's direction, with respect and admiration in her eyes, and then lowered her head shyly.

Shen Zhinian understood.

Beneath these seemingly docile and respectful appearances, there are so many desires to cling to one's parents and family expectations.

She calmly withdrew her gaze, as if it was just a casual glance, but the scale in her heart had already begun to weigh silently.

Halfway through the banquet, the sound of stringed instruments became melodious.

As the drinks flowed, everyone had a smile on their faces, but their hearts were clear as a mirror.

The Imperial Noble Consort's intention at today's lotus viewing banquet is not to enjoy the wine.

Shen Zhinian wore a gentle smile, her eyes moving subtly, finally landing on the ladies she paid the most attention to.

First, she was the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and the second daughter of the Wen family.

Shen Zhinian smiled softly, "I've heard the second young lady of the Wen family is a master painter and quite famous in the capital. I wonder what else she enjoys besides writing?"

A young woman, 28 years old, dressed in a light, elegant snow-blue dress, stepped forward gracefully to pay her respects, her movements exuding a scholarly air. Her posture was elegant, and her voice was like a gentle stream.

"Your Majesty, I am deeply humbled by your compliments. I was just bored and scribbled these."

"I, your humble servant, only like to flip through a few pages of a book or play a game of chess with my sisters. These are all useless pastimes."

Miss Wen answered modestly and appropriately, with her brows lowered, looking like a lady from a noble family.

Shen Zhinian smiled and nodded without saying anything more.

Next came the youngest daughter of Mr. Zhou, the Minister of the Imperial Household.

She had just come of age, and there was still a lively look in her eyes and eyebrows, as bright and beautiful as the first ripe fruits on the branches.

Shen Zhinian's gaze turned to the striking pomegranate red: "Miss Zhou's dress is quite neat."

"I heard that the Zhou family and General Zhou's family are related. I guess Miss Zhou is also quite skilled in riding and archery?"

The Zhou family's young daughter's eyes lit up, and she was filled with a bit of girlish excitement, but she didn't forget the rules. "To answer the Imperial Noble Consort, I have only learned from my brothers for a few days and can barely sit on a horse without falling off. It is truly not worthy of being in a formal place."

"But the feeling of riding a horse into the wind is really refreshing!"

There was a freshness in her words, completely different from Miss Wen's gentleness.

When it came to the eldest daughter of the imperial merchant Xia family, the atmosphere was slightly different.

Miss Xia is seventeen years old. Although her clothes are luxurious, the materials and styles are more novel and sophisticated than those of others. There is also a hint of neatness in her movements.

Shen Zhinian's eyes flashed with consideration: "Miss Xia's dress is made of a very unique material and pattern."

"Most of the styles popular in the capital these days seem to come from the Xia family's weaving workshop?"

Miss Xia stood up calmly and politely, but replied neither servilely nor arrogantly: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has good eyesight, which is exactly what she comes from."

"My father always taught me that even though business is a lowly profession, one should strive for excellence to live up to the emperor's grace and to our patrons."

Her words were clear, subtly linking the business of merchants with the emperor's grace. This not only showed her family background but also elevated her status.

Then, Shen Zhinian asked a few more questions.

Miss Xia responded calmly, and her eyes were clear as she spoke of the orderly management of household affairs.

It was just her background as a royal merchant that made her stand out among the nobles in the garden.

Finally, there is the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Public Security, the legitimate daughter of Lord Chen.

The young lady was a little older, about eighteen years old, wearing a purple dress and looking aloof.

Shen Zhinian's gaze fell on her, and his tone was calm: "Miss Chen seems to be calm and composed. I heard that she is also well versed in medical knowledge? This is rare."

Miss Chen stood up and saluted, her movements meticulous and her voice steady, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is too kind."

"My mother is frail, and I've skimmed through a few medical books while tending to her. I only know a few herbs, but I wouldn't claim to be a complete expert."

Her answers were flawless and courteous, but her slightly lowered eyelashes and the constant calmness of her voice betrayed a sense of distance that seemed to keep people at a distance.

Shen Zhinian understood.

This girl has no feelings for her father, but she cannot disobey the family's order.

During this process, she took in the expressions, tones, and responses of the four people one by one, and the scale in her heart had already tilted.

On the other side of Quhe Garden, next to the moon-shaped gate hidden by the wisteria trellis, two figures appeared at some point.

Prince Jin and Princess Yun'an did not disturb the people in the garden, but stood quietly in the deep shade of trees.

Princess Yun'an couldn't hide her excitement. She tugged at Prince Jin's sleeve, pointed her finger at the colorful figures, and said in a joyful voice, "Myna, look!"

"That's the second daughter of Censor Wen's family. She's renowned for her talent..."

"The girl in red over there is from the Zhou family. She's very lively..."

"And that one, from the Chen family, I heard he's the calmest..."

"Everyone here today is one of the most outstanding ladies in the capital!"

Prince Jin followed the direction pointed by Princess Yun'an, and his eyes casually swept over those beautiful faces, with a warm smile on his lips that was as gentle as spring breeze.

However, the smile did not really reach his eyes.

His gaze finally passed through the clamor of the garden and landed squarely on the main seat of the waterside pavilion. He looked at the peerless imperial concubine, surrounded by the crowd, speaking and laughing with ease and composure.

In the waterside pavilion, Baharguli, who was standing beside the eldest princess and fanning her with a round fan, suddenly froze.

Almost at the first sight, she saw the figure that had been haunting her dreams. Her eyes instantly turned red and were filled with a thin layer of mist.

Baharguli couldn't remember how long it had been since she last saw the prince...

Reunited at this unexpected moment, she was filled with surprise!

But this surprise only lasted for a short moment...

Baharguli followed King Jin's gaze and discovered that the person he was looking at was Shen Zhinian!

As someone who knew Prince Jin well, Baharguli could see that the look in Prince Jin's eyes was not just one of simple appreciation or scrutiny. The complexity hidden in it made Baharguli's heart sink suddenly!

The suspicion that had been lingering in my heart, which I dared not think deeply about, seemed to be silently confirmed at this moment...

Baharguli clenched the round fan in her hand, her eyes slightly cold.

Princess Yun'an was still immersed in the excitement of choosing a princess for her brother.

She tugged at Prince Jin's sleeve and asked curiously, "...Myna, what kind of thing do you like? You have to give me a definite answer..."