Chapter 531: Marriage
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Facing Shen Zhuo, who had just been conferred the title of Crown Prince, Xiao
Juan did not change his attitude towards him. He was still cold.
Shen Zhuo had his own interpretation of this.
“I know that you’ve made a great contribution in Liaodong County. All of this should be your credit. Now that they have all been credited to me, you must feel very uncomfortable. This is normal. Anyone would not feel good.”
Xiao Juan said calmly, “Your Highness, you’re thinking too much. I’m not dissatisfied.”
Shen Zhuo smiled.
“Don’t worry, I’m not a petty person. Since I’ve received benefits from you, I’ll definitely give you a corresponding return. Tell me, what do you want? Money or power?”
Xiao Juan said, “I don’t want anything.”
Shen Zhuo said seriously, “You don’t have to be polite to me. I don’t like to owe others a favor. Tell me what you want. Only by returning this favor will I feel better.”
Xiao Juan felt that he had already made it very clear. He did not want anything.
However, Shen Zhuo in front of him seemed to not understand human language and spoke to himself the entire time.
At this moment, Yu Niaoniao came out.
She happened to hear Shen Zhuo’s last words and immediately said to him bluntly.
“Then please continue to feel uncomfortable, Your Highness!” When Shen Zhuo saw her appear, his eyes immediately lit up. “Niaoniao, long time no see. I heard that you were injured in Liangzhou.” “I’ve always been worried and want to see you.”
“However, I was afraid that others would misunderstand our relationship so I thought it would be inconvenient to look for you directly.”
“How are you now? How are your injuries recovering?”
Xiao Juan lowered his eyes, his thick eyelashes hiding the coldness in them.
Because they had lived together for a few years when they were young, Yu
Niaoniao already treated him as half a family. Even though she knew that he had set her up and used her, she was only disappointed, but she did not hate him.
But now, she really hated him.
Yu Niaoniao did not hide her disgust at all and frowned.
“My business has nothing to do with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Shen Zhuo frowned slightly and the eunuch beside him immediately scolded sternly.
“How dare you! How dare you speak to the Crown Prince like this?!” Yu Niaoniao looked at Shen Zhuo and said neither humbly nor arrogantly.
“If Your Highness feels that I’ve offended you, you can punish me. You can kill me or torture me!”
The eunuch wanted to say something, but Shen Zhuo raised his hand to stop him.
Shen Zhuo was very sad. “You don’t have to say such things to me. I can’t hurt you.”
Yu Niaoniao sneered. “Yes, you just know how to use me.”
Shen Zhuo looked hurt.
“It’s my fault for what happened before. I apologize to you. How can you forgive me?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “My request is very simple. Just clarify it to the world and tell them the truth.”
“What truth?”
“Of course it’s the truth in Liaodong County last year. The person who caught the spy of the enemy was Duke Lang. The person who saved the kidnapped women was also Duke Lang. The person who ordered the return of the commoners’ land was Duke Lang. All of this was done by Duke Lang. It has nothing to do with you!”
Shen Zhuo sighed helplessly.
“So you were throwing a tantrum because of this.”
“I know that my father did something wrong, but at this point, it’s impossible for my father to take back his words.”
What compensation do you and Duke Lang want? As long as it’s within a reasonable range, I can satisfy you.”
Yu Niaoniao became even angrier.
“Who do you think we are? Did you think I said so much just to ask you for benefits?”
“We’re not that low! We don’t need any compensation. We only want justice!” Shen Zhuo smiled gently, his tone as if he was coaxing a disobedient child.
“After so many years, I didn’t expect you to still be so innocent. The world is not as black and white as you imagined.”
“Only a fool would be obsessed with justice. Smart people think about how to obtain the greatest benefit for themselves.” Yu Niaoniao said, “Can benefits represent everything?”
Shen Zhuo asked, “What else?”
Yu Niaoniao seemed to have really recognized the man in front of her for the first time.
So this was his true appearance.
She suddenly lost the desire to communicate with him.
Because no matter what she said, she was still whistling in the wind.
They were not from the same world at all.
“We have different paths, so let’s leave it at that. Your Highness, please take care. I’ll take my leave.”
With that, she held Xiao Juan’s hand and strode out without looking back.
Shen Zhuo called her twice, but he could not stop her.
The eunuch beside him asked, “Do you want me to get someone to stop them?”
Shen Zhuo said, “Forget it.”
There was still a long way to go. There was no hurry.
When he became the emperor in the future, no matter what Niaoniao wanted, he could satisfy her. At that time, she would know how good he was.
The eunuch could not help but say, “You’re the Crown Prince. How dare they speak to you like this? Especially the Princess Consort of Lang County. She doesn’t take you seriously at all..
Before he could finish, he was stuck under the Crown Prince’s cold gaze.
Shen Zhuo said, “You talk too much.”
The eunuch hurriedly knelt down. “I deserve to die!”
Shen Zhuo said, “Go and get 20 strokes yourself. If there’s a next time, I’ll beat you to death.”
The eunuch kowtowed hard. “Yes!”
The nanny walked out and bowed to Shen Zhuo.
“Your Highness, the Empress Dowager invites you in.”
Shen Zhuo walked into the bedroom and saw Empress Dowager Deng leaning against the soft couch, resting with her eyes closed.
“Greetings, Grandmother.”
Empress Dowager Deng opened her eyes and looked at him. “It’s Ah Zhuo. Today is your day. Congratulations.”
Shen Zhuo said, “Fame and fortune are just external things. Grandmother’s health is what I care about the most. Are you feeling better? What did the imperial physician say?”
Empress Dowager Deng smiled in relief.
“You’re a filial child. This is an old problem. There’s no big problem. I’ll be fine after resting for two days.”
Shen Zhuo said with concern, “Even if it’s a small illness, you have to recuperate well. Don’t neglect it.”
Empress Dowager Deng said, “I know. You’re even more long-winded than that old imperial physician.”
Shen Zhuo said, “This concerns your health. It’s not too much to be cautious.
Even if you despise me for being noisy, I have to come to your ear every day.”
“Alright, alright, alright. From your filial piety, I didn’t dote on you for nothing.”
At this point, Empress Dowager Deng changed the topic and suddenly asked.
“You’re not young anymore. Logically speaking, you should have gotten married and had children long ago. However, because you were sent to the temple since you were young, you were only brought back last year, which delayed your marriage. Now that you’ve become the Crown Prince, why don’t you celebrate? I’ll arrange a marriage for you.”
The smile on Shen Zhuo’s face faded a little. “I don’t have any intention of getting married for the time being.”
“That won’t do. Being unfilial is the most important. You have to father children for our royal family. Only then will you not let down the emperor and me.”
Shen Zhuo said, “Marriage is not a small matter. I have to discuss it with
Mother and Father.”
Empress Dowager Deng said, “Don’t worry about that. As long as you nod your head in agreement, I will settle it with them..”