97: Chapter 97 You also think I should go?

Shen Jingzhe cried all night long, until her tears ran dry.

Twelve years in the woodshed, eating scraps and leftovers, wearing old clothes.

Why did no one say she was a daughter of the Shen family back then?

But the face of Madam Liu surfaced in her mind.

Shen Jingzhe lifted her face from her arms and sniffled.

She did not care about the thousand-plus people in the Shen family.

But Mother was different.

Mother had taken beatings for her, gone hungry for her, and when the First Madam punished her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall, Mother had knelt outside for the entire night.

Shen Jingzhe closed her eyes and rested the back of her head against the wall.

And there was that promise.

The seven commanderies of Beiliang, founding a nation and becoming emperor.

Mother would be the Empress.

She would never have to look at the First Madam's face again, never have to live in the side courtyard, sewing and mending.

Shen Jingzhe's throat moved.

If she went, Mother would be the Empress.

If she did not go, Mother would have to die.

In this calculation, there was no third answer.

Shen Jingzhe buried her face back in her arms, her shoulders trembling twice.

"Bang, bang, bang."

Three knocks sounded at the door.

Shen Jingzhe stood up from beneath the windowsill; her knees were numb from crouching, and she stumbled, steadying herself against the edge of the table.

"Who is it?"

The voice of the maidservant Xiao Cui came from outside the door.

"Young Miss! The father and son from the Marquis of Tongyuan's house are here! They are in the front hall talking to the Marquis!"

They were here!

Brother Song Heng was here!

She rushed to the bronze mirror in a few quick strides, seeing a tear-streaked face in the reflection, her eyes red like a rabbit's.

Shen Jingzhe dampened a handkerchief with water, wiped her face haphazardly, and then used a comb to smooth her hair.

Her hands were shaking; the comb almost fell to the floor.

"Young Miss, please slow down..."

Shen Jingzhe pulled the door open and ran out.

She passed through the corridor, went around the rockery, and saw that the front hall doors were wide open.

Shen Jingzhe stopped outside the threshold.

Four people were sitting in the front hall.

The Marquis of Beiliang sat in the main seat, a teacup placed beside his hand, a smile on his face.

Madam Liu sat to the side, her head lowered, appearing submissive.

Opposite them sat a middle-aged man wearing a deep purple brocade robe, his back straight as a board—the Marquis of Tongyuan, Song Huaiyuan.

A young man stood behind Song Huaiyuan. It was Song Heng.

Shen Jingzhe's gaze fell upon Song Heng, and her heart skipped a beat.

He had lost weight.

Shen Jingzhe stepped over the threshold.

"Brother Song Heng!"

Song Heng's body jolted, and he looked up.

Their eyes met.

"You've come." Shen Jingzhe walked over, revealing a sweet smile.

"I knew you would come."

Song Heng opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbed twice, but he made no sound.

Song Huaiyuan stood up and cupped his hands in greeting toward the Marquis of Beiliang.

"Brother Shen, I have come to visit today to inform you of something."

The Marquis of Beiliang held his teacup, smiling until wrinkles gathered at the corners of his eyes.

"Please speak, Brother Song."

Song Huaiyuan pulled a bright red invitation from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands.

"My son, Song Heng, has received an imperial decree to marry Liu Ruoyan, the daughter of Prime Minister Liu Hongde."

He placed the wedding invitation on the table and pushed it forward by two inches.

"I have come specifically to inform Brother Shen."

The bright red wedding invitation lay on the table, the gold-stamped "Double Happiness" character piercing Shen Jingzhe's eyes.

Her smile froze on her face.

The Marquis of Beiliang set down his teacup, stood up to take the invitation, and opened it to take a look.

"What a joyous occasion!"

The Marquis of Beiliang slapped his thigh, the joy in his tone needing no acting.

"The legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister, that is the top-tier family in the capital! You are very fortunate, Brother Song!"

Shen Jingzhe's gaze moved away from the wedding invitation and landed on Song Heng's face.

"Brother Song Heng, is this true?"

Song Heng lowered his head, his chin almost touching his chest.

"Song Heng!"

Shen Jingzhe's voice rose.

Song Huaiyuan turned his head and gave his son a look.

That look contained knives.

Song Heng's shoulders shrank, and he looked up, avoiding Shen Jingzhe's gaze to look at the painting hanging on the wall.

"Younger Sister Jingzhe, this is the Emperor's decree."

His voice was as calm as water.

"Forgive... forgive me, but I cannot defy it."

Shen Jingzhe took a half-step back, her heel hitting the threshold.

"You agreed to it?"

Song Heng did not make a sound.

"You agreed to marry someone else?"

Shen Jingzhe's voice was trembling.

"What about the things you said to me?"

"Jingzhe!" The Marquis of Beiliang interrupted her, his voice sinking.

"Mind your status. Song Heng's marriage was decreed by the Emperor. How does it look for you to be making such a scene here?"

Shen Jingzhe gritted her teeth, tears swirling in her eye sockets, refusing to let them fall.

She stared at Song Heng.

"Look at me and say it."

Song Heng finally moved his gaze from the wall and met her eyes.

Song Huaiyuan coughed and gave Song Heng a look.

Song Heng's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Younger Sister Jingzhe, I have heard about your situation."

"The Saint of the Daoxuan Immortal Sect... that is the most noble person in the world."

Song Heng squeezed every word from his throat.

"To be favored by the Saint is... is a great honor."

The color drained from Shen Jingzhe's face.

"What did you say?"

"I said..." Song Heng's voice paused.

"You going to the Saint's side is... better than being with me."

Shen Jingzhe's tears fell.

The tears slid down her cheeks to her chin, dripping onto her lapel and soaking a small patch.

"Song Heng, do you also think I should go?"

Song Heng's lips moved, but he made no sound.

Song Huaiyuan stood up and tugged on Song Heng's sleeve.

"Brother Shen, the message has been delivered, and the wedding invitation has been sent. We will not disturb you further."

The Marquis of Beiliang stood up with a smile to see them off.

"Walk slowly, Brother Song. Another day I will prepare a banquet to congratulate Song Heng and Miss Liu!"

Song Huaiyuan pulled Song Heng as they walked out.

As they passed by Shen Jingzhe, Song Heng's footsteps paused.

His hand reached into his sleeve, touching something.

Song Huaiyuan turned back and glared at him.

Song Heng's hand retracted.

Their shoulders almost brushed, but neither spoke again.

Song Heng left.

The sound of footsteps passed through the corridor, growing further and further away.

Shen Jingzhe stood on the threshold, watching that back disappear around the corner.

"Jingzhe." The Marquis of Beiliang walked over and stood behind her.

"Have you thought it through?"

Shen Jingzhe wiped her face and turned around.

Her eyes were bloodshot, but her face was expressionless.

"Father, I will go."

Three words, as if spat out from her mouth like stones, and after finishing, she left without looking back.

The Marquis of Beiliang's eyes lit up.

"Good! Good! Worthy of being a daughter of my Shen family."

In the front hall, the Marquis of Beiliang flipped the wedding invitation back and forth twice, unable to suppress the corners of his mouth.

He walked to the table, picked up a brush, ground the ink, and spread out a sheet of stationery.

"To Master Chen, my daughter has consented and will set out on an auspicious day..."