Everything starts from Menghualu

Chapter 409: First meeting with Shen Zhiyi and the dumbfounded Queen Mother

"Okay, okay. Since Lord Yan has spoken, I will naturally not argue with the prince. Lord Yan, let's go in and talk. What do you think?" Cao Cheng said with a smile.

"Of course, Lord Cao, please come in and talk." Yan Mu nodded.
After hearing this, Cao Cheng nodded and followed Yan Mu into the central military tent. When passing by Yan Lin, he gave him a teasing look.

In fact, it was called a handover, but Cao Cheng knew very well in his heart that except for his own Cao family army, the rest of the troops in the entire Daqian would follow Yan Muma's lead.

In this situation, it would be useless no matter how well he discussed, so the atmosphere between the two of them became much better. They talked and laughed, not affected at all by what had just happened outside.

At this time, Shen Zhiyi's search was naturally empty-handed. She was now angrily saying to Xue Shu, "Shu'er, did he say when he would be back?"

"Princess, my brother has gone to the camp outside Beijing. Today is his first day on the job. I don't think he will be back soon. Is there anything you want to talk to him about?" Xue Shu asked
"Okay, you're playing dumb with me too, right? Don't you know why I'm looking for him? Or do you want me to marry him too?" Shen Zhiyi asked

"Well, Princess, my brother is actually a very nice person. I think you two are a good match. Now that the imperial decree for marriage has been issued, why don't you agree?" Xue Shu said in a deep voice.
"Okay, Xue Shu, let's break up. He's not your biological brother. Why do you have to speak up for him like this? He's good, why don't you marry him?" Shen Zhiyi said angrily.
"Princess, calm down, princess, calm down. It's not that I'm on my brother's side, but really, really, now that the imperial decree has been issued, what can you do even if you wait for my brother to come back?"

"Don't think that you can make my brother ask for permission to cancel the engagement. My brother paid a huge price to marry you, Your Highness."

"Do you know? I heard from my father that my brother's title was supposed to be a hereditary earl, but in order to marry you, he became a hollow marquis."

"So, Your Highness, if you were my sworn brother, would you want to cancel the engagement?" Xue Shu asked
After hearing this, Shen Zhiyi was stunned for a moment, because she didn't know that there were such things in the middle, so she didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Your Highness, you and I grew up together, I will not harm you, my brother is a really good person, he paid such a great price for you, how could he be bad to you?" Xue Shu advised

"Well, that won't work. I haven't even seen him. I don't even know what he looks like. How can I marry him if I can?" Shen Zhiyi said

"Your Highness, isn't this simple? You just need to wait a little longer. When my brother comes back, you will be able to see him, right?" Xue Shu said.
"Well, that's true, but do you know when he will come back?" Shen Zhiyi asked

"Your Highness, isn't this easy? I'll send someone to find my brother right away. I believe that when he hears that you are here, he will come back immediately." Xue Shu said with a smile

After hearing this, Shen Zhiyi nodded, which was considered as her agreement, and in fact it was true. When he heard that Shen Zhiyi had arrived at the Duke's Mansion, he immediately mounted his horse and rode back.

He didn't care about the rules along the way, and rode his horse at full speed, causing chaos on the whole street. When Xingwuwei saw that it was him, he pretended not to see him.

After all, this is their master's adopted son, and they are not fools, so how dare they interfere?
After Cao Cheng arrived, he walked straight in and soon reached the back house.

"Shu'er, where is His Highness? Where is His Highness?" Cao Cheng asked hurriedly.
"Brother, are you so anxious? I've never seen you like this before. So, where are you looking? Isn't the person in the pavilion?"

"I'm telling you, you must behave well later. You don't know that when His Highness first came, he yelled at you to cancel the engagement, but I had to persuade him to stop." Xue Shu said
"Good Shu'er, you are so nice. Please wait for me. Think about what you want first, and then I will get it back to you right away." After saying this, Cao Cheng walked forward.

After hearing this, Xue Shu smiled and told the servants around her not to get close.

At this time, Cao Cheng had already arrived at the pavilion and saluted, saying, "Your Highness, I greet the Princess."

"Are you Cao Cheng? Are you the one who wants to marry me?" Shen Zhiyi looked up at Cao Cheng and asked
"Yes, I do. Your Highness, please rest assured that I will never let you down in the future." Cao Cheng said seriously.

"Wait, wait a minute, we should have never met before. I am sure I have never seen you. Why did you marry me? If it is because of my identity as a princess."

"Then you don't have to do this. After all, you are now a marquis and have your uncle's support. You will definitely have a bright future. Why would you spend so much to marry me?" Shen Zhiyi said

"Your Highness, I don't know what Shu'er told you, but I don't want to marry you because of your status as a princess. Just like what you said, I used a noble title to get this marriage."

"If it's just because of your identity as a princess, then the price would be too high. I'm attracted to you because of you, or because of your past experience, and the scar at the corner of your eye." Cao Cheng said directly
"You, what did you say? You, you are so outrageous, how dare you?" Shen Zhiyi said angrily.
"Your Highness, please calm down. Please listen to me first. I have no intention of mocking you. In fact, my status and I are very related to you."

"You got this scar because of the rebellion, and I lost my family because of the rebellion. Even I crawled out of a grave." Cao Cheng said
"What? What did you say? You said you crawled out of a tomb? Wait, you, you are from Baiguo Temple, Baiguo Temple?" Shen Zhiyi asked in surprise.

"That's right, I came from there. There are no longer 300 loyal souls there, but 299. There is also one who is standing in front of Your Highness." Cao Cheng said
"You, you really are, really, I I I." Shen Zhiyi was so shocked that she was speechless.

"Your Highness, before this, only my family and the Queen Mother knew my identity. In order to prevent the Queen Mother from recalling sad things, I have never entered the palace to pay my respects to her over the years."

"You have naturally never seen me, but I have seen you, but you don't know it. I knew every time you came to the mansion when you were a child, and I was secretly watching you." Cao Cheng said
"You, you actually, you actually, I I I, I won't talk to you anymore, I'm leaving first, I won't tell anyone about what happened today, I'm leaving." After saying this, Shen Zhiyi walked away in embarrassment.

Looking at Shen Zhiyi's embarrassed back, Cao Cheng smiled. Of course, the truth was not what he said, but who cares? What he said was true. Xue Shu saw the princess hurriedly coming over and asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong with you?"

"Ah, Shu'er, it's nothing. I just remembered that there are some things happening in the palace, so I'll go back first. I'll come to see you another day. Bye." Shen Zhiyi said and left.

Xue Shu walked in confused, and when she reached Cao Cheng, she asked, "Brother, what did you say to Her Highness? Why does she look a little strange to me?"

"Ah? Something's wrong? But why do I feel that this is normal behavior? It would be strange if she didn't behave like this now?"

"Actually, I didn't say anything. I just expressed my determination to her, so she is like this now. Okay, just wait for her to call me sister-in-law." Cao Cheng said
"Oh, really? You sound very confident, okay? I'll be waiting for you then. But brother, don't forget that you promised me a lot of things just now, okay?" Xue Shu said.
"Okay, okay, I'll keep my word. Just think about what you want and tell me when you're done. I'll definitely fulfill your wish." Cao Cheng said directly.
"Okay, I've made a note of it. Don't regret it when the time comes, big brother." Xue Shu said
While the brother and sister were talking, Shen Lang was discussing something with Xie Wei.

"Thank you, my dear minister. What do you think Cao Cheng's move means?" Shen Lang asked.

"Your Majesty, I think Cao Cheng's move is to retreat in order to advance. He must be very clear that you will not give him a hereditary title, so he found this excuse."

"The purpose is to test you, Your Majesty, or to make things difficult for you. If you do not marry the princess, you will have to give her the hereditary title."

"If it's like this now, then he's connected to the royal family, so he won't suffer any loss." Xie Wei said calmly.

"What a great Cao Jianwei. I really underestimated him before. My dear, in your opinion, what is the relationship between Cao Cheng and the Xue family?" Shen Lang said
"Your Majesty, I think that the relationship between Cao Hou and the Xue family is still very close, but it is hard to say in the future. The key to all this lies in the princess." Xie Wei bowed and said
"Hmm? My dear, what you mean is that you want the princess to find a way to win him over to serve the royal family? Is this really feasible?" Shen Lang said
"Your Majesty, I think this method is feasible, or it can be tried, but I suggest that Your Majesty, it is best to summon Her Royal Highness the Princess to have a talk." Xie Wei said
"Well, my dear, you are right. I should have a good talk with Zhiyi. However, I am worried about the Queen Mother." Shen Lang said with a hint of meaning.

"Your Majesty, you don't need to worry about the Queen Mother. After all, it's not just you who wants this marriage to be a success." Xie Wei said
"Hahaha, hahaha, that's right, that's right, my dear, you are right. I am not the one who should be anxious now, my dear. Thank goodness you are here." Shen Lang said with a smile

"Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am only doing my duty as a minister. I do not deserve such praise." Xie Wei naturally hurriedly said modestly.

"Okay, okay, you are always so humble, please step down first." Shen Lang said with a smile

After Xie Wei left, Shen Lang asked someone to find his sister. When the eunuch received the order, Shen Zhiyi had already returned to the Cining Palace.

"What did you say? You said you won't quit? Silly girl, why is that? You were all fine before, why are you suddenly not going to quit now?"

"What happened? What kind of magic potion did that boy give you? How could my good daughter change her mind after meeting him once?" the Queen Mother asked.
"Oh, mother, please don't be anxious. I thought he married me for my position as princess, so you were so against it."

"But after meeting him, I found out that I was wrong. He didn't marry me for that reason. He married me for other reasons. So, so, I..." Shen Zhiyi said embarrassedly.

"You, you are such a silly child. If it's not because of this reason, then what else could it be? Don't be fooled by that boy?" The Queen Mother said hurriedly

"Mother, no, what he said is true. He told me all about his life story, so mother, I can be sure that he didn't lie to me." Shen Zhiyi suddenly said seriously.
"He told you his life story, so what? Wait, what did you say? You said he told you his life story, but what did he say? How did he tell you?" The Queen Mother said in shock.

"Mother, it's just as you think. He told me that he crawled out of Baiguo Temple. You are the only one who knows his background, except for the Xue family." Shen Zhiyi said

"What? He actually told you that? How dare he? How dare he!" the Queen Mother said angrily
"Mother, I know you are afraid to recall the past, but I can feel his sincerity. He is the only one who likes this scar of mine." Shen Zhiyi said directly.

After hearing this, the Queen Mother was at a loss for words. She knew what her daughter was worried about, but now that her daughter said this, it meant that she could not be brought back.

But she was unwilling to give up and wanted to give it another try. As a result, people sent by Shen Lang arrived at this time.

Seeing her daughter leaving, the Queen Mother was furious. She immediately shouted to the outside, "Go, go and call Duke Dingguo to me. Go quickly!"

While the Empress Dowager was angry, Shen Zhiyi had already entered the imperial study.

"Brother, it's a good thing you came to find me, otherwise I would be scolded to death by my mother." Shen Zhiyi said

"Oh? What trouble have you gotten yourself into again? Why did the Queen Mother scold you again?" Shen Lang asked

"It's all your fault, my brother. You insisted on granting her a marriage. In the end, I had no objection, but the Queen Mother disagreed." Shen Zhiyi said unhappily.

"Wait, Zhiyi, are you saying the opposite? Why wouldn't the Queen Mother agree? You don't want to get married, but you're blaming the Queen Mother, right?" Shen Lang asked back.
"No, that's not it. In fact, I didn't agree at first, but after I went to the Duke's Mansion today and met him, I no longer objected." Shen Zhiyi said shyly.
"Oh? It seems that I really underestimated Cao Jianwei. He actually stole my beloved sister's heart as soon as we met?" Shen Lang joked.
"Oh, my brother, how can you be like this? You are the one who granted this marriage. Now that I have agreed, you are still laughing at me. Humph, is there anything wrong with you? If not, I will leave now." Shen Zhiyi complained.
(End of this chapter)