Chapter 90: The Marriage Matter

At today’s morning court, Grand Secretary Shen lost his battle against Eunuch Lu and was even reprimanded by His Majesty.

Censor Tang, who served under the Shen family, was dismissed from his post and sent back to his hometown to await punishment.

Grand Secretary Shen cursed inwardly, thinking this student had been far too reckless.

He was only a seventh-rank official, yet he dared to barge into the Imperial Guard headquarters to arrest someone.

The Imperial Guard was the Emperor’s personal guard. Even with solid evidence, one had to first request imperial permission before taking action.

To act on hearsay and detain the Commander of the Imperial Guard without an imperial decree—in the worst case, it could be construed as rebellion.

In the court, Eunuch Lu seized on this matter to make accusations, and Grand Secretary Shen could do nothing to save the situation.

In front of His Majesty, he could only hope that Ning Yuanjun would remember their familial ties as father-in-law and son-in-law and speak a few words in his favor.

But who would have thought Ning Yuanjun would turn his back without a second thought, refusing to give face to anyone?

Grand Secretary Shen left the court with a face ashen with anger, returning home without a trace of a smile.

Today was originally Third Mistress Shen’s birthday, and the Shen family’s inner residence had prepared two tables of wine and food.

Madam Shen sat in the seat of honor, with the three Shen sisters-in-law on her left and Shen Shi, Second Sister Shen, and Third Miss Shen on her right.

Third Mistress Shen did not dare to invite musicians, only hiring a female storyteller to sing.

Before they had even finished three cups of wine, a servant rushed in with panicked news: something had happened at Censor Tang’s home.

Censor Tang came from a humble background. When he passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi, his family had not even a place to stand.

Madam Tang, however, came from a family of provincial graduates—a modest rural household—and was related to Madam Shen’s maternal family.

The couple’s marriage had been arranged by the Shen couple.

Madam Tang’s dowry consisted of twenty to thirty chests, worth one to two thousand taels of silver, which was considered substantial.

But it couldn’t withstand the continuous expenses of securing official positions over the years, and most of it had been spent.

Censors were poor officials in the capital, and the couple lived quite frugally. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have hoarded pepper and suffered losses.

Now, hoarding pepper had wiped out their family’s savings, and the investigation into the Pepper Case had cost him his official position.

Filled with resentment, Censor Tang beat his wife severely, pointing at her nose and threatening to divorce her.

Madam Tang’s dowry had already been lost, and with her husband using her as a punching bag, she hanged herself.

Censor Tang was out drinking and not at home. His servant, Chang Xi, frantically begged the neighbors for help.

By the time they lifted her down from the beam, her body was already cold and stiff—how could she be saved?

When Censor Tang returned home drunk, he was immediately sobered by the sight and threw himself onto the corpse, wailing.

Chang Xi, a servant from Madam Tang’s family, grabbed Censor Tang and refused to let go, threatening to take him to court and demand his life in return.

When the news reached the Shen family, Madam Shen dismissed the banquet and hurried to the study to discuss the matter with Grand Secretary Shen.

“Madam Tang was a woman of strong character. Seeing Censor Tang dismissed from his post, she hanged herself. After all, her family is related to ours. You must still stand up for him.”

Grand Secretary Shen was already agitated and didn’t want to get involved.

“She’s a relative of your maternal family. You go and send twenty taels of silver, and have a servant help with the funeral arrangements. In the current situation, it’s not appropriate for me to step forward. Because of his recklessness, Eunuch Lu implicated me in front of His Majesty. I need to avoid suspicion, not get involved!”

Seeing his foul mood, Madam Shen didn’t dare to argue further. She went out and called the steward to give instructions.

The Shen family steward, aware of the details, quickly explained in a low voice.

“This matter with the Tang family is a bit troublesome. Madam Tang hanged herself, and when the neighbors tried to rescue her, they all saw injuries on her body. Her family’s servant, Chang Xi, is making a fuss and refuses to let it go. He’s holding a petition, threatening to sue, saying his mistress was abused to death. Censor Tang is panicking and begging our household to send a note to the authorities to have the case dismissed.”

Madam Shen snapped impatiently, “How dare a lowly servant cause so much trouble?”

She thought of turning back to inform Grand Secretary Shen, but feared it might stir his anger.

This Madam Tang’s maiden family were relatives of Madam Shen’s own family, so there was no guarantee Master Shen wouldn’t blame her.

She had no choice but to summon a few of her personal attendants, instructing them in such a manner, frightening the servant Chang Xi with a few words, ordering him not to report it, and then giving some silver to help with the burial.

The Shen family’s wicked servants took the silver, gathered a dozen men with clubs, went out and beat Chang Xi half to death, forcing him to burn the petition. Only then did they urge the local headmen to buy a coffin and bury the body.

As for Censor Tang, he returned in disgrace, renting a donkey to ride back to his hometown, and that was the end of it.

When the Shen family servants reported back, Madam Shen still found it inauspicious, saying “I know” before dismissing them.

Shen Shi had been watching all along and couldn’t help but feel some sorrow in her heart.

This Madam Tang was not old, having married Censor Tang only a few years ago, yet she had been tormented to death by her husband.

What woman wouldn’t sigh at such a sight?

Thinking from this to that, Shen Shi felt even more chilled to the bone.

Madam Shen, accustomed to handling such matters, didn’t pay much attention to this affair.

Only after putting this matter aside did Madam Shen call her daughter before her.

Today’s summons for Shen Shi to return to her maiden home under the pretense of offering birthday wishes to her third sister-in-law was actually to inquire about the Ning family’s private affairs.

Madam Shen thus asked, “There are rumors in the capital that the Ning family’s second branch’s Third Miss Ning is engaged to the Fifth Prince. Is this really true? Your father serves as the Fifth Prince’s tutor, how could he not know about this? Even Consort He in the palace hasn’t mentioned it to us.”

During these days in the Ning household, Shen Shi had kept her eyes fixed only on her husband, paying little attention to other matters.

Hearing her mother suddenly ask about this, she thought it was because her father, as tutor, needed to be concerned about the Fifth Prince’s marriage.

“I heard from my mother-in-law and Second Madam that it was discussed during the palace banquet in early spring, and it’s about eighty to ninety percent certain, only waiting for Consort He to report it to His Majesty. Presumably, because the marriage hasn’t been finalized yet, Consort He hasn’t mentioned it.”

Madam Shen coldly said while holding her teacup, “Although the Fifth Prince is young, he is naturally intelligent and studious, and will surely have a boundless future. Third Miss Ning is a concubine-born daughter of the Ning family’s second branch—how could she be worthy of the Fifth Prince?”

Actually, Shen Shi had similar thoughts, but couldn’t voice them while in the Ning household.

In Ningguo Mansion, from Old Madam Ning down to the four young ladies in the inner chambers, they all regarded distinctions between legitimate and concubine-born very lightly.

“For marriage with a prince, the legitimate eldest daughter would naturally be most suitable. But Miss Ning is already seventeen, somewhat too old. Second Miss Ning is fifteen but also concubine-born. The youngest, Fourth Miss Ning, is legitimate-born, but she’s only eight and cannot be considered for marriage. That’s why they chose the second branch’s Third Miss.”

Hearing her daughter explain it this way, Madam Shen scoffed disdainfully.

“In my view, all four daughters of the Ning family are somewhat frivolous, not particularly steady or dignified, unfit to match a prince. Your father has advised Consort He that when arranging a marriage for the Fifth Prince, she should choose a virtuous legitimate-born daughter, which would also look better when establishing the principal consort.”

Her mother’s words carried hidden meanings—how could Shen Shi not understand?

Remembering how Third Miss Shen had been dressed exceptionally splendidly at the banquet earlier, she understood her intentions.

The Shen family wanted to betroth the fifteen-year-old Third Miss Shen to the Fifth Prince.

Shen Shi couldn’t help but frown slightly, feeling very troubled.

Seeing that her daughter understood, Madam Shen then spoke plainly.

“I called you back today precisely for this matter. After you return, find an opportunity to report to Old Madam Ning. The Fifth Prince’s principal consort must be a legitimate-born daughter from a prominent family—this is also Consort He’s intention. Third Miss Ning is young and concubine-born, but out of regard for her friendship with Old Madam Ning, Consort He will still ensure she receives the status of a prince’s secondary consort!”