854 Secret (1)
At the end of the year, the Shen family was both happy and unhappy.
The happy thing was that the family was gathered together, which was always a joyous thing. The unhappy thing was that after the new year, Shen Miao was going to marry into the Daliang Dynasty. As time approached, everyone in the Shen family was busy every day. They had to prepare Shen Miao’s dowry, gather guards and servants Shen Miao was going to bring with her, and plan out the journey to the Daliang Dynasty.
Although the dowry Shen Xin prepared for Shen Miao was not as good as the betrothal gift Xie Jingxing gave her, it was still very generous. He did not include the shops and fields, because they were useless since Shen Miao was going to another country, and there was not much furniture either because it would be too heavy to carry. Apart from some rare jewelry, the dowry consisted mostly of money. In a foreign country, everything else was dispensable, but money was indispensable.
The money Shen Xin and his wife had prepared for Shen Miao was more than enough. However, Shen Qiu still pulled Shen Miao to the side and took out a thick stack of banknotes from his sleeve. He said, “These are the banknotes from the Tonghui Bank. They can be used in the Daliang Dynasty.” He then said awkwardly, “Brother doesn’t have anything else. I only have these banknotes for you. Sister, don’t mind it.”
Shen Miao looked at the banknotes, and a warm feeling surged in her heart. Shen Qiu was a young man after all. The soldiers of the Ministry of War worked hard for him every day, so Shen Qiu naturally had to treat them to a meal every now and then. Shen Qiu’s salary was not much. Most of it was rewards from his military achievements in the past. Shen Miao was touched and said, “Brother, the banknotes given to me by our parents can last me for the rest of my life. Why did you give me these?”
“Say no more.” Shen Qiu stuffed the banknote into Shen Miao’s hand and left without looking back. Shen Miao looked at his back and was caught between laughter and tears, thinking that she had to find a chance to get Mo Qing to secretly return it to Shen Qiu.
Just as she was thinking, she saw Shen Xin walk in and say, “Jiaojiao, I have something to tell you. Come, let’s go to the study.”
When Luo Xueyan heard this, she wanted to follow and said, “It just so happens that I have something to say to Jiaojiao as well.”
“Madam, it won’t be too late to say to Jiaojiao later.” Shen Xin said, “Let me talk to Jiaojiao in private.”
Luo Xueyan snorted, but she did not follow him in. She thought that Shen Xin was going to secretly give Shen Miao money or something, so she did not think too much about it.
Shen Miao followed Shen Xin into the study. Shen Xin asked the servants to guard the door outside and asked Shen Miao to sit down at the table in the room before getting some pastries and tea for Shen Miao to eat. He sat down opposite Shen Miao and sighed deeply. “Jiaojiao, you’re going to get married in a few days. I plan to get Mo Qing to go with you.” After a pause, Shen Xin continued, “Although Prince Rui is Emperor Yong Le’s brother and has a lot of status in the Daliang Dynasty, the royal family is always complicated. Some things might not be as simple as they look. At that time, don’t let yourself suffer. If anyone bullies you, tell Prince Rui. You’re his wife. He will protect you. Don’t take it on yourself. Leave it to him.”
Shen Miao nodded.
“If Prince Rui can’t protect you, don’t be afraid. You still have us. I’ve chosen a few people from the Shen army. Although they’re not as skilled as Mo Qing, they’re not ordinary either. They’ll dress up as guards of the Shen family and go with you. Just don’t make yourself suffer.”
Shen Miao thought for a moment and finally couldn’t help but ask, “Father, have you and Mother… never thought of leaving Ming Qi?”
