After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

After lying on the couch for a day or two, Wei Chengrui was able to get up and draw his bow, and even went out alone to hunt a brown bear, showing off his skills.

"Your Majesty, I have hunted a pair of bear paws," Wei Chengrui said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "and I present them to Your Majesty in the hope that our Great Wei will enjoy lasting blessings for thousands of generations!"

"My dear minister, your martial arts are superb." Pei Heng raised his hand, and immediately someone stepped forward with a tray to take the bloody bear paw.

Shen Lingyi watched with great interest, still wondering how Wei Chengrui managed to be so energetic after only a day or two of rest.

Back then in the cave, she thought he was going to die.

It's easy to imagine that if the only person in the Wei family who could carry the banner died, even if Shen Lingyi could return safely, she would definitely be suspected of something.

Suddenly, Pei Heng turned his gaze over, but his words weren't directed at her. "Speaking of which, Prince Wei is not young anymore."

"Why don't we act as matchmakers today? If you have someone you fancy, I will grant you a marriage."

To be personally granted a marriage by the emperor is an immense honor.

Wei Chengrui, however, had no interest in the matter and frowned, saying, "I have no interest in marriage at the moment."

Pei Heng remained silent, but a eunuch spoke up for him.

"Your Highness, it is said that one should settle down before establishing a career. Moreover, with your current achievements, you can already be considered a promising young man. It is time to consider marriage."

Wei Chengrui's face was cold, which made Fu Quan touch himself. Strange, why did his neck feel cold?

"I refuse," Wei Chengrui insisted.

Both he and Pei Heng knew perfectly well why they were in such a hurry to bestow this marriage, but he was unwilling.

Pei Heng stared at him for a long time, then suddenly chuckled softly, waved his hand, and said, "Since Prince Wei is unwilling, let's put it aside for now."

"However, I see that the women in the capital are very eager for you. I'm afraid you'll break their hearts."

Not far away, Jing Yuyan's face turned slightly pale as she glared at Shen Lingyi.

She was unaware of the private rivalry between Wei Chengrui and Pei Heng, only knowing that Pei Heng's refusal to grant her a marriage was inextricably linked to Shen Lingyi!

Bah! They broke off the engagement back then, and now they're bothering her again!

If Shen Lingyi knew how Jing Yuyan had insulted her, she would definitely feel innocent.

What did she do wrong? She just wanted to give every man a home...

No, it's not that they're willing to let themselves go.

Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Lingyi caught a glimpse of Xu Yanqing to the side, and for some reason, she could tell that he seemed a little absent-minded.

It's not the kind of absent-mindedness where you're thinking about something, it's spacing out.

Shen Lingyi felt puzzled, but it wasn't appropriate to ask in front of so many people, so she simply had someone send over a glass of wine.

But Xu Yanqing did not answer.

He glanced at Shen Lingyi, then coldly looked away as if she were a stranger.

Shen Lingyi's strange feeling intensified.

"Are you looking at His Highness the Crown Prince?" Madam Jiang looked over suspiciously, clearly having seen their interaction just now.

"I only have a slight acquaintance with His Highness the Crown Prince," Shen Lingyi knew what her mother was worried about. "Mother, rest assured, I have no intention of becoming the Crown Prince."

Jiang lowered her voice, "The Crown Prince's palace is indeed not something our family should touch. Don't be fooled by his current glamorous appearance; who knows what might happen in a few years."

Jiang had always treated Xu Yanqing with indifference.

There was only respect, not intimacy.

Not to mention Shen Lingyi, even Shen Tingjiao, she didn't want the latter to marry into the Eastern Palace, but the old lady was determined to climb the social ladder.

Don't they realize that those high branches are not so easy to climb?

Shen Lingyi nodded in agreement.

It has to be said that the older generation had a good eye for people; the Crown Princess position was definitely a lifelong career.

Once you've been chosen, you're in that position for life.

The palace servants brought up slices of roasted beef and mutton, the slices of meat with a good balance of fat and lean meat, roasted until slightly charred.

Suddenly, Shen Lingyi saw a eunuch hurrying by, and his overly handsome but pale face caught her eye.

She paused, wondering if the man had just taken a bottle out of his sleeve.

At this moment, an unfamiliar female voice rang out, interrupting Shen Lingyi's steps as she was about to follow, "Second Miss Shen."

Shen Lingyi turned around and found that it was Jing Yuyan, who had been with Wei Chengrui that day.

This wealthy family, only slightly less well-off than their maternal grandfather, was known as the "money bag" of the Great Wei Dynasty.

It is said that they secretly supported Pei Heng when he was still a prince, and their bet was successful. After Pei Heng ascended the throne, they naturally became the exclusive servants of the royal family.

He was unique among businessmen, and in terms of status, he was indeed a level above his maternal grandfather.

Shen Lingyi had a rather favorable impression of people from merchant backgrounds. "May I ask what brings you here, Miss Jing?"

Because Shen Lingyi was easy to talk to, Jing Yuyan was taken aback, then gritted her teeth and said, "My family has a piece of Moonlight Brocade, which my father found when he went out to do business. There are only three such pieces of cloth in the world."

"I noticed that Miss Shen's dress is a bit dirty. I suppose she got it dirty by accident. Since we are both from merchant families, I came to bring you some clothes."

Peony couldn't help but think that her young lady didn't come from a merchant family.

Although her maternal grandfather was a wealthy man in Liangzhou, the Jiang family was the Jiang family, and Shen Lingyi did not have the surname Jiang.

They can't be categorized arbitrarily. The second young lady of the General's Mansion is also a county princess. How can she be hastily grouped with Jing Yuyan?

Shen Lingyi's gaze fell on the dress in the maid's hand, and she said with a half-smile, "The Jing family is indeed very generous."

Jing Yuyan was smug. So what if others looked down on merchants!

Her Jing family is still incredibly wealthy!

But then, Shen Lingyi said, "But you know my maternal grandfather was also a merchant, so how can you be so sure that I wouldn't be able to see the secrets of this Moonlight Brocade?"

Moonlight Brocade, as the name suggests, is made of extremely thin fabric, so that wearing it makes one feel as if bathed in moonlight.

It looks thin and light on the surface, and it really is pitifully thin.

To the point where you can see the lining when you wear it.

However, people who don't know about it won't know this before wearing it.

This is enough to show Jing Yuyan's sinister intentions. If Shen Lingyi were completely unaware and foolishly took her scheme as kindness, she would have changed into this dress.

Then when we get back to the banquet, we'll lose face big time.

Jing Yuyan's face paled. She hadn't expected Shen Lingyi to even know this, yet she still tried to struggle. "Second Miss, I was just trying to help you..."

"There are only three pieces of Moonlight Brocade in the world. The other two were in my maternal grandfather's possession," Shen Lingyi said slowly, a playful smile on her face. "When I was eight years old, I was playing around and knocked over a candlestick, burning one of them."

Jing Yuyan treasured it as a precious gem, believing that no one would refuse it if she took it out.

In Shen Lingyi's eyes, it was nothing special.

No matter how rich the Jing family is, can they be as wealthy as her maternal grandfather's family?

Even after it was burned, her maternal grandfather didn't blame her. He just smiled and gave her another piece of brocade, saying that the Moonlight Brocade was only pretty to look at and had no practical use.

Shen Lingyi didn't want to wear such revealing clothes either; to this day, that piece of moonlight brocade is still gathering dust in the storeroom.

Jing Yuyan took a step back, her scheme exposed. Even her pride in her wealth paled in comparison to Shen Lingyi's.

It's easy to imagine the blow she received at that moment.

At this moment, Wei Chengrui came over, his tone tinged with displeasure, "Shen Lingyi, what are you doing here all by yourself, hiding here secretly?"