Chapter 31: Vast Difference in Treatment

After returning home three days later, Shen Ning resumed her ordinary life.

Her days in the Regent's Palace were actually very boring, but very fulfilling.

In the training ground of the Regent's Palace, there were guards who were not on duty training every day. At first, Shen Ning just stood outside the training ground and watched for a few times, and then found a place where no one was around to exercise.

This body also practiced martial arts since childhood, but it was not practiced well. The main purpose was to strengthen the body, so the moves and horse riding and shooting that she was good at before were still a little difficult to perform on this body.

Shen Ning knew that haste makes waste. When there was no trouble coming to her, the only thing she had to do was to make this body more agile and strong, so half an hour of horse stance in the morning, and half an hour of jogging and jumping were her must-training items.

In the afternoon, with the consent of Ji Yucang, she would go to the library to read books, such as astronomy and geography, Qimen Dunjia, and military strategies.

The world map carved with exquisite craftsmanship on the wall of the library is clear and distinct. Shen Ning often stands in front of the map, looking at the southern territory of Yong State and the capital across the border.

After watching the drill quietly for seven days, she stepped onto the drill ground of the Regent Palace for the first time.

There were guards practicing archery on the drill ground.

Shen Ning's arrival made everyone look a little surprised, but they saw Shen Ning took a big bow to test the weight, and took three arrows, standing fifty steps away, and shot three arrows at the target in the distance. Every arrow hit the bull's eye, which shocked the guards on the drill ground.

From then on, the drill ground became the place where she spent the longest time every day. After the guards who were training knew her identity, they gradually fought with her alone, and the two long spears were danced vigorously.

The heavy bow archery range increased from fifty to eighty steps, and then to a hundred steps. She could hit the bull's eye almost every time. Her progress was so fast that the elite guards thought they had met a gifted genius and their admiration for her was beyond words.

Whenever they looked at this indifferent and taciturn princess, their eyes were filled with unspeakable surprise, and they felt that their prince had married a treasure.

Despite the rumors and discussions outside, the elite guards of the palace recognized this princess who seemed delicate and weak but was actually hidden from the bottom of their hearts after several competitions and sparring.

At the same time, the regent ordered someone to reply to Nan Zhao's document, requiring Nan Zhao to send at least two princesses, eight noble ladies from aristocratic families, and ten important officials or princes of the third rank or above in the court to go to Yongguo to discuss the matter of seeking help to show sincerity.

On September 16, the palace issued an imperial decree.

Princess Pingyao was granted marriage to the legitimate son of the uncle's mansion. The auspicious day was set on October 16, exactly one month later.

None of this has anything to do with Shen Ning.

On the evening of September 18, she received the first invitation after marrying the Regent. The Left Prime Minister's sister Yan Zheng will hold a chrysanthemum-viewing banquet in the mansion tomorrow and invite the Regent Princess to attend the banquet.

Shen Ning looked at the invitation in her hand and turned to look at Shi Qin: "Are the Left Prime Minister and the Regent in a hostile relationship, or..."

Shi Qin said: "Not hostile."

Shen Ning didn't ask any more questions, just nodded slowly: "Yes."

The Prime Minister of a country holds real power.

Logically speaking, with the Regent in the court, the Prime Minister should be worried that his power will be constrained, and he will spare no effort to help the emperor, or be won over by the emperor, which means being hostile to the Regent.

But since the Left Prime Minister is not a hostile faction of the Regent.

Then it is obvious that he is a member of the Regent's party.

"Miss Yan also sent a letter to my cousin." Shiqin said quickly, "My cousin may go with the princess tomorrow morning."

"No problem." Shen Ning sat in front of the window, silently watching the sunset outside, "Didn't Ji Yucang return to the palace?"

She seemed not to have seen him all day today.

Shiqin lowered her eyes: "I dare not ask about the whereabouts of the prince."

Shen Ning hummed, and did not ask any more questions, just quietly watching the black curtain fall little by little, and it was completely dark outside.

Another day passed.

...

The next morning, the weather was cold.

Gu Yanran arrived at Jinlin Courtyard in a gorgeous dress. Looking at Shen Ning in a scarlet corseted long skirt, her eyes dimmed: "Isn't it inappropriate for the princess to dress so eye-catchingly when visiting Miss Yan's house?"

"This princess is still in the newlywed period. She should wear red when going out to let others feel the joy." Shen Ning looked at her expressionlessly, her voice cold, "You can dress more simply, I won't stop you."

Gu Yanran's face changed, and then she forced a smile: "I also want to feel the princess' joy."

Shen Ning ignored her and turned to walk out.

When she reached the front yard, she paused slightly, looked thoughtfully in the direction of Linzhi Courtyard, and then turned and left.

Two carriages were prepared outside the palace.

One was luxurious and spacious, with two dark horses in front of the carriage, majestic and imposing. The carriage was wrapped in purple silk exclusive to the regent, noble and impressive.

The carriage was spacious and elegant inside, with exquisite silk curtains hanging around the carriage and a faint aroma emanating from the incense burner.

In the secret compartments on the inner wall of the carriage, there were snacks such as snacks and candied fruits prepared by the maids in advance for the master to relieve fatigue on the road. On the small table, there were four tea cups and a pot of freshly brewed fragrant tea neatly placed.

It was just a journey, but the equipment on the carriage was extremely rich. This was really the top treatment that only the nobles could enjoy.

In comparison, the carriage behind was really shabby. Not only was the space small, but it was also just an ordinary carriage in terms of appearance and interior.

Gu Yanran stood at the foot of the stone steps, biting her lip, looking at the obviously different treatment, feeling jealous and angry.

She had lived in the Regent's Mansion for so long, and the servants didn't show any respect at all. They prepared such a broken carriage for her. Are they so poor?

If they really didn't want to prepare it, why not just prepare one? Why bother to arrange two carriages?

Shen Ning ignored Gu Yanran's thoughts and walked towards her carriage.

"Princess." Gu Yanran suppressed her dissatisfaction, walked quickly to Shen Ning, and raised a gentle smile that was almost hypocritical on her face, "We all came from the Regent's Mansion, and we should let people see the deep sisterly love, right? Can I ride in the same carriage with the princess?"

"No." Shen Ning said in a cold tone, and stepped on the stool to get on the carriage: "Shiqin, Shiqi, you come up and serve."

"Yes."

Gu Yanran froze on the spot, her face turned pale and blue, extremely embarrassed.

She felt that she had lost all her dignity.

She clenched her hands and stood in front of the carriage for a long time before she turned around and walked to the back. She could not hide her strong resentment in her lowered eyes.

Damn Shen Ning, why can she marry her cousin? Why is she not considerate, gentle and generous at all, but her cousin treats her so specially?

Why can only she enjoy these top honors and treatments?

A woman who has lost her innocence is not worthy of the regent.

The carriage started to move slowly.

Shen Ning sat in the carriage covered with deerskin carpet, quietly flipping through the military books, completely ignoring the jealousy and injustice in Gu Yanran's heart.