Nine out of ten gamblers lose; I've run into a jerk!

Chapter 55 Ascending the Jade Palace

Like Jingchuan back then, Que Shu moved into the Yu Kingdom's palace. Emperor Yu, just like Emperor Xuan, set up a palace school so that Que Shu could study with the princes and sons of powerful nobles.

Shen Che has been leaving early and returning late lately. Shen Qing didn't know what state secrets he was discussing with officials from Yu Kingdom, so she wisely didn't ask anything and has been behaving herself lately, not going out to cause any trouble that might scare Shen Che.

Today, Shen Che had some rare free time, and Shen Qing had also reached her breaking point, so she suggested, "Since we're just killing time anyway, why don't we go out and visit some relatives?"

Shen Che glanced at him. "Where do you want to go?"

There is hope! Shen Qing immediately perked up and briefly recounted the history between the Duke of Yu's mansion and the Shen family.

"The Yu siblings are cousins, so we should go and pay them a visit."

“The Duke of Yu’s mansion, huh?” Shen Che’s eyes flickered slightly. “The Duke and his son are in the Southern Frontier right now, aren’t they?”

Perhaps we can find out some information by going to the Duke's mansion. Even if we don't, there's no harm in it. Thinking this, he replied, "Alright, have Du Zhong prepare the gifts."

“No need,” Shen Qing waved her hand, “I’ve already chosen from the trunks.”

The trunks Shen Qing mentioned were moved by Shen Che from the Xuandu treasury. When it comes to diplomacy, it's natural to bring gifts.

"...You planned this all along."

"Hehe~ It's always good to be prepared, right?"

"..."

To prevent Shen Qing from being impolite, Shen Che also checked the gift Shen Qing had chosen.

Shen Qing explained to the pile of boxes who they were for, and Shen Che inwardly praised her. The family members had done a thorough investigation and the gifts they chose were appropriate to their respective statuses.

Choosing gifts is a skill, but back then, Young Master Shen was quite adept at it in every sense of the word.

To avoid appearing abrupt by visiting unannounced, Shen Qing invited Shen Yun to go with her.

Upon arriving at the Duke's mansion, they were received by the Duchess. Zhou, seeing that they were from the Shen family, was quite polite and accepted the oak pearls that Shen Che had given her. She then sent someone to summon the eldest son's family to come out and acknowledge their kinship.

"Jun Yue, what brings you here today?"

Shen Qing looked in the direction of the sound and exclaimed, "Wow! Another heavyweight! He must weigh at least 300 pounds!"

Following behind him, Yu Jue led his two younger sisters and one younger brother gracefully in.

"Uncle," Shen Yun greeted Yu Ze and introduced Shen Qing and the others.

While they were discussing the family genealogy, Shen Qing secretly observed the other children of the Yu family.

The person standing very close to Yu Jue was undoubtedly Yu Mi. At seven years old, she hadn't fully grown up yet, with a round face and big, watery almond-shaped eyes. She was just an ordinary, innocent, and harmless child, and it was hard to associate her with the cursed lone star.

Those lagging behind them should be the children born to Aunt Mo, what were their names again? Shen Yun didn't say.

The girl was exquisitely beautiful, with a pair of phoenix eyes that revealed a cunning. The boy was about the same age as Yu Mi, fair-skinned, and had a scholarly air about him, like a little scholar. The key point was that he was so thin that he didn't look like he had the same father as his brother.

Strictly speaking, Yuze and his siblings are not the same type of person. It is said that he has been fat since childhood, and Shen Qing suspects that he may have obesity.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone clarified their kinship relationships.

Yu Ze clapped his hands and laughed, "So you're my cousins. Since we're family, there's no need to stand on ceremony."

They thought it was just polite talk, but Yuze really meant it when he said he wouldn't stand on ceremony. After saying that, he was going to take them on a tour of the Duke's mansion.

Yu Jue bowed and took his leave, then prepared to return to his courtyard with his younger sister.

Yu Mi played with the ivory nine-linked rings that Shen Qing had given him, quite pleased with them. Before leaving, he waved and said, "Thank you, cousin."

The other two children didn't say much, thanked them, and went back to their own yards.

Qingyuxuan —

"Auntie, the young lady and the young master have returned."

The girl strode quickly into the courtyard, threw the box she was carrying onto the table, and sulked to herself.

"Lin'er, what's wrong with your sister?" Aunt Mo asked, looking at her son as he slowly walked into the room.

Yu Lin shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either.

"Pingting, what's wrong?" Aunt Mo walked over to Yu Pingting and asked softly.

Yu Pingting didn't say anything, but then she stood up abruptly, walked to Yu Lin, and opened the box in his hand. Seeing that it was a set of writing implements, she curled her lip in disdain.

Aunt Mo understood what was going on. She opened the box that Yu Pingting had brought back, took out a jade pendant with auspicious patterns, and said, "It's top-quality mutton fat jade. There's nothing wrong with it."

Yu Pingting snorted and said indignantly, "Do you think everyone hasn't seen good things before? Shen Che gave his elder brother a jeweled dagger, his elder sister a sandalwood palace fan, and even that jinx Yu Mi has an ivory nine-linked ring!"

It's not that there's a huge difference in value; it's mainly the difference between the mass-market model and the exclusive design.

Aunt Mo frowned. "Then what do you want? Do you expect people to give you the same or even better gifts as the legitimate daughter? That would be truly impolite! When you get married and manage the household affairs, will you still act so recklessly in your social interactions?"

Yu Pingting choked. Of course she knew this, but she was still unconvinced. "I'm just not happy. We're all father's daughters, so why do my brother and I have to be inferior to them in every way, whether it's food, clothing, or other necessities?"

"Because their maternal family is the Prime Minister's mansion, while your mother was just a servant. Why should their family's efforts over generations be inferior to yours?"

“Your father will be the Duke of Yu in the future, so even if you are born out of wedlock, you can still marry into an official family and become their principal wife. Your descendants will have a higher starting point, and generation after generation, they will eventually catch up with or even surpass the Fang family.”

"If we keep going like this, I won't see the best outcome while I'm still alive, and I don't have that much patience!" Yu Pingting shouted.

"What are you trying to do by acting like this today?" No one knows a daughter better than her mother, so Aunt Mo was in no hurry to comfort her.

Yu Pingting paused for a moment, and she did indeed use the opportunity to make a point, "Daughter just doesn't understand, Father only has you as a woman in his backyard, and he dotes on you so much, yet you don't fight for anything, not even for your daughter and brother."

Aunt Mo was almost laughing in anger. How could she have such a stupid daughter? Not only was she not as talented as Yu Jue, but she was also far inferior to Yu Mi.

"Lin'er, what do you think?"

Yu Lin said, "Things are different now than in the previous dynasty. Children born out of wedlock can also enter officialdom. I will strive to earn a title and honor for my mother."

Although somewhat naive, she had ambition, which pleased Aunt Mo. She then asked, "Are you angry about the Shen family's differential treatment? Do you also think it's wrong for Mother not to fight for her rights?"

Yu Lin picked up the ink stick from the box, examined it for a while, and said, "It matches my current status. I haven't achieved anything that would make me worthy of respect. Once I achieve success, people will naturally flock to me."

"As for Mother, let's just keep things as they are. To contend is not to contend. It is precisely because one does not contend that no one in the world can contend with him."

Aunt Mo finally felt relieved and said to Yu Pingting, "It's not your fault, it's all my fault. I gave all my brainpower to your brother and didn't spare a single bit for you."

Yu Pingting: ? ? ?