"Daughter pays respects to Father!"
Shen Furong was brought to the main hall, and as soon as she saw County Magistrate Shen, she immediately kowtowed. Her dewy eyes even looked at him with a melancholy and sorrowful gaze.
This wronged and lamenting gaze, if it had been a few days earlier, Lord Shen County would definitely have been heartbroken. He would have asked her what was wrong? What made her unhappy? Was she feeling wronged? However, looking at this gaze now, all he felt was disgust, followed by hatred!
Nevertheless, though he was displeased, Lord Shen County did still not make trouble for her. He just spoke indifferently: "You have also heard about Lady Yan’s affair. Arguably, I am no longer your father, and you are no longer my Shen family’s daughter. However, considering that we have been father and daughter for quite some time, I am willing to give you a chance. If you can make me proud and accomplish the task I’ve given you, you can still be my daughter, the second Miss in my Shen family. If not, well..." He chuckled coldly, "The bond between us as father and daughter will be severed, and you won’t need to carry the surname Shen anymore!"
Lord Shen County’s meaning was explicit - he was telling Shen Furong that if she failed in the task he assigned her, she might as well die!
Upon hearing this, Shen Furong’s body shuddered slightly. She raised her head apprehensively to look at her once kind and loving father, only to find that there was no warmth in his eyes at all. It was evident - he was serious, with no room for her to resist or negotiate. Therefore, she bit her lip, lowered her head, and said in a subdued voice, "Daughter will do as Father commands!"
"Very good. You do know your place!"
Lord Shen County leaned back in his chair and chuckled coldly.
"You need to prepare yourself. Tomorrow morning, I will send someone to escort you to King Qin’s Big Camp in the North Prairie Ridge of the Great Jin Nation. Bring him some food and medicine, and once you arrive at King Qin’s camp, pay attention and find out if there is a woman named Mu Caiwei in the camp!"
Based on Lord Shen County’s years of experience in courting women, he knew that women were sensitive creatures. If Mu Caiwei was indeed in King Qin’s camp, if she heard about another woman coming to visit King Qin, and this woman was young and beautiful, there is a very high chance that she would show herself. It was for this reason that he had given Shen Furong the task of delivering these items!
"Yes, I will definitely fulfill Father’s entrustment and ascertain whether Miss Mu is indeed in King Qin’s camp!"
Shen Furong answered respectfully yet with a radiant gleam in her eyes.
Although she was confined to the boudoir most of the time, she had long heard of the famous His Highness King Qin, renowned as the first-born prince of Great Jin Nation, sired by the Empress Dowager. With an extraordinarily handsome face and an unparalleled noble status, if she could manage to catch his attention or gain his favor, her current predicament would be nothing!
If she could manage to become a concubine of King Qin just like that, what an honor it would be! Even her birth father would have to bow and pay respects to her!
As the thought crossed her mind, she felt an inexplicable excitement. Suppressing her throbbing heartbeat, she respectfully bowed to Lord Shen County and then withdrew.
After Shen Furong left, Lord Shen County got up and went to the backyard, to Lady Cui’s residence.
Lady Cui’s courtyard was located in the west part of Shen Mansion. In the beginning, she lived in the main courtyard in the east, but Lady Yan claimed she had too many children and the courtyard was too small. At that time, Lord Shen County was blind to his wife’s dignity and feelings. With his one command, Lady Cui, the official wife, was banished to the small courtyard, where concubines should reside. Moreover, she had lived there for over ten years. During these years, the number of times he had visited this courtyard could be counted on one hand. Back then, he felt it was all as it should be, and never sensed anything wrong. However, now, every time he set foot in this shabby small courtyard, he felt another layer of guilt deep within his heart.