Chapter 8: Embarrassing

Even though Lady Qi had long hair but short sight, insisting on a fight to the death over such a trivial matter between the two families' children, the Duke and Duchess of Rongguo would never agree. Not only would they not agree, but as long as the Shen family gave them a way to save face, they would graciously accept it. After all, compared to such a contest of pride, achieving mutual benefit for both sides was far more important.

And if Lady Qi truly intended to tear off the mask of civility and make a scene, why had she left in a huff just now?

So, Lady Qi was angry, yes, but constrained by these conflicting factors, she still wouldn't lightly make an enemy of the Shen family.

Madam Shen naturally understood this, which was why she had been so firm in dropping those few parting words at Lady Qi.

But while Lady Qi's side posed no threat, Madam Shen's side might not be so safe.

To turn the situation around, she had first dragged Madam Chen into it, and later even forced Madam Shen to step forward and contend with Lady Qi. Thus, the one who offended Lady Qi became Madam Shen, not her, Shen Yan. The fact that Madam Shen, now marked by Lady Qi, hadn't punished her on the spot wasn't because she suddenly looked at her with new favor, but because of Shen Mi.

If Shen Mi returned and learned that she had been bullied by Gu Song today for speaking up for the Shen family, and then severely punished by Madam Shen, Shen Mi would certainly go to the main courtyard in his own way to demand an explanation.

No matter how noble Madam Shen was, she was still a woman. Shen Mi was the flesh and blood she had carried for ten months, and Shen Yan was Shen Mi's only bloodline heir so far. With a rift already existing in their mother-son relationship, how could a smart woman like her fall out with her own son over such trifles? Wouldn't that only delight Madam Hua? So she had to consider the consequences of punishing Shen Yan without cause.

It was because she thought of this layer that Shen Yan had brought up Shen Mi at the end to resolve this crisis for herself and her mother.

But just because Madam Shen let her off this time, did that mean she wouldn't find another pretext to deal with them later?

"I think Nanny Huang is right," Shen Yan lifted her face from the flowerpot. "The ones we need to be careful of are Madam Shen, and Fourth Aunt."

Even without today's incident, Madam Shen never had a good impression of them, mother and daughter. They had been back in the capital for only a month. Though nothing had happened this month, Madam Hua wouldn't just die for no reason in three months. Madam Shen was clearly dissatisfied with the Second Branch. Even if she wouldn't directly kill Madam Hua, they had to be on high alert from now on.

Besides, Madam Chen's scheme to push her out to take the fall for Shen Ming had failed, so she would harbor resentment. And then there was Shen Shen's mother, Third Aunt Madam Liu—would she also, like Madam Chen, transfer her anger onto Shen Yan because Shen Shen was punished? After the tragedy of her previous life, all these subtle people and matters had to be guarded against.

But for now, constrained by Madam Hua's own passive position, she couldn't fully maneuver and could only wait slowly for the right moment.

Of course, these reasons could only stay in her own heart. She couldn't very well say that Madam Hua would commit suicide in three months, or that she would become enemies with Shen Mi—never mind the word "filial piety" pressing down on her head; even if Madam Hua didn't hold it against her, Madam Hua would surely jump up, crack her skull open, and scold her for being sick in the head.

"Adults are speaking, children shouldn't interrupt!" Madam Hua turned her head and glared at her. "Truly becoming more and more unruly!"

"Grandmother!" Nanny Huang frowned slightly too. "Miss is nine years old. The Eldest Young Miss started learning household management from the First Madam at eight. If Grandmother truly feels Miss lacks manners, why not start today by not treating her like a child?" Besides, Shen Yan's thoughts were very thorough; the Fourth Madam Chen's side indeed needed a watchful eye.

"Forget it. You want her to learn management? She'd be doing well just to keep the accounts of her own little courtyard straight!" Madam Hua glanced disdainfully at Shen Yan sprawled over the flowerpot and tossed a ledger from the side table into Shen Yan's hands.

Shen Yan had a separate small courtyard. Because Madam Hua came from a merchant family, she had cultivated Shen Yan's financial sense from a young age. Starting this year, she had let her manage her own small allowance. In her memory, in her previous life, she had managed this account in a complete mess—things in the room weren't just missing one piece or another, she couldn't even account for where they went.

Thinking of these embarrassing past events, Shen Yan truly wished she could bury her face in the flowerpot.

Hearing Madam Hua say this, Nanny Huang gave Shen Yan a meaningful look but said no more.

Half a quarter-hour later, Liao Zhongling arrived.

He carefully examined the spot where Shen Yan had been hit in the flower hall and asked if she felt any discomfort. Shen Yan cooperated and told him. Liao Zhongling said: "It's nothing serious. You might have a headache these two days. I'll prescribe a few doses of medicine for the Young Lady to take. I'll come back at this time tomorrow to check. If there's improvement, we can conclude there's no issue."

Madam Hua visibly relaxed. Watching Liao Zhongling write the prescription, she went inside.

Shen Yan had Funian take the prescription and headed for her Bishui Courtyard.

The Hua family was now headed by Shen Yan's maternal uncle, Hua Juncheng. The Hua family were wealthy suppliers to the Imperial Household Department, rich enough to rival a nation, and had sacrificed two young masters for the Great Zhou Dynasty. Though not enfeoffed, they counted as half a noble house. With the passing of the High Ancestor, the Hua family's status wasn't what it was at the founding, but their wealth remained staggering.

Hua Juncheng had five siblings; several died in the chaos of war, leaving only him and Madam Hua. The brother and sister were extremely close. When Madam Hua married, the Shen family came days early to urge the dowry delivery; it took a full three days just to move it all.

She remembered after Madam Hua died, people came from Jinling. Uncle Hua Juncheng, because his sister's death was unclear, nearly took the Shen family to court. Finally, under the mediation of Imperial Censor Lu next door, they didn't go that far, but the Hua and Shen families became enemies and drew a clear line. The Hua family produced a document: although Madam Hua's remains were buried in the Shen ancestral tomb, her remaining dowry was all hauled back to Jinling. She went to Jinling too.

She spent three bitter but warm years in Jinling.

Three years later, one day Uncle suddenly stuffed her arms full of silver notes and land deeds and sent her back to the Shen family. Not long after, the Hua family was ordered by the court to be confiscated, and everyone in the Hua household was arrested. Three months later, Uncle, unable to bear the humiliation, dashed his head against the prison wall and died. Aunt, hearing the news, followed him. Her two cousins, Hua Zhengqing and Hua Zhengwei, were sentenced to be official courtesans and sent to the Northwest Army. Her cousin Hua Zhengyu died on the road during escort.

The court's charges: the Hua family "embezzled public funds" and "repeatedly acted improperly." She remembered receiving this terrible news precisely in the study of her Bishui Courtyard! A loyal Hua family servant, Hua Yong, had walked hundreds of miles in rags to the Shen residence, knelt on the ground, and told her everything through tears. She, deliberately cut off from the news, learned of it only after her cousins had already been sent to the army and Hua Zhengyu was already dead.

After that, she moved out of Bishui Courtyard and went to live in Qianhua Pavilion, where Madam Hua had once lived. Now, seeing the Bishui Courtyard plaque again, she still felt a chill.

If not for rescuing her Hua family cousins, she wouldn't have chosen to marry into the Qin family. The first year, she agreed to let Qin Shou take a concubine in exchange for him rescuing Hua Zhengqing from the army.

The third year, she agreed to conceal Qin Shou's affair with his father's concubine as a bargaining chip, getting him to redeem Hua Zhengwei from a general's mansion in the Left Army. But the result— that bastard Qin Shou actually tried to rape Hua Zhengwei while she was alone, causing Hua Zhengwei, who had just escaped suffering and started a new life, to drown herself in a lake.

Thinking of that scum Qin Shou now, she still wanted to slap him hard a few times!

"Miss is back?"

Qingdai, carrying a water basin out from the corridor, greeted her.

Shen Yan was still immersed in the past. Suddenly seeing someone she hadn't seen in a long time, she froze for a moment. Qingdai, seeing her like this, thought she had been frightened earlier at Yaori Hall, frowned, and shot a reproachful look at Funian behind her. "I told you before leaving to follow Miss closely. How did you still let so much happen?"

Funian sighed and didn't speak.

Qingdai, mindful that she was Nanny Huang's daughter and usually obedient and devoted, didn't press further. She just told Shen Yan: "Miss didn't nap at noon. Since dinner is still a while away, go back to your room and lie down."

Qingdai was originally Madam Hua's head maid. Her tongue was as vicious as Madam Hua's. That was why Madam Hua had transferred her and Yanzhi over to watch Shen Yan. Shen Yan thought of the pillowcase Madam Hua had ordered her to embroider and got a headache. Not daring to say more, she just hummed a couple of times, gave Funian a meaningful look, and quickly slipped into the bedroom.

Funian was only a year older than her, had grown up with her, and was loyal to Shen Yan like iron. After Qingdai left, she entered the room. Seeing Shen Yan not lying down but sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the four walls in thought, she poured a cup of tea for her.

Lost in thought, Shen Yan subconsciously reached out to take it, utterly unaware that the liveliness that had clung to her for most of the day had vanished instantly, replaced by the calm steadiness she had cultivated in the second half of her previous life.

Even Funian, who knew her changeable nature well, was somewhat surprised to see her like this.

For some reason, after this day, she always felt Shen Yan had changed somewhere. She still seemed the same clever, fearless girl, but besides that, there was something more.

Before, she was purely a lively, spoiled young miss, occasionally a bit outrageous. But now, besides that occasional flash of cunning in her eyes, she had gained a few degrees of reserve and composure. One felt her agility, yet couldn't deny she was indeed a proper young lady of a great family, just with a personality leaning toward openness and magnanimity.

See? Today, such a big thing happened, and even Madam Shen unprecedentedly didn't come looking for trouble with her mother and her.

"Miss, rest a bit?"

If she rested, Funian would have time to finish that pillowcase for her.

But Shen Yan put the tea down, stood up, and said: "You put the embroidery down. I'll do it. You go find out where Father is. Has he returned yet?"

Funian stared blankly. She would embroider? Could she? And why was Shen Yan suddenly asking about the Second Master?

She looked at Shen Yan doubtfully for a moment, but like Nanny Huang, she was extremely rule-abiding. So in the end, she asked nothing, just nodded and went out.