Chapter 12: 011 Advantage

Madam Shen setting such a trap for the Hua family to fall into might have nothing to do with Gu Song being beaten itself. Perhaps if Shen Yan hadn't hit Gu Song, she wouldn't have moved against the Hua family just yet. However, given the unfair treatment she had subjected the Hua family to over these years, a confrontation between Shen Yan and her was only a matter of time.

Since she had made her move this time, how could she not accept the challenge?

She stood up, brushed off her lapels, and headed toward the main room.

Madam Hua had already stopped crying, though she was still sobbing softly. Shen Yan sat down beside her on the couch, remaining silent. Madam Hua looked at her with red, swollen eyes and said crossly, "Why aren't you resting? What are you doing here?" As she spoke, she turned slightly to dab at her eyes; she did not want her daughter to see her in such a state with Shen Mi.

Shen Yan folded her hands and said, "I saw the moonlight was lovely outside and couldn't bear to go to bed so early."

Madam Hua was speechless. Recalling that she had been admiring the moon with Shen Mi by the window earlier, she subconsciously glanced toward the direction of Moju Pavilion, then turned back, her eyes filled with determination as she twisted her handkerchief.

Shen Yan could clearly see her internal conflict and felt a pang of sadness. She climbed onto the beauty couch, hugged her mother’s shoulders, and said, "We shouldn't get involved in these court affairs. Father speaking to you about this means he already has a plan in mind. If the mistress wanted to manipulate us, wouldn't she have come to you directly? Mother, don't worry; your Yan-jie'er is here to protect you."

As she spoke, she actually began to cry.

In truth, Madam Hua was already feeling some regret. Regardless of everything, they had been married for so many years; if not for Shen Mi mediating, how could she have lived so peacefully? Madam Shen might be underhanded, but Shen Mi had always protected her. By losing her temper at him without rhyme or reason, she feared the Yaori Hall would have heard of it by now.

Although she wasn't afraid of trouble, if she still wanted to live with Shen Mi, there were certain rules she had to follow. Thus, she gradually calmed down. Suddenly hearing Shen Yan sobbing on her shoulder, her heart skipped a beat. She pulled her daughter in front of her and asked, "What is it now? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"

Shen Yan didn't stop; instead, she cried even louder, drawing the maids in the corridor to enter.

Madam Hua panicked. "This is truly bizarre. Why have you been crying so many times today? Are you feeling unwell?" She ordered some people to fetch hot water and others to boil a calming soup, having long since cast her own grievances to the winds.

Over at Moju Pavilion, Shen Mi had heard that Shen Yan was crying uncontrollably in the main room and could no longer sit still. How could he care about Madam Hua’s angry words anymore? He hurried back to the main room, squeezed to the front of the couch, and grabbed the arms of the wailing Shen Yan, asking repeatedly, "What’s wrong? What’s wrong with Yan-jie'er? Were you frightened?"

Shen Yan wailed into his ear, "I, I don't want you, to fight!"

Every time they fought, it gave so many people the chance to drive a wedge between them. There was Madam Shen in the main courtyard, Madam Chen in the fourth branch, and others who hadn't yet shown their faces. Why should she give them the opportunity to tear her family apart? Why should she let her parents walk toward the path of being separated by life and death again due to misunderstandings?

The servants in the second branch were not all Madam Hua’s people. Only a few trusted ones had been brought from Jinling; the rest belonged to the estate.

Judging by the behavior of the old women who had been eavesdropping earlier, the news of Shen Mi and his wife’s quarrel had likely already reached the main courtyard. If they didn't reconcile tonight, it was foreseeable that Madam Shen would surely make an issue of it tomorrow morning, taking the opportunity to twist the knife in the heart of the woman she believed had stolen her son's affection.

Madam Hua had such a fiery temper and was easily swayed by emotion. At a time like this, she would take whatever Madam Shen said to heart—and what kind of kind words could Madam Shen possibly say? This would be of no benefit to the relationship between Madam Hua and Shen Mi.

And given Madam Shen’s schemes, it would be strange if she didn't have such intentions.

Since that was the case, whether Madam Shen’s move was aimed at the Hua family or Madam Hua herself, she would have to deal with it one step at a time. From today on, she would never let her mother face those humiliations alone, nor would she let Madam Shen’s schemes succeed. In this life, she would ensure her parents lived lovingly together until old age, and she would make sure she lived even more happily than anyone else in the Shen family!

Hearing her words, Shen Mi immediately blinked and looked at Madam Hua. Madam Hua’s face flushed red, and she turned her head away.

"We, we aren't fighting," Shen Mi stammered whenever he was nervous. He incoherently coaxed his daughter, "Your mother and I are perfectly fine. Who is talking nonsense in front of Yan-jie'er? I'll have them beaten later!"

"Really?" Shen Yan lifted her face from his embrace and sobbed, "Then why did you go to sleep in the study?"

Shen Mi’s face turned bright red. "Who said I went to sleep in the study? I was clearly sleeping in the room."

He looked at Madam Hua. Madam Hua looked at Fusu crossly. "Why aren't you going to make the bed?"

Hearing this, Shen Yan slid off the couch, opened the cabinet herself to grab a quilt, and walked toward the door, saying, "You were clearly fighting; I don't believe you. I'm sleeping in the side room tonight so you can't lie to me. In any case, if I don't see you two getting up together tomorrow morning, I'm not coming back to the room."

There were advantages to being a child; one could be as unreasonable as one pleased.

The people in the room watched her disappear outside and stood there in silence. Nanny Huang, Fusu, and the others all visibly relaxed. Shen Mi rubbed his nose and coughed, while Madam Hua, recalling Shen Yan’s parting words, felt as though she could grind her teeth to dust.

That night, the family of three slept in the second branch’s main courtyard.

The next morning, Shen Yan watched from inside the window as a refreshed Shen Mi emerged from Madam Hua’s room. Madam Hua was smoothing his lapels in the corridor. The anxiety that had filled the courtyard instantly dissolved into the fragrance of white pear blossoms on the branches, and even the noisy myna bird, seeing them whispering to each other, tucked its head to preen its feathers.

The restlessness of last night had vanished. When the eyes of the few old women entering and leaving the courtyard fell upon Shen Yan standing inside the window, their bodies couldn't help but tremble, and then they all bowed and offered ingratiating smiles in unison.

Shen Yan gave them a deep look and stepped over the threshold.

Although Madam Hua and Shen Mi had reconciled, the matter regarding the Imperial Household Department remained unresolved.

In truth, if she didn't care about the Hua family’s affairs, Madam Hua wouldn't need to bow her head to Madam Shen at all. But how could Madam Hua not think of her maiden family? It would be a small matter if the Hua family lost this position, but the fear was that if they couldn't hold onto the post, they might instead incur the Emperor's wrath right under his nose. Liu Yaze was a close minister to the Emperor; asking him to step in and handle the transfer for the Hua family was the safest course of action.

Of course, she could try to find a way to reach Liu Yaze directly with Madam Hua, but upon closer reflection, the two families had no friendship, and the Liu and Hua families had no dealings with each other. Shen Mi was only a fifth-rank official; if he bypassed Shen Guanyu to seek out Liu Yaze directly, not only was his status too low, but even if he could see him, it would be a direct insult to Shen Guanyu.

Liu Yaze was also a scholar; in such a situation, not only would he refuse to help, but he would likely give them a lecture. That would be even more disadvantageous for Shen Mi.

So, all things considered, they still needed Liu Yaze’s help, and it had to be Shen Guanyu who stepped forward.

Thus, how to handle Madam Shen became the most important matter.

At the breakfast table, she asked Madam Hua, "Does Uncle know about this?"

Madam Hua, while watching Lü'e set the chopsticks, said, "We discussed this before returning to the capital, and your father sent a fast horse with a letter this morning." She paused after speaking; she didn't know why she was telling Shen Yan these things. In the past, she would never have let her ask about such matters. But after the long day yesterday, Shen Yan’s image in her mind had suddenly changed.

Her performance at Yaori Hall could only be described as witty—using Madam Shen to drive away Lady Qi, then turning the tables on Madam Shen, and later reminding her to be wary of Madam Shen’s retaliation—none of these were behaviors a nine-year-old should have. It was as if her daughter had gone out, caused some trouble, and suddenly grown up.

Moreover, when she asked about the Hua family, her expression was calm and natural, without a hint of impatience. Thus, Madam Hua had answered her quite naturally.

Shen Yan hadn't noticed that Madam Hua was paying attention to her. Hearing that her uncle had already discussed the situation of the Hua family with them after they returned to the capital, it seemed her uncle also had the intention of distancing himself from the court. If so, why did he remain in the Beizhili Imperial Household Department in her past life?

"What did Father say?" she asked.

Madam Hua sighed, stopping her hand as she prepared to eat, and said, "Your father just told me not to worry and that he would find a way. But I think the mistress came prepared; what can he, as a son, do? Besides, even if he were to humble himself before Yaori Hall for my sake, I couldn't bear it." She lowered her head, picked up her soup spoon, and said, "Isn't it just a matter of swallowing one's pride? After breakfast, I'll go to the main courtyard; you stay in the room and don't go out."

With that, she lowered her head to eat.

Shen Yan quickly said, "Mother, there is no need to rush. Father has more standing in the main courtyard; perhaps he already has an idea. If you go over so rashly, you might ruin Father’s plans."

Madam Hua shot her a look. "In your eyes, am I such a scatterbrain?"

Shen Yan quickly said, "How could that be? Mother is wise and formidable, truly unparalleled in history."

Madam Hua tapped her head with her chopsticks. After a moment of contemplation, she finally gave a grunt of agreement.

She had only intended to bite the bullet and go to Yaori Hall so as not to make things difficult for Shen Mi, but thinking about it, Shen Yan was right. Shen Mi was a man; perhaps he already had his own plans. There was no need to rush, so she would wait until he returned from his office.

After breakfast, Madam Hua went inside to dress and change, while Shen Yan returned to Bishui Courtyard.

Upon entering, she called for Fu Niang. "Take some silver and go find out the background of those old women I beat last night."

Madam Shen hadn't sent anyone to summon Madam Hua for questioning this morning, which showed that the news of Shen Mi and her reconciling had reached Madam Shen’s ears. With that, the origins of those old women could be more or less determined; they were not just ordinary, unruly servants.

She still needed to find out what kind of tangled connections lay behind these people.