Chapter 11: 010 Quarrel

After hearing his words, Madame Hua understood everything completely. It seemed that Madame Shen was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes; she hadn't expected that Madame Shen would force her into a corner without even breaking a sweat.

She knew that Madame Shen had always held prejudices against her. Although she didn't feel she was unworthy of Shen Mi, she had fulfilled all her obligations over the years out of filial piety. Even when she was living in Jinling these past few years, she had regularly sent people to bring gifts back. Perhaps because they were separated by distance, they had managed to keep the peace.

In the month since returning to the capital, Madame Shen had treated her with cold indifference, but she hadn't taken it to heart; she simply did whatever was asked of her.

She had thought they could maintain a facade of harmony this way, but she never imagined that for the sake of today’s matter, Madame Shen would silently drag the Hua family’s official business into the fray to manipulate her! If she didn't go to Yaori Hall to humble herself, it looked as though Madame Shen would never help the Hua family negotiate this issue with Liu Yaze. Given the current situation, the Hua family’s position might truly be in jeopardy!

"Is Mother forcing me, or is she forcing the Hua family?"

Thinking of this, the grievances she had suppressed for years surged into her heart.

If it weren't for the Hua family, could the Shen family have turned their fortunes around during the chaos of the Zhou family’s era? Could they have attained their current position as second-rank officials? It would be one thing if the Shen family didn't like her, but she had hoped that since the two families were related, they wouldn't turn their backs on each other for the sake of appearances. Yet now, to manipulate her, Madame Shen was willing to use such a major matter as a pretext. Was this still the noble family that claimed to pass down loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and brotherly love as their ancestral teachings?

Looking at Shen Mi before her, she could no longer suppress her anger. She stood up from her chair abruptly and said with stern intensity, "Then let her force me! I will go to Yaori Hall right now, kneel, and beg for forgiveness. I’ll let everyone know that because my Yan-jie’er was bullied outside today and I stood up for my daughter, I offended Mother, and therefore I deserve to kneel in the hall and be punished!"

With that, she strode behind the screen, threw on a robe, and prepared to rush out the door.

Shen Mi hurriedly grabbed her. "What are you doing?"

Madame Hua shook him off. "I’m going to beg for forgiveness! I’m going to Yaori Hall to kneel and beg Mother to take pity on our Hua family, isn't that what you want?!"

Nanny Huang, Fusu, and the others rushed in at the sound, scrambling to cover her mouth and help her back. Shen Mi’s face turned beet red from her words. That hadn't been his intention at all, but she had misunderstood him. He opened his mouth several times but couldn't get a complete sentence out. In the end, he could only sigh, stomp his foot, and turn to leave.

Shen Yan was in her room reviewing the accounts for Bishui Courtyard when she suddenly heard a commotion in the front courtyard. Just as she was about to stand up, the curtain was lifted, and Fu Niang walked in with a deeply furrowed brow. "Miss, it’s bad! The Mistress and the Second Master are arguing!"

Shen Yan’s jaw nearly hit the floor. Weren't they just being lovey-dovey? They had even chased her out for being an eyesore; how could they be arguing after just enough time to drink a cup of tea?

She stood up quickly, lifted the curtain herself, and walked out.

When she reached the main house, she saw lights on in the direction of Moju Pavilion. Shen Mi had already entered the study, while Nanny Huang, Fusu, Ziying, and the other head maids were in the main room. Faint voices could be heard from inside, suggesting the argument was over. Meanwhile, a few heads were vaguely peeking into the room from the shadows of the trees under the moonlight. Shen Yan bent down, picked up a handful of pebbles from the flowerbed, and threw them. A chorus of yelps immediately erupted from the shadows.

"Who? Who hit me?"

Shen Yan walked up to them and slapped each of them across the face, leaving them stunned, before smiling. "What are you looking at?"

Seeing it was her, the older servants dared not speak, though they were clearly angry. They stammered, backed away, and scurried off along the corridor.

Shen Yan watched them for a long moment before turning back toward the main house.

Fu Niang, stunned by her display of authority, took a moment to catch up.

Madame Hua was sitting on the daybed in the inner room, her face streaked with tears as she clutched her handkerchief. Nanny Huang was trying to console her: "...The Second Master meant well; haven't you known that all these years, Mistress? If he had that kind of heart, why would he have told you about this? You must not hold a grudge against the Second Master at a time like this."

Shen Yan stood under the veranda listening for a while, then stepped back from the threshold and beckoned Ziying over.

"Do you know what this is about?"

Because Shen Yan usually couldn't help Madame Hua with much, Ziying had originally intended not to tell her. But this matter was different. Since Hua Mi and Shen Mi married, they had rarely argued, and even when they did, they always made up because of Shen Yan’s presence. So, hearing her ask, she sighed, handed the copper basin she was holding to a young maid, and led her into the side room to sit down, recounting everything that had happened.

Shen Yan was stunned after hearing it. "Are you sure you heard correctly?"

Ziying replied, "I was waiting in the outer room for tea at the time, I heard it clearly."

Shen Yan was silent, nodding, and sat down on a silk stool next to the peacock-feather screen.

It was no wonder Madame Hua was angry.

Madame Shen’s intent was so obvious. Telling Shen Mi about the changes in the Imperial Household Department and dragging in the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion—wasn't that just to force him to take the initiative to bring Madame Hua and her to Yaori Hall to beg for forgiveness? After all, only Shen Guanyu had the standing to negotiate with Liu Yaze, and while asking for Liu Yaze’s favor, how could they not mend their relationship with the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion?

Since Madame Hua’s daughter had "forced" her own grandmother to step in, how could Madame Shen let them off easily?

In any case, the Shen family was on the rise now; what direct impact would the Hua family losing this position have on them? Madame Shen’s move was truly ruthless and precise.

Shen Yan fanned herself, her brows knitting with a cold glint.

Madame Shen mentioning the Rongguo Duke’s Mansion was merely an excuse. In her past life, this incident hadn't happened, yet hadn't she still allowed Madame Hua to be wronged to death in the manor?

"The Shen family’s situation was so difficult in those years; if the Hua family hadn't reached out, they might not have been able to maintain their current status. Who would have thought that after only a few years, the Master and Mistress would turn their backs on them." Fu Niang couldn't help but mutter this behind people's backs. Nanny Huang had come from the Hua family and was half a Hua person herself; she had heard much of the two families' history. She didn't understand grand principles, but she understood the concept of "when drinking water, think of its source."

Ziying gave her a light glare, blaming her for sowing discord in front of their mistress.

Shen Yan didn't mind. What Fu Niang said was the truth.

During the years of Emperor Gaozu’s rebellion, the Hua family had been the first to open their coffers to provide funds and manpower, becoming a major financial pillar for the rebel army. They were highly favored by Gaozu and Prince Chen. The Shen family, however, prided themselves on being refined scholars and valued their integrity. Those first few years were truly awkward; the Shen family was insulted and mocked by the rebel army whenever they stepped out, and several cousins and uncles in the extended family had even hanged themselves in the ancestral hall out of humiliation.

Shen Guanyu had once been spat upon by a rebel general and ordered to kneel and put on the general’s shoes. It was Shen Yan’s maternal grandfather, Hua Pu, who happened to pass by, intervened, and brought Shen Guanyu before Gaozu and Prince Chen. At that time, the world was just settling, and Emperor Gaozu was selecting scholars to assist in governance on the advice of Grand Secretary Cheng Xin. Although Shen Guanyu wasn't granted an official post on the spot, no one dared to insult the Shen family thereafter.

Later, when the Great Zhou was established, it was again her maternal grandfather who recommended Shen Guanyu to Grand Secretary Cheng for a government post. To thank Hua Pu, Shen Guanyu became his sworn brother.

The two families grew very close, and eventually, Shen Mi and Madame Hua grew up as childhood sweethearts, developing feelings and a desire to spend their lives together.

Madame Shen believed the Hua family’s merchant background made them unworthy of marrying into the Shen family. She tactfully tried to stop Shen Mi from associating with Madame Hua, but Shen Mi was determined to marry her. He fought a hard battle against Madame Shen in Yaori Hall. It was said that Madame Shen was so angry she suffered heart palpitations, but even that didn't make Shen Mi change his mind. Shen Guanyu, out of gratitude to Shen Yan’s maternal grandfather, reluctantly agreed.

Madame Shen blamed Madame Hua for Shen Mi’s lack of filial piety, becoming increasingly convinced that a merchant’s daughter lacked character. Things were fine while the Hua family was in power, but after Gaozu passed away and her maternal grandfather died, her mother’s life in the Shen manor gradually became difficult.

Of course, Fu Niang had heard all this from Nanny Huang. After her mother died in her past life, Fu Niang had told Shen Yan everything because she felt the mistress had been wronged. Because the Shen family didn't want their dirty laundry aired, no one knew about the scene Shen Mi had made before Madame Shen. As for Madame Hua’s lack of favor, everyone simply attributed it to her poor social skills.

Shen Yan turned to look toward the main house. Madame Hua was still sobbing; the sight of her sorrow was more than she could bear.

She said to Ziying, "Go get some water for Mother to wash her face first."

Ziying nodded and went to call someone to make the bed for Shen Mi in the study.

Shen Yan stopped her. "No need, Father will come back to sleep in the room."

Madame Hua’s temperament was just too fiery.

If she hadn't been so fiery, perhaps she wouldn't have abandoned her to seek death in her past life. In a situation like this, Madame Shen was still the one in charge of the Shen manor. As a daughter-in-law, Madame Hua was constrained by her status. Going there would only make things worse; how could she be so impulsive?

Shen Yan hadn't participated in court politics in her past life, but having lived in the capital for so long, she had picked up a few rough ideas. Thinking back, the decline of the Hua family should have had early signs. The Hua family had been gradually weakening since the death of Gaozu. Although they still held the position in the Imperial Household Department, they were treated like stepchildren—one wrong move and they would be reprimanded. No one had expected it to end the way it did.

And she remembered that her uncle had remained the silk warehouse purchaser for the Imperial Household Department in Northern Zhili until the very end. In her past life, the removal of the purchaser must have happened at this time, so why hadn't her uncle been transferred to Jinling in the end?

Of course, those were matters for later. Right now, the move Madame Shen had made was the one that needed to be solved first.

But thinking of Madame Shen’s schemes, she hesitated.

She had never directly clashed with Madame Shen. In her past life, her mother had handled things while she was alive, and later, during her three years in Jinling, she had no opportunity. After returning, she had spent all her energy fighting for her own interests and had never provoked her.

But she knew that this woman from the Qiu family of Xinyang never showed her hand, and rarely came into conflict with others. As the mistress of a great family, her methods were bound to be formidable. The way she was squeezing Madame Hua now showed her determination not to stop until she had punished her. By passing this through Shen Mi to Madame Hua’s ears, she was likely also hoping to sow discord between the couple.

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