Chapter 11

Lady Zhou and Nanny Jia were both stunned. They had all seen this set of hair ornaments before; it was a birthday gift given to Shen Yuanyu by the Eldest Master when she was twelve. The rubies were magnificent and rare, and the Eastern pearls were treasures that even a thousand pieces of gold could not buy. More precious still were the twelve Eastern pearls of identical size, making their value truly immeasurable.

The Eldest Master doted on his daughter and had commissioned such a set for her. When Shen Yuanzhen found out, she had cried and made a scene, pestering Princess Huyang and searching through every jewelry shop in Jiankang. She had finally managed to gather twelve Eastern pearls to craft a similar set, but her pearls were a size smaller than Shen Yuanyu's. Because of this, Shen Yuanyu had teased her for two whole months.

Since this jewelry was both a gift from her father and exceptionally luxurious, even Shen Yuanyu treated it as a precious treasure, rarely wearing it unless it was for a very solemn occasion. Now, seeing her give it away to her sister without a moment's hesitation, how could Lady Zhou and Nanny Jia not be shocked?

No little girl dislikes beautiful clothes and exquisite jewelry. Years ago, when Shen Yuanshu saw this set, she had been incredibly envious; seeing it again now, her eyes couldn't help but light up.

Shen Yuanyu held the jewelry box out with her own hands, showing not a hint of reluctance. "Take it, sister is giving it to you!"

Shen Yuanshu was a child after all and couldn't resist reaching out to take it. However, Lady Zhou interjected, "Wait a moment!" She looked at her eldest daughter and said, "If you want to be close to your sister, I do not oppose you giving her things, but this... this is too precious! Moreover, this was crafted for you by your father. If you just give it to Shuer like this, won't the Master be unhappy?" Shen Yun did not particularly like the little stutterer, Yuanshu.

Shen Yuanyu replied, "Mother, as her elder sister, is there anything I cannot give to my biological sister? Let alone a set of hair ornaments. As for Father, he certainly won't be angry with me or my sister just because I gave away a set of jewelry. Please do not worry!"

Although she had only spent a short time with her father, she could sense that Shen Yun was by no means a narrow-minded man. Perhaps if she went to him and acted spoiled, he might even commission an identical set for her.

Lady Zhou was still somewhat worried. "Is this... is this appropriate?"

Shen Yuanyu comforted her, "Please rest assured." She firmly pressed the box into Shen Yuanshu's hands. Only then did a happy smile appear on Shen Yuanshu's face.

Shen Yuanyu felt much more at ease now. She had truly been too unfair to her sister in the past!

Shen Yuanyu spoke a few more private words with Lady Zhou. Lady Zhou checked the time and said reluctantly, "It is getting late; you should go and pay your respects to your grandmother. Once you return from your grandmother's, you can come to me for breakfast."

According to the rules of the Shen family, to demonstrate filial piety, the morning and evening greetings were indispensable. Since Lady Gu came from the "Four Great Clans of Wu," her status was not naturally overwhelming, so she placed even greater importance on such rituals.

Because Lady Zhou had been bedridden for many years, she did not have to pay respects to her mother-in-law.

Hearing her mother mention Lady Gu, Shen Yuanyu's expression darkened. Recalling how that harsh and ungrateful old woman had humiliated her entire family, how could she go and pay her respects with a clear conscience?

She smiled at Lady Zhou and said, "It has been a long time since I've had breakfast with Mother and my sister. I won't be going to Grandmother's today!"

Lady Zhou scolded, "You child, what does it matter if breakfast is a little late? If you don't go to Grandmother, she will find an excuse to criticize you again. You should hurry to the Shaohe Courtyard!"

Shen Yuanyu took Lady Zhou's hand and said, "Mother, don't worry, nothing will happen! Just this morning, Grandmother sent word saying that because my health is poor, I am temporarily exempt from the morning and evening greetings for these two days. Today, I will just stay here and accompany Mother." Lady Gu's actions were, of course, not out of concern for Shen Yuanyu, but rather to put on a show for the Old Matriarch.

Lady Zhou was naturally weak-willed and harbored some fear of her formidable mother-in-law. After Shen Yuanyu promised her repeatedly and she called Nanny Luan to confirm what the old lady's sent nanny had said this morning, she finally felt slightly relieved.

Lady Zhou said to Nanny Jia, "In that case, tell the maids to set the table!"

Shen Yuanyu stood up excitedly, directing the maids to set the meal in the inner room, her face full of joy. Lady Zhou looked at her eldest daughter with eyes brimming with a gentle smile; seeing such a change in her daughter made her happier than if she had swallowed an elixir of immortality.

As the family was enjoying their harmonious moment, a young maid hurried in to report, "Madam, Concubine Bai has arrived with the Seventh Young Lady and the Fifth Young Master to pay their respects to you." It seemed the gathering at Lady Gu's Shaohe Courtyard had already dispersed.

Shen Yuanyu's brow furrowed, feeling as though she had just swallowed a fly. Lady Zhou glanced at her eldest daughter and instructed the young maid, "Please invite Concubine Bai and the others in."

A short while later, Concubine Bai entered, accompanied by the Seventh Young Lady, Shen Yuanbi, and the Fifth Young Master, Shen Xi. Shen Yuanyu observed Concubine Bai closely. Concubine Bai looked a few years younger than Lady Zhou. She wore a light cyan satin jacket embroidered with magpies on plum blossoms and a white pleated skirt. Her glossy black hair was styled in a traditional ingot bun, adorned with a simple gold hairpin.

In terms of beauty, she was not a peerless beauty, but her every movement was elegant and graceful, perfectly embodying the refined charm of a woman from the Jiangnan region.

Lady Zhou had given birth to two daughters, and since Shen Yun was the eldest legitimate son of the primary branch, the Shen family's direct lineage took many concubines to ensure the prosperity of the clan. When Lady Gu wanted to arrange a concubine for Shen Yun, he truly had no reason to refuse.

Lady Gu had chosen a woman of clean family background from her own clan. Technically, Concubine Bai was Lady Gu's cousin. Within a few days, Concubine Bai was brought into the manor. Although she came from a humble background, her kinship with the Gu family of the "Four Great Clans of Wu" meant that, in terms of social standing, she was actually superior to Lady Zhou. This left Lady Zhou with little leverage to control her.

Therefore, although Concubine Bai was a concubine-born daughter, her marriage into the Shen manor made her an indisputable high-ranking concubine. Less than a year later, she gave birth to the Seventh Young Lady, Shen Yuanbi, and another year later, the Fifth Young Master, Shen Xi, was born. He was the Eldest Master Shen Yun's first and only son. Although he was a concubine's son, Concubine Bai's status rose with her son, allowing her to firmly suppress Lady Zhou.

Coupled with Concubine Bai's tactful and smooth way of handling affairs, she soon had Lady Gu wrapped around her finger. With this kinship, Lady Gu was even more willing to favor her. Once Lady Zhou became bedridden, the internal management of the primary branch naturally fell into Concubine Bai's hands. Thus, when Yuanyu was sent away to the manor, the person in charge of her affairs was Nanny Zhang, who had been sent by Concubine Bai.

Having managed the primary branch for so many years, Concubine Bai was fair in her rewards and punishments and kind to others, earning her an excellent reputation throughout the Shen manor.

Seeing Shen Yuanyu dining with Lady Zhou, a flash of surprise crossed Concubine Bai's eyes. She believed she understood Shen Yuanyu very well—that she was aloof, arrogant, and lawless. Because of Lady Zhou's background and her sister's stutter, Concubine Bai had always harbored resentment toward these two closest relatives and never sought closeness with them. This, of course, included her subtle instigations and provocations.

She had not expected that instead of going to Lady Gu to seek favor, she would come to Yanran Residence today.

She was deeply calculating. Maintaining a calm exterior, she led Shen Xi and Shen Yuanbi to kneel before Lady Zhou. Shen Yuanyu was startled; she had not expected Concubine Bai, the uncrowned queen of the primary branch, to perform such a grand formal greeting to her mother. Even in ordinary families, where the mistress's word was law, concubines generally did not need to perform such a formal kowtow when paying respects.

Shen Yuanyu sneered inwardly but pulled Shen Yuanshu aside. It was appropriate for her mother to receive such a formal greeting from Concubine Bai, but if the two young ladies did it, it would seem arrogant. Concubine Bai was, after all, an elder and had borne children for her father; for the primary branch, she was a woman of merit.

"Peace to you, Madam! I wonder if your health has improved. Every day, I recite the Medicine King Sutra in the manor's small Buddhist hall for half an hour on your behalf, hoping for your speedy recovery. That would be a blessing for our primary branch." Concubine Bai was not lying; whether out of sincerity or to win favor, she indeed did this every day.

Her expression was one of utmost piety. However, Shen Yuanbi and Shen Xi appeared somewhat reluctant. Shen Xi, in particular, had a sour expression, looking as if he had just lost his biological mother. Among the five legitimate wives of the eastern and western branches, Lady Zhou had the lowest birth and the least status. But he, Shen Xi, was the only son of the primary branch. Once his father became the clan head, he would be the future head of the Shen clan. Why should he kneel and kowtow to this lowly woman?

Lady Zhou coughed and said, "Concubine Bai, you are too kind. Please rise, and help the children up as well. Haven't I told you before not to perform such grand formalities when paying respects? Why do you never listen?"

Concubine Bai replied very humbly, "If Madam waives the formalities, it is because of your generosity and compassion, but I dare not forget my own status. No matter the time, Madam is my mistress and the legitimate mother of the two children. Without rules, there can be no order; I simply dare not abandon these formalities."

"You... you are always like this. I don't even know what to say to you!" Lady Zhou knew it was inappropriate, yet she found herself unable to win the argument.

Having found an opening, Concubine Bai then greeted Shen Yuanyu: "I heard last night that the Third Young Lady had returned from the manor. I intended to visit Changle Hall to pay my respects once I was free today, but I did not expect to see you here first. After many days apart, the Third Young Lady has grown even more beautiful."

Her voice was gentle and melodious, very pleasant to the ear. Even though Shen Yuanyu knew her heart was sinister and malicious, at this moment, she felt a sense of comfort from the flattery, which left her secretly surprised. This Concubine Bai was truly formidable; compared to Lady Gu, she was on an entirely different level.

Shen Yuanyu returned a half-formal greeting and replied indifferently, "I owe it to your kindness, Concubine!" She then shifted her tone and said, "But speaking of which, you are quite well-informed! Just yesterday, when I returned to the manor, you sent Seventh Sister to meet me at the second gate, yet my mother only learned of my return this morning when she came to pay her respects. Compared to my mother, you truly seem more like the mistress in charge of our branch!"

She spoke these words with a smile, but to Concubine Bai, they felt like thorns in her back. "The Third Young Lady exaggerates. There is only one mistress of the primary branch, and that is Madam. It is only because Madam has been ill and the Old Matriarch has favored me, allowing me to manage the household affairs on Madam's behalf, that my information has become a bit more timely."

"Oh, is that truly the case?" A coldness flashed across Shen Yuanyu's face. "Look at how devout and respectful you are when paying respects to my mother; anyone watching would think you are incredibly respectful to her. Yet, for a major event like my mother's biological daughter returning from the manor, you wouldn't even send someone to Yanran Residence to inform her. Is it because you are too busy with important matters, or is it because in your heart, you do not recognize my mother as the mistress and hold her in no regard at all?"