Chapter 15

Chapter 15

It was one thing for mothers-in-law like Lady Xiao and Fang Shi to assign people to her courtyard, but for a sister-in-law to send servants to her elder sister-in-law’s courtyard was truly unprecedented.

If it were the Shen Anning of her past life, she likely wouldn’t have given it a second thought, simply taking it as a kind gesture from her sister-in-law and accepting with flattered gratitude.

But the reborn Shen Anning merely gazed calmly at the other woman. After a moment, she curved her lips into a subtle smile and said, “I appreciate my sister’s kindness. It’s not that I don’t wish to accept, but today, due to the Yuan Yang incident, I’ve just finished reorganizing my courtyard’s internal affairs.”

As she spoke, Shen Anning turned slightly toward Lady Xiao and said, “Mother, actually, the reason I came today was to ask a favor—”

She then proceeded to explain in detail how she had reorganized the personnel in her courtyard that morning, raised the maids’ wages, and reassigned both new and old servants, laying out everything in detail. “It was precisely because of yesterday’s Yuan Yang incident that I realized my previous approach was inadequate. If Yuan Yang had been properly managed, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but unfortunately, she was mishandled, and it even unnecessarily dragged my sister into the matter. That made me realize that all the people in my courtyard were originally assigned by you, Mother, my sister, and other branches of the family to assist me. I deeply understand that Mother and everyone meant well, but over time, I fear similar incidents like yesterday’s with Yuan Yang might occur again. Not only would it be hindering, but more importantly, it might harm the harmony between us. So, I’ve come here swallowing my pride to ask Mother for these people.”

As she spoke, Shen Anning glanced at Chun Qi and Xia An.

The two immediately stepped forward and kowtowed to Lady Xiao, saying, “Madam—”

Seeing Chun Qi and Xia An, who had been placed in her courtyard, and hearing Shen Anning’s words, Lady Xiao was visibly startled.

The marriage of her eldest son and daughter-in-law had been arranged too hastily, and there hadn’t been enough time to properly train and prepare servants. Thus, she had borrowed some people from various courtyards to help out. While there was undoubtedly an intention of placing people in her daughter-in-law's quarters, the primary motive had been to assist. After all, her future daughter-in-law had grown up in a rural village and couldn’t even distinguish proper etiquette clearly. Entering this marriage sight unseen, who knew what kind of situation she would face?

The eldest son and his household were crucial to the future of the entire marquis household, and the role of the eldest daughter-in-law was exceptionally important!

Moreover, Shen Anning hadn't yet established herself in the half-year since her marriage. Thus, Lady Xiao had turned a blind eye and allowed the situation to continue.

Now that her daughter-in-law had brought it up herself, Lady Xiao felt somewhat embarrassed, as if her hidden intentions had been laid bare. However, when she looked up and saw Shen Anning smiling cheerfully with a sincere expression, she relaxed slightly.

She took a moment to scrutinize her carefully. Since her visit during Shen Anning’s illness, she had sensed some changes in her, and these changes seemed even more pronounced today. Though she didn’t know the reason, it appeared to be a positive development.

Recalling Shen Anning’s mention of reorganizing the inner courtyard and her decisive actions, Lady Xiao narrowed her eyes slightly, unsure whether to feel mixed feelings or relief.

After a moment, Lady Xiao collected herself and said with a smile, “I’ve been overwhelmed with work lately and neglected this matter. I should have helped you settle these internal affairs earlier. It’s excellent that you’ve taken the initiative to organize things. Of course, I have no reason to object.”

Lady Xiao was straightforward. Without hesitation, she immediately ordered someone to fetch the servant contracts of Chun Qi and Xia An and handed them directly to Shen Anning. Turning to the two maids, she said, “From now on, you belong to Madam. Remember, prioritize her in all matters and serve her well. If there’s any negligence, even if Madam spares you, I will not!”

Chun Qi and Xia An promptly acknowledged the order respectfully.

After giving them a brief admonishment, Lady Xiao turned to Shen Anning and said, “You should use these people as needed. There’s no need to pay them from your private funds. Your dowry is your personal savings, and the household can certainly cover their monthly allowances.”

This time, Lady Xiao was genuinely considering Shen Anning’s interests.

However, Shen Anning replied, “To be honest, it’s been over half a year since I married into the marquis household. The dowry attendants in Mother’s courtyard are supported by Mother’s private funds, while I’ve been using the household’s monthly allowances. Half a year is one thing, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to continue like this indefinitely.”

“Mother, don’t worry. Ning Er has plenty of dowry funds—it’s more than enough to cover a few extra mouths!”

As she spoke, Shen Anning blinked playfully, a rare display of cheekiness toward Lady Xiao.

In Shen Anning’s lively eyes, Lady Xiao seemed to catch a glimpse of her old friend’s shadow from years past. For a moment, she was lost in thought. Soon after, she took Shen Anning’s hand in hers, holding it tightly with a mix of relief and affection. “No matter how much dowry you have, it won’t last if spent recklessly.”

She gave Shen Anning a slight reproachful look but then said seriously, “However, if you want to firmly secure the loyalty of those under you, it’s necessary to offer some benefits to make them your own people.”

Gently smoothing Shen Anning’s hair, she added, “I’m pleased to see you thinking so strategically. There’s a long road ahead—we’ll take it step by step.”

With this, the matter was tacitly considered settled between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

After Chun Qi and Xia An withdrew, Shen Anning belatedly remembered something. She turned to Lu Anran and the kneeling Shi Yu, hesitating slightly as she said, “Sister, what about this—”

Shen Anning appeared slightly awkward, having put the other party on the spot, unsure whether to accept the maid or not.

Watching Shen Anning, who feigned embarrassment but whose eyes held a hint of mockery, Lu Anran tightened her grip on her handkerchief.

She couldn’t understand how her usually meek and submissive sister-in-law had changed so dramatically overnight.

When Chi Yu mentioned it the previous night, she had been somewhat skeptical.

But today, Shen Anning had calmly and effortlessly turned the tables on her without leaving a trace.

Though inwardly startled, Lu Anran forced a strained smile and said, “Elder Sister, what are you saying? This maid was originally assigned for your use. It was my lack of consideration in the past.”

She then called out, “Chi Yu.”

Chi Yu immediately stepped forward, and Lu Anran instructed her, “Go fetch Shi Yu’s servant contract and deliver it personally to Elder Sister.”

Following Lady Xiao’s example, she gave Shi Yu detailed instructions. After settling the matter, Lu Anran’s expression suddenly darkened. Forcing another strained smile, she murmured to Shen Anning, “What is mine is yours, Elder Sister. Not just a maid—if there’s anything of mine you fancy, you need only ask.”

Lu Anran spoke ambiguously, a faint trace of bitterness appearing on her delicate features.

In her past life, Lu Anran had often said, “What is mine is yours,” and Shen Anning had been deeply moved, believing that although her sister-in-law was distant, she had a good heart.

Now, however, Shen Anning inwardly sneered. What hypocrisy and pretense! So, she had been inflicting subtle harm in front of Lady Xiao all along!

Even after rebirth, Shen Anning had never intended to actively seek revenge against the murderer from her past life. But if she didn’t provoke others, others would still provoke her.

Shen Anning ignored Lu Anran’s display of weakness. Instead, she suddenly covered her mouth and coughed weakly. Playing weak—who couldn’t do that?

Immediately, Lady Xiao handed her a cup of tea to calm her and said, “Child, your health hasn’t fully recovered yet. Why not rest a few more days? There are plenty of people here to attend to me—you needn’t overexert yourself.”

Shen Anning took a sip of tea and repeated what she had said upon arriving: “The physician said I need to move around more.”

Then, she turned to Lu Anran and said with concern, “Sister, your health isn’t the best either. Don’t stay cooped up in your courtyard all the time—you should also get out and move around more.”

Shen Anning made the suggestion kindly and generously.

Lu Anran lowered her eyes and nodded faintly, avoiding the sight of the affectionate bond between Lady Xiao and Shen Anning. Before she could respond, Shen Anning suddenly asked out of the blue, “I heard Sister’s illness is a congenital condition?”

Then, as if struck by curiosity, she added, “By the way, when did Sister enter the household? Do you still remember anything from before entering the household?”

She continued, “We share similar hardships. I’ve already found my parents and reclaimed my roots. Over the years, has there been any news from Sister’s family?”

Shen Anning asked with apparent concern, her tone casual, as if the topic had just occurred to her.

But this sudden, unexpected question caught Lu Anran off guard. Her already pale face turned ashen, and she clenched her handkerchief tightly.

After a moment, she glanced silently toward Lady Xiao.

Lady Xiao also seemed startled.

Exchanging a look, Lady Xiao suppressed her vigilance without showing it and asked with a smile, “Why bring this up so suddenly?”

Shen Anning raised a hand to rub her temple, frowning slightly. “Mother, please don’t think me abrupt. It’s strange—these past two days, I’ve been having dreams. I keep dreaming of scenes from when I was an infant, surrounded by raging flames shooting toward the sky and chaos. I was alone, crying desperately in the fire, but no one came to help.”

Shen Anning spoke softly, a hint of sorrow in her voice.

Lady Xiao and Lu Anran, initially wary that Shen Anning had discovered something, their expressions relaxed somewhat upon hearing her explanation.

Before long, Lu Anran tightened her grip on her handkerchief, staring intently at Shen Anning. She shook her head slightly, her expression fragile and tinged with loss, and said, "I don't remember anything."

Lady Xiao lowered her gaze, as if deep in thought. After a moment, she sighed softly and added, "Ran'er was very young when she entered the household—still an infant in swaddling clothes. I found her by the roadside while praying at the temple all those years ago. She was too young to remember anything."

With that, Lady Xiao skillfully shifted the conversation. Taking Shen Anning's hand, she looked her over carefully and asked, "Why on earth would you have such a dream? Are you not fully recovered from your illness yet?"

Shen Anning quietly observed the subtle exchanges of glances between the two, noting how many details seemed suspicious upon closer inspection. She couldn't help but blame her past self for being foolish—how could it be mere coincidence that the Lu family’s adopted daughter was around the same age, shared the character "An" (peace) in her name, and even went by the childhood nickname "Ningning"? At the time, Shen Anning had thought it a curious twist of fate.

But it was far more than just fate.

It wasn’t until just before dying in her previous life that Shen Anning learned from Lu Anran’s own lips that, before Shen Anning married into the Lu family, Lu Anran’s real name had been Lu Anning. The Lu family, fearing Shen Anning might grow suspicious, had changed her name to Lu Anran just before Shen Anning’s arrival.

She hadn’t just taken over her life—she had even taken the name her parents had given her before their deaths.

Though these thoughts raced through her mind, Shen Anning spoke calmly: "I don’t know what’s wrong, but I've been feeling tightness in my chest these past few days."

After a brief pause, she added thoughtfully, "Perhaps it’s because the Ghost Festival is approaching, and my parents are sending me dreams from the underworld."

At this, Shen Anning turned serious and looked directly at Lady Xiao. "All these years, I’ve never known anything about my parents, and I’ve never been able to pay my respects to them. Now that July is almost here and I’m still in the capital, Madam, I’d like to visit the old residence these next few days and hold a memorial ceremony for them!"

Shen Anning stated this firmly.

Lady Xiao was surprised and instinctively glanced at her adopted daughter’s sorrowful expression across the room.

Although Shen Anning had never paid her respects to the Shen family, for over a decade, Lady Xiao had secretly taken Lu Anran to perform memorial rites for the Shen family every Qingming Festival and Ghost Festival.

Now—

Without looking at her adopted daughter’s disappointed, pale face, Lady Xiao collected herself and said, "That is only right."

After a moment’s thought, she patted Shen Anning’s hand and added, "I’ll make the arrangements when the time comes and accompany you to pay your respects."