Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Shen Anning's pleasant demeanor instantly soured. She shot a stern, silent glance at the person, then turned to Butler Meng with a solemn instruction: "Grandpa Meng, as you manage and guard this estate alone daily, remember to keep the doors and windows secured. Though the capital is the emperor's domain, enjoying long-term peace, it's not immune to those with ulterior motives or opportunistic individuals. Be especially wary of those who feign familiarity to deceive the elderly—there might even be a whole syndicate behind them, just waiting to exploit you once they've gained your trust."

Shen Anning delivered her orders to the old butler with an air of detachment.

On the other side, Pei Yujin, far from being offended, merely deepened his smile. Whether he genuinely missed her veiled warning or was feigning ignorance, he nodded and chuckled in agreement as Shen Anning spoke.

Initially, Butler Meng didn't grasp Shen Anning's indirect reprimand. But as her words registered, he quickly glanced at the uninvited guest. Just as he was about to dismiss the man, his gaze fell upon a somewhat familiar face, and a look of dawning recognition, tinged with surprise, spread across his features. "Pei? Could this young master be... the young master of the former Chief Grand Secretary's household?"

Butler Meng had served the Shen family for many years and was well-acquainted with many high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital, especially those close to the Shen family.

The young man before him was not merely familiar; his voice and appearance were strikingly similar to those of an old acquaintance.

Pei Yujin smiled again, bowing respectfully to Butler Meng, adopting an uncharacteristically formal tone. "It is an honor that the old butler still remembers me."

He then added with a light chuckle, "Yujin caused quite a bit of mischief in your presence when he was a child."

It turned out that this Pei Yujin was a descendant of the current Chief Grand Secretary Pei. His father, Pei Zhiqiu, the eldest son of the Pei family, served as the Grand Tutor of the court and had been a close classmate and sworn friend of Shen Anning’s father, Shen Que. When Pei Yujin was five, Pei Zhiqiu personally sent him to the Shen family school to be tutored by Chief Grand Secretary Shen Zhong.

Back when Shen Anning was still in her mother’s womb, both the Pei and Lu families had sought a betrothal with the Shen family. However, Pei Zhiqiu and Shen Que, close friends, were a step too late. The older generation—Marquis Lu and the Chief Grand Secretary—had already secured the engagement. Thus, Shen Anning was promised to the Lu family even before she was born.

When five-year-old Yujin was a child, he would often sneak out of class to wait eagerly by Shen Anning’s mother, hoping for his "little sister" to be born. Each time, he was retrieved by the old butler.

Butler Meng exclaimed with joy and nostalgia, "It’s been so many years, young master. You've grown into such an elegant and accomplished gentleman, even surpassing your father in his youth. How quickly time flies—in the blink of an eye, both you and the young lady have grown so much!"

Butler Meng was both excited and deeply moved.

He glanced at his young lady, then at the refined young master of the Pei family, a silent sigh of regret in his heart.

Soon after, he began to reminisce about the past, chattering away.

Pei Yujin listened patiently, occasionally offering an agreeable remark. After a while, his gaze returned to Shen Anning’s face, and he smiled, saying, "So, young lady, now you see I'm not a swindler, don't you?"

He paused, then abruptly added, "I studied under the Chief Grand Secretary. If you think about it, I am actually your junior grand-uncle."

Pei Yujin raised an eyebrow, fanning himself leisurely, a faint, ambiguous smile playing in his peach-blossom eyes.

Shen Anning rolled her eyes and turned to leave, unwilling to waste words on this troublesome man. However, Pei Yujin quickly closed his fan, strode after her, and followed closely, a warm smile on his face. "Are you still upset about what happened three months ago? If my little grand-niece is willing, your junior grand-uncle is ready to apologize immediately, or even make amends. Would that suffice?"

Pei Yujin teased lightly.

Shen Anning did not break her stride.

Finally, as Shen Anning was about to disappear through the moon gate, Pei Yujin stared at her resolute figure, his playful expression fading as he spoke seriously and loudly, "Since you intend to establish a school and even revitalize the Shen family, you must currently be in need of scholars and great teachers. Though I may not be particularly talented, I happen to know many brilliant and exceptionally gifted scholars. Perhaps I could introduce them to you."

Pei Yujin spoke leisurely.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the hem of her dress flutter gently outside the moon gate, tracing a graceful arc before coming to a stop.

Seeing this, Pei Yujin’s smile deepened.

Soon after, he reopened his fan, swaying it leisurely as he walked towards her.

…

After finally seeing off the troublesome Pei Yujin, Shen Anning raised a hand to rub her temples repeatedly.

In her previous life, Lu Suian spoke very little. Though difficult to approach, he was not difficult to serve. Perhaps she had grown accustomed to a quiet and reserved environment. Today, Pei Yujin’s incessant chatter made her want to sew his mouth shut.

In her past life, she had encountered cold and aloof individuals, sharp-tongued critics, and sarcastic mockers, but rarely had she met someone as uninvited and silver-tongued as him—and a man, no less.

Three months ago, it was this nitpicking fellow who had treated her like a maid at the Marquis’s residence. It was her first banquet after marrying into the Marquis’s household, and she didn’t want to neglect the guests. Still unfamiliar and inexperienced, she hadn’t had the chance to reveal her identity. Unexpectedly, this man had been overly critical, finding fault where none existed, singling her out and drawing the attention of all the guests.

That day, it was Lu Suian who stepped in to rescue her, standing in front of her before everyone and declaring, "Young Master Pei, she is not a maid of the household but my wife, Lady Lu."

Although he had defended her in front of others, Shen Anning knew he was displeased. Not only had she embarrassed herself in public, but she had also caused the usually strict and self-disciplined Lu Suian to lose face entirely.

However, the Pei family was a family of scholars with an esteemed reputation. The Chief Grand Secretary was highly respected, and the Grand Tutor was known for his integrity. The Pei family was an indispensable and revered scholarly family in the court, respected by all officials. In her previous life, when Shen Anning was bedridden with illness, the Pei family, out of old friendship, had even sent her an eight-hundred-year-old ginseng.

Now, reborn into this life, Shen Anning only wished to foster good relationships. Moreover, she vaguely recalled that in her past life, although Pei Yujin never entered officialdom, he was exceptionally talented and engaged in profound discussions with various great scholars, earning himself a fine reputation.

He might prove useful in matters concerning the Shen family.

Otherwise, she would not have had the patience to deal with him and would have long since driven him away with a stick.

After setting aside the minor episode with Pei Yujin, Shen Anning composed herself and addressed the maids behind her, "My foster parents will soon arrive in the capital. However, the old residence is still short-staffed. Even if we go to the servant market today to select people, we’re still lacking those to train and manage them. Is there anyone among you willing to stay and temporarily oversee the residence for me? Those who stay will receive the same treatment as in the Marquis’s household. If you manage well, I will offer additional rewards. The assignment may last up to six months or as short as three months. Once the people are trained, if you do not wish to return, you may remain at the old residence. If you wish to return to the Marquis’s household, you may do so at any time."

Shen Anning discussed the matter with her maids.

As soon as she finished speaking, the maids exchanged glances. The suddenness of the request, without any prior indication, left them pondering and hesitant.

After a moment of contemplation, Xia An, one of the senior maids who had been overshadowed by others and saw no chance to advance, decided to take a chance and stepped forward, saying, "This servant is willing to serve the madam."

Shen Anning nodded with satisfaction and said, "Very well. Xia An will temporarily assume the duties of a first-rank maid at the old residence. From now on, you will be fully responsible for all matters there."

After Xia An stepped forward, two lower-ranking maids also volunteered. Shen Anning assigned them their roles accordingly. A moment later, she suddenly added, "Most of the maids in my courtyard are newcomers, and they haven’t fully learned the household rules. They are still quite inexperienced. Perhaps we need another capable person to assist Xia An."

With these words, she raised her eyes and scanned the group, finally settling her gaze steadily on Shi Yu at the very end. She smiled slightly and said, "Shi Yu has served the young lady for many years. Whether in seniority or ability, she is no less capable than Xia An. Shi Yu, are you willing to lend me a hand?"

Shi Yu, whose name was called, froze in place.

She was well aware that she had been sent to the Chuanze Residence by the young lady and had expected to be overlooked by the madam. She never imagined that, before she had even settled into her role at Chuanze Residence—without having been assigned a single task—she would be sent off to the unrelated Shen family old residence?

The madam made it sound pleasant, saying she could return if she wished, but whether she could return or not ultimately depended on the madam’s word.

It sounded like assistance, but in reality, it was a disguised form of banishment.

It seemed the young lady’s clever plans had been completely thwarted.

The three before her had solemnly pledged their loyalty. With her contract now firmly in Shen Anning's hands, if she refused, where else in Chuanze Residence would she have a place to call her own?

A chill crept up from the soles of Shi Yu’s feet.

After a long while, she finally stepped forward, her face slightly pale, and said, "This servant… is willing."

After dismissing Shi Yu, Shen Anning took Chun Qi, Xia An, Bai Tao, and others to the servant market that same day. They selected three matrons and eight maids to send to the Shen family old residence. Afterwards, she visited a pharmacy and a fabric shop to purchase some nourishing supplements and a few bolts of fashionable brocade from the capital. She also scheduled an appointment with a renowned tailor to come to the residence in three days to take measurements for new clothes. It was a very productive day.

Meanwhile, in the Jinyuan courtyard, Fang Shi had fallen ill.

First, she was driven to madness by Shen Anning’s defiance. Then, Shen Anning unceremoniously returned all the people she had sent. Finally, Marquis Lu Jingrong appeared at Jinyuan and berated her harshly. Under these three blows, the once-domineering Fang Shi had no time to vent her fury before collapsing, ill, into bed.

Xiao Fang Shi and Yu Shi attended to her tirelessly for two days. In just those two days, both had visibly lost weight, with Yu Shi appearing particularly haggard. Not only had her scalded hand from days earlier not yet healed, but during these two days, her forehead had been injured, her hand cut by broken teacup fragments, and she had stayed up half the night. All the hardships that had once belonged solely to Shen Anning were now being repaid with interest upon her.

Now, having finally managed to extricate herself and return, the moment she stepped into Songya Residence, she heard spasms of coughing coming from the courtyard.

Yu Shi faltered for a moment when she heard it, then turned away, tilting her head back to force back the welling tears. Yet, in the next instant, she clenched her teeth so hard that they nearly cracked.

Soon after, a mix of resentment and despair washed over her face.

While others only had to serve one mother-in-law, she had to serve two, on top of a chronically ill patient confined to their sickbed.

In the past, with someone as meek as Shen Shi acting as a buffer and a point of comparison, she felt she could endure the hardships and never felt utterly hopeless. But now that Shen Shi had escaped the sea of suffering, leaving her alone to struggle naked in its depths, she suddenly realized how boundless this sea of misery was—where was the end?

Why could Shen Shi escape, while she remained trapped in this endless suffering forever?

Yu Shi seethed with resentment.

Meanwhile, at Liuli Pavilion, Fang Siyan hurried back, holding her scalded fingers and crying out in pain every few steps. Even before entering the room, her coquettish complaints were already audible: "It hurts so much, Cousin—"

Blowing on her fingers, she stepped into the main hall, only to find Jin Zhui, a former maid of Liuli Pavilion, emerging from the inner room with a flushed and flustered face, still adjusting her hair at the doorway. At the sight of this, Fang Siyan’s delicate face instantly darkened.

She abruptly lifted the curtain and rushed inside, only to see her newlywed husband, Lu Jingxing, leaning against the desk with his feet propped up as he bent over to put on his boots.

Seeing Fang Siyan return, he immediately turned around, scooped her up, and spun her around in the middle of the room. "Why are you only back now, my dear? Others say a day apart feels like three years, but for me, a moment apart feels like a decade."

With that, he pinched her chin and planted a light kiss on her lips.

As a newlywed couple deeply in love, even though Fang Siyan had an outgoing personality, Lu Jingxing’s shameless behavior made her blush deeply. Her displeasure faded for a moment, but she still sniffed around him suspiciously. After a while, she gritted her teeth and warned him, "I’m not like Sister-in-law, who’s meek and easy to bully. I won’t tolerate any seductive vixens lurking around. If you dare fool around behind my back, I won't spare you."

Fang Siyan gritted her teeth as she issued her warning.

Lu Jingxing immediately laughed it off. "I’m not a cat—why would I go after fish?"

Seeing him evade the issue, Fang Siyan grew anxious. "I want you to swear—no taking concubines, and no promoting any maids to bed-warmers!"

She insisted on forcing Lu Jingxing to swear an oath.

Lu Jingxing, having been doted on by Fang Shi since childhood, was a man who did as he pleased. He was willing to indulge Fang Siyan because he wanted to, but if he ever became unwilling, no one could force him. Pushed to the brink by Fang Siyan, he couldn’t help but show his displeasure and lose patience.

For the first time since their marriage, the couple found themselves at odds.

Soon, seeing Fang Siyan’s eyes redden, Lu Jingxing softened. He pinched her cheek and asked, "What’s wrong today? Did something happen?"

Fang Siyan knew when to stop. She slowly raised her scalded fingers, looking aggrieved. "Aunt was angered and driven mad by Sister-in-law, and she took it all out on me and Yu Shi. Since childhood, I’ve never done a day's rough work. Look, my fingers are red from the scalding."

Then, with a troubled expression, she added, "It’s not that I’m unwilling to serve Aunt, but if this continues day after day, how will I ever endure it?"

She then looked seriously at her husband and asked, "Do you think Sister-in-law is really determined to confront Aunt head-on? But... where did she get the courage?"

Fang Siyan looked puzzled. Even after several days, she still couldn’t understand how the meek and submissive sister-in-law she remembered had suddenly become so bold as to defy Aunt.

And now, she was suffering for it too.

What a troublemaker.

Lu Jingxing quickly took Fang Siyan’s fingers into his mouth, soothing them gently. After a moment, he said nonchalantly, "Even a cornered rabbit will bite. Mother has always been too harsh in her ways."

Even he had witnessed Sister-in-law being forced to kneel as punishment.

But—

"I have an idea that might help you escape this misery."

Fang Siyan immediately perked up and pressed him for details. Lu Jingxing rolled his eyes and said, "Isn’t the Empress’s birthday coming up? With Sister-in-law’s timid demeanor, she’s bound to embarrass herself in public. If you step up and uphold Mother’s dignity that day, won’t everything work out once she’s pleased?"

Fang Siyan saw the logic in this. After all, her sister-in-law, the wife of the heir, had once been treated like a maid in the mansion, a fact that had become a laughingstock throughout the capital.

Someone like her, who couldn’t even present herself properly, would surely cause a scene at the palace.

And if she made a fool of herself, wouldn’t Aunt have a new target to criticize?

Setting aside her current troubles, Fang Siyan began to secretly look forward to the Empress’s birthday banquet.

The Empress’s birthday fell on the first day of the eighth month. In the year the new emperor ascended the throne, many matters were unsettled, so the celebration had been modest. This year, with the court more stable, the Emperor decided to host a grand banquet in the Empress’s honor.

Lu Suian had been away on a southern trip for nearly a month and a half. It was assumed he wouldn’t make it back in time for the Empress’s birthday, but unexpectedly, he returned, travel-stained, on the evening before the banquet.

Author's Note:

Dear readers, after discussing with the editor, this story will enter the VIP chapter starting from the next update, scheduled for Wednesday at midnight. Two to three chapters will be released at that time.

The first three chapters will be free to read, and red envelopes will be dropped in the comments section for the first three chapters. Thank you all for your support.