Old Madame Li reached an agreement with her daughter-in-law and grandson. Consequently, she tasked Lady Xie with testing Shen Yiru’s resolve. Lady Xie, wasting no time, set out early the next morning accompanied by her personal maid, Hanyun, to find Shen Yiru at Qingyou Courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, they found Qiuyan and Wenchany standing guard on either side of Shen Yiru’s door. Lady Xie walked forward slowly.
"Greetings, Madam," Qiuyan and Wenchany said in unison, bowing.
Lady Xie nodded with a smile and asked, "Where is the Young Madam?"
Qiuyan replied, "Returning to Madam, the Young Madam is unwell and requires quiet rest. She is not receiving guests."
At these words, Lady Xie’s face darkened instantly. Behind her, Hanyun stepped forward and said loudly, "How can you call Madam a guest? It is precisely because the Young Madam is unwell that Madam has been considerate enough not to demand her daily morning greetings. Now, Madam has even come in person to check on her. What is this? Madam has come herself as an elder, and yet you intend to bar her from the door? If this were to get out, the Young Madam would inevitably be branded with the label of unfilial behavior."
Hanyun continued to scold Qiuyan relentlessly. Before Qiuyan could retort, Lady Xie gave a light cough. She looked toward Hanyun and said in a cold voice, "Cough, cough... Hanyun, hold your tongue. Yiru has always been obedient and filial to me as her mother-in-law. How dare you speak such nonsense? Quickly, slap your own face as punishment."
"Yes, Madam," Hanyun replied, bowing her head immediately. Without hesitation, she delivered three loud slaps to her own face, then retreated to the side and stood with her head bowed.
Had Qiuyan and Wenchany not been previously informed by Fangcao of Old Madame Li’s schemes and machinations, they might have been deceived by the high-level acting displayed by Lady Xie and her maid. A mother-in-law leaning toward her daughter-in-law? Hardly. Having seen through the truth, the two maids sneered inwardly at Lady Xie’s performance, yet they remained firmly planted in front of the door, refusing to budge an inch.
"I say, you two girls usually seem so sensible. Why are you being so stubborn now? If the Young Madam’s reputation is ruined because of your actions, wouldn't that be a terrible injustice?" Lady Xie spoke with a pleasant face, though her words carried a thick undercurrent of threat.
Qiuyan and Wenchany exchanged a glance. Finally, Qiuyan went inside to report.
Shen Yiru knew Lady Xie had ill intentions, but she needed to see her. Otherwise, how could she turn the tables on them? Before long, the door opened, and Qiuyan came out to invite Lady Xie in.
Stepping into the room, Lady Xie saw Shen Yiru lying on the bed, eyes closed in rest. Seeming to hear her enter, Shen Yiru struggled with apparent difficulty to sit up. Lady Xie hurried forward to support her.
"Yiru, I heard you were ill and bedridden; it truly worried me sick. With me managing the household affairs personally, I haven't been able to get away. I never imagined that in just two days, you would have fallen into such a state."
"Cough, cough, cough... Mother, I am fine," Shen Yiru said, pulling out a handkerchief while coughing.
Seeing her coughing violently, Lady Xie reached out to rub her back. "What medicine are you taking right now? Should I have the manor physician come to take a look?" As she spoke, Lady Xie scrutinized Shen Yiru’s complexion with a suspicious gaze. Shen Yiru had always been in good health; it was unlikely she would fall ill so suddenly.
Shen Yiru shook her head. "There is no need. It is just a minor ailment. I have already prescribed medicine for myself and am currently taking it."
"As the saying goes, a physician cannot treat themselves. Perhaps having the manor physician look at you would help you recover faster," Lady Xie insisted.
Shen Yiru forced a faint smile. "I know my own body. My illness is primarily a matter of the heart; as they say, heart-sickness requires heart-medicine."
By saying this, Shen Yiru pulled the conversation straight to the point. Lady Xie was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "Yiru, I know that what Wangzhou has done this time has caused you to suffer a grievance." She paused, lifting her eyes to check Shen Yiru’s expression. Seeing no change, she continued, "But it is common for a man to have a wife and concubines. Wangzhou is not a man of loose morals. Jingyou is his savior, and they are truly in love—it is a rare and good fate. Furthermore, Jingyou is now pregnant. If you could raise your hand and grant them your blessing, it would be a virtuous act. Besides, I promise you that Wangzhou will never take another concubine into the house. How about it?"
Lady Xie believed that the Li Family had already yielded quite a bit, and that she, as a mother-in-law, had given her daughter-in-law enough face.
Shen Yiru listened to Lady Xie’s words quietly before speaking calmly and unhurriedly. "I am the wife officially and properly wed to my husband. Since entering this house, I have managed the household affairs. For two years, not only have I done my utmost to manage the inner quarters, but I have also used my own dowry to supplement the General's Manor. I waited for my husband for two years, and the moment he returned, he wanted me to nod and agree to him taking an outsider as a wife of equal status. By doing this, my husband is clearly throwing my dignity onto the ground to be trampled."
"Are you saying you refuse to let Jingyou enter the household? Jingyou is carrying the flesh and blood of our General's Manor. If we were to drive her away directly, the General's Manor would lose its dignity." Lady Xie spoke righteously, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction.
Shen Yiru replied with composure, "It is not as if I am forcing her to leave. My husband can simply take her as a concubine. In this way, not only can my dignity be preserved, but the reputation of the General's Manor will remain intact."
Lady Xie would hear none of it; she stood up, agitated. "That will not do! Jingyou’s status is special. How could she lower herself to be a concubine?"
Shen Yiru raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what is her status?"
Lady Xie lifted her chin. "She is the daugh—" But halfway through the sentence, she caught herself and changed course. "Her status is something you will know in time. In any case, being an equal wife with her is a step up for you. If you nod and agree, it will be beneficial for you in the long run."
Shen Yiru’s face turned cold. "Since Sun Jingyou’s status is so extraordinary, then let Li Wangzhou write a letter of separation. After that, wouldn't it be better to simply make Sun Jingyou his legitimate wife?"
Lady Xie was choked for words, then defended herself, "Wangzhou is not a heartless or ungrateful man. The main thing now is for you to come to your senses. Otherwise, whether you are cast out or become a divorced woman, your life in the future will not be easy. You mustn't be ungrateful!"
As Lady Xie spoke in a tone of earnest advice, Shen Yiru couldn't help but sneer. "Ungrateful? I think it is the Li Family that is ungrateful."
With that, Shen Yiru said loudly, "Qingyao, bring the account books."
As soon as she finished speaking, Qingyao emerged from the side room with three ledger books, walked to the bed, and stood still. "Mistress."
Shen Yiru looked at Lady Xie. "Mother, look at these ledgers yourself. See how much of my dowry I have used to supplement the General's Manor over these past two years? A prestigious General's Manor, yet it relies on the daughter-in-law's dowry to keep up appearances. If this were to spread, I wonder if the General's Manor would still have any face left to preserve?"