"It hurts! It hurts..."
Xiao Aoshi was in acute pain, his hands thrashing wildly.
Unable to restrain his strength, he landed two punches on Shen Lianxin's stomach, the pain bringing tears to her eyes.
"You rebellious son, you're killing me!"
As she loosened her grip, Xiao Aoshi screamed and ran out, vanishing from sight.
"You lot, hurry after him! If anything else happens, how will I ever hold my ground in the Marquis Manor?" Shen Lianxin gritted her teeth. The memory of Shen Feiwan’s smug expression just moments ago made her heart ache with resentment.
Unknown to her, a figure had been standing outside the door.
It was Aunt He, He Yuru, a woman who in her youth had been a renowned beauty in the capital. She had met the Marquis by chance and married into the manor, but as the Marquis was already advanced in years, she had almost never shared his bed.
Over time, no one in the manor paid her any heed.
Yet, what Shen Lianxin did not know was that this woman’s scheming nature and background were beyond anything she could imagine. By the time the Marquis Manor fell into turmoil, Shen Lianxin had already gone mad and been locked away in the back courtyard!
"Third Young Mistress, do not be angry. I have a method that can help you keep those two young masters in check," Aunt He said with a gentle smile as she stepped into the room.
She carried a faint scent of gardenia, which felt both distinct and comforting.
"You?"
Shen Lianxin had no memory of such a person; she frowned, clearly skeptical.
"The two young masters are still young, yet they are at that stubborn, hot-blooded age. As a mother, you cannot always supervise them yourself. Why not find two clever personal maids to advise and tend to them? There are some things a young man must learn from an early age."
"Are you suggesting I find them private chamber maids?"
Shen Lianxin’s brows knit together.
Never mind that Madam She would disapprove; even she felt it was improper.
Aunt He covered her lips and chuckled. "Whether they are 'chamber maids' or not—who would know if you don't speak of it? These maids today are very shrewd; for the sake of their own futures, they will be obedient. As long as they keep the young masters happy, the boys will naturally learn to behave like men."
Shen Lianxin considered this carefully. It seemed to make sense.
Before she could say anything more, Aunt He had already left with her own maid.
Watching her retreating figure, Shen Lianxin pondered for a long time. If she didn’t recognize this aunt from her previous life, she must be a minor player of no consequence.
But this suggestion of hers—could it be useful?
"Si'er, go. Find a few of the manor's rough-work maids—those who are a bit older and possess delicate, pretty features."
Even if they were just maids for the inner chambers, if they got along well later, promoting them to concubines wouldn't be out of the question. But the most important thing was that they had to be obedient—loyal only to Shen Lianxin!
She lifted her chin slightly. "Men are all the same, after all."
Remembering what she had heard at the Shen Residence yesterday—that Xiao Ling’s body was ruined—she realized that as long as she raised the children well and helped Xiao Nian'an recover his health to produce an heir for the Marquis Manor, the position of the manor's future matriarch would surely be hers.
...
A fortnight passed in the blink of an eye.
The Marquis Manor had enjoyed a period of peace. Coincidentally, it was time for the Dowager’s birthday, and every courtyard was decorated with lanterns and festive streamers.
"Eldest Young Mistress, all the accounts have been cleared," Steward Tian said with a smile, tidying the ledgers. He sighed with genuine admiration, "You have a true talent for management. The accounts are perfectly balanced, and the staffing is arranged so appropriately that the subordinates find their work effortless."
"It is entirely due to the years of experience and capability of you and the other assistant stewards that the manor flourishes. Once this birthday banquet is over, I will certainly inform Mother and request additional annual leave for you all."
For these old servants who had served the manor for years, money was no longer the priority; time to spend with their families meant everything.
Sure enough, Steward Tian could not hide his joy. "Many thanks, Eldest Young Mistress!"
Steward Tian stepped back and withdrew.
Zhuying hurried in, leaned close to Shen Feiwan’s ear, and whispered a few words.
"Where is she?"
"In the small woodshed in the back courtyard. I have already had people contain her."
"Good. Let’s go have a look!"
Shen Feiwan stood up to leave and brushed past Xiao Ling.
He opened his mouth as if to speak, but his wife was like a gust of wind, merely nodding at him in passing.
Leng Fei, following behind, muttered, "To the Madam, the Heir is no different from empty air. Now, the Third Young Mistress is quite different with the Third Young Master—she’s always trying to climb into his arms."
So, was their Madam displeased with the Heir?
Realizing he might have stumbled upon a massive secret, Leng Fei hurriedly clamped his mouth shut.
Xiao Ling stood rooted to the spot, his brows furrowed tightly.
Shen Feiwan led her people into the small woodshed, where she confiscated several small, illustrated booklets from the maid’s person. They were tawdry things circulating in the city’s teahouses, specialized in tales of illicit romance, with some scenes being utterly indecent.
It was only thanks to Mother Meng’s strict oversight that they had been seized from the maids in time.
Had these corrupted Xiao Zhizhi and Xiao Yanran, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
"Tomorrow is the birthday banquet. I have no time to waste on you. I shall count to three; if you do not speak, I will have you thrown into the furnace at the back."
The maid shook her head desperately, pleading, "Eldest Young Mistress, spare me! I only looked at them out of boredom. I didn't show them to the young ladies, truly..."
"One. Two. Three."
Shen Feiwan cast a cold glance at her. "Do it."
She showed no mercy.
As the maid was being dragged away, she screamed frantically, "It was the Third Young Mistress! She told me to bring them in, and she told me to teach the two young ladies how to seduce those noble scions at the banquet!"
"I won't do it again! Please, Eldest Young Mistress, spare my life!"
Shen Feiwan frowned and halted. She turned back and studied the girl carefully for a long moment. "What did she promise you?"
The maid cried, trembling, "The Third Young Mistress said that if I succeeded, she would give me a large sum of money so I wouldn't have to worry for the rest of my life."
Shen Feiwan looked at her and raised a hand.
"Is there anyone left in your family?"
The maid shook her head, sobbing, "No one. My whole family is dead."
"From now on, I will give you fifty taels a year. Go to the villa in Lin Town, rent a small courtyard, and keep an eye on someone for me. Can you do that?"
The maid nodded repeatedly.
"Thank you, Eldest Young Mistress."
"Send her out of the manor."
Shen Feiwan walked out of the woodshed and looked toward the direction of the Middle Courtyard. Tomorrow was the banquet; since Shen Lianxin had dug a pit for her here, was she not afraid of being trapped in her own web?
The next day.
In the Middle Courtyard of the Marquis Manor, prominent figures from the imperial court had arrived with their families, and even the three young princes and the little princess from the palace were present.
They were the Third Prince, Qi Huan; the Fifth Prince, Qi Yi; and the Sixth Prince, Qi Yu, along with the little Princess, Qi Yan.
Qi Yan was the same age as Xiao Zhizhi; as soon as she entered the manor, she was taken by the maids to play with Xiao Zhizhi and the other young ladies.
Watching them sit together from a distance, Shen Lianxin’s smile could not have been deeper.
She was a quick study; after Aunt He’s guidance, she had assigned private chamber maids to Xiao Huanyu and Xiao Aoshi, and in just two days, the two boys had become utterly respectful toward her!
She had also spent money to bribe Xiao Chun, from Xiao Zhizhi’s courtyard, to show Xiao Zhizhi those indecent teahouse booklets.
If Xiao Zhizhi read them and then shared them with the little princess and other noble girls...
Shen Lianxin was already anticipating the sight of Shen Feiwan’s adopted daughters making fools of themselves!
"What is this!"
Qi Yan suddenly cried out over there, "How dirty!"
Hearing this, Shen Lianxin stood up immediately. "Huanyu, what is going on?"
The crowd turned at the sound to see Xiao Huanyu wearing women’s undergarments beneath his own clothes, his neck and body covered in bruises and red marks.
Everyone present was aghast.
"This..."
"What a disgrace!"
Shen Feiwan, who was supporting Madam She into the courtyard, heard this and Madam She nearly fainted from anger. "Feiwan, hurry... the reputation of the Marquis Manor cannot be lost!"
On the other side, Xiao Ling sighed softly. "Mother, I fear it is already too late."