Xiao Nian'an’s eyes darted around, and he replied immediately, "Mother is right. Handling matters regarding Eldest Brother is the priority."
His expression clearly betrayed that he was hiding a secret. Unfortunately, Shen Lianxin did not understand his true nature. Had Shen Feiwan been present, she surely would have sensed that something was amiss.
"Why hasn't Sister-in-law arrived yet? Should we send someone to check on her?" Shen Lianxin was still waiting to see Shen Feiwan make a fool of herself. In her previous life, she had been so terrified by the ghosts in the mourning hall that she lost her composure, drawing a long lecture from Madam She. This time, it was Shen Feiwan's turn! Given that she hadn't appeared yet, she was likely scared out of her mind.
Just as she was inwardly gloating, contemplating how to ridicule Shen Feiwan, Shen Feiwan arrived, looking perfectly composed.
"I offer my greetings to Mother."
She had not neglected any formalities. She had changed into fresh, plain mourning clothes, wore no makeup, and styled her long hair into a matron’s bun. After all, her husband’s body had been returned to the manor; even if he was dead, she was still a married woman.
"How... how do you still have the heart to primp and groom yourself!" Shen Lianxin gritted her teeth, desperate to find fault and fabricate a charge against her.
However, anyone with eyes could see that Shen Feiwan was not dressed ostentatiously; she had merely washed her face. Furthermore, Xiao Nian'an was alive, but Xiao Ling was dead. Shen Feiwan was destined to be a widow for the rest of her life. While she was grieving, why was her younger half-sister trying to provoke her? The two Shen sisters were clearly not on good terms.
Madam She’s brow twitched. She did not like this third daughter-in-law of hers, who was always looking for trouble. The concubines and other ladies nearby also had their own opinions. It was said that the eldest legitimate daughter of the Shen Residence possessed such grace that she would have been fit to be a palace consort, while the illegitimate Miss Shen fell far short. In the past, Shen Lianxin had seemed decent enough, but placed next to Shen Feiwan, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Xiao Nian'an also kept his gaze fixed on his sister-in-law. When he first saw Shen Lianxin last night, he had thought her beautiful, but seeing Shen Feiwan made him realize that his eldest brother had been a truly lucky man—it was just a pity he hadn't lived to enjoy it. For the sake of the Yongan Marquis Manor’s future, could he perhaps take his sister-in-law into his own courtyard? They were all family, after all; it would be a kindness for him to look after his brother's widow.
Xiao Nian'an pondered this secretly. He would follow his mother’s instructions tonight and sleep in separate quarters from Shen Lianxin to properly recover his strength. He hoped to eventually taste the joys of having both wives. He had no reaction to Shen Lianxin, but perhaps it would be different with Shen Feiwan!
"Should I have arrived at my husband’s final journey looking disheveled and unkempt?" Shen Feiwan replied with neither servility nor arrogance. Having climbed her way through the back courtyard for years, she struck back with ease. "Now that Third Young Master has returned safely, are you relieved, Sister? But do be careful—after all, Third Young Master's health..."
She left the sentence hanging—a remark cruel enough to nearly stop someone's heart. So what if Shen Lianxin’s husband was alive? He was no better than a broken man! Shen Feiwan’s words were like a blade—a cold, piercing truth. Shen Lianxin was so angry she nearly shredded her handkerchief.
Madam She felt a headache coming on as she watched the scene. "Enough. It is getting late. Let us head out to finish our business, and then go send off Xiao Ling."
The group rose one by one. Shen Lianxin deliberately walked at the back and lowered her voice to ask Shen Feiwan, "Did anything strange happen in the mourning hall last night? Did you keep watch there all night?"
Shen Feiwan looked at her and smiled. "What could happen in a mourning hall? Don't tell me... it's haunted?"
Shen Lianxin froze instantly.
"No, that’s not it!" Her heart pounded. Meeting Shen Feiwan’s gaze, she suddenly felt that something was wrong—Shen Feiwan’s eyes were completely different from before.
A realization struck Shen Lianxin. "You, too, have been reborn!"
"But you are one step too late!" Shen Lianxin hissed. "Now that I have a husband, I will be the one to revitalize the Yongan Marquis Manor. As for you, just go to the back courtyard and wait for death!"
She wasn't just going to take everything that had belonged to Shen Feiwan in her past life; she wanted Shen Feiwan to die in her place! She looked no different from the madwoman in her previous life who had climbed over walls to commit adultery.
"Shen Feiwan, why is it that you, as the legitimate daughter of the Shen Residence, enjoyed all the love of your parents and could live a life of peace and luxury after marrying into the Yongan Marquis Manor? I refuse to accept it!"
"I am telling you, the one married to Xiao Nian'an now is me! I will take back everything that belongs to me!"
*Everything that belongs to her?*
Shen Feiwan’s gaze darkened for a brief moment. To Shen Lianxin, those years of storms and hidden currents, the cutthroat battles of the inner residence, and the feeling of being surrounded by enemies, were considered "peaceful luxury"? And this filthy, despicable husband—someone was actually fighting to have him?
Fine. Let her have him. After all, she, Shen Feiwan, was a benevolent person.
"Sister, you're hurting me. What are you talking about? I don't understand a single word. But now that you mention it, something did seem to happen in the mourning hall last night." Shen Feiwan’s bright eyes suddenly welled up with mist, as if she were truly frightened. She reached out and grabbed Shen Lianxin’s hand. "There seemed to be some kind of sound. Sister, do you know something? You must not keep it from me!"
At that touch, Shen Lianxin felt as if she had been touched by something cursed and hurriedly pulled away. "No! I don't know anything!"
Having failed to probe anything out of Shen Feiwan, Shen Lianxin turned her mind to the matters ahead and hurried to catch up with Madam She. *Why am I panicking?* she thought. Regardless of whether Shen Feiwan had been reborn, she now held the upper hand. The future title of First-Rank Lady would surely be hers. No, she would climb even higher.
Shen Feiwan stood where she was, lightly brushing off her robes. As she moved forward, her steps were light yet firm.
*What to do, Shen Lianxin? I was just acting.*
She truly wanted to thank this thoughtful younger half-sister for taking her scumbag husband and useless sons off her hands. With her experience from the previous life—raising children and restoring the Marquis Manor—did she really fear being unable to manipulate a mere Shen Lianxin?
Besides, she had an ace up her sleeve. She was not afraid. So, when she walked inside and saw Shen Lianxin clinging delicately to Xiao Nian'an, she felt not a ripple in her heart.
However, she sensed that Xiao Nian'an kept stealing glances at her. Was his brain damaged from the battlefield, or had he listened to Shen Lianxin’s instigations? Why did he stare at her with that look of yearning?
Shen Feiwan only felt a wave of nausea. She frowned and looked away.
Today was the day the Marquis Manor would adopt heirs. Madam She had sent people to select eighteen children of appropriate age from the clan—boys and girls alike, the oldest fifteen or sixteen, the youngest five or six. She had kept it quiet, merely claiming that since their family line was sparse, they needed to bring in some fresh vitality.
Everything was the same as it had been in her previous life. Originally, Shen Lianxin had not wanted to follow the path of the previous life—only children born from her and Xiao Nian'an would be true heirs of the Marquis lineage. Once she had those, these adopted children would be worthless. Although Xiao Nian'an was currently useless, he was at least better than the dead Xiao Ling!
The more Shen Lianxin thought about it, the more hopeful she felt about the future.
"Mother, let me make the first selection." Filled with anticipation, she walked straight toward two of the children.
Seeing this, Shen Feiwan smiled silently.
Shen Lianxin, you brought this upon yourself.