Luoxue and Luoqing were originally low-level maids in the General's Estate, tasked with the dirtiest and most menial chores. After the second young lady was officially recognized and brought into the family, Madam Shen casually assigned them to serve her, with strict instructions to keep a close eye on her and report any movement immediately.
Luoqing was far more diligent than Luoxue, reporting every single detail every few days. Even when Madam Shen grew impatient and told her not to bother her with trivialities, Luoqing remained vigilant, waiting for the day the second young lady would make a grave mistake so she could claim the credit. Therefore, while Luoxue and the rest of the maids and housekeepers were busy preparing for the wedding banquet, Luoqing kept her focus on the second young lady.
"I saw the second young lady clutching a letter with a sweet smile on her face. She returned to her room, but shortly after, she snuck out of the house. I intended to stop her, but a kitchen maid called me over to help. I figured since the second young lady rarely went out and was so timid, she wouldn't go far, so I thought I’d catch up with her after I finished my chores. But by then, she was nowhere to be found."
"I went to report it to Madam, but she was too busy to see me. I tried to find the young master, but as soon as he heard it concerned the second young lady, he had his servant chase me away."
As for why she didn't go to the eldest sister? Originally, the eldest sister was the one meant to marry Lord Cen, but since the second young lady ended up marrying him instead, no one in the estate dared to mention her name in front of the eldest sister.
Shen Qingrui narrowed her eyes. "So you have no idea why she went out?"
Luoqing nodded.
"What about the letter?" Cen Liangxuan asked. "Did she take the letter with her?" He had panicked at the time and forgotten to search Shen Yiren. He hadn't intended to kill Shen Yiren initially; he only wanted to kidnap her so the substitution could take place.
Luoqing shook her head. "I don't know. Does the Princess Consort want me to search the second young lady's courtyard?"
"Go search it," Cen Liangxuan said, feeling uneasy. "Be careful, and be back before Shen Yiren returns to the estate."
"Yes," Luoqing acknowledged and left to carry out the order.
When it was Luoxue's turn, Shen Qingrui instructed her to secretly dig up a navy blue bundle from beneath the rockery, also emphasizing that she must return before Shen Yiren.
Shen Qingrui and Cen Liangxuan were busy distracting everyone, while Madam Shen and Shen Zhi'ang were still airing grievances on Shen Qingrui's behalf. Shen Zhi'ang told his brother-in-law he must teach Shen Yiren how to behave, while Madam Shen spoke of the dowry; since the original one could not be found, she planned to prepare another for her daughter. Shen Qingrui was delighted; it was clear her mother loved only her.
Old Madame, however, could not share in the joy. Where would the estate find so much money to prepare another dowry? With Lord Cen present, she could not ask this directly, so she merely gave her daughter-in-law a warning glance. Even if she loved Qingrui, she could not touch the General's Estate's foundation. Madam Shen's gaze flickered. She brushed it off by ordering the kitchen to serve the meal, then whispered to her daughter, "Don't worry, Mother will find a way to handle the dowry." She knew Old Madame wouldn't let her touch the estate's money, but she still had some of her own, and for the rest, she would find a way to get it back from Shen Yiren.
"Thank you, Mother." Shen Qingrui’s face was still throbbing with pain. She hoped Luoqing and Luoxue would find the evidence and destroy it so she and the Lord could truly rest easy.
Luoqing combed through the courtyard but found no letter. When she returned to the main hall, she shook her head at the Lord and the Princess Consort. The two exchanged a look, their unease growing. If the letter wasn't in the courtyard, it had to be on Shen Yiren. What puzzled Cen Liangxuan was, if the letter was on her, why didn't she produce it during the scene she made at the wedding? If the letter had been in the courtyard all along and she only went looking for it after returning, it meant she had been searching for evidence in secret... that would be troublesome. They could deny everything, but Shen Yiren's tenacity was like dirty water—even if it didn't splash onto them, the stench would linger. What if it affected his appointment to the Ministry of Personnel?
Duke of Anguo was a military man. Cen Liangxuan had chosen a civil path. Because his father had performed meritorious service suppressing bandits years ago, and he already held the title of Duke, the reward was bestowed upon Cen Liangxuan, who was named the heir. Cen Liangxuan was no dandy; he had passed the official exams and was just waiting to finish his wedding before reporting to the Ministry of Personnel. Even if it were just a ninth-rank position, it was the Ministry of Personnel—the head of the six ministries—that oversaw official promotions. Moreover, a ninth-rank post was merely his stepping stone. He had assumed that given Shen Yiren's personality, bullying her would be the end of it; how could it have spiraled into such a disaster?
...
Behind the rockery.
Luoxue arrived at the spot the Princess Consort had described and found signs of disturbed soil. But why were there two spots? She ignored the confusion and dug at both. She had to dig with her bare hands; she couldn't risk finding tools, afraid she wouldn't be able to explain herself if caught. Fortunately, the rockery was near the water, and the soil was soft and damp, so it wasn't too difficult. Yet, after digging for a long time, she found nothing. Was it on the other side?
Luoxue moved to the other spot, focusing intently on the soil, not noticing a green-clad figure crouching beside her.
"Found it!" Luoxue exclaimed softly, clutching the bundle the Princess Consort had described.
"Found it, are you happy?" Shen Yiren asked, resting her chin on her hand.
"Hap—" Luoxue’s voice died in her throat, her body stiffening. Not only had she been discovered, but the voice was unmistakably familiar. She turned her head, dazed. Shen Yiren was blinking at her with a smile, holding a bundle up to her face. "Did that fake send you to dig this up?"
"Ah!" Luoxue shrieked and fell backward, the cold dampness of the ground soaking into her backside. "S-second young lady, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then we'll let someone who does explain it." Shen Yiren, holding the grimy bundle, signaled for Cang Ming to gag Luoxue and escort her to the main hall.
Feiyun, having finished its task, remained nearby. The eight- or nine-year-old dog, the size of a young man, walked proudly by Shen Yiren's side. The maids and servants along the way retreated in haste. From afar, Mother Lü saw what she called "the dog in human skin" and rushed to shield the Old Madame. The Old Madame, however, was not afraid; she wagered that no matter how rebellious Shen Yiren was, she wouldn't dare let the dog commit violence.
Madam Shen stood up. "Yiren, why don't you come and pay your respects to the Lord and the Princess Consort?"
"I was looking for them," Shen Yiren said, walking in with her entourage. Shen Qingrui saw the gagged Luoxue and wondered how she had been caught.
Cen Liangxuan’s attention was fixed on Shen Yiren. She wore a kingfisher-green robe, light and elegant as the tender leaves of early spring. Her hair had no accessories, highlighting a fresh, lively beauty. She didn't have the oval face that was so admired in society, but she had perfectly inherited General Shen's handsome nose and lips and Madam Shen's beautiful eyes, looking as bright and spirited as a mountain sprite. Cen Liangxuan knew she was beautiful, but she had always seemed dull and gray. Now, standing there with a calm smile, flanked by a cold, black-clad guard and a fierce, massive hound, she was radiant. For a moment, he felt that compared to Qingrui, who constantly bragged about being from a military family, Shen Yiren had a much more commanding presence.
"My Lord?" Shen Qingrui noticed the way Cen Liangxuan was looking at Shen Yiren—it was exactly how he had looked at her when they first met. Shen Qingrui frowned.
Hearing Shen Qingrui's voice, Cen Liangxuan pulled his gaze away.
"Fake, is this what you sent her to dig up?" Shen Yiren opened the bundle, and its contents spilled onto the floor. "It’s quite strange. You claim I eloped, yet my personal belongings are buried behind the rockery. Things I didn't even know were there, you went to the trouble of having someone dig up."
"I don't know what you're talking about. If you are determined to find fault, you will always find a pretext!" Shen Qingrui maintained her haughty attitude.
Madam Shen added, "Yiren, it’s one thing that you refuse to acknowledge Qingrui as your eldest sister, but she is now the Princess Consort. Not only do you fail to pay your respects, but you dare to turn around and bite the hand that feeds you?"
"Exactly!" Shen Zhi'ang said, defending Shen Qingrui. "You ran away from your wedding; that has nothing to do with my eldest sister!"