The Demon race has no tradition of virginity testing. Shen Yiren frowned and asked, "Is this the rule?"
Madam Shen replied, "It is naturally the rule."
"Rules cannot be kept by me alone; everyone should be tested," Shen Yiren said, looking at Old Madame and Madam Shen. "You are the grandmother and the mother, so why don't you set the example first?"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Madam Shen glared at her and shouted, "You ill-mannered creature!"
What did she mean by having them tested first?
Was she implying that a widow was not acting in accordance with female virtue, or that a wife whose husband was away was not remaining chaste?
Old Madame's face darkened further. The maids and servants dared not even breathe loudly; the Second Miss was far too bold with her words.
"If you won't be tested, then I won't either," Shen Yiren said, realizing from their expressions that a virginity test was considered deeply insulting. "If you try to force me, I will force you right back. We shall see who is stronger."
When Madam Shen thought about how Shen Yiren could effortlessly toss a burly servant aside, she felt a shiver of fear. As for Old Madame, the handprint on Mother Lü’s neck had not yet faded. If Shen Yiren truly forced a test upon them, the word would spread, and it would be more than just a laughingstock; the gossip would likely swallow the General's Estate whole.
"Are you certain of your purity?"
"I am, and if I'm not, then surely you aren't either." Shen Yiren’s single remark sent their anger surging again, but the young girl simply clapped her hands and walked off with Xiao Ba.
Old Madame scolded her daughter-in-law, "Look at what you’ve taught her these past two years! If you don't discipline her properly, the entire General's Estate will become a joke."
"Mother, please calm your anger. I will certainly discipline her strictly."
Old Madame left, leaning on her cane. Just as Madam Shen was about to rest, a maid came to report, "The Second Miss has not only occupied the Eldest Miss's Mingyue Residence, she has thrown all of the Eldest Miss’s belongings out!"
Before she could even sit down, that wretched girl was causing trouble again! Madam Shen wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and hurried over.
Shen Yiren stood in the courtyard, directing Xiao Ba: "That, that, and that—pile them all here and burn them to ashes."
"Yes, Sister!" Xiao Ba, who possessed the strength of an ox, tore through the clothes, quilts, chairs, tables, and even a screen worth a hundred taels of silver. A small mountain of items piled up in the courtyard.
"Shen Yiren! What are you doing again!" The usually gentle Madam Shen didn't know how many times she had roared today; her voice was already hoarse. "Mingyue Residence is your sister's, and these things are your sister's. Why are you tearing them apart and throwing them away?"
"Have you forgotten that you only gave birth to one treasure, and that is me?" Shen Yiren signaled for Xiao Ba to ignore her and keep throwing. "She is just a fake, and she’s already married off. Is she expecting to come back?"
"Qingrui would never be abandoned by Lord Cen like you were." Madam Shen defended the precious gem she had raised, utterly ignoring that the person before her was her own flesh and blood, feeling only disdain. *A useless thing, unable to even hold onto a good marriage.*
"It was I who looked down on Cen Liangxuan after he had been used by Shen Qingrui. If I had insisted on the wedding, would there even be a place for Shen Qingrui?" Shen Yiren was speechless. "You’re actually proud of picking up someone else’s leftovers."
"Sister! It’s all piled up!" Xiao Ba ran over to claim credit.
Shen Yiren smiled and patted his head. "Where is the torch?"
"Oh!" Xiao Ba ran off to find one.
Madam Shen tried to block them, forbidding anyone to give Xiao Ba a fire source, but Shen Yiren was unconcerned. She was a demon; lighting a fire was trivial.
"Heaven, if you also feel the injustice done to Shen Yiren, then burn this fake’s things!" Shen Yiren tilted her head, her hand hidden in her sleeve nimbly forming a spell.
Madam Shen and the surrounding servants looked on with mockery. Did she think she was a deity?
*Boom!*
A massive fire erupted out of thin air, tongues of flame licking greedily at the pile. The crowd was stunned. "It, it really caught fire..."
Madam Shen was also shocked. She turned to look at Shen Yiren in disbelief, but quickly realized the fire was consuming the furniture and clothes her favorite daughter loved. Panicked, she screamed for water to douse the flames and ordered people to reach in and grab whatever they could save.
Just as the servants neared the fire, Shen Yiren snapped her fingers, and the blaze raged even more fiercely. The evening wind fanned the flames, and some servants’ hair began to singe.
"Madam, the fire is too big." No one was willing to risk their life to retrieve the items.
Seeing that everything was about to be destroyed, someone shouted, "Isn't that the Eldest Miss’s favorite mother-of-pearl inlay box?"
Madam Shen looked over; it really was. Mother-of-pearl inlay had been popular in Yujing for a time, and her daughter had admired it greatly. She had pulled many strings to acquire it, and her daughter treasured it deeply. Madam Shen strode forward and reached straight into the flames.
"Madam!"
Shen Yiren was also startled, watching as Madam Shen held onto the partially charred box, refusing to let go despite her blistered hands. She was genuinely kind to Shen Yiren, her adopted daughter, but it was a pity for the original owner, who had never received even a shred of a mother's affection.
By the time bucket after bucket of water arrived, the belongings had been burned to a cinder. Madam Shen, no longer caring to scold Shen Yiren, rushed off to find a physician.
Mingyue Residence fell quiet. Xiao Ba squatted before the ashes and asked, "What now?"
"Naturally, we dig it up and cover the courtyard with fertile soil," Shen Yiren said. The two of them worked together before finally resting.
While they slept soundly, Old Madame tossed and turned, unable to find peace, and Madam Shen could not sleep due to the burning pain in her arms.
...
At the Duke of Anguo Estate, Shen Qingrui rose early to dress and apply her makeup. The maid who attended to her, who had once served Shen Yiren, had always been sullen in the past, but now, with a new master, she beamed and chirped, "Young Madam."
Shen Qingrui remarked, "If you wish to return to my sister's side, I will grant it."
The two maids immediately knelt and swore their loyalty: "This servant will follow the Young Madam to the death and obey her every command! We have only one master, the Young Madam!"
Shen Qingrui smiled gently. "You are sensible."
On the way to offer tea, the maid Luoqing flattered her: "Young Madam, the Duke’s estate has passed down through three generations as an only son. Lord Cen is the only male heir. Now that you have married in, the Duchess of Anguo will surely entrust the management of the household to you."
Management of the household had always been in the hands of the mistress of the house; it was a symbol of real power. Shen Qingrui was determined to have it.
When offering tea, she saw her mother-in-law, but the father-in-law was absent. Shen Qingrui was confused, but the Duchess merely dismissed it, saying he was busy. Shen Qingrui knew the Duke of Anguo cared about pedigree and disliked that she was a "fake" legitimate daughter. She didn't like him either; he had actually tried to drive her away yesterday!
"Mother, please have some tea." Shen Qingrui offered the tea sincerely, inwardly hoping the Duchess would hand over the household affairs.
The Duchess set the tea down, her calm expression revealing neither like nor dislike. "I do not know what methods you used to make my son insist on marrying you, even resorting to the absurd act of a substitute bride, but now that you have entered the Duke's gates, be sure to keep to your place, honor your parents-in-law, and serve your husband well."
Shen Qingrui gritted her teeth; she didn't like this mother-in-law, who hid needles in her soft words, either!
"Especially, stop playing around with your martial arts; focus your energy on continuing the Duke’s line and give birth to a son soon."
Dislike aside, Shen Qingrui still replied, "Yes." After waiting a moment, she looked up and asked, "Is there anything else, Mother?"
The Duchess replied, "No, you may go."
*Nothing else?*
*What about the household management?*
"Wait," the Duchess suddenly called out to her.
Shen Qingrui’s eyes brightened; perhaps she had simply forgotten.
The Duchess said, "The steward from the General's Estate is still in the residence. Hurry and settle things with them—have them return to wherever they came from."