After leaving Qinghui Courtyard, Yinshuang looked around to make sure no one was around before she couldn't help but laugh. She whispered to Chenwan, "I heard from the maids in the manor that when the Third Miss found out the silver notes were real, she was so angry that she smashed all the teacups and pastries in the room."

She thought she could ruin Shen Ying's reputation by listening to her instigation, but in the end, it was Shen Rong herself who was ridiculed. No wonder she smashed things to vent her anger.

Shen Wan's lips curled into a smile that she couldn't suppress; she hadn't felt this good in a long time.

Yinshuang said, "It's just too risky. Your Highness has no idea how worried I was that they wouldn't take the bait..."

If they don't take the bait, the five thousand taels will really be wasted.

Although they might gain a reputation for sisterly affection, that reputation is worthless.

Shen Wan knew this was a risky move, but she had grown up with Shen Ying and Shen Rong since they were little, and she knew them better than anyone else.

Shen Ying was proud and arrogant, and she would never allow anyone to be superior to her, especially herself.

Her generous gift of five thousand taels of silver had already aroused Shen Ying's suspicion, giving Shen Rong something to gossip about. Then, she revealed that the silver note was from her, and Shen Ying was convinced that she had her jewelry stolen. In her anger, Shen Ying would definitely take the bait.

Shen Ying was certain that she couldn't tell the difference between real and fake banknotes, and she was equally certain that she couldn't recognize them.

The five thousand taels of silver returned to her hands after going around in circles. Shen Rong lost five thousand taels of silver and also ruined her reputation, being punished by kneeling in the Buddhist hall. She had a lot to settle with Shen Ying over this.

As soon as Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan got into the carriage and left the alley where the Marquis of Pingyang's residence was located, there was a knock on the window. Shen Wan was wondering who was knocking on the window when Chen Yu reported from outside the carriage, "The old lady has asked the Princess Consort of Jin to compensate Miss Shen with six thousand taels of silver."

A bright smile bloomed on Shen Wan's lips.

The old lady favored Shen Ying over Shen Rong, but both Shen Rong and Shen Ying were her own granddaughters. Especially since Shen Rong had fallen into the mire, the old lady would definitely treat them equally.

The jewelry was stolen, and she has to compensate Shen Rong with 6,000 taels of silver. With Shen Ying's meager dowry, she must be heartbroken from paying all that.

Well, Shen Wan had no idea how furious Shen Ying was at this moment; she was so angry that she wanted to tear her to pieces to vent her anger.

Shen Ying had been holding back all the way, but as soon as she entered the South Courtyard, she gritted her teeth and said, "Mother, Shen Wan stole my jewelry and deliberately plotted against me!"

The second wife was also angry. She said, "Ever since she got together with Prince Ling, she's become a completely different person. Prince Ling is truly not to be underestimated."

Shen Ying also felt that Shen Wan's change was due to Ling Wang's advice behind the scenes. She gritted her teeth and said, "What use is Ling Wang no matter how powerful he is? Just because he is disliked by the Emperor and has broken his leg and can only sit in a wheelchair, he can't amount to anything."

The second wife said, "That's true, but he and Prince Jin got married on the same day. The Emperor didn't go to Prince Jin's residence, but went to Prince Ling's residence instead. No one can guess what the Emperor is thinking."

Shen Ying stomped her foot in anger, "Why must Mother exude the aura of the Prince of Ling and diminish the prestige of the Prince of Jin?"

The second wife said, "Of course, I favor Prince Jin more. But it's always good to be on guard. You must remain calm and not be as reckless as you were today. As long as Prince Jin succeeds, what can't we have then?"

Shen Ying twisted the embroidered handkerchief in her hand and said, "Although I am the Princess Consort of Jin, there are still a lot of people who have their eyes on the Prince of Jin, especially the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhongguo's family. The Empress also favors her. The other day in the palace, she made things difficult for me, but the Empress still sided with her. In the Prince of Jin's struggle for the throne, Father did not contribute the most. In the future, if things succeed, the position of Empress may not be given to me."

The second wife knew that Shen Ying's worries were not unfounded, but right now they had neither money nor power, so even if they wanted to help Prince Jin, they couldn't do anything about it.

Seeing her daughter's aggrieved expression, the second wife touched her daughter's face with heartache, "Be patient for a little longer, your father will not let you and Prince Jin down."

Shen Ying nodded, "I hope Father can get his wish soon."

...

The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Lingwang Mansion gate.

Shen Wan got off the carriage and, after entering the mansion, pushed Xie Jingyan toward the pharmacy. "It's already this late, I don't know if we'll have enough time to get the antidote today."

Xie Jingyan sat in his wheelchair and glanced at Shen Wan.

Does she really think Dr. Tao can cure his leg?

Seeing how anxious she was, he couldn't bear to discourage her.

Shen Wan pushed Xie Jingyan into the courtyard and saw Doctor Tao lying in a rocking chair under a big tree, his face covered by a book. Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting dappled patterns on him, making him look very comfortable.

He was sleeping soundly; the sound of the wheels rolling around didn't wake him.

Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan looked at each other.

Shen Wan asked, "Should I go wake him up?"

Xie Jingyan said, "Why disturb someone's peaceful sleep? Let's go."

Shen Wan pushed Xie Jingyan around. At this moment, the person lying in the wheelchair stretched and said, "It's still early. Go back and get a good night's sleep to recharge. You'll be in for a tough time tonight."

Shen Wan then asked, "What kind of hardship?"

Dr. Tao waved his hand, "I will deliver the medicine after dinner."

He didn't say a word about anything else.

Shen Wan didn't dare to ask any more questions. Seeing that she was really curious, she left the pharmacy and Chen Feng told her, "Yesterday, Young Master Yun brought over the snow snake gall. Doctor Tao said that the detoxification process would be very painful, sometimes like falling into an ice cave, sometimes like being burned by raging fire. Master might not be able to sleep all night."

Shen Wan was stunned. In her previous life, she only knew that Xie Jingyan had cured his leg ailment, but she had never heard that he had suffered so much to detoxify, as if he had fallen into an ice cave or been burned by fire. Just hearing about it was painful.

Shen Wan looked at Xie Jingyan, who happened to be looking at her as well. Shen Wan smiled at him and said, "You can definitely get through this."

That smile was more dazzling than peach blossoms in spring, and Xie Jingyan couldn't take his eyes off it.

Shen Wan waved her hand in front of him, and Xie Jingyan looked away, gazing into the distance.

Since Doctor Tao told them to get a good night's sleep, they should definitely listen to him. After returning to their room, Shen Wan said to Xie Jingyan, "Let's go to sleep."

Xie Jingyan raised his hand, and Shen Wan helped him up from the wheelchair, took off his outer robe, and helped him lie down on the bed.

After tucking him in, Shen Wan turned to leave, but Xie Jingyan grabbed her hand. "Aren't you going to sleep with me?"

Yinshuang and Haitang were placing tea on the table when they heard this. The two maids blushed and quickly left.

Shen Wan's ears turned red, annoyed that Xie Jingyan had said such explicit things that made people think inappropriately. She glared at Xie Jingyan, whose handsome, devilish face was full of innocence. "I've gotten used to sleeping with you in my arms. I can't sleep without you..."

Shen Wan's teeth itched with rage at the sight, and she desperately wanted to bite someone, but she could only suppress it. Everything was about healing her leg first. Once the poison was cured and she could walk freely, she could move into the study.

Habits can be formed and then broken.

Shen Wan hesitated and didn't speak. Xie Jingyan pulled hard, and Shen Wan pounced on him. He turned to the side and hugged Shen Wan in his arms. Shen Wan still wanted to struggle, but he said, "Don't talk, go to sleep. If I can't get through tonight, you'll have to be a widow for the rest of your life."