Unlike others, Aunt Zhou did not kick someone when they were down. Instead, she advised, "Why is Master so angry? Second Miss meant well. What if the medicine really works?"

"What's the use!" Shen Cang said dismissively, "What use could it possibly be?"

"If she were truly so capable, why hasn't His Majesty summoned her to be the imperial physician?"

Shen Cang was clearly making excuses, but Aunt Zhou dared not speak again.

Ren Dong stood behind Shen Qiyin, staring intently at Shen Cang with a fierce glint in her eyes. Her hands, clenched tightly under her sleeves, made a cracking sound.

That old bastard deserves a beating!

Shen Qiyin lowered her head and said in a very soft voice, "...Father's reprimand is absolutely right. It was I who overestimated myself."

"Hmph!" Shen Cang shrugged and sat down.

"Please calm down, Father." Shen Qiyin poured him a cup of hot tea, thinking to herself, "You'll burn to death," but said aloud, "Grandmother's health isn't very good these days, and Father has to take care of everything at home and outside. If you were to fall ill, what would become of this family?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhou's eyes fell into deep thought.

Shen Cang took the tea, but sighed, "Sigh..."

In just a few days, he looked several years older, his face was weathered and his eyes were filled with exhaustion.

His sudden demotion left him with no hope for the future. The only thing that brought him some peace of mind was the thought that his eldest son could pass the imperial examinations and bring glory to the Shen family.

But as luck would have it, misfortune never comes singly; the rope always breaks at its thinnest point!

Thinking of this, Shen Cang felt increasingly stifled.

Aunt Zhou, keeping her eyes downcast, said gently, "Second Miss is right. Master has to work at the Imperial Hospital during the day and then keep an eye on all the important and trivial matters in the mansion when he comes back. It must be really hard for him."

"It's a pity that I can't share your worries, sir, and can only worry helplessly," she said, her face showing distress.

Chen Xiyin's eyes rippled gently, and a smile spread across her face.

Sure enough, as soon as I brought it up, Aunt Zhou seized the opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

With her dark eyelashes lowered, Shen Qiyin said in a low voice, "Although I have learned how to manage a household from my mother and grandmother, I am still young and may not be able to handle things well."

"If Mother were here, she might be able to help you with some of the burden."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhou was immediately alarmed!

She quickly replied, "But the lady is still under house arrest."

"Just solve it."

"Second Miss, you are mistaken. That was an order from the Old Madam."

"Even if it's Grandmother's order, can't Father, as the head of the family, change it?"

"this……"

Aunt Zhou was speechless for a moment.

Seeing Shen Cang frown, she knew he was displeased, so she dared not speak further.

In truth, Shen Qiyin didn't care much about whether Madam Shen took charge of the household or whether she could regain her freedom; she just didn't want to see Aunt Zhou satisfied.

Besides, three people have died in this mansion in succession, making it rather deserted. It would be good for her mother to come out and liven things up.

Thinking of this, she continued, "As the saying goes, in times of emergency, one should act expediently. Right now, the household is going through a turbulent period, so even if Grandmother knew, she probably wouldn't refuse."

"Otherwise, if there's a social obligation involved, would the aunt have to be the one to entertain the guests?"

These words were practically an insult directed at Aunt Zhou.

Her face was incredibly pale, but she couldn't lash out in front of Shen Cang.

Shen Cang nodded thoughtfully: "Hmm... Qi Yin is quite right."

After saying that, he looked up at Shen Qiyin, a look of satisfaction on his face: "If you are so sensible and do more of what a girl should do, why would I have scolded you just now?"

He sneered inwardly, his heart heavy with sorrow.

He insulted her purely because he was being sarcastic! What does it have to do with her?

"Go and convey my message: lift your mother's confinement." Shen Cang said in a benevolent manner, "Your mother will temporarily manage all the affairs of the household. You should learn from her as well; it will be useful when you get married in the future."

"A young lady should do her proper duties and not try to show off her limited skills like she did today, thus breaking the rules."

Shen Qiyin didn't even bother to reply this time. She simply curtsied slightly, turned around, and left for Ningxiang Courtyard.

When Xianglan, the maidservant beside Madam Shen, saw that it was Shen Qiyin who had arrived, she quickly dropped her embroidery and happily ran into the room to inform Madam Shen.

"Madam, the Second Miss has arrived!"

As Xianglan's smiling voice faded, Chen Qiyin climbed the steps and entered the room.

Instead, Madam Shen slapped him across the face!

Unfortunately, it missed.

Shen Qiyin gripped her wrist tightly, her eyes filled with frost, and when she spoke, even her voice was cold: "Mother, please be careful as your hand may hurt."

"You! You've gone too far!"

Madam Shen was furious, her face turning ashen: "You still know I'm your mother! Where have you been all these days I've been confined? Why haven't you come to see me even once?"

Since Shen Qi came of age, Madam Shen rarely scolded or beat her in such a fit of anger; most of the time, she mainly complained.

Today, she completely disregarded her dignity, crying and wailing, "What sins have I committed to raise such an ungrateful wretch who doesn't even care about his own mother!"

"You're living a glamorous life as the second young lady of the Shen family outside, while I'm confined here eating chaff and wild vegetables. I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you, only to give birth to a wicked child..."

"I went to great lengths to arrange a good marriage for you, and you broke it off without my knowledge! You've really grown wings!"

She cried and talked, talked and cried, rambling on and on.

Shen Qiyin listened patiently and patiently until Madam Shen's scolding gradually subsided. Then she instructed Xianglan, "Mother must be thirsty and unable to scold anymore. Go and pour her a cup of tea."

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