Um?

Shen Qiyin turned her head in confusion, only to find that there was no one behind her, except for a small yellow chrysanthemum at her feet.

She couldn't help but recall the osmanthus blossoms that Xiao Yan had smashed on her window that day.

It's him again?

Looking around, Shen Qiyin lowered her voice and tentatively called out, "Lord Xiao?"

As soon as he finished speaking, only the sound of the wind could be heard.

Just as Shen Qiyin realized she was overthinking things, she saw the person hanging upside down and tumbling down from the top of the pavilion!

She was startled by him again!

After Xiao Yan stopped, he looked at her and saw that she was holding her chest with one hand, and the look of surprise in her eyes had not faded. She looked like a frightened kitten with its fur standing on end.

Thinking of this, a faint smile unconsciously flashed in Ru Yuan's dark eyes.

Having calmed down, Shen Qiyin asked him curiously, "Why have you come again, sir?"

Upon hearing the word "again," Xiao Yan's expression froze for a moment, and he remained silent for a instant before replying, "...to come and watch the fun."

"Then you are late, sir."

"not necessarily."

He pointed.

Shen Qiyin looked over and saw Madam Shen walking towards Shen Cang with a lantern in hand.

She first draped a cloak over his shoulders, then used a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, saying with a pained expression, "It's chilly at night, sir, be careful not to catch a cold. Come inside quickly."

Upon hearing this, Shen Cang felt a rare sense of emotion.

After all, they were husband and wife, and only the person in front of him was truly good to him.

Especially after experiencing Aunt Zheng's selfishness and Aunt Zhou's betrayal, Madam Shen's sincere heart became all the more precious.

With a moved expression, Shen Cang grasped Madam Shen's hand and said with emotion, "In the end... it was still Madam who treated me the best..."

Madam Shen was flattered and overwhelmed!

From the day Shen Qiyin was born, Shen Cang never gave her a kind look, let alone said such comforting words. Madam Shen felt a mix of emotions and her eyes welled up with tears.

"My lord is my husband, my lifelong support. If I don't treat you well, who else can I treat well?"

Shen Cang was very pleased with these words, and he rarely spoke softly: "You have suffered all these years."

“Sir, that’s too formal. We’ve been husband and wife for a lifetime, how can we not have disagreements?” Madam Shen adopted the demeanor of a “virtuous wife and loving mother”: “If you have to blame someone, blame those two little sluts!”

“If it weren’t for their constant instigation, Master wouldn’t have kept his distance from me.”

"Who would have thought that not only did that little harlot Zheng harm me, but Aunt Zhou was even more audacious, daring to cheat on me behind my master's back!"

"But sir, don't be angry. It's not worth getting upset for nothing. Besides, I reported the matter to the authorities and they arrested the adulterous couple, which can be considered revenge for you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Cang immediately stopped in his tracks.

He frowned and looked at Madam Shen: "What did you say? You reported it to the authorities?!"

"...Yes, yes."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Cang swung his arm and slapped her hard across the face.

Madam Shen was so badly beaten that she could barely stand, and she staggered two steps to the side before regaining her balance.

She covered her face, her eyes filled with disbelief: "Master?"

"You useless piece of trash, good for nothing but causing trouble!" Shen Cang was furious and slapped him again with his backhand: "I knew it! Why did that official come to the manor for no reason? It turns out you're the one who ruined me!"

"I didn't, I didn't... I was only trying to do what was best for the master..."

"For my own good?" Shen Cang laughed in anger: "Making it public knowledge that I was cuckolded, is that what you call for my own good?"

"I think you're doing this on purpose, hoping to drive me crazy!"

"How could I have married such a useless thing as you?"

With a vicious remark, Shen Cang ripped off his cloak and threw it at Madam Shen's face before turning and leaving without looking back, leaving Madam Shen standing in the wind, weeping pitifully.

Although Shen Qiyin was far away and couldn't hear everything they were saying, she could vaguely guess what had happened from their actions.

This knife, named "Mother," is really handy to use.

Although it was somewhat unexpected.

After all, her original plan was to make Shen Cang face the fact that he had been betrayed, but she couldn't do so because of her pride.

She learned about this by chance in her previous life.

Once, Li Gui and his son went to the estate to settle accounts. During the meal, the steward urged Li Gui to get married. Annoyed by the nagging, Li Gui accidentally revealed his affair with Aunt Zhou. Under the steward's questioning, he confessed everything in detail.

But Ren Dong overheard all of that.

Shen Qiyin then realized that Li Gui and Aunt Zhou had been secretly having an affair, using the red lantern at the entrance of Aunt Zhou's courtyard as a signal every night at the end of Hai hour.

If two red lanterns are lit, it means that Shen Cang is staying in her courtyard tonight.

Conversely, if only one light is lit, it means she is alone in her room, and he can disguise himself and come to meet her.

Although Li Gui told her this himself, Shen Qiyin was unsure whether the development of events would change because of her choices in this different life. Therefore, she checked it a few days ago.

Fortunately, everything remains the same.

Now that Aunt Zheng is dead, Aunt Zhou will likely not have a good end either. Who will be next?

As Shen Qiyin pondered this in her mind, she walked towards the Begonia Courtyard.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice that the person in front of her suddenly stopped and bumped straight into her, her forehead hitting Xiao Yan's hard back.

She quickly took two steps back and asked in surprise, "The master hasn't left yet?"

"……Um."

Shen Qiyin pondered that he probably had something to do, so she didn't linger any longer and quickly returned to the Begonia Courtyard.

Xiao Yan followed silently.

Back in the house, Shen Qiyin didn't take off her cloak. There was no charcoal brazier in the room, so it was still chilly. She could only go outside where there was no cold wind.

She poured two cups of hot tea, one for herself and one for Xiao Yan.

Although this was the second time he had stepped into her boudoir, the young master was clearly still not used to it, and his posture in the chair was slightly stiff.

Just as Shen Qiyin was about to ask him what was wrong, she saw him take out a long, flat box from his pocket. It was wrapped in a fabric woven with gold thread and decorated with patterns of cranes and auspicious clouds.

His jade-like fingers gently touched one end of the box, and he pushed the item in front of Shen Qiyin, saying in a clear voice, "Here you go."