Song Zhiyu remained noncommittal, saying, "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. When you did that, you should have considered the risk of being exposed."

"I really underestimated my second sister." Shen Jinshu said with a half-smile, her gaze fixed on the brocade box held in Lu Bai's hands, her words carrying a hidden meaning.

What should have belonged to her is now in Song Zhiyu's hands.

“We’re in the same boat.” Song Zhiyu leaned close to Shen Jinshu and whispered in her ear, the meaning of which they both understood perfectly.

Shen Jinshu is cautious by nature, and she always leaves herself a way out before doing anything.

This time, Mingzhu was merely her "scapegoat".

Song Zhiyu was too lazy to argue with Shen Jinshu, so he left without looking back after saying those words, leaving Shen Jinshu standing there with her head down, her expression inscrutable.

After a long while, she finally let out a sinister laugh.

The voice was no longer as gentle and melodious as before, and it sent a chill down one's spine.

She looked up at the sky and calculated the time; her third brother should be returning home by now.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves approached from outside.

"The Third Young Master is back."

Hearing the gatekeeper's loud voice, Shen Jinshu smiled strangely, the sinister look in her eyes quietly disappearing, and a bitter smile appeared on her pale face, making her look particularly pitiful.

Shen Mingyi rushed to the mansion without stopping, his worry and urgency seeming genuine.

"Shu'er, I rushed back as soon as I heard about the lake banquet. Are you alright?"

His heart ached at the sight of Shen Jinshu's plain and austere appearance; his sister had never suffered such hardship.

"Third Brother, I'm fine. The Empress Dowager's order for me to stay at home and copy Buddhist scriptures to pray for the dynasty is already an immense favor." Shen Jinshu smiled, her outward appearance impeccable, leaving no room for criticism.

If she dared to object to the Empress Dowager's punishment, and such words reached the ears of those with ulterior motives, it wouldn't be as simple as being confined to her quarters for three months.

Shen Mingyi's eyes were filled with heartache, and he couldn't help but take his anger out on Shen Yanxi, "What exactly happened? Where is Fourth Brother? Didn't he protect you?"

"Third Brother, don't blame Fourth Brother or Second Sister. It's all my fault. I was framed and punished by the Empress Dowager. It has nothing to do with them." Shen Jinshu unconsciously hid her hands behind her back, trying to cover herself up, but Shen Mingyi saw it clearly.

Shen Mingyi grabbed Shen Jinshu's hand, carefully touching the wounds on it, his eyes filled with heartache. "What happened to your hand? How did it get so badly injured? How will you play the piano in the future?"

"Third brother, don't worry, my hand is fine. Don't blame your second sister. By the way, third brother, you don't know yet, but your second sister won first place at the lake tour banquet. Father and Mother will be very happy to know."

Shen Jinshu's words were meant to tell Shen Mingyi not to blame Song Zhiyu, but every single one of them precisely hit his bottom line, intentionally or unintentionally provoking his anger.

As she expected, Shen Mingyi gritted his teeth in anger, his chest heaving with rage. "Your hand was injured by Song Zhiyu. I knew she was vicious and couldn't stand to see you doing well. She's ruined you like this, so don't speak up for her anymore."

Upon receiving news of Shu'er's accident, he hurriedly abandoned his business and rushed back; nothing was more important than his sister.

He knew that nothing good would happen where Song Zhiyu was, and sure enough, when she went to the lake banquet, Shu'er got into trouble.

"All of this must be related to Song Zhiyu, otherwise how could she have won the championship at the lake banquet as soon as you got into trouble?"

"I know her abilities all too well, how could she possibly be even a fraction of yours?" Shen Mingyi suddenly realized something, his eyes flashing with anger, and even the servant behind him could feel the fury emanating from him.

He connected everything together, and under Shen Jinshu's intentional or unintentional hints, he regarded Song Zhiyu as the culprit.

Seeing Shen Mingyi being led by the nose, Shen Jinshu's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. She neither admitted nor refuted, stopping short of saying, "Third Brother, it's getting late. I need to go to the Buddhist hall to copy Buddhist scriptures. I can't be late, lest the Empress Dowager blames you and implicates you."

Before leaving, she didn't forget to show off in front of Shen Mingyi.

Having thoroughly understood the personalities of the Shen brothers, dealing with them was a piece of cake for Shen Jinshu.

He subtly sowed discord between them and Song Zhiyu, exonerating himself completely, while also stirring up trouble among them, using them as pawns to deal with Song Zhiyu.

She was confined to her home for three months, so she had to postpone the plan and let Song Zhiyu enjoy herself for a few more days.

But she couldn't let Song Zhiyu have too much of a comfortable time in March, so she let Shen Mingyi add some trouble to her life.

"Don't worry, Shu'er, your third brother will come to see you when he has time." Shen Mingyi raised his hand and gently rubbed Shen Jinshu's head, his tone soft.

Mentioning Song Zhiyu, Shen Mingyi paused slightly, his lowered eyelids concealing the ruthlessness in his eyes, "As for Song Zhiyu, Third Brother has his own plans and won't let you suffer injustice for no reason."

Shen Jinshu offered a few words of comfort, saying, "Third Brother, don't act impulsively. I don't mind suffering some grievances, as long as Father and my brothers are safe and sound."

During this period of confinement at the Buddhist temple, Shu'er will pray for her brothers, hoping to find the divine healer Liangyue as soon as possible to cure her eldest brother's leg.

Shen Mingyi looked pleased, but he had his own plans. "Alright, Third Brother has some things to take care of, so I won't see you off."

After saying that, Shen Mingyi turned and left, heading straight towards Song Zhiyu's courtyard with hurried and disordered steps.

Shen Jinshu watched Shen Mingyi's figure walk away until he was no longer visible before she stopped smiling.

"Let's go."

*

Songzhuyuan.

"Young master, something terrible has happened! Miss is in trouble!" The servant Changde rushed in and told him everything that had happened at the lake banquet.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuzhou frowned and put down the book in his hand. His cool voice carried an obvious concern, "How is Shu'er now?"

"The young lady has been confined by the Empress Dowager for three months, and should be on her way to the Buddhist temple now," Changde said.

Shen Yuzhou's tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little, and he continued reading the book in his hand. Then, seemingly casually, he asked, "Then... how is Song Zhiyu? Is she alright?"

"What could possibly happen to Miss Song...? She stole the title of champion from the eldest young lady, she should be very happy now." Chang De curled his lips, and under Shen Yuzhou's extremely oppressive gaze, he awkwardly changed his words.

"Do you think this matter is related to Song Zhiyu?" Shen Yuzhou held a book in his hand, but had no interest in reading it anymore.

Changde said matter-of-factly, “The young lady is exceptionally talented. The championship is already hers. Why would she need to resort to such low-class methods?”

"But then the eldest young lady got into trouble, and the second young lady came out on top. It's hard not to be suspicious. Young master, aren't you the one who knows the eldest young lady best?"