Liu Wenxin watched without saying anything.

It seems that Mother intends to stay in the Shen family. Is staying in the Shen family really that important?

Madam Shen withdrew her hand with some disdain, sat down in the chair, and then accepted the tea offered by the palace maid.

"Has Your Highness settled in well in the palace these past few days?" Old Madam Shen asked Liu Wenxin with a kind smile.

Seeing Madam Shen's expression, she felt disgusted. They were all cunning foxes pretending to be big bad wolves. They looked kind and amiable, but they were actually ruthless and vicious!

Upon seeing Madam Lu, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. She took a sip of tea and thought of the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. The old lady cared most about her maternal family, the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. She had previously begged Shen Mingzhuang to help protect the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. Now that Shen Mingzhuang had left the palace and broken with the Emperor, what did the Rongguo Duke's Mansion have left to rely on?

Looking at Old Madam Lu again, a mocking smile appeared on her lips. No wonder she was in such a hurry to enter the palace. If you were to ask who in the Shen family was the most opportunistic, it would undoubtedly be this old woman!

"Madam, you are overthinking it. I am doing well in the palace."

Liu Wenxin looked at Old Madam Shen with a forced smile, her eyes cold. Only when she looked at Liu Shi did her gaze soften.

Liu Huihui knew that her daughter was of one mind with her, and it was worth the trouble she had gone to bring her into the Shen family. Although she was a maid, she was raised in the same way as Shen Ming'e. Both of them were her daughters. Now that she had a son, her position in the Shen family would only be more secure in the future.

Now it's Ming'e's wedding day, and with her eldest daughter around, how could she possibly ignore her younger sister?

As Lu Furong listened to Consort Shu's words, she couldn't help but make comparisons in her mind.

She wasn't actually from the Shen family, yet she addressed her as "this palace" (本宫). Even when Consort Ming was so favored, she still called her "grandmother." I wonder if this woman, whom they later adopted as their goddaughter, can truly be of one mind with the Shen family.

"By the way, now that you are considered a daughter of the Shen family, the family will still provide you with a dowry as is customary."

As Lu Furong spoke, she had someone bring the item in. It was a box that was neither too big nor too small, and it seemed to have some weight to it when held in one's arms.

"He's using this trick again," Liu Wenxin thought with a cold laugh. She had sent Shen Mingzhuang the same thing before, but she hadn't expected that Shen Mingzhuang would receive something similar.

However, she didn't mind, since she was short of money anyway. Since the Shen family was being so helpful, she couldn't be too stingy.

"Then thank you very much, Madam. I heard that Sister Mingrong has married into the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. Please invite her to the palace to keep me company when you have time."

As Madam Shen listened, she suppressed her discomfort. After all, she used to be a maid, and now that the maid was speaking to her in the tone of a master, it made her feel uncomfortable no matter how she listened.

But now the Shen family needs to ask for favors from others in many matters, and they have no choice but to bow their heads in some situations.

"Yes, I'll send someone to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion to inform the Heir Apparent's wife later."

Shen Mingrong married into the Rongguo Duke's mansion a few months ago. The Rongguo Duke had already adopted Lu Chengye into his family, so Shen Mingrong was now the legitimate wife of the Rongguo Duke's heir.

However, Shen Mingrong's official title has been delayed, and she would be happy if Liu Wenxin could help.

After thanking Liu Wenxin and exchanging a few more polite words of concern, Old Madam Shen felt a bit overwhelmed and thought that was enough, so she prepared to take her leave. However, Liu Wenxin called Liu Shi aside for a private conversation.

"Madam, please wait outside." Liu Wenxin was no longer afraid of Madam Shen and told her to go outside and wait.

Madam Shen blushed slightly, sighed inwardly, said nothing, and turned to leave.

"Mother, how have you been lately?"

Liu Wenxin dismissed the servants in the hall and then, her previous indifference vanished, she smiled and looked at Liu Shi.

Seeing her daughter so happy, Madam Liu was also in a good mood. She smiled and nodded, "I'm fine, but you, why have you lost so much weight? Are you having a hard time in the palace?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Wenxin's eyes dimmed. Whether she was happy or not, what did it matter? She was a palace concubine whose virginity had been violated by a guard, and now she was just barely surviving. But even if she died, she would take someone down with her.

As long as she lives, those who make her miserable won't have an easy time either!

Seeing her daughter's expression, Liu felt a pang of anxiety and quickly stepped forward to gently embrace her. "What happened?"

Feeling her mother's embrace, Liu Wenxin's eyes gradually warmed. She pouted with a hint of grievance, but revealed nothing. She simply comforted her mother, saying, "Mother, don't be sad. I'm fine. It's just that I miss you very much."

Liu was moved as she listened, and patted her daughter's back, sighing, "If it weren't for that Lin family's relentless pressure, I wouldn't have had the heart to send you to the palace. It was a last resort at the time. I originally planned to find a way to get you out of the palace in a year or two, but I never expected you to have such good fortune."

Madam Liu spoke with some relief, then, thinking of her daughter's expression, she straightened her daughter's shoulders and said gently, "Is there something you're hiding from your mother in the palace? I'm now the third wife of the Shen family. If you have anything to say, you must tell me. I can at least give you some advice. Don't keep it to yourself and suffer alone."

Would things change if I told her? Liu Wenxin smiled bitterly. If her mother had such ability, she wouldn't have had to endure so much hardship under the Lin family's oppression for so many years. Now that she has turned the tables, she couldn't bear to see her mother heartbroken again because of her.

Only she could solve this problem herself; others might be willing but unable to, so Liu Wenxin didn't plan to tell her mother.

She smiled and patted her mother's shoulder before saying, "Mother, don't worry. Do I look like I'm in trouble? I'm just feeling a little sentimental. I'm thinking that once you leave the palace, it will be difficult for you to enter again. It will be hard for me to see you again."

The mother and daughter poured out their hearts to each other, creating a somber atmosphere in the hall. Liu Wenxin thought of something and smiled, saying, "Mother, now that I am in a high position, you don't need to worry too much. Now that my younger brother has been born and Lin Shi has gone to Jiangzhou, why don't we cut the Gordian knot and deal with Lin Shi, and have Father order us to live separately?"

She would never let the Shen family go, but her mother had already had two children with Shen Shuchun, and they would be even more inseparable in the future.

Rather than making her hesitate to act, it would be better to separate from the household and live independently. That way, if she were to take action in the future, she wouldn't be in a difficult position or be coerced.

However, Liu couldn't help but show some hesitation.