Shen Mingshu was the eldest daughter of the main wife, with two older brothers. She was the eldest among her siblings, and over time she inevitably became somewhat spoiled.

Although the Shen family was a scholarly family, Madam Lin, the third wife of Shen, was born into a merchant family. She had a rather shrewish personality and disliked her concubines very much. She was also very harsh on the daughters born out of wedlock, which is why Shen Jiu Niang was unable to go to the capital for more than ten years in Jiangzhou.

Lin didn't know Shen Mingzhuang's true identity. After all, they hadn't seen each other for more than ten years. Girls change a lot as they grow up, so it's normal for them to look different now. It's not surprising.

Old Madam Shen could not reveal Shen Mingzhuang's identity openly, so she could only subtly warn Lin and her mother against causing trouble. However, it seemed that her warnings were not working.

Shen Mingzhuang wasn't one to cause trouble. She didn't want to have a falling out with the Lin mother and daughter. She was most happy to see them get along peacefully, which is why she distributed the things Jiang Wang sent to her sisters.

These days, her sisters, whom she hadn't seen for many years, have indeed become much closer to her because of these things. But Shen San Niang, on the other hand, not only doesn't appreciate it, but also feels that Shen Mingzhuang has stolen her thunder.

As far as Shen Mingzhuang was concerned, she really didn't want to get entangled with such a fool. As long as she didn't cause everyone to lose face, things would still get better. In time, she would lose the will to oppose her all the time.

But unexpectedly, Shen Mingshu was going to tear off the mask this time.

Shen Mingzhuang sighed softly, a slight upturn at the corners of her lips, her beauty tinged with an undisguised sarcasm!

The Shen family has not yet divided its branches. The eldest and second eldest sons are legitimate sons and both were born into the Hanlin Academy. The third eldest son is a son born out of wedlock. His birth mother died early, and he grew up with his stepmother. Although he did not enter the Hanlin Academy, he was still a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and held the official position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, a fourth-rank official. Shen Mingzhuang is now the youngest son in the youngest branch of the Shen family, belonging to the third eldest son's lineage.

Since the family hadn't separated, the children were still ranked together. Although Shen Mingzhuang was the ninth daughter, she was only two years younger than the third daughter, Shen Mingshu.

Mingzhuang had just come of age in the twelfth lunar month. At that time, her real son, Shen Mingzhuang, was still in Jiangzhou, and the Shen Grand Tutor's mansion was still there. The new emperor had not yet ascended the throne.

However, the ninth daughter of the Shen family is only thirteen years old and will not be of marriageable age for another two years. Shen Mingshu was of marriageable age last year, and should be engaged by now. However, Madam Lin is reluctant to part with her and plans to keep her for another two years.

If Shen Mingzhuang hadn't returned, probably no one in the manor could have outshone Shen Mingshu. But Mingzhuang doesn't go out much these days; she only sent things to her sisters so as not to leave her out, which is why she sent them all at once.

Even when she was unhappy in the past, she would only grumble a few words. Today, her outburst was probably just a coincidence that she was in a bad mood.

Looking at the green willow tips on the white walls and black tiles, Mingzhuang took a sip of tea.

The beaded curtain rustled outside the door, and Manhuan and Ruyi walked in one after the other.

"Miss, Ruyi, she..."

Man Huan glanced at Ming Zhuang's expression and suddenly hesitated to speak.

At this moment, Mingzhuang sat there quietly, holding a cup of tea, as still as a painting, but the air pressure in the room seemed to have been pressed down for no reason, making people afraid to breathe.

"It was my fault. I couldn't stand hearing others speak ill of Miss, so I talked back to the Third Miss and got slapped twice."

If someone is too proud to speak up, they will interrupt and speak first.

Ming Zhuang raised his eyes, his gaze falling lightly on Ruyi's face, but a smile curved his lips. "Get up, it's not your fault."

Ruyi was filled with trepidation, fearing that Shen Mingzhuang would blame her. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, "She's just a concubine's daughter, yet she acts more like she's from the legitimate branch of the family. How can she not be disliked?"

“This slap will teach you a lesson. From now on, you need to be mindful of what you should and shouldn’t say. Even if she’s cursing me by putting up voodoo dolls in the house, you shouldn’t have directly confronted her. Wouldn’t it have been better to come back and tell me before making a decision?”

Ming Zhuang's expression was cold and indifferent. After speaking, he dismissed Ruyi.

Ruyi doesn't seem like a peaceful person; we should deal with her as soon as possible.