These words immediately attracted the attention of many people.

Shen Ming'e was taken aback by Shen Mingshu's sudden remark. Her face flushed red, and she glared at Shen Mingshu resentfully, feeling both guilty and angry. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Madam Pei's expression also changed slightly. It was not a pleasant thing to scold her sister in public like this.

Even if Shen Ming'e really got the answer by being guided by someone else, the older sister shouldn't openly contradict her. Wouldn't that make people think that the sisters in the Shen family are not on good terms?

Whether it was Madam Zhao, the eldest wife of the Shen family, or Madam Gu, the second wife, their children were all very well-behaved and sensible, and had never made such a joke. Madam Lin was, after all, from a merchant family, which made Shen Mingshu act less like a lady from a prominent family.

Madam Pei was an elder and it was not appropriate for her to intervene in such matters. Pei Shuwan glanced at her mother's expression, stepped forward, tugged at Shen Mingshu, and said with a smile, "This riddle isn't difficult at all. Sister Mingxi is wearing a forsythia flower in her hair today."

Pulled back by her best friend, Shen Mingshu finally calmed down. But the matter was far from over. Everyone was watching, and if Shen Mingshu didn't give an explanation, it wouldn't be long before the news spread like wildfire.

Shen Mingshu took a deep breath before saying to Shen Ming'e, "It was my fault for misunderstanding you. Please don't be angry with me."

She then put on an act of sisterly affection, and seeing that things weren't going to get out of hand, the people around her dispersed with disdain. However, news of Shen Mingshu's domineering bullying of her half-sister spread like wildfire.

Shen Ming'e was humiliated in front of others but couldn't retaliate, so she ran away to a less crowded area.

Pei Shuwan had never encountered such a thing before, and couldn't help but look at her mother, Madam Pei.

“I just saw another Miss Shen with the Eighth Miss Shen. Go and tell her. If you can’t find them, go and tell the Third Madam of the Shen family… no, tell the First Madam or the Second Madam of the Shen family, so that they know about this.” He then patted the maid beside him to go and check.

From a distance, Shen Mingzhuang only saw Shen Mingshu go over and say a few words to Shen Ming'e. There seemed to be a slight commotion over there, and then Shen Ming'e walked away crying.

It seemed that something unpleasant had happened over there. After thinking for a moment, Shen Mingzhuang followed.

Today, the back garden is divided into male and female sections. It would be bad if Shen Ming'e went to the male section without thinking.

Shen Mingzhuang didn't dislike Shen Ming'e. Among the people in the Shen family, she was already considered quite good, and she had even helped her before. She didn't want anything to happen to Shen Ming'e.

But as they walked, a fork in the road appeared. The artificial hills overlapped, and the light and shadow flickered among the people walking. As they walked, Shen Mingzhuang dared not go any further. Man Huan, who was following him, couldn't help but worry: "Miss, how many turns did we make on our way here? Do you remember the way back?"

Shen Mingzhuang looked at Man Huan, then grinned and chuckled dryly, "I don't think I remember either."

The master and servant looked at each other and smiled, and the atmosphere became a little lighter.

However, there was hardly anyone around, and she was tired from walking. Seeing a double-eaved pavilion with stone walls, green bamboo, flowing water, and a gentle breeze, she and Manhuan went to the pavilion to rest.

Even before we got close, the sound of a zither could be heard coming from the double-eaved pavilion with its bamboo curtains hanging from the Xiangfei Pavilion.

Both the mistress and servant were startled by the sudden, clear sound of the zither. Man Huan's fingers trembled. She had looked around and there was no one there. Where did the zither music come from?