In the hall, Shen Yan stood nervously: "Sister, I was ignorant before and ruined your feelings. I'm sorry, please forgive me."
Shen Ning has never been very willing to believe other people's apologies. She makes a mistake, asks for forgiveness, and then gets forgiven. So what? Has anything changed?
"Just say what you have to say."
Shen Yan pursed her lips, feeling embarrassed, but still explained her purpose in a low voice: "I...I still want to ask my sister for help in making a decision."
She said the same thing last time, which angered Shen Ning. Shen Yan quickly said, "I will definitely listen to my sister this time."
Fearing Shen Ning would refuse, she quickly continued, "Father and brother..."
She was saddened for a moment, then quickly suppressed her tears: "Our second branch of the family has no male heirs. My maternal grandmother and uncles have their eyes on the second branch's house, saying that since no one lives there, it will be more lively if everyone lives together, and they can also take care of my mother and me. In reality, they just want to take over the house because they think we are easy to bully."
“My mother knew their plans. Although she didn’t agree, she didn’t object either. She just said that it was not proper for them to live in the Shen family’s house. So they said that if I married my second cousin, we would be family and it would be proper. They also said that my cousin could stand up for us and prevent my sister from bullying me.”
Shen Yan looked resistant: "My second cousin is close to my brother. They are birds of a feather. He is a womanizer and a philanderer. Several maids in the mansion are his concubines. If I marry into his family, I will definitely end up like my sister-in-law."
She suddenly knelt down: "Please, sister, save me."
Shen Ning was not surprised at all by the plans of the Zhao family; they were just that simple-minded.
However, Shen Ning was speechless because Shen Yan didn't try to find a solution herself when she had a problem, and only knew how to ask others for help. Was her brain just for decoration?
“I won’t help you.” Shen Ning said bluntly, “This is a matter between you and your mother. If I help you, your mother will definitely resent me. She already hates me to the bone. If I make a move, she will fight me to the death.”
Her intervention earlier, aside from a bit of sisterly affection, was mainly because she didn't want the second branch of the family to get involved with the Marquis's mansion and actually rescue Chen Ming.
This situation is not good for her at all; getting involved will only bring her trouble. She's not that kind of selfless benevolent.
Shen Yan panicked instantly: "Sister, I...I really have no other choice...If you don't help me, I really don't know what to do."
Shen Ning sipped her tea to soothe her throat and sincerely advised, "Shen Yan, never place your hopes on others. Even your parents couldn't save you. I'm just your cousin, and I have no obligation to help you again and again. You have to find a way to save yourself."
Shen Yan was confused: "Self-rescue?"
Shen Ning: "When you encounter problems, you only think about how to get yourself out of trouble and hope that other people's brains can help you come up with ideas. If you do this, you will never be able to grow in this life."
"The problem right now isn't how bad your second cousin is, or how greedy the Zhao family is, but your mother."
Shen Yan: "My mother? But my mother hates me to death. She beats me, scolds me, and wishes she could kill me."
Shen Ning: "Then why does your mother hate you?"
Shen Yan lowered her head: "Because I was unwilling to sacrifice myself to save my brother, which would ultimately cause my father and brother to lose their lives."
Shen Ning then asked, "Then who do you think she hates the most?"
Shen Yan looked up at Shen Ning and whispered, "I hate my sister."
Shen Ning: "Then as long as you hate the same person as her, you'll be on the same side, and maybe she won't hate you anymore."
Shen Yan shook her head violently: "I don't hate my sister. I... my brother is bad, and my sister was also injured. My father's matter has nothing to do with my sister."
Although it may be unfilial to say this, she has read quite a few books and can still distinguish right from wrong.
Shen Ning couldn't help but laugh. This Shen Yan was ridiculously kind.
Considering she was willing to go to the Su family to serve as a slave to atone for her brother's sins, it's not surprising.
“If I were you, the only person I would want to help is your mother. You would go and beg her to tell her that you know you were wrong, that she is your only family member, and that you will listen to her from now on.”
She reached out to stop Shen Yan from speaking and continued, "You have to tell your mother that you were deceived by me before. I deliberately prevented you from rescuing Shen Ming. You want to avenge your father and brothers, but the Zhao family obviously doesn't have the ability to help you. So you have to find someone who can help you."
"After the New Year, the imperial examinations will begin. Now, many accomplished students from poor families are gathering in the capital. Among them, there must be truly talented young people who will pass the exams with flying colors and have unlimited potential."
“You can’t beat me in business, but if you marry an official, your mother will feel very proud. Moreover, only with an official position and power can she seek revenge on me. Your mother will definitely be tempted.”
Shen Yan's mouth gaped open, and she was stunned for a long time before she could find her voice: "Sister, you, you, you... how could you let me deal with you?"
Shen Ning sighed: "Didn't you want a solution? This is the solution. As for dealing with me, you underestimate me. I don't even consider the combined brains of you and your daughter a threat."
The second wife's family's antics couldn't hurt her at all; at most, they were just annoying like flies.
Shen Ming almost killed him, but that was because of the unexpected appearance of Shen Shu. The one who truly brought her misfortune was not the second wife, but Shen Shu.
After saying that, Shen Ning dismissed him, saying, "I've given you the solution. Solve it yourself. Remember, once we step out of this door, we'll be enemies. Don't bother me again."
Shen Yan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly her face lit up with a bright smile: "Okay, from now on I'll hate my sister the most."
Shen Ning: ...Looks so silly.
Liu Ying, who was standing nearby, heard everything and sighed with a smile, "Miss is still soft-hearted towards Miss Yan."
She didn't want Shen Ning to become a lonely person, and she was very pleased to see that Shen Ning had a good relationship with these relatives.
Are you soft-hearted?
Shen Ning gave a mocking smile. Where did she get the soft heart?
Helping Shen Yan is, in a way, helping herself.
Zhao hates her, and if she were to bring the Zhao family here, it would be endless trouble for Shen Ning.
She couldn't possibly kill all the people from the second wife's family and then kill the Zhao family as well.
Why should she bear the sins and be stained with endless blood for a bunch of rabble?
Therefore, Shen Yan will deal with the Zhao family, and the Zhao family will deal with the Zhao clan.
Shen Yan will be grateful to her once she is freed, and with the support of her desire for revenge, Zhao will not cause trouble for her in the short term.
Even if Shen Yan does choose a promising young talent as her husband, the officialdom can be ruthless.
Even Xue He, who was a top scholar in his previous life, couldn't rise to prominence smoothly; it would be even more difficult for other children from poor families to stand out.
Let alone using that person to take revenge on her, with Shen Ning's connections, if she wanted to suppress that person, she could definitely make sure that person could never rise again.
Soft-hearted? How was she soft-hearted?
However, cunning merchants always put on a veneer of benevolence, and Liu Ying thought it was good that she was kind-hearted, which was better than being pointed at and called vicious.
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