Shen Yunjiao was about to ask about Consort Shu and the Crown Prince when she heard some noise outside the door.
She looked up and saw Aunt Liu standing at the door with a food box in hand, head bowed, waiting.
"Come in, Ru'er," Shen Zhizhang said first when he saw her.
Aunt Liu walked in with her head down, carefully placed the food box on the table, bowed, and then tried to leave.
Just as she was leaving, a single, glistening tear rolled down her cheek.
Another actress who knows how to act! A wave of impatience washed over Shen Yunjiao.
Shen Zhizhang frowned, stood up, and asked, "Ru'er? Why are you crying?"
Aunt Liu forced a smile and looked up at Shen Zhizhang. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am happy to see the eldest daughter return."
"Why are you crying when you're happy?"
Shen Yunjiao put down her teacup and asked leisurely.
Aunt Liu's smile froze for a moment, then she put on a wronged look, "Young lady, what's wrong with you since you came back? Why are you so dissatisfied with me?"
"What's going on?" Shen Zhizhang asked, puzzled by what he heard.
Liu Ru'er and Yun Jiao have always been on good terms, what's wrong with them today?
"Lord!"
Finally hearing Shen Zhizhang ask a question, Aunt Liu knelt down as if she had endured a great injustice.
With a sob in her voice, she said, "I am naturally happy that you have returned to the manor today, but when I greeted you at the gate, you scolded me, saying that I am a concubine and should not show my face in public."
After she finished speaking, she covered her face with her handkerchief and wept, truly appearing weak and helpless.
“Yun Jiao, why are you making things difficult for Aunt Liu? She treats you like her own daughter. As a person, you should know how to repay kindness and be filial to your elders.” Shen Zhizhang’s tone suddenly became serious.
Shen Yunjiao knew that among the many concubines in the Shen family, Aunt Liu was not the most beautiful, but she was the most favored.
It's impossible to change the gentle and kind persona she's cultivated with her father all at once.
But Shen Yunjiao is a person who hates evil and hates those wicked and pretentious green tea bitches.
When I met her, she would argue with everyone I met.
That's exactly the kind of person Aunt Liu is.
“Father, Yun Jiao did say such a thing.” Shen Yun Jiao stood up and confessed calmly.
"Shen Yunjiao!"
Shen Zhizhang was just about to talk about Shen Yunjiao.
However, remembering that his daughter had just been wronged at the Pei family, he had no choice but to suppress his anger and patiently reply, "Apologize to your Aunt Liu, and this matter will be over."
Shen Qinghuai quickly went to comfort her, "Auntie, please calm down. My sister has been in a bad mood lately, and she may have spoken a little harshly. Please don't take it to heart."
Shen Yunjiao was amused by the blatant bias in Shen Qinghuai's words.
But when she saw Shen Qinghuai's serious expression, she immediately stopped smiling.
She said seriously, "But before Yun Jiao said this, Aunt Liu was at the door holding her daughter's hand and loudly asking her about her family affairs."
"At that time, many people inside and outside the mansion were staring at my daughter. Everyone knew that my daughter had been sent back to her parents' home by her husband. My daughter was unhappy and retorted with a sarcastic remark to Aunt Liu."
"My lord, please understand, I was just confused because I was worried," Aunt Liu hurriedly explained, though her heart tightened for a moment.
When did this brat become so sharp-witted?
Shen Zhizhang looked unwell, caught between his tearful Aunt Liu and his beloved daughter, finding himself in a very difficult position.
Shen Yunjiao also noticed her father's expression.
She knew that it would take some time to expose Aunt Liu's true colors.
She had simply wanted to make Aunt Liu unhappy and stand up for the original owner of this body.
Seeing her father's troubled expression, Shen Yunjiao slowly stood up, walked to Aunt Liu, and curtsied: "Yunjiao was in the wrong just now."
Aunt Liu looked at Shen Yunjiao, whose face was blank.
It's obvious that she was in a bad mood because her husband had just sent her back to her parents' home, and she took it out on her.
Forget it, if I act magnanimous now, my lord will value me more and cherish me more.
Aunt Liu always dreamed of one day becoming the matriarch of the Shen family.
To win over Shen Yunjiao, we need to put on a good show.
So she quickly put away her aggrieved expression and gently replied, "Young lady, it was my oversight. I'm not angry with you."
"Ru'er, Yun Jiao has been staying at the manor for the past few days. You must take good care of her, but don't overwork yourself."
Shen Zhizhang breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing the two of them getting along so well, he felt relieved. After giving Aunt Liu a few simple instructions, he asked Shen Qinghuai to accompany him to the study.
Seeing that they had left, Aunt Liu quickly pulled Chen Yunjiao to sit down beside her.
A look of concern appeared on her delicate face.
“Young lady, I’ve prepared your favorite hibiscus buns for you. Please eat some; look how thin you’ve become.”
Shen Yunjiao feigned a bitter smile and refused, "No, Auntie, I'm really feeling terrible inside."
Aunt Liu was extremely curious and quickly asked, "Is it because Prince Pei treats you badly? I heard he brought a woman back from outside."
Seeing that Shen Yunjiao remained silent, she knew that she had guessed correctly.
"Yun Jiao, I have an idea for you. Why don't you bring one or two maids from your mansion back to the Pei mansion? They'll be your own people after all, so you can get more of that girl's favor and make the young master come to your place more often."
Shen Yunjiao looked at Aunt Liu thoughtfully.
I never expected that she would start thinking about planting people around her at this point.
Most of the maids in this mansion were personally selected by Aunt Liu, so they are naturally her people.
Aunt Liu's reach is really too far.
“Then when I return to the Pei residence, Aunt Liu can help me pick a few,” Shen Yunjiao nodded.
Seeing the fleeting joy in Aunt Liu's eyes, Shen Yunjiao sneered inwardly.
The fox's tail is showing.
"Auntie, please allow me to return to my room to rest. Let me know once you've chosen your maid."
Shen Yunjiao didn't want to continue the mother-daughter act with Aunt Liu, so she gave a perfunctory answer and got up.
Aunt Liu replied kindly, "Go and rest first. I'll have the kitchen prepare some of your favorite dishes for you later."
He seemed completely devoted to Shen Yunjiao.
—
After staying at the Shen residence for two or three days, Shen Yunjiao had a general understanding of the Shen family.
The Shen family's legal wife died early, leaving behind a son and a daughter. There are currently four concubines in the mansion. Except for Concubine Liu, who has a daughter, the other concubines have no children.
Shen Zhizhang doted on Consort Liu and entrusted her with managing the Shen family mansion. Therefore, although she did not have the title of mistress of the house, Consort Liu truly held the power of a mistress.
Shen Zhizhang was always busy from dawn till dusk, working tirelessly for the imperial examinations.
Shen Yunjiao didn't even have a chance to see him; instead, she spent more time with Shen Qinghuai.
However, Shen Qinghuai is also a very busy person.
He often whispered in her ear that when he had a chance to rest, he must go to Ziyun Tower to drink and listen to music, and then go to see Miaoyin Niangzi play the pipa.
On the third day of the fourth lunar month, Shen Yunjiao got up very early.
She must have a proper talk with Mr. Shen today.
Unexpectedly, Shen Zhizhang left the mansion early in the morning.
He only sent the steward to tell Shen Yunjiao that she had to go to Liang Garden for a banquet with Shen Qinghuai today, and that he would meet them at the banquet.
She also asked Shen Yunjiao to bring her half-sister, Shen Yunmo, along.
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