A cool breeze blew at night. As autumn deepened, the weather grew colder. Dingjing was located in the north, making the cold even more unusual.
Under the light, the girl leaned on the couch, a book in hand, and slowly flipped through the pages. She didn't even notice the tea beside her had gone cold, she was just lost in thought.
Bai Lu stared blankly at her own daughter, as if overnight, this girl had become different from the same person she used to be. Even now, she was reading quietly like this. Not to mention that Shen Miao used to hate reading the most, but now, if Bai Lu didn't know that it was her own daughter, she would even think she was seeing some noble lady.
How could a little girl possess such a powerful aura? Bai Lu was a little confused and stood there in a daze. Frost came over and pushed her, whispering, "Why are you standing there like an idiot?" He walked over and draped his cloak over Shen Miao, gently advising, "Miss, it's getting late now. You still have to go to Guangwen Hall tomorrow. You should get some rest."
Shen Miao shook her head: "You guys go and rest first, I'll watch for a while."
How could it be that the maid rested before the master went to sleep? Shuangjiang was helpless and wanted to persuade her for a while, but was stopped by Guyu who was changing the tea for Shen Miao. After changing the tea, she was pulled to the outer room with Bailu.
"What's wrong, Guyu?" Bailu was confused. "The girl has just recovered, why don't you come and try to comfort her?"
"Why didn't I persuade her?" Gu Yu felt a headache. "How could the young lady listen to me now? She's been reading all day. I guess it's probably the teacher's homework. The young lady has made up her mind. What can I do?" She glanced at the inner room worriedly. When she was timid before, she always asked others to make decisions for her. Now that she is no longer timid, she makes the decisions herself and no one dares to refute her. The closer she served, the more Gu Yu could feel that every time Shen Miao gave an order, no one dared to refuse.
Even with such a calm tone, he exuded a sense of authority. It seemed that even the master's anger wasn't this terrifying. Guyu sighed.
Inside the room, Shen Miao was still reading.
She read intently, not missing a single detail. A closer look would reveal that what she held was none other than the "Official History of Ming Qi." She knew the major events that had occurred in Ming Qi since its founding, and she knew what would happen in the coming decades. She was also prepared to find ways to prevent tragedy. Before doing so, she had to find the source of the current situation of these aristocratic families.
The emperor's order to eliminate these aristocratic families is approaching. Shen Miao remembered clearly that if nothing unexpected happened, there would be a catastrophe next month. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. If these aristocratic families arrive, it will soon be the Shen family's turn.
Before Shen Xin came back, she had to support the Shen Mansion alone, and she also had to be wary of the jackals in the East Courtyard.
Shen Miao's guess was right. That night, Nanny Gui entered Rongjing Hall. She came to deliver the local specialties she had brought back to the manor, but she actually chatted with Madam Zhang who was beside Old Madam Shen. Her words were full of talk about Shen Miao's increasingly disobedient behavior and the consequences of her anger at others.
Mother Zhang knew what she was thinking. After chatting with her for a few words indifferently, Nanny Gui asked Mother Zhang to say a few good words to Old Madam Shen before leaving.
As she walked out of the courtyard of Rongjing Hall, she saw Xianglan, the maidservant beside Ren Wanyun, coming over. She smiled when she saw her and said, "Madam Gui, I was just looking for you."
"Oh," Nanny Gui squinted her eyes and saw that it was Xianglan, so she smiled and said, "Miss Xianglan, what do you want to talk to me about?"
"It's nothing serious," Xianglan came over and took Aunt Gui's arm. "It's just that our wife heard that you know of a place that sells lip balm. The lip balm is really good, and she wanted to ask you where it is."
This was clearly an excuse. Ren Wanyun had wanted to go to Gui Mama to discuss something private. Gui Mama knew what was going on and agreed with Xianglan, saying, "What's going on? Since Madam wants to hear it, I'll tell you about it. Speaking of lip balm, many young ladies and wives of officials love to use it..."
When Tong Xianglan arrived at Caiyun Garden, all the maids and servants outside had already been sent away.
Ren Wanyun sat on the couch. Master Shen Er was still out entertaining people and had not returned yet, so she casually did some needlework, probably embroidering a purse, but she was eating a plate of grapes beside her while she embroidered.
This is a rare commodity. In this weather, you can't find grapes in Dingjing City. Only Master Shen Er was smart enough to ask for a basket of grapes and share them with the women in his courtyard.
Nanny Gui secretly spat inwardly. Although on the surface it looked like the head of the second branch of the Shen family was not treating the first branch badly, the food Shen Miao used, while superficially fancy, was actually the same kind of nouveau riche food that was not presentable enough for the merchants. Speaking of food, Shen Miao didn't have the same treatment as grapes.
She was still thinking in her heart, but Ren Wanyun finally put down the needle and thread in her hand and said, "Madam Gui."
Aunt Gui quickly came to her senses and replied, "Madam, the old servant is here."
Ren Wanyun was already forty years old, and although she maintained herself very well, there were still some fine lines around her eyes. She just sat there, wearing a well-tailored dress made of fine fabric, and her every move and gesture was the style of a lady of the house. Even when she smiled, she looked a little majestic.
She said, "I heard you're back. Xiaowu is now well, so you need to take good care of her."
Nanny Gui scoffed inwardly, thinking, "Everyone knows that the East Courtyard wishes the West Courtyard bad luck, so why would Ren Wanyun be so kind? She's just trying to cover up." As expected, Ren Wanyun continued, "Little Five has been feeling down lately, probably because he fell into the water. With Big Brother and Sister-in-law away, anything I do as his aunt is wrong. Even if I want to hear any news, I have to come to you."
This meant that Madam Gui was going to tell Ren Wanyun everything Shen Miao did.
Nanny Gui said hurriedly, "Madam is so concerned about the Fifth Miss, and she's blessed. But in my opinion, the Fifth Miss is indeed angry about falling into the water. Her temperament has changed quite a bit these past few days, and she's become estranged from me. Forget about anything else, even today, when I was fine, I was fined three months' salary." She frowned and said, "I was so anxious when I heard the Fifth Miss fell into the water that I even neglected my own sick grandson. Who would have thought that the Fifth Miss would scold me? I feel bad too."
Ren Wanyun was somewhat impatient to hear the old man's implicit meaning, so she said, "Xiao Wu, it's ultimately due to a mental illness. So, Aunt Gui, do you think Xiao Wu's attitude towards His Royal Highness Prince Ding has changed?"
This is what she wanted to ask most.
Nanny Gui rolled her eyes and said, "Fifth Miss seems to want to distance herself from His Highness Prince Ding and has not allowed me to mention it today. However, I have been with Fifth Miss for so many years and I know her character well. Fifth Miss is extremely persistent in her matter with His Highness Prince Ding and I'm afraid she won't give up so easily. These words are probably just her angry words, don't take them seriously."
As soon as the words fell, a hint of cruelty appeared on Ren Wanyun's face.
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