Chapter 17 Slap
Mrs. Shen paused while stroking Shen Mingzhu's hair, and her inquiring eyes fell on her face.
Shen Mingzhu couldn't stand Mrs. Shen's sharp gaze, and hurriedly lowered her head, making a clumsy excuse: "I... I'm just afraid that they will find the capital, just like you haven't given up on me for so many years..."
Madam Shen looked at her evasive eyes, her mind clear as a mirror: "They are the people, we are officials, how can they fight us?" She raised her lips with sarcasm: "One is a noble, the other is a lowly merchant. Shen Qingtan is not stupid. She knows who to recognize as her parents."
Shen Qingtan was already three years old when she was secretly taken away. She was a little sensible and kept making a fuss for her parents and brother all day long.
The little girl was wearing a brocade skirt that was embellished with gold, an exquisite gold bracelet on each wrist, a necklace around her neck, and even her shoes were inlaid with round and flawless oriental pearls. She looked very delicate and graceful.
She tried her best to coax her, but no matter what rare things she brought out, the little girl wouldn't buy them.
When they returned to the capital, they did not dare to take the child back home directly. Instead, they lived in a villa on the outskirts of the capital and locked Shen Qingtan in a dark room, letting her cry and make a fuss.
After being locked up for four or five days, Shen Qingtan fell seriously ill and almost couldn't hold on. However, he survived by luck, forgot about the past, became very timid, and loved to stick to her.
By this time, when he had spared his energy to deal with Shen Qingtan's biological parents, the house was empty and he only knew that their surname was Gu.
Madam Shen said dimly, “She can’t escape from my palm.”
For some reason, Shen Mingzhu felt a chill down her spine.
——
Shen Qingtan came out of the yard and met a tall and thin old woman who was wearing a green cloth jacket and skirt and a blue cloth vest.
The old woman's face was covered with wrinkles, her eyes drooped, and her cheeks sunken, showing a bit of viciousness and meanness.
This is Madam Wei who serves Mrs. Shen.
Shen Qingtan's breathing stagnated, and his fingers, hidden in his sleeves, pinched into his palms.
In her previous life, Zhao Jue's confidant set fire to her villa, told her the truth and left.
Mother Wei came out from the darkness and watched her coldly as she endured the pain of the burning fire: "Madam, considering the mother-daughter relationship of more than ten years, asked me to see you off.
Your father and brother hold high positions and have been suffering from the pain of losing their beloved daughter.
Madam can empathize with this and will ask our biological daughter to recognize them as your adoptive father and mother on your behalf.
You can go with peace of mind.”
"Miss." Mother Wei bowed, her face devoid of respect. She said with a smirk, "As the eldest daughter of the Marquis's family, you must always remember your status. When you go out, you must be accompanied by a maid. Otherwise, if others see you, they might think the Marquis's family is mistreating you..."
“Snap—”
Shen Qingtan raised his hand and slapped Mama Wei in the face: "Mama Wei, you are my mother's wet nurse, so I just treated you with some respect. I didn't expect that this would encourage your arrogance, making you forget your status and the rules of the Marquisate, and commit insubordination. If outsiders saw this, they would think that there is no hierarchy in our Marquisate, and that a cunning servant can bully the master."
Mother Wei was stunned. She covered her burning face and looked at Shen Qingtan in disbelief.
Shen Qingtan rubbed his wrist and said coldly, "Mother is kind-hearted and reluctant to punish you, these unruly slaves. This slap is my mother's way of teaching you a lesson. I hope you will abide by your duties in the future and not lose mother's face and get a reputation for not being strict with your subordinates."
Mother Wei gritted her teeth and said, "This old slave will obey your instructions."
Shen Qingtan glanced at her coldly and left calmly.
Mother Wei stared at Shen Qingtan's back with a vicious look. She really couldn't believe that such a mean girl who was usually gentle and kind to others would act so arrogantly in front of her.
She had not suffered this punishment since she was married to Marquis Cheng'en's Mansion along with Madam Shen.
Mother Wei suddenly remembered something, looked at the direction Shen Qingtan left, and sneered: Let's see how proud you are later.
Shen Qingtan walked a distance away, looked back at Furong Garden, and saw the back of Mother Wei entering the yard.
Mrs. Shen has a gentle and compassionate face, but she has a heart of a vicious snake.
And Mother Wei was Madam Shen’s knife, doing all kinds of vicious things.
I slapped Mother Wei today to vent my anger. Even if I report it to Madam Shen, Madam Shen will not seek justice for Mother Wei.
After all, she is still useful to Mrs. Shen and they will never fall out.
Shen Qingtan was thinking about his biological parents, but he didn't dare to act rashly.
They are just a merchant now, and if they alarm Madam Shen, it will only bring them disaster.
A year and a half later, they must have had the opportunity to return to the capital with their family, and become a figure feared by Zhao Jue and the Cheng'en Marquisate.
Wait a little longer, until she has grown strong enough, then go find them.
Shen Qingtan took a deep breath and suppressed the emotions surging in his heart.
"Miss!"
Two joyful voices were heard. Shen Qingtan looked up and saw two maids running towards him.
She called out in surprise: "Tingxue, Liuyue!"
After I got married in my previous life, I never saw them again.
"Miss, you've been wronged." Tingxue's eyes were red as she said self-reproachfully, "If I had sent you off to marry, you wouldn't have married Master Zhao."
Liu Yue didn't say anything, but just cried silently.
"Don't worry, you two. Second Master treats me very well. Don't say these things again." This was not the place to talk, so Shen Qingtan said nothing more. He glanced at their feet and asked, "Are you fully healed?"
"It's all right now." Liu Yue replied, then stopped talking.
Shen Qingtan said softly, "Liu Yue, do you have something to say to me?"
Liu Yue glanced at Tingxue, who was losing her composure, and whispered in Shen Qingtan's ear, "Miss, Tingxue and I weren't injured accidentally. It was Madam Wei who did it."
Shen Qingtan lowered his eyes and looked at his red palms, regretting not slapping him a few more times.
"Miss, this marriage...is not an accident." Liu Yue glanced around, worried that there might be ears, so she didn't elaborate, but only reminded him, "You must be careful."
"I know what's going on." Shen Qingtan's soft eyes revealed a coldness: "From this moment on, you must stay by my side. No matter what happens, you must not leave me."
Tingxue and Liuyue agreed.
The master and his two servants went to Jufu Hall.
As soon as she arrived at the gate of the courtyard, Shen Qingtan saw a handsome man coming out of the house. He was wearing a green velvet Taoist robe with a thin collar and wide sleeves. The collar was loosely open, revealing a little bit of his collarbone. He exuded a strong scent of cosmetics and had the demeanor of a romantic wanderer.
"Sister Tan, when you see big brother, do you know how to call for him?"
Shen Shaoheng stood in front of Shen Qingtan, staring straight at her voluptuous and bright face. His eyes slid across her chest and landed on her slender waist, which could be held in one hand. He touched her cheek with his tongue.
He said frivolously, "It's true that the climate and environment of the Duke's Mansion nourishes people. Sister Tan has become even more beautiful after being married for a few days."
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