"Mutual support?"
Shen Jintang raised an eyebrow slightly, a cold smile curving his lips, as if he were listening to an absurd joke.
However, Shen Wanwan was completely oblivious to the coldness in Shen Jintang's tone. Instead, she arrogantly raised her chin, her tone carrying a hint of condescension: "You helped me become the Crown Princess, so I will naturally not treat you badly in the future. After all, we are family."
Crown Princess?
Shen Jintang narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping over Shen Wanwan like a cold star, and instantly understood her intention.
She had heard some rumors and assumed that she was favored by Gu Zhixing, and tried to use her to climb to the position of the Crown Prince's wife.
After all, putting aside everything else, Gu Zhixing's status and appearance alone make him one of the most outstanding men in the capital.
It's understandable that Shen Wanwan wants to use her connections to rise in status and become a phoenix.
However, I fear that while she may have the desire, she may not have the fate to pursue it!
Seeing that Shen Jintang remained silent, Aunt Qiu quickly chimed in, her tone tinged with urgency: "Jintang, although you are a slave now, no matter how much His Highness the Crown Prince dotes on you, you are still just a servant. When the Crown Prince's wife enters the manor in the future, where will you have a place to stand? But Wanwan is different. You are family. If she becomes the Crown Prince's wife, she will naturally not mistreat you."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jintang couldn't help but chuckle softly, her laughter cold and mocking, as if she were ridiculing this absurd scheme: "Ha, what a pipe dream."
The moment she said those words, the atmosphere in the room froze, and everyone's faces turned extremely ugly.
"you!"
Shen Wanwan finally realized belatedly that Shen Jintang's cold laugh was clearly mocking her—a fool who overestimated herself and fantasized about climbing the social ladder.
She was so angry that her face turned red, as if she had been slapped in the face in public. Her anger and resentment burned fiercely in her eyes, almost consuming her reason.
She glared at Shen Jintang, gritting her teeth as she cursed, "Who do you think you are?! You're nothing but a slave, you were before, you are now, and you always will be! My mother sold you to the slave market before, and she can do it again now! Once a slave, always a lowly servant!"
slave?
Shen Jintang's fingers curled slightly, and the pressure at her fingertips unconsciously increased as her thoughts returned to that cold, rainy night.
He could only helplessly watch as the girl's body grew colder and colder in his arms.
That bone-chilling coldness seeped through the cracks in her memory, penetrating straight to her heart, causing it to clench painfully.
She seemed to hear the girl whisper in her ear: "Help me get revenge..."
The voice, though soft, struck Shen Jintang's heart like a heavy hammer.
Shen Jintang's eyes instantly turned icy cold, as if shrouded in a layer of cold mist, exuding a chilling aura.
"I called you back today to give you face. Don't be ungrateful!"
Seeing that Shen Jintang was so difficult to talk to, Aunt Qiu also took off her gentle appearance and revealed the fangs hidden under the mask.
“If you don’t help, plenty of others will. No matter how much the prince favors you now, you’re still just a servant. But our Wanwan is different. Even if she doesn’t become the prince’s wife, she’ll find a good match in the future. It’ll be more than enough to crush you.”
Shen Jintang's gaze fell on Aunt Qiu's calculating face, and suddenly he curled up the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile that was not quite a smile: "Aunt is absolutely right."
She slowly raised her hand, took a silver hairpin from her hair, and gently rubbed it between her fingertips.
The silver hairpin gleamed softly in the sunlight, and its exquisite carving made it clear at a glance that it was no ordinary piece.
Shen Jintang's smile grew more pronounced, but upon closer inspection, her eyes were icy cold, devoid of any warmth.
“This silver hairpin was a gift from His Highness the Crown Prince.” Shen Jintang’s voice was so soft it was almost a soliloquy, yet every word was clear. “I, a mere servant, really cannot use such a fine thing. I might as well offer it to my aunt as an apology for my outrageous words.”
She gently handed the silver hairpin to Aunt Qiu, and the hairpin twirled between her fingers as if telling a story.
Aunt Qiu looked Shen Jintang up and down, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
She knew perfectly well that Shen Jintang's attitude had changed so quickly, there must be something fishy going on, but she was indeed the help Shen Jintang needed right now.
In order for Shen Wanwan to have a good future, she had to take a gamble.
If she wins the gamble, Shen Wanwan will become the Crown Prince's wife, which will greatly benefit Shen Heng in the future.
Moreover, she firmly believed that Shen Jintang was a smart person and would never harm her in public, leaving others with leverage against her.
So, Aunt Qiu forced a smile and said tentatively, "Jintang is really sensible. Well then, I'll accept this hairpin. In the future, you two sisters will still have to support each other."
Shen Jintang smiled slightly and nodded: "Of course."
Aunt Qiu breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to take the hairpin from Shen Jintang's hand.
However, Shen Jintang deftly dodged Aunt Qiu's outstretched hand by turning to the side.
"?"
Aunt Qiu's smile froze instantly, her eyes filled with confusion and astonishment, wondering what Shen Jintang meant.
Shen Jintang explained in a gentle tone, with just the right amount of respect, "Auntie, it would be better if I put this hairpin on you myself."
Aunt Qiu was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening. Her face was filled with smiles again, and she put on a loving expression: "Good, good, Jin Tang is so sensible."
Shen Jintang slowly stood up, the silver hairpin in her hand gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
She lowered her head slightly, her movements very gentle.
However, just as the silver hairpin was about to touch the hair bun, she suddenly twisted her wrist, and the silver hairpin pierced straight towards Aunt Qiu's neck like a sharp arrow.
"Pfft—"
Blood gushed out instantly, splattering onto Shen Jintang's clothes and onto Shen Wanwan's face not far away.
Aunt Qiu instinctively covered her neck with her hands, and blood gushed out from between her fingers. Her body swayed slightly, and finally she fell stiffly to the ground with a dull thud.
"Thump—"
Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she stared intently at Shen Jintang, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Shen Jintang actually dared to do such a rebellious thing in the Shen family!
She made a few muffled murmurs, but could no longer utter a complete sentence.
Blood spread rapidly beneath her, staining a large area of the ground red.
Only a pair of wide-open eyes remained, frozen in that final moment of terror.
"mother!"
Warm drops of blood slowly slid down her skin. Shen Wanwan stared wide-eyed in horror, unable to believe what was happening before her eyes.
She instinctively took a few steps back, covered her face with her hands, and screamed in terror.
Shen Jintang stared coldly at Aunt Qiu's corpse, her eyes devoid of any pity.
She slowly put down the silver hairpin in her hand, gently wiped away the bloodstains, and asked in a cold tone, "Do you like the apology gift I gave you?"
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