A dark glint appeared in Aunt Fang's eyes: "Fine, she's one step ahead this time! But she won't be so lucky every time!"
The thought of having to brace herself to deal with Shen Chang's questioning later made her irritable and she hated Shen Tangning even more.
This girl never used to have so many complicated thoughts!
——
Back in the courtyard, Madam Shen looked at Chi Yan first and smiled, "Good child, does your face still hurt?"
Chi Yan was flattered, after all, he had prepared himself for Madam Shen not to give him a good look before he came.
He shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, "Mother-in-law, you're overthinking it. I'm thick-skinned and have been beaten by my parents many times, much worse than this!"
After he finished speaking, he secretly cursed himself. Should he have acted more composed?
That makes it sound like he's always getting into trouble.
Although... that is indeed the case.
Fortunately, Madam Shen did not mind. She smiled slightly and said, "That's different. I've raised Aning with all my heart. She's been pampered since she was little. I was worried that she would suffer after she got married, but with you protecting her, I can rest assured."
The slap that Chi Yan took for Shen Tangning was a slap that touched Madam Shen's heart. Even though this son-in-law had a bad reputation, she accepted it.
Shen Tangning's eyes welled up with tears, and she lowered her head.
Unfortunately, her mother never knew what kind of life she lived in the Chi family in her previous life until her death.
Shen Ci scoffed, and his gaze toward Chi Yan was no longer as hostile as before.
"Aci, take your brother-in-law out for a walk and let him get familiar with the area."
Shen Ci stared wide-eyed in disbelief, pointing at himself: "Me? With him?"
Madam Shen glanced over lightly: "You are the hostess, and this is your brother-in-law. Shouldn't you be here?"
Shen Tangning also looked over with a smile.
Shen Ci could only swallow his dissatisfaction and reluctantly said, "It should be."
Chi Yan raised an eyebrow, his expression pleased: "Thank you for your hard work, brother-in-law!"
Shen Ci glared at him: Who's your brother-in-law?
After the two left, Madam Shen's smile faded.
She stared at the girl in front of her, remained silent for a long time, and then sighed, "Ah Ning, you've suffered so much."
Shen Tangning calmly poured her tea: "This is a good thing. Mother saw it today as well. Chi Jingyu is not a person worthy of my entrusting my life to."
Madam Shen remained silent, then spoke with a fierce tone: "The Fang mother and daughter, I underestimated them in the past!"
"The reason they are so bold is simply because they have something to rely on, don't you think, Mother?" Shen Tangning pushed the teacup in front of her.
Madam Shen lowered her eyes and stared at the tea leaves on the surface of the cup, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes: "I've finally seen through your father. I can tolerate his favoritism towards Fang Shi all these years because I don't care, but he shouldn't have included you in his schemes!"
Some subtle details had already revealed the truth; she wasn't oblivious, she just didn't care.
She was a woman of the Xie family, and she had her own pride.
Compared to the power one gains, a man's fleeting affection is utterly insignificant.
But Shen Changwan shouldn't have taken her for a fool!
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