Chapter 71

Shen Yu sat high at the head of the room, facing the door, locking eyes with Shen Yan.

She stared coldly at Shen Yan, only seeing shock and fear in her eyes, but not a hint of joy.

Shen Yan didn’t want her to come back.

This was clearly the answer she had already anticipated, yet it still sent a chill down her spine.

Despite being family, there was no closeness between them, or rather, there never had been.

Under Shen Yu’s gaze, Shen Yan involuntarily clenched her fingers, trying to keep her voice steady as she said, “Zicui, you may leave.”

“No need,” Shen Yu gestured towards the inner chamber with her chin.

Two maids were kneeling there in fear, not daring to make a sound. Zicui walked over and knelt down beside them.

Shen Yan took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and knelt down with a thud, choking as she spoke, “Sister.”

Shen Yu stared at her intently, as if trying to see through this sister whom she had never fully understood.

After a while, she spoke, “I thought, as your elder sister, I could no longer step foot into the Shen family.”

“Sister blames me,” Shen Yan said.

“Why would I blame you?”

Shen Yan choked up, “The storekeeper from Lu sent me a letter, but I didn’t come to see you.”

Shen Yu sneered, “So you still knew I was alive?”

“The first time the storekeeper from Lu sent a letter, I thought it was someone impersonating him, so I didn’t believe it,” Shen Yan paused before continuing, “The second time, I reluctantly believed, but I didn’t dare to come see you, Sister.”

“Nonsense!” Shen Yu said coldly, “I clearly explained the reason in the letter from Shopkeeer Lu. Shen Yan looked up in shock, “What did Sister say? Shopkeeper Lu never gave me any letter. Since she and you left the capital, I haven’t seen her again.”

Shen Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

Did Shopkeeper Ludisappear before delivering the letter? Or has Shen Yan’s lying skill reached perfection?

She carefully scrutinized Shen Yan’s face, but couldn’t detect any hint of falsehood in her expression.

Shen Yan continued, “I received news at home about Father and Brother’s deaths. I tried to find out where Sister was, but with no success, so…”

“So you took it upon yourself to declare me dead,” Shen Yu interrupted her, “From then on, there was no Shen Yu in this world, and the Shen family had only Miss Shen Yan.”

“Sister, how could you think like that,” Shen Yan crawled a few steps closer, tears streaming down her face, “With no news from Sister at the border, and with Father and Brother gone, you surely wouldn’t survive alone.”

“Are you suggesting I should die?” Shen Yu’s gaze was sharp.

Shen Yan was startled and immediately explained, “No, that’s not what I meant. If I didn’t declare your death, how would I explain to others why you didn’t attend Father and Brother’s funeral? And how would others speculate? Besides, I heard about the tragic situation at Yanliang Pass in the capital.

So many people died, I never thought Sister would come back alive.

At that time, I was just thinking, even if Sister had to leave, I wanted to leave a good reputation for her.”

Shen Yu sneered inwardly, “So you’re doing this for my own good?”

Shen Yan said, “Honestly, if Sister really didn’t come back alive, wouldn’t my handling of the situation be the best?”

Shen Yu leaned down, glaring coldly at Shen Yan on the ground, “For you, this is indeed the best result. It’s just a pity, I’m back.”

A delicate lady who grew up in seclusion, compared to a tough woman who emerged from the battlefield, how could they be compared?

She exuded a sense of danger, and in the moment she leaned down, it seemed as if one could smell the blood from the battlefield.

Shen Yan was intimidated for the first time, realizing for the first time that the seemingly gentle Shen Yu had such a dominating aura.

Shen Yan wanted to get up, but felt her entire back tense up, unable to move.

“Sister, you really misunderstood me,” Shen Yan cried, “I’m not even sixteen yet.”

“Yes,” Shen Yu said disappointedly, “I also wonder how a sixteen-year-old like you could be so scheming.”

In her previous life, she was trapped in the Jiang Mansion, and Shen Yan hadn’t married yet. She used to come to see her every ten days or so, to talk to her.

At the time, she was grateful, so when her stepmother suggested finding a good husband for Shen Yan, she took it upon herself to make arrangements.

Now it seemed, Shen Yan’s frequent visits to the Jiang Mansion weren’t without benefits, were they?

At that time, the Shen family had already fallen, while the Jiang family was still flourishing. If Shen Yan didn’t attach herself to the Jiang family, who else could she attach herself to?

It’s ridiculous how it took Shen Yu facing life and death to learn to judge people properly.

Shen Yan took a breath as if to say something, but then softened her voice, “If Sister insists on misunderstanding me, then so be it. Ah Yan has no defense.”

“Shen Yan,” Shen Yu’s tone was disappointed, “Don’t pretend in front of me like this. I’m not buying it, and I don’t have time to indulge in a melodrama of sisterly love with you here.”

Shen Yan bit her lip, realizing that no matter how she explained, Shen Yu wouldn’t believe her, so why bother pretending here?

Both were legitimate daughters of the Shen family, why should she kneel to Shen Yu here?

Might as well break the facade, she was tired of pretending.

Shen Yan was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed, leaning back and sitting softly on the ground.

She looked up at Shen Yu, “Why are you so clever? Sometimes I wonder, why is it that when people mention you, they say Miss Shen, but when they mention me, it’s only Miss Shen? Clearly, I am also the legitimate daughter of the General’s Mansion.”

“Does the title matter?” Shen Yu asked.

“It matters!” Shen Yan stared at her hatefully, “If the name is not right, the words will not ring true. You were loved by Father and Brother since childhood, how could you understand my feelings?”

“Father was an honest official, how much could his salary and rewards be? Mother, she has the title of the General’s wife, but she lives in the General’s Mansion worse off than a concubine of a wealthy merchant outside. And you?!”

“That’s because my grandmother dotes on me,” Shen Yu said.

“Yes,” Shen Yan cried and laughed at the same time, “Every time I receive your ‘gifts’, I console myself like that too! Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have such a grandmother? Then I wouldn’t have to see our differences time and time again.”

Shen Yu shook her head disappointedly, “You always blame others, why don’t you look for reasons within yourself?”

“I did!” Shen Yan yelled, “That’s why I saw an opportunity. As long as I make you, Shen Yu, die at the border, everything here will be mine. There will be no Shen Yu in this world anymore, and when people mention Miss Shen of the Shen family, they will only know me, Shen Yan!”

Shen Yu stood up, and Shen Yan immediately propped herself up, retreating in fear, “What are you trying to do?!”

The maid beside them couldn’t bear it anymore and crawled over, wanting to stand in front of Shen Yan, but was kicked away by Shen Yu.

Shen Yu looked down at her, “I’m asking you, where is Green Medicine?”

Shen Yan stiffened her neck, “I’ve already said, I have never seen her. If you don’t believe me, you’re familiar with the General’s Mansion, feel free to search.”

Shen Yu had already searched thoroughly, indeed finding no one, and her maids also vehemently denied ever seeing Green Medicine.

She approached Shen Yan step by step, wanting to break through her psychological defenses. When she reached the door, Shen Yu stopped in her tracks, her voice suddenly halting as her gaze fell on a tile to the right of the door.