Chapter 22

Madam Shen’s expression stiffened. Shen Qingtan not only wanted a shop, but she wanted one of the profitable pawnshops.

Pawnshops were a sure-win business, always backed by powerful supporters.

Now, the industry was monopolized. If someone wanted to open a new one, the government wouldn’t even approve it.

Shen Qingtan pretended to be uneasy and asked, “Mother, was I wrong to ask for something?”

“Just surprised,” Madam Shen teased. “Before, you never wanted any rewards I gave you. Today you actually asked for one.” She sighed. “Everything I own will go to you siblings anyway—sooner or later it’s the same.”

“Mother treats me the best,” Shen Qingtan smiled brightly, linking arms with her. “Let’s go get the property deed and the pawnshop contract now. When I return home, I’ll tell my husband that no matter who I marry, you’ll always love me just as before—and you won’t stop loving me just because he’s weak in health.”

Madam Shen studied her, unsure if she was just scheming to get a shop or if she was worried about being abandoned and wanted something in hand to prove to Zhao Yi that her family was her backing.

Originally, Madam Shen had planned to delay giving her the deed and find an excuse to refuse later. But now, she was forced into giving it.

“As they say, children are their parents’ debts—if I don’t love you, who else would I love?” Madam Shen looked tired. “Come with me to get the deed.”

Shen Qingtan helped her back to the Hibiscus Courtyard.

Shen Mingzhu watched their warm, mother-daughter scene, and tears welled up for no reason. She felt a wave of grievance she couldn’t describe.

Today, she hadn’t managed to teach Shen Qingtan a lesson. Her mother brushed the matter aside lightly, even gifting her a shop, leaving her own biological daughter forgotten.

Her hatred for Shen Qingtan deepened. She wiped away her tears roughly and followed them from afar.

She watched as Madam Shen handed Shen Qingtan the deed. Her fingernails dug into her palm, the pain keeping her calm.

Shen Qingtan slipped the deed into her sleeve. “Mother, you’re tired today—shall I help you rest in your room?”

Madam Shen didn’t want to look at her anymore. “Zhao Yi’s health is poor. Go check on him.”

“Alright.” Shen Qingtan bid her mother farewell, then turned to Shen Mingzhu, speaking warmly, “Second Sister, want to come with me?”

Shen Mingzhu forced down her resentment. “Elder Sister, you go ahead. I have something to say to Mother.”

“Very well. Keep her company.” Shen Qingtan glanced at Mingzhu’s clenched fists, her smile growing softer. “Mother’s upset over Madam Wei’s matter—try to comfort her.”

After Shen Qingtan left, Shen Mingzhu was ready to complain to her mother—when Madam Shen asked first, “Lü Yuan, do you know how Madam Wei was arranged?”

Lü Yuan knelt quickly, trembling. “Madam Wei is always careful and does things herself. She never told me what she planned.”

Fury flashed in Madam Shen’s eyes, and she knocked over the incense burner on the bed table.

Bang—

Both Shen Mingzhu and Lü Yuan shook with fright.

Madam Shen’s face twisted.

Was this to destroy all evidence?

Shen Shaoheng was the killer.

What she wanted to know was what role Shen Qingtan had played in this.

No matter what, she would never believe Shen Qingtan was innocent!

“Mo… Mother…” Shen Mingzhu stammered in fear.

“You go back first.” Madam Shen’s head throbbed from anger and loss; she had no energy to deal with her. “If you have something to say, tell Wantong to pass me a message.”

Shen Mingzhu’s face turned pale. Forcing a stiff smile, she said, “Alright. You rest well—your daughter will go now.”

Madam Shen only gave a faint “Mm.”

Leaving with red eyes, Shen Mingzhu had hoped her mother would give her a shop too. Even if she couldn’t get back her dowry, at least she’d have something to report to the Second Household.

If the Second Madam found out that Shen Qingtan had gotten a pawnshop while she came back empty-handed… she couldn’t imagine what they would think.

Once outside, she told her maids, “Don’t let anyone in the Duke’s household know about Mother giving Shen Qingtan a shop.”

They both replied, “We wouldn’t dare.”

Shen Qingtan left the Hibiscus Courtyard with Liuyue and Tingsnow, her smile fading as she walked toward the front yard.

Liuyue looked uneasy. Seeing no one nearby, she whispered, “Miss, how did you know Madam Wei wanted to harm us?”

Shen Qingtan lowered her lashes and said calmly, “When I returned home, Mother asked why I didn’t bring Chun Jiao and Qiu Chan. I only trust you two, not her people. If she wanted her own people in my service, she’d have to get rid of you—and today was the perfect chance.”

In this second life, Shen Qingtan always prepared ahead for everything.

She didn’t know what would happen upon returning to the Shen family, so she’d deliberately left a box of jade-green cakes in the carriage as an excuse to leave.

When Madam Shen brought up the maids, she knew something was coming. Later, meeting Shen Shaoheng reminded her of his fate in her past life. So when resting in her room, she sent Liuyue to check his movements.

Hearing he went to the Late Maple Pavilion, she made two plans and told Liuyue and Tingsnow what to do.

When she didn’t see Shen Shaoheng or Concubine Mei in the side hall, she was certain.

Madam Shen was skilled at using others to do her dirty work—she’d use this to expose Shaoheng and Mei’s affair while letting them get rid of Liuyue and Tingsnow for her.

Liuyue and Tingsnow looked at her with admiration. Their mistress was always calm and decisive, reading people’s minds to plan her moves.

Earlier, she had told them: if someone lured them to Late Maple Pavilion, one of them would dress like Madam Wei and throw a purse near the rockery, while the other led Madam Wei there. Then, after it was done, they’d leave the estate to get the jade-green cakes.

At the time, they thought she was worrying too much—but she’d saved their lives.

Liuyue clutched the note her mistress had hidden in a handkerchief for her, revealing Shen Shaoheng and Concubine Mei’s meeting.

Thinking back, she shivered. “Good thing you foresaw this, or we’d be dead.”

Shen Qingtan had bet everything on this—like a gambler risking her life.

She was also lucky Madam Wei treated Madam Shen like her own daughter, using outsiders for dirty work and killing them afterward to avoid implicating her.

To be safe, Madam Wei would always be nearby, ready to help at the right moment.

Otherwise, getting rid of Madam Wei would be much harder.

Shen Qingtan glanced back at the Hibiscus Courtyard, her eyes glinting.

Shen Shaoheng wasn’t a good man—in her last life, he never guarded against Madam Shen and ended up in ruins.

This time, with her pushing from behind, she hoped the conflict between him and Madam Shen would explode.

And she hoped he wouldn’t let her down.