Chapter 10: Stubbornness

Shen Tang’s arm was injured; the wound was small but deep, and since it had not been treated in time, she had lost quite a bit of blood. The physician advised her to rest for ten days to half a month before she would fully recover.

After two days of bed rest, Shen Tang decided to leave her room on the third morning.

The bruises on her knees from kneeling had faded significantly, and Shen Tang thought that the remaining bruises wouldn’t affect her ability to walk. However, after walking a bit longer, she felt a dull ache in her knees.

Ginkgo  was not unaware of her mistress’s stubbornness. “Miss, your injury hasn’t fully healed. You can wait a few days before visiting the Old Madam; she won’t blame you.”

Shen Tang didn’t want to visit the Old Madam, but she had to go to the Jiang family today.

It wouldn’t make sense to be unable to come and pay her respects to the Old Madam while still being able to go out.

Shen Tang insisted on going to Pine Crane Hall, and Ginkgo  could only accompany her since she couldn’t stop her.

The Old Madam hadn’t expected Shen Tang to be so injured and still come to pay her respects. Her heart softened, and her expression turned more benevolent. “The physician said you need to rest. Why have you come to see your grandmother?”

Shen Tang shook her head lightly, the small pearls on her ears glinting softly. “It’s just a minor injury; it’s nothing serious. I didn’t mean to worry Grandmother.”

With her wedding gown sleeves soaked with blood, she had fainted before even leaving Pine Crane Hall. Could it really be a minor injury? A delicate young lady would feel pain for half a day from a small cut, let alone something as serious as a deep puncture wound.

The Old Madam said, “I know you have filial piety, but you must prioritize your health.”

Just as Shen Tang was about to nod in agreement, the sound of jingling jewelry interrupted.

Shen Tang looked towards the screen and saw a slender, graceful young woman walking in. It was Shen Ran, the third daughter of the Second Branch. She was dressed in a light green embroidered dress adorned with begonia flowers, her fair skin glowing, and when she smiled, shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth.

Shen Tang’s gaze lingered on Shen Ran’s face for a moment. Shen Ran bore no resemblance to Second Madam, nor did she resemble Second Master. Second Madam favored Shen Juan but was strict, even harsh, with Shen Ran. After all, Second Madam had exchanged her own daughter for the eldest branch. Where had Shen Ran even come from?

Shen Tang and Shen Juan appeared different because the midwife had delivered them with two placentas, so no one suspected anything. More importantly, Shen Tang resembled Jiang Shi, while Shen Juan took after the Old Madam.

How much did they resemble each other?

To put it simply, even the Old Madam’s own daughter did not look as much like her as Shen Juan did.

The Old Madam doted on Shen Juan not only out of sympathy for her nearly being suffocated by Jiang Shi at birth but also because Shen Juan looked so much like her. Who wouldn’t love a granddaughter who mirrored themselves?

Behind Shen Ran was Shen Luo, the fourth daughter of the Second Branch. She was younger than Shen Tang by half a year and wouldn’t reach adulthood for another month.

In addition to these four daughters, there was also a fifth daughter, who was quite a bit younger than them, only eight years old this year. She had gone with Fourth Madam to celebrate her maternal grandfather’s birthday and was not in the manor at the moment.

In the Pingyuan Marquis Manor, only the First and Second Branches had legitimate daughters, while the Third and Fourth Branches were illegitimate.

Shen Ran and Shen Luo both paid their respects to the Old Madam. “Grandmother, we just visited the Eldest Sister. Her cold is quite severe; she has lost a lot of weight after only two days of illness. I feel so sorry for her. You must be heartbroken when you see her.”

Early spring’s well water was certainly no trivial matter.

Seeing the Old Madam’s expression soften, Shen Tang felt a wave of discomfort.

In the past, she might have endured it, but now she could not hold back at all.

With a look of self-reproach, Shen Tang said, “It’s all my fault for not handling things properly. I had agreed to discuss it with my elder sister, but she sent me the wedding gown directly. I worried she wouldn’t believe my mother’s dream, and fearing the omen from the Dazhao Temple would come true, she might not  heed my advice, thinking that if I refused to marry, it would be the same. If I had considered this matter, my elder sister wouldn’t have had to immerse herself in the well water and truly fall ill from the fear of not being able to marry Prince Jingyang’s son.”

Shen Tang’s voice rang clear in the room.

The Old Madam’s expression froze, then turned grim.

Shen Tang’s words sounded reasonable; Shen Juan had fallen ill out of fear of harming Prince Jingyang’s son, but everyone knew what she was truly afraid of.

Having pretended to be poisoned only to be “accidentally” exposed by Shen Tang, the Old Madam had thought Shen Juan had learned her lesson. She hadn’t expected that the illness was self-inflicted.

Second Madam had approached the screen just in time to overhear Shen Tang’s words, and she felt like exploding with rage, wishing she could sew Shen Tang’s mouth shut. No one would think she is mute if she didn’t speak.

As Second Madam stepped forward, the Old Madam shot her a cold glance. After Shen Juan had fallen ill, the Old Madam had inquired, and Second Madam had blamed it on the maids’ neglect, claiming that they had forgotten to close the windows at night, allowing cold air to enter and cause Shen Juan’s illness.

Second Madam looked at Shen Tang, her eyes filled with frost. “How did I not know that the Eldest Miss fell ill this way?”

Was she asking Shen Tang to retract her words? Shen Tang was not one to be intimidated by Second Madam’s threats. She blinked and retorted, “Is it not common knowledge in the manor? Even Second Madam doesn’t know?”

Shen Tang turned to the maids in the room. “Have you all not heard?”

The maids all lowered their heads.

Of course, they had heard, but who would dare to speak up?

With no one saying anything, the Old Madam’s face grew even darker. It was clear that they all knew but were afraid of her wrath and didn’t want her to find out.

How could the Pingyuan Marquis Manor have raised a daughter who would deceive like this?

Thinking back to the day Shen Juan was brought to her courtyard after birth, the Old Madam’s expression darkened further.

Second Madam wanted to defend Shen Juan but had no idea where to start. In the end, she could only blame the Dazhao Temple. “It’s all the fault of that omen from the Dazhao Temple. If it weren’t for the omen about harming husbands, the Eldest Miss wouldn’t have acted this way. I’ve thought about it, and the more I think, the more I feel something is off. Without the auspicious ceremony, Prince Jingyang’s son managed to escape danger. Holding a joyous event should have been beneficial, yet the Eldest Miss drew such an ominous lot. Perhaps it was the work of someone with ill intent.”

To be honest, Shen Tang also suspected something similar.

However, she suspected Second Madam; hearing her say this made it seem like she hadn’t done it.

But aside from Second Madam, who would help Shen Juan?

Shen Tang could not think of anyone else.

Second Madam shielding Shen Juan was met with silence. This matter came to a halt, and Shen Tang simply couldn’t stand seeing the Old Madam’s concern for Shen Juan. She was determined to make Shen Juan uncomfortable, at least a little, before she hurried off to the Jiang family.

But just as she was about to rise, a maid rushed in. “Old Madam, something terrible has happened! Prince Jingyang’s Manor wants to cancel the engagement with the Eldest Miss!”