Chapter 18: Repair

The two maids were overjoyed with their gold bracelets, unable to contain their smiles.

Although Qiu Tong had returned with Shen Tang, her belongings were still in Songhe Hall. Shen Tang instructed her to take two little maids back with her to help pack.

After Qiu Tong left, Shen Tang reminded Yin Xing, “Have someone keep an eye on which maids like to sneak over to Qinglan Garden and the South Courtyard without reason.”

She needed to protect her father and her loved ones, but first, she had to protect herself.

She had already experienced the ruthlessness of the Second Madam. She had only slightly resisted the Second Madam and Shen Juan, and the coldness in the Second Madam’s eyes was unmistakable. It wouldn’t be long before she might use those spies against her. Shen Tang had to cut off the Second Madam’s control over her and ensure she could act without being under the Second Madam’s watchful gaze.

With Doukou and Nanny Jiang gone, it would be easier to manage the remaining maids in the courtyard.

By rewarding Qiu Tong with a gold bracelet, she aimed to prevent the Second Madam from attempting to win Qiu Tong over and apply pressure. However, she trusted Qiu Tong’s character. In her previous life, after the matriarch passed away, Qiu Tong was one of the few maids who remained in Songhe Hall, while the others had all found better opportunities.

Qiu Tong was loyal to the matriarch, and Shen Tang wasn’t worried. Although the matriarch favored Shen Juan, she wouldn’t go so far as to let Qiu Tong harm Shen Tang. This was also why Shen Tang felt secure in requesting a maid from the matriarch.

While Shen Tang sipped tea and nibbled on snacks, pondering her next steps, she was brought back to reality by Yin Xing’s voice, “Madam, the gold hairpin that Nanny Jiang stole and sold has been redeemed.”

Shen Tang looked up and saw a little maid enter through the beaded curtain, holding a brocade box and a bundle.

Yin Xing took the brocade box and presented it to Shen Tang for her to examine.

Inside the box was the gold hairpin she had used to frame Nanny Jiang.

The hairpin had originally been part of a pair; the other had been thrown to the ground when she refused the marriage proposal.

Thinking about the other hairpin, Yin Xing had already queried, “What about the hairpin you injured yourself with? It hasn’t been returned…”

The maid delivering the items responded, “That hairpin was taken by the guards of Prince Jingyang’s manor after they found it.”

Shen Tang, “…”

She had thrown the hairpin down intentionally, hoping they would take it back as a report to Prince Jingyang, but it wasn’t enough for so many eyes to witness her injuring herself. Would they really bring back a bloodied hairpin?

Shen Tang was at a loss for words.

The little maid lifted the bundle she was holding and said, “And this bundle contains a broken glass lamp that was mistakenly thrown away by the jade shop. They spent a day and night searching for it, and several craftsmen worked tirelessly for two days to repair it. They said it would be fixed so well that it wouldn’t break again.”

A broken glass lamp that had been damaged and now returned? How ironic that it was given back after all this trouble.

The little maid handed over the bundle, and Yin Xing couldn’t refuse to take it.

After rewarding the little maid with five coins, Shen Tang saw her leave, clearly delighted.

Once the maid was gone, Shen Tang’s gaze fell on the bundle, her curiosity piqued.

In her previous life, the glass lamp had also been mistakenly thrown away by the jade shop, but it had never been returned. How could this time be different?

Shen Tang didn’t know that Si’er had gone to retrieve the glass lamp and had been told it was thrown away. She had been furious, saying it was the most cherished item of her young lady. When it was sent to the jade shop for repairs, she expressed her outrage at such an oversight, questioning if the jade shop wanted to go out of business.

The jade shop, already feeling guilty, was further intimidated by Shen Tang’s fierce temperament. Not wanting to provoke the fierce Second Miss, they quickly gathered the pieces of the glass lamp from the rubble once Si’er left. They then repaired it piece by piece.

Yin Xing opened the bundle, and Shen Tang saw the repaired glass lamp. It was more beautiful than before, even with the many cracks.

Yin Xing commented, “The jade shop has used gold and silver threads for the repairs; it definitely won’t break again.”

“Throw it away.”

Yin Xing, “…”

Previously, when the young lady had said to let it go, she had thought the young lady was merely comforting herself. Now that it was repaired and returned, the young lady still wanted to throw it away…

Yin Xing couldn’t believe it. “Madam, are you really going to throw it away?”

Shen Tang replied, “It’s broken beyond recognition. Taking it out will only invite ridicule.”

As for other matters, Shen Tang had long since forgotten them.

The person who had given her the glass lamp, she had only seen three times in her previous life. After marrying Xie Guimo, she had never seen that person again.

She had met this person because of a ledger and a key; they had been investigating the embezzlement of disaster relief funds by Consort Ye’s family, the Changping Marquis. When she died, the Changping Marquis had not only escaped disaster but had risen to prominence, being granted the title of Duke. That person… should have died long ago.

The chance encounter and the flutter of her heart from half a year ago had long faded during the four years she spent married to Xie Guimo. How could she let a glass lamp stir any ripples in her heart again?

Seeing that Shen Tang genuinely wanted to throw away the glass lamp, Yin Xing was extremely curious about why her young lady had suddenly become so detached from it. She was clearly a very persistent person.

Yin Xing took the glass lamp outside, ready to let Si’er throw it away, but then hesitated.

If she threw it away, it would be lost forever. What if the young lady was just temporarily emotional? A lamp wouldn’t take up much space, so it was better to keep it just in case. As long as she hid it well and didn’t let the young lady see it, it would be the same as throwing it away.

Shen Tang was a bit lost in thought when she decided to read a book to pass the time. She had only read halfway through when Si’er excitedly called from outside the curtain, “Miss, Nanny Zhou has been brought back!”

Shen Tang turned to the screen and saw Nanny Zhou walk in with red-rimmed eyes. Nanny Zhou had been sent away when Shen Tang was only five years old. Now, ten years later, Shen Tang had almost no memory of her, only a sense of familiarity.

Nanny Zhou stepped forward and knelt down with a thud. Shen Tang quickly put down the book and went to help Nanny Zhou up, saying, “Nanny Zhou, please get up.”

Nanny Zhou wouldn’t let her help, gripping Shen Tang’s hand tightly and choking up, “I never expected to see you again in this lifetime. I have failed to fulfill my promise to the late Madam…”

Shen Tang felt guilty. “Nanny Zhou has always cared for me. It’s my fault for not bringing you back sooner.”

Nanny Zhou shook her head repeatedly. When she was sent away, Shen Tang had only been five, unable to even protect herself, let alone protect her.

Looking at Shen Tang, Nanny Zhou smiled through tears, “You have grown up, and you resemble Madam even more. If Madam could see you now, she would surely be very pleased.”

Shen Tang helped Nanny Zhou to her feet. “You must have suffered a lot during these years at the estate.”

Nanny Zhou shook her head.

She hadn’t faced much hardship; she had only worried about Shen Tang, which had tormented her heart for ten years.

She had been Jiang Shi’s most trusted companion. During Jiang Shi’s life, she had managed the estate for her. After Jiang Shi was deemed insane, Nanny Zhou had devoted herself entirely to Shen Tang, managing all affairs at the estate.

Before she was to be sold, she had been beaten thirty times and was left barely alive. If Shen Sui hadn’t sent her to Jiang Shi’s dowry estate, she might not have survived that day.

Both Shen Tang and Nanny Zhou had the same determination: one wanted to make up for lost time, while the other was intent on proceeding cautiously, ensuring no one could find an excuse to separate her from Shen Tang.