Chapter 428: Chapter 427: It’s Rather Lonely Watching Alone
Lady Chi’s face was deathly pale, her heart fiercely set upon Shen Qu. Only a young man as gentle and refined as jade could be worthy of her.
As for the rumors outside, Shen Qu had also found it difficult to mention them to her.
——"My little sister dislikes me as a brother, refuses to be disciplined, and seems to always want to go against me. She is heedless, for which I apologize for making you the subject of mockery."
The implication being.
That Shen Hua harbored ill intentions, which is why she was relentlessly unyielding.
——"Mother and Second Uncle, after all, are my elders, and I am in an awkward position, which rightly should preclude me from criticism. As for the resentments of the previous generation, I am not entirely clear on them either. As their junior, filial piety comes first and even if there are many things wrong, I should not be overly harsh. However, Miss Chi, rest assured, should you marry into this family, I will naturally protect you. If we are to talk about it, you and I are the ones who truly belong to the same family."
The implication being.
The affair between Mrs. Xue-shi and Shen He Wen is true. This is something Shen Qu, despite his intentions, cannot suppress. Rather than concealing it, it is better to admit it and earn some additional respect.
In every word, he feigns ignorance, as if it has nothing to do with him.
His character is upright, unlike those people. Moreover, since he is not Mrs. Xue-shi’s own son, should Miss Chi be unwilling, she need not treat her as a proper mother-in-law.
With such a young man, how could Lady Chi not be moved?
Shen Qu was the kind of person who knew best how to appear weak, how to make those inexperienced girls wholeheartedly devoted to him.
"The first time I saw you, I lost all desire for tea and food. But now, with my family in such a state, I am truly embarrassed to meet you. Miss Chi, I am a stubborn man. Aside from you, I don’t wish to marry anyone else. Please do not reject me because of this."
How could she withstand this!
After much effort, the Chi family elders had given their nod of approval. Now, all that was missing was Shen Qu coming to propose.
She was crazed with the desire to marry him, to bear his children.
But as she looked at the disgusting figure in the study, and heard the sound of trickling water, Shen Qu’s lower garments were soaked, yellow liquid streaming down relentlessly.
Vomit.
Lady Chi retched violently.
She could not accept it.
Retreating step by step, as if pursued by demons, she ran out in hysteria.
Shen Qu’s eyes stared straight at her, yet lifelessly so.
By the time Lady Chi’s figure vanished from sight, he remained unaffected, his body trembling, apparently in immense agony as he clasped his head and knocked it against the wall.
Bang, bang, bang.
Then, a hoarse and lewd voice issued from his mouth.
"Heh heh."
Shen Hua, perched on the roof, witnessed everything.
She was completely stunned. The girl couldn’t help but rub her hands together.
"I—"
Before she could say more.
Xiaoqi looked at her unblinkingly. Random stirring could be even more daunting than confusion.
"Madam indeed has talent."
She was thoroughly convinced! Why had it never occurred to her before!
Shen Hua gave her a brief look, and she blinked.
"Do you still have some of that powdered medicine in your room?"
"I want everyone in the house to be clutching their heads and cackling."
"Yes! There’s as much as you need! I’ll find it for you right now."
Shen Hua looked towards Yingwu.
"It’s a pity, Clan Elder Shen cannot endure such blows, and having committed many misdeeds, has been struck by an illness."
Yet her tone betrayed no sense of true pity.
Her voice was very soft, as if regretting: "But a family should be together, whole and proper, don’t you think?"
"Madam, don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything."
Shen Hua didn’t respond, her voice even softer: "It’s lonely enjoying this by myself; being alone is rather dreary."
Yingwu: ... What, should we invite half the population of Fengzhou City over to accompany Madam in her amusement?
————
With Shen Qu angered, all the servants in the residence were circumventing the study. Even his personal attendant was afraid to be implicated as an innocent bystander and found a shady spot to lazily hide.
Thus, no one was aware that the study had been joined by one after another person knocked unconscious.
Housekeeper Wu personally escorted the injured Manager Cheng back home before leisurely returning. From afar, he saw a swarm of people crowded around the Shen Residence. From the look of it, the street was nearly blocked.
A sense of dread crept over him; something was amiss. He finally squeezed through and hurriedly stepped forward.
"What happened?"
The old woman guarding the gate saw Housekeeper Wu and finally relaxed, quickly rolling up her sleeves to wipe the sweat away. She was about to exaggerate the story when someone beat her to it.
Manager Wu’s pupils contracted as he fixated on one person.
"Yicui."
"Why are you here?"
Upon further inspection, Yicui’s attire was even more elegant than many official members of the residence. It seemed she lived quite well under Shen Hua’s favor.
"Listen to what Manager Cheng said."
Yicui replied with a faint smile, "Our madam hasn’t been disowned by the Shen Family yet, has she?"
"Is there any mistake in me, a servant, returning to Shen Residence upon my lady’s order?"
"It’s quite the farce. Not long ago, the stepson and the Second Madam were all smiles and sweet talk, coaxing our lady to return. Now, they’ve turned their backs on us. All the servants of the Shen Residence have run out to block the entrance. Such a swift change of face; was it all an act for the public’s eye before?"
"A servant without a hint of subservience. Who gave them the audacity to treat our lady with such neglect? What, is this the stepson’s doing?"
Manager Cheng immediately furrowed his brows upon having this accusation laid on him.
Previously, Yicui still called him Uncle Cheng with a smile. If it weren’t for the incident and Yicui refusing to heed his advice, persisting in following her madam, he had wanted her, a well-known servant, to be his daughter-in-law.
"What are you talking about?"
"The lady refuses to return to the residence, yet the young master has asked three and invited four times. How can he not be sincere?"
What ’following the madam’s orders to return to Shen Residence.’ Manager Cheng didn’t buy her ghost stories at all.
A disquieting unrest began to spread gradually.
"What’s the meaning of bringing hundreds and thousands of people here?"
He waved his sleeve and put on a stern face.
"The lady has already caused the entire Shen Family to be in turmoil. If she intends to cause more trouble, do you think we’ll let her in?"
"What audacity..."
A cool and detached voice came through.
The crowd involuntarily parted to make way.
Lady Chi step by step ascended the stairs, no longer in the plain attire of mourning but now dressed alluringly.
Her layered skirts flowed, yet she moved with grace.
"Madam."
Yicui called out softly, masking the sharpness towards Housekeeper Wu, and stood respectfully behind Shen Hua.
Upon seeing Shen Hua, Housekeeper Wu had a splitting headache.
Shen Hua, however, played with her exquisite rouge and did not spare him a glance, lifting her hand against the dazzling sunlight, her slender fingers as beautiful as white jade, showing them off as she looked on.
She could not be bothered to argue with someone like Housekeeper Wu who always played to the crowd.
The lady glanced at the crowd behind her.
All these people were carefully selected by Li San—those in Fengzhou City who were most troublesome and fond of bickering.
"What are you staring for? The Shen Residence isn’t run by a pack of delusional servants."
"Aren’t you going to break in?"
The crowd exchanged glances, but remembering the silver coins promised by Yicui, they all rushed inside.
"Stop them!" Manager Wu bellowed.
"You’ve frightened the lady!" Yicui said coldly.
Shen Hua was not frightened.
But she could pretend to be.
The lady placed her hand over her heart, feigning distress.
Soon, Housekeeper Wu and the others were pinned to the ground by the expressionless Yingwu.