REM • CH004

# Chapter 4

“Shen Shi, how dare you!” the Great Princess exclaimed in fury.

“Second Sister-in-law’s words are such that I could die ten thousand deaths and still not deserve this treatment! I beg Mother to be the judge for this daughter-in-law!” Fang Shi’s face went pale as she knelt before the Great Princess, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Yang Shi was startled by Shen Xinyan’s audacity, her eyes widening as if she had seen a ghost. Yet internally, an irrepressible excitement surged through her.

Tear into her, tear her harder, strip that despicable woman bare!

A widow who wouldn’t quietly stay in her chambers mourning her husband and educating her children, yet clung so stubbornly to control of the household affairs. And that was not all—her husband was already dead, yet she still put on the airs of a Young Madam, her eyes haughty and her nose to the sky.

Ptui! If the proper wife did not bother to contend with her, if she truly pressed the matter, this entire household would be turned upside down.

No, perhaps it was already beginning to turn…

“Shen Shi, you came from a noble family. How can such vulgar and crude words come from your mouth? I have clearly misjudged you all this time!” the Great Princess said in furious rebuke, her harsh tone causing the maids and servants in the room to kneel hurriedly.

Yet Shen Xinyan remained unmoved. Meeting the Great Princess’s angry gaze, she spoke calmly: “I have only spoken the truth. Yet for Elder Sister-in-law to say she could die ten thousand deaths shows how sensitive one is to gossip. However, those outside would not show you such courtesy. Elder Sister-in-law has lived in seclusion, and the household has been quiet, so naturally you hear nothing. Yet our two young masters must move about in society.”

“Should malicious people stir up trouble and spread unseemly words, not only would they implicate the two masters, but they would also damage the Duke Ying household’s reputation. I beg Mother not to be angered. Simply consider whether my words hold truth.”

The Great Princess let out a cold laugh: “I did not realize you possessed such a silver tongue!”

“This daughter-in-law merely speaks truthfully.”

“All of you, leave me be. I need peace and quiet. None of you give me any comfort!” the Great Princess said, glaring at her in exasperation before gesturing dismissively to everyone.

Shen Xinyan bowed respectfully and left without another word.

Yang Shi quickly followed her out.

Fang Shi bit her lip unwillingly, wanting to say more, but the Great Princess had already been assisted into the inner chamber by her attendants. She seethed inwardly, wringing the handkerchief in her hands tightly.

She had been careless today, allowing Shen Shi to push her into this position. She had also underestimated that Shen Shi. She had thought her to be quiet and unassuming, never imagining she harbored cunning intentions and merely waited for the right moment to strike.

“Second Sister-in-law truly opened our eyes today!” Yang Shi exclaimed.

Shen Xinyan glanced at her, a slight curve appearing at the corner of her mouth: “Third Sister-in-law has always been one I dare not underestimate.”

Yang Shi was rendered speechless by her response. Indeed, even a cornered rabbit would bite.

She cleared her throat to cover the awkwardness and asked what she most wanted to know: “Second Sister-in-law, do you think Mother will take your words to heart and truly distribute each courtyard’s allowance directly to them in the future?”

“How can you and I fathom Mother’s thoughts?” Shen Xinyan smiled slightly, posing a counter-question rather than answering.

This Third Sister-in-law was a shrewd opportunist, a reed bending whichever way the wind blew. Though Shen Xinyan disliked Fang Shi, it did not mean she wished to cultivate a deeper relationship with this one. It was better to maintain some distance.

As for whether the Great Princess would grant what she had suggested, the answer was certainly yes. Much as the Great Princess favored Fang Shi, what she valued most was the Duke Ying household itself. If Shen Xinyan had directly proposed returning each courtyard’s allowance to their own management without first drawing out the matter of the heir’s withdrawal from the common funds, the Great Princess might well have refused.

But with the groundwork laid, the Great Princess would naturally think more deeply.

Of course, there was no need for her to explain this to Yang Shi.

『TL Note ♡︎』The Duke Ying household’s method of managing the inner quarters was created by some ancestor long ago. This highly centralized system was indeed quite effective in elevating the authority of those in power—likely why the Duke Ying household’s inner quarters were quieter than most. However, such a system placed great demands on the administrator. When the mistress was capable and able, the inner household naturally ran smoothly and efficiently under strong authority. Conversely, disorder in such a system ran deeper than in ordinary households.

Fang Shi had been carefully selected by the Great Princess as the future matriarch of the Duke Ying household, so her capability and competence were beyond question. Yet she had one fatal flaw: her position was not legitimate.

If she were still the Young Madam, neither Yang Shi nor anyone else in the household would have any objection to her wielding power. But now she was not. Without the status of Young Madam, relying only on the Great Princess’s favor to manage the household affairs, how could she possibly command universal obedience?

This lack of obedience was Yang Shi’s grievance.

Moreover, as the saying went: eat whose rice, heed whose words. Though the servants received assignments in each courtyard, their salaries still came from the common funds. Thus, their loyalty became unreliable.

In her previous life, Shen Xinyan had suffered greatly from this. Nearly half of the servants in Funing Hall had actually been Fang Shi’s people!

And it was precisely through leveraging this unique, highly centralized management system of the Duke Ying household that Fang Shi had gradually established herself firmly in the household, giving herself the capital to cause trouble as she wished.

In this lifetime, Shen Xinyan had directly cut off that possibility at the root! Fang Shi could continue to manage the household affairs, but if she hoped for everything to proceed as smoothly as it had in her previous life, that was unlikely.

Seeing Shen Xinyan’s demeanor, Yang Shi understood that getting a definitive answer from her was improbable. She internally pouted, and was about to say something more when she noticed Shen Xinyan’s steps falter. Then suddenly, she quickened her pace with urgency.

Yang Shi raised her eyes to look ahead and saw a small figure hurtling toward Shen Xinyan like a little cannonball. Looking closer, she recognized the figure as Shen Xinyan’s daughter, Wei Yingzhi, the Fourth Miss.

She shook her head with amusement. Just one night apart, and this little girl was already clinging so to her mother!

“Mother…”

“Fourth Miss, slow down! Be careful you don’t fall!”

The child’s soft, sweet voice carried from a distance. Shen Xinyan’s eyes grew slightly red, her body trembling with emotion as she gazed intently at the small figure running toward her.

The little girl was about six or seven years old, with two flower-bud knots in her hair, wearing a red butterfly embroidered jacket and skirt. Her round, rosy peach-like face held a pair of bright, glistening eyes as she threw herself into Shen Xinyan’s arms.

Shen Xinyan opened her stiff arms and held her. The moment that soft, warm little body was enfolded against her, tears nearly spilled from her eyes.

“Ying’er…”

“Mother, you’re holding Ying’er too tight!” The child’s tender whimper was like a warm current, gently soothing her aching heart.

“I’m sorry. It’s Mother’s fault,” Shen Xinyan said softly, lowering her head to gaze into her daughter’s clear, bright eyes.

Little Yingzhi’s big eyes blinked, then suddenly bloomed into a sweet smile before planting a kiss on her cheek with a soft “smack.” “Mother is the best!”

Shen Xinyan’s throat tightened. She quickly steadied her turbulent emotions, waiting a moment before gently grasping her daughter’s soft, plump little hand and asking tenderly: “Were you well-behaved at Grandmother’s house?”

“Of course I was well-behaved! Grandmother and Aunt even praised me!” The little girl puffed out her chest, looking proud of herself.

Shen Xinyan’s expression softened as she lovingly pinched her daughter’s cheek, praising generously: “Mother’s Ying’er is so good!”

Her words succeeded in making the little girl smile with crescent eyes, overjoyed.

Seeing that sweet, brilliant smile, Shen Xinyan felt her heart melt completely. She could not help but ask gently: “Did you eat breakfast properly today?”

“Of course! I ate a bowl of congee, a piece of osmanthus cake, and one more walnut pastry than cousin Hui. Grandmother said that if I eat on time every day, I’ll soon be as tall as Uncle!” The little girl became even more pleased, counting off on her plump fingers the items she’d eaten, looking absolutely adorable.

Shen Xinyan gazed at her with a smile, not interrupting, occasionally asking about the amusing happenings at her grandmother’s house, which only made the little girl’s eyes shine brighter.

Shen Xinyan took her daughter’s little hand and walked slowly toward Funing Hall, the child’s clear, sweet voice trailing along the path.

“…and Cousin Hui has learned to make embroidered pouches. She said she’d make one for me soon. Oh, and Mother, look look! This butterfly pendant is from Cousin Hui. Isn’t it pretty?”

Shen Xinyan lowered her head and indeed saw a delicate butterfly pendant resting in her daughter’s palm. She smiled warmly: “Beautiful.”

“I knew it was pretty. Cousin Hui wouldn’t give me anything that wasn’t beautiful. She said that once she learns to make knotted ornaments, she’ll make one for me so I can tie it to a fan. Cousin Hui also said…”

The little girl could hardly get three sentences out without mentioning “Cousin Hui.” Shen Xinyan’s smile gradually faded.

The Hui that little Yingzhi spoke of was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Jing’an, Shen Huiran, her own niece. She was two years older than Yingzhi and was eight years old this year.

Though Shen Xinyan did not particularly favor her elder sister-in-law, she was quite fond of this niece. Once, she had even entertained thoughts of making a closer connection through marriage.

No—in her previous life, she had not merely entertained such thoughts; she had repeatedly acted upon them.

To marry her most beloved niece to her most treasured son—that had been her hope in the previous life.

But that hope was completely shattered when Zhou Guanning appeared.

And after that…

She shook her head, forcing herself not to dwell on matters from her previous life.

“Does Ying’er like Cousin Hui so much?” She settled her daughter on the daybed beside her, gently stroking the little girl’s forehead as she asked softly.

“Yes! Cousin Hui is the best! She gives me everything pretty and delicious and fun!” The little girl nodded her head vigorously like a pecking chick.

“The Fourth Miss and Miss Hui are so close they’re like real sisters. Before returning to the mansion, the Fourth Miss clutched Miss Hui’s hand and insisted on pulling her home with her. The Marquess’s wife joked, ‘Why not give Cousin Hui as a wife to your brother? Then she can come home with you,'” Granny Sun said with a smile.

Shen Xinyan’s smile completely vanished at Granny Sun’s last words.

She glanced at the old woman expressionlessly and said flatly: “Granny, you’re not getting any younger. How is it you still cannot distinguish between words that should and should not be spoken?”

Granny Sun’s face stiffened, and she immediately knelt to apologize.