REM • CH005

# Chapter 5

Shen Xinyan lowered her eyes and gently caressed the jade bracelet on her wrist, ignoring Granny Sun completely.

Little Yingzhi blinked her big eyes in confusion, tilting her head as she looked now at her mother, now at Granny Sun, her face a picture of bewilderment.

Granny Sun knelt on the ground, her face growing paler with each passing moment as she waited in vain for Shen Xinyan to tell her to rise.

“Mother…” The little girl, taking pity on her nanny, tugged at her mother’s sleeve and shook it playfully.

Shen Xinyan pinched her daughter’s rosy cheek, and only then did her gaze slowly fall upon Granny Sun on the ground. She spoke unhurriedly: “Rise.”

“Thank you, Madam!” Granny Sun quickly wiped away sweat, relieved she could stand, but before she could fully relax, Shen Xinyan’s meaningful words began again: “Though Granny came from the Duke of Jing’an’s household, you now receive your wages from the Duke Ying household. When you speak and act, you must always keep your place clear in mind. Ying’er is the pearl of my palm. I trust you enough to place her in your care, and I only hope you will not betray this trust.”

“She is still young, innocent as blank paper. You are constantly at her side. You must always know in your heart what words should and should not be spoken.”

Granny Sun’s weathered face flushed red then white, and she dared not speak.

Shen Xinyan gazed at her for a moment before continuing slowly: “These past years, Granny has served Ying’er with devotion. I see all this. You need only attend to your duties. When Ying’er grows, she will surely remember Granny’s service. Why trouble yourself with matters not your concern? Consider carefully whether my words are not reasonable.”

Granny Sun’s heart clenched. She immediately knelt again: “Every word Madam speaks is true. This old servant was blinded by greed. Henceforth, I will devote myself entirely to serving the Fourth Miss and concern myself with nothing else.”

“If Granny thinks this way, it is best. You may go,” Shen Xinyan said with a nod. She made no effort to discern the sincerity of her words and waved her out.

Though Granny Sun had some private motives, she did serve the girl wholeheartedly. For that alone, Shen Xinyan had no intention of dealing with her.

It seemed that having lived one lifetime and now seeing through the fog, she was noticing many things she had overlooked before.

For instance, Granny Sun’s motives. And her sister-in-law’s schemes.

She was very clear that neither in her previous life nor this one had she harbored thoughts of a closer family connection at this time. Moreover, in this life she had long since abandoned that notion, so it was even less possible she would plant such an idea in her daughter’s mind—that Cousin Hui should marry her brother.

In her previous life, her daughter had expended such effort trying to match her cousin with her brother. Beyond her mother’s influence and being moved by her cousin’s infatuation with her brother, it was inseparable from the ceaseless persuasion and hints from those around her.

Yet her daughter never imagined that her earnest enthusiasm would bring her own death!

Her heart felt pierced again. Shen Xinyan took a deep breath, and lowering her eyes, met a pair of crystal-clear, luminous eyes.

“Mother, did Granny do something wrong?” Little Yingzhi pouted her small mouth and asked in confusion.

“Yes, she said words she shouldn’t have,” Shen Xinyan replied gently, softly caressing her daughter’s tender cheek.

The little girl nodded as if she understood, though she clearly did not.

Shen Xinyan’s heart grew warm. She could not help but say: “Ying’er, you must remember that when one… oh, you’re still too young. Why am I speaking to you of such things?”

She sighed faintly and gently drew the bewildered little girl into her arms.

It was her fault. She had been a profoundly failed mother. Ultimately, her daughter’s tragedy in the previous life had stemmed from her poor upbringing.

In that life, she had viewed her son as her only support, focusing all her energy on him. Though she loved her daughter, she had ultimately neglected her.

“Mother will spend more time with Ying’er from now on,” she said, suppressing the ache in her heart and softening her voice.

“Really?” The little girl’s eyes brightened immediately.

“Of course it’s true!”

Shen Xinyan smiled slightly and suddenly found her purpose in this new life: to nurture her daughter, watch her grow to adulthood, marry and bear children, and never repeat the fate of her previous life.

Yes, her own life was largely predetermined, but her daughter was different. She could have a completely happy and peaceful future.

With purpose in her heart, her smile unconsciously grew easier, and she pressed her forehead against her daughter’s, drawing bright, delighted giggles from the child.

“Young Master!”

“Is Madam in the room?”

“Madam and the Fourth Miss are talking inside!”

When that long-forgotten male voice from her memories reached her ears, Shen Xinyan’s heart twisted, and she instinctively bit her lip hard.

Her husband…

This famous dissolute heir of the capital, a man who had accomplished nothing in his life. She had married him reluctant and unwilling, so naturally she had never devoted much care to him.

Yet it was precisely this man, and only this man, who had steadfastly protected her no matter what errors she committed. If it had not been for his unexpected death later, depriving her of her greatest support, then no matter how much her son hated her, he would never have been able to send her to the family temple to end her days.

In those brief moments of clarity before her death in her previous life, she had thought most not of her son, whom she loved and resented and hated, nor of the daughter-in-law she had always looked down upon, but of her husband Wei Junhang, whom she had always underestimated yet who had protected her throughout his life.

“Ying’er is here too? The little one came back early,” Wei Junhang, unaware of his wife’s inner turmoil, laughed as he entered by lifting the curtain.

Though he bore the reputation of a dissolute heir, he was ultimately a nobleman’s son. Even now at twenty-six, Wei Junhang’s appearance was no inferior to that of a youth. With handsome brows and piercing eyes, dressed in a blue silk robe with cloud patterns, his posture was all the more upright and striking.

Shen Xinyan quickly steadied her thoughts and took her daughter’s small hand to meet him: “Young Master!”

Wei Junhang scratched his ear. Meeting his wife’s smiling face, he could not help but feel that her smile was somehow gentler than usual, and he found himself secretly pleased.

“There is no need for such formality, Madam,” he said, clearing his throat and gently helping the curtseying Shen Xinyan rise. His eyes then uncontrollably wandered to his wife’s face.

“Father!” Little Yingzhi’s tender, sweet call awakened the heir who had been secretly admiring his wife’s pretty face.

“Ahem, Father’s good daughter,” Wei Junhang said innocently, withdrawing his gaze. He cleared his throat and reached out a large, gentle hand to stroke his daughter’s hair. Soon, he pulled a translucent jade carving of a lucky baby from his bosom and held it out in his palm before little Yingzhi as if presenting a treasure.

“Dear Ying’er, look look. Doesn’t this jade baby look like you? Father found it specially for you.”

The little girl curiously took the jade and examined it, then suddenly smiled with delight: “Mother, this jade baby has the same bun knots as me!”

Shen Xinyan looked and nodded with a smile: “It does look like Ying’er.”

As soon as she spoke, the little girl’s big eyes curved into happy crescents.

Pleased that his wife and daughter approved, the heir grinned with both joy and pride, his mouth splitting wide.

Shen Xinyan gazed at his smile and found herself somewhat lost in thought.

Compared to the renowned and brilliantly talented former heir Wei Junting, this man had little accomplishment and lived his entire life in his elder brother’s shadow. Though Wei Junting had been dead for years, whenever people mentioned the Duke Ying’s heir, they would compare him to his brother and sigh that the Duke Ying household seemed to lack worthy successors.

Only this broad-minded man never took such gossip to heart. Even when someone openly mocked him to his face, saying he was utterly useless and far inferior to the long-dead Wei Junting, he would not be upset. Instead, he would laugh it off and accept it good-naturedly.

Marrying him had not been her choice. Especially after her maiden sisters married, they would sometimes boast of their husbands’ accomplishments and cast meaningful glances her way—even if tinged with pity, there was always a condescending air that filled her with shame.

On one side was a husband who embarrassed her before her sisters. On the other was an excellent son who frequently brought her honor. Gradually, her focus had shifted ever more toward her son, and she had come to view him as her only support.

She thought that if she had not weighted her son so heavily in her previous life, had not clung to him so tightly, perhaps the series of events that followed would not have occurred.

Or perhaps, as those strange voices she had heard while drifting as a spirit had said, everything she had done in her previous life had simply been a “widow’s mentality”?

She twisted her lips in mockery.

She had a husband, a son, and a daughter, yet somehow she had developed a “widow’s mentality,” ultimately bringing such an end upon herself. It was truly self-inflicted.

Wei Junhang half-heartedly coaxed his daughter while his eyes unconsciously kept drifting toward his wife beside him. Seeing her expression carry a tinge of melancholy and a hint of self-mockery, his brow furrowed without his noticing.

Why was his wife in such low spirits? Did she have some worry on her mind? Could it be about their son? Or the Duke of Jing’an’s household? It shouldn’t be the Duke of Jing’an’s household—he had seen his brother-in-law not long ago and noticed nothing that would concern his wife.

If not the Duke of Jing’an’s household, then it must be about their son. That made sense. She loved their son so dearly, yet could not raise him herself. Beyond morning and evening greetings and major holidays, even seeing him was difficult. Over the long years, how could she not harbor some sadness?

Satisfied with his reasoning, he quietly made a decision.

Shen Xinyan, unaware that her husband had filled in the blanks of his own making, collected herself. She walked over and rescued her daughter from the irresponsible father who had mussed her flower-bud knots, and gave the unserious heir a pointed look: “Enough. You’re a grown man yet still playing around with a little girl.”

Wei Junhang smiled good-naturedly.

Shen Xinyan paid him no mind. She took her daughter’s little hand, accepted a damp cloth from Chunliu to wipe the child’s face, and personally redid both flower-bud knots before having Chunliu lead her outside.

“I heard Elder Sister-in-law mention that some days ago you withdrew one hundred taels from the common funds. Is this true?” Shen Xinyan personally poured tea for Wei Junhang and asked.

“This… this… yes, yes, it’s true,” Wei Junhang stammered somewhat nervously, avoiding her gaze.

Yet in his heart, he felt an inexplicable excitement. This was the first time his wife had taken the initiative to ask about his affairs!

With this thought, his spine straightened unconsciously, as if he were prepared to answer honestly to anything she asked.

Shen Xinyan, paying no attention to his reaction, rose and went into the inner room.

Wei Junhang stared blankly at her departing figure. After a moment, his entire demeanor wilted like an eggplant frost-bitten, and he let out a long sigh, touching his nose with a glum expression.

When Shen Xinyan emerged from the inner room, she saw him in this dispirited state and paused, asking suspiciously: “What is the matter?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Wei Junhang replied in a muffled voice, though the look he cast at her carried an unmistakable note of small grievance.

TL: What do you say? Our ultimate mother-in-law Shen Shi’s hubby is quite cute!! ♡⁠(⁠>⁠ ⁠ਊ⁠ ⁠<⁠)⁠♡