“You may return. There’s no need to keep me company.”
Kneeling on the prayer mat, Shen Shi gazed at the ancestral tablets with a detached tone.
“No, I shall kneel for as long as you do, Madam, until the Old Madam agrees to release you.”
Jiang Wanxin carefully analyzed Shen Shi’s tone, uncertain of her thoughts. Yet she knew Shen Shi was soft-hearted and easily swayed—persistence would surely yield results.
“This…”
Jiang Wanxin’s refusal to leave left the two servants deeply conflicted, unsure whether they should open the door to let her in.
Her unwavering determination inexplicably irritated Shen Shi.
The Old Madam might be unaware of Jiang He’s feelings for Jiang Wanxin, hence insisting on her adopting Jiang Wanxin as a foster daughter.
If she were to comply with the Old Madam’s wishes, what would happen if the Jiang family were ever embroiled in scandal someday?
Moreover, she wasn’t particularly jealous. Jiang Wanxin was gentle, young, and obedient—taking her as Jiang He’s concubine wouldn’t be entirely unacceptable.
However, she remained uncertain of Jiang He’s true intentions, relying only on speculation. Thus, no matter what, she must not agree to the Old Madam’s request.
Besides, she had her own biological daughter—why should she adopt another?
With these thoughts, Shen Shi’s resolve hardened, her voice unconsciously turning colder:
“You may go. I wish to pay respects to our ancestors in peace.”
Shen Shi was utterly vexed. Confined here, she worried intensely about Jiang Chaohua and Jiang Wanyi.
The Jiang household was unsafe—someone sought to harm her son, and she would never tolerate it!
As Shen Shi pondered, she considered who else she could turn to for help.
After much deliberation, the Empress Dowager seemed most suitable. But Jiang He had warned that the Empress Dowager still resented her marriage into the Jiang family. Seeking her assistance now might backfire.
Shen Shi frowned, closed her eyes, her mind in turmoil.
Outside, Jiang Wanxin grew increasingly restless hearing no movement from within the Ancestral Hall.
This wasn’t like the Shen Shi she knew—what had gone wrong?
Could Shen Shi still harbor hopes for her biological daughter Jiang Chaohua?
No matter. Though Jiang Chaohua escaped blame for fratricide today, she would strike again another time.
Jiang Wanyi must die, Jiang Chaohua must bear the stigma of wickedness—all Jiang children must make way for her and her brother!
Jiang Wanxin lowered her head, eyes gleaming with venomous resentment.
Time slipped away minute by minute. Jiang Wanxin’s legs grew numb from kneeling, yet Shen Shi remained silent.
Helpless, she could only continue kneeling.
In what felt like a blink, an hour had passed.
“Open the door.”
Just as the servants were about to report to the Old Madam, Jiang He’s figure appeared.
Upon arrival, he immediately ordered the door opened.
The servants dared not delay, swiftly unbolting the entrance.
“Qin’er.”
Jiang He stepped into the Ancestral Hall, approaching Shen Shi. When he reached to hold her, she evaded his touch.
“Qin’er, this is my fault. Recent political affairs have kept me too occupied—I’ve disappointed you.”
Jiang He bent down, half-kneeling beside Shen Shi, gradually taking her hand.
Shen Shi kept her head lowered in silence. After a pause, Jiang He continued:
“I’ve spoken with Mother. If you’re unwilling to adopt Wanxin as a foster daughter, then don’t. This matter… Mother did overstep. Please rise now—let us leave the Ancestral Hall.”
Jiang He’s tone was gentle, his face full of concern.
Shen Shi abruptly turned her head, staring into his eyes, her heart sinking with even greater disappointment.
She was gambling, betting on Jiang He’s attitude.
As expected, in Jiang He’s heart, he was unwilling to let her adopt Jiang Wanxin as a goddaughter. It seemed her suspicions were correct—Jiang He had indeed developed improper feelings for Jiang Wanxin, though the Old Madam remained unaware.
“Do you truly not wish for me to take Jiang Wanxin as my goddaughter?”
Shen Shi asked each word deliberately, her expression unreadable. Jiang He’s brows furrowed slightly as he nodded:
“Naturally, as long as you’re unwilling.”
By saying this, he could both make Shen Shi feel guilty, believing she had put him in a difficult position, and indirectly strengthen her resolve to adopt Jiang Wanxin as her goddaughter.
It had to be said, Jiang He understood Shen Shi all too well after all these years, but this time, he had overplayed his hand.
“Very well, I understand. You may leave now. Mother instructed me to reflect in the Ancestral Hall—perhaps I truly should engage in some introspection.”
Shen Shi’s face was cold as she averted her gaze from Jiang He, closing her eyes without any intention of rising.
Jiang He’s frown deepened. Shen Shi’s refusal left him utterly bewildered.
“Master, Eunuch Feng has arrived! The Empress Dowager has issued an imperial decree summoning Madam to the palace immediately!”
The atmosphere in the Ancestral Hall grew chilly. Jiang He stared at Shen Shi’s profile, pondering for a moment before preparing to speak again, when unexpectedly the steward came rushing over in a hurried trot.
Jiang He stiffened abruptly, while Shen Shi immediately opened her eyes.
Was this divine intervention? She had just been thinking of the Empress Dowager, and now her decree had arrived.
Shen Shi had grown up under the Empress Dowager’s care since childhood; in her heart, the Empress Dowager was like a second mother to her.
How long had it been since she last saw the Empress Dowager?
Shen Shi pressed her lips together, her heart filled with even deeper remorse.
If not for fear of the Empress Dowager’s wrath falling upon the Jiang family, how could she have allowed such distance to grow between them?
“Madam Shen, by the Empress Dowager’s decree, you are summoned to the palace for an audience.”
After the steward spoke, an elderly eunuch accompanied by three younger eunuchs approached.
Looking at Shen Shi, Eunuch Feng’s eyes held a glimmer of hope.
Over the years, though the Empress Dowager never spoke of it, he knew she missed Shen Shi deeply.
The current Emperor was not the Empress Dowager’s biological son, and she had no children of her own—she had raised Shen Shi as her own daughter.
All these years Shen Shi never took the initiative to visit, leaving the Empress Dowager both angry and heartbroken.
“Madam Shen, don’t just stand there. You must come with this humble servant to the palace at once! The Eldest Young Miss of the Jiang family is currently in the Empress Dowager’s chambers!”
Seeing Shen Shi hesitate, Eunuch Feng added fuel to the fire. As if recalling something, a faint smile appeared on his face.
Compared to Shen Shi, her daughter proved much wiser—she knew how to please the Empress Dowager and was far more proactive.
“Chaochao has entered the palace?”
Shen Shi started in surprise, quickly rising to kneel and give thanks.
How could this child Chaochao enter the palace without a word?
Could she be seeking the Empress Dowager’s intervention to investigate the matter of Fei Yun?
Shen Shi had no time to ponder further. Fearing Jiang Chaohua might offend the Empress Dowager through careless words in the palace, she hastily followed Eunuch Feng toward the palace.
“Let’s go.”
With a sweep of his sleeve, Eunuch Feng led Shen Shi away in great haste.
From beginning to end, Eunuch Feng never exchanged a single word with Jiang He. As the Empress Dowager’s confidant, his attitude reflected hers—proof that even after twenty years, the Empress Dowager still held no fondness for Jiang He.
Jiang He’s face darkened ominously as he stared at Eunuch Feng’s retreating back, his expression so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it.
“Didn’t I order you to keep close watch over the Eldest Young Miss?”
Jiang He turned, his tone sharp as he glared at the steward.
“Spare me, master, spare my life! Xi Shi Courtyard has been surrounded by Young General Shen’s men. Even the Jiang family servants cannot approach. This old servant has already reported to Old Madam, but she didn’t order anyone to stop the eldest young lady from leaving.”
The steward spoke tremblingly, while Jiang He abruptly closed his eyes.
What a bunch of fools.
Old Madam had been wholeheartedly wanting Shen Shi to adopt Jiang Wanxin as her goddaughter. With Shen Shi being punished to kneel, she naturally wished for Jiang Chaohua, Shen Shi’s biological daughter, to go out without caring about Shen Shi, making Shen Shi suffer and thereby increasing Shen Shi’s favorable impression of Jiang Wanxin.
But how did Jiang Chaohua think of seeking out the Empress Dowager? All these years, the Jiang family had always maintained distance from the Empress Dowager.
Jiang He’s expression turned gloomy, while Jiang Wanxin’s heart skipped a beat.
Jiang Chaohua went to find the Empress Dowager?
Given the Empress Dowager’s fondness for Shen Shi, she might very well take a liking to Jiang Chaohua too. What if this time the rift between Shen Shi and the Empress Dowager disappears? Wouldn’t that make Shen Shi and her daughter even more difficult to deal with?