Shen Yu had a gentle disposition. Even when she was in no mood to go shopping, if Shen Wan asked her to accompany her, she would comply.
Just as they were about to leave, they happened to run into Madame Yongqing and the young lady Xu Zhiyi.
Seeing the redness at the corners of Shen Yu's eyes, Madame Yongqing was displeased. "Between husband and wife, quarrels are inevitable. But to insist on returning to your maiden home after just a few arguments is truly unreasonable."
Xu Zhiyi apologized, "It was my carelessness earlier. I apologize to my cousin-in-law…"
So they had misunderstood, thinking she intended to take her elder sister back to the Duke's Mansion to lodge a complaint, and had come to stop them.
In her previous life, was it also out of fear of Father and Eldest Brother that they had harmed her elder sister, who had discovered their illicit affair?!
Anger surged in her heart, but Shen Wan remained composed on the surface. "What quarrel? And what apology?"
She turned to look at Shen Yu.
Shen Yu was confused by Shen Wan's feigned ignorance.
Madame Yongqing asked, "Aren't you two returning to Dingguo Duke's Mansion?"
Shen Wan smiled. "Elder Sister accidentally ruined Brother-in-law's brocade robe and feels guilty about it. I'm accompanying her to the market to pick out a gift as an apology."
A trace of embarrassment flashed across Madame Yongqing's face. "Then you may go."
Shen Wan curtsied slightly and left with Shen Yu.
Once outside and seated in the carriage, Shen Yu looked at Shen Wan. "Wan'er, you…"
Shen Wan smiled. "Is Elder Sister surprised that I, who have always been straightforward, have now learned to be diplomatic?"
Shen Yu remained silent, tacitly agreeing.
Shen Wan said, "Didn't I just tell Elder Sister that it's not worth arguing or getting upset over such matters? I won't tell Father, Mother, or Eldest Brother either."
In her previous life, neither she nor their parents had known about this matter, and within half a month, her elder sister had been killed by them.
If they were told, they might become fearful and could act sooner.
If only she had evidence to directly take her elder sister away from Yongqing Bo Mansion, she would have done so. Not only would she prevent her elder sister from arguing and suffering heartache over them, but she also wished her elder sister would never have to see their faces again.
Shen Yu had once had an excellent marriage prospect, and the engagement had been settled early, with the wedding to take place after her coming-of-age ceremony. However, just a few days after the ceremony, Shen Yu and the Heir of Yongqing Bo fell into the water together. The Heir rescued Shen Yu, and they had skin-to-skin contact in public.
The original engagement was called off, and she was instead married to the Heir of Yongqing Bo.
Shen Wan would never forget the day she, Ye Caiwei, and Shen Wu were flying kites in the mansion when a maid brought the tragic news that her elder sister's carriage had gone out of control and plunged off a cliff, killing her.
After more than two years of marriage, her elder sister had never become pregnant. She went to Jingmiao An to pray for a child, but her carriage met with an accident, tumbling down a cliff. Her death was gruesome, and neither the coachman nor the maids survived.
When Father investigated the matter, someone had seen her elder sister boarding the carriage in tears, but no one knew why she was crying.
Yongqing Bo Mansion held a grand funeral for her elder sister, and the Heir of Yongqing Bo was so grief-stricken that he refused to eat or drink. Yet, this man, who appeared to outsiders as deeply devoted to his deceased wife, got drunk shortly after her elder sister was buried and had intimate relations with his cousin, who had deliberately worn her elder sister's dress to seduce him.
The fault lay with the cousin's deliberate seduction, so Father and Mother could not blame him, especially since the Heir of Yongqing Bo could not remain unmarried forever.
After the funeral at Yongqing Bo Mansion, a wedding followed. Eight months later, a premature son was born.
Madame Yongqing did not even dare to let Dingguo Duke's Mansion know that her own son was protecting his cousin and hurting Shen Yu's feelings, let alone reveal their illicit affair. After all, Yongqing Bo Mansion could not afford to offend Dingguo Duke's Mansion.
If Shen Yu were to discover their illicit affair, the Yongqing Bo Mansion would not let her live.
Shen Wan had already asked her cousin to investigate this matter, but she didn’t know when he would uncover the truth. As long as this issue remained unresolved, Shen Wan’s heart would never be at ease.
Shen Wan tightly grasped Shen Yu’s hand and said, “The day before yesterday, thanks to the Taoist priest outside Huguo Temple, I narrowly escaped disaster. Afterward, I asked him to divine when you might have children. The priest said that having children is not the most urgent matter at the moment and advised you not to leave the mansion for the next half month, especially avoiding a visit to Jingmiao An.”
“Sister, promise me that for the next half month, you won’t go to any secluded places, not even the less frequented areas within the Yongqing Bo Mansion.”
Seeing Shen Wan’s serious and urgent demeanor, Shen Yu felt a faint unease in her heart. She nodded and said, “I rarely leave the mansion as it is. I promise you.”
But Shen Yu’s promise alone wasn’t enough. After they went out onto the street, Shen Wan also reminded Tubai, “If there ever comes a day when Sister insists on going to Jingmiao An, you must, without fail, send someone to inform me.”
Tubai nodded, “I will remember, miss.”
After giving her instructions, Shen Wan took Shen Wu and started strolling from the end of the street to the beginning, then switched to another street, walking from one end to the other.
Shen Wan couldn’t remember the last time she and her sister had enjoyed a carefree shopping trip. In fact, they had never gone shopping together as sisters before, always accompanied by Shen Wu, Ye Caiwei, and others, having to accommodate them at every turn.
They wandered through three streets, buying countless items along the way—anything that caught their eye was purchased without hesitation.
Finally, they entered a calligraphy and painting shop. Finding nothing appealing on the first floor, the two made their way upstairs.
Shen Yu walked ahead, with Shen Wan following behind. Just as they were proceeding normally, Shen Yu suddenly panicked and stepped back, accidentally stepping on Shen Wan’s foot. Shen Wan winced in pain and asked, “What’s wrong, Sister?”
Looking up, she saw the Heir of Zhaoping Bo descending the stairs.
Shen Yu moved aside to let him pass.
She pressed her back tightly against the wall, her entire body tense and uneasy, as if she didn’t even dare to breathe.
The Heir of Zhaoping Bo’s gaze remained fixed on Shen Yu’s face. Without saying a word, he descended the stairs and left.
Only after he had walked away did Shen Yu turn to look at him, her eyes red.
Afraid that Shen Wan might notice, she only glanced briefly before quickly averting her gaze and hurriedly going upstairs.
Once childhood sweethearts, they had now reached a point where they didn’t even exchange greetings when they met. Shen Wan felt a deep ache in her heart, wishing she could grind the Yongqing Bo Mansion to dust.
The one who had once been engaged to Shen Yu was the Heir of Zhaoping Bo. However, after Shen Yu fell into the water and was rescued by the Heir of Yongqing Bo, the incident caused a huge uproar, and the Lady of Zhaoping Bo went to the Shen family to break off the engagement.
At the time of the broken engagement, the Heir of Zhaoping Bo was not in Jingdu. The day he returned to the capital happened to be the day Shen Yu was getting married.
He had returned to the capital with carefully selected gifts for Shen Yu, only to see her dressed in wedding attire, stepping into another man’s bridal sedan. Since his mother had been the one to break off the engagement, he had no grounds to object to the marriage.
Two years after Shen Yu’s wedding, the Heir of Zhaoping Bo had still not entered into another engagement.
Shen Yu only picked out an inkstone, while Shen Wan bought nothing before they left the shop and each took their own carriage back to their respective mansions.
Shen Wan watched Shen Yu’s carriage depart. As she withdrew her gaze, she noticed the Heir of Zhaoping Bo on horseback, standing in a secluded corner, watching the direction in which the carriage had disappeared.
His figure looked desolate.
The last time Shen Wan had seen the Heir of Zhaoping Bo was on the anniversary of Shen Yu’s death in her previous life. After her parents and eldest brother had passed away, she went to pay her respects and saw the Heir of Zhaoping Bo, who had also come to mourn at her sister’s grave.
Shen Wan still remembered the look of his bloodshot eyes back then.
Perhaps—
A bold idea sprang to mind.
Shen Wan couldn't contain the excitement bubbling within.