Thinking of this, Shen Miaoyi’s smile grew a little more natural. A glint of cunning flashed in her eyes as she waited to see Shen Sangning make a fool of herself.
“Miaoyi, what amusing thought has crossed your mind?”
Shen Sangning spoke with a faint, ambiguous smile. She hadn’t intended to call her out, but she couldn’t stand Shen Miaoyi’s “wise” expression and the barely concealed glee in her smirk.
Truly foolish and unaware of it.
Shen Sangning could roughly guess what she was thinking—probably assuming that being reborn would immediately allow her to trample Shen Sangning underfoot?
Hah, what a pipe dream.
Shen Miaoyi snapped back to reality and suppressed her smile. “Sister, you should go serve tea now. Don’t keep your in-laws waiting.”
Shen Sangning noticed the pity mixed with smugness in Shen Miaoyi’s eyes and couldn’t help but curl her lips in amusement.
She truly wondered how this fool had managed to show not an ounce of growth over all these years.
In the main hall, the Duke of Ning and Yu Shi sat in the seats of honor. The Duke was cheerfully whispering something to Yu Shi.
Well-preserved, Yu Shi looked to be in her thirties despite being in her forties. Her eyebrows were sharp as blades, and her piercing gaze was fixed on the door.
As soon as Shen Sangning entered, she felt the weight of that intimidating stare. Knowing it was Yu Shi scrutinizing her, she straightened her back and met the older woman’s inspection head-on.
Only after standing before her in-laws did she lift her gaze slightly.
“Father, Mother.” Pei Ruyan’s voice broke the tension slightly.
At the same time, Shen Sangning noticed that the intimidating aura around Yu Shi had softened somewhat. It was clear that all her maternal affection was reserved for Pei Ruyan.
“Your daughter-in-law offers tea to her parents-in-law.” Shen Sangning gracefully took the teacup from the maid and presented it first to the Duke of Ning, then to Yu Shi.
The Duke accepted it promptly, but when it came to Yu Shi, she delayed taking the cup.
Shen Sangning wasn’t surprised by this. She had been prepared for it and spoke again, “Mother, please have some tea.”
The atmosphere grew tense and awkward once more.
Still, compared to her previous life, merely holding a teacup was nothing.
After holding it for a while, though, Shen Sangning’s hands began to ache slightly, trembling enough that the tea threatened to spill and scald her fingers.
Suddenly, a large hand took the cup from her, drawing the attention of both Shen Sangning and Yu Shi.
Pei Ruyan’s expression remained unchanged as he held the hot cup as if unfazed by the heat. Calmly, he placed it back on the maid’s tray and instructed, “The tea is too hot for Mother to drink. Bring a cup of warm tea instead.”
Shen Sangning glimpsed Pei Ruyan’s reddened fingers and lowered her gaze, hiding her surprise.
At the same time, a warm feeling washed over her.
A husband helping his wife out of a difficult situation should be a given, yet in her previous life, Shen Sangning had never experienced such consideration from Pei Che.
The maid, hearing Pei Ruyan’s order, glanced cautiously at Yu Shi before complying and leaving to fetch warm tea.
While waiting for the tea, Shen Sangning withdrew her hands and subtly flexed her stiff fingers. Noticing that Yu Shi showed no displeasure, she couldn’t help but admire Pei Ruyan’s wisdom.
In this world, half of all men turned a blind eye and refused to intervene in conflicts between their wives and mothers. The other half only made things worse by meddling.
Resolving such situations required wisdom. Leaning too far to either side would only fuel the tension between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Someone like Pei Ruyan, who managed to help her while still showing concern for his mother, leaving both parties satisfied, was a rare find.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the maid returned with warm tea, and Shen Sangning presented it once again.
This time, Yu Shi did not deliberately make things difficult.
Watching Yu Shi drink the tea, Shen Sangning finally breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear Yu Shi solemnly advise—
“Shen, now that you are the eldest daughter-in-law of our residence, you must carry yourself with the dignity befitting that position.”
“As I am still managing the household, your task is to bear children for Ruyan as soon as possible.”
Yu Shi’s tone was not exactly amiable, but her words aligned perfectly with Shen Sangning’s own intentions.
Shen Sangning also wanted to bear children. “Yes, I will heed your guidance, Mother.”
Once she had Pei Ruyan’s child, why worry about the authority to manage the household in the future?
Shortly after, the Duke of Ning and Yu Shi kept Pei Ruyan behind and dismissed Shen Sangning.
As soon as Shen Sangning left, Yu Shi frowned again, this time directing her displeasure at her own son—
“I was never fully satisfied with this marriage arrangement, but since you refused to break off the engagement, I went along with your wishes.”
“Now that you are married and have consummated the union, why are you still sleeping in the study? Though I am not fond of the young lady from Chengan Earl’s Residence, since you have married her, you must take responsibility.”
Listening to his mother’s stern admonishment, Pei Ruyan lowered his head, recalling the events of the previous night.
Everything had been fine during the wedding night, but then his wife suddenly became unwilling… Even now, his shoulder still ached faintly at the memory.
It was truly a grievance he could not voice.
Outside, beyond the door.
As Shen Sangning stepped out, she noticed Shen Miaoyi lingering in the courtyard, dawdling as if waiting.
So eager to witness a spectacle, she truly knew no restraint.
Shen Sangning had intended to ignore her and walk away.
Unexpectedly, hearing the movement, Shen Miaoyi’s eyes lit up, and she immediately approached. “Sister, what did Mother-in-law say?”
Pretending not to notice the anticipation in her eyes, Shen Sangning replied indifferently, “She merely offered a few words of advice.”
Hearing this, Shen Miaoyi pressed her lips together in disbelief, stunned that Yu Shi had not made things difficult. After a moment of silence, she finally voiced her thoughts. “Sister, is the Virginity Cloth from last night still with you?”
At this question, Shen Sangning fully understood her intentions. “It was inspected and destroyed, of course. What use would there be in keeping it?”
Shen Miaoyi frowned, taking Shen Sangning’s hand with an air of sisterly affection while secretly searching for any wounds on her fair fingers.
In Shen Miaoyi’s mind, Shen Sangning always carried herself with the haughtiness of the Earl’s legitimate daughter—how could she possibly possess the skills to seduce a man?
Even in her previous life, when Shen Miaoyi had exhausted all her tricks, she had failed to attract this man. How could he possibly touch someone as dull as Shen Sangning?!
In fact, Shen Miaoyi still suspected that Pei Ruyan might have some hidden ailment in that regard.
Therefore, the Virginity Cloth must have been tampered with; otherwise, it could never have passed inspection.
Every one of Shen Miaoyi’s thoughts seemed written plainly on her face, and her frantic search for wounds nearly made Shen Sangning laugh.
Shen Sangning allowed her to lead her out of the courtyard.
In a secluded corner, Shen Miaoyi forced a smile and asked—
“Sister, I know the Heir definitely did not touch you last night. A little blood on the Virginity Cloth would have been enough to deceive them.”
“But have you considered what will happen if you never bear children? You can deceive them once, but not for a lifetime.”
Her words sounded as if she genuinely had Shen Sangning’s best interests at heart.
But Shen Sangning could only marvel once again at Shen Miaoyi’s foolishness. Was she afraid others wouldn’t realize she was a reincarnated soul?
Did she say all this just to feel superior?
To boast that her husband could perform three times a night?
Shen Sangning grew increasingly perplexed. With such a foolish mind and not even being their father’s biological daughter, how had Shen Miaoyi managed to earn their father’s favor?