Shen Sangning finally understood—he was still angry about last night’s incident, which was only natural.
Feeling somewhat guilty, she said, “I was a bit scared last night, and I’ve already apologized to you.”
As she spoke, her head drooped lower and lower. “It definitely won’t happen again tonight.”
“Not accepted.” A cool voice came from above her head.
Shen Sangning’s head snapped up again. “I asked if you were angry, and you said no. But now you won’t accept my apology. You—”
What exactly do you want?
Pei Ruyan seemed to see right through her thoughts. “Not being angry means I’m calm, not that I forgive your actions.”
Shen Sangning was stunned speechless, completely at a loss for words.
Then, ignoring her troubled expression, Pei Ruyan added, “No need to wait for me tonight.”
With that, he left the room and departed under his attendants’ escort.
Left alone standing there, Shen Sangning found herself unable to utter a single word of rebuttal.
She raised her hand and lightly slapped her own mouth, blaming it for biting people recklessly last night and for cursing.
“Miss, the Heir…” Ziling, who hadn’t heard clearly outside the door, entered and saw her young mistress’s frustrated expression. “Has he been bullying you again? How can he not know how to cherish his wife!”
Zisu, who followed her in, immediately shut the door firmly and rapped Ziling on the back of the head.
“The Duke’s residence isn’t like the Earl’s. Just this Qingyun Courtyard alone has eighteen servants. If your words reach the Heir’s ears, wouldn’t you just be causing trouble for the young mistress?”
Realizing the seriousness, Ziling quickly fell silent.
Both Ziling and Zisu were Shen Sangning’s personal maids who had accompanied her as part of her dowry.
Ziling had always been straightforward since childhood—chatty and emotional. Zisu was different, cautious and driven.
In her previous life, Zisu had helped Shen Sangning manage her businesses and had been extremely capable.
“Young mistress, with your relationship with the Heir being so strained, I’m worried that for the return visit the day after tomorrow, the Heir’s side…” Zisu expressed her concern.
“Don’t worry,” Shen Sangning said firmly. “He definitely won’t go with me.”
In her previous life, Shen Miaoyi had returned alone. Originally, Shen Sangning had held some hope for Pei Ruyan, but given his attitude just now, she certainly couldn’t count on him.
“Ah!” Ziling reacted as if facing a great enemy. “Then the young mistress will become a laughingstock!”
No sooner had she spoken than Ziling received a sharp glare from Zisu.
Shen Sangning didn’t take Ziling’s words to heart. Whether she became a laughingstock was secondary; her most pressing concern right now was sharing the bed.
This matter couldn’t be delayed.
After pondering for a moment, she made a decision. “Ziling, go to Shancaotang in Xiping Lane and buy a bowl of Spring Drink.”
Ignoring the shock on both maids’ faces, Shen Sangning solemnly reminded her, “Be careful. Don’t let anyone see you.”
Otherwise, if this got out, it would be a hundred times worse than returning home alone.
Stunned, Ziling nodded and scurried out like a thief.
“Young mistress, matters of the heart can’t be rushed. If the Heir finds out, the consequences could be hard to manage.” Zisu felt they should take it slow.
“It can’t be delayed.” Only Shen Sangning knew how tight the timeline was and how heavy the task.
Although drugging someone was a despicable method, they were legitimate husband and wife after all. What was wrong with using a little medicine?
Looking at Zisu’s indescribable expression, Shen Sangning sighed. Remembering Zisu’s earlier mention of the return visit, she couldn’t help but recall the past, her thoughts swirling endlessly.
In her previous life, Shen Sangning had initially believed the marriage swap was solely Shen Miaoyi’s doing. However, on her homecoming day, she coincidentally overheard her father’s private conversation with Shen Miaoyi and discovered that her father had actually assisted Shen Miaoyi.
Shen Sangning couldn’t comprehend why he would help a daughter with no blood relation to harm his own biological daughter!
At that time, her father’s reasoning was simple.
Because her stepmother Liu Shi had borne him his legitimate son, and although Shen Miaoyi wasn’t his biological daughter, she shared the same mother as the legitimate son. Therefore, only if Shen Miaoyi became the Heir’s wife could she selflessly assist her blood-related younger brother in the future.
Shen Sangning didn’t understand and even found it ridiculous.
Her father was ridiculous, and she was ridiculous too.
Since her mother’s death, she had always held expectations for her father. When he said that a daughter of an aristocratic family should be refined and gentle, and should not be tainted by the smell of money, she put all her effort into learning the arts of lute, chess, calligraphy, and painting, suppressing all her sharp edges to be an obedient daughter.
It wasn’t until she was abandoned by her father that she realized being dignified and gentle didn’t mean endlessly yielding.
That very day, she had a fierce argument with her father, severed ties with the Earl’s Residence, and then began managing businesses to secure her own future.
This time, she intended to do the same.
“Zisu, compile a complete ledger of all the shops under my name. It should include their locations, rents, and foot traffic. Don’t omit any from the dowry list.”
Zisu didn’t ask for reasons but nodded and noted it down. Suddenly remembering something, she said, “By the way, a letter arrived from Jinling this morning.”
Zisu took a yellow envelope from her bosom and handed it to Shen Sangning.
The envelope was stamped with the Weisheng Family’s emblem—the shape of a crow.
Shen Sangning remembered that in her previous life, she had also received this letter on the first day after her wedding.
When she was ten years old, her mother passed away. She spent two years at her maternal grandparents’ home, where everyone treated her very well. Her grandmother taught her how to do business, helping her overcome the grief of losing her mother.
After returning, influenced by her father, she no longer engaged in business. But every time she received something sent from her maternal grandparents’ home, she was overjoyed.
Now reborn, she felt no joy upon seeing this letter.
Shen Sangning opened the envelope and pulled out a large banknote for ten thousand taels of silver.
Her maternal grandparents’ family were indeed among the wealthiest in Jinling, generous with their money.
As for the letter inside, she didn’t even glance at it and tore it to pieces directly.
Noticing Zisu’s hesitant expression beside her, Shen Sangning curled her lips slightly. “Zisu, during those two years in Jinling, you and Ziling were by my side. Do you think the Weisheng Family treated me sincerely?”
Zisu found this question difficult to answer. “When I was young, my family was poor. Even my parents sold me for food. After entering the residence, I was looked down upon. But since becoming your personal maid, all the servants have been greeting me with smiles.”
“But you are the legitimate daughter of the Earl’s Residence. The Weisheng Family not only shares blood ties with you but also has interests at stake. They rely on the Master to secure future prospects for their descendants.”
Yes, interests.
The Chengan Earl’s Residence had long lost its influence in the court, yet it remained something the Weisheng Family could only aspire to.
The Weisheng Family started as cloth merchants, accumulating wealth over three generations to reach their current immense fortune. To cultivate outstanding descendants and gain connections in the capital, they disregarded their daughter’s wishes and married her into the Earl’s Residence with a lavish dowry.
Thus, the Chengan Earl despised merchants for their profit-driven talk while continuously accepting the Weisheng Family’s endless stream of gold, silver, and treasures to fund the Earl’s Residence’s expenses.
Even most of Shen Miaoyi’s dowry came from the Weisheng Family.