After cutting ties with the Bo Mansion, Shen Sangning had initially thought the Weisheng Family would stand by her side. Ultimately, however, after weighing the pros and cons, they still chose Cheng An Bo and Shen Miaoyi.
Even though Shen Sangning was the Weisheng Family’s own granddaughter, her husband was Pei Che—a useless good-for-nothing.
Whereas Shen Miaoyi was the Ningguo Duke Heir’s Wife.
It was then that Shen Sangning suddenly realized: perhaps her grandmother had genuinely cared for her, and maybe her uncle and aunt had some sincerity too—but all that couldn’t compare to interests.
After all, they had even been willing to abandon their own daughter; what was a granddaughter to them?
This time, however, Shen Sangning was the Heir’s Wife, possessing both status and blood ties.
She thought the Weisheng Family’s choice might be different.
Regardless of what the Weisheng Family had chosen before, Shen Sangning wouldn’t forget that her grandmother had indeed treated her very well.
Moreover, during her most difficult times, the shops under her name and the remaining silver she had were all gifts from the Weisheng Family in the past.
Because of this, after gaining power, she still lent the Weisheng Family a helping hand.
“Send a letter to the Weisheng Family on my behalf. Tell them the Heir treats me very well, so Grandmother need not worry, and convey my regards for her well-being.”
After giving these instructions, Shen Sangning finally sat down at the dining table to have breakfast.
By then, the breakfast had gone cold. Yufei, seeing that Zisu had left and knowing their mistress and maid had finished talking, came in—
“Young Mistress, shall I heat it up before you eat?”
Shen Sangning glanced at her, recognizing her as someone from Qingyun Courtyard and having some impression of her.
In her previous life, Shen Miaoyi didn’t value Yufei and even suspected Yufei of wanting to climb into the master’s bed, directly sending Yufei to do rough work outside the courtyard.
Unexpectedly, Yufei’s mother was Pei Ruyan’s wet nurse, and in the end, Pei Ruyan sent Yufei to serve by Yu Shi’s side.
“No need. Since you’re now the steward of Qingyun Courtyard, come and tell me about the situation here.”
As she spoke, Shen Sangning picked up a cold crystal soup dumpling.
“Yes, Young Mistress.”
Yufei stood to the side, her tone calm and soothing. “Qingyun Courtyard has a total of eighteen servants. Besides your accompanying maid, there are two second-rank maids, four third-rank maids, six rough work maids and serving women, and three in the small kitchen. The guards watching the courtyard gate aren’t counted.”
After saying this, she specifically added, “Originally, this courtyard was mostly staffed with errand boys. But the Heir thought it would be inconvenient after you moved in, so he replaced all the courtyard staff with maids and serving women. The Heir maintains his integrity and has never had any concubines or secondary wives.”
Shen Sangning didn’t know why she specifically explained this. She looked up at Yufei and noticed a certain quality about her— talent.
Shen Sangning roughly understood where Shen Miaoyi’s sense of crisis came from.
Shen Miaoyi had an oval face, slanted eyes, and when she pretended to be delicate, she looked exactly like a woman of dubious character.
Whereas Yufei, though a maid, somehow appeared more like a proper young lady than Shen Miaoyi.
“Yufei,” Shen Sangning pushed aside those random thoughts in her mind and got down to business, “Did the Heir often stay in the study before? Did he take his meals there too?”
Yufei shook her head, “The Heir mostly returned to his room to sleep at night, but he did take his meals in the study more often.”
“If he doesn’t eat meals in the courtyard, why build a small kitchen?” Shen Sangning was puzzled.
This small kitchen had existed in her previous life too—in the entire mansion, only Yu Shi and Pei Ruyan’s courtyards had this privilege.
Speaking of this matter, Yufei’s lips curved upward. “Young Madam may not know, but this small kitchen was specially built for you by the Heir. It was only completed last month.”
Shen Sangning didn’t believe a single word of this – it was probably Yufei’s personal interpretation.
He didn’t seem like someone who would spoil his wife at all.
That small kitchen was most likely built because Yu Shi was afraid Pei Ruyan might get hungry.
“Young Madam,” Yufei suddenly lowered her voice, “This servant thinks the Heir was just speaking in anger earlier. You shouldn’t take it to heart. Anyone with eyes can see how much the Heir was looking forward to marrying you.”
Shen Sangning reasonably suspected Yufei was just trying to cheer her up.
Even so, she couldn’t help asking, “What makes you say that?”
“Three days before the wedding, the Heir’s appetite decreased.” Yufei believed that suddenly watching one’s figure so strictly must be because one was about to marry their beloved.
Shen Sangning frowned slightly. Couldn’t the reason for loss of appetite be excessive worry instead?
Where did she see happiness and anticipation? Clearly Yufei was reading too much into things.
Shen Sangning sighed and stopped dwelling on this nonsense about anticipation. “Then did you happen to hear what he and I discussed in the room last night?”
Perhaps part of Pei Ruyan’s anger earlier was because she couldn’t remember what he had said?
She wanted to know too, but she genuinely hadn’t heard anything.
At this moment, she could only hope Yufei had been eavesdropping.
Yufei shook her head. “Young Madam, rest assured. This servant would never dare eavesdrop on private conversations between you and the Heir.”
…
Front Courtyard.
When Pei Ruyan returned to his study, the hem of his robe was stained with slight dirt again. He looked down with some distaste.
Rainy days were such a nuisance.
He walked to the desk and sat down. On the manuscript lay the Tao Te Ching he had read last night. Picking up the Tao Te Ching, he began reading as usual.
As the heir to the Duke’s household, he had been burdened with the hopes of his entire clan since childhood. From the time he became sensible, his grandfather had demanded he meet the standards of a successor.
He was required to be steady, because he held the fate of his clan in his hands.
He was required to be swift, because sailing against the current meant either advancing or falling behind.
He was required to perceive the whole through minute details, understand the bigger picture, govern subordinates strictly, and never make a single misstep.
Whenever desires emerged, they had to be nipped in the bud, so he would have no weaknesses.
Desires for love, food, greed, killing… he could have none of them.
Desires were meant to lure others, not restrain oneself.
Since childhood, he had read the Tao Te Ching and Heart Cleansing Mantra hundreds of times, already committing them to memory.
What he could normally do with a calm mind now felt irritating today.
Pei Ruyan took a deep breath but found himself completely unable to focus.
This book was useless.
He simply put the book down and looked at the single silver butterfly earring on the desk.
Lonely and solitary, just like him.
Pei Ruyan’s gaze was drawn to it. He picked up the earring, his index finger lightly tracing the emerald on it.
After a long while, he took a handkerchief from the wooden cabinet behind him and carefully wrapped the earring in it before placing it in an exquisite aloeswood box, which he then returned to the cabinet.
“Chen Shu.” Pei Ruyan called out.
When attendant Chen Shu entered the study, the wooden cabinet hadn’t yet been closed.
Chen Shu didn’t know what treasure the Heir had stored away this time, but through the gap he caught sight of that set of old clothes at the bottom of the cabinet.
This particular set of clothes had been the Heir’s favorite in his youth.
The visible portion clearly showed a crow embroidered using Su Embroidery.