Since it was already too late for morning greetings, Shen Wan simply decided not to go. Missing greetings once in a while would not earn her any criticism from the Old Madam, who always prided herself on being kind and benevolent.
On the way back to Mingyue Courtyard, Yinchuan came over and informed Shen Wan about the rumors spreading through the streets over the past two days.
Just as Shen Wan had expected, the Yongqing Marquis Manor had tried to use gossip and public pressure against the Duke Dingguo Manor, only to suffer the backlash themselves.
Now, throughout the streets, teahouses, and taverns, everyone was talking about how the heir of Marquis Yongqing had secretly carried on an affair with his cousin, gotten her pregnant, and even joined hands with her to murder his lawful wife.
The heir of Marquis Yongqing had carried thorn branches on his back to apologize, and so many people had gathered outside Duke Dingguo Manor to watch the spectacle. Since the Yongqing Marquis family had desperately tried to stop the matter from reaching the Ministry of Justice and had even signed the divorce agreement, everyone naturally understood what had happened.
On top of that, Shen Wan had secretly arranged for people to fan the flames. Once the common people realized they had been manipulated by Yongqing Marquis Manor and used as knives to harm Shen Yu, they became even more outraged.
Back then, when the eldest daughter of Duke Dingguo Manor had merely fallen into the water and been rescued by the heir of Marquis Yongqing, the Marchioness of Zhaoping had still minded it enough to personally break off the engagement. How could she possibly agree now to let her son marry a divorced woman? The Heir of Marquis Zhaoping would sooner spend his whole life beside Buddhist lamps than marry her.
The heir of Marquis Yongqing had not only harmed his own wife, but even shamelessly tried to shift the blame onto her afterward. His methods were utterly vicious.
The matter spread explosively throughout the capital. The imperial censors submitted memorials impeaching the Yongqing Marquis family, and after hearing the reports, the Emperor flew into a rage. He forbade the heir of Marquis Yongqing from ever entering official service and demoted the Marquis Yongqing by one rank for failing to discipline his son properly.
The news delighted everyone.
Shen Wan was so pleased that she ate an extra half bowl of rice at lunch.
She had only just put down her chopsticks when another piece of good news arrived. Yin Zhu, Shen Yu’s other senior maidservant, returned and reported, “Today, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Lord Sun, came to our door and canceled the engagement between Miss Sun and the second young master of the Yongqing Marquis manor.”
The matter was unexpected, yet at the same time entirely expected.
The second young master was the younger brother of the heir of Marquis Yongqing.
With an elder brother who had an affair with his cousin and tried to murder his own wife, what loving parents would still dare marry their daughter into that family?
The Marquis Yongqing never held a particularly important position in court. His title had merely been inherited through ancestral favor. If not for becoming relatives by marriage with Duke Dingguo Manor, the family would already have declined long ago.
That was precisely why the Yongqing Marquis family had hidden the affair between the heir and his cousin from Shen Ji and resorted to arranging an “accident” to kill Shen Yu. The family might not have needed Shen Yu herself, but they desperately needed the connection to Duke Dingguo Manor and the prestige of having Duke Dingguo Manor as in-laws.
Now, however, the divorce had severed the alliance between the two families and even turned them into enemies. On top of that, the Marquis Yongqing had been demoted. In a capital full of nobles and powerful officials, Yongqing Marquis Manor had become even more insignificant.
And this was only the beginning.
A heir forbidden from entering official service would inevitably make the Marquis Yongqing consider replacing him. Once that happened, conflict between the brothers would be unavoidable. Meanwhile, the Marchioness Yongqing had caused immense trouble for her husband in court just to protect her niece, so discord between husband and wife was inevitable as well.
A family so vicious deserved such retribution.
As for Shen Yu and the Heir of Marquis Zhaoping, Shen Wan had already done everything she could. The rest depended on the heir himself.
If he could not settle matters with the Marchioness Zhaoping or persuade her to personally come propose marriage, then perhaps it was better not to marry at all.
Yin Zhu reported the good news to Shen Yu before continuing, “All of Eldest Miss’s dowry has been brought back. Some of the items Eldest Miss uses often, this servant brought directly to Mingyue Courtyard.”
In the previous life, Shen Yu had fallen to her death from the cliff without leaving behind any children. When her dowry was returned to Duke Dingguo Manor afterward, only half of what had originally been sent came back. Only then did they discover that during the two years she had managed the household, she had constantly used her own dowry to subsidize Yongqing Marquis Manor’s expenses.
The two sisters had both spent money on men, only to lose not just their fortunes in the end, but their lives as well.
Still, Shen Wan felt they could not be blamed entirely.
It ran in the family.
Madam Yun herself often did such things, and growing up under her influence, the sisters had naturally absorbed the habit. If they wanted to correct it, they had to start with Madam Yun first.
The younger maids carried Shen Yu’s belongings inside one after another. There were simply too many items.
Yinchuan entered carrying a guqin and asked after failing to find a stand for it, “Where should this qin be placed?”
Tubai replied, “Just put it on the writing desk for now.”
Shen Yu loved playing the qin and was exceptionally skilled at it. Because of this, the Yun family had specially searched far and wide to obtain this Jiaowei Qin for her.
She had brought it with her when she married.
And after her death in the previous life, it had been returned to Duke Dingguo Manor.
Madam Yun had originally wanted to keep the qin as a remembrance of her daughter. Yet the very next day after it was returned, Ye Caiwei accidentally damaged Shen Wu’s qin, leading to a massive argument between them. Ye Caiwei cried and insisted on returning home. Madam Yun spent money buying several qins to compensate Shen Wu, but Shen Wu remained dissatisfied.
Eventually, the Old Madam instructed Madam Yun to give Shen Wu the Jiaowei Qin instead.
Although reluctant, Madam Yun still handed it over.
Just recalling those events made Shen Wan’s chest ache faintly with anger. In the previous life, their entire family had truly been schemed against until nothing remained.
But this time was different.
Her elder sister had merely divorced, not died. The Jiaowei Qin was Shen Yu’s treasured possession. Surely they would not dare covet it now.
There was no need to get angry over something that would never happen again.
At least, that was what Shen Wan thought.
Yet the very next day, she realized just how greedy those people truly were.
As long as it was something they desired, they did not care whether you were still alive or whether it was your most treasured possession. If they wanted it, they would take it.
After returning from paying respects to the Old Madam, Shen Wan was personally watching Shen Yu drink her medicine. Shen Yu had just finished and was rinsing her mouth when Yinchuan hurried in from outside.
“Miss, Miss Ye accidentally damaged Third Miss’s qin. Third Miss got furious and scolded Miss Ye until she cried…”
The instant Shen Wan heard those words, the smile on her face vanished.
In the previous life, Elder Sister’s Jiaowei Qin had only been returned half a month later. It was Second Madam who had grown impatient after Yongqing Marquis Manor delayed returning Shen Yu’s dowry and finally sent people to demand it back. And just like now, the “accident” involving the qin happened the very next day after the Jiaowei Qin returned.
Could such a coincidence really be called an accident?
Her elder sister was still alive, yet they already dared covet her beloved qin. Did they truly think the two sisters were so easy to bully?
Shen Wan turned toward Shen Yu. “Elder Sister, I’ll go take a look.”
As she stepped out, Shen Wan quietly instructed Shanhu in a low voice.
Shanhu looked confused and did not understand why Shen Wan wanted her to do that, but she still obeyed.
Making her way toward the southern courtyard, Shen Wan soon spotted Madam Yun approaching from afar.
“Mother, why are you here?” Shen Wan asked. “Elder Sister needs you for something.”
Madam Yun replied, “After I settle matters with your cousin, I’ll go see your elder sister.”
Shen Wan said, “I can handle things here with Cousin. Elder Sister’s matter is more important.”
After sending Madam Yun away, Shanhu arrived as well.
Shen Wan stepped into the courtyard.
Shen Wu and Ye Caiwei were both in the pavilion. The qin lay smashed on the ground, several strings snapped and cracks running across its body.
Ye Caiwei’s eyes were red. “Cousin, I really didn’t do it on purpose…”
Shen Wu looked even more distressed. “You broke my favorite qin, and you think one sentence of ‘I didn’t mean to’ is enough?!”
“I-I’ll compensate you…”
“Compensate me? This qin cost one thousand taels! What are you going to use to pay for it?!”
Just as Shen Wan walked over, she happened to hear those words.
She said coolly, “Third Sister, perhaps you were cheated when buying this qin. From what I can see, it’s worth at most two hundred taels. How could it possibly cost one thousand?”
Shen Wu’s face flushed red with anger. “Cousin broke my qin, and now Second Sister is looking down on me too? Just because Eldest Sister owns the world-famous Jiaowei Qin, I only deserve a qin worth two hundred taels?!”
Turning toward Ye Caiwei, she snapped, “I don’t care. Since you broke my qin, you must buy me with an identical one!”
She did not merely say “an identical one” casually.
In the previous life, it had been precisely those four words that allowed her to seize the Jiaowei Qin.
Furious, Shen Wu turned to leave.
Shen Wan walked toward her, but in her anger, Shen Wu shoved her hard.
Shen Wan lost her balance and stumbled sideways into a nearby pillar.
Crash!
The jade bracelet around her wrist fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
“My bracelet!”
Shen Wan cried out in alarm.