It was rather laughable, really.
Just to visit her maternal family, Shen Wan still had to guard against people following her, using a trip to Huguo Temple as an excuse.
The Yun family was wealthy and generous. Anyone who accompanied Shen Wan there never left empty-handed. Both Shen Wu and Ye Caiwei loved following her to the Yun residence.
In her previous life, the Yun family had been destroyed because of her.
Thinking back on the moment she caught Xiao Yun and Shen Wu entangled together in bed, Shen Wan found it almost ridiculous.
Back then, Xiao Yun had lied to her, claiming that helping her dispel the aphrodisiac had left him with lasting side effects, making him incapable of consummating their marriage.
For four years after their wedding, he never touched her once.
Because Xiao Yun kept no concubines and showed no interest in women, Shen Wan had believed him completely.
Only when she saw those two naked bodies wrapped around each other in passionate embrace did she finally understand: Xiao Yun despised her.
Despised her so deeply that he could not even bring himself to pretend affection.
After that, Xiao Yun no longer bothered acting.
He directly threw her into the Cold Palace.
That very same day, he fabricated charges against the Yun family and confiscated their entire household. He also sent assassins after her Second and Third Cousins, who were away from the capital.
Hundreds of people in the Yun family.
Only Third Cousin escaped alive.
The reason Shen Wan later learned Third Cousin was still alive was because of Xie Jingyu scattering her ashes.
When Third Cousin heard about it, he rushed over to stop Xie Jingyu and nearly fought him on the spot.
Only then did Shen Wan learn that Third Cousin had survived and had even become one of Xie Jingyu’s trusted subordinates.
The Yun residence was located quite far from Duke Dingguo Manor, in the southern part of the city.
The distance between the two residences reflected the difference in their social status.
Among the traditional classes, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants ranked the lowest.
No matter how unimaginably wealthy the Yun family was, in a capital filled with nobles and officials, very few people truly respected them.
The reason Madam Yun had been able to marry Shen Wan’s father and become the Duchess of Dingguo was entirely because of Old Master Yun’s foresight and courage.
And because of the dowry that people still spoke of with amazement even now.
Madam Yun’s dowry was not gold or silver.
Nor was it silk, rare treasures, or priceless antiques.
It was two hundred thousand dan of military grain supplies.
Twenty years earlier, the imperial court had been locked in fierce war with Nanliang. At the same time, disasters and famine struck, leaving the national treasury depleted and border troops short on provisions.
The court had no choice but to borrow grain from the Yun family.
And when the imperial court borrowed something, it was always easy to borrow, but difficult to repay.
The grain could not be withheld.
But two hundred thousand dan was no small amount, and even the Yun family could not afford such a loss lightly.
At that time, Shen Ji had also been sent to Yunzhou to oversee the grain transport and ensure nothing went wrong.
The moment Old Master Yun saw him, he took a liking to him.
He told Shen Ji: “The Yun family has two hundred thousand dan of grain. Even if we didn’t, we could still gather it.”
“But these two hundred thousand dan are my daughter’s dowry.”
“If you wish to take the Yun family’s grain, then you must first come with an eight-carried bridal sedan chair.”
At that time, the border situation was critical, and the soldiers were already starving.
Shen Ji had no time to hesitate.
Resolute and decisive, he answered immediately: “I’ll marry her!”
Those two hundred thousand dan of grain were not lent to the court.
They were simply Madam Yun’s dowry.
A protective talisman prepared by Old Master Yun for his daughter.
At the time, Shen Ji was merely the heir of Duke Dingguo.
Without those grain supplies, Madam Yun would never have had the chance to marry into the Duke household.
According to the laws of the dynasty, if a woman was divorced or met with misfortune, her dowry had to be returned to her natal family.
Two hundred thousand dan of grain.
Even if the Duke household sold everything they owned, they could never repay it.
Shen Ji married Madam Yun in the Yun residence itself.
The very next day, he departed for the border with both his new bride and the grain supplies.
Old Master Yun had spent his life navigating the business world and judging people.
He had not misjudged Shen Ji.
After marrying Madam Yun, Shen Ji treated her with love and respect. He never looked down on her merchant background, entrusted her with managing the household, and never took a single concubine.
Old Master Yun’s actions had been swift and decisive.
Not only had he avoided offending the imperial court over the grain issue and creating hidden dangers for the Yun family, but he had also secured an excellent husband for his daughter and found a powerful protector for the Yun family.
As for the loss of the grain supplies.
Within only two years, the Yun family had earned it all back many times over.
And yet such a far-sighted and powerful family had ultimately been destroyed because of her.
Looking at the gilded plaque of the Yun residence, Shen Wan felt overwhelmed with guilt and self-reproach.
After wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes, Shen Wan stepped up the stairs.
A servant from the Yun family came out to greet her.
“Is Eldest Cousin at home?” Shen Wan asked.
The servant replied, “Young Master left the residence early this morning.”
“Send someone to find him,” Shen Wan instructed. “Tell him I need to see him.”
Then Shen Wan went to visit Old Madam Yun.
The moment Old Madam Yun saw Shen Wan, she was delighted, though slightly puzzled.
“How come you came alone today? Your mother didn’t come with you?”
Shen Wan sat close beside Old Madam Yun.
“Mother originally planned to come with me, but just as we were about to leave, Duchess of Zheng arrived. Mother stayed behind to entertain her.”
Eldest Madam Yun smiled.
“We were just discussing your marriage earlier and preparing your dowry.”
Although her marriage with the heir of Duke of Zheng’s household had not yet been officially finalized, the Yun family had already received word and begun preparing her dowry.
In her previous life, when Shen Wan married Xiao Yun, the Yun family gave her eighteen shops, six estates, one thousand mu of fertile farmland, and countless jewels, paintings, silks, and brocades.
She had used most of it to help Xiao Yun win over court officials.
Her parents and the Yun family had treated her with such wholehearted devotion.
Yet she had still believed Shen Wu’s words and allowed herself to doubt whether she was truly her parents’ biological daughter.
She really deserved to be slapped for that.
Shen Wan leaned her head against Old Madam Yun’s arm.
Old Madam Yun gently asked, “Did someone wrong you?”
Shen Wan shook her head.
“No. I just missed Grandmother.”
Old Madam Yun could feel Shen Wan’s attachment and dependence.
“If you miss Grandmother, then come visit the Yun residence more often. If you can accompany me and chat with me frequently, I’ll only be happier.”
Just then, the crisp sound of jade ornaments clinking came from outside.
Two young ladies walked in.
They were Shen Wan’s older cousin Yun Miao and younger cousin Yun Qing.
The two girls were delighted upon seeing Shen Wan.
“Perfect timing, Cousin! Jizhou just sent over some Floating Light Brocade. We were planning to deliver it to you tomorrow, but you came today instead.”
Several maids followed behind Yun Qing, each carrying a bolt of Floating Light Brocade.
The fabric shimmered brilliantly under the light.
Even though Shen Wan had possessed it in her previous life, it still stunned her with its beauty.
Back then, Yun Miao and Yun Qing had personally delivered the brocade to Duke Dingguo Manor for Shen Wan and the other sisters. Embroiderers worked day and night to make dresses from it.
When the sisters later attended banquets wearing those gowns, all the glory went to Shen Wu and Ye Caiwei.
Meanwhile, all the jealousy and resentment fell solely upon Shen Wan.
Floating Light Brocade was incredibly precious.
Only a few bolts were produced each year.
Even Yun Miao and Yun Qing, despite being daughters of the Yun family, were not qualified to wear it themselves.
But because Shen Wan liked it, the Yun family specially sought it out for her.
And fearing she would become the target of envy if she alone possessed it, they even prepared shares for Shen Wu and Ye Caiwei.
But that was the past.
From now on, Shen Wu and Ye Caiwei could forget about benefiting from the Yun family ever again.
Holding Old Madam Yun’s arm affectionately, Shen Wan said: “Thank you, Grandmother, for thinking of me and the sisters at the manor. But Floating Light Brocade is too precious. If I bring all of it back at once, they’ll definitely rush to make dresses from it immediately. Then when we all go out together wearing it, it’ll look overly extravagant and lose its uniqueness. Beautiful flowers still need green leaves to set them off. I’ll take one bolt back today, and I’ll collect the rest later.”
Old Madam Yun thought about it for a moment and agreed.
“That makes sense. Grandmother will keep the rest for you for now.”
Shen Wan stayed to chat with Old Madam Yun and keep her company, then later went strolling through the gardens with her maternal cousins.
At that moment, Eldest Young Master Yun, Yun Yan, came looking for Shen Wan.
“Cousin, you wanted to see me?”
“I need Cousin’s help with something.”
Shen Wan pulled Yun Yan aside and quietly whispered several things into his ear.
Yun Yan’s brows immediately furrowed tightly.
“Both of these matters are extremely serious. Haven’t you told Uncle and Aunt?”
Shen Wan shook her head.
“Without concrete evidence, unless we catch them red-handed, those people will never admit anything. Father is busy with military affairs, and I’m afraid Elder Brother won’t be able to hold back his temper and might alert the enemy instead. After thinking it over, asking Cousin for help seems the safest option.”
Yun Yan nodded.
“I’ll send people to investigate. Once there’s news, I’ll immediately send word to you.”