Yu Momo strode over to Shen Mingyue and without a word, slapped her twice across the face.
Shen Mingyue covered her cheek, stunned.
How dare this old hag hit her?
Seeing how swiftly Yu Momo carried out the order, Shen Mingtang was very pleased.
"Shen Mingtang, I'm going to tear your mouth apart!" Shen Mingyue lunged forward.
She had just heard Shen Mingtang order Yu Momo to teach her a lesson.
But before she could get close to Shen Mingtang, Yu Momo's large hands clamped down on her arms.
The pain made Shen Mingyue's face instantly pale.
Qin Shi scolded her, "Stop this nonsense! She is your sister!"
Yu Momo released her grip, and Shen Mingyue, not daring to cause any more trouble, ran off in tears.
Just as Shen Mingtang was about to say a few words to Qin Shi, urging her to take care of her health, she heard heavy footsteps approaching from nearby.
She turned to look and saw her father, Shen Yuanshan, storming over angrily, followed by a weeping Shen Mingyue and Zhou Yiniang, whose face was full of pity.
Qin Shi coughed softly a few times and looked up expressionlessly.
Zhou Yiniang stepped forward, wiping her tears with her sleeve. "Madam, it is true that Mingtang broke her promise first. I will take her back and discipline her properly."
She moved to pull Shen Mingtang away.
Shen Yuanshan said coldly from the side, "You rebellious girl! How dare you incite an outsider to hit your elder sister? Bring the family punishment rod! Today, I will beat this ungrateful daughter to death!"
Zhou Yiniang had once told him that once Mingyue obtained the title of County Princess and married into a higher status, her in-laws would surely support his career.
Now, all of that had been ruined by this rebellious girl.
Even if Qin Shi had received an Imperial Order, it couldn't change her origins as a merchant's daughter. What use was that?
Zhou Yiniang stood behind Shen Yuanshan, her gaze toward Shen Mingtang cold and detached.
Yu Momo glanced at Shen Mingtang, ready to intervene.
Shen Mingtang stopped her.
Qin Shi spoke up, "Why don't you mention, Zhou Yiniang, how you incited Mingyue to demand the County Princess title from Mingtang? Now that the sisters are at odds, you are largely to blame!"
Zhou Yiniang was about to retort, but Qin Shi turned to Shen Yuanshan. "Husband, I am now a second-rank Imperial Order recipient, all thanks to Mingtang's filial devotion. In the future, when I mingle with the noble ladies, I will be able to assist you."
After more than ten years of marriage, she knew Shen Yuanshan well.
He was a man who valued utility above all else—fawning over those who were useful and discarding those who were not.
Shen Yuanshan was indeed swayed.
Although Zhou Yiniang insisted that Mingyue could marry well once she obtained the County Princess title, Mingyue was only fourteen years old, and marriage was still a distant matter.
Unlike Qin Shi, who could be of immediate use to him.
Weighing the two options, Shen Yuanshan quickly sided with Qin Shi.
He turned to Zhou Yiniang with a cold expression. "You, a mere concubine, dare to stir up trouble recklessly."
Zhou Yiniang was so furious she nearly fainted.
"Master, I—"
Before she could finish, Shen Mingtang stepped forward. "Father, today in front of the Empress, because Auntie urged my elder sister to demand the County Princess title, my elder sister was publicly reprimanded by Her Majesty."
This was no small matter. If word got out, her chances of marrying up would be ruined.
Moreover, her father valued face above all else.
Shen Yuanshan was shocked, his expression changing. He had been treading carefully in the official circles, fearing disapproval from his superiors, and now his daughter had been reprimanded by the Empress.
He turned and kicked Zhou Yiniang in the stomach, cursing, "You vicious woman! You made my daughter get reprimanded by the Empress. If this ruins my career, just you wait!"
Zhou Yiniang stumbled back two steps and collapsed onto the ground, feeling as if a knife were twisting in her lower abdomen. Cold sweat streamed down her face.
"Master, this concubine truly had your best interests at heart," she insisted, struggling to rise and clutching at Shen Yuanshan's sleeve.
Shen Yuanshan irritably shook off her hand.
"Escort Zhou Yiniang back to her courtyard and confine her for one month."
Pale as death, Zhou Yiniang was led away by her maidservant.
Shen Mingtang stood quietly behind Qin Shi, appearing completely detached from the farce that had just unfolded.
She glanced at Qin Shi, a faint warmth flowing through her heart. Her birth mother had just protected her.
"Thank you for shielding me today, legal mother," Shen Mingtang met Qin Shi's gaze, tears glimmering faintly in her eyes.
Qin Shi assumed she had been frightened by Zhou Yiniang. Recalling how Zhou Yiniang often beat and scolded her, she sighed with pity.
When the opportunity arose, she might as well take Shen Mingtang under her wing and register her under her own name.
That way, Zhou Yiniang could no longer bully her.
"Good child, you're still injured. Go back and rest promptly," Qin Shi said gently. "If you need anything, come and tell your legal mother."
Watching Qin Shi depart, Shen Mingtang noticed Yu Momo showed no intention of leaving, so she brought Yu Momo back to her own quarters.
She shared a courtyard with Zhou Yiniang—though "shared" meant Zhou Yiniang occupied the main rooms while she lived in a crude woodshed that had been cleared out for her.
As soon as Yu Momo followed Shen Mingtang inside, she frowned.
"How can the young lady live in such a dilapidated place?" she complained. "Has the family not arranged a proper courtyard for you?"
After a long silence, Shen Mingtang whispered, "The legal mother originally prepared a courtyard for me, but Yiniang refused to let me move there."
Near Zhou Yiniang's courtyard was Xiaoxiang Courtyard, which Qin Shi had designated for her years earlier.
Back then, after seeing how exquisite and spacious Shen Mingyue's courtyard was, she had hesitated for a long time before gathering the courage to ask Zhou Yiniang if she could move to Xiaoxiang Courtyard.
She still remembered the stinging sensation of Zhou Yiniang's slap across her face.
Zhou Yiniang had pointed at her nose and said, "A lowly concubine-born daughter dares compare herself to the legitimate daughter? If you mention moving out again, I'll break your legs and see if you dare entertain such delusions."
Shen Mingtang shook her head, dismissing the memory.
She turned to Yu Momo. "Mom, now that Eldest Sister has taken Xiaoxiang Courtyard, shall we go see Jinxiu Courtyard where she originally lived?"
"Very well," Yu Momo said, asking no further questions.
Shen Mingtang led her on a tour of the Shen residence.
The Shen family occupied a sizable property—part of Qin Shi's dowry. Besides the two courtyards in the front for the men, the rear compound contained several elegant courtyards of varying sizes, all properly laid out in square formations.
Shen Mingtang brought Yu Momo to the entrance of Jinxiu Courtyard.
"This is Jinxiu Courtyard. Would you like to see it, Mom?"
Yu Momo examined it briefly and seemed reasonably satisfied.
As she stepped forward to enter, a maidservant emerged and blocked their way.
"Young Miss Second," the maid said, "Eldest Young Miss hasn't been living here recently. She moved to Xiaoxiang House near Zhou Yiniang's courtyard."
She assumed Shen Mingtang had come looking for someone.
Shen Mingtang moved to enter. "Then I'll just take a look inside."
The maid hesitated. "This is Eldest Young Miss's courtyard. What is there for Second Young Miss to see?"
Yu Momo's face darkened beside them. The Shen family's eldest daughter certainly held sway in the household, monopolizing two courtyards by herself.
Yu Momo stepped in front of Shen Mingtang and sternly rebuked, "How dare a mere maidservant prevent the young lady from doing as she wishes? Step aside!"
The maid paled with fear and didn't dare speak, quickly stepping aside.
After Shen Mingtang entered, she saw the maid running away in the direction of Shen Mingyue's Xiaoxiang House.
She smiled faintly and began surveying the courtyard.
The decorations in Jinxiu Courtyard were opulent, exuding refinement in every detail—clearly Qin Shi had put great care into preparing this for her daughter.
Before Shen Mingyue could speak, Yu Momo nodded with satisfaction, "This courtyard is quite good. The young lady should reside here. This old servant will go inform Madam."
Shen Mingtang obediently responded, "Yes."