The figure of a nineteen-year-old youth appeared at the doorway, striding urgently toward the bedside with an anxious expression.
Shen Mingtang instinctively took two steps back, putting some distance between them.
Her heart ached inexplicably.
Zhi Yuan noticed her retreat and reached out to steady her.
Shen Mingzhou, whose attention was solely focused on Qin Shi, hadn't noticed Shen Mingtang standing nearby. Only after carefully examining Qin Shi did he turn to look for Qiuyue.
"Why is Mother running a high fever again?"
At this question, Shen Mingtang's eyes met his.
"What are you doing here?" Shen Mingzhou's tone was hostile as he hissed, "You're not welcome here. Get out."
"I…" Shen Mingtang opened her mouth but didn't know how to explain.
Qiuyue stepped forward. "Young Master, some things have happened recently. Second Daughter she…"
Before Qiuyue could finish, Shen Mingzhou pulled her aside and pointed directly at Shen Mingtang's face.
His expression was full of disgust. "Did Zhou Yiniang send you to harm my mother? Every time my mother falls ill, Zhou Yiniang is involved. Standing here pretending to be concerned—just seeing you makes me want to strangle you. Get out!"
Moreover, Zhou Yiniang had been deliberately currying favor with his naive sister.
The thought made him seethe with anger.
Unfortunately, he usually studied at the Imperial Academy and could do nothing more than earnestly advise his sister to stay away from Zhou Yiniang.
Shen Mingtang took a deep breath and was about to leave when she saw Qin Shi, lying on the bed, open her eyes.
Qin Shi had clearly heard her son's words.
Her voice was hoarse. "Ming Zhou, Ming Zhou, this has nothing to do with Ming Tang…"
"Mother." Shen Mingzhou grew anxious seeing her defend Shen Mingtang. "Have you forgotten how much you've suffered at Zhou Yiniang's hands? How can you still speak up for her?"
"Ming Tang is a good child." Qin Shi struggled to sit up.
Shen Mingzhou hurried forward to support her, though his expression darkened further. "Just because she came from Zhou Yiniang's womb—what good could possibly come from someone like Zhou Yiniang?"
Qin Shi shook her head, intending to defend Shen Mingtang further, but a sudden itch seized her throat.
She broke into a violent coughing fit.
Shen Mingtang instinctively moved to approach, but Shen Mingzhou blocked most of her path to Qin Shi.
"Young Lady, you should return for now," Qiuyue said softly.
Shen Mingtang knew that if she stayed any longer, her elder brother would only grow angrier, potentially agitating Qin Shi further.
She bowed to Qin Shi and turned to leave.
Zhi Yuan followed her out.
At the doorway, Shen Mingtang paused and looked at Zhi Yuan. "Please take care of my mother's health."
"Don't worry." Zhi Yuan nodded. "Young Lady, go rest first. Once Madam's fever breaks, I'll come find you."
Shen Mingtang hummed in acknowledgment.
Inside the room.
Shen Mingzhou thoughtfully fetched a pillow and placed it behind Qin Shi's back.
He looked at her helplessly. "Mother, you're too soft-hearted. Have you forgotten how Zhou Yiniang harmed you back then?"
When Zhou Shi first became Shen Yuanshan's concubine, she had been exceedingly affectionate toward Qin Shi, addressing her as "elder sister" at every turn.
Qin Shi had genuinely believed Zhou Yiniang was a good person.
Both women became pregnant at the same time, and Qin Shi took great care of her. However, on the day when Zhou Yiniang was about to give birth due to abdominal pain, she suddenly changed her attitude and deliberately pushed Qin Shi hard, causing Qin Shi's abdomen to hit the corner of a table.
This collision not only caused Qin Shi to give birth prematurely but also nearly led to a difficult delivery.
Even though she survived that life-threatening ordeal, after giving birth to Shen Mingyue, Qin Shi’s health was severely damaged, leaving her extremely weak.
Qin Shi and Zhou Yiniang gave birth on the same day. While Zhou Yiniang recovered swiftly and was walking energetically soon after her confinement, Qin Shi’s health remained irreparably damaged. No amount of tonic medicine could restore her vitality.
In Shen Mingzhou’s eyes, this was clear evidence that Zhou Yiniang had intentionally harmed Qin Shi’s health.
Now, Zhou Yiniang’s daughter was hovering around his mother with a hypocritical demeanor—how could he not be angered by the sight?
“Ming Tang is truly different,” Qin Shi explained with effort, seeing her son’s confusion. “She…”
“Mother!” Shen Mingzhou frowned. “Why are you still speaking up for her?”
Qin Shi looked at him helplessly.
Her son was studious, sensible, and filial, with a strong sense of right and wrong since childhood, but he was also stubborn—once he made up his mind, nothing could change it.
“I only knew before that Zhou Yiniang disliked Ming Tang, but it was after growing closer to her that I learned Zhou Yiniang often beat and scolded her, treating her very poorly,” Qin Shi said softly. “A few days ago, Ming Tang took a sword for Prince Rui. When the Empress asked what reward she wanted, she didn’t ask for anything for herself or Zhou Yiniang. Instead, she requested an Imperial Order for me, an unrelated person.”
Shen Mingzhou’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise. “Zhou Yiniang even beats her?”
Although he wasn’t close to his sister Shen Mingtang, he knew her as timid—someone who would lower her head and avoid eye contact when she saw him.
How could someone with such a temperament endure frequent beatings?
After all, even when Shen Mingyue caused endless trouble since childhood, he couldn’t bear to lay a finger on his sister and always tried to cover up for her.
“Did you say she obtained an Imperial Order for you?” Shen Mingzhou belatedly registered the latter part of Qin Shi’s words.
Qin Shi nodded with a smile. “Yes, I am now a second-rank Imperial Order holder in the court, all thanks to Ming Tang exchanging her life-saving favor for Prince Rui.”
“Why didn’t she ask for something for herself?” Shen Mingzhou blurted out.
“Exactly. The Empress asked her the same—why not request something for herself.” Qin Shi recalled the scene that day, remembering vividly how Shen Mingtang’s eyes shone brightly as she knelt.
At that time, Shen Mingtang said, “This subject has no personal desires. Since my legal mother has always cherished me, I wish to request this for her.”
Qin Shi sighed. “Because of Zhou Shi, I initially disliked her too. But sometimes I pitied her and would casually give her things almost like alms. I never expected she would hold it in her heart.”
“Mother, I still think…” Shen Mingzhou frowned. “Perhaps this is also some scheme of hers.”
“You!” Qin Shi, seeing she couldn’t get through to him, felt exasperated.
She snorted coldly. “If Ming Tang has schemes, then what does your dear sister count as?”
Thinking of that rebellious daughter’s intentions made her heart ache unbearably.
Moreover, the moment she mentioned Shen Mingyue, tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes.
Qin Shi lay down, pulled the quilt over her head, and began to sob.
“Mother, what’s wrong?” Shen Mingzhou was taken aback. “By the way, where is Mingyue?”
Last time he returned home, his mother had been perfectly fine. Although she was upset about his sister's closeness to Zhou Yiniang, she hadn't been this angry.
"Get out." Qin Shi's sobbing voice carried a cold detachment.
Qiuyue rushed in from outside and quickly signaled to Shen Mingzhou with her eyes, urging him to leave first.
Shen Mingzhou had no choice but to depart.
He stood in Qin Shi's courtyard for a while, realizing that many things must have happened recently at home—likely his sister had angered their mother again.
He stepped forward, heading toward Jinxiu Courtyard.
The gate of Jinxiu Courtyard was closed. Shen Mingzhou raised his hand to knock, but noticed that the maid who came to answer was unfamiliar.
He frowned, "Where is Mingyue? Tell Mingyue to come out."