Shen Mingtang had very few belongings, and even her maid Cuier and Yu Momo had already moved to Jinxiu Courtyard ahead of her.
Two days passed uneventfully.
Even Yu Momo remarked with a smile, "That day, I noticed a calculating look in Eldest Daughter Shen's eyes, but these past two days she's been quiet and composed, truly behaving like an elder sister."
"You have a keen eye, Momo," Shen Mingtang praised, referring specifically to the first part of her comment.
For the past two days, Shen Mingtang had been paying her morning respects to Qin Shi, accompanying her for meals, and then returning to her room to stay quietly.
Yu Momo had somehow produced a medicinal ointment and applied it carefully to Shen Mingtang's body every day. At first, Shen Mingtang felt somewhat embarrassed, but she gradually grew accustomed to it.
Shen Mingtang pointed out the scars on her body to Yu Momo, whispering softly about how each one had come to be.
As she spoke, it felt like these were events from a very distant past.
But Yu Momo's heart ached with pity as she listened.
The two had grown much closer.
It wasn't until the evening of the third day that Steward Liu from the mansion personally came to Jinxiu Courtyard.
Standing at the doorway, he looked at Shen Mingtang with a faint trace of disdain in his eyes, though he forced a smile on his face. "Second Daughter, the master is waiting for you in his study. He wants you to go there now."
Coincidentally, just as he said this, Shen Mingyue happened to arrive.
"It's getting dark. Why summon my younger sister to the front courtyard?" Shen Mingyue put on a protective demeanor. "If Father needs to see her urgently, I'll accompany her."
Shen Mingtang stood silently and glanced at Yu Momo beside her.
Yu Momo remained completely unflustered, quietly turning to leave without a sound.
Shen Mingyue didn't notice Yu Momo's presence and eagerly pulled Shen Mingtang along. "I'll go with you."
Shen Mingtang followed her lead.
Soon, they arrived at the study in the front courtyard. After Steward Liu announced their arrival, he ushered the two sisters inside.
As soon as they entered, Shen Mingtang saw her maid Cuier kneeling in the center of the room with her head bowed.
And Shen Yuanshan standing with his hands behind his back, his expression extremely grim.
Just as Shen Mingtang was about to offer her greetings, she heard Shen Mingyue's sharp, piercing voice filled with exaggerated concern.
"Cuier, why aren't you properly attending to Second Younger Sister? What are you doing in the front courtyard?"
Shen Yuanshan turned his cold gaze directly toward Shen Mingtang. "Ming Tang, do you have anything to say for yourself!"
Shen Mingtang looked at him with complete bewilderment. "Daughter doesn't know what has happened. What does Father wish daughter to say?"
As her words fell, she saw Shen Yuanshan stride toward the desk at the front of the room and grab a bundle.
He used considerable force, causing some items from the bundle to scatter out.
The remaining contents, along with the bundle itself, were thrown directly at Shen Mingtang. Shen Yuanshan roared angrily, "How dare you pretend ignorance! Has this family ever deprived you of food or clothing? How could we have raised you to be so shallow-minded!"
Shen Mingtang stared at the bundle on the floor, lowered her head, and faintly curved her lips into a smile.
Beside her, Shen Mingyue suddenly exclaimed. She crouched down and sifted through the items on the floor. "These are my favorite pieces of jewelry! Why are they here with Father?"
She looked up at Shen Yuanshan. "Father, what exactly is going on?"
Shen Yuanshan snorted coldly and glanced at Steward Liu standing nearby.
Steward Liu immediately stepped forward. "Eldest Daughter, this evening the maid Cui'er was attempting to leave the residence with a bulging package. I happened to be standing at the gate and noticed her suspicious behavior, so I secretly followed her. I saw her go to a pawnshop."
He glanced at Shen Mingtang standing nearby and continued, "I initially thought Second Daughter might be pawning some small jewelry for daily expenses. But when I approached to look, I saw so many items, several of which appeared to be pieces Eldest Daughter usually wears – they didn't seem like Second Daughter's belongings. So I brought both her and the bundle to the Master."
"It truly has nothing to do with this servant," Cui'er pleaded, kneeling forward a step. "Second Daughter gave these to me this afternoon and told me to secretly sell them after dark. I already suspected the origin of these items, but the young lady threatened me, saying if I didn't obey, she would have Madam sell me off."
After saying this, she nervously glanced at Shen Mingtang and fearfully shrank back.
"Just yesterday I mentioned that several hairpins and bracelets were missing," Shen Mingyue looked at Shen Mingtang with disappointment. "Younger sister, if you like my jewelry, I would have given it to you. Or if you needed silver and couldn't ask Mother, you could have asked me. But this…"
She sighed and shook her head. "Father is hoping for promotion in official circles this year. If you gain a reputation for theft, Father will certainly be impeached by the censors for failing to maintain proper household discipline."
Shen Mingtang finally understood what was happening.
Just as she was about to speak, Shen Yuanshan didn't give her a chance to explain, angrily declaring, "Go, bring the family discipline rod! Stealing property and daring to threaten maidservants – such ingratitude! Today I will beat this unfilial daughter to death!"
Steward Liu acknowledged the order and turned to leave.
Shen Mingtang noticed Shen Mingyue's barely concealed triumphant expression from the corner of her eye. She coldly chuckled to herself and stepped forward unhurriedly. "Father, would you hear your daughter's explanation?"
"What more is there to explain?" Shen Yuanshan glared at her. "Disgraceful creature."
Just two days ago he had begun to develop some favorable impressions of this concubine-born daughter, and now this happened. How could he not be furious?
Shen Mingtang performed a slight bow to him, taking it as his consent.
She turned to face Cui'er.
"Madam assigned you to attend to my daily needs, making you my personal maid. Did you see me steal these items?"
Cui'er nervously looked up at her. "This servant has only attended you for two days. Usually, you're closer with Yu Momo, so I…"
"Therefore, you didn't witness me stealing." Shen Mingtang's voice turned icy. "You're not close to me, yet I would ask you to handle stolen goods? Are you foolish, or am I?"
"This servant…" Cold sweat broke out on Cui'er's forehead, her fingers unconsciously scratching the ground as she stammered, unable to find a good response. "This servant…"
She instinctively cast a pleading look toward Shen Mingyue.
Shen Mingtang followed her gaze to Shen Mingyue, her tone returning to calm. "Why are you looking at her? Could it be that she instructed you to falsely accuse me of theft?"
"No!" Cui'er hurriedly shook her head. "Eldest Daughter didn't instruct this servant."
"Then swear an oath. If you're lying, I'll send you to the capital magistrate's office. For a servant to slander their master warrants death by hanging." Shen Mingtang looked directly at her. "Cui'er, do you dare?"
Cui'er's face instantly turned pale.
Since when had Second Young Lady become so intimidating?
"Why are you frightening her like this? She's just a maid—where would she get the nerve to slander you?" Shen Mingyue, who had also been startled by Shen Mingtang's interrogation, finally collected herself and jumped in to defend the maid. "Shen Mingtang, don't push your own misdeeds onto Cuier. Are you implying that Mother gave you a bad maid?"
"Sister, why are you so protective of a mere maid?" Shen Mingtang looked at her with a faint, mocking smile.
Realizing she had overreacted, Shen Mingyue hurriedly explained, "I'm not protecting her. I just felt sorry for her, seeing how terrified she was, and wanted to speak up for her."
Shen Mingtang ignored her and turned to Shen Yuanshan. "What does Father think?"
Nearby, Shen Yuanshan frowned as he watched Shen Mingtang's relentless questioning.
Since joining the Xingbu, he had dealt mostly with interrogating criminals and had honed a sharp eye for judging people and situations.
This girl remained calm and composed, and her questions were reasonable and well-founded.
The maid Cuier, on the other hand, seemed suspicious.
Shen Mingtang spoke again, "Father, why not report this to the authorities? Since there's a thief in the household, we should investigate thoroughly."
Shen Yuanshan's temples throbbed.
Before he could respond, Shen Mingyue panicked. "Have you lost your mind, Sister? Over such a trivial matter, you'd ask Father to involve the authorities? If it delays his year-end evaluation, will you take responsibility?"
"But if rumors spread that I stole, it would also affect Father's evaluation," Shen Mingtang shrugged. "Perhaps the authorities will clear my name, and Father will be spared any trouble."
"Father, you mustn't!" Shen Mingyue was genuinely anxious now.
Shen Yuanshan took a moment to collect his thoughts.
Reporting this to the authorities was out of the question—whether it was a daughter stealing or a servant falsely accusing her mistress, it would reflect poorly on the household's management.
Coldly, he asked Shen Mingtang, "Do you have any evidence to prove your innocence?"
"I've already asked Yu Momo to gather evidence. She'll bring it shortly," Shen Mingtang replied softly.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
Yu Momo entered the room with Qin Shi.
Yu Momo produced a pouch. "Lord Shen, we found ten taels of silver hidden under the maid Cuier's bedding. I questioned the maid who shares her room, and she said Cuier has been acting suspiciously these past two days and has grown unusually close to Da Guniang's maid."
She had no intention of sparing Shen Mingyue any embarrassment.
Shen Mingyue paled, her mind reeling.
She cried out urgently, "Father, this maid was given to Shen Mingtang by my mother. Why would I be close to her?"
Seeing Shen Yuanshan remain silent, Shen Mingyue felt a chill run through her limbs.
Then, an idea struck her.
"Father and Mother dote on me—why would I have any reason to harm my sister? But as for my sister…" she muttered under her breath, "Sister only cares about Mother and pays no attention to Father. If Sister had thought to ask Empress for some favor on Father's behalf, perhaps Father would have been promoted by now. Why must he work so diligently and cautiously?"
Her words struck a chord with Shen Yuanshan.
He frowned deeply.
Over the past few days at court, many colleagues had teased him, asking why his daughter, who had earned merit by saving Wangye, was so focused on honoring her stepmother rather than him, her own father.
It had irritated him immensely.
He had been stuck in the position of Vice Minister of the Xingbu for nearly ten years, dreaming of advancing further. Now that the position of Minister was vacant, he was straining every nerve to climb that final step.
Yet Ming Tang had actually given this tremendous reward to Qin Shi, a woman of merchant background.
Why not give it to him!
Though Shen Yuanshan harbored this thought, he couldn't voice it openly.
Growing increasingly agitated, Shen Yuanshan looked at Shen Mingtang with displeasure. "Your elder sister is right. After all Shen Jia has done to raise you, you can't even distinguish right from wrong."
Noticing Steward Liu already holding the disciplinary rod, he felt his anger surge, craving an outlet for release.
Shen Yuanshan grabbed the rod and without hesitation swung it toward Shen Mingtang.
Qin Shi and Yu Momo instinctively stepped forward to intervene, but Shen Mingtang stood unmoved, speaking clearly without a trace of fear.
"If I had begged an official position for Father, wouldn't Father fear incurring the Emperor's displeasure?"
"What did you say?" Shen Yuanshan's rod halted mid-air.