By the time the caning was over, Shen Nanxing ultimately couldn't withstand it and fainted. Su Yunyan hurriedly rushed over.
"Brother, brother, how are you?"
Seeing this, Jiang Jinshu spoke with a sorrowful expression.
"Sister Yunyan, my husband suffered this punishment entirely because of you. From now on, you must behave properly and focus on nurturing your pregnancy. Do not cause any more trouble for my husband."
She then turned to Princess Chang and the other ladies.
"Your Highness Princess Chang, esteemed ladies, Jinshu will now take my husband back. I apologize for dampening everyone's spirits today and hope you will be understanding."
Lady Yongning spoke up.
"Jinshu, I am older than you. Would you mind if I address you so familiarly?"
Jinshu quickly replied.
"Jinshu would be delighted to be closer to the Marquess's lady."
Lady Yongning smiled and said.
"Thanks to you today for saving the Young Master. I dare not compliment the Shen family's household traditions, but I acknowledge you, Jinshu, as a friend. That Shenjia is a den of wolves—do not let yourself be bullied. If you ever need anything, send someone to Marquess Yongning's Residence to let me know."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshu curtsied again and spoke openly.
"Thank you, Lady Yongning. Jinshu understands."
Shenjia.
Seeing that it was getting late and Shen Nanxing and the others still hadn't returned, Madam Shen couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Weren't they attending a banquet at Chengxiangfu? Why haven't they returned so late?"
Just as she spoke, Mother Feng hurried over.
"Madam, the young master has returned, but…"
Madam Shen asked urgently.
"But what?"
Mother Feng replied.
"The young master was carried back."
Hearing this, Madam Shen hurried outside.
"What happened? How could he be carried back after attending a banquet…"
Madam Shen rushed all the way to the entrance of the residence, where she saw Shen Nanxing being carefully carried by several servants. His face was as pale as paper, his clothes were soaked through, and they were stained with blood—clearly, he had suffered severe punishment.
Su Yunyan followed closely behind, tears streaming down her face, her expression panicked.
"Nanxing! What happened to you?"
Madam Shen exclaimed in shock, quickly stepping forward to examine her son's injuries, her heart aching with pain.
"Mother…" Shen Nanxing barely opened his eyes, his voice weak.
"I'm fine, I just took some punishment on Yunyan's behalf."
Hearing this, Madam Shen grew even more puzzled.
"Weren't you attending a banquet? How could you be punished? And why would you take punishment for Yunyan? What exactly happened?"
At that moment, Jiang Jinshu, sitting in the carriage, slowly leaned out as Caiping lifted the curtain.
"Mother, it's a long story. Sister Yunyan pushed the Young Master of Marquess Yongning's Residence into the water at Chengxiangfu, nearly causing a disaster."
"Originally, I went to great lengths to save the Young Master, thinking that family scandals should not be aired in public. I also pleaded with Lady Yongning to let Yunyan receive a light punishment and let the matter rest."
"But Yunyan refused to accept the punishment, saying she was carrying my husband's child. In the end, my husband, concerned for the child in Yunyan's womb and needing to give Marquess Yongning's Residence an explanation, voluntarily took the punishment in her place."
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen looked at Jiang Jinshu with shock in her eyes.
"You know?"
Her expression instantly became complex and difficult to read as she looked at Su Yunyan, then turned to Shen Nanxing. For a moment, she didn't know what else to say.
Observing Madam Shen's reaction.
Jiang Jinshu revealed a mocking smile.
"My sister-in-law has already publicly proclaimed that she carries my brother's child, so naturally, I have heard. Mother has always said that Yunyan, having no parents by her side, deserves extra care and affection. But now, with this scandal that the entire Huangcheng knows about, it seems this sister-in-law Yunyan has been spoiled rotten by you, Mother-in-law."
Su Yunyan hurriedly spoke up.
"Sister, I know you are thoroughly angered with us today, but Brother is injured now. Please let him enter the estate for treatment first. Later, Sister, whether you wish to beat or punish me, Yunyan will accept it all. We must not delay Brother's treatment over a moment of anger."
Upon hearing this, the mocking smile on Jiang Jinshu's face grew even more pronounced.
"Sister? What? Not calling me Sister-in-law anymore? Changing your address so quickly—it seems you've adapted quite well to your new status. Oh, wait, that's not right. You two have long been disregarding propriety and carrying on together. In your filthy hearts, isn't that exactly…"
Hearing the words "disregarding propriety and carrying on together," Shen Nanxing flushed red and weakly rebuked.
"Enough, Jiang Jinshu! Why must you speak with such sarcasm? Isn't today's incident all your fault…"
Jiang Jinshu cast a disdainful glance at Shen Nanxing.
"My fault? Shen Nanxing, did I make you two disregard propriety and shame? Did I make Su Yunyan maliciously push the Young Master into the water? You who cannot distinguish right from wrong."
Seeing Jiang Jinshu speak so harshly, Madam Shen frowned and interjected.
"Alright, what kind of spectacle is this, making such a commotion at the estate gate? Jinshu, it's not that Mother is criticizing you, but even if Xing'er and Yunyan acted improperly in this matter, as the young mistress of Shenjia, you should consider the bigger picture and prioritize taking care of your husband."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshu looked at Madam Shen and spoke.
"So Mother-in-law also knows they acted improperly? Very well. After all, Shen Nanxing was injured while taking punishment for Yunyan. Now that their unspeakable relationship is out in the open, I'll trouble Concubine Su to take good care of my husband."
She then brushed aside the stray hairs by her ear.
"Ah, I'm exhausted after a busy day. I won't disturb the two of you in your intimate moments."
With that, she returned to the carriage.
"Let's go. Head straight into the estate and back to the main courtyard."
Caiping cooperatively lowered the carriage curtain.
The carriage slowly passed by Shen Nanxing and the others.
From start to finish, Jiang Jinshu never even stepped out of the carriage, truly astonishing everyone.
Su Yunyan was the first to regain her composure.
"Sister, aren't you going to care for your husband?"
She then turned to Madam Shen, weeping and complaining.
"Mother, Sister is truly angry now. She doesn't even care about her husband's life or death."
Madam Shen glanced at Su Yunyan. Although she usually doted on her immensely, thinking of how her own son now lay bloodied on a stretcher because of her, a trace of displeasure appeared on her face.
"Enough, let's go inside first."
She then ordered.
"Quickly summon the estate physician."
Main Courtyard.
Caiping watched as Jiang Jinshu calmly removed her hair ornaments and spoke.
"Young Mistress, are you really not going to see the General?"
Jiang Jinshu slowly placed the hairpin into the dressing case.
"He has his beauty to care for him. Why should I trouble myself with that? Go to the kitchen and fetch some food. Also, have someone prepare hot water for my bath."
Hearing this, Caiping looked even more surprised.
"Young Mistress, in the past, you were always extremely anxious about the General. Are you truly not going to care for him today? Wouldn't that just let Su Yunyan…"
Jiang Jinshu looked up at Caiping upon hearing this.
"Caiping, in the past I was blind and foolish, failing to see that those two despicable individuals had long been entangled together. Now that I have clearly seen their true colors, there is no need for me to endure and please them any longer."
Upon hearing this, Caiping's face lit up with joy.
"That's wonderful, it's good that you've come to your senses, young mistress."
"Young mistress, that Su Yunyan, relying on the support of the madam and the general, has taken advantage of you time and again, gaining many benefits. Now that her true face is revealed, you must be on guard against her from now on."
Jiang Jinshu responded with a mocking smile as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"Why just guard against her? Isn't the entire Shenjia family living off my blood? In the past, I was too soft-hearted and gave them face. From now on, I want to see if the Shen family, without my subsidies, can continue to live in harmony as one loving family."