By the time the caning was over, Shen Nanxing could no longer endure it and fainted. Su Yunyan rushed forward anxiously.
"Brother, brother, how are you?"
Seeing this, Jiang Jinshu spoke with a sorrowful expression.
"Yunyan, my husband suffered this punishment all because of you. From now on, you must behave properly and focus on nurturing the child in your womb. Do not cause any more trouble for him."
She then turned to Princess Chang and the other ladies.
"Your Highness Princess Chang, esteemed ladies, Jinshu will take my husband home now. I apologize for ruining everyone's mood today and hope you will be understanding."
The Lady of Yongning Marquis spoke up.
"Jinshu, I am older than you. Would you mind if I address you this way?"
Jinshu quickly replied.
"Jinshu would be delighted to be closer to the Marquess's Wife."
The Lady of Yongning Marquis smiled and said.
"Thanks to you today for saving the young Shizi. I dare not praise the Shen Family's family values, but I consider you, Jinshu, a friend. That Shen Family is a den of wolves—do not let yourself be bullied. If you ever need help, send someone to Yongning Marquis's residence."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshu curtsied again and spoke openly.
"Thank you, Marquess's Wife. Jinshu understands."
Shen Family Residence.
Lady Shen grew anxious as night fell and Shen Nanxing and the others had not yet returned.
"Didn't they go to the Prime Minister's residence for a banquet? Why haven't they returned so late?"
Just as she spoke, Nanny Feng hurried over.
"Madam, the young master has returned, but…"
Lady Shen asked urgently.
"But what?"
Nanny Feng replied.
"The young master was carried back."
Hearing this, Lady Shen rushed outside.
"What happened? How could he be carried back after attending a banquet…"
Lady Shen hurried 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 soaked through and stained with blood, clearly indicating he had suffered severe punishment.
Su Yunyan followed closely behind, tears streaming down her face, her expression panicked.
"Nanxing! What happened to you?"
Lady Shen exclaimed in shock, quickly stepping forward to examine her son's injuries, her heart aching with pain.
"Mother…" Shen Nanxing forced his eyes open, his voice weak.
"I am fine. I just took some punishment on Yunyan's behalf."
Lady 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 this moment, Jiang Jinshu, sitting in the carriage, slowly leaned out as Caiping lifted the curtain.
"Mother, it's a long story. Yunyan pushed the young Shizi of Yongning Marquis's residence into the water at the Prime Minister's residence, nearly causing a disaster."
"Originally, I managed to save the young Shizi and, thinking that family scandals should not be aired in public, pleaded with the Lady of Yongning Marquis to let Yunyan receive a light punishment to settle the matter."
"But Yunyan refused to accept the punishment, claiming she was carrying my husband's child. In the end, my husband, concerned for the child in Yunyan's womb and needing to give Yongning Marquis's residence an explanation, voluntarily took the punishment for her."
Upon hearing this, Lady Shen looked at Jiang Jinshu with shock in her eyes.
"You know?"
Her expression instantly turned complex and inscrutable as she glanced at Su Yunyan and then back at Shen Nanxing, momentarily at a loss for words.
Observing Lady Shen's reaction, Jiang Jinshu revealed a mocking smile.
"My sister-in-law has already publicly proclaimed that she carries my brother's child. Naturally, as your daughter-in-law, I have heard. Mother has always said that Yunyan, having no birth parents by her side, deserves extra affection. Now that such a scandal, known throughout the entire imperial city, has occurred, it seems this sister-in-law Yunyan has been spoiled 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 injury because of momentary 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 identity. Oh, wait, that's not right. You two have long been disregarding morality and carrying on together. In your filthy hearts, isn't that exactly…"
"Disregarding morality and carrying on together"—Shen Nanxing flushed upon hearing this 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 morality and shame? Did I make Su Yunyan maliciously push the young Shizi into the water? You who cannot distinguish right from wrong."
Seeing Jiang Jinshu speak so harshly, Lady Shen frowned and said, "Alright now, 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 the Shen Family, you should consider the bigger picture and take care of your husband first."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshu looked at Lady Shen and replied, "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 hair by her ear.
"Ah, I'm tired after a busy day. I won't disturb the two of you in your tender affection."
Then she sat back in the carriage.
"Let's go. Drive straight into the estate and return to the main courtyard."
Caiping cooperatively lowered the carriage curtain.
The carriage slowly passed by Shen Nanxing and the others.
From beginning to end, Jiang Jinshu never even stepped out of the carriage, which truly left everyone stunned.
Su Yunyan was the first to regain her composure.
"Sister, won't you care for your husband at all?"
She then turned to Lady Shen, weeping and complaining, "Mother, Sister is truly angry now. She doesn't even care about her husband's life or death."
Lady 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 instructed, "Quickly summon the estate physician."
Main Courtyard.
Caiping looked at Jiang Jinshu, who was calmly removing her hair ornaments, and asked, "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. I wish to bathe."
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 again…"
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 faces, there is no need for me to endure and appease any longer."
Upon hearing this, Caiping's face lit up with joy.
"That's wonderful, Young Mistress! It's good that you've come to your senses."
"Young Mistress, that Su Yunyan, relying on the support of the Madam and the General, has repeatedly taken advantage of you, gaining many benefits. Now that her true nature is exposed, you must be cautious of her in the future."
Jiang Jinshu responded with a mocking smile as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"Why just be cautious of her? Isn't the entire Shen 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 can continue to live in harmony without my subsidies."