Princess Chang listened to Jiang Jinshu's heartfelt words, her eyes slightly reddening. She gently patted the back of Jiang Jinshu's hand, her tone filled with affection.
"You're quite clear-headed, child. If your mother were looking down from heaven, seeing your courage and determination today, she would surely be proud of you."
"Since you've made up your mind about this matter, let's plan it out slowly. As you said, the Shen Family relies on your dowry to survive, so they definitely won't let you go easily."
"Here's what we'll do: I'll see if I can find an opportunity to ask the Emperor to issue an Imperial Decree of Divorce. Meanwhile, you should visit your maternal grandmother's family. Although I care deeply for you, your maternal grandmother's family is in a better position to help you retrieve your dowry from the Shen Family."
Jiang Jinshu bit her lip and spoke guiltily.
"Aunt, I was blind and foolish before. I listened to Lady Shen and grew distant from my maternal grandmother's family, and even with you…"
Princess Chang looked at Jiang Jinshu and comforted her.
"No one holds grudges against their own family. Have I distanced myself from you even a little since you came to the Princess's Mansion?"
"Just listen to me and go visit your grandmother. Spend some time chatting with her."
Jiang Jinshu nodded.
"Alright, Jinshu will listen to you, Aunt. I'll pick out gifts for Grandmother in the next couple of days and then pay her a visit."
Princess Chang then asked many questions about Jiang Jinshu's life in the Shen Family. The two talked until after lunch and afternoon tea before Jiang Jinshu finally prepared to return to the Shen Family.
Shen Family.
Shen Nanyue looked at Shen Nanxing, who could only rest lying on his stomach, her eyes filled with heartache.
"Xing'er, how did your injuries get so severe? You can't even lie down properly to rest. Jiang Jinshu doesn't even take good care of you—she's out enjoying herself instead. When she comes back, we must teach her a proper lesson."
Shen Nanxing had never been in such a miserable state before. The pain from his wounds throbbed faintly, and his disgust for Jiang Jinshu grew even stronger.
"Sister, don't mention her. Just thinking about her fills me with anger."
Su Yunyan chimed in from the side.
"Who knows where Sister went? Could she be going to complain to Princess Chang again?"
"Yesterday, Sister hit me, scolded me, and even caused Brother to get beaten with the board. Even if she was angry or jealous, she should have calmed down by now."
"As Brother's wife, she can't even be bothered to come see him. Does she even care about Brother at all?"
With Su Yunyan's skillful manipulation, Shen Nanxing found her even more considerate.
"Yan'er, don't mention that vicious woman. She could never be as understanding as you."
Hearing Su Yunyan repeatedly call him "Brother," Shen Nanyue felt an inexplicable discomfort.
"Yunyan, since your relationship with Xing'er is now known to everyone, you should change the way you address him. Although this has damaged the Shen Family's reputation, at least you and the child in your belly no longer need to hide."
Su Yunyan lowered her head, fiddling with her handkerchief, and spoke with grievance.
"I'm just afraid Sister won't accept me and the child. Mother, Eldest Sister, Husband… as long as I can stay in the Shen Family, I don't care about status. But the child in my belly is, after all, the Shen Family's first grandson…"
As she spoke, tears fell.
"It's all because I'm a useless mother that he'll be born with an unclear identity. I'm afraid he'll be mocked by others in the future."
Lady Shen immediately spoke up upon hearing this.
"This child is of our Shen Family's bloodline, how could we possibly let him suffer any grievances? Matters concerning the Shen Family's descendants are not for her Jiang Jinshu to agree or disagree with."
Shen Nanyue also chimed in.
"Yunyan, don't cry anymore. You're still carrying a child; crying too much isn't good for the baby."
"The child in your belly is my own dear nephew. If Jiang Jinshu dares to neglect him, I won't let her off the hook."
Shen Nanxing, lying on the bed, spoke up.
"Mother, elder sister, since Jiang Jinshu already knows, why not make Yan'er my equal wife? That way, our Shen Family's first grandson won't be concubine-born. Moreover, Yan'er and I are deeply in love, and I don't want to wrong her in terms of status."
Lady Shen nodded after hearing this.
"That's fine too. This way, you'll have a legitimate heir."
A flash of triumph flickered in Su Yunyan's eyes, vanishing quickly.
"Yunyan thanks Mother, elder sister, and husband on behalf of the child."
Shen Nanyue said.
"Given our years of sisterly affection, you and Xing'er being together naturally strengthens our bond. You just need to focus on resting well, taking care of yourself and the child. Mother and I will speak to Jiang Jinshu."
As they were making plans, Bin'er walked in.
"Madam, young miss, the young mistress has returned and went straight back to her own courtyard."
Shen Nanyue was furious upon hearing this.
"That little wretch really thinks she has grown wings! She's been out all day, and upon returning, she still doesn't come to see Xing'er. Where is the demeanor of a proper wife?"
"Mother, you stay seated here. I'll go teach her properly what it means to be a daughter-in-law and a wife."
At Yayun Ju of the Shen Family, Caiyue poured tea for Jiang Jinshu.
"Young mistress, the little maid said that Bin'er from the young miss's side came to our courtyard today, saying that Madam is unwell and asking you to go attend to her. If you ask me, this is clearly another scheme to make things difficult for you, young mistress."
Jiang Jinshu took a slow sip.
"Caiyue, you've grown up with me since childhood. From now on, just call me 'miss.' As for this title of Shen Family's young mistress, whoever wants it can have it!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out.
"Jiang Jinshu, you unfilial wretch! How dare you put on airs with my mother now?"
Shen Nanyue stormed in with several maids and matrons in tow, putting on quite a show of authority. Jiang Jinshu calmly continued drinking her tea.
"Yesterday, the scandal between Nanxing and Yunyan became known to everyone and even alarmed Princess Chang in the end. I've been busy since early morning going to the Princess's Mansion to apologize and clean up the mess for the Shen Family. And you, a married daughter of the Shen Family, come back and shout at me like this?"
Shen Nanyue stepped closer, her eyes filled with rage and disdain as if she wanted to devour Jiang Jinshu whole.
Caiyue, seeing this, stood nervously beside Jiang Jinshu, her hands clenched into fists.
"Apologize? Jiang Jinshu, don't take everyone in the Shen Family for fools. You went to Princess Chang's Mansion for nothing but to lodge a complaint. I see right through your little schemes."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshu picked up her teacup, her expression completely unperturbed as she watched Shen Nanyue throw a fit.
"Think whatever you want."
Seeing her so composed only fueled Shen Nanyue's anger further.
"Jiang Jinshu, how can you still have the mood to drink tea here? Do you even know how Xing'er's injuries are? As a wife, not only do you fail to care for him diligently, but you also run around outside all day. Do you even have any regard for the Shen Family?"
Shen Nanyue's voice was sharp and piercing, as if it could tear through the entire room.
Jiang Jinshu gently set down her teacup, her gaze as calm as still water, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips.
"Isn't Su Yunyan taking care of him by his side?"
Shen Nanyue looked down at Jiang Jinshu from her superior position.
"Since you're too lazy to take care of him, let Yunyan take your place. Yunyan has a gentle temperament and is now with child. Contributing to the Shen Family's lineage is a great merit. From now on, she will be Xing'er's equal wife, sharing equal status with you. You must not make things difficult for her."
Jiang Jinshu set down her teacup and smiled mockingly.
"Equal wife? Do you still think the Shen Family hasn't become enough of a laughingstock? A daughter becoming her brother's equal wife—if word gets out, the whole world will laugh their heads off."
"I will not agree to this. If Su Yunyan knows what's good for her, she should stay as a concubine and not wander in front of me, disgusting me. If she doesn't know her place…"
She then glanced at Shen Nanyue.
"…I, Jiang Jinshu, am not someone to be trifled with."
Shen Nanyue saw that the respect Jiang Jinshu once held for her had completely vanished from her eyes. With anger on her face, she spoke.
"If Yunyan doesn't become an equal wife, the child in her belly will be concubine-born. Jiang Jinshu, that is the Shen Family's eldest grandson. How can you be so malicious as to let him become concubine-born?"
Jiang Jinshu gave Shen Nanyue a once-over. The clothes she wore were made from fabric from her own dowry, and the hairpin in her hair was also from her dowry. Hah, such shameless creatures.
Jiang Jinshu slowly stood up.
"That's right, I am that malicious. I suppose you kind-hearted people wouldn't stoop to taking things from someone as malicious as me. Why not return everything you've taken from me?"