Three days later, the case of Shen Yuan mistakenly murdering Sun Cai Nan had closed. Sun Tian Zheng was determined to take revenge for the tragic death of his only child and made Shen Yuan be executed at the Wu Gates.
There were countless people running around talking about it, as they wanted to take a look at that talented youth who had a huge prospect fell to such an end. Some had sympathy for Shen Yuan, some were scolding Jing Chu Chu for being a disastrous beauty, making the entire area lively.
Shen Yuan most likely had never thought that there would be such a day like this for him. He was arrogant and was bent on climbing up the social ladder so that everyone would be able to see his achievements, but now was pointed out by those 'cheap commoners', making his heart extremely uncomfortable.
Most of the people threw rotten eggs and vegetables on him, and these dirty things became a foul paste on Shen Yuan's body. One did not have to think further, it was definitely the Sun family's people. Shen Yuan knelt on the execution platform and the executioner stood by him. Usually at this time if the criminal had family, they would come to send them off and also feed a full meal and drink to them, but not a single one person from the Shen family came.
Not mentioning Shen Xin who was like fire and water with the rest of the Shen family. Shen Gui was one who sought advantages and avoided harm, Ren Wan Yun had gone crazy and even if Old Shen Fūrén's legs were good, one feared that she would not be willing to come. The odd thing was that the usually warm and righteous Third household was not seen today. Most likely they had made the decision between warm and righteous or offending the Sun family.
In the eyes of others, they sighed at the Shen family actions. Winter was smiling gently.
Shen Yuan raised his head as sunlight sprinkled over the capital. It was obviously just after the New Year's Eve and the golden sunlight was as dazzling as during the summer. When noon arrived, the executioner sprayed a mouthful of wine onto the blade and raised the large blade before cutting off the head!
The blade fell!
Cries of alarm burst out from the crowd and the females quickly covered their eyes in fear. That bloody head rolled down the stage and onto the crowd, and the stench of blood dissipated after a short while. On the floor, Shen Yuan's eyes were wide open as if he was somewhat puzzled, as though he could say anything in the next moment even if the head was separated from the body.
Some people saw this and quietly turned away, concealing themselves in the crowd.
At this moment, in Shen Residence, it was in a blanket of dead silence.
The matter was not something that did not happen if one did not mention it. Shen Yuan's death was still a blow for the Shen family's vigour. Speaking of which, there were not many heirs in Shen Residence, and moreover, this was a person who could lift up Shen Residence to the Heavens but was now dead under the large blade of the executioner. At least, the people of Shen Residence were sad.
Shen Wan sat in the room as a servant jogged in and said, "The punishment has been handed out and the execution ground's people have sent Èr shàoyé back."
In the end, the Sun family agreed to return Shen Yuan's corpse back to the Shen family, and this was already the biggest concession. Even though one did not fight with Sun Tian Zheng directly and the handling of Shen Yuan's matter was carried out along with Sun Tian Zheng's wishes, everyone knew that the Shen and Sun families' feud had started and in the future how big this feud would become?
"After returning, there is no need to stop the coffin and quickly bury it within these few days." Shen Wan sighed as his thoughts got heavy.
"Lǎoyé is still worried about this matter?" Chen Rou Qiu walked over and gently said, "We were helpless in Shen Yuan's matter, after all, the Sun family are not ordinary people."
"I just felt that…" Shen Wan shook his head, "Everything is somewhat incorrect. Do you realise it?" Shen Wan said, "Why is the Shen family so unlucky lately to encounter misfortune in such quick succession."
"Could it be that there are some unclean things?" Chen Rou Qiu's heart got anxious.
Shen Wan paused, "What nonsense!"
Chen Rou Qiu quickly said, "I am speaking nonsense, Lǎoyé must not be surprised." Her heart was somewhat vexed. Shen Wan hated these kinds of strange superstitious things the most, and she only inadvertently said it and feared that Shen Wan would be unhappy. She went along with Shen Wan's previous words, "Speaking of which, all these events happened in Èr bǎizi's family. First, it was Qing-er then now it's Yuan boy…" Chen Rou Qiu's heart was more disturbed as she spoke. Even though she previously felt somewhat jealous of Ren Wan Yun, after she went crazy, there was no one else in the residence that stood in the same line as her. Lou Xue Yan? Shen Xin and Shen Wan did not crawl out from the same mother's womb so how could it be sincere?
"It is exactly as such." Shen Wan said, "Do not know who Èrgē has made enemies with. Now seeing it all together, it seems that this is a plan that was long conspired."
"It is inevitable for Èr bǎizi to offend some people in the court." Chen Rou Qiu said, "But why does it all happen to be this year that these actions took place? It seems that all these started after Xiǎo wǔ woke up from her fall in the water. Afterwards, the incidents came one after another…"
"Are you saying that it was done by Xiǎo wǔ?" Shen Wan found it funny, "If Xiǎo wǔ have that kind of ability then the world will be in a mess." He comfortingly patted Chen Rou Qiu's hands, "I know these days are hard for you so do not think too much as how would Xiǎo wǔ, a young female, be able to have such abilities? It is more likely when one says it is Dàgē and Dà Sǎozi that taught her, but both of them would definitely not use such a blunt knife to grind. Their methods had all the while been clean…" Shen Wan said, "I will pay attention to the matter. Do not think about it and pay more attention to Yue-er's marriage. One sees that she has reached the age where one can talk about marriage."
Once Shen Yue's marriage was mentioned, Chen Rou Qiu pressed down the suspicions about Shen Miao. Shen Wan was more concerned about heirs than Shen Gui, and for so many years he had not despised Shen Yue for being a daughter and really treated her lovingly. Chen Rou Qiu said, "I will listen to Lǎoyé."
In the Western Courtyard, clothes were draped over Shen Miao while Jing Zhe was styling her hair as she said, "Èr shàoyé's casket was carried back and one heard that it would soon be buried and a funeral would not be set up."
Other than the Eldest household of the Shen family, the rest were people who love to do things to look good. Just like Old Shen Fūrén's birthday's celebration that was done grandly and known to the general public. So it was indeed very cold for them to manage the funeral of Shen Yuan, the Second Household's Di-son, that slipshod. There were some reasons for covering up the scandal but most importantly, there were not many people that dared to offend Sun Tian Zheng for Shen Gui, and if one were to really set a funeral up, not be many people would be coming to send their condolences, but it would provoke others to poke fun instead.
"Èr lǎoyé has not been in the residence these few days." Gu Yu also said, "Even upon his return, he would be resting in Wan Yīniáng's courtyard. It is already at such a time and whatever it is, he was his own flesh and blood, how could one be that ruthless?"
Shen Miao smiled, "He is busy during the daytime to win over those estranged officials and as for during the night if one does not rest at Wan Yīniáng's, could one be sleeping on the same bed with Èrshěn?"
One initially wanted to take the opportunity to denounce Shen Gui for being ruthless but Shen Miao unexpectedly used the words 'sleeping on the same bed' openly. Gu Yu was somewhat embarrassed and she did not know why Shen Miao was so gutsy now. There were not any improprieties in her actions or etiquettes, but in matters of relationships between male and female, how could she not be embarrassed? Even if it was fake, she should still act it out else in the future when one meets males, they would only be surprised by Shen Miao's valiant attitude, and no one would dare to approach her.
Shen Miao did not pay attention to Gu Yu's expression and thus did not know that Gu Yu had so many thoughts in her heart. She only said, "What is the status of the inquiry on the Sun family side?"
"The Sun family hid too tightly that the servants also knew very little." Jing Zhe quickly said, "One only know that Biǎo xiǎojiě did not live well. Heard that the first day, the first day…" She could not continue speaking.
"What happened on the first day?" Shen Miao turned her head and looked at Jing Zhe.
Jing Zhe responded vaguely, "Heard that on the first day, Biǎo xiǎojiě and the horse in the stable were fed with aphrodisiac medication, to let them… At that time, Sun Dàrén still let all the servants gather at the stables to watch it."
Gu Yu almost choked on her own saliva, "Human and horse?"
Jing Zhe's face turned red in a moment. Gu Yu still spoke, "Those Sun family's people are all perverse!" To mix human and horse, how painful would Jing Chu Chu be. Not only the physical pain, one's utterly unbearable scene would be seen by others, making one feel that death was better than living.
Seeing that Gu Yu was still endlessly questioned, Jing Zhe was somewhat annoyed. She initially thought of not speaking of such filthy things in front of Shen Miao, in case it dirtied Shen Miao's years, but when she turned her head over, she saw Shen Miao's calm face. Let alone being shy, there was no shock expression at all and she even said some jaw-dropping words, "Sun Dàrén is too kind. In fact, one can use a bull."
"Xiǎojiě…" Jing Zhe's mouth dropped.
Shen Miao looked at her, "There is nothing to fuss about." In the Inner Palace, this trick was used to dispose of disobedient females but she did not use it. Shen Miao was used to directly order forced suicide as she was not willing to have complications. But one had seen Mei Fūrén punishing a palace maid, who was a partner of a eunuch, by letting others feed an aphrodisiac medication to a bull and threw that palace maid into the pen to torture her to death.
Therefore, Sun Tian Zheng's methods were not surprising. But she did not know that her actions were truly shocking to the eyes of Jing Zhe and Gu Yu.
After a long while, Jing Zhen then managed to find her voice, "Where does Xiǎojiě want to go now?"
"Go to Cai Yun Yuan."
"What is Xi��ojiě going there for?" Gu Yu wondered, "Èr lǎoyé is currently not in, so is Xiǎojiě going to look for Wan Yīniáng?"
Shen Miao shook her head, "I am looking for Èrshěn."
"Èr Fūrén has gone crazy…" Gu Yu reminded.
"That might not necessarily be."
Currently, in Cai Yun Yuan, it was as if the heavens and earth were flipped.
In fact, it was just only in a few months, that the entire Shen Residence or to be accurate, the Second Household of the Shen family, which resided on Cai Yun Yuan, be the one who went through earth-shattering changes.
The previously proud and successful Èr Fūrén had become mad, the magnanimous and bright Dà xiǎojiě committed suicide in prison and was a slut who had an illicit relationship with others. Even the outstanding and proud Èr shàoyé became a low-rank convict in front of the entire city and died under the big sword of the executioner. Life was like a play and Cai Yun Yuan's play was a bit too tragic.
The only consolation was that Èr Fūrén, Ren Wan Yun, still had a second Di-son, Shen Yuan Bo, but he was raised by Old Shen Fūrén's side. If Ren Wan Yun had not gone crazy, by the virtue of Shen Yuan Bo, she could still temporarily sit in the main household position. But it was only temporarily, who knew… If Shen Gui would take in concubines in the future? After all, Shen Gui was lustful, thus it was not impossible for him to have other sons.
As compared to Ren Wan Yun's unlucky fortune, Wan Yīniáng who had been deserted for many years seemed to have ushered Spring. After lowering herself and being small for so many years, that even the daughter she gave birth was not seen in the day, she did not think that she would receive help from Heavens. Even though Shen Gui views relationships thinly, he treated females well. Wan Yīniáng only had to firmly grasp Shen Gui's heart to regain favour, and with that, Shen Dong Ling's position would only rise up.
"Dong Ling, in a few days, one will let Lǎoyé arrange a courtyard for you." Wan Yīniáng was doing needlework as she smiled at Shen Dong Ling. Most probably because Shen Yuan was already dead, Shen Yuan Bo was still young and Ren Wan Yun could no longer threaten her. Wan Yīniáng's brows were filled with joy and there were traces of happiness in her voice.
"Arrange what courtyard?" Shen Dong Ling who was reading behind the screen looked up.
"You have been squeezing with me in one courtyard, and other young ladies at your age would already have their own separate courtyard, so you should also move out. This place is after all too crowded."
"They are Di-daughters and I am a Shu-daughter." Shen Dong Ling calmly said.
Hearing that Wan Yīniáng's heart ached. Shen Dong Ling's birth was a fact she could not change, and it was the thing that she was always troubled about. She herself believed that Shen Dong Ling was not inferior to Shen Qing, Shen Yue and Shen Miao, but in the past ten years, she could only let Shen Dong Ling live under the radar. Now that the hardship was over, how could one still watch Shen Dong Ling continue to be so cautious?
Wan Yīniáng said, ��The previous Dà xiǎojiě's courtyard is currently vacant, and you need not have to sleep in her room and instead another. The direction of Dà xiǎojiě's courtyard is facing is good, and the landscape is beautiful. It would be a waste to remain empty. Now that lǎoyé is treating us well, one felt that this request will be consented."
"Yīniáng, no need." Shen Dong Ling rejected her recommendation, "It is not a good time to stick out at this moment. One has already endured for over ten years, thus there is no need to be in a hurry. Even though Fùqīn treats us well now, Yīniáng should know what kind of character he is. When the situation has stabilised then this can be discussed again."
Wan Yīniáng wanted to persuade again when she suddenly saw her personal maid, Lu Hua, running in and speaking hurriedly, "Yīniáng, Wǔ xiǎojiě has come to our courtyard!"
"Wǔ xiǎojiě?" Wan Yīniáng suddenly stood up, "Why did she look for me?"
Shen Dong Ling also looked towards Lu Hua.
Lu Hua shook her head and said, "She is not here for Yīniáng. This servant saw her heading to the room that Èr Fūrén is resting in."
"Wǔ xiǎojiě is looking for Èr Fūrén!" Wan Yīniáng's voice suddenly became high-pitched, "Why do Wǔ xiǎojiě look for Èr Fūrén? Èr Fūrén has gone crazy!"
"This servant initially wanted to eavesdrop, but the few maids that Wǔ xiǎojiě brought, guarded so tightly. The others were all located far away from the room and were unable to see or listen to anything." Lu Hua asked, "Yīniáng, what can be done now?"
Wan Yīniáng paced around the room anxiously and mumbled to herself, "What is going on that Wǔ xiǎojiě visit Èr Fūrén? But Èr Fūrén and Wǔ xiǎojiě had so much discord previously, so how could Wǔ xiǎojiě be that kind?" She looked at Shen Dong Ling, "Dong Ling, what do you say?"
Shen Dong Ling's eyes hung down as she pondered for a while before speaking, "Since it cannot eavesdrop, then do not attempt to inquire and stay within one's boundary. Wǔ xiǎojiě is not a simple person and since it is done, the preparations would be thorough. No matter what kind of methods we use, one thinks that nothing would be inquired."
"Can this be left like this?" Wan Yīniáng was somewhat unresigned, "What if she and Èr Fūrén conspire together?"
"Èr Fūrén and Wǔ mèimèi are not people who forget gratitude and animosity with a smile." Shen Dong Ling said lightly, "Moreover, we have never opposed Wǔ mèimèi before, so no matter who Wǔ mèimèi want to scheme against, it would not land on our heads." She looked towards Wan Yīniáng, "We will just wait for a good show."
Outside Cai Yun Yuan, Gu Yu, Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang were keeping guard a few steps outside the room, while Jing Zhe followed Shen Miao inside. The other maids in the courtyard were doing their own tasks obediently. Ren Wan Yun had gone crazy so naturally, the servants did not need to fawn and please her. People all stepped on those who were low and flattered those higher up, moreover, Ren Wan Yun was very harsh to her subordinates previously, thus they were more willing to please the gentle and virtuous Wan Yīniáng.
Therefore these maids did not even stop Shen Miao, who had the support of the First household when she walked over.
But not everyone was like this. Ren Wan Yun also had her own confidants after so many years and those were her personal maids, Xiang Lan and Cai Ju. At the moment in the room, Xiang Lan and Cai Yu were glaring at Shen Miao like tigers.
Facing both of their vicious gazes, Shen Miao was not affected by it. Since these two people refused to go out, there was no harm for them to listen.
On the bed, the woman was wrapped in a quilt and sitting at a corner. Her eyes were lax, her hair seemed to have been combed properly before she made a mess out of it, and there were traces of saliva on her clothes. Her lips were slightly trembling as she did not look towards anyone but towards the Heavens, and no one knew what she was talking about.
"Wǔ xiǎojiě, as you can see our Fūrén's health has not recovered yet, so your disturbance would only worsen Fūrén's condition." Xiang Lan said.
"I am here today to tell Èrshěn one thing." Shen Miao gently smiled, "One thinks that Èrshěn already knows about it. Even though one is sick, one would still be sensitive to news. Èrgē was beheaded this afternoon and his body is lying in a casket, which would soon be buried."
"Wǔ xiǎojiě, Fūrén is already sick! She cannot listen to these words!" Cai Ju shouted loudly. Even though Xiang Lan's and Cai Ju's expressions were very severe, they did not have the courage to lay a hand on Shen Miao and force her out. Now they knew that Shen Miao was not an easy person to deal with, and since a huge part of how the Second Household ended up was due to Shen Miao secretly pushing the waves and adding to the billows. Shen Miao could be almost regarded as the enemy of the Second Household, but now not only Shen Miao had deep intentions, there was still Shen Xin and wife supporting her at the back. With that kind of person targeting the Second Household, there was no one that dared to fight against her.
Shen Miao ignored the two maids and looked at Ren Wan Yun as she smiled gently, "One thinks that Èrshěn also knew that when Èrgē was beheaded, there was no one from the residence that went to visit. Èrshū, Sānshū, Sānshěn and Old Fūrén, not any one of them." She looked at Ren Wan Yun, "I think that if Èrshěn was not sick, one would have definitely sent Èrgē on his last journey. Now on the way to the underworld, Èrgē is alone. How pitiful."
"Wǔ xiǎojiě!" Xiang Lan could not help but shout again.
"What are you afraid of?" Shen Miao's lips hooked up. "Èrshěn is now sick and cannot understand my words. Are you afraid that I will provoke Èrshěn?"
"Naturally not." Xiang Lan hastily denied.
"Then you better stay there obediently and shut up." Shen Miao raised her eyebrows, "Else I have ways to let you be unable to serve your Fūrén forever."
Xiang Lan and Cai Ju were secretly shocked as Shen Miao said those words so confidently, that it made them feel a chilling sensation.
"Before Èrgē left, Èrshěn had fallen ill so one was unable to see Èrgē at all. One thinks that Èrgē must have been very sad in his heart when he came to the end, he was unable to see his parents at all. It is actually quite tragic."
Ren Wan Yun still focused on the ceiling with a silly look, but her hands at the side slightly bent imperceptibly.
"A few days back, Wan Yīniáng still came over and looked for me." Shen Miao smiled, "One thinks that she is anxious to build a good relationship with me, and hope that in the future I will say a few good words about her in front of Old Fūrén. One thinks that the possibility of Èrshū elevating her status to a common wife is high."
When the words landed, Xiang Lan's and Cai Ju's faces paled. Everyone knew that currently Wan Yīniáng of the Second Household was favoured again. Previously, Ren Wan Yun had forced Wan Yīniáng to a difficult life, and now that Wan Yīniáng had gained power and may even be raised as a common wife, could all this be avenged? Now that the relationship with Shen Gui soured and that Old Shen Fūrén did not even care about, how miserable would Ren Wan Yun's future be?
"I am naturally not willing." Shen Miao turned her head to the side and thought, "Èrshěn is the main branch of the residence so naturally I will stand by Èrshěn's side. But it seems that Wan Yīniáng is not resigned to it. Moreover, Qī dìdì is still being raised by Old Fūrén's side, but when Qī dìdì grows up a bit more and Wan Yīniáng has been raised up to a common wife since you are still sick, would not Qī dìdì be raised by Wan Yīniáng? Tsk. Tsk. Can it be that Wan Yīniáng was trying to build a good relationship with me because of this intention?"
"If you dare to devise a plan on my Qīzi, I will make sure you feel that death is better than living!" At the corner, Ren Wan Yun roared out. One did not know for what reason her voice was extremely rough and difficult to hear. And that pair of eyes that had been starting at the heavens since one entered the room, had landed squarely on Shen Miao at an unknown time. They revealed a ferociousness as if it was a wolf.
"How could one devise a plan on Qī dìdì?" Shen Miao gently smiled, "If Èrshěn does not believe, I can swear that if one devise a plan on Qīzi then I will be struck by lightning and die horribly."
As her voice landed, the eyes of the few people in the room were somewhat surprised. Jing Zhe, who had been quiet, became somewhat anxious. How could Shen Miao swear with such heavy consequences? They had all the while valued the importance of oaths, and Shen Miao said it so calmly that she did not have any opportunity to obstruct.
Ren Wan Yun did not relax her vigilance on Shen Miao as she sneered, "It cannot be that you did everything possible to come here, provoke me with those words and to see if I had gone crazy just to make that kind of vicious oath." She said, "Shen Miao, I cannot win against you. It is I who has underestimated you. If everything can be repeated, I will definitely harm you before you have grown to such an age, and would definitely not be soft-handed!"
"Èrshěn really knows how to joke." Shen Miao said, "Since when have you been soft-handed on me?"
"You have already forced me into such a situation. Qing-er's and Yuan-er's incidents are not unrelated to you, if it is not because of Qīzi, I would definitely perish with you." Ren Wan Yun said with gritted teeth.
"I know that Èrshěn would not bear to burn both the jade and a common stone (destroy indiscriminately) because of Qī dìdì, so one knew that Èrshěn will not be sick for long."
"What exactly do you want to do?" Ren Wan Yun stared sharply at her, "What other means and methods do you want to use?"
Shen Miao smiled amiably, "Èrshěn need not speak so unreasonably. In fact, I am here to give you a way out."
"A way out?" Ren Wan Yun said tragically, "What kind of way out do I have at such a point?"
"Can it be that Èrshěn thinks that the current situation is the worst?" Shen Miao was surprised, "Èrshěn has been intelligent all the while so how could one be this muddled?"
"What do you want to say?" Ren Wan Yun's face had gotten heavy.
"Simple." Shen Miao smiled, "Now that Wan Yīniáng has coaxed Èrshū till he is shouting for joy, did Èrshěn ever think before that if Wan Yīniáng were to bear a son for Èrshū… What will become of Qī dìdì?"
Ren Wan Yun's body stiffened.
"Èrshěn is well aware whether Èrshū values Wan Yīniáng or Èrshěn, thus one would also know if Èrshū will value the son borne by Wan Yīniáng or Qī dìdì. If there was a day where Wan Yīniáng was elevated to the status of a common wife, then there will be two Di-sons in the Second Household. But these two Di-sons are not brothers of the same mother. Why don't you guess?" Shen Miao suppressed her voice, "If they would fight with one another?"
As Ren Wan Yun listened, fear and trepidation set in.
"That one will have Wan Yīniáng protecting and Qī dìdì have Èrshěn protecting. But Èrshěn, at that time, would you be able to call the shots in the Second Household like previously?"
Every word from Shen Miao pierced into her heart and Ren Wan Yun could not help but retort, "That slut was unable to give birth to a son before and will not be able to give birth to one in the future!"
"Èrshěn is indeed smart." Shen Miao sighed, "But this is what I want to say. Could it be that Èrshěn thought that in the future other than Wan Yīniáng, Èrshū would not have other women?"
She discussed the elder's relationships so broad-levelledly and calm that it stunned everyone. Ren Wan Yu was surprised by Shen Miao's words. Correct, she knew better than anyone about Shen Gui's conduct, how would Shen Gui only have one woman? When she was the matriarch of the family, Shen Gui still brought in concubines back to the residence and if she had not fed those vixens medication to end offspring, one feared that the Second Household would be overcrowded.
"You see, one can defend one moment but cannot prevent it for a lifetime. After guarding against Wan Yīniáng, there will still be more Yīniángs. There is an unlimited number of women in this world that can give birth, and there are numerous women who want to enter the Second Household. Unless Èrshěn could still control the Inner Courtyard like previously, and give the medication to end offspring for all of Èrshū's women, but do now Èrshěn have that ability? Moreover, those years ago, Wan Yīniáng still managed to give birth to Sānjiě. In the future, will there be another Wan Yīniáng?"
A slightly frenetic look appeared on Ren Wan Yun's face as each word from Shen Miao stabbed into her soft ribs. What she could rely on, was that she gave birth to sons and if this point disappeared, what the future would be like?
"Èrshěn, do you want to see that the family that you struggled to manage and the residence's money all land not on your son but on another woman's son? Èrgē was outstanding, and everything of the Second Household should have belonged to him or to Qī dìdì, but now others went to the next level. Are you willing to sew wedding clothes for others?"
Ren Wan Yun stared at Shen Miao, "What are you trying to say?"
"I will give you a way out." Shen Miao smiled gently before taking out a packet from her sleeves and placed it in Ren Wan Yun's hands.
"Medication to end offspring, for men's use." She said softly.