In the midst of the conversation, the sound of chaotic footsteps approached from afar. Shen Hua's heart tensed. She looked up.
She saw Shen Qu at the forefront, a man also dressed in mourning clothes. His appearance was ordinary, without any notable features. However, the quality of his mourning clothes was excellent, giving him a certain grace.
Shen Hua remembered clearly that Shen Qu originally had a marriage arranged by the head wife of the second household, Shen Zhushi.
Shen Zhushi had no affection for this bastard son, so the bride she found for him was not outstanding, fearing that the scholarly Shen Qu would outshine her own son.
And now, as Shen Qu became the heir of the main household, this engagement was naturally annulled in private.
In her past life, Shen Qu, being overly ambitious, wanted to marry an official's daughter. Ordinary girls were too beneath him.
Shen Xue-shi fell a step behind him, her face unsightly with a faint trace of anger in her brows.
Following behind were Housekeeper Wu, Mrs. Wang, Old Lady Xu, and other servants, a large group approaching grandly.
"Madam, young master!"
The servants in the courtyard looked like they'd seen their saviors. They clustered forward, respectfully saluting, as if they were greeting reborn parents.
"Please, Madam, make a decision for us."
"We..."
Their accusations hadn't even formed into words when they met Shen Qu's displeased gaze, and the words mysteriously dissipated.
Shen Hua sat steadily, her body sprawled bonelessly on the nanmu chair, her legs crossed, and her arm draped lazily on the armrest. She displayed her arrogance and rudeness to the fullest.
"The snow and wind outside are harsh. Yangyang isn't staying inside the house; why doesn't she take care of herself?"
Shen Qu stepped closer, feigning concern. As he approached with each step, Shen Hua tightened her grip on the armrest in secret.
Shen Qu: "Last night, you had a fever, yet as your brother, with busy official duties, I really couldn't come to see you. I'm here to apologize; is Yangyang giving me the silent treatment?"
Saying this, he raised his hand as if affectionately wanting to touch Shen Hua's forehead to check her temperature.
At this time, Shen Hua, still young and unblossomed, appeared sickly without a trace of a daughter's breathtaking fragility or charm.
At this moment, Shen Qu hadn't developed any other thoughts towards her.
Shen Hua raised a hand in disgust and slapped it away.
A crisp 'slap' sounded, as clear and pleasing as a smack.
Shen Hua's eyes were warm and bright.
"Half-brother, don't take it to heart. I don't like being touched by outsiders, especially ones like you."
Her words were utterly unkind. Yet, everyone in the courtyard took it as a matter of course.
Lady Shen has always been arrogant and self-centered since childhood!
Shen Xue-shi felt a choking sensation on Shen Qu's behalf.
But Shen Qu acted as if unaffected, like a deceitful snake. His smile remained, seeming to tolerate Shen Hua's unreasonable behavior.
"It's nothing; your brother isn't hurt."
Shen Hua smiled sweetly at him.
"True, half-brother has tough skin."
Shen Xue-shi: ???
But remembering Shen Qu's instructions on the way, she felt aggrieved, wanting to find a wall to bang against.
She walked over stiffly, raising her hand high against Shen Hua.
The servants facing being sold off were excited: !!! Hit! Hurry! Hit her!
The young master has just arrived and it's hard for him to punish anyone; Madam, you should teach her a lesson!
The next moment, they saw Shen Xue-shi purse her lips tightly, pulling a stack of papers from her sleeve and throwing them heavily onto Shen Hua's lap.
It was the contracts for selling Shen Hua's body.
Shen Hua couldn't be bothered with Shen Xue-shi's fury but instead hummed a tuneless tune, leisurely lowering her eyes and counting them.
Fifteen contracts, not one missing.
Shen Qu restrained his temper, speaking softly: "Since they were sent by Mama to serve you, feel free to deal with them as you wish. They're trifling matters. Though you're young, you can still make this decision."
"With your brother and Mama here, you're still the most spoiled girl in the residence."
Shen Hua kept him because she found him useful and was willing to let her have a taste of how sweet life could be.
Having a broad and cheerful mindset could extend her life; if he drove her to death, it would be a loss.
Shen Xue-shi clenched her handkerchief tightly, forcing a smile: "Indeed."
Shen Qu deliberately chose not to fall out in front of everyone, willing to act the scene of sibling affection with her.
Shen Hua couldn't be bothered to glance at them, changing to a comfortable position to continue lounging. Her words were stiff and heavily insincere.
"Ah, I'm so truly moved."
Even Shen Qu stiffened ever so slightly.
Shen Xue-shi's eye twitched in anger: Ah, ah, ah!!! You little wretch!
Go on with your smugness. One day, you'll cry!
The air froze for a few seconds. Before long, the panicked pleas for mercy and the pitiful cries filled the entire courtyard.
A while ago, these people were smug under Shen Xue-shi's protection, but reality dealt them a harsh slap.
Fifteen people fell to the ground, rolling and crawling in terror, the snow-packed deeply, embedding into their bodies, yet they didn't even feel the cold.
"Lady, please forgive us. We won't dare again."
"Madam, we are your people, too. These years we have suffered if not contributed..."
Shen Xue-shi's eyelids twitched repeatedly.
Giving the contracts was her forced concession. But now, these dogs reminded her of it!
Absolutely shameful!
She turned around in anger, gritting her teeth: "Are you all dead! Tie these people up and gag them!"
The housekeeper behind her nodded promptly, raising a hand to give a command. Soon, a servant stepped forward, tying the fifteen people tightly together with a rope.
The wails drilled into their ears, yet Shen Hua's smile didn't fade.
Yicui took the contracts from her hand and handed them to the baby broker. The baby broker efficiently verified them one by one.
Finally, bowing slightly to the few people, they led these people away.
The fifteen servants wouldn't willingly leave, still refusing to go.
But they were pushed and thrown out of the gates of the Shen Residence by the housekeeper's men.
Seeing those people still didn't behave, the baby broker dropped her previous fawning attitude. Without a word, she harshly lashed out with a thin stick she'd carried for years.
If their faces were damaged, it would be difficult to resell them. The thin stick whistled through the air, landing only on their bodies.
Amidst the shrill cries of pain, the baby broker's hand didn't pause for a moment, showing no sympathy, hitting them a few more times before speaking with a forced smile.
"Over the years I've encountered not a thousand but at least hundreds of dullards like you. As servants from a large household, how much can your delicate skin endure hard beatings?"
"Hurry up and leave! If any of you don't have working legs, I'll break them for you! Begging on the streets would still be better. Who told you not to cherish your good life, it's your own doing."
She couldn't hit Cheng Yapo, but hitting these people would be satisfying.
"That old fool died, so now she's come to snatch mine? With one not being enough, now she wants to seduce my son too. Bah! Old vixen."
"You better not think you can fool around because you're not bad looking. Believe me, I'll sell the men to the brothel to serve masters who play with chains and wax, and sell the women to the poorest, most unethical mountain villages. I'm not exaggerating; the whole village pools together to buy one wife. Can your small frames withstand such suffering? If you want to continue making scenes, go on!"