When Shen Miao returned to the Shen residence after leaving the academy, the sky had already darkened.

Shen Yue and Shen Qing still hadn’t accompanied her, but Shen Miao couldn’t be bothered to argue with them. Old Madam Shen had already retired, so she went directly to the Western Courtyard.

Just as she reached the Western Courtyard, a rather warm and enthusiastic voice reached her: “Has Miss finally returned? This old servant was so worried when she heard Miss had fallen into the water. Now seeing Miss well, I can finally put down the stone in my heart.”

Turning her head, she saw a middle-aged woman approaching. The woman was around forty years old, somewhat plump with a slightly dark complexion, wearing a blue sleeveless jacket. Although it appeared ordinary in style, the fabric was of good quality. A heavy silver bracelet adorned her wrist, and her face was full of smiles.

“Nanny Gui,” Shen Miao responded coolly.

The woman didn’t seem to notice anything amiss in her tone and continued eagerly: “This old servant wanted to come earlier, but unfortunately, my grandson Ran’er has been ill and hasn’t recovered. He’s been fussing continuously, and I had no choice but to leave him with his mother and return to the residence first. Only seeing that Miss is well could put my mind at ease.”

These words were cleverly calculated to suggest that Shen Miao was even more important to her than her grandson. In the past, after hearing such words, Shen Miao would have been deeply moved, offering words of comfort and giving Nanny Gui money to treat her grandson’s illness.

But living a second life and looking at the woman before her now, Shen Miao almost wanted to laugh at herself—how had she ever been so blind as to believe this person was a loyal servant?

Not long after Shen Miao was born, Shen Xin had received orders to go to war. Shen Miao was too young to endure the hardships of travel, so her mother had painfully left her at the Shen residence. Old Madam Shen had hired a wet nurse for her—the current Nanny Gui. Nanny Gui was born to a farming household on the estate. Initially, Madam Shen had seen her as diligent and honest, and later, seeing how well Nanny Gui nursed Shen Miao, she had confidently kept her by Shen Miao’s side as a governess.

But in this world, people change.

The Western Courtyard of the Shen residence was sparsely populated, controlled by the two branches in the Eastern Courtyard and Old Madam Shen. At first, Nanny Gui had honestly cared for Shen Miao, but as time passed and she gained a clearer understanding of the situation, she unhesitatingly allied herself with Old Madam Shen in the Eastern Courtyard. Nanny Gui had a fawning personality, and when Shen Miao had been determined to marry Fu Xiuyi, Nanny Gui had actively fanned those flames.

Most detestable, however, was when Old Madam Shen had brought her distant niece to seek refuge with the Shen family. That niece had lost her virtue to Shen Miao’s eldest brother, Shen Qiu, and demanded he take responsibility. She eventually became Shen Miao’s sister-in-law, turning her brother’s household into a chaotic mess. And it was Nanny Gui who had served as the witness to the niece’s defilement by Shen Qiu.

Thinking about it now, it had been such a poorly executed farce.

Once unfaithful, never to be trusted again. Especially with someone like Nanny Gui, who had been unfaithful countless times—she deserved to be properly dealt with. A dog that strays is better killed than kept.

Nanny Gui waited for quite some time but didn’t hear Shen Miao offer any reward. The loving expression she had maintained on her face became somewhat stiff. She couldn’t help but look up at Shen Miao, only to see her gazing indifferently back, showing no particular emotion.

Her heart skipped a beat, and for some reason, she suddenly felt guilty.

The next moment, she heard Shen Miao respond neutrally: “Oh, that must have been hard on you, Nanny.”

Guyu let out a soft snort, looking at Nanny Gui with some mockery. She had never approved of Nanny Gui’s fawning, petty manner—using her position as Miss’s wet nurse to tyrannize the Western Courtyard. Yet her young mistress had previously been completely taken in by Nanny Gui, believing many of her slanderous remarks, which had caused her to become estranged from the original servants of the Western Courtyard.

Now things had improved. Since waking up after falling into the water, her mistress seemed to have gained clarity about many things. Her current cool attitude toward Nanny Gui gave Guyu great satisfaction.

Nanny Gui smiled awkwardly, unable to understand why Shen Miao’s attitude toward her was so cold today. Thinking that perhaps Shen Miao was in a bad mood because of the incident with the water, she smiled and advised: “This old servant would like to offer Miss a word of advice—don’t be too sad, you must take care of your health. Miss is as lovely as a flower, and Prince Ding surely has feelings for you. One day…”

She had always known how to say pleasing things, usually choosing words that Shen Miao liked to hear, which most effectively won Shen Miao’s favor. But today, as these words left her mouth, she saw Shen Miao’s expression change.

“Is Nanny suggesting such things to tarnish my reputation?” Shen Miao asked coldly. “Although my father and mother are not currently at the General’s mansion, I am still the legitimate daughter of the General’s household and the mistress of the Western Courtyard. Even ordinary families must protect their daughters’ reputations. By speaking this way, aren’t you deliberately placing me in a difficult position?”

Nanny Gui was stunned and instinctively replied, “How can Miss say such things? This old servant only has your best interests at heart…”

“So it’s my fault then?” Shen Miao laughed coldly. “Very well, why don’t we ask Old Madam for clarification—has the virtue of the General’s daughters become as worthless as cabbage? Even cabbage is worth a few copper coins. Nanny Gui, you speak so righteously that I can’t help but wonder if I’m the one who lacks proper etiquette.”

Perhaps unprepared for Shen Miao’s sudden change in demeanor—even in a bad mood, she shouldn’t have taken it out on her. Nanny Gui was accustomed to ruling the Western Courtyard, and in the past, she had Shen Miao wrapped around her finger. To be treated this way today, even losing face in front of Guyu and Jingzhe, made her somewhat angry. She couldn’t help but say, “Miss is wronging this old servant. I’ve been by Miss’s side for over ten years—how could Miss think I would deliberately harm her?”

“How dare you!” Jingzhe called out loudly. “Miss is your mistress—how dare you speak to her in such a manner, Nanny Gui?”

Nanny Gui was startled and regretted her momentary agitation. But words once spoken were like water spilled—impossible to take back—and there were many servants around watching the commotion. Still thinking of Shen Miao as that easily placated young girl, she quickly softened her voice: “Miss, this old servant truly cares for you. I’ve been with Miss for so many years, and in my heart, I’ve long considered Miss as my child. What I said just now was wrong—please don’t be angry, Miss. Be careful not to harm your health with anger.”

Consider her like her own child? Shen Miao laughed coldly in her heart. She rather thought Nanny Gui was quite the character. While regularly receiving significant silver from her, Nanny Gui treated those in the Eastern Courtyard as her true masters. In the end, she had even caused her eldest brother to suffer such a great misfortune. In her previous life, if she had encountered such a scheming servant in the imperial harem, she would have immediately ordered them beaten to death and thrown out. But now… since Nanny Gui was sincerely allied with the Eastern Courtyard, why not use her to make the Eastern Courtyard suffer a setback?

She raised an eyebrow and said in a neutral tone: “Since Nanny Gui acknowledges her mistake, she will only be punished by forfeiting three months’ wages.”

Nanny Gui’s expression froze, and Shen Miao’s lips curled into a smile.

What would Nanny Gui do without silver?

Naturally, she would go to the Eastern Courtyard to demonstrate her loyalty.