Upon hearing that people from External Grandee Wang’s family had arrived, Concubine Wan trembled as she looked outside. Though she believed this couldn’t have been Shen Dongling’s doing, all the blame was being thrown at her daughter. If the Wang family wanted to pursue the matter, they would certainly make Shen Dongling their target. Concubine Wan had only this one daughter—how could she not be heartbroken? Unfortunately, she held little power or influence. Even if she wanted to save Shen Dongling from disaster, there was nothing she could do.

Everyone exchanged glances, and Old Madam Shen said, “Please invite the Wang family in.”

The person who came from the Wang family was a robust, dark-skinned woman, accompanied by several maids who appeared to be of considerable status. The stout woman had a naturally dark complexion and entered with a stern face. Her broad shoulders and stout waist made her appear even more intimidating, as if she had come to demand an explanation.

Seeing Concubine Wan crying and falling to the ground, she showed no sign of compassion. Everyone sensed something. Old Madam Shen frowned and was about to speak when the stout woman asked, “May I ask where Second House’s Concubine Wan is?”

Concubine Wan’s heart skipped a beat, feeling even more desperate. Chen Ruoqiu, on the other hand, felt relieved. If the visitor wanted to vent her anger on Concubine Wan, the Shen family would certainly not protect her. Chen Ruoqiu even thought it would be best if Concubine Wan and her daughter were tortured to death for daring to scheme against Shen Yue—it was truly unbearable.

With this in mind, Chen Ruoqiu stepped forward with a smile and said, “If I may say, Nanny, we were also horrified to learn about yesterday’s incident. We never imagined that Third Young Lady would do something so outrageous. But my Yue has been wronged, and your household’s eldest son must be furious too. This is entirely due to our Shen family’s poor upbringing, causing such a huge scandal. We hope that after your master and mistress vent their anger, they can calmly consider the matter. I’ve already scolded Yue for being too trusting. This whole affair is really—”

The stout woman ignored Chen Ruoqiu’s words and asked again with a dark face, “May I ask where your household’s Concubine Wan is?”

Everyone was stunned. Chen Ruoqiu hadn’t expected this woman to so blatantly disrespect her. But in front of everyone, she still had to maintain her usual gentle and accommodating demeanor. Since the Wang family was the wronged party, she couldn’t say much. Old Madam Shen said solemnly, “The one kneeling on the ground is Wan.”

Concubine Wan looked pitiful, but to everyone’s surprise, the stout woman reached out and helped her up. Far from scolding her, she showed a respectful attitude and said, “The Young Madam misses her mother. The Young Master has sent me to bring Concubine Wan to the External Grandee’s residence. I have come specially for this purpose and hope that Old Madam will grant permission.”

With these words, everyone in Rongjing Hall was dumbfounded.

What did she mean by “the Young Madam misses her mother” and that the Young Master had sent her to bring Concubine Wan to the External Grandee’s residence?

Who was the Young Madam? And who was the Young Madam’s mother? Shen Dongling? Concubine Wan?

Chen Ruoqiu had already sensed something was wrong when she saw the stout woman help Concubine Wan up, and upon hearing these words, she nearly fainted. Shen Wan’s face darkened as he asked, “What does this mean from our in-laws?”

The stout woman was quite clever. Noticing Shen Wan’s expression, she looked puzzled and asked, “Third Master Shen, I don’t quite understand your question. Could you please be more specific?”

Shen Wan and Chen Ruoqiu both felt stifled with anger. This woman was playing dumb, pretending not to know while knowing full well. Did they have to explicitly mention the bride swap themselves?

Shen Wan and Chen Ruoqiu couldn’t bring themselves to say it, but Old Madam Shen had no such concerns. She wasn’t born into a noble family and thus didn’t know how to feel ashamed. She stretched her neck and said, “Our in-laws are being unreasonable. Yesterday, during the wedding, our Third Young Lady switched places with our Second Young Lady. The bride was changed, and we’re currently discussing how to resolve this issue. How dare you, a servant, pretend to be confused?”

Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan tried to stop Old Madam Shen, but it was too late. Old Madam Shen always had this ability—she always felt superior and thought everyone should curry favor with her. Regarding Shen Yue’s marriage, Old Madam Shen looked down somewhat on the External Grandee’s family, hoping Shen Yue could marry into an even higher position. However, the Wang family’s status and connections in court far exceeded what Shen Wan currently possessed. This stout woman might appear to be just a servant, but without the Wang family’s authorization, how would she dare speak to the Shen family this way? Old Madam Shen’s scolding of this servant was essentially scolding the Wang family. The Wang family would only think the Shen family lacked propriety and were bullies.

Upon hearing this, the stout woman indeed laughed, though the laughter sounded particularly jarring to Chen Ruoqiu and Shen Wan. The stout woman asked in confusion, “What does Old Madam mean? Where does this talk of a bride swap come from? Yesterday the Young Master married, and the new bride is sensible and considerate, well-liked by everyone in the Wang household. How can Old Madam joke about such things?”

Well-liked by everyone in the Wang household? Concubine Wan, who had been confused, suddenly felt a jolt of hope and joy in her despair. Her Dongling was exceptionally clever, with a good temperament and appearance. If she could firmly secure Wang Bi’s affection in just one night, with Wang Bi protecting her, what would it matter if Shen Yue entered the household later? Being a concubine would still be better than becoming a nun in a temple. Moreover, Concubine Wan believed that Shen Dongling would someday rise to prominence.

Chen Ruoqiu was nearly driven mad by these words. Now she didn’t care about Old Madam Shen’s impolite speech and said to the stout woman, “What exactly do the Wang family mean? If they’re displeased or angry, just say so directly. Why be so sarcastic? Do they intend to treat Third Young Lady as if she were Yue?”

Shen Wan frowned slightly, giving Chen Ruoqiu a somewhat surprised look. Chen Ruoqiu’s words were no better than Old Madam Shen’s. If at all possible, Shen Wan didn’t want to offend the Wang family, especially since the Shen family was at fault to begin with.

The stout woman turned to Chen Ruoqiu and said, “Third Madam Shen speaks strangely. What Second Young Lady and Third Young Lady? Yesterday, the Young Master married your household’s Second Young Lady, and she is very good. There was never any talk of a Third Young Lady.”

Chen Ruoqiu stood there in shock.

The implication was that the Wang family acknowledged Shen Yue’s identity but accepted Shen Dongling as the person?

Letting Shen Dongling live with Shen Yue’s identity? What kind of talk was this! Chen Ruoqiu was about to go crazy!

Meanwhile, Shen Yue, who had been silent until now, finally breathed a sigh of relief. What she had hoped for was exactly this—Shen Dongling taking her place in the Wang family while she became the victim, cleanly removed from the situation. In the end, Shen Dongling would be blamed, Wang Bi would be disadvantaged, and she, Shen Yue, would be free, perhaps even gaining sympathy.

Although the Wang family hadn’t caused a scene, which didn’t fully satisfy Shen Yue as she had hoped Shen Dongling would suffer, she was content to be completely free of this marriage.

Shen Wan’s brows furrowed tightly. This stout woman’s attitude represented the Wang family’s position. The Wang family now wanted Shen Dongling to live with Shen Yue’s identity, but what about Shen Yue herself? The Wang family wasn’t usually so harsh—perhaps Shen Dongling had said something to Wang Bi?

Chen Ruoqiu smiled coldly and said, “Fine, as you say, the one who married into your family is the Second Young Lady. But I am the Second Young Lady’s mother. Why would you take Concubine Wan there? Sending a concubine over—don’t you find that laughable?”

Concubine Wan looked anxiously at the woman. The woman smiled and said, “It’s like this: the Young Madam said that although she has no blood relation with Concubine Wan, she has always been very close to her. Having just married into a new household, she feels quite uncomfortable, so she wants to invite Concubine Wan for a short stay. The Young Master cares for the Young Madam and has agreed.”

What a brazen lie, delivered like a slap to the Third House’s face, especially to Shen Yue. She had originally thought that after Shen Dongling married into the Wang family, they would mistreat and despise her for being a concubine’s daughter. Instead, Shen Dongling was thriving in the Wang family. This was a huge irony for Shen Yue: “You didn’t want to marry into the Wang family? Sorry! Our Young Master doesn’t like you either. The Young Madam is loved and respected, and the Wang family is doing just fine without you!”

Shen Yue gritted her teeth in frustration. She had gone to great lengths to have Shen Dongling take her place, but seeing that Shen Dongling might gain the Wang family’s favor, Shen Yue was dissatisfied again. People tend to have a strange psychology—even what they don’t want for themselves, they don’t want others to easily obtain.

All the Shen family members were stunned. They had anticipated the Wang family would be furious upon discovering the switch and would confront the Shen family. They never expected this attitude from the Wang family. It seemed the Wang family not only didn’t hate Shen Dongling, but appeared quite displeased with the Shen family’s Third House. Their words were full of mockery, both obvious and subtle.

Chen Ruoqiu was about to speak again when Shen Wan stopped her and said, “If that’s the case, I’ll visit tomorrow to explain. Before then, I hope our in-laws will be more reasonable and not let anger cloud their judgment.”

The stout woman smiled and said, “What are you saying, Third Master? Our household is happy and festive right now. The Master and Mistress are very pleased, saying your family has raised an excellent daughter. How could there be any anger? Third Master is overthinking.”

This stout woman was truly talented, her words leaving even Shen Wan speechless. She patted Concubine Wan’s hand and smiled at Old Madam Shen, saying, “I’ll take Concubine Wan back now. I hope Old Madam will permit it. The Young Master is waiting for me to report back.” She had even brought up Wang Bi’s name.

Old Madam Shen frowned and looked at Shen Wan and Shen Gui. She sensed something strange about today’s events. Since Shen Wan was Shen Yue’s father and Concubine Wan belonged to the Second House, she had to defer to her two sons for a decision.

Shen Gui couldn’t come up with any ideas. Shen Wan’s face was dark, but he said, “If that’s the case, let Concubine Wan go with her. It’s rare for a child to have such a heart.” These words were neither here nor there, making one’s spine chill.

Concubine Wan felt both startled joy and apprehension—joy that the Wang family didn’t seem to want to blame Shen Dongling, and apprehension because she didn’t know if the Wang family was just pretending to express their dissatisfaction by deliberately provoking the Third House. In the end, Shen Dongling might still be the one sacrificed.

The stout woman was true to her word and took Concubine Wan away before everyone’s eyes. Rongjing Hall fell silent. After a moment, Old Madam Shen said coldly, “What is going on here!”

The Wang family’s strange attitude was more unsettling than if they had openly confronted them. Chang Zaiqing moved her lips as if wanting to say something, but after glimpsing Shen Wan’s expression, she swallowed her words.

Shen Gui felt somewhat awkward. Originally, Shen Dongling had stolen Shen Yue’s marriage, and he had thought of handing over the mother and daughter to the Wang family to appease the Third House. He hadn’t expected this outcome. Shen Gui cleared his throat and said, “I’ll write a letter to Dongling to see what she’s done!”

Shen Wan smiled and looked at Shen Yue, saying softly, “Yue, come back to our room with me.” He then turned to Old Madam Shen and said, “Mother, we cannot be hasty with the Wang family matter. After I apologize tomorrow, perhaps the issue can be resolved. I’ve troubled you, Mother, it’s all my fault.”

“How can this be your fault?” Old Madam Shen sighed, her tone suddenly becoming displeased. “It’s all that Third girl’s fault. Following that cheap woman Wan, she’s learned such unseemly behavior!” She then blamed Chen Ruoqiu: “If you had been more careful, Third girl wouldn’t have found a loophole!”

Chen Ruoqiu, already frustrated and heartbroken over Shen Yue’s matter, now being criticized by Old Madam Shen, retorted, “How can Mother blame me? I never imagined Third Sister would harbor such thoughts. Mother blaming me for this is too confusing.”

“You say I’m confused?” Old Madam Shen was furious.

Chen Ruoqiu was about to speak again when Shen Wan shouted, “Enough!” She was slightly startled—in all these years, Shen Wan had never spoken harshly to her; this was the first time he had shouted at her. Shen Wan said, “Yue, come back to our room with me!”

Shen Yue responded meekly.

Chang Zaiqing, watching this scene, had an almost imperceptible smile on her lips.

Shen Yue followed Shen Wan back to their room. Shen Wan stood with his back to her, saying nothing. Shen Yue thought Shen Wan was displeased about the Wang family matter. Thinking about the Wang family’s attitude today, and how Shen Dongling might have won the Wang family’s favor and was now living with her identity, Shen Yue was utterly dissatisfied. She said, “Father, those Wang family people are bullying us, not respecting you at all. What kind of talk was that today? If Third Sister lives with my identity in the future, what will happen to me? Third Sister stole my marriage, and now she wants to steal my identity. Father, you can’t ignore this.”

Shen Yue spoke as if it were all perfectly reasonable. Perhaps she had told so many lies that she began to believe them. Shen Yue now almost believed that the whole affair was Shen Dongling’s doing, that Shen Dongling had secretly harmed her.

“She stole your marriage?” Without turning around, Shen Wan slowly asked.

Shen Yue didn’t notice the oddity in Shen Wan’s tone and nodded. “Yes, she did!”

A resounding slap landed on Shen Yue’s face.

Chen Ruoqiu, who had just followed them in, witnessed this scene. She cried out “Yue!” and rushed forward to embrace Shen Yue, shouting angrily at Shen Wan, “What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?” Shen Wan laughed without anger. “Why don’t you ask your precious daughter what she did?”

Shen Yue held her face, her body trembling uncontrollably. Though the slap on her face was painful, it couldn’t compare to the fear in her heart.

“Yue, do you dare say you knew nothing about this? That it was Shen Dongling who harmed you and stole your marriage? Do you think your little schemes can fool everyone? You had Shen Dongling marry in your place because you only wanted to marry the Prince of Ding. Did you ever consider what would happen to me after offending the Wang family? Without this marriage, how will you marry in the future? I, Shen Wan, am truly blessed to have such a clever daughter—what good fortune from my previous life!”

Shen Wan, being a civil official and not unattractive, was usually gentle and refined. He had always been particularly loving toward Shen Yue, and this was the first time he had shown such a ferocious expression to her.

Chen Ruoqiu trembled as she looked at Shen Yue in her arms and asked, “Yue, is what your father is saying true?”

“I… I just wanted freedom,” Shen Yue said fearfully in a low voice. Suddenly remembering something, she raised her head: “But Shen Dongling also tempted me. Now the Wang family’s attitude toward us clearly shows Shen Dongling’s instigation. It’s all that slut Shen Dongling’s fault!”

“Shut up!” Shen Wan grew angrier as he listened. “You’re blaming others for your stupidity. All those books you’ve read have gone to waste!”

Never having encountered such a fierce Shen Wan before, Shen Yue’s eyes reddened with grievance. Chen Ruoqiu, upon hearing Shen Yue admit it was her idea to switch places, closed her eyes in despair. She hadn’t expected Shen Yue to be so bold. But Shen Yue was her only daughter, the child she had carried and carefully raised all these years. Hearing Shen Wan’s blame, Chen Ruoqiu couldn’t help but say, “Yue is certainly at fault, but she didn’t know better. I think Yue is right—Shen Dongling deliberately tempted her. This whole affair was probably planned by Shen Dongling.”

Shen Wan pressed his forehead and looked at Chen Ruoqiu with disappointment. “When did you become so unable to distinguish right from wrong?”

Chen Ruoqiu was startled. Shen Wan continued, “Fine, tomorrow I’ll personally apologize to the Wang family. But I don’t know if it will work. After all, our Shen family was at fault first. If it doesn’t work out, that’s the consequence of your actions.” With these words, he glanced at Shen Yue and left with a swish of his sleeves.

Chen Ruoqiu was alarmed by the look of disappointment Shen Wan gave her as he left. She wanted to say something more, but Shen Wan had already left the room. Seeing Shen Yue sobbing, she had to turn to comfort her daughter.

As Shen Wan left the room, his servant, seeing his exhausted appearance, asked, “Master, would you like to go out to clear your mind?”

“No need,” Shen Wan waved his hand, then thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go to the West Courtyard.”

The West Courtyard was where Chang Zaiqing was staying.

The servant said nothing and silently led Shen Wan toward the West Courtyard.

Neither of them noticed someone watching their retreating figures from a distance—it was Zhang Mama from Rongjing Hall, who served by Old Madam Shen’s side. Zhang Mama murmured in confusion, “Why would Third Master go to the West Courtyard…”

The farce that took place early in the morning at the Shen residence quickly reached Shen Miao’s ears.

When she had separated from the Shen family before, Shen Miao had selected some maids from the Second House, Third House, and even Rongjing Hall. Chen Ruoqiu’s household management skills were inferior to Ren Wanyun’s. When Ren Wanyun managed the household, especially Caiyun Garden, it was like an iron bucket—very difficult to insert spies. Under Chen Ruoqiu’s management, the Shen residence was like scattered sand. Moreover, with the Shen residence’s income suddenly reduced, the servants were not living as well as before. It was a simple matter for Shen Miao to bribe servants with some silver. Besides, what she wanted to know wasn’t any state secret, just the affairs of the Shen family, which could be discovered with a little inquiry.

After the Second House’s decline, it was the Third House that supported the Shen family. Chen Ruoqiu usually carried herself with the air of the main mistress, and Shen Yue, with no other sisters to compete with, stood out like a solitary flower.

Perhaps because of living in comfort for too long, people’s brains stop functioning properly. For instance, the move Shen Yue made this time was utterly disastrous.

After this incident, Shen Wan did as he said and apologized to the External Grandee Wang’s family the next day. It’s unknown what explanation he had prepared, but he probably wanted to subtly push all the blame onto Shen Dongling. Who would have thought that this time the Wang family would give Shen Wan a harsh slap in the face.

The Wang family didn’t accept Shen Wan’s apology. They simply wouldn’t acknowledge Shen Yue. They insisted that Shen Dongling was the Third House’s legitimate daughter, and as for Shen Yue—sorry, they didn’t know this person.

Shen Wan was very embarrassed and realized the other party was deliberately making things difficult for him. He also understood that the Wang family might have learned that the bride swap was Shen Yue’s idea, which was why they were deliberately humiliating him. Shen Wan believed that with his relationship with the Wang family, after some posturing, they would eventually switch Shen Yue and Shen Dongling back. But this time, Shen Wan guessed wrong.

Thus, there were finally two solutions. One was for Shen Dongling to marry into the Wang family as Shen Yue, with the real Shen Yue never appearing in public again. This, of course, Shen Wan could not accept. So there was a second option—Shen Yue would also marry into the Wang family as an equal wife.

Since everyone had been involved in the previous engagement between Shen Yue and Wang Bi, this time the real Shen Yue’s wedding didn’t need to be elaborate. Others would think it was a concubine’s daughter getting married, hence the low profile.

This solution nearly made Shen Wan storm out.

A legitimate daughter and a concubine’s daughter serving the same husband wasn’t unheard of in the Ming Qi, but usually, the legitimate daughter would be the wife and the concubine’s daughter a secondary wife or concubine. What the Wang family proposed was equal wives! And to conceal the truth, Shen Yue would have to marry with the status of a concubine’s daughter, while Shen Dongling, actually a concubine’s daughter, had stolen the honor that should have been Shen Yue’s!

This was an insult!

Shen Wan flatly refused, but the Wang family’s attitude was equally firm. After all, the mistake with the bride wasn’t the Wang family’s fault. Now Shen Dongling and Wang Bi were getting along well, so they didn’t care about Shen Yue. But while the Wang family could afford to wait, Shen Yue couldn’t. The longer this went on, the more disadvantaged Shen Yue would be.

So Shen Wan began to hesitate, and because of this matter, he had several arguments with Chen Ruoqiu.

As Bailu told Shen Miao about these stories from the Shen residence, she observed Shen Miao’s delighted expression. Shen Miao was usually composed and rarely as cheerful as she was now, seeming truly happy.

“Young Miss finds this amusing,” Bailu said. “Second Young Lady has truly lifted a stone only to drop it on her foot, causing so much trouble and giving Third Master a constant headache.”

“I’d say Third Young Lady got quite lucky,” Shuangjiang said. “Not only did she become a wife in an official’s family, but she seems to be well-regarded by the Wang household. She even had Concubine Wan brought over to live with her. That’s quite a grand situation.”

“That’s not certain,” Bailu shook her head. “If in the end Second Young Lady also marries into the Wang family, though they would be equal wives, there’s still a distinction between legitimate and concubine-born. The Third Young Lady only has a concubine mother, while the Second Young Lady has the Third Master as her family backing. The Wang family would likely favor Second Young Lady somewhat. Third Young Lady may be pleased now, but the days ahead are long.”

Shen Miao smiled and said, “You’re wrong. Third Sister is quite formidable.”

Bailu and Shuangjiang both looked at Shen Miao. Shen Miao said, “Even if one day Shen Yue also marries into the Wang family, she would certainly be no match for Shen Dongling. I think the reason the Wang family is treating the Third House so coldly is because they know the bride swap was Shen Yue’s idea. Which man would like a wife who despises him? Even male pride wouldn’t allow it. For people like Shen Yue and Shen Dongling, after marrying into another family, before giving birth to children, what they can rely on is nothing more than Wang Bi’s favor. Unfortunately, Shen Yue has already lost.”

“Without Wang Bi’s favor, Shen Yue wouldn’t easily be allowed to bear children. Though there’s a difference between legitimate and concubine-born, as equal wives, whoever gives birth first naturally becomes the one in charge. Moreover, with Shen Yue’s intellect, how could she compete with Shen Dongling? Shen Dongling has managed to extricate herself cleanly, make Wang Bi not blame her, even have Concubine Wan brought out of the Shen residence, and return all the dirty water the Third House poured on her. How could such a formidable person lose to Shen Yue?”

Bailu and Shuangjiang listened in amazement. After a while, Shuangjiang said, “It seems Third Young Lady is indeed formidable.”

“She’s the only one in the Shen residence with any promise,” Shen Miao said. “Help me grind some ink.”

Bailu went to find some fragrant ink and, while grinding it, saw Shen Miao taking out paper and brush as if preparing to write something. Bailu asked, “Is Young Miss writing a letter?”

Shen Miao neither confirmed nor denied.

Naturally, Shen Yue bringing this trouble upon herself did please Shen Miao. But she also hadn’t forgotten that in her previous life, when the Shen family’s main branch fell, the Third House had contributed significantly to that downfall.

This debt would one day be collected. Kicking someone when they’re down wasn’t a tactic exclusive to the Third House—she knew it too. She didn’t want to personally handle everything from start to finish, but if the Third House pushed themselves toward that path, she wouldn’t mind hastening their downfall.

With Shen Wan and Chen Ruoqiu arguing daily, this was the time when comfort from a confidante was most needed.

It was time for Chang Zaiqing to take the stage.