Seeing the bloodstains on Shen Yunxiu's back, Madam Feng was heartbroken. "It's all my fault. If I had stopped you, you wouldn't have been beaten."
Shen Yunxiu's gaze was dark. "Auntie, it's not your fault. The fault lies with this concubine's son's status."
Madam Feng's body stiffened. "Second Young Master, it's my fault for delaying you."
Otherwise, the Second Young Master would have been the most promising descendant of the Shen family. It was a pity that because he was a concubine's son, all of this was buried.
"Auntie, don't worry. I still had a harvest from this trip. After all, Father promised to make arrangements for me in the capital, which is very good," Shen Yunxiu said.
Madam Feng couldn't help but shed tears. "But this is all bought with your body. They say that skin and hair are received from parents. Seeing you punished, my heart aches so much."
Shen Yunxiu took Madam Feng's hand and said earnestly, "Auntie, one day I will take you away from the Shen mansion and live the life we desire."
Madam Feng was frightened. "Second Young Master, what are you... what do you want to do? Isn't it very dangerous? Don't do it, we are fine here."
Shen Yunxiu patted Madam Feng's hand. "Auntie, don't be afraid. I have foolproof preparations, otherwise I wouldn't have acted. Auntie, please go rest!"
"But..."
"Auntie, please go!"
Shen Yunxiu said.
Madam Feng left.
The only trace of gentleness on Shen Yunxiu's face vanished completely. He said coldly, "Today, I have lost face."
"What is face? Didn't Lord Shen say he would help you make arrangements in the capital? You have already gained something." As he spoke, someone emerged from the shadows.
Shen Yunxiu sneered, "As expected, there's a difference between legitimate and concubine sons. No matter how promising I, a concubine's son, am, it's useless."
"So, what do you have to linger for? This Shen family should have been destroyed long ago."
Shen Yunxiu reached out and grabbed the woman beside him, pulling her into his arms, and lowered his head to kiss her lips. The woman turned her face away and said, "Don't come here to run wild just because you can't get that Ning An."
Hearing this, Shen Yunxiu caressed her cheek, his expression somewhat ferocious. "What do you think my third brother would say if he knew his former fiancée was laughing in the arms of this concubine's son?"
Nangong Yue giggled, wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaned forward. "Naturally, he would be angry. I disgraced him, yet he turned around and threw himself into your arms."
Shen Yunxiu laughed heartily, his expression revealing a ferocious intensity. Holding Nangong Yue, he walked towards the bed.
Seeing this, Nangong Yue smiled and said, "Second Young Master, you were just beaten, can you still manage?"
Shen Yunxiu chuckled, "Won't we know if we try?"
A wave of blissful intimacy filled the room.
Outside the room, Shen Yueyue was trembling all over. What had she just heard?
Her second brother and her third brother's former fiancée, Nangong Yue, were engaged in an illicit affair.
"Fifth Miss..." The maid Li Zhu behind her called out softly.
Shen Yueyue turned, shook her head, and whispered, "Let's go!"
Exiting Xiuyi Xuan, Shen Yueyue suddenly stopped and said to Li Zhu, "You must forget what just happened, do you understand?"
Li Zhu trembled all over. "Fifth Miss, rest assured, your servant remembers."
Shen Yueyue said, "Today, we haven't been here. Let's go back."
The next day
The incident of Shen Yunxuan punching Shen Yunxiu spread throughout the Shen mansion.
The fact that Miss Ning An caused Shen Yunxuan and Shen Yunxiu to fight fiercely was also the most talked-about matter in the mansion privately.
Although discussing their masters was improper, the entire mansion knew about it and didn't find it inappropriate.
An Ning came to pay her respects to Old Madam Shen and saw Shen Yunxuan walk out looking exhausted. It seemed he had a long talk with Old Madam Shen all night.
Seeing her, Shen Yunxuan said, "Grandmother is tired. Don't disturb her when you go in."
An Ning nodded. "Don't worry, you should go rest too."
Shen Yunxuan nodded and said in a low voice, "Soon, all this will be over, and then I will set you free."
An Ning was stunned. Freedom, was it finally freedom?
Father Emperor, Sister An Ru, could she see them?
Entering the room, Old Madam Shen did not look well, even a bit listless.
An Ning stepped forward and said softly, "Old Madam, let me help you wash up."
Old Madam Shen looked at her and said, "Miss Ning An, would you be willing to stay?"
An Ning was startled.
Old Madam Shen smiled and sighed. "Yunxuan has never been this serious before, and it's all because of you, Miss Ning An. If you were here, Yunxuan would surely do better."
"Old Madam, I'm sorry. No matter what, I must go back. My family is still waiting for me."
Hearing this, Old Madam Shen sighed. "I am being a bit unreasonable. Miss Ning An, please don't mind."
An Ning shook her head. "No."
"Old Madam, Madam is outside," Li Mei came in to report.
Old Madam Shen heard this and said coldly, "I am tired. Let her come back tomorrow."
"Yes." Li Mei went out.
A moment later, Li Mei returned and bowed. "Old Madam, Madam insists on seeing you, saying it's a very urgent matter."
Old Madam Shen pondered for a moment and nodded. "Let her in!"
Madam Shen walked in, her footsteps somewhat hurried. "Old Madam."
She glanced at An Ning, and her already not-so-good complexion turned even uglier. "Old Madam, Miss Ning An is not suitable to be here."
An Ning was about to excuse herself when she heard Old Madam Shen say, "It's alright, Ning An, you can stay. There's no need to avoid it."
Madam Shen heard this and seemed hesitant. "Old Madam, it concerns the Shen family..."
"What about the Shen family cannot be heard by the future young madam?" Old Madam Shen retorted to Madam Shen.
Madam Shen was speechless, but she didn't want to offend the Old Madam at this time. Who would be her daughter-in-law was still undecided.
"Something has happened at Hui Ju Tower," Madam Shen said uneasily, rubbing her hands.
Old Madam Shen's previously tired expression gained some spirit. "What exactly happened? Tell me..."
Madam Shen said, "Today, after someone ate the Hui Ju Bao Ya at Hui Ju Tower, they died of poisoning. The doctor who came to examine it said it contained arsenic."
Arsenic? Old Madam Shen trembled all over. "Has the poisoner been found?"
Madam Shen bit her lower lip. "The ingredients containing arsenic have all been found."
"Where were they bought from?"
Madam Shen's face turned pale. "Yang Family's commercial firm."
Old Madam Shen's body stiffened. She looked at Madam Shen, who was swaying precariously, as if she could no longer stand.
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Shen said heavily, "It seems someone wants to bring down the Shen family and the Yang family."
Madam Shen looked up at the Old Madam, almost in tears. "Old Madam, don't you suspect me? Suspect the Yang family?"
Old Madam Shen laughed at her. "Why would I suspect you? Why would I suspect the Yang family? Who are you, and who are the Yang family? Does this old woman not know? Although you are sometimes impulsive, you are definitely not someone who disregards the consequences."
"Old Madam..." Madam Shen shed tears. In such a situation, having someone believe her was more important than anything.
"Will the Hui Ju Bao Ya at other Hui Ju Towers experience similar situations?" An Ning, who was by the side, suddenly asked.