Anning paused, looking towards the interior beyond the curtain. The voice spoke again, "Is Yunxuan well?"
Only then did she confirm the voice belonged to Old Madam Shen.
"He is very well," she replied.
Old Madam Shen sighed, "Yunxuan was mischievous since he was young. Today is the most serious he has ever been."
Anning lowered her gaze slightly. She dared not meet the gaze from within the curtain. She didn't know how much courage Shen Yunxuan had mustered to deceive the person closest to him.
Seeing her silence, Old Madam Shen said, "Miss Ning An, come here."
Anning hesitated for a moment, lifted the curtain, and walked forward, standing by the bedside.
Old Madam Shen sat up. Anning quickly stepped forward to help her, but Old Madam Shen grasped her hand. "This old woman sees that you are a sensible person. I hope that if Yunxuan goes astray in the future, you will pull him back?"
Anning's gaze faltered. She had expected Old Madam Shen to try and dissuade her, not say something like this.
Seeing her stunned expression, Old Madam Shen smiled. "What? Did you think this old woman would tell you to leave?"
Anning nodded. "Yes."
Old Madam Shen shook her head. "Yunxuan has never been this serious before. Those who are truly good for him will not hurt his heart. Since he likes you, I will protect his affection. Who hasn't been reckless in their youth?"
"What if he gets hurt?" Anning couldn't help but ask.
Old Madam Shen smiled even more brightly. "That would be even better. In youth, injuries can still heal."
Anning couldn't help but laugh. "Old Madam, you are truly insightful."
Old Madam Shen smiled. She didn't say it, but she herself had experienced many things and met many people. She had seen women from the entertainment district and knew they were nothing like the girl before her.
Therefore, she was somewhat certain that the girl before her was not a woman from the entertainment district. But why she was pretending to be one, she couldn't fathom.
"Go to sleep! Yunxuan's mother is not as easy-going as this old woman," Old Madam Shen reminded her.
"Thank you, Old Madam," Anning replied.
Madam Shen, still in a daze, woke up and hurried away from the Shen residence with her maids. She returned about half a day later, bringing another young lady with her.
In the evening, Anning met this young lady.
The young lady also saw her. Madam Shen angrily whispered a few words into the girl's ear.
The girl looked at her with a gaze full of resentment.
Anning was unfazed. Without even thinking, she knew this girl was Yang Xueling, Madam Shen's niece from her maiden family.
"The cousin has arrived. Indeed, a legitimate daughter cannot compare to a woman from the entertainment district." A voice called out, and then a figure entered.
The newcomer wore a vibrant dress, adorned with something that smelled very fragrant. She curtsied to Old Madam Shen and Madam Shen, "Your servant greets Old Madam, and greets Madam."
"This is Concubine Feng," Old Madam Shen suddenly announced.
Anning knew Old Madam Shen was introducing her.
"Sit," Madam Shen, for the first time, spoke kindly to Concubine Feng. What Concubine Feng had just said had resonated with her, and she didn't mind showing Concubine Feng some favor.
Concubine Feng was secretly delighted. Indeed, Madam Shen disliked women from the entertainment district.
"Thank you, Old Madam, Madam." Concubine Feng sat down.
"She is truly lovely. No wonder Madam always mentions her to me. Cousin is a true lady of refinement, unlike those women from the entertainment district, who have a certain air about them," Concubine Feng praised Yang Xueling with all her might.
Yang Xueling blushed shyly. Madam Shen listened with great satisfaction.
Anning: "..."
From where did she see that she had an "air" about her?
"That's enough. Concubine, don't forget your own origins either," Old Madam Shen suddenly said.
Concubine Feng paused, then her face flushed.
Seeing this, Anning understood. Concubine Feng's background was likely not very good.
"Mother, Xueling agrees to become a noble concubine," Madam Shen announced.
Anning froze, as did Old Madam Shen beside her, her gaze upon Yang Xueling becoming more scrutinizing.
"Miss Yang, are you sure you agree to become a concubine?" Old Madam Shen asked, word by word.
Yang Xueling tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand, then looked up, her lips trembling slightly. "I... I agree."
Madam Shen beside her sighed. "Because their elder brother and sister-in-law were furious with me. Fortunately, Xueling spoke up for me. Where can one find such a good child as this?"
Hearing this, Old Madam Shen nodded. "Indeed, a good child."
Madam Shen's eyes brightened, and she pressed her advantage. "Mother, I cannot bear to see Xueling become a concubine."
"Such a good child, it is indeed a pity for her to be a concubine, but there is no other way. Yunxuan does not like her."
As soon as Old Madam Shen finished speaking, Madam Shen's face turned pale. Yang Xueling's already pale complexion lost all its color.
Her eyes were vacant, as if enduring something, her body trembling violently.
Madam Shen took Yang Xueling's hand, comforting her.
She looked at the woman from the entertainment district by Old Madam Shen's side, who had remained silent. She had imagined women from the entertainment district to be seductive, but she hadn't expected this woman to be so refined and elegant.
Sensing Yang Xueling's gaze, Anning returned a smile.
Yang Xueling turned her face away. It was this woman from the entertainment district who shattered her hope of marrying cousin Yunxuan. To become a concubine?
She was so unwilling!
"Old Madam, it is not proper for a woman from the entertainment district to become the young madam of the third son. People will laugh," Concubine Feng interjected.
Old Madam Shen sneered. "It is not the first or second time the Shen family has been a laughingstock. Haven't the biggest jokes already occurred? What's one more?"
Madam Shen's face turned even paler. She moved her lips, but ultimately said nothing more.
Old Madam Shen seemed to be explaining to her, or perhaps reminding Madam Shen.
"Back then, with the Nangong family, you and Congwen, were you not coveting the fact that Miss Nangong had been a companion to the Empress? How else would you have pushed so hard for this marriage? I said something then, do you still recall?"
Madam Shen remained silent. Old Madam Shen continued, "I said, Nangong Yue is not worthy of Yunxuan."
Madam Shen swayed, as if she could no longer stand.
"That's enough, this old woman is tired. Everyone, leave," Old Madam Shen waved her hand, signaling for everyone to withdraw.
After everyone had left, Old Madam Shen sighed and said, "It is all a karmic debt."
"Old Madam, everything will get better," Anning comforted her.
Old Madam Shen looked at the girl before her. Besides the initial displeasure upon hearing her identity, she now found that Miss Ning An was calm in the face of adversity and not impulsive. This was what a true mistress should be.
"Yunxuan's mother will not give up easily. Be careful," Old Madam Shen warned.
"Thank you for your guidance, Old Madam. I will be very careful," Anning replied.
Liyun Pavilion
Madam Shen was so angry she almost smashed the teacup on the table. If not for considering Xueling, she would have done so long ago.
"Aunt, please don't be angry," Yang Xueling gently consoled.