"Sisters, my stomach hurts. Can I go out for a moment?" Fan Yunxiu pleaded, knocking on the door.
The maidservant guarding the door replied, "Miss Fan, it's not that I'm not letting you out. It's just that my madam specifically instructed us not to let you leave. Please stay in your room obediently and don't make things difficult for us servants anymore."
Fan Yunxiu bit her lower lip, knowing that Madam Zhou had likely given orders not to let her out. But did Madam Zhou think she was helpless?
How could that be?
Fan Yunxiu looked at the teapot on the table and a plan formed in her mind. She walked over, smashed the teapot fiercely onto the ground, and then deliberately threw herself onto it.
The shards pierced her body, and the pain sharpened her senses. She knew that everything here today was due to Madam Zhou, and she would repay her tenfold in the future.
The two maidservants outside heard the commotion in the room and exchanged glances. One of them asked, "Miss Fan, what's wrong?"
"Save... save me..." Fan Yunxiu's weak voice came from inside.
The maidservants dared not delay and quickly pushed the door open. They saw Fan Yunxiu lying in a pool of blood, a shocking sight.
The maidservants rushed forward, helped Fan Yunxiu up, and asked, "Miss Fan, how are you?"
"Call... call a doctor..." After saying this, Fan Yunxiu fainted.
When Fan Yunxiu woke up, the doctor was treating her. She grabbed the doctor's arm and whispered, "Doctor, save me..."
The doctor was startled. Fan Yunxiu, disregarding propriety, took out the silver she carried and stuffed it into the doctor's arms. "Doctor, please, save me..."
Feeling the weight in his arms, the doctor said, "Miss, I only know how to treat illnesses and people. If you want me to help you, how should I help?"
"Doctor, there are two maidservants outside. Lure them away. You don't need to do anything else."
"Alright, I'll trust Miss this once." The doctor walked out of the room and, under the pretext of fetching and boiling medicine, sent the two maidservants away.
The two maidservants believed that Miss Fan was severely injured and would not be able to leave, so they didn't think much of it.
When they returned after boiling the medicine, they saw the empty bed and realized something was wrong.
Fan Yunxiu practically crawled to the entrance of the Zhou manor. She knocked forcefully on the main gate, and someone soon came to open it. The person who opened the door happened to recognize her and quickly helped her up. "Miss Cousin, what happened?"
"I want to see my aunt. I want to see my aunt," Fan Yunxiu said, crying.
Soon, Fan Yunxiu was brought before Madam Fan. Seeing Fan Yunxiu's injuries all over her body, Madam Fan said with concern, "Yunxiu, what happened to you?"
"Aunt, save me. Save me..." Fan Yunxiu cried, her tears streaming down her face.
Madam Zhou looked at Fan Yunxiu and said, "Yunxiu, don't cry. Tell me what happened."
Fan Yunxiu recounted the events truthfully, but omitted the part where she had actively arranged to meet Shen Yunxuan.
After hearing Fan Yunxiu's words, Madam Fan's heart sank. She knew that since the last incident, Li'er had become wary of her, so she believed everything Fan Yunxiu said.
"Yunxiu, don't be afraid. With your aunt here, no one can take you away."
Fan Yunxiu hugged Madam Fan's arm. She knew that her standing in the capital was due to her aunt's favor.
"Aunt, I know it's a wishful thinking for me to like Lord Shen, but my cousin shouldn't treat me like this. I..."
"Yunxiu, you should avoid your cousin in the future!" Madam Fan sighed.
Fan Yunxiu was taken aback. "Aunt, Cousin is your child. No matter what you say, Cousin will listen."
"Yunxiu, you're mistaken. Your cousin is now someone who makes her own decisions. Even I, her mother, may not be able to control her, let alone you?"
Fan Yunxiu trembled, looking at Madam Fan. "How... how is that possible?"
"How is it impossible? After experiencing what happened last time, do you think your cousin can still be as innocent as before?"
"Then what should I do?" Fan Yunxiu was at a loss, slumping onto the ground.
"Why not honestly choose a husband?" Madam Fan said slowly.
"But I'm not resigned, Aunt. I'm not resigned," Fan Yunxiu said, looking up at Madam Fan and speaking word by word.
"What can you do if you're not resigned? Yunxiu, you're ultimately a step too late."
Fan Yunxiu lowered her head and shook it. "No... no, I'm not late. I'm not late..."
"Yunxiu, be more clear-headed. If Shen Yunxuan liked you, why would he be indifferent? His heart and eyes are filled with your cousin now."
"That's because he hasn't interacted with me enough and doesn't know how good I am. Aunt, as you said, Cousin has changed and can no longer seek anything or benefit for you. But I can. If I can enter the Shen manor, I can help you do many things.
Aunt, don't forget that your nephew is still achieving nothing. Are you going to give up such a good opportunity?"
Madam Fan's gaze shifted. She knew Fan Yunxiu had hit a nerve. Li'er thought bringing them to the capital was enough, but would she be content?
No, she was not content. She also wanted to be like the wives of officials, with attendants escorting her when she went out.
"Aunt, you think you are only helping me, but in reality, you are helping my cousin."
Madam Fan looked at Fan Yunxiu. "Is that true?"
"Aunt, has Xiu'er ever lied to you?"
Madam Fan said, "In a few more days, it will be the Empress's sacrificial ceremony. Shen Yunxuan will surely accompany her. You will ride in the same carriage with me, and the rest will depend on your fate."
"Thank you, Aunt. Xiu'er will not fail your help."
"When it's done, just don't forget Aunt's contribution," Madam Fan said.
"Aunt, rest assured, Xiu'er keeps her word," Fan Yunxiu replied.
Madam Fan heard this and waved her hand. "You probably haven't rested well these past few days. I've had the servants prepare a room for you. Go and rest!"
"Thank you, Aunt." Fan Yunxiu left.
Madam Fan rubbed her forehead as a figure approached. "Mother..."
Madam Fan looked up at the person who had arrived and asked, "Did you hear everything?"
Madam Sun nodded. "Does Mother think Fan Yunxiu is trustworthy?"
Madam Fan sneered upon hearing this. "In this capital, the only person she can trust is me, her aunt. It's all she can do."
"Aunt is not afraid that she will bite you after succeeding?"
Madam Fan smiled. "Who would believe that? One is her own daughter, and the other is her niece from her maiden family. Which weighs more?"
Madam Sun was stunned. "Mother is indeed wise."
"Alright, stop flattering me here. The real matter is for you to give me an heir for the Zhou family. You have been married for five years, and there is still no news?"