"Sister, where is Lord Shen?" Sun shi asked as she approached.
Zhou shi feigned ignorance. "I don't know. The lord just said he felt unwell and went out. He hasn't returned yet."
"He's been gone so long, is he perhaps held up by something?" Sun shi insinuated.
"He wouldn't be. What here could possibly hold up the lord?" Zhou shi replied dismissively.
Sun shi stepped forward and whispered, "Sister, your thinking is flawed. Lord Shen is like a piece of fine jade in the eyes of outsiders, fought over by many. Don't let others seize an opportunity."
Zhou shi pretended to believe her and asked, "Sister-in-law, do you know something?"
"How could I possibly know? I'm merely reminding my sister not to be too naive."
Zhou shi frowned and called Hong Yan over. "How long has the lord been gone?"
Hong Yan replied, "About half an hour."
Sun shi exclaimed, "Oh my! Sister, half an hour is enough time to do many things. You should go look for him quickly!"
Zhou shi could no longer sit still. She stood up and said, "Hong Yan, let's go find the lord."
"Sister, why don't I accompany you?" Sun shi offered.
Zhou shi turned to look at Sun shi. "Sister-in-law, you should stay with Mother. I can manage on my own."
"Sister, saying that makes us strangers."
"If that's the case, then I'll trouble you, Sister-in-law." Zhou shi conceded.
Sun shi was delighted. "How can it be trouble? We are family."
Family? Zhou shi scoffed inwardly.
Leaving the temporary palace, Zhou shi pretended to search all around, deliberately not going in the direction Sun shi indicated. Sun shi grew anxious. Suddenly, she cried out and fell to the ground.
Zhou shi gave Hong Yan a look. Hong Yan understood and stepped forward to help Sun shi up. "Madam Zhou, be careful."
Sun shi smiled. "It's all my fault for being a little careless."
"Sister-in-law, please watch your step." Zhou shi advised.
Sun shi looked towards a certain direction and suddenly said, "Sister, I think I hear something."
"You hear something? Where?" Zhou shi moved closer.
Sun shi pointed to a room. "It seems to be coming from here?"
"Let's go see." Zhou shi said.
The group arrived in front of the room. As Sun shi was about to step forward, Zhou shi pulled her back. "Sister-in-law, barging in like this is not quite proper. Perhaps we should wait?"
"Wait for what? How will we know who is here if we don't go in?" Sun shi urged.
Zhou shi tilted her head, looking at Sun shi. Sun shi's heart sank upon seeing Zhou shi's gaze. She quickly said, "I was just worried it might be Lord Shen."
"How do you know it would be Lord Shen, Sister-in-law? It could be someone else?"
Sun shi gave an embarrassed laugh. "Please don't blame me, Sister. It's just that my concern is making me flustered."
"Is that so? I thought perhaps Sister-in-law was gifted with foresight? Otherwise, how would you know so clearly?"
Sun shi quickly replied, "Sister, you misunderstand. How could I possibly have foresight?" Da Feng Novel Network.
Sun shi was too frightened to say another word, lest Zhou shi suspect her machinations.
After a short while, a man's suppressed, heavy gasps could be heard from within the room, audible even from this distance. Zhou shi's gaze deepened. Sun shi was inwardly pleased, thinking how Zhou shi's composure would be shattered soon.
"Sister, what are you doing here?" Xiao Min shi asked, seeing Zhou shi lingering in her room.
"My mistress has a headache from drinking. I'm looking for him," Zhou shi replied.
Just as Xiao Min shi was about to speak, she heard the man's heavy breathing from the room. As a married woman, Xiao Min shi knew exactly what that sound meant. Her expression darkened. "Who is it that dares to commit such sordid acts in my room?"
"Sister..." Zhou shi called out, her expression somewhat panicked.
Xiao Min shi was taken aback. She looked at Zhou shi, her expression subtly changing. "Sister, are you suspecting your lord..."
"Sister..." Zhou shi interrupted Xiao Min shi. Xiao Min shi frowned. "Sister, are you perhaps mistaken? Lord Shen would never do such a thing."
"Madam Shi, you only know people by their faces, not their hearts. Madam Shi thinks too simplistically," said Sun shi.
Xiao Min shi's expression turned stern as she looked at Sun shi. "And who are you?"
Sun shi was extremely embarrassed. She could only say, "Madam, I am Madam Shen's sister-in-law."
"So, you are Madam Shen's sister-in-law. I thought you were Madam Shen's sworn enemy?" Xiao Min shi said, showing no courtesy or leniency.
Sun shi was deeply embarrassed.
"Sister, don't worry. We'll go in and see. If... if Sun shi is Lord Shen, then we'll beat the slut who seduced Lord Shen to death. If not, then leave them to me, and I will surely punish them severely."
Zhou shi nodded. "Sister, you are right."
"Madam, what is wrong?" Shi Lang asked, seeing his wife's displeased expression.
Xiao Min shi glanced at Zhou shi and whispered, "Madam Shen suspects that Lord Shen is engaged in illicit acts with someone in the room."
"Nonsense, the lord would never do such a thing," Shi Lang denied outright.
Xiao Min shi pointed to the sounds from the room. "If my lord doesn't believe me, he can listen."
Shi Lang stepped forward and could clearly hear what was happening inside. He was somewhat surprised. Did Lord Shen really do those things? How was that possible? Lord Shen had been in office for so many years and had never done anything out of line.
He still found it hard to believe.
"Whether you believe it or not, let's go in and take a look," Sun shi said at this moment.
She eagerly wanted everyone to know, so that Fan Yunxiu could become Lord Shen's concubine, and her plan would be half complete.
"My lord..." Xiao Min shi sought Shi Lang's opinion.
Shi Lang replied, "This is probably not appropriate."
"What's not appropriate? I'll go in." Zhou shi stepped forward, about to kick open the door, but was stopped by Xiao Min shi. "Sister, let me go."
"Sister, Madam Shi, let me," Sun shi said, walking over.
Xiao Min shi nodded. "Let your sister-in-law go."
Zhou shi bit her lower lip, looking utterly defeated.
Sun shi was extremely satisfied. She walked to the door, pushed it open, and called into the room, "Lord Shen, Lord Shen?"
Sun shi smelled the scent in the room and was secretly delighted. It seemed her plan had succeeded.
Fan Yunxiu, after multiple bouts of intimacy, was overjoyed upon hearing Sun shi's voice, never expecting things to work out so smoothly.
"Lord Shen, you..." Fan Yunxiu said tearfully.
Sun shi walked forward with a smile. "Lord Shen, you... you took my sister's virtue, you must take responsibility!"
"What Lord Shen? I am Lord Zhou," Zhou Yu Lin said.
"Lord Shen, you took this maid's virtue, why are you joking like this?"
"What are you talking about?" Zhou Yu Lin said indignantly.
Only Sun shi was struck by lightning. This was the voice of her deceased Zhou Yu Lin!