"According to Mother, it's best if my lord takes Wan Zhu as a concubine?"
Zhou shi looked at Fan shi, and for the first time, she felt a sense of disappointment towards the mother who had given birth to her and raised her.
"My dear child, I know you are upset right now, but isn't this how we women live? Look at your father? He had an outside mistress when he was having you. At that time, he wasn't anything, but your lord is different. A third-rank official, wouldn't those women be scrambling to be his concubines?
You mustn't be foolish and give good opportunities to others while being so stingy with your own people. Anyway, Lord Shen will eventually take concubines, so why not..."
"My lord will not take concubines. Mother, you don't need to worry so much about me," Zhou shi coldly interrupted Fan shi.
Fan shi was startled and looked up at Zhou shi. Perhaps Zhou shi had never interrupted her like this before, or perhaps Zhou shi had actually rejected her suggestion.
"My dear child, you..."
"Mother's worries might exist, but not now. Now, I only wish to live a life in this manor with only two masters."
"My dear child, you mustn't be foolish. You will regret it later."
Zhou shi looked at Fan shi and said, "Whether I will regret it later, I don't know. But if I let Wan Zhu into the manor now, I know I will regret it."
"Why are you so stubborn? Will you only regret saying this when that day comes?"
"I will not regret it," Zhou shi stated decisively.
"Sister, please don't send me away, don't send me away..." Sun Wan Zhu knelt at the door with a thud, begging.
Fan shi looked at Sun Wan Zhu, then turned to Zhou shi and said, "Wan Zhu is begging you like this, and you are still unmoved?"
"Mother, what else can I do? Would it be considered not being unmoved if I kept her? But why should I keep her?"
"Fen Li, you are going too far. Wan Zhu is begging you, and you... you have no pity at all?" Fan shi was also angry.
Zhou shi heard this and said coldly, "After pity comes my difficult days. Why should I pity? Mother, please take Wan Zhu back and find her a good family."
"No... I won't go back, I won't go back..." Sun Wan Zhu shook her head.
Seeing that Zhou shi was determined to send Sun Wan Zhu away, Fan shi sighed, "My dear child, if you want to do this, I have nothing more to say. However, Wan Zhu's head injury has not healed, and your sister-in-law won't be happy if you send her back like this. Once her injury is better, I will take her away."
Zhou shi wanted to refuse, but since her mother had already said so, she nodded, "Alright, then after Wan Zhu's injury heals, I will have someone send her back directly."
"My dear child, let me and Wan Zhu talk."
Zhou shi got up and left.
"Aunt, please help me, I don't want to go back." Sun Wan Zhu grabbed Fan shi's sleeve, crying.
Fan shi sighed, helped Sun Wan Zhu up, and said, "Aunt didn't expect Li'er to be so stubborn."
"Sister... Sister is probably just angry that I spoke to my lord."
Fan shi's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing this. "You mean you spoke to Lord Shen?"
Sun Wan Zhu nodded shyly.
Fan shi began to understand why her daughter adamantly refused to let Sun Wan Zhu stay; she sensed pressure.
"Wan Zhu, you can recuperate here. Your opportunity is only these few days, seize it well."
Sun Wan Zhu nodded, "Aunt, don't worry, Wan Zhu will seize it well."
Fan shi patted Sun Wan Zhu's hand and said, "Aunt is counting on you."
Sun Wan Zhu smiled, "Aunt is joking. Sister is still Aunt's support."
Fan shi said with a hint of disappointment, "She always considers Lord Shen in everything she does, without thinking that if her maiden family is not well, what status will she have?"
"Aunt, don't worry. If Wan Zhu is favored by Lord Shen, I will definitely help Aunt with matters."
Fan shi smiled broadly, "Good, good, then Aunt will await Wan Zhu's good news."
After sending Fan shi away, Sun Wan Zhu breathed a sigh of relief. Looking outside, she knew she had to act quickly.
Zhou shi heard Hong Yan recount the conversation between Fan shi and Sun Wan Zhu verbatim. Her expression turned icy. After a long while, she finally said, "Just because I don't help Mother and don't let my lord provide them with benefits, is all of this blamed on me?"
"Madam..."
"Hong Yan, they are too greedy, so they want to isolate me, the rightful mistress? But they underestimate me." Besides anger, Zhou shi felt more sadness.
"Madam, can't you also prevent Miss Sun from getting what she wishes for?" Hong Yan said.
Zhou shi nodded, "Precisely. Hong Yan, send someone to watch her, and report any news to me immediately."
"Yes, Madam." Hong Yan withdrew.
Zhou shi stood up. Indeed, as Madam Shi had said, she had been too naive before, thinking her mother genuinely wanted to help her. Now, it seemed her mother was just looking for someone obedient for herself.
Because she was not obedient, she had to find someone else.
Shen Yun Xuan returned from the palace late at night. He did not go back to his room, probably assuming Zhou shi was already asleep. He went to the study and ordered someone to fetch some hot water for the inner room; he wanted to bathe.
Sitting in the bathtub, he leaned against the wooden tub. Unbeknownst to him, Sun Wan Zhu approached the door outside. Shen Fei had gone out on an errand, and Sun Wan Zhu felt this was a heaven-sent opportunity.
She pushed open the door and walked in. Seeing a figure through the screen, Sun Wan Zhu unfastened her clothes and walked towards the inside.
She was close to the screen when a voice came from behind, "Sun Wan Zhu, what are you doing?"
Sun Wan Zhu froze, turned around, and saw Zhou shi looking at her with a cold expression.
"Sis... Sister..."
Shen Yun Xuan, behind the screen, put on his clothes and came out. Seeing Sun Wan Zhu exposing a large area of her skin, his gaze turned colder. He looked up at Zhou shi.
Zhou shi stepped forward, took the cloak offered by Hong Yan beside her, and draped it over him. Then, she curtsied and said, "It is all my fault, bringing the wolf into the house. I know I was wrong now. I beg my lord to forgive my anger."
She felt Shen Yun Xuan looking at her. After a long moment, a slender hand appeared in her vision. She was startled and heard a voice say, "Madam, there is no need to blame yourself. We will drive her out tomorrow. Why bother with self-affliction?"
Why bother with self-affliction? She raised her head and met Shen Yun Xuan's dark, misty eyes, which she couldn't understand.
She dazedly placed her hand out and was helped up. She seemed to have woken up much more. Looking at Sun Wan Zhu, she said coldly, "Miss Sun, I warned you today, but it seems you did not heed my words. You are fortunate not to be a servant in my manor, otherwise, I would have beaten you and kicked you out. You were brought by Mother, and tomorrow I will send people to escort you back."