The mother and daughter snuggled together and chatted for a while before Shen Miao Qi probed, “Mother, I was forced to work as a maidservant in the Zhao family for four years, if this gets out, will it bring disgrace to the Marquis manor?”
“Don’t worry, my child. Your elder brother has already taken care of this matter.” Lin Shi tucked a strand of her hair behind the ear and softly said, “That Zhao An Shun has also benefited greatly. Your elder brother has found a position for him in Liang Huai. He will soon relocate his family to Yangzhou and will not come back for at least four to five years. If he reveals one or two unacceptable words, your Elder Brother will definitely make him stumble hard and end in ruins no matter how high he climbs. Would he still dare to speak?”
“What about after four or five years later? Yangzhou is not far from the Capital.” Feigning ignorance, Shen Miao Qi asked. In her opinion, it would be best to completely dispose of all those who knew about this matter or perhaps send them back to the faraway Yunzhou and barred them from even entering the Capital for the rest of their lives. Although she didn’t know any political affairs, she still knew Yangzhou was the most prosperous place in the Great Han Dynasty. Wasn’t it a bargain for Zhao An Shun to be an official there? Particularly Zhao Jin whom she had tolerated for four years and really couldn’t see her relying on her (Shen Miao Qi) in the elevation of wealth and status.
“Just transfer to another place after four or five years. In short, they will unlikely to leak your matters out anyway. Fortunately, Zhao An Shun is an upright person and has not raised any excessive demands.” Lin Shi patted her daughter’s back.
Feeling all kinds of dissatisfaction in her heart but Shen Miao Qi couldn’t utter a word. No matter how unambitious Zhao An Shun was, he was still a fourth-rank appointed official of the royal court. As a feeble woman, she certainly wasn’t able to handle him, moreover her relationship with Yu Pin Yan was apathetic thus she couldn’t place any hope on him but to endure for the time being.
The good news was that although Lin Shi had not seen her for fourteen years, her deep affection for her was the biggest blessing of all. With the backing of the family matriarch, it probably wouldn’t take more than several days for her to make a name for herself in Marquis manor. Yu Pin Yan was powerful and influential outside but wouldn’t he still be at Lin Shi’s disposal when he returned to the Marquis manor?
Secretly she felt complacent with herself and asked, “Mother, what’s to be done with the Shen family’s daughter if I go back?”
“My heart is on fire at the mention of her. If the Shen family hadn’t sent that jinx, your father wouldn’t have died! How could we mother and daughter be forced apart for fourteen years!” Lin Shi’s expression was hideous with a rancor tone. Seeing that her daughter cowered in fright, she hurriedly put up a smile and said reassuringly, “In order to cover your past, I have to keep her and say that you are both twin sisters. You are entrusted for foster care in the nunnery due to your weak bazi. For your sake, I will have to swallow this anger.”
These days, twin children were generally not viable and also common to send children with weak bazi to temples as family members were afraid that supernatural beings would take these children to the nether world. This would usually be done secretly until the death calamity was over before they were brought home and re-entered into the genealogical record. It was not entirely groundless that year for Old Madam to make up such an excuse. At least seventy to eighty percent of people would believe it, while the rest of them might just be somewhat suspicious of their different appearances.
However, twins with different looks were not uncommon in the Han Dynasty, hence it wouldn’t be regarded as any major slip-up.
Lin Shi could swallow this anger but Shen Miao Qi couldn’t. As long as the thought of that lowly bastard who robbed her status and prosperity would still remain in Marquis manor and enjoy her blessings, she felt her heart viciously ripped apart by a sharp claw and every piece was engraved with deep hatred. Why was she so lucky? Because she blocked two slashes for Yu Pin Yan?
Wasn’t a life of luxury for fourteen years enough as pay back?
She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, two streaks of tears slipped out, “Mother, I have suffered hardships in the Shen family on her behalf, contrarily she has no qualms to take possession of the honor that should have been mine. Can’t we use an illness and send her to the countryside? Daughter feels uncomfortable to see her!” She would have ways to deal with that bastard in the countryside!
It was because Shen Miao Qi had noticed Lin Shi’s abhorrent attitude towards Yu Xiang that she dared to say these words. She however wouldn’t dare mention a word in front of Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan.
As expected, Lin Shi was moved by this idea. She nodded her head and said, “That’s a good idea. Once returned home, Mother will deliberate for a few days before asking your Grandmother. You are not aware how excessively doting your Grandmother and Elder Brother are towards that jinx.” The words were seeped with extreme dissatisfaction.
Shen Miao Qi nodded her head aggrievedly.
While both mother and daughter were done with their discussion in this side-room, Old Madam took her leave from the abbess in the other side-room and called Lin Shi to return home.
Lin Shi was extremely reluctant as she pled, “Mother, shall we take Qi’er home today?”
“No.” Old Madam simply refused, “I will take her home after I get through with Xiang’er.”
“My daughter will go home whenever she wants, why must she be told?” Lin Shi’s face turned pale with anger while Shen Miao Qi secretly clinched the handkerchief.
Though Old Madam was rebuking, her eyes were brimming with smiles, “That Xiang’er has a shrewish temperament and is highly intelligent. If we bring a person back without telling her, she would have drawn out Miao Qi’s entire past with just a few words. If you want her to cause unrest in the entire manor, you can bring her home today. I will not stop you.” Once she finished, she ordered someone to pack her things up.
Lin Shi had suffered a great deal of losses in Yu Xiang’s hands over the years. Others were afraid of her plaintive weeping, except Yu Xiang who would carry a plate of melon seeds and crack it while watching her like a jumping clown. There were several times when she was tempted to expose her identity but was so confused by her blunders which almost infuriated her to death.
Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan had always stood on her side and suppressed this mother.
Lin Shi’s hatred for Yu Xiang was very strong but there were hints of imperceptible fear hidden within this hatred. Listening to Old Madam’s words, she could only nod in silence.
Shen Miao Qi nodded her head too. Her expression was very obedient but in actuality, she was secretly raising her guard against Yu Xiang. It seemed that this bastard was not easy to deal with, so she needed to be cautious when she went back.