The good concubine of the Marquis Donglin Manor braved the pouring rain to kneel outside the Murong Manor and kowtowed, begging the Murong Family to sell them the linen needed for mourning clothes. Only then was the Murong madame moved and touched by her perseverance and agreed, allowing her to make up for the mistake the second madame of the Marquis Donglin Manor made. What Sun Jing did soon spread around the courtyard. It was said that the marquis personally looked after Sun Jing, who had developed a fever from kneeling in the rain the entire night. It wasn't until the second day when it was time for morning court that the marquis finally left.
"B*tch! That b*tch took advantage of my inconvenience of heading out to actually seduce the marquis. B*tch! Every single one of them..."
Crash! Crash! Crash!
When the news reached Liu Shuhan, she was angered to the point she threw and tossed what could be thrown. For the past few years, for her virtuous reputation, she had personally helped instate concubines into the manor. But under her ruling, they had been suppressed successfully and obediently. There hadn't been any chances of fighting for favor from the marquis with her for years now. Since Sun Jing's miscarriage, she had simply faded away from everyone's view, hiding in the Buddhism Hall built in her courtyard, like an invisible presence that couldn't muster up the slightest threat to Liu Shuhan's position. Had it been anyone else who fought against Liu Shuhan, she wouldn't have been surprised. But it had to be her...
It was also because of this that infuriated her even more.
"Madame, why are you sitting on the floor. Please get up," when they heard the sound of items being thrown, the first maid, Huai Zhu immediately pushed open the doors and hurried in. When she saw Liu Shuhan on the floor surrounded by broken shards and pieces, she and the other maid, Yang Zhi, hurried forward to help Liu Shuhan to a chair to sit in. With the two maid's experienced and taciturn cooperation, the courtyard was soon cleaned up.
"Mother, did you throw something?" Shen Qiang came in with her maid Lu Zhi in tow. She headed toward her anguished mother with disapproval, "Weren't you the one who told us to settle down a bit? How could you be the first one to get so impatient? If father were to know of this matter, how would we still get the back courtyard authority back?"
It was rare for the second family to make such a mistake. They had even offended the Murong Family and resulted in a big mess. Within a single night, they had become the Imperial City's biggest laughingstock. In the midst of his anger, the back courtyard authority was immediately revoked from them. This was an invaluable opportunity to steal back their authority. When she and her brother went to find the marquis, he seemed have already have the intentions to release Liu Shuhan's confinement orders and let her take over back courtyard authority again. But if news that Liu Shuhan had been throwing things around in her courtyard were to spread to the marquis, then even if he had to give the pass the authority over to the third family, he might not even give it back to them.
"Qiang'er..." when she saw her daughter, Liu Shuhan spread out her arms and hugged her fiercely. She buried her face in Shen Qiang's shoulders and wept fiercely. She was well aware that she had lost her composure and poise, but ever since Wei Zetian's death, she had assumed control over the entire back courtyard since. No one had dared to compete with her for Shen Ruiting's favor. For the past few years, although she and Shen Ruiting lacked any intimacy and amorous feelings, taking into consideration their two children, Shen Ruiting had given her the necessary propriety and respect a madame had. She had already accustomed herself to being the only one in his eyes. Who would've thought that at this critical time when she could've taken back her control, the Sun Jing who had been quiet all this time would have inserted herself into this matter and interfered. The marquis even took care of her for an entire night. An entire night!
Zhonglin Manor.
"Tsk, tsk... as expected of the marquis. She sure has a temper. I wonder if Sun Jing truly gained control of the back courtyard affairs, would she be as infuriated as she was now as well?" It was still raining outside. Shen Liang, who had nothing to do, was leaning lazily against the window as the details of Liu Shuhan's fit was relayed to him.
"When you said so yesterday, I didn't believe you. But it seems like now that the eldest Auntie indeed has some tricks up her sleeves." Otherwise, how was it possible for the marquis to stay over night in her courtyard until morning court?
Qi Yue displayed an impressed thumbs-up and couldn't help but inquire: "Liangliang, were you the one who taught her everything?"
"No. I only presented her an opportunity. As to how and whether she would take advantage of it, everything would depend on her. Yue Ge, do not underestimate the women in the back courtyards. The conflicts, conspiracies, and struggles they engage themselves in do not in any way lose to the intensity of what the men and officials engage themselves in for court." Shaking his head, Shen Liang gave a light smile.
Yesterday, he had only told Sun Jing to kneel before the Murong Manor and beg for the linens. He would naturally come up with a way for Sun Jing to derive the linen. As long as she treated herself harsh enough, then it would only be natural for her to win over some of Shen Ruiting's favor. Afterwards, gaining control over courtyard affairs then was only a matter of determination. The news was then spread throughout the manor by the Nether Guards ordered by Shen Liang. That was the extent of it.
"If the eldest Auntie only derived the marquis's care for an entire night due to her illness, why is the madame get so angry?" Qi Xuan, who was tossing the child high up in the air to play with him, turned his head to look at Shen Liang curiously. It wasn't anything new that the marquis had three or four concubines in his back courtyard anyways. In fact, they were even arranged and personally accepted in by Liu Shuhan herself. Her current anger made no sense.
"It's not strange at all. Throughout these years, who dared to fight over the marquis's favor with her? Despite everything, she was already accustomed to being in complete domination of the back courtyard. How is it possible for her to accept the eldest Auntie materializing out of nowhere to suddenly compete with her now? In addition, right at the time when she was about to take back her authority, no less," Fu Ying, rather than Shen Liang responded to his inquiry. In terms of the struggles of back courtyards, he had always been more experienced and saw things through more clearly than others.
"Uncle Fu is right. But that is not the crucial point. In actuality, Liu Shuhan has affection and love for Shen Ruiting. Her love is distorted and reaches the point of psychotic. Even if it's only for a little bit, she cannot tolerate anyone else gaining Shen Ruiting's attention and favor," Shen Liang added with a light smile. The day Liu Shuhan stormed into Zhonglin Courtyard to question him so aggressively, Shen Liang had more or less sensed that Liu Shuhan was not apathetic towards Shen Ruiting. Quite contrarily, her love for Shen Ruiting sunk deep and reached an almost perverted degree.
"I understand. All of the marquis love has already been given to the deceased madame. The only thing they could fight for from him is his attention. For the eldest Auntie to make the marquis stay overnight, it is tantamount to having derived his attention for an entire night. That's the only reason she's in so much fury." Hearing this, realization dawned on Qi Yue and Qi Xuan.
Shen Liang gave a cold laugh: "But could that even consider love? Doesn't it only serve to insult such a word?" With his words, Shen Liang hoisted himself onto the bay window. He tilted his head to look at the heavy rain that strewn beads of pearls down from the sky. Fu Ying and the others looked at his side profile as they all decided to put an end to the topic. Only little Shen You called out and begged Shen Liang for a hug.
"Come on over," his little nephew's intimacy pleased Shen Liang. He beckoned with his hand and Qi Xuan carried the child over to him.
"Ah. Ah..." the moment Shen You dove into Shen Liang's embrace, he kicked his tiny legs in excitement. His two little fists reached for Shen Liang's hair to grasp and play with.
"You little rascal. You can't do that. Uncle will get hurt. Here, play this.," lightly patting Shen You's hand away, Shen Liang conjured a tiny rabbit made of white cloth and cotton out of nowhere to hand over to the child. Shen You's attention was immediately diverted and his two hands clasped and hugged around the rabbit that was the size of his head. He gaped open his mouth and bit down on the rabbit's ear.
"Haha... it turns out that our family's You'er is actually a foodie," seeing this, Shen Liang couldn't help himself as he arched his head back and laughed. Fu Ying and the others laughed as well. Their little master had always been an adorable child. When he reaches the age at which he'd be able to talk and run around, there was no doubt that he'd only give them more to love and see. But the eldest Master should be back by then? The eldest lady would undoubtedly have her own maids who could look after the little master then and would have no need for them.
Considering this, Qi Yue and Qi Xuan looked at Shen You who was being teased by Shen liang with slight disappointment. Fu Ying then reached out and patted their shoulders, "What's with the long face? When that time comes, Liangliang might already have married then. With luck, perhaps he'd also be carrying a child then, his and the duke's that is. By then, that child would undoubtedly be just as adorable as the little master.
Although if the eldest Master returns and take back the child, Fu Ying would be even more upset than either of them, he had no choice. Fortunately, Liangliang was still able to bear children. In the future, he would definitely help Liangliang take good care of his future children.
"En," Qi Yue and Qi Xuan exchanged glances before nodding in unison.
"Say, do the three of you take me to be a dead person? I can hear everything," Shen Liang, who had been teasing Shen You, gave them an annoyed glance. He wasn't even married yet, and each and every one of them was already thinking about his bearing a child. They sure had a good imagination.
"Hehe... Liangliang, in the future, can you have three? That way, Ge Ge, Uncle Fu, and I will each have a child to take care of," aware that he wasn't truly angered, Qi Xuan pounced forward and grasped his hands. If there were three children, they wouldn't have to fight over who gets to hug and carry the children.
Unexpectedly, the corners of Shen liang's lips only twitched with aggravation, "Xuan Ge, do you truly think that I won't find someone to marry you to?"
Three? He hadn't even married yet, alright? His imagination sure knew no bounds.
"Huh?" Qi Xuan subconsciously blinked, as though he had forgotten that he too was a Ger. He too could be married out and bear children.
"Haha..." QI Yue saw through his brother's thoughts immediately and couldn't help but burst into laughter. He had to admit that even he had forgotten about this.
"Oh you, stop thinking about Shen Liang. Pay more attention to yourself regularly. If there's any good men around, don't just let him pass by you. Let Liangliang and I help you take a look," Fu Ying shook his head, amused. He then headed over to pick up Shen you: "Liangliang, it's about time for the little Master to use the restroom now. I'll bring him back later."
"En."
"Ah. Ah..."
Shen Liang nodded his head. Seeing that he was being carried away, Shen You was immediately restless and threw the little rabbit away without care. He reached for Shen liang with his two little arms urgently, begging Shen Liang for a hug. Seeing this, Shen Liang immediately felt warm in his heart. "You'er, good boy. Go use the restroom first. Uncle won't go with you and will wait for you right here."
"Wu..." No one knew if the child understood Shen Liang's words or not, but his little mouth suddenly went slack as his bright eyes were suddenly filled with moisture. He looked like he would cry any second now.
"Alright. Alright. You little drama queen. I'll take you instead, is that alright now?" unable to bear the pitiful and aggrieved expression his little nephew was throwing him, Shen liang jumped off the bay window helplessly. As wanted by the child, Shen You who looked like he would by bawling one suddenly was suddenly giddy and giggling the next. Fu Ying ang the others exchanged a glance. Sure enough. A drama queen.
"Master, news have arrived from the palace that the emperor has passed the edict to have the Ministry of Punishment thoroughly investigate Wen Yuan and the corruption and fraud cases. The Prince Consort and his son-in-law will personally led the investigation. No matter who is brought out and found involved, no toleration will be given as to appease the late Empress's spirit and allow her to rest in peace."
With the heavy rain outside, the master and servants had nothing better to do than to tease the child from time to time. Just as they were happy and enjoying the time, Lei Zhen suddenly materialized. Hearing his words, the rattle in Fu Ying's hands fell to the ground with a thud! Everyone couldn't help but look over. It was after a long time of being in a trance that Fu Ying choked up and asked: "Lei Zhen, is that true? The emperor truly passed an edict to look into the civil exams fraud case again?"
Did his Yunxi finally have the chance to clear his name and wash away his grievances? Heavens does have eyes!
"En. The decree was only just passed. I imagine it won't be long before the general public knows of it as well, "aware of Fu Ying's identity, Lei Zhen met his gaze and nodded his head. Recently, he had spent quite some time with Fu Yunxi and came to an understanding that the man was most likely indeed wronged.
"That's great. That's wonderful..." crystal tears streamed down Fu Ying's face as he sobbed.
Qi Yue reached out and hugged his shoulders, "Uncle Fu, shouldn't we be happy instead. Master Fu will soon be cleared of his name."
"En..." Fu Ying nodded his head with tears still streaming down his cheeks. He was simply too happy. Although he was aware of the deal Shen Liang made with Fu Yunxi and that Fu Yunxi would never be able to return to court and work as an official, unable to ever gain a title for himself, Fu Ying was still ecstatic. He knew better than anyone else the harm and degree of pain the injustice done to his son, Yunxi. Whenever he thought of how his son would be able to walk out of their courtyard with his head held high once again as a innocent man, he couldn't suppress the joy in his heart.