"Miss, Second Miss has come to see you."

  Jing Zhens face was somewhat unexpected: "It just so happens that youve come at this time, young ladys body hasnt recovered yet, arent you afraid of catching a cold?"

  Gu Yu pushed Zhen Yans arm, but his expression was also very worried.

  Shen Miao watched as it happened before her eyes, and she let out a breath of relief in her heart.

  She had four maids by her side, all of whom were personally selected and trained by Shen Xin and Madame Shen. They were loyal and clever. What was the situation in the Shen family? The hidden thoughts of the second and third branches, she couldnt see at a young age, but the maids could see through it.

  Before she could speak, a girl walked in from outside. The girl was only fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a pale pink kui-patterned jacket and a white pleated skirt with a flowing ribbon coiffure. Her skin was fair, her eyebrows were clear and beautiful, and her whole body had a strong bookish flavor, looking elegant and dignified. Seeing her, she quickly walked to the bedside and anxiously asked: "Fifth sister, do you feel better? Ive been worried about you since you fell into the water, but the people in Yu Jiao Garden said you needed rest, so I didnt dare disturb you. Only when I heard you woke up today did I dare come over."

  Shen Miao looked at the girl in front of her, this was Shen familys third houses legitimate daughter, Shen Yue.

  The three daughters of the Shen family, Shen Qing is open-minded and generous, Shen Yues talent is renowned far and wide, but only Shen Miao has a dull personality, timid and untalented. Outsiders praise her as "virtuous and gentle", but in fact, everyone knows she has no strengths and is the most disappointing daughter of the Shen family.

  In her previous life, before Shen Miao got married, she had the best relationship with Shen Yue. Shen Yue was gentle and considerate, often helping Shen Miao make decisions. However, at that time, Shen Miao couldnt tell whether these decisions were good or bad, and simply felt grateful for her elder cousins kind assistance.

  This time Shen Yue came forward, roughly also for Shen Qings plea.

  As expected, Shen Yue spoke up, "Fifth sister, eldest sister was also at fault that day, things have come to this point, I hope fifth sister can forgive her this once. I heard fifth sister has a fever, eldest sister is also filled with remorse. After fifth sister recovers from her injuries, can she please spare eldest sister this once? She didnt intentionally let you lose face in front of Ding Wang."

  Its better not to mention this, but you have to bring up the two words "Ding Wang" in front of Shen Miao. Everyone knows that Ding Wang is Shen Miaos weakness, and although Shen Miao can endure grievances, she will never back down when it comes to Ding Wang. If you dont mention Ding Wang, maybe Shen Miao would have let it go, but this time Shen Yue deliberately brought up Ding Wang, what else could he want to do besides stirring up trouble between her and Shen Qing?

  It was the same in her previous life. As soon as she woke up, Shen Yue rushed over to plead for Shen Qings innocence. This plea made Shen Miao furious. Normally a gentle person, she pointed at Shen Qing and accused him of pushing her into the water in front of Old Madam. However, Shen Qing denied it, and the people around them also said they didnt see Shen Qing push Shen Yue. Since Old Madam was already biased towards the second and third branches, she naturally took the opportunity to scold Shen Miao: "At such a young age, you dont know how to love yourself, yet you dare to slander your elder sister." She punished her by ordering her to be confined indoors.

  Later, the matter was passed on to Guozijian, and Shen Miao became a laughing stock among her classmates. Ashamed and indignant, she stopped going to Guozijian as well. Later... in the circle of noble ladies in the capital, she gradually faded out.

  Now that she thinks about it, her vision has always been limited to the world created for her by the people in the Generals Mansion. She thought she was virtuous and gentle, but outsiders saw her as weak and ignorant. She thought loving Ding Wang was brave and straightforward, but outsiders called her shameless.

  The result of this deliberate education was that she had a muddled impression in her early years. Although she later married Fu Xiuyi successfully, she was still called "not worthy of being on the stage" and even when people compared her with Mrs. Meng, they would only say that she was stupid and ignorant.

  What a wonderful past!

  Shen Yues worried hands stroked Shen Miaos shoulders, her lips curling up into a subtle smile.

  She knew Shen Miaos temperament, and as long as Fu Xiuyu was mentioned, she would definitely fly into a rage. But after waiting for half a day without seeing any reaction, Shen Yue looked over suspiciously, only to see the girl in front of her smiling at her.

  The girls face was still pale, her lips were dry, and only a pair of black eyes shone like grapes.

  Shen Miaos eyes were the most beautiful, big apricot-shaped eyes, dull and naive, like a newly born puppy. Only in daily life, her expression was wooden, wasting the spirit of her eyes.

  Those almond-shaped eyes are still round, but the gaze is completely different. It exudes a chill, devoid of emotions, not like being wooden, but rather... its as if looking down from a high place.

  Shen Yue suddenly felt a thrill, and for some reason, her heart began to tremble with an inexplicable fear. It was as if she were facing not a foolish goose, but someone in a high position.

  How can there be such a feeling?

  She naturally didnt know that the Shen Miao in front of her was no longer the same Shen Miao. The Shen Miao in front of her had experienced the struggle for the throne, war, fighting for favor, losing a child, and the downfall of her clan.

  She was once in charge of the harem and had the highest power among the six palaces, Empress Shen of the Ming Qi Dynasty.

  She was stunned for a long time, until the girl in front of her rubbed her forehead and said softly: "Second sister, youre being too serious, this matter has nothing to do with big sister, its all because I fell down by myself."

  "Eldest sister..." Shen Yue didnt expect Shen Miao to say that, and she was stunned for a moment before reacting, shaking her head: "Dont humiliate yourself, eldest sister."

  "I wouldnt be bothered," Shen Miao smiled and interrupted her: "Its just a small matter, my head is still dizzy, I want to rest for a while, if theres anything, lets talk about it together at Grandmas tomorrow."

  Since things had been said to this extent, Shen Yue also didnt know what else to say. Although she found it strange that Shen Miao was not very enthusiastic towards her today, she attributed it to Shen Miao losing face in front of Fu Xiuyi, so she was in a bad mood. After saying a few more words, Shen Yue left.

  After Shen Yue left, Gu Yu said: "Our girl was pushed into the water and almost lost her life. Instead of seeking justice for herself, she came to plead for the eldest miss. If you want to plead, then plead, but it sounds like theres more to it." Gu Yu was subtly reminding Shen Miao that Shen Yue had ulterior motives.

  "The snipe and the clam contend, the fisherman gets the benefit. She probably wants to be that fisherman." Shen Miao said calmly.

  Valley rain surprised Shen Miao, finally able to see the true face of Shen Yue, and somewhat did not understand the meaning of Shen Miaos words. She raised her head to see that her own daughters delightful face was icy cold, and there was a kind of inexplicable solemnity that made people involuntarily look up at her.

  Shen Miao looked at her fingertips.

  Why did Shen Qing push her into the water? It was because at that time she said a sentence: "After the New Year, I will let Father make the decision and ask Father to marry me to Ding Wang."

  She spoke naively and thought of him as a family member, so she was unguarded. Shen Xin is a great general in the court, and if he wants to marry his daughter, its not impossible.

  Why did Shen Yue want to drive a wedge between her and Shen Qing?

  Its because Shen Yue also has feelings for Ding Wang.

  In her past life, she died at the critical moment, and it was only then that Shen Yue and Shen Qing told her that they had been in love with Fu Xiuyi for a long time. Looking back now, this was already the beginning of their budding feelings.

  Since both sisters have a crush on Fu Xiuyi, wouldnt it be a pity if they didnt get what they wanted in this life?

  She will definitely make them get what they want. The second and third branches owe the Shen family a debt of blood from their past lives, so lets start repaying it now.

  Digression

  The difference between Shen Huanghou and A Ruans personalities is that A Ruan is more reserved, waiting until the last moment to strike a blow at her enemies. Shen Huanghou is much more brutal, directly crushing her enemies while they are still in their infancy. The empress is just a baby-faced sadist...