"Serves you right, slut, dreaming of climbing into bed but getting kicked out instead..."
A chambermaid, who had been teasing her, laughed sarcastically from the outside.
Another maid, who was constantly desiring the position of the concubine, felt at ease seeing Chun Lan’s dishonor. She added salt to the injury, saying "I think you, Sister Chun Lan should give up entertaining such futile thoughts. Master has been staying in Madam’s room recently. He hardly has any energy left to comfort you!"
Chun Lan was unsuccessful in her intentions and was ridiculed by everyone, she felt humiliated and helpless, with no choice but to leave the scene gritting her teeth.
Having sent Chun Lan away, County Magistrate Shen took a moment to catch his breath before slowly settling back into his seat.
"Bring me a servant, go to the backyard and see if Madam has awakened from her nap. Remember to tread lightly, do not wake her if she still sleeps!"
A maid, who had always been serving him, knelt and said, "Master, we have just received a report from the backyard. Madam has woken up and is currently reviewing accounts with Miss!"
"Hmm, good, inform Madam that I will be dining with her tonight; tell her to wait for me!"
The maid subtly frowned in contemplation. If the master had not told Madam about his intention, there may have been an opportunity to dine with Madam. But with him eagerly dispatching someone to inform her, Madam will surely dine first, not waiting for him.
He has repeated this pattern these past days, but why hasn’t he learned his lesson? Why does he still ask her to report!
While she held these thoughts, she did not dare to utter them aloud. After saying, "Yes" she went to the backyard.
As County Magistrate Shen sat in his chair, he thought for a moment and then ordered, "Bring the Second Miss to me!"
At his words, every one present felt a shiver down their spines. Their hearts stirred with unease. After Aunt Yan’s incident, Second Miss Shen Furong and her two younger brothers were confined in the courtyard where Aunt Yan once resided, not allowed to venture out.
The mansion’s servants knew the whole story, and they all thought that their master would certainly be the end of these illegitimate children’s lives. This is why since the incident, no one has taken good care of them, meals were scarce, they were all fed with leftover food. Second Miss and the young masters have less than humble before, often humiliating the servants at their whims, thus many took this opportunity to retaliate. Their verbal humiliation was secondary compared to their physical abuse. The more arrogant they were before, the more embarrassed they were now.
All the servants were convinced that there would be no recovery for these siblings, and their end was near. Hence, they were openly taking revenge. But hearing that the master was summoning Shen Furong and referred to her as the ’Second Miss’, did it imply that the master was seeking to reconcile and accept these illegitimate children? If so, those who have already taken their revenge on them would definitely be in grave peril!
Everyone was speculating and they were praying inwardly, hoping desperately that the master isn’t so spineless!
From Heaven to Hell, Shen Furong had had a taste of it in these last few days.
Earlier she was the esteemed Second Miss of Shen mansion, where servants paid honour and acted according to her whims. She could get angry and scold or beat the servants as she liked. But overnight, from the noble Second Miss, she turned into the despised illegitimate daughter. Not only did she lose her privileged status, she was insulted, humiliated and beaten by the lowly servants. She cried and begged to see her father, only to be ruthlessly rejected!
In a matter of a few days, her torment had driven her towards despair. She felt that she might soon die from such abuse. However, she suddenly received a message that her father wanted to see her, allowing her to glimpse a ray of hope. Yes, if she could just see her father, she believed she could find a way to survive!
In the past, her father and mother had discussed marrying Shen Juhua to the Prefect of Bianzhou Prefecture as his second wife in order to consolidate her father’s position. However, before that could be executed, her mother’s scandal was exposed. As Shen Juhua was now considered the father’s only legitimate heir, it was certainly not possible for her to be married to a man over fifty years old. But she, Furong, could take her place.
Indeed, the thought of marrying a man in his fifties was daunting and if it had been a few days ago, she would have cried and thrown tantrums, vowing to resist with all her might. But times have changed and marrying the Prefect of Bianzhou Prefecture appeared to her as the only chance of escape. So not only would she not feel wronged, she would also do everything in her power to facilitate this!