On the other side, Concubine Wan hurriedly returned to her courtyard and closed the door. She took three steps forward and said to the girl sitting behind the screen, “Dongling.”
The figure behind the screen looked at Concubine Wan. Concubine Wan took a big breath and sat down on the wooden chair, repeating what she had said to Shen Miao today. She was a good performer and had a good memory. She gave an accurate and vivid account of the conversation between her and Shen Miao. After finishing, Concubine Wan said, “Dongling, what exactly does she mean by that? I feel a chill run down my spine. Do you think… What happened to Eldest Miss is related to Fifth Miss?”
“Mother, be careful with your words.” The person behind the screen said, “What happened to Eldest Sister is in the past. Don’t mention this again. Otherwise, you will only harm yourself.”
“I just feel a little uneasy,” Concubine Wan said.
A soft sigh came from behind the screen. The person sitting put down the embroidery in her hand, stood up, and walked to Concubine Wan’s side.
She was also a beautiful girl. Compared to Shen Qing, who was graceful, Shen Yue, who was gorgeous, and Shen Miao, who was dignified, this girl looked fragile and weak. Having an oval face and big eyes, she resembled Concubine Wan in many ways. If her eyes were more animated, she could attract any young men in the capital. However, her face was pale to the point of bloodlessness. This way, her charm was compromised, making her look like not someone who could harm others.
She was wearing an old light yellow dress that might have belonged to Concubine Wan. This girl’s body was not as well-developed as Concubine Wan’s, so the dress was a bit loose and baggy on her.
The girl was the daughter of the second branch of the Shen family, Shen Dongling.
“Everything is much better than before.” Shen Dongling comforted her. “At least you and I can go out openly and not be threatened by Second Madam.”
“The Shen family is not having a good time.” Concubine Wan looked at her daughter and felt a pang in her heart. “Back then, I was greedy for wealth and thought that after entering the Shen family, I could enjoy a comfortable life for the rest of my life. Little did I know that the danger looming in rich families was far greater than I expected. I even got you involved in this mess. For so many years, in order to survive under Second Madam’s nose, we had no choice but to live like this. The people in this family are very sophisticated. Even the Fifth Miss, who people took to be a fool, became so terrifying now…”
“Mother.” Shen Dongling shook her head. “Regardless of whether Fifth Sister has anything to do with what happened to Eldest Sister or not, we are also the ones who benefited from it.. It’s very difficult for Second Madam to make a comeback now. Even if Second Brother is powerful, he is practically alone.”
“That’s true.” Concubine Wan looked at Shen Dongling in relief. “But Dongling, you asked me to test Fifth Miss today. Fifth Miss is quite cold to me. I’m afraid she doesn’t want to befriend us. What should we do now?”
“So be it.” Shen Dongling smiled. “Fifth Sister seems to be a smart person. In that case, it’s better not to provoke her from now on. If possible, let her deal with Second Brother.”
“Second Young Master?” Concubine Wan was stunned. “Second Young Master has already become an official. Fifth Miss is just a little girl. How can she deal with Second Young Master?”
“Mother, don’t worry.” Shen Dongling said, “Fifth Sister is not as simple as she appears. She’s the sharpest knife in the Shen family.”
…
Outsiders probably didn’t know about the shows unfolding in the Shen mansion. They thought that the Shen family was still in harmony. This indeed had always been the case before this year. Unfortunately, things in the world were always changing, but in what direction they were changing, no one knew.