Chapter 6: Can't Tolerate Sand in the Eyes

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On the couch, Shen Hua suddenly opened her eyes.

Her heart was pounding, faster and faster.

Clearly, it was something she had experienced before, yet the scene before her felt entangled in a nightmare.

Shen Hua stared absentmindedly at the ceiling, the feeling of being violated extending through her whole body. It left her in a cold sweat.

"Mistress, were you having a nightmare?"

Yicui helped her sit up and considerately placed a soft pillow behind her back.

Perhaps fearing to startle Shen Hua, her voice was as gentle as possible.

"The doctor said you are overly stressed and fatigued."

She took the medicine bowl from the tea table: "It's still warm now, it would be best to take it."

Shen Hua took it.

The aroma of the medicine was familiar, yet for some reason, it made her stomach churn, causing her to retch.

"Mistress." Yicui was panicked.

Shen Hua lowered her eyes.

"Yicui."

"Do you remember when our brother passed away?" she suddenly asked dryly.

Yicui was startled, and her eyes dimmed a little.

"The young master and Madam have been gone for two years now."

Two years.

Shen Hua silently recalled.

The days truly passed quickly.

"I remember, our brother had a lady he was very fond of. During that time, he was very diligent with his studies, with the intention of proposing marriage."

Fate is unpredictable.

Half a year ago, that lady married someone else.

A long procession filled the street, the sound of suona horns echoed through the skies.

The bride, adorned in bridal attire, looked more beautiful than flowers. It was the first time Shen Hua saw her, and she stared at Shen Hua for a long time. As if seeing a familiar person through her.

"Are you the Shen Family's younger sister?"

Such a beautiful woman, her eyes reddened the moment Shen Hua awkwardly nodded.

Later, Shen Hua couldn't resist going to Shen Zhi's grave. Pulling at the grass near the grave, muttering incessantly.

"That Sister Xiao has married now."

"I checked for brother, the groom is not even half as handsome as you. As for his character, I haven't had the chance to inquire yet."

What she said naturally received no response.

And Shen Hua lost control of her emotions.

In the empty mountain forest, came her choked questioning.

"Why are you so annoying! Didn't you like her, then why didn't you stop her yourself? Don't expect me to help you. I won't help you."

Shen Hua dared not think about the past anymore.

She pulled herself together, learning from Yicui that Zhaolu had left.

Yicui was especially angry and her teeth itched.

Shen Hua calmly replied, "Oh."

Yicui: ???

She felt even more uncomfortable.

The mistress shouldn't make enemies now, just suffer this quietly.

When will this situation end?

The more Yicui thought about it, the more depressed she became. Just then, she saw Shen Hua smile slightly, her voice cold and lonely wrapped in chilliness.

"I wonder how impressive she will be in the future."

Instead of behaving well, insisting on running to be Mrs. Shen Xue-shi's dog.

"Take this medicine away, the smell alone is unpleasant."

The bitterness of the medicine, even her tongue was bitter. After drinking it for so many years, she was losing energy day by day—missing one dose wouldn't make any difference.

She sneezed. Speaking softly.

"It's cold, prepare another basin of charcoal."

Yicui hesitated.

Shen Hua could guess: "Is the supply of charcoal cut off over there?"

Seeing Shen Hua's suspicious gaze fall on her, Yicui could only explain tearfully.

"Mrs. Wang came from Madam's side, with great pomp, saying that the funeral cost too much silver, so the mistress has to endure on her own. Yet her own room is warm as spring, burning the finest silver bone charcoal."

Shen Xue-shi's methods were as unpleasant as ever. Shen Wei had just left, and she couldn't wait to turn against Shen Hua.

"I'm fragile and don't like to suffer, cut off the charcoal today, if the stepmother intends to make things difficult. Maybe tomorrow it will be the medicine. Pawn that broken pearl."

Yicui: ...

Her eyes widened: "So, Mistress kept the meeting gift, just to pawn it?"

Shen Hua was indifferent: "Shen Qu is not a good person, but who doesn't get along with silver. Make sure to exchange it for more money."

Seeing the dark circles under Yicui's eyes, Shen Hua sighed softly, hinting.

"Thank you for running this errand, go to the Tong'an Pawnshop, there's someone there who can keep watch overnight."

Yicui understood Shen Hua's intention, her eyes brightened slightly.

"Yes."

After Yicui left, Shen Hua daydreamed for a while.

In her past life, she was always mired in the pain of losing her father, never confronting Shen Xue-shi. She was rarely obedient and proper, hiding in her room, wallowing in self-pity.

Thus, Shen Xue-shi never had the chance to intimidate her.

Except for someone on duty at night, the shopkeeper of Tong'an Pawnshop has a loose tongue but a chivalrous heart.

If Yicui speaks pitifully, the entire Fengzhou will spread that the Shen Family's Embroidery Workshop's stepmother is unkind, and the stepbrother is insidious.

She pulled the bedding tighter, clearly warm, but couldn't help shivering.

With a red nose, her eyes showed confusion. She looked like a pitiable little one nobody wanted.

————

Early the next morning, even fewer people were left in the courtyard who had connections to leave, and those remaining were restless. Slick and crafty, neglecting their duties.

Yicui woke up, erupting in a fit of rage.

"The snow outside has blocked the roads. What, do I need to ask you to sweep it?"

"Why has no one fetched the mistress's breakfast?"

"If you don't want to stay, then leave, do you consider yourself the master?"

The servants exchanged glances.

Old Lady Xu, always sarcastically aloof, now seemed even more pretentious.

"Yicui, what are you saying? The mistress isn't well, you better not disturb her. If something happens, we'll have to ask the young master for permission to let the doctor in again."

She glanced around.

"Usually, Zhaolu personally fetched breakfast. If she was late, someone from the kitchen would bring it over. It seems from now on the estate prioritizes over us."

Some, fearing trouble, hurried to grab shovels, clearing a path.

Old Lady Xu seeing this, sneered.

"What are you afraid of! Now that the guests have gone, the clan elders aren't here, the mistress is just a paper tiger! How can she dare clamor with Madam? Just wait and see."

Shen Hua rubbed her sleepy eyes, hearing the commotion outside, kept silent for a moment, rose and donned her mourning clothes.

In the courtyard, Yicui was about to reprimand people when she heard a 'creak', the door behind her was pushed open.

Shen Hua's gaze drifted lightly to the branches outside, burdened by weight, snapping and falling to the ground.

She smiled gently, her voice soft, yet it chilled everyone's back.

Her brother and mother left unexpectedly, not leaving her confidants. The servants in the mansion had been replaced again and again, under Shen Xue-shi's deliberate or inadvertent influence.

This Old Lady Xu was bold precisely because she was backed by Shen Xue-shi, daring to be so presumptuous.

After losing power, even drinking water made you choke, let alone these servants who used to flatter her.

But even if Shen Hua is down and out, she will ensure no one in this grand mansion finds peace, how could it be time for them to humiliate her.

"Bring the matchmaker."

Yicui met Shen Hua's indifferent face, her heart raced a few beats.

As soon as these words fell, everyone's face changed.

Shen Hua's expression was cold and indifferent.

"I can't tolerate a speck of sand in my eyes, once I'm done with you, I'll find a chance to settle the score with Zhaolu for betraying the master."

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