Chapter 7 Favoring One over Another

Yicui's eyes sparkled with energy, and her back straightened a bit. She dared not delay and hurriedly went to carry out Shen Hua's instructions.

Watching her walk away along the newly cleared path, the servants across the courtyard finally became restless and anxious.

"Is the lady going to sell us?"

Shen Hua rewarded the speaker with a knowing look.

No one dared to breathe heavily.

In a grand household, being sold as a servant meant a miserable life as a lowly maid. Could there still be any peaceful days?

Old Lady Xu continued to stand aside, casually glancing at the sickly Shen Hua before lowering her eyes with a cold smile.

"What are you afraid of! The Madam is in charge now. Even if the lady has any skills, can she sell you on her own whim? I'll go find the Madam to take charge."

Shen Hua certainly could.

Her eyes showed no trace of emotion as she watched Old Lady Xu leave.

In the past life, these servants, while fawningly accepting the reward silver from Shen Qu, ignored past feelings of master and servant to tightly restrain her.

These people, led by Old Lady Xu, tormented her with words and pushed her into the dust.

She still remembers Old Lady Xu greedily biting on a silver ingot and giving her a sinister smile.

—— "Lady, even if the State Judge is your Second Aunt's father, isn't it a bit chaotic? Yet, how many are rushing to become his concubine, and you're still not satisfied?"

—— "Which family would dare marry someone as sickly as you? If Mr. State Judge cares for you, maybe with various precious tonics hanging onto your life, you might live a bit longer."

At that time, besides Yicui, who helped her?

Why should she give these people a way out?

She ignored them and turned to go back to her room.

Outside, gossip was slowly spreading.

Shen Qu, under a new identity as the boss, went to the embroidery workshop to check the accounts and noticed that most of the old customers were gone. Passers-by would always pause and look at him with an indescribable gaze when they passed this place.

Shen Qu felt something was wrong.

He restrained his emotions and sent someone out to inquire. His fingertips fell on the past year's accounts, filled with ambition and satisfaction.

In the Second House, besides him, Shen He Wen had three sons under his name, and he was the second, merely a nondescript bastard.

He lived under the nose of his legitimate mother, Shen Zhushi.

Shen Zhushi, relying on her father, who was an Assistant State Judge of the seventh rank, even Shen He Wen had to coax her with good words.

But now, he had completely turned the tables.

Everything in the main house was his.

He could wear gold and silver and enjoy the best things. Even the material he wore was much more expensive than the clothes that the self-proclaimed noble Shen Zhushi wore.

A housekeeper from Shen's Embroidery Workshop stood respectfully to the side.

"Shen's Embroidery Workshop is the largest workshop in Fengzhou. Over a thousand embroidery ladies are skilled in Su embroidery, Xiangxiu, Shu embroidery, and Bian embroidery. However, the workshop's reputation is largely due to our outstanding Su embroidery."

Shen Qu listened attentively.

Then he said warmly.

"The matters of the embroidery workshop will be under my full control in the future, but I only have a basic understanding and need to learn from the beginning. I'll have to trouble Manager Cheng to keep an eye on things."

The housekeeper quickly replied that he didn't dare.

Soon, a servant hurried back in.

Seeing his troubled expression, the housekeeper sensibly withdrew.

Shen Qu, feeling satisfied, asked, "What's the matter?"

The servant bowed his head low, appearing frightened and worried about being caught in trouble. Yet he had no choice but to report.

"Outside, it's now being said that Madam is unvirtuous, and you, sir, are neither good nor kind. Shuangshuang puts on the face of a good person but is as vicious as a snake and scorpion in secret, planning to force the only bloodline in the mansion to death."

The smile on Shen Qu's lips flattened.

He had made early arrangements to distribute porridge for the merit of the lost soul, Shen Wei, just waiting for a wave of good reputation, but what was he hearing?

He clenched the account book tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

The atmosphere instantly plunged into an icy silence.

After a long time, the wooden chair screeched abrasively against the floor as Shen Qu suddenly rose with a stern face.

"Return to the mansion!"

————

Ningyun Courtyard was Shen Xue-shi's place.

Zhaolu was not greatly valued here. However, Shen Xue-shi, considering she was Mrs. Wang's daughter-in-law-to-be, gave her two taels of silver.

She was not very satisfied, muttering inwardly that Shen Xue-shi was a bit stingy. In the past, when Shen Hua was happy, she would give away those exquisite golden and silver hairpins as rewards.

Though thinking this, she didn't hesitate to hold onto the broom and sweep the ground. With Mrs. Wang around, it was impossible to spend a lifetime sweeping.

Her posture was quite wrong, and the ground was not clean, inviting nearby ridicule.

"It's clear she's never done hard work. Well, she used to serve the lady, only needing to admire flowers and listen to music every day, not knowing how happy she was. Now she comes to our courtyard, unexpectedly becoming the lowest rank maid."

Zhaolu took a deep breath. "Serving Madam is my heart's desire, dear sisters..."

Before she could finish, those people suddenly changed their expressions, all bowing toward a direction in unison.

"Young master."

Zhaolu's heart skipped a beat, quickly turning around to pay her respects.

Shen Qu had no leisure to pay attention and headed straight toward the main room.

Inside, Shen Xue-shi was meticulously selecting from a box of splendid and expensive jewelry.

She wasn't particularly beautiful, yet carried an inherent charm. Her fingertips lifted a pearl hairpin for close inspection.

"I didn't enjoy much fortune in the first half of my life, always concerned about this, worried about that, acting very restrained. Now, things are different from before, but it's a pity that during this mourning period, I can't wear these new pieces of jewelry."

Mrs. Wang smiled nearby.

"But Madam's good days have finally arrived."

"The entire Xue Family benefits because of you, with the people of the Xue Family now residing in the Shen Family, all relying on you."

Mrs. Xue listened, beaming with pleasure. Who wouldn't say that? She's finally made it through.

About to speak further, she heard footsteps approaching from outside.

"Young master, please wait a moment outside; the maid will go and notify the Madam." The maid outside spoke.

"Step aside!"

Shen Qu scolded the doorkeeper with a stern face, entering in large strides.

Shen Xue-shi set down the pearl hairpin in her hand and quickly met Shen Qu's eyes.

She frowned slightly, displeased with Shen Qu's reckless intrusion, but now she was on the same rope with Shen Qu, in a cooperative relationship.

She also intended to nurture a mother-son bond with Shen Qu and said with a smile.

"Qu, you came just in time. The kitchen just sent in some Cloud Mist Cake."

Shen Xue-shi invited him to sit and instructed Mrs. Wang to put away the box of jewelry.

"Did you just return from the embroidery workshop? Let me introduce you to some of my family. My nephew, Liang, is about the same age as you but hasn't achieved much. You've been taught by your little uncle since childhood, with outstanding talent in writing and a clear understanding of how to conduct yourself. For mama's sake, if convenient, could you guide him a bit?"

Shen Qu suppressed his temper.

"What Mama says is correct."

Shen Xue-shi smiled genuinely.

"Quick, try this cake. If you like it, the kitchen can send more to your courtyard."

Shen Qu did not want to perform the role of affectionate mother and son with Shen Xue-shi at this moment.

He lifted his eyelids.

"How's Yangyang in her courtyard?"

"Mama sent it to me, so how could it be that Yangyang is left out?"