Chapter 15: I Consider Her My Sister

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Among all the girls in Fengzhou City, the one Zheng Qianyu looks down on the most is Shen Hua.

Though they are both daughters of merchants, none is nobler than the other, yet Shen Hua acts more high and mighty than anyone else.

Every clash, she always manages to have the upper hand.

How can she still be so arrogant when her whole family is almost dead!

"Shen Hua, you should be well aware of how annoying and irritating you've been previously."

That was not untrue.

Shen Hua hugged the still warm heater, nodding slightly to her with a cute expression.

Zheng Qianyu choked up: ??? You're quite pleased with yourself.

She was trembling with anger, remembered the purpose of her visit, suppressed her emotions, lowered her voice, and said through gritted teeth.

"The Dong Family doing porcelain business on Chidong Street lost a son a few years ago, do you know that?"

Hearing this, Shen Hua was displeased and denied, "Although I have done all sorts of bad things, I don't involve myself in heinous acts. The Dong Family lost a member, but I didn't kill him."

What does it have to do with her?

However, Zheng Qianyu clearly had more to say.

If it were usual times, she might have asked Zheng Qianyu for some details. It could serve as some gossip entertainment.

Who made that Dong Family son so uncontrollable, acting like a thug?

Years ago, he was ruthless and involved in a murder case and ended up in the Imperial Prison, supposed to be beheaded and displayed to the public. However, the Dong Family spent their fortune connecting with the Deputy Governor, and the Dong Family son was released after a few years in prison.

Shen Hua did not know how he died later, but even death seemed fitting for him. He deserved it.

Now Shen Hua had plenty of her own messes and was not inclined to gossip about these matters.

She furrowed her brows and took a step forward, clearly not wanting to converse with Zheng Qianyu, trying to walk around her to leave.

Zheng Qianyu was unwilling to let her leave. Seeing this, she grabbed Shen Hua's arm suddenly, not speaking in riddles anymore, quickly spitting out the words one by one.

"Who told you about this?"

"The news about Shen Family arranging a ghost marriage with the Dong Family, although not widespread, I heard it from someone. Don't play dumb with me."

She was thrilled to speak up: "Your Shen Family is really cruel, how much benefit did the Dong Family offer for you to agree to this kind of thing. It's really lacking virtue."

Shen Hua was stunned.

"Ah, but I'm not dead yet."

Even if she were dead, she wouldn't want to marry a dead person.

Zheng Qianyu said irritably, "What's going on, sometimes you're smart, sometimes you're so muddled, who said it was you! "

Shen Hua snapped back to her senses, body stiffening harshly, a cold sweat breaking out on her back. This chill forced her to stop in her tracks, quickly spreading to her limbs.

All the confusion suddenly became clear.

Ghost marriage has always defied ethics, no wonder, Aunt Liu would seek death.

She was just a concubine who couldn't even get into the genealogy, how could she make decisions for the already buried Shen Zhui?

In her past life, she was caught up in her own sorrow and misery, the ghost marriage matter was so well concealed by both the Shen and Dong families fearing people's gossip that it never reached her ears.

Her ears rang with a hum, her vision went black.

"Hey!"

Zheng Qianyu caught the weakening Shen Hua, face flushed with anger: "Shen Hua!"

"Are you trying to con me, really going for it, aren't you?"

Feigning faint when words fail to agree.

"Lady." Yicui was startled, hurriedly came forward.

Zheng Qianyu hastily helped Shen Hua over to Yicui's arms.

Shen Hua gasped for a few breaths. There wasn't a hint of blood left in her face. Yet she grabbed Zheng Qianyu's sleeve tightly.

"This matter has been hidden well; how did you find out?"

Zheng Qianyu: "Mrs. Dong said it while drunk, I happened to overhear."

"If that Dong Family son were decent, I wouldn't be this indignant. Shen Zhui's life was miserable enough, do they not allow her to rest in peace even in death?"

Within a few breaths, Shen Hua regained her composure.

Also, it was difficult for Shen Qu, dealing with Shen Wei's funeral while having to agree to such an ill-fated arrangement to connect with the Dong Family and Deputy Governor.

This matter undoubtedly involved Shen Xue-shi putting herself forward.

She spoke with a hint of sarcasm, her tone light but her words clear: "Shen Zhui, no matter what, is a bloodline of the Shen Family. As long as I am here, I will not allow anyone to desecrate her like this. The deceased should never be dug up to be buried alongside that Dong Family son."

The Dong Family, are they worthy?

Just this encounter, and Shen Hua had no desire for tea.

She gave Zheng Qianyu a deep look.

Zheng Qianyu felt a shiver run down her spine under her gaze.

What are you looking at, she was about to continue her mocking words, when she saw Shen Hua's pale lips curl into a smile.

"Thank you, Lady Mi, for informing me."

Zheng Qianyu turned on her heel in anger: ???

Try saying Mi one more time?

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"Lady, this matter must surely be the handiwork of the second branch together with the stepson. If the Second Madam is also involved, how will you deal with it?" Yicui tightly knit her brows.

Shen Hua let out a long sigh.

"Isn't this just evidence delivered to our door."

"Those people are truly worse than beasts."

Aunt Liu and Shen Zhui were truly innocent.

"The stepmother is best at appearances, doing all sorts of mean things under the guise of virtue. Previously, Daddy valued me, so she dared not touch me, even humored me in every way. Every need was provided with care."

"But let's not talk about other things; the winter clothes sent to Aunt Liu's courtyard every year were always replaced with poor quality cotton stuffing, how could they keep warm?"

"Before, I thought she was just greedy, but now it seems she treats Shen Qu like her own son."

The Shen Residence carriage arrived subsequently.

With Yicui's assistance, Shen Hua got into the carriage.

The coachman tightened the reins, called out loudly. The wheels began to roll.

Aunt Liu's feet were surrounded by all sorts of paper money, gold ingots. She hesitantly drew back her legs, the offerings didn't take up much space, but she was still worried about upsetting Shen Hua and pushed them inside further.

Her thoughts in disarray, past memories gradually consumed her.

Ah Zhu got into an accident after coming out of the lady's room.

That year, Shen Hua had a verbal argument with Lady Zheng, pent up and agitated when returning to the residence, she even coughed up blood.

Ah Zhu heard of this and hurried to visit.

Shen Hua was the pampered daughter in the house, her room was crowded with servants attending to her.

Shen Zhui couldn't see anyone, only left worriedly on her way back.

The sky was dark as ink, the old woman serving by her side was someone of Shen Xue-shi, why would she be diligent? Impatiently urging her.

"Second Lady, can you hurry, after sending you back, this old servant still has to rush to warm up with some wine. I just don't understand why you are so eager to flatter, dragging this old servant along for nothing."

Shen Zhui was somewhat afraid of her and carefully tried to read her expression: "I can go back on my own."

The old woman haughtily walked away, taking the only lantern with her.

And Shen Zhui had night blindness, by the small pond, she slipped, losing her footing and fell into the water.

By the time she was fished out, she was already lifeless.

You can only blame her daughter Ah Zhu for being born with a bad fate. Her birth mother couldn't protect her.

How can this blame Shen Hua?

Not a word was spoken on the way.

When the carriage stopped, Shen Hua adjusted her skirt as she exited the carriage.

"Aunt."

Shen Hua turned back.

"The retribution for good and evil, if not immediately following one's shadow, must mean there's bias in the world."

"But I firmly believe, any shady dealings conducted in the dark will eventually backfire, and the evil consequences will be reaped by themselves. Aunt, why should she die? You not only mustn't die, but you should live a good life for her sake."

She spoke one word at a time, each word clear.

"Whether you believe it or not, I acknowledge Shen Zhui as my sister."

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