"Master," the man said respectfully to Meixue.
"Qingsong, from today onwards, keep an eye on Shen Qianmo's whereabouts. Report to me immediately if anything happens to her. If anything happens to her, I will hold you responsible." Meixue glanced at the man and coldly ordered.
He exuded a cold, domineering aura under the sunlight, quite different from the alluring charm he displayed in front of Shen Qianmo.
Mei Xue knew that with Shen Qianmo's abilities, she might not need his protection, but he would still worry about her, so he sent Qing Song to protect her.
"Yes, Master." Qingsong looked up in surprise. His master had never cared about any of them before, so why was he now being asked to protect the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family?
"What? Is there something else?" Mei Xue glanced at Qing Song, who seemed hesitant to speak, and asked.
"I just don't understand why you want to protect that woman, Master," Qingsong asked, bowing his head.
"When did it become your business to interfere in my affairs?" Mei Xue looked at Qing Song with some displeasure. "Just remember, if anything happens to her, you don't need to come back to see me!"
"Yes." Qingsong noticed the displeasure on Meixue's face and dared not ask any more questions.
He knew Mei Xue's temper very well. Never provoke Mei Xue when he was in a bad mood, otherwise, no matter who you were, he wouldn't consider any feelings.
Shen Qianmo returned to the Prime Minister's residence, and Qianqian rushed towards her as soon as she saw her.
"Miss, Miss, why did you take so long? It's almost dark!" Qianqian complained in a coquettish tone, clinging to Shen Qianmo's hand.
"I ran into a bit of trouble on the way. Did anyone come to ask me anything during lunch?" Shen Qianmo didn't want to talk to Qianqian about the Enchanting Blood, so she asked.
"No, they're all heartless. Miss didn't go to eat, and not a single person even asked!" Qianqian said angrily after hearing Shen Qianmo's words.
"Hmph! Conscience? They don't even have hearts, so what conscience do they have?!" Shen Qianmo snorted coldly upon hearing Qianqian's words, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.
Can a father who treats his daughter as a tool and then complains about the tool's ineffectiveness after her death have any conscience?
Can a sister who treats her own sister as an enemy, curses her every day and wishes her sister would die soon, does all sorts of bad things behind her back to harm her sister, and pretends to be gentle and kind on the surface have any conscience?
She had seen through all of this at her funeral in her previous life. Therefore, she would no longer harbor any illusions about these so-called relatives.
Chapter Fifteen: Shen Lingyun's Thoughts
"Third Miss, Master invites you to dine with him tonight," said Shen Lingyun's personal maid to Shen Qianmo.
"Okay, I understand." Shen Qianmo said gently to the little maid, her dark eyes flickering slightly. Shen Lingyun invited her to dine together? It must be about the Hundred Families Banquet.
When Shen Qianmo arrived, everyone else had already arrived.
Yin Youlan wore a dress with gold trim, her face still covered in heavy makeup, her chin slightly raised, sitting next to Shen Lingyun with an arrogant air.
Shen Qianyu leaned weakly against Yin Youlan, her hands wrapped in thick gauze. As soon as she saw Shen Qianmo enter, her eyes flashed with resentment.
"Little sister is here, come and sit down." Shen Qianxin was sitting on the other side of Shen Lingyun. When she saw Shen Qianmo arrive, she showed a fake smile and warmly pulled Shen Qianmo to sit down.
"Where is Third Sister?" Shen Qianmo looked at the empty seat next to Shen Lingyun, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes, and asked with feigned curiosity.
"Your third aunt is not feeling well and is resting in her own courtyard," Shen Lingyun replied calmly, without any hint of concern in his eyes.
Shen Qianmo couldn't help but sneer. Even though Shen Lingyun usually doted on Su Luoyan, it was only a fraction of his affection. Now that Su Luoyan was ill, he was only concerned with the Hundred Families Banquet, not with Su Luoyan herself. In Shen Lingyun's heart, probably nothing was more important than power.
"I invited you all to dinner today mainly to discuss the Hundred Families Banquet." Shen Lingyun looked around, his gaze sweeping over his three daughters, revealing a fatherly authority.
"A banquet for all families? Is that a banquet where princes and nobles get to know each other and help the princes choose their consorts?" Shen Qianmo asked with a smile, feigning innocence.
He sneered inwardly, thinking that Shen Lingyun must be very anxious right now. Of his three daughters, one was injured, another was plain-looking and uneducated, and only Shen Qianxin was someone he could use.
"Not bad. It's just a pity that Yu'er injured her hand and can't perform." Shen Lingyun glanced at Shen Qianyu, wondering how she had injured her hand like that. She wouldn't tell him when he asked, which was really strange!
"Father, I..." Shen Qianyu wanted to say something more, but after looking at her hands, she didn't continue. Her eyes, filled with hatred, were fixed on Shen Qianmo.
It's all her fault! If it weren't for her, how could her hand have been injured like this?! If her hand hadn't been injured, she might have been able to win the favor of the princes, but now, now she has no chance at all!
"Father, Mo'er's zither skills are quite good. She can play the zither in place of eldest sister. I believe that with eldest sister's beauty, she will definitely be able to find a good husband." Shen Qianmo ignored Shen Qianyu's resentment and said unexpectedly.
The words had barely left her lips when Shen Qianyu glanced over with a questioning look. Shen Qianmo was actually going to help her? How could that be? She was definitely trying to frame her!
“Sister, I know you mean well, but I’m afraid your zither playing skills, which you learned in the mountains…” Shen Qianyu didn’t continue, but everyone present understood what she meant. She looked down on Shen Qianmo’s zither skills and didn’t trust her to play in her place.
“If eldest sister doesn’t trust Qianmo, then there’s nothing Qianmo can do.” A hurt expression appeared in Shen Qianmo’s dark eyes as she looked at Shen Lingyun.
"Mo'er, why don't you play a tune for your father?" Shen Lingyun looked at Shen Qianmo, a calculating glint in his eyes.
Shen Qianmo's method is not bad. Before the banquet begins, each family's children are in their own tents. He can have Shen Qianmo play the zither in place of Shen Qianyu, and then claim that Shen Qianyu is unwell and must leave first. People can only catch a glimpse of Shen Qianyu's face and cannot test her zither skills.
Furthermore, in the past few days, I have used a lot of expensive medicine on Shen Qianyu's hand for the Hundred Families Banquet. It has recovered a lot now. As long as she takes care of herself after the banquet, she should recover quickly. At that time, with Shen Qianyu's zither skills, there will definitely be no mistakes.
"Yes." Shen Qianmo looked at the zither brought by the servant, a smile appeared on her lips, and her slender hands pressed on the strings. She only played about 70% of the skill, but it already made Shen Lingyun smile with relief.
"Alright, alright! Let's do it according to Mo'er's method. After Mo'er finishes playing the zither, Yu'er, you should say you suddenly feel unwell and leave first. I believe that a beautiful zither performance, coupled with Yu'er's beauty, will surely attract some attention." Shen Lingyun said to Shen Qianyu with a calculating glint in his eyes.
Those who could attend the Hundred Families Banquet were all prominent figures. Even if they couldn't attract the prince's attention, forming a marriage alliance with a powerful minister was still a good option.
“Yes,” Shen Qianyu replied, her eyes filled with suspicion as she looked at Shen Qianmo.
"Xin'er, are you ready to perform at the Hundred Families Banquet?" Shen Lingyun turned his gaze to his second daughter, who was now his biggest bargaining chip.
"Father, Xin'er has prepared the dance for the Hundred Families Banquet," Shen Qianxin replied gently and confidently.
"That's good! Make sure you attract the Eighth Prince's attention!" Shen Lingyun said earnestly, patting Shen Qianxin's head with a loving look in his eyes.
"Xin'er will definitely not disappoint Father." A hint of pride flashed in Shen Qianxin's eyes, but it was quickly concealed by her gentle appearance as she softly replied.
Seeing Shen Lingyun's attitude towards Shen Qianxin, Shen Qianyu felt a surge of hatred and immediately transferred her resentment to Shen Qianxin.