“If Father has nothing else to say, I’ll head back now. Once Uncle’s list arrives, I’ll personally check the jewelry. If it’s confirmed to be correct, I will definitely keep my lie and exchange it for something else,” Shen Lixue said coldly. Without waiting for Shen Minghui’s reply, she quickly turned around and strode out of the living room.
Bright sunlight streamed through the wide-open living room door, illuminating the expensive jewelry, its dazzling brilliance a testament to their unwavering mockery.
Shen Minghui felt dizzy and lightheaded. His lips were tightly pressed together, and his cold gaze was fixed on the direction Shen Lixue had left in. This daughter of his was getting bolder and bolder, daring to openly defy him in front of everyone...
Shen Yingxue gave Shen Yelei a wink, and Shen Yelei understood immediately. He clutched Shen Minghui's clothes tightly with his little hands, pouted aggrievedly, and choked out, "Father, at the Imperial Academy, every student has something heirloom from their family to prove their status and position in the household. Only I have nothing, and my classmates often laugh at me, openly and secretly!"
Shen Minghui gently rubbed Shen Yelei's head, his eyes full of affection: "Don't worry, you are the only legitimate son of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and the Shen family heirloom jade pendant will be yours sooner or later!"
“Every time we want the jade pendant, Shen Lixue makes up all sorts of excuses to refuse. She clearly wants to keep it and not hand it over!” Shen Yelei wiped away his tears and loudly accused. He was the eldest son of the Prime Minister’s mansion, and the jade pendant belonged to him. Shen Lixue was just a lowly woman from the countryside. How could she be qualified to wear the Shen family’s heirloom jade pendant?
"Ye Lei, you are my most beloved son. Do you think I don't want to give you the Shen family heirloom jade?" Shen Minghui sighed, looking at his son crying sadly, his heart aching. "Shen Lixue is the eldest daughter of the principal wife. She is proud of her noble status and has a rather arrogant personality. We need to plan carefully before we take back the jade pendant. We can't be too hasty..."
"You've said this so many times, and the jade pendant is still in Shen Lixue's hands!" Shen Yelei pushed Shen Minghui away forcefully: "If you really care about me, take the jade pendant back and give it to me, then punish Shen Lixue severely to vent your anger!"
Shen Minghui glared at Shen Yelei, suppressing his anger: "Yelei, these things can't be rushed. How can you be so insensible?"
“I don’t care, I’m just being unreasonable. Ever since Shen Lixue came to the Prime Minister’s residence, she’s been a high and mighty young lady. My sister and I are completely inferior to her. Many servants are outwardly respectful but secretly gossip about how my mother is a second wife, and my sister and I are born to her, not as good as her, the legitimate daughter of the first wife. It wasn’t like this before, it wasn’t like this. Why didn’t she die outside like her dead mother? Why did she come back to the Prime Minister’s residence…”
Shen Yelei suddenly erupted, making a series of unvarnished accusations, leaving Shen Minghui and Shen Yingxue stunned.
Shen Yingxue only wanted Shen Yelei to put some pressure on Shen Minghui and secretly teach Shen Lixue a lesson. She didn't expect him to say everything that she had been holding back for so long. After a moment of stunned silence, she felt incredibly relieved. Yelei was young and the only boy in the Prime Minister's mansion. His father doted on him and would never punish him severely. He could use his special status to give Shen Lixue a good beating. Brilliant, truly brilliant.
Shen Minghui's face instantly stiffened. He had already noticed the changes in the mansion. Shen Lixue appeared in the Prime Minister's mansion as the eldest daughter of the first wife. Lei Shi went from being the high and mighty Prime Minister's wife to a second wife that noblewomen looked down upon. His most beloved son and daughter were also in a completely different position.
Shen Lixue's intelligence and wit completely overshadowed Shen Yingxue's brilliance. His more than ten years of hard work were ruined in an instant. All his plans were broken by Shen Lixue. Lei Shi, Ye Lei, and Yingxue and her son hated Shen Lixue, and he also disliked her.
Ye Lei is right. Shen Lixue shouldn't have appeared at the Prime Minister's residence. If it weren't for her, the four of them would still be as loving and harmonious as before, making everyone in the capital envious.
"Ye Lei, don't worry, Dad will definitely get the jade pendant back for you. Shen Lixue won't be arrogant for long!" Shen Minghui's eyes flashed with a fierce light, which frightened Shen Ye Lei, who forgot to pretend to cry: "Dad, what are you going to do?"
"You shouldn't get involved in this matter!" Shen Minghui's plan was very secretive, and the fewer people who knew about it, the better. Besides, Shen Yelei was just a child, so it was best not to let him know about this.
"How long will it take to get that jade pendant back?" Shen Yelei silently wiped away his tears again. The thought of Shen Lixue flaunting the jade pendant in front of him made him furious. Once he got the jade pendant back, he would definitely mock Shen Lixue and see if she dared to act arrogantly towards him.
"Soon!" Shen Minghui's eyes held a cold smile, and a smile slowly spread across his lips. He looked at Shen Yelei, but Shen Yingxue's eyes were full of love. They were his most beloved children, and he would never let them suffer any injustice.
"Thank you, Father!" Shen Yelei's face lit up instantly. He gave Shen Yingxue a victorious wink, leaned close to Shen Minghui's arm, and his eyes were full of joy. His father had already figured out a way to get the jade pendant back. He just had to wait obediently!
In the bamboo garden, Shen Lixue sat on a rattan chair in the courtyard, holding the Shen family's heirloom jade pendant in her hand. She examined it carefully against the sunlight. The jade pendant was a clear, bright green, without any impurities. Shen Lixue frowned slightly. The jade pendant was perfectly normal; there was nothing wrong with it. Could it be that Shen Minghui was in such a hurry to get it back just to appease Shen Yelei, and there was no other reason?
"Miss Chen!" With a clear and melodious call, a tall, sapphire-blue figure entered the bamboo garden, his handsome face beaming with a spring-like smile. It was none other than Dongfang Zhan.
"Prince Zhan!" Shen Lixue was taken aback, put down the jade pendant, and greeted him politely, "Is there business at the Bamboo Garden, Your Highness?"
"Hearing that the Second Miss is ill, I came to visit her. Passing by the Bamboo Garden, I saw the Eldest Miss all alone, looking forlorn, so I came in to see if there was anything I could do to help!" Dongfang Zhan smiled slightly and sat down opposite Shen Lixue, with a stone table between them.
Shen Lixue smiled, picked up the teapot and poured tea. The misty steam rose and dissipated, concealing the expression in her eyes: "Thank you for your kindness, Prince Zhan. I was just reminded of my mother when I saw the jade pendant. I am not sad!"
"I was overthinking it!" Dongfang Zhan smiled slightly, his gentle and refined demeanor as he looked at Shen Lixue through the light mist, his expression unfathomable.
In Xueyuan, Shen Yingxue stood in front of the bronze mirror, holding beautiful Xiangqun and Ruqun, trying on one after another. Her maid Xia Duan was exhausted from carrying a large pile of clothes, but she still hadn't decided which one to wear.
"Miss, you're dressed up so carefully, is Prince An coming?" Having served Shen Yingxue for many years, Xia Duan knew that she only put so much effort into her appearance when she was seeing her beloved.
Shen Yingxue abruptly stopped trying on the clothes, a shadow falling over her beautiful eyes: "It's not Prince An, it's Prince Zhan!"
Thinking of that noble and elegant man in white, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. He should have belonged to her, but Shen Lixue had managed to seduce him away. It didn't matter; she still had the Prince Zhan, who admired her. Although the Prince Zhan was not as good as the Prince An, he was still an outstanding figure among the younger generation of the royal family and was worthy of her. Once she became the Princess Consort of the Prince Zhan, her status and position would be slightly superior to Shen Lixue's, giving her plenty of advantages to teach Shen Lixue a lesson.
"Let's go with this light blue Xiang dress, Prince Zhan likes blue!" After Shen Yingxue chose her clothes, Xia Duan breathed a sigh of relief, put the other pretty clothes into the wardrobe one by one, and quickly helped Shen Yingxue change her dress.
Wearing a light blue Xiang dress, with a white jade fox pendant at the waist, and paired with an exquisite slouchy bun, she exuded an indescribable freshness and charm.
"Miss is so beautiful. If Prince Zhan saw her, he would definitely be staring at her!" Xia Duan carefully combed Shen Yingxue's smooth black hair and couldn't help but praise her repeatedly.
Looking at the stunning beauty in the mirror, Shen Yingxue was quite satisfied. Any young man who saw her would be so amazed that he wouldn't be able to recover for a long time. Prince Zhan would definitely like her.
Speaking of Prince Zhan, Shen Yingxue looked out through the lattice window. The courtyard was empty, without a single person in sight. "Didn't they say that Prince Zhan had already arrived at the Prime Minister's residence? Why hasn't he come yet? Send someone to check!"
"Yes!" Xia Duan bowed, put down the comb, and quickly retreated. A moment later, she ran back in a panic: "Second Miss, something terrible has happened! Prince Zhan is having tea with Shen Lixue in the bamboo garden!"
Shen Yingxue was taken aback, her face instantly darkening: "Is this true?"
"Xiaoyun saw it with her own eyes, and there is absolutely no falsehood. If Miss doesn't believe it, you can go to the bamboo garden and see for yourself. Shen Lixue and Prince Zhan are chatting and laughing by the stone table in the courtyard..." Xia Duan said each word clearly and firmly.
Shen Yingxue's anger flared up instantly. She smashed everything on the dressing table to the ground, the sound of shattering objects filling the air. The maids trembled with fear, heads bowed, silent. Only Shen Yingxue's furious rebuke echoed throughout the room:
"You shameless hussy! Not content with seducing Prince An, she now tries to seduce Prince Zhan. She even tries to steal the man she loves! She has no shame whatsoever! Xia Duan, gather all the servants of Xueyuan and come with me to Zhuyuan!"
Xia Duan was startled, a very bad feeling rising in her heart: "Miss, what are you going to do?"
"Go to the Bamboo Garden! I want to tear off Shen Lixue's hypocritical and disgusting face in front of Prince Zhan!" Shen Yingxue said bitterly as she strode out of the Snow Garden and ran quickly toward the Bamboo Garden. Xia Duan called all the maids in the Snow Garden, and the nanny followed closely behind. The group marched in a grand procession toward the Bamboo Garden.
In the bamboo garden, Dongfang Zhan sat calmly, chatting casually with Shen Lixue about matters in the capital, showing no intention of leaving.
Wasn't Dongfang Zhan supposed to be here to see Shen Yingxue? Why has he been sitting in his bamboo garden for so long? Puzzled, Shen Lixue was considering whether to remind him when a maidservant peeked out from the bamboo garden entrance. Her watchful gaze met Shen Lixue's cold eyes. Startled, the maidservant quickly withdrew her head, her heart pounding. She'd been discovered spying on the young lady and Prince Zhan! What should she do?
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. That little maid was from Xueyuan, and her name seemed to be Xiaoyun. Shen Yingxue actually sent a servant to spy on her...
"Prince Zhan, if someone is injured by a beating, which medicinal herb will heal the fastest?" Shen Lixue smiled sweetly, like a spring flower in bloom, captivating all who beheld her.
"Wasn't the Second Miss sick? How could she have been injured?" Dongfang Zhan's gentle eyes were momentarily misty before returning to normal as he looked at Shen Lixue with a puzzled expression.
Shen Lixue smiled gently: "Yingxue is indeed sick, but Fourth Sister Caiyun is injured, and quite badly. Father was angry with her and gave her very ordinary medicine. It would be bad if she, a young lady, were left with scars due to improper treatment!"
“That’s right!” Dongfang Zhan nodded, his gaze fixed on Shen Lixue: “I wonder how serious Fourth Miss’s injuries are? Different injuries require different medicinal herbs.”
"This... I'm not a doctor, I don't know much about this!" Shen Lixue gently shook her head, a gleam of light flashing in her clear, cold eyes.