Shen Lixue glanced at them indifferently, raised an eyebrow, and thought that Shen Yingxue and Shen Caiyun's fight was completely devoid of skill!
Shen Caixuan hid in a corner, staring in shock at Shen Yingxue and Shen Caiyun wrestling together. She kept pursing her lips, thinking how fierce these two were!
Shaking her head, Shen Lixue was about to find a book to kill time when she heard a crisp 'clang' as a hairpin fell into the carriage. Looking at Shen Yingxue's hair, which had become disheveled after she threw the hairpin away, Shen Lixue raised the corners of her mouth. She was about to be defeated after only a few rounds. She was really useless.
Looking down slightly, Shen Lixue saw the hairpin at her feet. The hairpin was crystal clear, and the carved plum blossoms emitted a soft purple light in the dim carriage. It was very beautiful. Looking down further, Shen Lixue's cold eyes narrowed instantly, and her breath caught in her throat.
"You are all daughters of the Prime Minister's family, yet you're wrestling like madwomen in the carriage. What kind of behavior is this? Stop fighting! Stop fighting!"
Shen Lixue gave Shen Caixuan a wink. If the four of them came out together and two of them went back injured, their father would definitely blame them. Shen Caixuan did not argue with Shen Lixue. She quickly went to pull Shen Caiyun, who was closest to her. Shen Caiyun was petite but strong. It took Shen Lixue a lot of effort to pull Shen Caiyun away. She was panting heavily.
Shen Yingxue's hair was disheveled, her clothes were torn, and she looked like a madwoman. The fight just now had almost exhausted all her strength, and she was still injured. Continuing to fight would only put her at a disadvantage. She glared fiercely at Shen Caiyun and temporarily called a truce.
Shen Lixue had the coachman stop the carriage and called in two maids to help Shen Yingxue and Shen Caiyun with their makeup and dressing. If they returned to the Prime Minister's residence looking like crazy women, they would definitely be scolded.
Shen Yingxue sat there angrily, glaring at Shen Caiyun every now and then. Behind her, a maid carefully combed her hair, slowly tied it into a bun, and then gently put on the hairpins and pearl flowers.
Sunlight streamed through the half-open car window, illuminating the purple hairpin. Shen Lixue smiled gently, "Sister Yingxue, this hairpin is very pretty. I wonder where you bought it?"
Shen Lixue persuaded Shen Yingxue and Shen Caiyun to stop because of this hairpin. The hairpin has the mark of the Duke of Wu's mansion on its handle. It is a unique mark of Lin Qingzhu's jewelry and will never appear on other people's jewelry!
Chapter 094: The Scumbag Mother's Uncontrollable Furious
"Sister is talking about this hairpin!" Shen Yingxue took the purple hairpin and stroked it gently. The bright purple color of the glass shone brightly in the sunlight, dazzling the eyes.
"These are the jewelry my mother bought for me, custom-made at Baozhai Trading Company!" Her words were filled with pride and boastfulness.
Shen Yingxue is the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion, with a noble status. Her clothes are made by the best silk shops, her jewelry is made by the largest jewelry store, and she lives in Xueyuan, the best place in the Prime Minister's mansion. She also travels in the most luxurious carriages. She is more than a level above Shen Caiyun and Shen Caixuan, who wear ready-made clothes, wear inferior jewelry, live in a small courtyard, and have to be mindful of her mood when traveling by carriage.
Shen Caiyun's face stiffened, and she lowered her eyelids. Her small hands quietly clenched into fists. Born as an illegitimate daughter, she was ridiculed and bullied, and her food, clothing, and housing were inferior to others. This was not the life she wanted, and she should not live such a life...
Shen Caixuan's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant, though not as intense as Shen Caiyun's. She glanced at the expensive hairpin, her eyes filled with jealousy as she pouted, but she remained silent.
Looking at the shimmering purple of the glass flowing within the hairpin, Shen Lixue sneered. Lei Yarong was neither surnamed Lin nor a member of the Duke of Wu's mansion, so why would the hairpin she commissioned bear the distinctive mark of Lin Qingzhu's jewelry? Something was amiss.
"Miss, we've arrived at the Prime Minister's residence!" As the carriage came to a stop, the respectful voices of the maids and nannies rang out from outside. Shen Yingxue quickly stepped forward, swiftly lifted the curtain, and was the first to alight from the carriage. With the help of a maid, she hurried into the residence.
The moment she stepped into the Prime Minister's residence, she stopped and glanced at Shen Caiyun. That glance was full of provocation, mockery, and disdain, and contained infinite meaning. Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow; a storm was about to break.
"Caiyun, you're just a lowly concubine's daughter, what are you doing competing with Sister Yingxue for Prince Zhan? She went to complain to Father, you'll be punished soon!" Shen Caixuan glanced at Shen Caiyun with sympathy, sighed softly, and slowly walked into the Prime Minister's residence.
Shen Caiyun's pale face stiffened slightly, her pearly teeth biting her lower lip. She shoved her head and walked into the Prime Minister's residence. What is meant to be will be, and there is no escaping it. Running away is useless. She must learn to face it, deal with it, and do everything she can to fight for the greatest benefit for herself.
Shen Lixue walked at the back, watching the three slender figures walking quickly ahead. She smiled slightly. The Prime Minister's residence was about to be bustling again, and she should take advantage of the excitement to investigate the matter of that hairpin.
Upon entering the Prime Minister's residence, Shen Lixue did not return to the bamboo garden but went straight to the pavilion by the pond to cool off.
A moment later, Qiuhe came to report: "Miss, the master has severely punished the fourth young lady, and she is being flogged in the elegant garden!"
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow: "What crime?" If this matter gets to Shen Minghui and the Lei family, it will definitely not end well, and Shen Caiyun will definitely be in trouble.
"Disobedience, assaulting her own sister, lack of manners..." Qiu He rattled off the charges Shen Minghui had leveled against Shen Caiyun.
"So, the Second Miss is safe and sound?" Shen Lixue sneered. Shen Yingxue already had a crippled arm, yet Shen Minghui still favored her as before. He was truly a rare 'benevolent father' in the world.
"Yes, the second young lady was sitting aside watching the execution!" Thinking of the second young lady's smugness and the fourth young lady's miserable state, Qiuhe couldn't help but shake her head. They were both daughters of noble birth, but the treatment of legitimate and illegitimate children was very different.
"How many strokes of the cane should I give?" Shen Lixue asked casually, taking a sip of tea.
"The original sentence was fifty strokes of the cane, but Miss Caiyun explained many reasons, so we reduced the punishment to thirty strokes!" Just now at the Elegant Garden, Shen Caiyun spoke eloquently, which made the Prime Minister and his wife change color slightly. Qiuhe was puzzled and confused. The Fourth Miss had always been taciturn. When did she become so eloquent?
"Where is Aunt Jin?" Shen Lixue asked casually, putting down her teacup and getting up to walk towards Ya Garden. Thirty strokes of the cane would be enough for Shen Caiyun, but Aunt Jin had a death warrant in her belly. If she took it out and used it, Shen Caiyun wouldn't have to suffer such a severe punishment.
“Aunt Jin is crying her heart out!” Qiu He answered softly, following behind Shen Lixue.
"Is it just crying?"
The pavilion was not far from the elegant garden. As they were talking, Shen Lixue had already arrived at the entrance of the elegant garden. Shen Caiyun was pressed firmly on the stool and hit hard with a board. Her beautiful face was pale and bloodless, and large beads of sweat kept dripping from her forehead. Her beautiful eyes were filled with anger and resentment.
Aunt Jin sat on a bamboo chair to the side, clutching her abdomen, looking at Shen Caiyun who had been severely injured, her face full of sorrow, wiping away tears incessantly.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. Aunt Jin was petty, narrow-minded, and a stupid fool. The Prime Minister's family had such an advantageous condition, yet she didn't take it and just watched her daughter being beaten!
"Your Excellency, the thirty strokes of the cane have been completed!" The maidservant released Shen Caiyun after delivering the last stroke, bowed her head, and stood respectfully to one side, reporting this.
"Hmm!" Shen Minghui glanced at Shen Caiyun casually. Her pale face and sweat-soaked clothes only made him more agitated. He impatiently ordered, "Send her back to Yun Garden to recuperate!"
"Fourth Miss... my poor Fourth Miss!" With the help of her maid, Aunt Jin rushed forward, sobbing, and grabbed Shen Caiyun's arm, crying sadly.
Looking at the timid, cowardly, helpless, and tearful Aunt Jin, Shen Caiyun frowned deeply, then closed her eyes and ignored her.
Looking at Shen Caiyun, who was severely injured and about to fall into a coma, Shen Yingxue sipped her tea, smug and proud, her beautiful eyes flashing with endless arrogance and mockery: This is what happens when you try to steal my man. Let's see who dares to go against me in the future.
Shen Caiyun was carried back to Yunyuan, and Aunt Jin followed her, weeping. The main room of Yayuan was wide open, and Lei Shi stood behind her desk, leisurely copying the Peace Sutra. She looked up at the crowd leaving in a hurry, and a cold, arrogant smile appeared on her lips.
Shen Lixue gave Aunt Zhao a wink, and Aunt Zhao understood. She stepped forward, curtsied, and said respectfully, "Madam, do you have the key to the small storeroom?"
"Why are you asking this?" Lei frowned, but did not look up. He continued writing and drawing on the paper without stopping.
Aunt Zhao smiled slightly: "Madam, I would like to take inventory of the small storeroom..."
"Inventory the small storeroom?" Lei was startled, her writing motion abruptly halting. Her sharp gaze shot towards Aunt Zhao: "You only have one month to manage the household affairs. Just take care of the main storeroom. As for my small storeroom, it contains all my personal dowry and is guarded by a dedicated person. You don't need to bother with it."
“It is indeed beyond my authority to manage your personal dowry, Madam. However, when I was taking inventory of the main storeroom, I found that several valuable items were missing. I thought they might be in your small storeroom, so I requested to take inventory of the small storeroom. Please forgive me, Madam.” Aunt Zhao curtsied, adopting a humble and sincere demeanor.
Lei scoffed, "The items in the large warehouse and the small warehouse have always been kept separate and have never been mixed up. If something is missing from the large warehouse, it will never be in the small warehouse..."
Aunt Zhao's smile instantly froze. The young lady was right after all. Lei Yarong treasured the small warehouse like a precious gem, rarely letting anyone in. If she wanted to secretly plot against her, she could move things from the large warehouse to the small warehouse, and then use the excuse that the small warehouse was untouched, thus successfully pinning the blame for dereliction of duty on her...