In the evening, Shen Xin and his wife finally returned to the mansion. Along with them was a carriage full of rewards sent by the emperor. In the past, these rewards would definitely be shared among the three branches, but today, Luo Xueyan asked the servants to carry the boxes into the west courtyard.
The boxes were filled with treasures. The servants in the east courtyard watched as the boxes passed by. From time to time, the sound of items shattering could be heard from Rongjing Hall. Clearly, Old Madam Shen was furious because of this and was venting her anger.
Shen Miao was sitting at the table and reading. She was reading Ming Qi’s political books and laws. Previously, Gu Yu and the others bought her some poems and novels but they were all thrown away by Shen Miao.
A hearty laugh came from outside the door. “Jiaojiao!”
Shen Miao turned around and saw Shen Xin walking in with big strides, followed by Luo Xueyan. They probably rushed over as soon as they returned to the house. Shen Qiu walked in the back and made a face at her.
Shen Miao stood up and nodded at them. “Father, Mother, Brother.”
Her gentle demeanor stunned Shen Xin and his wife. Shen Miao was never close to them. In the past, when they came back, she would get impatient with them after saying a few words. It had been a long time since they saw her like this. However, in her gentleness, there seemed to be a trace of alienation. This alienation was very slight, but as parents, Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan were still sensitive enough to sense it.
Shen Miao sighed in her heart. She couldn’t cling to Shen Xin like a real 14-year-old girl, let alone pretend that nothing had happened. In her previous life, she was the one who dragged the Shen family down into the abyss. When facing Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan, she only felt a strong sense of guilt.
Luo Xueyan paused for a moment. Her concern for her daughter quickly replaced her confusion. She took a few steps forward and grabbed Shen Miao’s hand, asking anxiously, “Jiaojiao, how are you feeling? Do you feel unwell?”
“I’m fine,” Shen Miao replied with a smile.
“Jiaojiao, I got a few big boxes of treasures from the emperor today. When you’re feeling better tomorrow, go and pick something you like. I heard that those jewelry and hairpins are the best in the capital,” Shen Xin said softly. Such a burly man was trying to please his daughter, which made him look a little funny.
Shen Miao smiled. “Thank you, Father, but there’s no hurry. Lock those treasures in the storeroom in our courtyard. I’ll go and pick them one day.”
As soon as she said that, the expressions of the people in the room changed.
In the past, when Shen Xin brought the boxes back, he would always let Shen Miao choose first and send the rest to the other branches. He had always doted on his daughter like this, and no one had any objection because after all, these rewards were earned by Shen Xin himself through shedding blood on the battlefield. However, in the past, Shen Miao would not choose first. She would let Shen Yue and Shen Qing choose first, and then she would start to choose after the second and third branches were done.
However, today, not only did Shen Miao not decline, but she even suggested locking the boxes in the storeroom. Everyone saw the change in Shen Miao’s attitude towards the other members of the Shen family.
