On the New Year in the 69th year of Ming Qi, it snowed heavily all night. People were happy because it indicated that there would be a harvest next year.
However, to the General’s Mansion in the capital, this was a special year.
The second branch of the Shen family had lost a daughter, and the madam had gone crazy. On the other hand, the most powerful first branch and the other two branches seemed to be at odds. They were not as close as before.
The Huang family, whose son was engaged to Shen Qing, had completely become enemies with the Shen family because of Shen Qing. Because Shen Xin and his wife were away from the capital all year round, they did not take their anger out on the first branch of the Shen family. As for the Wei family, whose son was engaged to Shen Miao, Luo Xueyan went to explain personally that it was just a misunderstanding. The Wei family was honest and did not make things difficult for her. In addition, Shen Xin promised to help Lord Wei more in the court in return, so the Wei family was naturally happy to accept it.
Therefore, to Shen Miao, this new year was quite good. She got rid of Fu Xiuyi, Prince Yu, Ren Wanyun, and Shen Qing, and some things were still changing slowly.
However, while she was happy, some people were not.
In Rongjing Hall, Old Madam Shen was sitting in her seat while Shen Yuanbai was crawling around her. She looked annoyed, a resentful expression appearing on her shriveled face.
“The first branch is continuously challenging my patience. This year, they didn’t hand in a single cent. The boxes of treasures given by the emperor are all locked in their courtyards! What exactly do they want? Do they still have regard for me?”
Old Madam Shen was angry at the mention of this. In the past, Shen Xin would send the treasure from the emperor to her every year. Because the couple was usually not in the capital, other than leaving some gadgets for Shen Miao, they wanted nothing. Old Madam Shen had pocketed a lot over the years. Now that something happened between Shen Xin and the Shen family, Shen Xin stopped giving her a scent. In Old Madam Shen’s eyes, his behavior was reprehensible.
“Old Madam, don’t be angry. Perhaps after a few days, when First Master is appeased, he will send the things over.” Mrs. Zhang comforted her. “I think First Master was still unhappy with what happened to Fifth Miss.”
“What happened to Fifth Miss?” Old Madam Shen said angrily, “All these years, I’ve been taking care of her and raising her. Are they still not satisfied? I think he just doesn’t want to acknowledge me as his mother! What an ingrate! And that Luo Xueyan, I think it’s her who’s been teaching Shen Miao all these nasty tricks.”
Seeing that Old Madam Shen was furious, Mrs. Zhang was silent for a moment before saying, “Fifth Miss has indeed grown up and become more scheming. However, Fifth Miss has lived with you since she was young and has always been very obedient to you. I think she still respects you and sees you as her grandmother. Old Madam, why don’t you summon Fifth Miss one day and say something nice to her? She’s just a young lady and will definitely be easy to coax. Fifth Miss is the apple in First Master and Madam’s eyes. If you can control Fifth Miss, won’t you be able to control the first branch?”
Mrs. Zhang was also quite scheming. When it came to being the madam of such a large family, Old Madam Shen was not capable at all. All these years, if not for Mrs. Zhang’s giving her ideas, she would have made a fool of herself.
Old Madam Shen sneered. “Coaxing her? Every time I see that girl, I think of that b*tch. Now, I still have to coax her and please her? I feel disgusted just by looking at that face.”
