Chapter 5

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The funeral procession left the Shen family and walked along the embroidery workshop under the Shen family’s name. Finally, they headed up the mountain.

Shen Hua’s legs were weak from walking, but she forced herself to hold on.

When the procession was over, she stayed alone by the grave for a long time.

These were the people closest to her.

She kowtowed to her parents.

‘I’m useless. I swear that as long as I live, I’ll make sure those can’t live a day in peace. I’ll do my best not to let outsiders take advantage of the Shen family’s assets.’

Only then did she look at her brother’s grave and smile desolately.

The sky gradually darkened.

Finally, Shen Hua followed the path down the mountain.

The snow continued to fall without any signs of stopping.

The current winter was exceptionally cold.

Although Yi Cui was holding an umbrella for Shen Hua, she could not withstand the cold. After walking for a while, her skirt, shoes, and socks were already drenched. It was frigid under her feet.

When she got back, she eventually collapsed.

A medicine jar was bubbling as Yi Cui was boiling the medicine. From the corner of her eye, she looked around the window and saw a maidservant carrying her bag and preparing to leave the courtyard.

Yi Cui’s face darkened as she strode out.

“Where are you going?”

The maidservant, Chao Lu, was slightly shocked, but she did not show any guilt. She glanced at Yi Cui arrogantly, her tone filled with complacency.

“With the Madam’s permission, I’ll be going to her place to serve her in the future.”

Yi Cui was furious.

“Has the mistress mistreated you all these years? The sky hasn’t fallen yet! You’re taking advantage of the situation to try climbing up the social ladder!”

Chao Lu snorted.

“Can’t you see the situation? Since the mistress fell, has the Madam ever sent a servant to visit her? If Young Master doesn’t give his approval, do you think anyone would dare to secretly invite a physician?”

She prided herself on being a smart person.

After weighing the pros and cons, he naturally changed her decision to rely on someone else.

Being a janitor at Madam Shen Xue’s side was much more glamorous than being a first-class maid for Shen Hua.

Yi Cui gave an angry shout of laughter.

“Good!

“Go!

“I won’t stand in your way!”

Chao Lu thought that Yi Cui was an idiot.

If she was in Yi Cui’s shoes, why would she still spend her time boiling medicine at this point? She would have changed her backer long ago.

Chao Lu left proudly under the envious gazes of the servants who heard the commotion.

The surrounding servants whispered amongst themselves.

“Sister Chao Lu is so bold. I heard that she’s seeing Old Madam Wang’s son.”

Old Madam Wang was the Madam’s subordinate. With this hookup, she would be able to escape a life of misery.

“Does Old Madam Wang have any other sons? I’m not bad-looking either. I wonder…”

“The mistress’s body is getting weaker and weaker. When the doctor left, he shook his head and said that her body was lifeless. When Old Master was still alive, he sent over those expensive medicinal herbs as if they were free, but Madam is in charge now.”

The mistress—the most honorable lady in the residence—had become the most disrespected person now.

Yi Cui almost snapped the fan in her hand.

Shen Hua was unaware of everything that had happened here.

Beyond the curtains…

The woman’s forehead was burning hot, and her pale face was abnormally red.

Shen Hua’s body was as light as a feather. Her drowsiness pulled back her memories from her early years by force.

At that time, she was seven years old. Her elder brother and mother were still around.

She was the treasure of the entire family.

—Dream Dividing Line—

“Why is Yangyang sick again?”

When the young man received the news, he rushed over from the academy. He was wearing a light-colored shirt with a cross-neck. He was dressed like an ordinary student.

The servants in the room knelt on the ground, showing their respect for him.

Shen Hua mumbled listlessly.

“Brother.”

Shen Zhi responded and sat down in front of the couch.

As soon as he sat down, Shen Hua got up and reached out her small hand to clutch Shen Zhi’s arm.

She felt a sharp pain in her forehead as she was flicked by Shen Zhi’s slender fingers.

“Are you still feeling uncomfortable? Go back and lie down.”

Shen Hua did not want to.

She stubbornly rubbed against Shen Zhi’s body.

Shen Zhi could not do anything to her. He restrained the gentle smile on his face and calmly looked at the servant on the ground.

“Tell me, how were you serving her?”

He was only ten years old now, but he looked dignified without being angry. After all, he was the only son of the First Nranch, so he was naturally important.

The servants lowered their heads in fear.

At this moment, Shen Hua, who was three years younger than him, snorted.

“I kicked the bedding on purpose at night.”

She did not feel that it was wrong at all. Instead, she started to grumble.

“My parents left me behind.”

Shen Zhi was very patient with her. “With the flood in Fengzhou, business is becoming more and more difficult. Father is naturally busy. Mother also heard that the famous doctor in Shengjing has a strange temperament. She was worried about leaving it to others, so she personally went to see him.”

Yangyang had a health problem since she was in her mother’s womb. She had been weak from young, and catching a cold was very serious. Even the doctor was helpless.

Although she survived the cold, the entire family still had lingering fears.

Shen Hua was confused and turned to complain to Shen Zhi.

“Brother, you haven’t been home for a long time! There’s no one to accompany me to play with paper kites.”

“Do you think I’m enjoying myself in the academy? Why don’t you look for Second Sister Shen Zhui instead?”

Shen Hua was unhappy.

“She’s a concubine’s daughter and is very petty. There’s a difference between legitimate children and concubines. I don’t want to play with her.”

Shen Zhui was not Shen Zhi’s biological sister, so he was no close to her. However, his tone became serious.

“Although she’s a little dull, she’s still your sister.

“You’re a capable girl! You don’t take your body seriously at all! You caught a cold on purpose! Do you think I can’t bear to punish you? Yangyang, you’re seven years old now. You should be more sensible.”

Shen Hua was stunned for a few seconds.

“Are you trying to lecture me?”

Without waiting for Shen Zhi to nod, she frowned dizzily and looked up at him in confusion.

“Brother, why do you think Yangyang is a reasonable person?”

Indeed, Shen Hua, the legitimate daughter of the Shen family, was famous for being difficult to deal with and arrogant.

Her life had been smooth sailing and she had never suffered at all. Shen Zhi and Shen Chun had both died. After Shen Wei fell seriously ill, he had become even more indulgent toward his daughter.

Even when Shen Wei married Madam Shen Xue, he did not treat her badly.

Until…

In the dream, her brother’s face was replaced.

The scene before her was instead Shen Qu’s meticulously calculating dark eyes.

He bent down slightly and pinched Shen Hua’s chin with one hand. With a little force, Shen Hua bit her lips and stubbornly refused to let out a painful cry.

However, Shen Qu seemed to have gotten a kick out of it. He did not hold back at all as his fingers kneaded the woman’s pale lips. His voice sounded like a cold snake that was flicking its tongue.

“Yangyang, you should be more obedient.”

“You should be glad that Second Uncle and I are nice people and won’t take action about your escape today. No one here will stand up for you anymore. What daughter of the Shen family of Fengzhou? You’re just a pitiful little girl who has to rely on others.”

Shen Hua still could not believe that Elder Shen was actually in cahoots with these people.

“Shen Qu, let go of me. You will suffer retribution.”

Shen Qu looked at her enchanting face regretfully.

Although she looked ill, she also looked pitiful.

If it was not for the fact that the state judge wanted Shen Hua, he would have loved to find a dark room to lock her up and put shackles on her.

This way, he could do whatever he wanted.

He sighed softly.

“Yangyang, you’re the one in my heart.”

With a loud bang, the thunder outside the house made a deafening sound. Lightning streaked across the sky, instantly illuminating Shen Hua’s terrified and helpless face.