Chapter 5

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“Miss, Second Miss is here to see you.”

Jingzhe looked a little unhappy. “Why did she come at this time? Miss, you’re not fully recovered yet. You don’t have to see her.”

Gu Yu nudged Jingzhe’s arm, looking very worried.

Looking at the maids, Shen Miao felt relieved.

The four girls around her were all personally selected and trained by Shen Xin and his wife. They were loyal and quick-witted. Shen Miao was young, so she could not tell that the other branches were scheming against her, but the maids could.

Before she could speak, a girl walked in. She looked to be no more than 15 or 16 years old. She was wearing a light pink dress with pleats and a tassel. Her skin was fair, and her eyes were elegant and beautiful. Seeing Shen Miao, she quickly walked to the bed and said worriedly, “Fifth Sister, are you feeling better? After I found out that you fell into the water, I was anxious for a long time. However, the people in the Jade Grace Garden said that you wanted to rest, so I didn’t disturb you. I came over when I heard that you were awake.”

Shen Miao looked at the girl in front of her. This was the daughter of the Shen family’s third branch, Shen Yue.

Of the three daughters of the Shen family, Shen Qing was outgoing and generous. Shen Yue was famous for her talents, but only Shen Miao had a dull personality and was timid and talentless. Outsiders praised her for being “gentle and virtuous”, but in fact, they all knew that she was not good at anything. She was the most unpresentable daughter of the Shen family.

In her previous life, before Shen Miao got married, she had the best relationship with Shen Yue. Shen Yue was gentle and considerate, and most of the time, she could help Shen Miao come up with ideas. However, at that time, Shen Miao could not tell if this idea was good or bad.

This time, Shen Yue probably came to plead for Shen Qing.

As expected, Shen Yue said, “Fifth Sister, Eldest Sister made a mistake that day. Now that you’ve already recovered, I hope Fifth Sister can forgive her. When First Sister heard that you had a fever, she blamed herself. Can you forgive First Sister this time? She didn’t mean to embarrass you in front of the Duke of Ding.”

It would have been better if she didn’t say that. Everyone knew that the Duke of Ding was Shen Miao’s Prince Charming. Shen Miao was a person who could take a beating, but when it came to Duke of Ding, she definitely wouldn’t back down. If she didn’t mention Prince Ding, Shen Miao might just leave this matter at that. This time, Shen Yue deliberately mentioned the Duke of Ding. Wasn’t she trying to start a dispute between Shen Miao and Shen Qing?

It was the same in her previous life. As soon as she woke up, Shen Yue rushed over to “plead” for Shen Qing. This plea made Shen Miao furious. She was usually a soft-spoken person, but for the sake of her Prince Charming, she accused Shen Qing of pushing her into the water in front of Old Madam Shen. However, Shen Qing refused to admit it, and the people around said that they did not see Shen Qing push Shen Yue. Old Madam Shen was biased towards the second and third branches, so she naturally took the opportunity to teach Shen Miao a lesson. “How outrageous. Did I ever teach you to lie and slander your sisters? Lock her up.”

Later, news of this spread to the Imperial College, and Shen Miao became the laughing stock of her classmates. In her shame and anger, she stopped going to Imperial College. Later on… she gradually faded away from the circle of rich girls in the capital.

Now that she thought about it, she realized that her world had always been limited by the people in the General’s mansion set for her. She thought that she was virtuous and ladylike, but she did not know that outsiders thought that she was weak and ignorant. She thought that she was brave because she liked the Duke of Ding, but they did not know that outsiders called her shameless.

Although she successfully married Fu Xiuyi later on, she was still called unpresentable by the officials. Even her subjects thought she was stupid and ignorant.

What a stupid past!

Shen Yue stroked Shen Miao’s shoulder worriedly and smiled.

She knew that with Shen Miao’s personality, she would definitely fly into a rage at the mention of Fu Xiuyi. However, after waiting for a long time, Shen Miao still did not react. Shen Yue looked over with a confused look and saw a smile on Shen Miao’s face.

The girl’s face was still very pale, and her lips were dry. Only her dark eyes were bubbly and tempting.

Shen Miao’s eyes were the best-looking. They were large and almond-shaped. She was confused and timid like a newborn kitten.

Now, Shen Yue seemed to have seen a trace of ruthlessness in that pair of almond-shaped eyes, something she had never seen in Shen Miao.

Shen Yue shuddered. For some reason, she felt an indescribable fear in her heart. It was as if she was not facing a stupid fool but a person of high status.

Why did she feel that way?

She naturally did not know that the Shen Miao in front of her was no longer that Shen Miao people used to know. The Shen Miao in front of her was the Shen Miao who had experienced the competition for the throne, the war, the competition for favor, the loss of her son, and the death of her family.

She was Empress Shen, who had once controlled the palace.

After a while of silence, Shen Miao rubbed Shen Yue on the head and said softly, “Second Sister, don’t worry. This has nothing to do with First Sister. I accidentally fell into the water.”

“Fifth Sister…” Shen Yue did not expect Shen Miao to say that. She was stunned for a moment before saying with a shake of her hand,” Fifth Sister, you don’t have to make yourself suffer. ”

“Of course not.” Shen Miao interrupted her with a smile. “It’s just a small matter. I’m still a little dizzy and want to rest for a while. If there’s anything, let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

At this point, Shen Yue could not say anything else. She found it strange that Shen Miao was not very friendly to her today, but that was probably because Shen Miao made a fool of herself in front of Fu Xiuyi. After saying a few more words, Shen Yue left.

After Shen Yue left, Gu Yu said, “Our miss was pushed into the water and almost lost her life. Why did she have to beg for mercy on behalf of Eldest Miss?” Gu Yu was indirectly reminding Shen Miao that Shen Yue was up to no good.

“She probably wants to reap the benefits of me arguing with Gu Wing.”

Gu Yu was surprised that Shen Miao could finally see Shen Yue’s true colors. She looked up and saw that there was a serious expression on her miss’s face, making people inexplicably nervous.

Shen Miao looked at her fingertips.

Why did Shen Qing push her into the water? It was because she said, “When my father comes back after fighting off the Xiongnu, I’ll get him to marry me to the Duke of Ding.”

Shen Miao felt that they were family, so she didn’t hold back from Shen Qing. Shen Xin was a general in the court, and it was not impossible for him to marry his daughter to a duke.

But why did Shen Yue want to sow discord between her and Shen Qing?

Naturally, it was because Shen Yue also liked the Duke of Ding.

In her previous life, when she was on the verge of death, Shen Yue and Shen Qing told her that they had loved Fu Xiuyi for a long time.

Since the two of them were infatuated with Fu Xiuyi, Shen Miao would do them the favor.

She would definitely make their wish come true. The blood debt that the second and third branches owed the entire Shen family in their previous life would be repaid bit by bit from now on.