Chapter 65: The Matron’s Test

"Indeed, it is a most opportune moment." Lady Gu nodded her head and continued, "Let the eldest young lady visit the third household. After all, we are not yet separated as families. Since we are one, someone must go and try to persuade them."

"Let us go see the old madam."

Lady Gu and Shen Tangyu seized the chance, taking hold of the third household’s disgrace and presenting it directly to Old Madam Shen. For sisters to harbor such ill intent toward each other, and for the one nearly harmed to be the not-yet-one-year-old Shen Xingyu—any trace of sympathy people might have felt for Shen Moyu over her illness vanished in an instant.

"Third son, are you simply going to indulge your wife and daughter in their nonsense?" Old Madam Shen had always cared deeply for the Shen family’s reputation. Were this matter to become known outside, it would bring shame upon them all. Yet seeing Shen Moyu’s frantic, agitated state, she found little cause for leniency. "Sixth girl has harmed her own sister. Once she is recovered, she will kneel in the ancestral hall for two full days before she may rise!"

"As for you, third daughter-in-law, return and reflect on your actions. Hand your duties over to the eldest daughter-in-law. Consider carefully what you have done wrong."

Yue Shi was stripped of her authority, Shen Moyu was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall, and the Third Master’s face was darkened with shame. After a further scolding from the old madam, it was only when she departed that Lady Gu and Shen Tangyu made a show of offering false comfort to Yue Shi and Shen Moyu. Still unwell, Shen Moyu had no patience for their insincere words. After noisily driving the people from the main household away, she turned on Yue Shi and shouted, "Are you satisfied now? Are you satisfied?"

Yue Shi sat numbly on the ground. Only now, after losing her power, did she realize she had fallen into a trap. No matter what Shen Moyu had done to Shen Xingyu, when the doors were closed, it would have remained a private affair within the third household, causing little commotion. But that morning, seeing Shen Moyu humiliated, she was so blinded by rage that she ran to Shen Fuyu, learned the truth, and impulsively scolded Shen Moyu…

In the end, the main household reaped all the benefits!

The business of drugging the child—it was clear now that Shen Fuyu had deliberately let her discover it!

Moyu’s temperament mirrored her own: once angered, she was bound to cause a scene. Shen Fuyu had calculated that she, furious over Xingyu, would go after Moyu, and that Moyu, in turn, would quarrel with her in anger, allowing the matter to spiral out of control and burst into the open!

Yue Shi sat with her hands in her lap, stunned. She had never realized before how cunning Shen Fuyu truly was!

...

"Madam, the First Lady is here."

After a morning of turmoil and having just finished her midday meal, Shen Fuyu was contemplating whether to stir up more trouble when Lady Gu arrived of her own accord. Shen Fuyu eagerly wiped her mouth, coughed softly, and said, "Invite Mother in."

Lady Gu, ever the image of a loving mother in public, entered with her personal maids and the family physician in tow.

"Did you sleep well last night, my lady?" Lady Gu followed proper etiquette, bowing before taking a seat at Shen Fuyu’s gesture. "I know that in the palace you have a daily pulse examination. The manor may not match the palace in every way, but we must still be careful. Let the physician check your pulse."

"Mother, you are always so thoughtful. I trouble you with every little thing," Shen Fuyu replied serenely, extending her wrist for the physician. As she waited for the pulse diagnosis, she said, "The third household has been in an uproar all morning, but finally, there is peace."

Lady Gu studied her closely before replying cautiously, "Yes, and it’s all that Mo girl’s fault. Who knows what possessed her to try to drug Xingyu? If the child had really eaten it yesterday, such a little one—how could she have borne it?"

"Perhaps it was my fault," Shen Fuyu said softly. "Maybe I went too far with my teasing yesterday, and the sixth sister was overcome by anger. Sadly, her methods were far too clumsy."

"You are not to blame, my lady. The fault lies with her for harboring evil intentions." Lady Gu had made up her mind: Shen Fuyu was indeed a changed person. It wasn’t that Shen Moyu had suffered the consequences of her own actions; she had been caught by Shen Fuyu, who had turned the scheme back on her! This wretched girl was no simple creature—her words yesterday had swayed the master’s stance, and today’s commotion in the third household was also her doing. Yet, with her status and no direct involvement in the drugging, even the old madam dismissed her earlier incident with the paper offerings as if it had never happened. In just two months, the transformation was astonishing.

"Physician, how is the dragon child in my womb?" Shen Fuyu’s question abruptly broke Lady Gu’s reverie, and the physician immediately knelt.

"My lady, rest assured—the imperial child is strong and healthy, all is well!" the physician declared. "I have never seen such a robust fetal pulse before. With your great fortune, this child will certainly be born healthy and sound."

Shen Fuyu nodded, her hand resting lightly on her belly, marveling once again at the wonders her secret space provided.

The world within her secret space truly did have everything!

Lady Gu smiled warmly. "My lady, you are truly blessed! Not suffering from morning sickness is the best fortune. Otherwise, if you were constantly nauseous and unable to eat, the child would suffer as well."

"I think so too. This little one is already showing me care, even from the womb!" Shen Fuyu played her part with Lady Gu, for after all, this was the child she had painstakingly nurtured, and she could only hope it would be hardy enough to withstand the winter. "Mother, did you come today for something in particular?"

"Oh, nothing in particular. I just found a moment to come and see you." Lady Gu forced a smile, her motherly demeanor ever flawless. She glanced at Shen Fuyu, mind set. "You are only two months along, and not yet stable. With this morning’s commotion in the third household, I worried something might have happened to you."

"There’s no need for concern, Mother. The only pity is that I wasted some paper offerings—sixth sister won’t be able to receive them in the afterlife now."

Shen Fuyu smiled indifferently, as if the whole affair was nothing to her. "But in the end, Mother, you have profited from disaster. In the past, Third Aunt was always competing with you. Now, you have taken everything back."

Lady Gu followed her lead, "All thanks to you, my lady. Otherwise, I would never have imagined things could go so smoothly."

"The Shen family is led by our main household. If the third household wants to seize power, they must first consider whether they are capable," Shen Fuyu’s eyes glinted. Since Lady Gu wished to curry favor, she would let her. "I, too, was born into the main household. Naturally, I am of one mind with Mother. Yet, though His Majesty cherishes me, it is lonely in the palace. And ever since I became pregnant, the emperor has begun to show favor to others. My heart feels most unsettled."

"I was thinking, since His Majesty has permitted family members to enter the palace to attend me, my eldest sister, who has long been close to me, would be the best choice." She smiled at Lady Gu before continuing, "But His Majesty also said that, since I enjoy lively company, I may bring several with me. Whom does Mother think would make a suitable second candidate?"