You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Aunt Liu thanked Shen Cong'an and presented him with a pair of children's shoes. They weren't very expensive, but it was easy to see that the maker had put a lot of thought into them.

"I don't have anything of value, but I made a pair of shoes for Mo Ge'er. I hope you won't find them offensive, sir."

Aunt Liu's eyes revealed timidity, but she remained sensible, instructing her maid to hold the shoes while she waited for Shen Cong'an's instructions.

Shen Cong'an nodded, and the servant beside him went to take the items. Only then did the maid hand them over. Both master and servant were very well-mannered.

Although Shen Mo was well protected by him, he never worried about things like clothing. Suddenly, he felt that he, as a father, had failed in his duty.

“Since you are not an ungrateful person, I will tell you one more thing. You may all leave.”

Shen Cong'an lowered his voice and dismissed the servants who were not involved. A deep meaning appeared in his eyes. "The reason you almost slipped and hurt your baby, and went through this ordeal, is all because of Fu Rou. When she harmed you, she used Xie Wanru's pearl necklace. She wanted to pin the blame on Xie Wanru if anyone investigated. Shen Nian'an has long been blinded by her, but I know it all very clearly."

When Aunt Liu heard that Fu Rou was the one who harmed her, her expression changed immediately. When she learned that Shen Nian'an knew the truth but was kept in the dark, a look of shock and anger flashed in her eyes.

She never expected Fu Rou to be so ruthless, nor did she expect that the Second Master would be so infatuated with this woman. The child in her womb was the Second Master's child! Couldn't even blood ties hold a place in the Second Master's heart?

Seeing that she had taken it to heart, Shen Cong'an continued, "Xie Wanru hates the Shen family and Shen Nian'an, but she has no reason to harm you. If she wanted to, she would target Shen Yanzhi or Shen Yu'er directly, since they are the apple of Fu Rou and Shen Nian'an's eye. I believe you should be well aware of this."

Aunt Liu's brows furrowed. During the few days she had been recuperating, she had wondered if she had been harmed by someone, but when she asked the Second Master, he said it was because she had been careless.

Her maid clearly found the pearl, but in her haste to save her, she didn't know where the pearl went.

It turns out that all of this was arranged by the Second Master. He didn't want her to know. In his eyes, she and the child in her womb were insignificant.

Aunt Liu opened her mouth, her voice trembling slightly, "I know I'm just a lowly concubine, I have no right to dream of being a proper wife. I just want a child to rely on, so I can have someone to depend on in my old age. Why... she has a child too, how could she be so heartless..."

"Although we have had our disagreements and weren't exactly on good terms, how come she..."

Aunt Liu was still somewhat incredulous.

Shen Cong'an didn't want to dwell on this issue, so he interrupted her muttering, "I'm telling you this so that you can see clearly who your enemies are and who your friends are in the future. Shen Nian'an could poison me for her own selfish desires, making me unconscious for so many years. What's so strange about Fu Rou harming your child to gain a foothold? They were two scoundrels in the first place."

After he finished speaking, Aunt Liu stopped muttering.

She knew the reason for the stalemate between the eldest and second eldest uncles; it wasn't a secret in the Shen family. She just hadn't believed it before, but now that she heard the eldest uncle say it himself, she believed it.

She understood what the old man meant, and she knew that Xie Wanru would never stoop to such methods. If Xie Wanru didn't want her to get pregnant, she had many ways to do so, but she had never interfered during the two years she had been in the Shen family.

Sometimes she even felt that Xie Wanru didn't like the Second Master at all, which was why she was unwilling to share a room with him.

Aunt Liu was somewhat confused, but she quickly regained her composure and said in a low voice, "Sir, although I am not talented, I am grateful for your kindness. I will never forget your and the Princess's great kindness. Please do not hesitate to ask if you ever need my help."

Aunt Liu gave a slight curtsy.

She was disappointed in Shen Nian'an. Shen Nian'an was too fond of Fu Rou and didn't care about her and the child's life or death at all.

As for Shen Nian'an seeking help everywhere, her current understanding is that Shen Nian'an is simply feeling guilty.

Shen Cong'an nodded in satisfaction. He knew that Aunt Liu was a smart woman, and she understood immediately.

He continued, "Your health is weak right now, so you need to take good care of yourself. I will have someone protect you secretly to prevent Fu Rou from harming you. As for Shen Nian'an, you should not clash with him for the time being. He is, after all, the second master of this mansion. As a concubine, you will not gain anything by openly opposing him."

Aunt Liu was moved to tears and nodded repeatedly.

She knew she was just a minor character in this power struggle within the family, but with the support of Shen Cong'an and Xie Wanru, she seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

She trusted Shen Cong'an's character.

This is someone both the Emperor and the Crown Prince approve of. She believes Shen Cong'an wouldn't lie to her, and besides, the old man is so considerate.

She's only thinking about how to ensure her child's birth; she doesn't care about anyone else.

"I will obey your orders, sir."

Although Aunt Liu's voice was weak, it revealed her firmness and determination.

Seeing this, Shen Cong'an nodded.

He knew that Aunt Liu was a trustworthy person, and that as long as she was on his side, he would have a better chance of winning against Fu Rou and Shen Nian'an.

He is always thorough in his work. His only mistake was being tricked by Shen Nian'an and falling into a coma for two years. He will not let such a mistake happen again.

Upon learning of these events, Aunt Liu returned to her room and immediately lay down. She had learned too much and was still unable to process it all.

First of all, her current predicament was caused by that vicious woman, Fu Rou. Fu Rou, with her clever schemes, secretly gave birth to a son outside the mansion and then instigated Shen Nian'an to bring her back to the mansion. She even... coaxed Shen Nian'an into committing illicit acts in Xie Wanru's room.

They are truly two shameless scoundrels!

At this moment, in her heart, Shen Nian'an was not the Second Master she knew.

Secondly, there's Uncle Shen Cong'an, who turns out to be Xie Wanru's ally. She knows their goals without them having to explicitly tell her.

For a favored princess of Yongchang to deal with a second son of the Shen family, while it wouldn't be an easy task, it wouldn't be difficult either.

With the addition of the old man, and considering their combined strength, Aunt Liu could already guess the fate of Fu Rou and Shen Nian'an.

Shen Cong'an kept his word and quietly added another person to her courtyard. Although the person was Shen Cong'an's man, he only stayed outside her door. He was not monitoring her every move, but rather keeping an eye on everyone who came into contact with her.

She is currently pregnant and will not go out. Moreover, she knows that as a concubine, there is little point in monitoring her.