High-class maid

"Congratulations to Miss Shen and Mr. Song! We're all looking forward to your wedding!"

Eunuch Su put away the imperial edict and said, half-jokingly.

"Since we can't attend the wedding banquet, why don't we come inside and have a cup of tea?"

Shen Kun also greeted him with a smile.

"No need, we have things to attend to at home. You all continue." After saying this, Eunuch Su flicked his whisk and led his men out of the house.

"It's a small token of my appreciation for your personal visit, Father-in-law. Please keep it for your tea." Madam Wang caught up with him and presented him with a large red envelope.

"Alright, alright, then we won't stand on ceremony. We'll share in the joy! Madam Shen, your good fortune is yet to come!"

After seeing off Eunuch Su, the people from Zuixianlou delivered the ordered banquet. Even the maids and servants who had brought them gathered in the front courtyard to eat, and they all ate the finest food, the same as what the masters ate in the back.

In an instant, everyone's goodwill towards the Shen family increased even more.

After a busy afternoon, she finally saw off the last group of guests. Shen Wanning lay on her small bed without any regard for her image and soon fell asleep with her eyes drooping.

In a deserted street corner, Shen Zhiyuan stared at the brand-new plaque: Shen Residence. How ironic! Why was Shen Kun now enjoying boundless glory, while he himself was struggling to make ends meet? Where was even a trace of the scholar he once was?

"We're born of the same father, so why is he the highly respected Master Shen, and why am I not? He must have stolen my luck! He must have!"

Shen Zhiyuan looked somewhat frantic, his eyes, wide open and bloodshot, were terrifying in the silent darkness.

He had been standing on the street secretly watching all day. Even the servants ate better than him. Was he, a scholar, living worse than the servants?

"Husband, let's go back."

Shen Zhiyuan's wife offered her advice in a submissive manner.

This trip to the capital was to treat her illness. She had been married for so many years but had not conceived. The already kind-hearted Lady Qi was now even more timid, afraid of offending Shen Zhiyuan.

"What's there to be afraid of? Is he going to hire someone to beat me up? I'm his own brother! There's no way he can enjoy all the wealth and privilege all to himself!"

Shen Zhiyuan waved his hands and pushed Qi Shi to the ground.

"pain!"

Madam Qi clutched her stomach and cried out, her face contorted in pain.

Shen Zhiyuan thought she was just whining, and continued to stare at the Shen residence without turning his head, as if trying to see through the thick walls to see what was inside.

"My lord, it hurts."

Qi's voice wasn't as loud as before, and she broke out in a cold sweat. She felt a warm current flowing from her thigh, as if something was slowly drifting away from her.

Shen Zhiyuan turned around impatiently, about to reprimand her, when he saw a pool of blood beneath Qi Shi! His legs went weak, and only one thought crossed his mind.

Oh no!

"Your wife was already in poor health, and she had finally become pregnant but miscarried. I'm afraid she will have difficulty conceiving again in the future."

In an inn on the outskirts of the capital, a doctor finished taking a pulse and said regretfully.

"What? You miscarried? You're so useless, you can't even save a baby!" Shen Zhiyuan felt like he was about to vomit blood from anger! The child he had longed for for so long was lost with a simple push!

Qi remained silent, staring blankly at the rooftop.

"That's not how it works. A fetus is the result of the union of a man and a woman. If the man is healthy, he won't miscarry easily. I suppose this gentleman's health isn't so good either."

The doctor glanced at Shen Zhiyuan sideways and said with disdain.

He's a doctor with many years of experience! He can tell at a glance whether this man has any health problems! His eyes are unfocused, his voice is weak, and his palms are sweaty—a typical case of Yang deficiency!

"What nonsense are you talking about! I'm perfectly healthy!"

Shen Zhiyuan glanced at Madam Qi with some guilt, afraid that she might have overheard something useful. Fortunately, Madam Qi was too preoccupied with her grief to pay attention to what the two were saying.

The old doctor snorted coldly. In all his years of medical practice, this was the first time he had ever seen a woman miscarry. Instead of showing concern, he was blaming her. Although the woman was weak, she could still give birth if she was properly cared for. Sigh.

"The fetus has not completely left the body. I will prescribe some medicine. You should quickly decoct it and give it to your wife. She will bleed again in half an hour. Remember not to be exposed to cold wind."

"How much silver? Don't use the expensive herbs, I'm afraid of attracting thieves, so I only brought a little silver."

Shen Zhiyuan said, his face flushed.

What a shame!

When have I ever been so humiliated?!

It's all Shen Kun's fault! If it weren't for him, how come I'm short of money?

The old doctor sighed. Well, this young lady is pitiful. I'll just add some good medicinal herbs to her medicine as a good deed.

The next day, Shen Zhiyuan felt sorry for the money spent on the inn and took Qi Shi, who had just miscarried, back to the village. He originally wanted to keep it from his mother, but how could Pang Shi, who had been shrewd all her life, not know what was going on?

She felt she had committed a terrible sin, and muttered something about how fortunes change, before she couldn't catch her breath and passed away.

Overwhelmed with grief, Shen Zhiyuan felt as if the sky had fallen. He had lived his entire life under the protection of the Pang family, and even now that he was an adult, the Pang family was still in charge. Now that the Pang family was gone, he had no idea what to do.

"Announce the death, yes, announce the death! Shen Kun won't abandon me, I'm his own brother!"

Shen Zhiyuan had no time to grieve, and he didn't even touch Pang's corpse. He hurriedly went to the capital to find Shen Kun.

As long as I'm willing to back down, Shen Kun will definitely soften his heart; after all, I'm his only younger brother!

In the Shen residence, Shen Wanning was sighing inside.

"Miss, what's wrong? Why are you sighing like this? Would you like us to massage your shoulders?"

Xuejian, the servant bestowed upon him by the Emperor, asked.

Doukou also looked at Shen Wanning with a worried expression.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to go out and play, but my mom won't let me!"

Shen Wanniang sighed again and slumped onto the table, continuing to dejected.

Being engaged is no fun at all! Why won't she be allowed to go out! She hasn't been to Jinxiufang in ages! Even though Jin'er comes to deliver account books every day.

“You’re a grown woman now, and you’re engaged, so naturally you can’t leave the manor as freely as before,” Xuejian comforted her.

“Yes, young lady, Madam asked you to finish writing this large character. There’s also a musician to teach you to play the zither this afternoon!” Doukou chimed in.

"Tomorrow you'll learn flower arranging, tomorrow afternoon you'll have tea tasting, and the day after tomorrow you'll learn chess. I heard that Madam is finding a retired palace maid for you to teach you household management!"

Xuejian counted on her fingers as she spoke.

Shen Wanning covered her ears, feeling like her head was about to explode. No one had ever told her that becoming a lady required so much knowledge!

"Hey, why is Mother rushing out like that? Come on, let's follow her and see!"

Shen Wanning glanced at Wang Shi outside the window and saw her mother running around without regard for her image, clearly something had happened.