She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Shen Mingzhu kept comforting herself, saying that Shen Qingtan's happy life was only temporary, but she just couldn't bear to see Shen Qingtan living such a glamorous life.

In particular, her life in the second wife was not as pleasant as she had imagined.

"Tan'er and Zhu'er have returned with their husbands." Madam Shen greeted them warmly, "Please come in quickly."

Shen Qingtan and Shen Mingzhu went to the inner courtyard with Madam Shen.

Zhao Yi and Zhao Jue then accompanied the Marquis of Chengen to the outer courtyard.

As soon as Madam Shen entered Furong Garden, she sat in the main seat.

Shen Qingtan and Shen Mingzhu greeted their mother with "May Mother be blessed."

"Come quickly to your mother so I can take a good look at you." Madam Shen looked at Shen Qingtan with loving eyes: "Tan'er, you've been by my side for over ten years, never leaving me for this long. Now that you've married into the Zhao family, I won't be able to see you often anymore, and my heart aches so much that I haven't been able to sleep well these past few days. Especially the person you married..."

Her eyes welled up with tears as she said this, and she choked up as she said, "Your mother feels sorry for you and worries about you even more."

Shen Qingtan looked at Madam Shen with clear eyes. Her long hair was tied into a bun and adorned with kingfisher feather ornaments. Her face was gentle and beautiful. She wore a dark red short jacket with peony patterns and a green brocade horse-face skirt, which made her look even more elegant and noble.

She looked at Madam Shen, who was crying, and the heartache in her eyes seemed genuine.

If she hadn't lived through a lifetime, she would have been deceived by Madam Shen's kind motherly face long ago.

“Mother…” Shen Qingtan’s eyes reddened as she forced back her grievances and said, “Who would have thought that such an absurd thing as getting into the wrong bridal sedan chair would happen to me and my second sister? I’m afraid I can’t fulfill your expectations and can’t be the matriarch of the Zhao family.”

"Fate is cruel." Madam Shen hugged Shen Qingtan tightly. "My child, you have suffered so much."

Shen Qingtan shook her head: "I am not suffering, but I am grateful. My second sister has suffered for more than ten years. If she were to marry the second master, she would not have a few good years before she would be lonely for the rest of her life. As her older sister, I feel sorry for her. Whenever I think of her experiences, I wish I could take her place and suffer in her place."

Looking back now, it's true that my wish came true; my second sister married a good man with whom I could entrust my life.

I grew up with Third Master, and I know a thing or two about his character. I know he is a considerate and gentle man who will definitely treat Second Sister well.

Second Master's health is poor; the imperial physician says he will not have any children. I will treat Second Sister's children as my own, and all her dowry will be left to them.

Madam Shen's expression stiffened. After a moment of silence, she slowly released Shen Qingtan: "You have always been kind and considerate since you were little. You feel sorry for Zhu'er, but Zhu'er feels guilty towards you, her older sister. She has now gained a good husband for nothing. How can I let her enjoy a life of leisure while you suffer alone, working like a slave for her?"

"In my opinion, your husband is in poor health, so you should take good care of him and stay by his side. This will make him remember you and take care of you in the future. As for the dowry, it was originally intended for you and your sister, so you should just leave it to Zhu'er and let her share the burden."

Madam Shen glanced at Shen Mingzhu and reached out to touch Shen Qingtan's face: "You can't spoil her anymore. If there's anything she doesn't understand, you should teach her step by step. She should be allowed to stand on her own two feet. Otherwise, you'll have to clean up her messes all the time."

“Mother, you don’t know this, but some people in the Duke’s mansion are suspicious. My mistake of getting into the wrong bridal sedan chair was a scheme, not a mistake made in the chaos.” Shen Qingtan pressed her handkerchief to her eyes. “If I give my dowry to my second sister after returning home, wouldn’t outsiders suspect that she’s jealous of my life as a daughter in the Marquis’s mansion, that she’s suffering in the countryside, and that she’s trying to take revenge on me for stealing her brother-in-law, and now she’s trying to steal my dowry too?”

Madam Shen frowned.

"It's like melting metal and destroying bones, how can I let my second sister suffer like this?" Shen Qingtan pretended to be thinking of Shen Mingzhu's best interests: "The Duke's Mansion is not just for the two grandchildren of the second and third masters. The request for the title has not yet been issued, and the rumors have already spread, ruining my second sister's reputation. Wouldn't that also implicate my second sister's husband?"

Although Madam Shen was displeased by Shen Qingtan's retort, she also felt that Shen Qingtan's words made sense. She couldn't let the issue of over a hundred loads of dowry ruin Shen Mingzhu's reputation and cause Zhao Jue to lose his title.

Since Zhao Yi has no children, Zhao Jue will inherit the title in the future, and everything in the Duke's mansion will belong to Shen Mingzhu, including the more than one hundred loads of dowry held by Shen Qingtan.

Once Madam Shen understood the key point, she was no longer in a hurry: "Tan'er is right. Mother is so concerned for you that she has forgotten about Zhu'er's situation."

Shen Mingzhu knew she couldn't get her dowry back. Although she knew the scene of Madam Shen and Shen Qingtan being a loving mother and son was an act, she still found it jarring.

She pouted, "Mother is biased."

“I’m biased? Your sister plans for you in everything she does and considers your needs in everything she does. If you had any conscience, you wouldn’t say such a thing.” Madam Shen glared at Shen Mingzhu, then turned to Shen Qingtan with a gentle expression: “Tan’er, your grandmother loves you the most and has been thinking about your return home this morning. She has something to say to you alone, so go and pay your respects to her first.”

Shen Qingtan obediently stepped back.

Madam Shen suddenly remembered something: "Why didn't you bring any maids with you when you returned to your parents' home? Are you dissatisfied with the people serving you?"

Shen Qingtan lowered her eyes and replied, "Today I am taking Tingxue and Liuyue back to the Zhao residence. Second Sister only took two maids with her. If I take two more maids with me from the Zhao residence, then there will be four maids accompanying me, which is not appropriate."

Seeing that Shen Qingtan's reply was impeccable and that she had found a fault, Madam Shen waved her hand, indicating that she could leave.

Shen Qingtan left.

The servants in the room left and closed the door.

Shen Mingzhu's tears rolled down her cheeks: "Mother, I have a terrible time in the Zhao family. My mother-in-law is a strong-willed woman. I have to go to her every day to pay my respects and observe the proper etiquette. I have to serve her water and tea at every meal. Only after she has finished eating can I sit down to eat."

Zhao Jue is neither gentle nor considerate, and he shows no compassion for me. When he served tea earlier, he stared intently at Shen Qingtan. They have a childhood friendship spanning over a decade; how can I compare?

Zhao Yi, that sickly fellow, always treated Shen Qingtan well.

The First Madam doesn't need Shen Qingtan to set any rules; the food and supplies she uses are better than what we Second Madam's family has.

Why?

Why?

Shen Qingtan is nothing more than the daughter of a lowly merchant. She enjoyed a life of wealth and luxury for me for over a decade, and now she lives a more comfortable life in her husband's family than I do. I wish she were dead.

She buried her face in Madam Shen's lap and wept sadly.

“Silly child, her glory is only temporary. How can it compare to your lasting wealth?” Madam Shen rubbed her head. “The eldest wife and master of the Zhao family have some influence with the Duke. Zhao Yi will die sooner or later. You have to coax Shen Qingtan to work for you.”

"I don't want to coax her..."

“Zhu’er, you must endure what ordinary people cannot endure in order to get everything you want.” A fierce glint flashed in Madam Shen’s eyes, but her voice was extremely gentle: “Once Zhao Jue becomes the heir of the Duke’s mansion, if you want to get rid of her, your mother will not stop you.”

Shen Mingzhu bit her lip, an idea forming in her mind: "Do you know where her biological parents are?"