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

Madam Shen's expression froze. Not only did Shen Qingtan want it, but she wanted the pawnshop that was doing well.

Pawnbroking is a sure-fire way to make money; everyone has powerful backers.

It's already a monopoly; if someone wants to open a new one, the government simply won't approve it.

Shen Qingtan feigned unease and asked, "Mother, should I not have made this request?"

"Your mother is just very surprised. You never wanted any rewards in the past, but today you're asking for them." Madam Shen joked, then sighed, "The things your mother has are for all of you siblings. It doesn't matter whether I give them to you sooner or later."

"Mother treats me the best." Shen Qingtan smiled brightly, took Madam Shen's hand, and said softly, "Mother, I'm going with you now to get the house deed and the pawnshop deed. When we get back to the manor, I'm going to tell my husband that no matter who I marry, you will love me just the same as always. You won't stop loving me just because he's not well."

Madam Shen looked at Shen Qingtan with a probing gaze, wondering if she was scheming to get the shop or worried about being abandoned and needed to hold onto something to prove to Zhao Yi that she had a powerful family backing her.

She originally intended to delay handing over the property deed and then find another excuse to get rid of it, but now she's been put on the spot and has no choice but to give it to them.

"As the saying goes, children are a debt to their parents. If we don't care about you, who will we care about?" Madam Shen said wearily, her face full of weariness. "Come with me to get the house deed."

Shen Qingtan helped Madam Shen back to Furong Garden.

Looking at their joyful scene, Shen Mingzhu's tears welled up inexplicably, and an indescribable sense of grievance rose in her heart.

Today, Shen Qingtan was not taught a lesson. Her mother casually let the matter drop and even gave Shen Qingtan a shop, abandoning even her own daughter.

Shen Mingzhu hated Shen Qingtan even more. She wiped away her tears haphazardly and followed far behind them to Furong Garden.

She watched helplessly as Madam Shen handed the deed to Shen Qingtan, her nails digging deep into her palms, the stinging pain keeping her calm.

Shen Qingtan tucked the house deed into her sleeve: "Mother, you must be tired today. Shall I help you to the inner room to rest?"

Madam Shen didn't want to look at Shen Qingtan any longer: "Zhao Yi is unwell, go and see him."

"Alright." Shen Qingtan bid farewell to Madam Shen, then looked at Shen Mingzhu, who was bowing her head, and asked in a friendly tone, "Second sister, would you like to come along?"

Shen Mingzhu suppressed her resentment: "Elder sister, you should go back first. I still have something to say to Mother."

"Alright, you can talk to your mother for a while." Shen Qingtan glanced at her clenched fist, her eyes softening even more: "Your mother is upset about Wei Mama's matter, you should comfort her."

Shen Mingzhu watched Shen Qingtan leave, feeling wronged and wanting to tell Madam Shen, but before she could speak, Madam Shen asked, "Lvyuan, do you know how Wei Mama arranged things?"

Green Kite knelt on the ground, and said with trepidation, "Replying to Madam, Madam Wei is cautious in her actions and always does things herself. She has never told this servant how the arrangements were made."

Madam Shen was furious and overturned the incense burner on the kang table.

"boom--"

Shen Mingzhu and Lü Yuan trembled with fear.

Madam Shen's face was contorted with rage.

Is this a case of no one being able to prove anything after someone dies?

Shen Shaoheng is the murderer.

What she wanted to know was what role Shen Qingtan played in all of this.

No matter what, she didn't believe Shen Qingtan was innocent!

Shen Mingzhu cried out in fear, "Mother... Mother..."

"Go back first." Madam Shen had suffered a great loss, and her head was throbbing with pain. She really didn't have the energy to deal with Shen Mingzhu. "If you need anything, have Wan Dong send me a message."

Shen Mingzhu's face was pale, her fingers clenched tightly, and she forced a stiff smile as she said, "Okay, you get some rest. I'll be going now."

Madam Shen leaned against the large pillow on the kang (a heated brick bed) and gave a nonchalant "hmm".

Shen Mingzhu left with red eyes. She had originally followed her mother, hoping her mother would give her a shop. Even if she didn't get her dowry back, at least she would have something to give to the second branch of the family.

If the Second Madam knew that Shen Qingtan had acquired a pawnshop while she returned empty-handed, she would surely be furious with her.

She walked out of Furong Garden and instructed Wan Dong and Zhong Xia beside her: "Don't reveal a word about Mother giving Shen Qingtan a shop in the Duke's mansion."

The two replied, "We wouldn't dare."

-

Shen Qingtan left Furong Garden with Liuyue and Tingxue. The smile on her face disappeared, and she walked straight to the front yard.

Liu Yue was preoccupied with her thoughts. Seeing that no one was around, she asked in a low voice, "Miss, how did you know that Mama Wei was going to harm us?"

Shen Qingtan lowered her eyelashes and said slowly, "When I returned to my parents' home, my mother specifically asked me why I didn't bring Chun Jiao and Qiu Chan with me today. I don't use her people, I only trust the two of you. She wants to put people around me and gain my favor, so she has to get rid of you, and today is a good opportunity."

Having been given a second chance at life, Shen Qingtan likes to plan ahead and prepare for anything in advance.

Not knowing what would happen on her way back to the Shen residence, she deliberately didn't take the box of jade bean cakes off the carriage, leaving it as an excuse to escape.

After Madam Shen mentioned the maid, she had a better understanding of the situation. Later, when she met Shen Shaoheng at Jufutang and remembered his past life, she went back to her room to rest and instructed Liuyue to inquire about Shen Shaoheng's whereabouts.

Upon learning that Shen Shaoheng had gone to Wanfeng Pavilion, she made two plans and discussed countermeasures with Liuyue and Tingxue in advance.

Not seeing Shen Shaoheng and Aunt Mei in the side hall, Shen Qingtan confirmed her suspicions.

Madam Shen is skilled at using others to do her dirty work. She will definitely take advantage of this opportunity to expose the affair between Shen Shaoheng and Aunt Mei, and also use them to get rid of Liuyue and Tingxue.

Liu Yue and Ting Xue looked at Shen Qingtan with admiration. Their mistress was always calm and decisive in the face of adversity. She had actually guessed Madam Shen's motives from these trivial matters.

At that time, in the master's boudoir, the master instructed them that if anyone tried to distract them under various pretexts and lead them to the Wanfeng Pavilion, one of them should change into Wei Mama's clothes and throw a money bag near the rockery. The other should avoid being seen and lead Wei Mama to the Wanfeng Pavilion. After the deed was done, they should leave the mansion and retrieve the jade bean cake from the carriage.

They initially thought their master was overly worried, but it turned out that his foresight saved their lives.

Liu Yue clenched the note in her hand. It was a secret slip of paper that her master had hidden in her handkerchief. It contained information about Shen Shaoheng's affair with Aunt Mei at Wanfeng Pavilion and instructed her to act accordingly.

Looking back on everything that happened, she said with lingering fear, "Fortunately, you had the foresight to save us from disaster."

Shen Qingtan's strategy was to win hearts and minds; she had to thoroughly understand everyone's psychology to make this move. Otherwise, one wrong step could lead to total defeat.

He was willing to risk his life; he could be considered a crazy gambler.

She should be grateful that Madam Wei treated Madam Shen as her own daughter. When doing shady things for Madam Shen, she didn't like to arrange for people around Madam Shen to do them. Instead, she would choose other suitable people and then silence them after the matter was completed, leaving no hidden dangers to harm Madam Shen.

To ensure everything goes smoothly, Wei's mother will definitely keep a close watch nearby, and may even add fuel to the fire at the right time.

Otherwise, it would take a lot of effort to get rid of Wei's mother.

Shen Qingtan turned back to look at Furong Garden, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

Shen Shaoheng was not a good person. In his previous life, he had never been on guard against Madam Shen, which led to his crushing defeat.

In this life, she is the one who drives things from behind the scenes, and the conflict between Madam Shen and Shen Shaoheng intensifies. She hopes that Shen Shaoheng will not disappoint her.