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

Liu Yue opened the tightly closed door, and a young man stood outside.

Shen Qingtan turned her head and saw that the man had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, was handsome and upright, and was dressed in a blue lotus color, which made him look like a dragon and a phoenix.

Liu Yue recognized the newcomer as Shen Shaohuai, the second young master of the Chengen Marquis's mansion and the eldest son of Madam Shen.

Suppressing her surprise, she curtsied and greeted him: "Second Master."

Shen Shaohuai nodded slightly, stepped into the house, and stood a few steps away from Shen Qingtan. He looked at her plain and charming face with a dark gaze, and her clear and bright eyes were free of any filth.

This seemingly naive woman caused my mother to suffer several setbacks at her hands.

"Haven't seen you for a while, Second Brother? Don't you recognize your sister?" Shen Qingtan smiled and gracefully stood up, saying, "When I returned to my parents' home, I had something to say to you, Second Brother, but unfortunately you and Third Brother weren't here."

"Second brother just felt that his eldest sister had changed a lot after getting married."

Shen Shaohuai withdrew his scrutinizing gaze, sat down beside her, and said somewhat apologetically, "Second brother is studying at the Shuchang Hall, so he can't get away to go home when you return to your parents' home."

After a brief pause, he said with a smile in his eyes, "I originally planned to visit you and my second sister today, but I didn't expect to receive your letter first."

Shen Qingtan looked at Shen Shaohuai in front of her. His eyes and brows were full of kindness, as if he really regarded her as a beloved younger sister.

On the day of her wedding, it should have been Shen Shaohuai who carried her on his back.

When chaos broke out in the manor, she nearly fell and clung tightly to his sleeve.

Shen Shaohuai broke free from her hand, helped Shen Mingzhu who was standing to the side, and then carried Shen Mingzhu onto the bridal sedan chair.

Shen Qingtan deliberately brought up the day of her wedding: "On my wedding day, I was knocked down by someone, and it was only thanks to my second brother that I was caught and didn't make a fool of myself. I've specially invited you here today to catch up."

Then, she said very understandingly, "Second brother, Father and Mother have high hopes for you. You should focus on your studies. If you rise to a high position in the future, you will be able to support me and my second sister."

Shen Shaohuai was the apple of Madam Shen's eye, and she poured all her heart and soul into him.

The Marquis of Chengen also valued him highly and groomed him as his successor to the title.

Shen Shaohuai lived up to expectations, excelling in his studies. Both his teachers and classmates said he had the talent to become the top scholar.

Unfortunately, Shen Shaohuai caught a cold during this year's imperial examination and only achieved the first place in the second class, thus entering the Shuchang Hall for further studies.

Upon hearing Shen Qingtan's words, Shen Shaohuai did not mention a word about how he hadn't been the one to support her that day, thus tacitly acknowledging her misunderstanding.

He said gently, "Even if you get married, you will still be my sisters, and your second brother will naturally be your support."

"Second brother, you must live up to his expectations." Shen Qingtan said with a downcast expression, "My second brother-in-law has only been married for a few days, but he has already taken a concubine and spends every day at her place, neglecting my second sister."

Shen Shaohuai's face darkened. He had heard his mother talk about this matter before; it was all Shen Qingtan's scheme against Shen Mingzhu.

"Second Master was in poor health and said he couldn't give me any children, but he kept a mistress in the wine alley of South Water Street."

Shen Qingtan pressed a handkerchief to her eyes and said bitterly, "That mistress only dared to make a scene in front of me because she is favored by the emperor."

Shen Shaohuai was surprised. Zhao Yi was sickly and seemed to have no desires, but he was actually a womanizer.

He noticed that Shen Qingtan's eyes were red, as if she was genuinely feeling wronged and sad.

Shen Shaohuai's heart stirred slightly, but he comforted her, saying, "Little sister, don't be sad. Your second brother will investigate. If what you say is true, I will definitely get justice for you."

"Second brother, don't go. If others find out, they might say that our Marquis's family has failed in raising its daughters properly, and that every one of them is jealous. The reputation of the unmarried sisters in the family will also be affected."

Shen Qingtan sobbed, "My father always puts the greater good first and taught me to be virtuous and magnanimous since I was a child. Although my mother spoils and pampers me, she is impartial in matters of principle. If she knew that I was an outsider, I would lose the demeanor of a proper wife and go against the cultivation my mother has made of me over the years. I'm afraid it would disappoint and break her heart."

My second brother is different. You loved me dearly when I was little, and you always protected me. I feel closest to you. Whenever I feel wronged, the only person I think of is my second brother.

Shen Shaohuai's eyes glazed over for a moment, as if he was thinking of how Shen Qingtan used to cling to him and call him "brother" when she was little.

He had always known that Shen Qingtan was not a daughter of the Shen family, so he treated her neither warmly nor coldly. But she was not afraid of being disliked and could not be driven away.

When he occasionally softened his attitude towards her, she would be happy all day and become bolder in his presence.

As for why they would protect her, it's all because Shen Mingzhu hasn't been found. From now on, she will be the daughter of the Marquis's family and will seek benefits for the family.

He deliberately made Shen Qingtan get close to him so that she would remember his kindness and be more obedient to him in the future.

Once she understood the proper boundaries between men and women, she stopped getting close to him and instead became closer to her third brother, with the two often arguing.

Shen Shaohuai thought Shen Qingtan had distanced herself from him, but he didn't expect that the misunderstanding on their wedding day would remind her of things from her childhood and bring her back to him.

"Don't cry." Shen Shaohuai took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Zhao Yi has gone too far. We can't let this go like this, otherwise he'll think you don't have a family to back you up. Your second brother will handle this matter properly and won't damage your reputation."

"Second brother, you can't go. If you get tainted and it hinders your future, I will be a sinner."

Shen Qingtan hurriedly offered a few words of advice, seemingly genuinely not wanting him to get involved in the mess, and changed the subject: "Let's not talk about my troubles, Second Brother, how are you doing at the Imperial Academy? Your scholarship is excellent, don't your colleagues and superiors admire you?"

When Shen Shaohuai saw her mention the Shuchang Hall, all the bitterness in his eyes faded away, and he became very admiring of her, with a faint sense of pride in her presence.

Looking into her sincere eyes, Shen Shaohuai felt a sense of accomplishment.

After all, with Zhao Yi's brilliance preceding him, no matter how outstanding he was, he was always overshadowed by Zhao Yi's brilliance.

Shen Qingtan, Zhao Yi's wife, was proud of his talent and glory, which shows that in her heart, his talent surpassed Zhao Yi's.

Shen Shaohuai was in a good mood, so he picked out a few things that happened at the Shuchang Hall and told them to Shen Qingtan.

Shen Qingtan looked at Shen Shaohuai with bright eyes: "Second brother, you are really amazing. When you come out of the Shuchang Hall, you will definitely be the most outstanding young master of your age."

Shen Shaohuai was pleased with her compliments because Zhao Yi was the same age as him.

He glanced at the sky outside the window: "Little sister, your second brother has things to do today. I'll ask you out another day when I have a day off."

"Second Brother, you should go ahead and get busy." Shen Qingtan stood up to see him off, looking apologetic. "I've kept you inconvenienced today."

“You are my own sister, and everything must come after you. Nothing can compare to your position in my heart.”

Shen Shaohuai personally escorted Shen Qingtan to the carriage and, as her elder brother, advised her: "Tan'er, your second sister has suffered a lot outside. If she does anything wrong, as her elder sister, you should be more tolerant of her."

You know best how your father and mother treat you. Although your marriage is not what you wanted, you should understand your parents' pain. No one wants you to marry well more than they do.

Parents are never wrong. Once you become a mother yourself, you'll understand their hardships and be more understanding. Never forget their kindness in raising you; don't make things difficult for them anymore.