Chapter 36: You Don’t Want Your Identity Exposed Either, Do You?

What?

Everyone in the hall froze in place. It seemed the manor’s physicians had proven useless, leading them to seek out a fortuneteller. Shen Yuan’s expression tightened slightly as she set her teacup down gently.

"A wedding to ward off bad luck? Could it be that the Governor is..." Shen Yong’s mind had already drifted to the worst-case scenario. He could not fathom how Pei Ji, a man so accomplished in horsemanship and archery, had fallen into such a state.

Behind the hall, Shen Wanning clutched her heart. After Song Lin departed, she ignored all attempts to restrain her and rushed out, staring at the others in silence.

Madam Chen was overcome with distress. "If this marriage doesn't work out, then so be it!"

The three men of the Shen family seemed to share this sentiment. To suggest marriage neither early nor late, but only after Pei Ji had met with disaster—was this not a clear attempt to use the auspicious event to wash away misfortune? The Pei family truly had a cunning plan!

"Wanning, there are so many fine men in the capital; what does it matter if you lose one Pei Ji? Rest assured, Father will certainly find you a suitable match," Shen Yong comforted her.

Shen Yi’s eyes darkened. "There are several rising stars in the imperial court, both in appearance and talent. I shall arrange an introduction for you in due time."

Shen Lang added, "Indeed, Wanning. You must never marry a cripple, or your life will be ruined!"

Listening to their casual exhortations, Shen Yuan’s heart remained as still as stagnant water. See? They understood the situation perfectly well; they were simply terrified that Shen Wanning might do something reckless.

Shen Wanning’s eyes were swollen. She had admired the man for so long and was on the verge of marrying him, only for such an incident to occur halfway through? She glanced sideways at Shen Yuan, suddenly wondering if perhaps she had done something untoward to Pei Ji at the bottom of the cliff that day.

"I understand your concerns, but if we openly break off the engagement with the Pei family at this juncture, wouldn't we be subject to public scorn?" Shen Wanning asked softly. She saw the situation clearly. If she broke the engagement, she would be branded with the reputation of abandoning a disabled fiancé. Yet, if she remained engaged, how could she ever find happiness with a cripple?

"The world only knows that there is an engagement between the Pei family and our family, but it was never specified which daughter it was for, so..." Madam Chen cast a swift look at Shen Yuan, her gaze meeting Shen Yong’s. They seemed to have already formed a strategy.

Wanning must absolutely not marry him, but as for Shen Yuan... it mattered little. Marrying the crippled Pei Ji was better than marrying Lu Chengyuan, who was incapable of consummating a marriage!

Shen Wanning remained silent, but her fingernails dug deep into her skin, filled with intense reluctance. She could not give up like this!

As she exited the main hall and walked through the carved corridor, Shen Wanning’s resentful voice drifted from behind her. "Sister, are you the one pulling the strings behind the scenes?" Her eyes held a trace of malice, and her anger seemed far from subsiding.

Shen Yuan stopped and looked back. Shen Wanning was walking toward her with a cold expression.

"What really happened at the bottom of the cliff that day? Is the broken leg real or fake?"

Shen Yuan’s gaze was as sharp as a cold needle. "If you have the leisure for such questions, why not go to the Pei manor and ask for yourself? I suspect you would find the answer much faster." Her tone was filled with an intense, unyielding disgust.

"I don't need your concern! I will go to the Pei manor and get to the bottom of this myself! If I discover that you are behind this, or that you seduced Pei Ji, I will make sure you suffer a death without a burial place!"

This was the first time Shen Yuan had seen the unmasked Shen Wanning—vicious, like a scorpion. And she seemed quite certain of her threats.

Shen Yuan let out a mocking laugh. "Like how you burned the Jiang family to death, you intend to burn me?"

Shen Wanning froze, clearly not expecting her to bring up the Jiang family again. Seeing her speechless, Shen Yuan continued mercilessly, "You don't have the capacity to kill me, but I can destroy you first. I suspect you wouldn't want your true identity exposed, would you?"

"What identity? I have no idea what you are talking about!" She denied it vehemently, but the panic in her eyes was not lost on Shen Yuan. It was a part of Shen Wanning’s past that could never be spoken of.

Soft footsteps sounded behind them; Shen Yi was approaching. Shen Wanning took a deep breath to compose herself, returning to her usual pitiable, innocent demeanor. "Safe travels, Sister."

"Since you are so distraught, there is no need to see me off." Shen Yuan cast one last deep look at her and turned away with graceful steps. The sight of her elegant back unsettled Shen Wanning, and with the matter of Pei Ji weighing on her, her mood turned even more volatile.

Shen Yi walked up, and seeing her eyes still red, he comforted her, "You go back to the Jinxiu Garden to rest. I will personally visit the Governor at the Pei manor; I will certainly secure an answer for you."

"Thank you, Big Brother."

Meanwhile, Shen Yuan had just returned to the Qiushui Garden when she heard that Liuyan had brought back news from the northern suburban estate. Under the care of the decoctions over the past few days, Nanny Su’s condition had stabilized. She had recalled quite a bit, and her fragmented memories had been compiled by Dr. Yang into a letter.

After reading the letter, Shen Yuan had Liuyan store it carefully. She needed to think of a way to secure justice for her grandmother and force Shen Yong to speak.

That evening, Madam Chen sent someone to invite Shen Yuan to the Jing Garden. Unexpectedly, Shen Wanning was not there. It seemed Madam Chen intended to have a private conversation, one she did not want others to overhear.

"Third Miss has arrived? Please, come in; the Mistress has been waiting for quite some time." The maid led Shen Yuan inside with uncharacteristic warmth, whereas in the past, they wouldn't have even bothered to look at her.

Shen Yuan silently pondered Madam Chen’s intentions. The moment she stepped into the room, she saw two worn tiger-headed shoes on the table, along with several exquisite hair ornaments for a young girl. They were all things she had used in her childhood.

"Why has Mother summoned me?"

Madam Chen beckoned her over with feigned intimacy, gesturing to the shoes with a nostalgic expression. "Take a look and see if you recognize these. You wore them when you were little. Ever since you went missing, I have kept them carefully, terrified of losing them."

Shen Yuan smiled faintly. "Mother is truly thoughtful."

However, upon closer inspection, the tiger-headed shoes were thick with dust, and the hair ornaments were mismatched, their pearls missing. They looked nothing like items that had been carefully preserved. She surmised that the moment Madam Chen learned she was not a true daughter of the Shen family, she had likely rushed to discard all of her belongings. These must have been frantically recovered.

"I called you here today simply to have a heart-to-heart, just the two of us. How about it?" Madam Chen smiled, but her eyes, reflecting Shen Yuan’s image, held no genuine warmth.

Shen Yuan gripped her silk handkerchief, her expression indifferent, and asked in a calm tone, "Mother, would you prefer to just say it plainly? Why bother with all this circuitous talk of old sentiments?"

Even as she offered a polite smile, she remained entirely unmoved by Madam Chen’s gentle facade. Madam Chen was momentarily stunned, her carefully prepared words disrupted.

"What kind of talk is that? Can we not have a simple, intimate conversation as mother and daughter? Or are you worried I am wasting your time?"