Rebirth of Poisoned Empress, by 颜若优雅

Chapter 29

Marquis Donglin Manor Rosaceae Courtyard

"My lady, news just came from the side entrance that the fifth young master and his entourage has returned," a young maid hurriedly rushed into the courtyard. Shen Qiang, who was occupied with practicing her zither, stopped, "What fifth young master? Nothing more than a lowly b*tch."

"....." the young girl consciously realized her words weren't appropriate and lowered her head. Her hands nervously twisted uneasily with nowhere to settle.

"And then? Have they seen the gift this one has sent them?" It was rare. Shen Qiang was in a good mood and did not make it hard on the maid. Another maid prepared the tea for Shen Qiang.

"This..." 

"Young lady. Young lady! This isn't good..."the younger maid hadn't had the opportunity to respond when she was interrupted by another voice. Soon after, another young maid rushed inside. Shen Qiang's expression immediately darkened as she lifted the teacup to her lips. Lu Zhi, the maid beside her, lectured before Shen Qiang could say anything, "Look at yourself, blustering and bumbling. How inappropriate."

"Sister Lu Zhi...." the maid who had intruded into the courtyard hurriedly explained, "No. Young lady, it's not good. The fifth young master sent someone over to the Lotus Fragrance Hall to invite the old madame."

"What?!" Shen Qiang abruptly stood up. Her starry eyes widened and Lu Zhi, who was able to respond first, also had a drastic change in expression, "Not good. I'm afraid he went to find the old madame to tell on us. Young lady, let's go find the madame for help."

"Why the panic? Does he have any proof that it was me who ruined his courtyard?" After the momentary panic, Shen Qiang soon calmed down. In the Marquis Donglin Manor, besides that Qi Yue and Qi Xuan, no one else would listen to Shen Liang. So what, even if he did went to find the old madame? Who dared to betray her? When he's unable to find any trails and proof, Shen Liang would only be more upset. Wasn't that good news?

"But young lady, it's better to still notify the madame," Lu Zhi, who was two years older than her young lady furrowed her brows. She felt this matter wasn't as simple as it seemed. Under normal circumstances, shouldn't such matter be directly told to the madame or marquis? But the fifth young master went to find the old madame instead. There was something imperceptibly strange here.

"What's the point in notifying on such an insignificant matter? Let's go. Allow us to listen in on the excitement," Shen Qiang was confident and believed there shouldn't have been any trails leading back to her. She didn't put Lu Zhi's concern to mind and was even anticipating what would entail afterwards. Lu Zhi and another maid Hong Mei exchanged glances and could only sigh helplessly. When the young lady first ordered people to tarnish Zhonglin Courtyard, they had disapproved, but the young lady was suffocated by a stomach full of anger. No matter how they persuaded, it was all in vain. 

Why couldn't the young lady understand that although the fifth young master appeared easy to bully, in the few days he had come home, who was truly able to gain an upper hand against him?

Zhonglin Courtyard.

Shen Liang had left for a good portion of the morning. The moment he came home, he invited the old madame to his courtyard. This matter was soon spread and known throughout the manor. Liu Shuhan, who had been occupied and fatigued by the matters concerning her maiden Liu Family only felt a consistent tick in her eyelids, but never thought much before bringing her maids along to see the excitement. Shen Zhao from the second family, and Shen Lu, from the third family wouldn't miss the good show also. The three sister- in-laws arrived at the Zhonglin Courtyard at the same time. 

And he old madame who had been notified the earliest had only just arrived at this point.

"Grandmother," Shen Liang, who had been waiting outside his courtyard with Qi Yue, ignored the presence of the onlookers. He bowed down and greeted the old madame who was helped down from her sedan chair.

"Why did you call me over in such a hurry? I heard Xiao Qiao say you went to the Feiyu Pavilion for the attires you ordered?" Shen Qiao had already filed a complaint against Shen Liang with her a while ago. Now Shen Liang had sent someone to beckon her presence. No matter how much use the old madame had for Shen Liang, her expression still darkened.

"Grandmother..." as though sensing the impatience and insinuation in her words, tears streamed down Shen Liang face as he lifted his face. It was as though he had suffered through an unimaginable grievance. Those who were present couldn't help but be momentarily stunned. They were unsure exactly what act Shen Liang was playing at.

"Why are you even crying now?" after the momentarily lapse of silence, the old madame's tone softened a bit. Shen Zhao sees this and hurriedly stepped forward, "Xiao Wu, what's wrong? It can't be that someone bullied you?"

"Would he be crying like this if no one bullied him?" as Shen Lu responded to the young girl's words, she didn't forget to sweep a pointed glance at Liu Shuhan, who's face, and expression was equally ugly to look at. Her underlying meaning was clear. 

"Xiao Wu, don't cry anymore. If you continue on like this, others might start to think that we bullied you. Tell mother exactly what occurred..."Ignoring the insinuations the other two were making, Liu Shuhan approached Shen Liang while saying. She raised her hands to wipe away his tears, but under the watchful gazes of those present, Shen Liang avoided her caress. His gaze was filled with grievances and resentment.

Liu Shuhan immediately murmured to herself that this was not good. She was afraid this little b*stard was going to raise another h*ll. Immediately, the smile on her face as she had extended her hand froze and stiffened. 

The old madame and people for the second and third family garnered a panoramic view of the entire scene. They looked on gleefully and even forgot the grievances Shen Qiao had suffered from Shen Liang previously.

"Fifth brother, you..."

"You shut up!" Shen Qiang who had just arrived and was greeted by such the scene of Shen Liang avoiding Liu Shuhan's touch was prepared to help seek justice for her mother when she was interrupted by Shen Liang's stern scolding. He turned a scalding, red gaze on her and ignored the ever-changing colors on the mother-daughter pairs faces. Shen Liang then turned to the old madame, "Grandmother, please come with me."

"En?" the old madame's brows furrowed with perplex but didn't object to Shen Liang's invitation. The old nanny helped her forward as the rest of the onlookers trailed behind them.