Chapter 7 - Test me. Then What?

Shen Linghan stood straight. Her eyebrows were like black mountains from afar, her eyes were as clear as autumn water, and her lips were like red flower petals and her skin was like white and flawless jade… Just by standing there quietly, she made people feel that the whole world was bright. Such a beauty was very rare to see. Otherwise, Baili Jinze wouldn’t have treated her as the treasure of his life and loved her in all his life.

“Elder sister, we haven’t seen each other for a long time. I really couldn’t recognize you. Mother told me earlier that your illness has been cured. I haven’t received any message from the villa in the past half year and I have privately asked mother several times. What kind of adventure did you take to make yourself change dramatically?” Shen Linghan held Shen Ninghua’s hand intimately. Her words sounded full of concern.

If Shen Ninghua did not know the true nature of Shen Linghan, she would think that this sister really cared for her after seeing her gentle smile and hearing her caring words. In her previous life, wasn’t it this Shen Linghan who used the same method to make a fool of her, stabbing one poisoned knife after another into her heart?

“I didn’t provide details in my letter for fear that mother would get worried about me, but I reported all my experiences to father in detail. You needn’t worry.”

Although Shen Linghan was refuted gently, she did not seem to feel awkward. “That’s good. I’m very happy that you are back. We are sisters and we should definitely communicate more in the future.”

Old Lady Xiao’s expression seemed to be relaxed after she watched them chatting happily, “Ninghua has just arrived. There’s plenty of time for you to talk later. Let her sit down and have a rest. Ninghua, your aunts left early in the morning and cannot meet you today. But that doesn’t matter. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Old Lady Xiao had three sons and one daughter. Her daughter was married to a man in Quzhou and died of illness years ago. Shen Dong, Shen Liang and Shen Qing, the three sons, lived together in the huge Shen mansion. The aunts she spoke of were Lady Su and Lady Meng, respectively the wives of Shen Liang and Shen Qing. As far as Shen Ninghua knew, the two aunts looked kind but were secretively plotting against Zhao Yunxiang. In the previous life of Shen Ninghua, Zhao Yunxiang wasn’t able to bring them completely under control until Shen Ninghua became the empress.

“Yes, grandma.”

Shen Linghan pulled Shen Ninghua to the chair beside her and said, “Please sit down, sister.”

Shen Ninghua nodded. She was just about to step forward when she suddenly felt that someone dragged her dress and pushed her. She lost balance and fell forward.

A maid came over holding up a pot of hot tea. Although there was time for her to back away, she screamed as if dumbfounded. She ran into Shen Ninghua and the hot tea splashed out towards Shen Ninghua, as if to scald her face!

Shen Linghan looked at this scene with a terrified expression on her face and cried out anxiously, “Sister!”

At the critical moment, Qing Que pulled the curtain on the pillar behind her, and threw the curtain out to catch the teapot just in time. Meanwhile, Hong Ling took the opportunity to support Shen Ninghua and pulled her forward two steps to avoid the hot water.

The teapot fell to the ground with a bang and broke up.

Shen Ninghua looked back at the broken teapot on the ground. Her expression changed, and she helplessly looked at Old Lady Xiao and the maid who was kneeling down to ask for forgiveness.

“Sister, are you ok? You silly servant, why have you been so careless? Do you know how to serve tea? You almost scalded my sister.” Shen Linghan said angrily, holding Shen Ninghua’s arm.

“I’m fine. Don’t be angry with the servant. It’s my fault. I was careless when walking.”

Zhao Yunxiang had been sitting straight on the chair since Shen Ninghua entered the room. She stood up and apologized to Old Lady Xiao,”Fortunately, Ninghua’s maids have extraordinary martial arts skills. Otherwise, she would be hurt. It’s because of my poor management that the maid was so careless. Please forgive me and I will punish her later.”

“Since you have acknowledged your poor management, give the maid ten strokes and dismiss her.” Old Lady Xiao frowned slightly, with a trace of unhappiness between her eyebrows. “Ninghua, your mother is in charge of everything in the house. If you need anything, ask your mother. Don’t be austere with yourself. After all, you are the undisputed first daughter of our Shen family. Take care not to loose your dignity.”

Lady Zhao’s face suddenly turned pale when she heard this. If Shen Ninghua was the undisputed first daughter, what is Linghan? Was Old Lady Xiao growing stupid in her old age?

Shen Ninghua got the message. It was clear that the Old Lady was driving a wedge between her and the two of Zhao Yunxiang and Shen Linghan. However, even if the Old Lady had not said those words, Shen Ninghua could not get along with them. In this case, it was good for her to do the Old Lady a favor. So, she bowed to the Old Lady, said “Aye” and then followed Lady Zhao out.

After they walked out of Songtao Courtyard, Lady Zhao turned around and said, “Ninghua, you have just come back. Go have a rest first. The yard has already been prepared for you. If you need anything, let me know. Your father is busy in the court so he can’t come to see you. Don’t feel uncomfortable.”

“Mother, you worries too much. As the prime minister, father is highly valued by the emperor and therefore must be very busy. In recent years, I have always been feeling bad for not being able to take care of him. How could I have anything to complain?”

Shen Linghan then said, “Sister, I felt close to you at the first sight of you. I live in Qinxue Courtyard. Sister, please come to visit me often when you are free. Don’t care about those people’s nonsense. Father did not come to see you so he… but I think he’ll be very happy to see you.”

Lady Zhao frowned and interrupted Shen Linghan, “Linghan, it’s late. Let’s go.”

Shen Ninghua blinked her eyes. A deep cold light flashed in her eyes and then disappeared. Her younger sister was very skilled at reading people’s minds. In her previous life, she felt bad after hearing this and acted nervously when meeting Shen Dong. Thus he disliked her since then. Later, she tried many times to make up for it, but he firmly believed that she was merely an ignorant bumpkin.

Shen Ninghua saw Xue Zhu coming out of the hall. She changed her expression and told Bai Ruo, “Bai Ruo, wipe my skirt. It seems to be dirty.”

“Yes, miss.” Bai Ruo squatted to wipe the dress carefully. However, some watermarks remained on the dress. “Miss, you’d better go back and change your dress.”

“Fine.”

Shen Ninghua noticed that Xue Zhu paused for a long time before leaving. She curled her lips. In fact, Shen Linghan didn’t dare to pull her dress too hard in the hall, and the strength of pushing was not enough to make her fall. But Shen Ninghua turned Shen Linghan’s trick into her use by pretending to almost fall down.

In the previous life, she inadvertently knew that Old Lady Xiao was betrothed with her cousin before she married Shen Ninghua’s grandfather. However, the cousin broke off their engagement to marry a daughter of the Zhao family. Old Lady Xiao was so angry that she chose to marry Shen Lin, who had just set his foot on the political stage at that time.

Therefore, Old Lady Xiao was extremely opposed to her son’s marriage with Zhao Yunxiang. Shen Dong, who had always been filial, unexpectedly acted against her will. Besides, another daughter of the Zhao family, Zhao Huiying, became the empress, so that Old Lady Xiao must take care not to be too hard with Zhao Yunxiang. Since then, the resentment between her and Zhao Yunxiang had been deep-rooted. Shen Ninghua was just showing her attitude that she would not be in the same boat with Zhao Yunxiang….