Volume 1, Chapter 19: Fang Qiuxin Returns to Favor

Shen Qingdai felt a wave of frustration. Since she had awakened, every event had been firmly under her control; yet suddenly, due to a different choice, the trajectory of certain things seemed to have diverged from her previous life.

At this moment, the situation felt as if it had slipped from her grasp. Since Fang Qiuxin was unwilling to tell her what had happened, she felt she had nowhere else to turn to uncover the truth.

She was merely worried for her mother. Yet, in doing so, she had unwittingly placed the entire burden upon her own shoulders.

She did not believe that her mother regaining favor was necessarily a good thing. Madame Liu was not a woman of generous spirit; even when she and her mother had kept a low profile, they had not escaped Madame Liu’s jealousy, let alone now, when her mother had drawn such significant attention to herself.

Shen Qingdai did not want her mother to be such a conspicuous target in the household, becoming a thorn in someone’s side for no reason. But as things stood, it was no longer something she could control.

Shen Muqing perhaps sensed that something was amiss; he sat quietly to the side, not daring to disturb Shen Qingdai, his head bowed as he played with a grasshopper woven from reeds, though he did not know who had made it for him.

Shen Qingdai returned to her senses, and catching a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of her eye, her heart softened. She stood up, gathered Shen Muqing into her arms, ruffled his hair, and asked gently, "Would you like to sleep here with your sister tonight?"

"Yes."

Shen Muqing agreed obediently. After a moment of hesitation, he added, "Can I still go back to see Mother tomorrow?"

Shen Qingdai was stunned, as if she had not expected him to ask such a thing. But she smiled and replied, "Of course."

Keeping them out earlier today was likely just Shen Dengda’s way of wanting to speak with Fang Qiuxin alone. Very well, with the favor she now held, her mother would have more confidence in this household. As for any other overt or covert attacks, she would naturally deflect them all.

Shen Muqing obediently wiped his face with a handkerchief, climbed onto the bed, pulled the small blanket brought by Pingchun over himself, and closed his eyes.

Shen Qingdai sighed, sat down beside him, and gently patted his thin back in a rhythmic motion. His eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly before falling still. The candlelight in the room flickered, stretching her shadow longer and longer.

As soon as Shen Qingdai opened her eyes, she saw a youthful, chubby face grinning at her.

"Good morning, Sister!"

Shen Qingdai smiled, feeling somewhat helpless. "If you want to go see Mother, you should at least wait for me to get up first, don't you think?"

Shen Muqing nodded solemnly, moved aside to make space at the edge of the bed, and called out, "Sister Pingchun! My sister is awake, please come and help her dress!"

Seeing little Shen Muqing so lively and full of spirit, Shen Qingdai’s eyes suddenly stung. During this time, her life had always been filled with such warmth, making her frequently wonder if it might be possible to stop fighting and just continue living this muddled, peaceful life.

She always had to struggle intensely to suppress such thoughts. She constantly simulated the outcome in her mind, but the result was always the same: as long as Madame Liu did not fall, her mother would never be safe.

And for her, it was even harder. If she could not bring herself to strike against her own father, she would be destined to remain a tool of the family, used to consolidate power, forever under the thumb of others.

Thinking of this, Shen Qingdai hardened her resolve. After dressing, she took Shen Muqing and headed toward Fang Qiuxin’s courtyard.

By the time they arrived at the courtyard gate, Shen Dengda had already left, but the place was different from before. There were many more maids and matrons bustling about, making it exceptionally lively compared to the desolation of the past.

Shen Qingdai walked with her gaze fixed forward, gave a slight nod to Nanny Fang, and lifted the curtain to enter the inner chamber.

Fang Qiuxin was reclining on the daybed, a smile on her face, appearing perfectly fine.

"Mother!"

Shen Muqing was quick; he let go of Shen Qingdai’s hand and ran to embrace her.

Fang Qiuxin patted his back with a smile. "Alright, alright. Why don't you let Nanny Fang take you to have some breakfast? I need to speak with your sister."

Shen Muqing looked up at her and chirped, "Okay!"

As Nanny Fang led Shen Muqing out of the room, Shen Qingdai sat gently beside Fang Qiuxin and took her hand. "Mother, Father..."

"Alright, I know what you want to ask. Listen to me: don't ask anymore. I believe in you, and you should believe in me as well."

Shen Qingdai let out a small laugh, the heavy stone in her heart feeling a little lighter. Her mother was a clever woman. In the past, it was only because she had been unwilling to fight, fearing that it would implicate them and cause them to lose Shen Dengda’s favor.

Though they might not necessarily defeat Madame Liu, she figured that, for the time being, they could at least keep themselves safe.

With this thought, Shen Qingdai shook her head gently. "Your daughter will not ask anymore."

After all, with her around, she would be able to protect her mother regardless of how high-profile she wished to be in this life.

After speaking for only a short while, Shen Qingdai returned to her own courtyard with Pingchun, leaving Fang Qiuxin to rest.

Pingchun looked around furtively before quietly closing the door. She approached Shen Qingdai, her voice dropping to a whisper, "Miss, when shall we use those incense pellets?"

Shen Qingdai pondered for a moment while pouring tea. "On the day of the Lantern Festival, the entire household must go to the Old Madam’s courtyard to pay their respects and kowtow. It should be easier to act then."

Pingchun nodded. Shen Qingdai asked again, "Have you and Xiao Lian finished the task I gave you?"

"Rest assured, Miss. The Second Madame has already sent people to purchase the materials; I am sure she will adopt that method on that day."

Shen Qingdai nodded, and the night passed in silence.

Time slipped away, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, the entire mansion was decorated with lanterns. Red lanterns hung high, and red silk streamers draped down; it was festive and bustling.

Shen Qingdai followed obediently behind Madame Liu. As the eldest legitimate daughter of the household, she naturally stood in the front. Shen Manxuan stood beside her, twisting her handkerchief with an expression of reluctance.

She truly could not understand why her mother had registered Shen Qingdai under her own name. To her, Shen Qingdai was merely a concubine’s daughter, base in status, and unworthy of the importance her mother and father placed upon her.

Shen Qingdai seemed to sense this; she turned her head to look at Shen Manxuan and, as expected, met a pair of venomous eyes. She curled her lips into an innocent smile at Shen Manxuan and followed Madame Liu into the courtyard.

Shen Manxuan stomped her foot and shot a fierce glare at Shen Qingdai. "What are you so smug about!"

There were not many people from the main branch, but the courtyard was bustling with people from the secondary branches and extended family who had come to pay their respects for the festival.

Madame Liu glanced back at Shen Qingdai before walking off to speak with the Second Madame and other elders.

Shen Qingdai thought for a moment, leaned in, and whispered to Pingchun, "Did the eldest cousin from the Aunt’s house not come today?"

"She came, Miss. She is currently inside the Old Madam’s room talking with the Aunt."

Hearing this, Shen Qingdai felt relieved. If the cousin were not present, it would be difficult for today’s play to begin.

Madame Liu was already organizing for everyone to enter the house. Shen Qingdai stood with her head bowed and eyes lowered, perfectly conforming to the rules, dutifully playing the part of an obedient daughter.

As for Shen Manxuan, perhaps because her expression had been too poor earlier and she had been quietly reprimanded by Madame Liu, she now looked much more normal. At the very least, as she stood on the other side of Madame Liu, she looked like a dignified young lady of a prominent family.