Volume 1, Chapter 6: Shen Manxuan Is Punished

Shen Dengda flew into a towering rage, his face shifting between shades of pale and livid.

Seemingly pushed to the brink, he slammed his hand against the table and rose to his feet. "Absurd! If she refuses to come, then so be it! Let her go to the ancestral hall and kneel there to pray for the ancestors throughout the night. She is not to rise until the break of dawn!"

Madam Liu was stunned for a long moment before she could react. She scrambled to her knees, clutching Shen Dengda’s sleeve, her eyes instantly brimming with tears. "My lord! She is my only daughter! The winter air is bitter and cold; how could Xuan’er ever endure such a thing!"

Shen Qingdai felt a great weight lift from her heart, but she knew this was hardly the time to let her guard down.

She hurried to kneel beside Madam Liu and spoke up casually, "Father, Third Sister likely did not mean any harm. Perhaps we should hear if she had some reason for refusing to come? It would be a pity to misunderstand her."

Shen Dengda’s anger remained unabated. He asked in a deep voice, "Tell me then, what reason could she possibly have for refusing to come?"

The maid, knowing there was no escaping this, steeled herself, bowed her head, and said, "Forgive me, Master. Third Miss said that since the Madam excused Second Miss from coming to pay respects, she reasoned that if Second Miss could stay away, she naturally could as well... Please forgive me, Master!"

Shen Dengda suddenly laughed. He turned to look at Madam Liu and said coldly, "Is this the fine daughter you have raised?!"

Madam Liu was also incensed. She shot a fierce glare at Shen Qingdai, teeth clenched, but forced herself to persist. "Xuan’er is young... she doesn't know any better. Please calm your anger, my lord. Today is a joyous occasion; it is truly not the time to be so vexed..."

Shen Dengda’s expression softened slightly. He adjusted his robes and sat down, his eyelids drooping as he commanded, "Uncle Shen, go personally and watch that rebellious girl kneel. Once she is finished, send her back and confine her for a month of quiet reflection. Without my order, no one is to let her out!"

Madam Liu gripped her handkerchief tightly, a flicker of resentment crossing her eyes, though it vanished in an instant.

She stood up as if nothing were amiss, brushed off non-existent dust, and sat back down quietly. She knew that Shen Dengda was merely punishing Xuan’er severely because he felt his dignity had been wounded in front of the clan members.

At this point, even if she pleaded, it would be useless.

Shen Qingdai also stood and took her seat. Unlike the earlier confrontation, she seemed to have reverted to the timid, obedient, and unassuming Second Miss she had always been.

Yet, the way her nails dug into her palms and her hands trembled inside her sleeves betrayed the turbulence she felt toward the woman before her.

The meal was consumed by everyone at the table without any appetite. They had only been keeping the vigil for an hour or two when Shen Dengda dismissed them, claiming he needed to return to his study to review some files.

Madam Liu did not spare a glance for Shen Qingdai. With Shen Manxuan still kneeling in the ancestral hall, her mind was occupied with her daughter; she had no heart to trouble herself with Shen Qingdai.

***

Shen Qingdai stood at the doorway, watching Madam Liu’s departing figure with a cold sneer. *If you do not come looking for trouble with me, then it is my turn to come looking for trouble with you.*

Her peripheral vision caught the maid who had reported the news being dragged away from the side door, bound by Mother Liu’s servants. She lowered her head in thought for a moment, then took Qingdai and hurried after Shen Dengda.

Seeing his daughter, Shen Dengda asked, somewhat displeased, "What is it now?!"

Shen Qingdai smiled gently, curtsied, and said, "It is late, Father. You should take care of your health; would it not be better to leave your official duties for tomorrow?"

Hearing this, Shen Dengda’s expression softened. "You are thoughtful. If only your Third Sister were half as sensible as you."

Shen Qingdai maintained an impeccable smile. "Third Sister was only momentarily confused. I know you dote on her, Father; it was only for the sake of the clan elders that you had to maintain appearances and punish her. I am sure Third Sister will come to understand your good intentions."

She shifted her tone. "However, Mother is likely heartbroken over Third Sister. Why not go and check on her? It is New Year’s Eve, after all; she must be missing you."

Shen Dengda paused. He reached out as if to pat her head, hesitated, then withdrew his hand. He spoke with deliberation, "It is kind of you to be so filial. As for your mother... never mind. You were wronged today; tomorrow, I will have Uncle Shen send you some clothes and jewelry. A young girl should be dressed in bright and lovely things."

Shen Qingdai remained in her curtsy, watching Shen Dengda’s steady figure drift away, her eyes filled with irrepressible hatred.

He was always like this—using those who were useful to him, tossing them a few scraps of favor as if they were playthings.

Thinking of what she had seen earlier, she thought the main courtyard must be quite lively tonight.

As soon as Shen Dengda stepped back into the main courtyard, he saw a crowd of people kneeling in the yard.

He did not ask questions and walked straight into the inner chamber, though his expression was far from pleasant.

He had just disciplined one of the house’s young ladies, and she had immediately turned around to punish the maid in the courtyard. Was this not a blatant display of dissatisfaction with his judgment?

Shen Dengda had no patience to hear what Madam Liu was saying inside. He lifted the curtain and entered, only to find the maid who had reported the news lying twisted on the floor, while Mother Liu held a red-hot iron rod from the brazier, preparing to brand her.

Shen Dengda said nothing; he merely waved his hand to have the others pull Mother Liu away. He stepped forward to look, and the maid was already a mass of mangled flesh, horribly burned.

He felt strangely calm now. He raised his eyes to look at his virtuous and benevolent wife and asked quietly, "What did she do wrong?"

***

Madam Liu showed no sign of panic. She smoothed her robes, sat upright on the couch, and looked back at him without flinching. "What? Can I not even discipline a maid in this house now?"

Shen Dengda laughed in his anger. "Good, very good! Madam Liu, do not forget that this is the Shen manor!"

With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

Mother Liu dropped the iron rod, casting a worried and disapproving look at Madam Liu. "My Lady, why must you do this? What would it hurt to soften your tone with the Master? Now you have only damaged the harmony between husband and wife."

Madam Liu pounded the table in fury. "Have I not endured enough all these years?! I have done so much for him! And what of him? He has not shown the slightest bit of pity for my Xuan’er..."

Madam Liu erupted in a fit of temper, and the main courtyard was once again thrown into chaos.

Shen Qingdai had just arrived at the doorway when she saw Fang Qiuxin quietly leaning against the doorframe, lost in thought.

She froze for a moment. *Mother really has come back to life, too.*

She hurried over, hugged her, and whispered, "Mother, I am back."

*In this life, it will be my turn to protect you.*

Fang Qiuxin raised her hand to stroke her face, her voice soft and steady, as if afraid to startle her. "I know you were wronged. It is my fault for lacking favor and dragging you down. It is late now; go and rest. Tomorrow morning, I will make you a bowl of plain noodle soup to settle your spirits."

Shen Qingdai shook her head, grasping the hand that touched her face, her eyes red-rimmed. "Just being like this is already good enough..."

*As long as we are both alive, there is still hope.*