Chapter 25: Stirring Up Discord
Zhi Qing pretended to weep, kneeling before her and crying, “Since you married into the Ning family, you’ve suffered hardships for three years without enjoying a single day of happiness. It’s one thing for the Young Master to be immature, but even Madam Ning has disrespected you—what kind of treatment is this? You’re still young and in the prime of your life. If you keep enduring this silently, won’t you be ground down to death by that mother and son?”
Shen Shi’s talk of severing ties with her husband and living as a widow was nothing more than angry words spoken in the heat of the moment.
Naturally, she was worried too. After all, she was not yet twenty—how could she possibly spend the rest of her days like a withered tree or dead ashes?
But since the words had already been spoken, there was no taking them back. Holding her head high, she sneered coldly, “There’s no need for you to persuade me. I’m bound to die young, so why should I care about the future? The Ningguo Mansion has flourished for a hundred years—what does it lack in a daughter-in-law? I’m afraid they’re hoping I’ll die sooner, so that heartless, ungrateful man can marry someone better!”
Angelica Orchid, observing her expression, quickly kowtowed several times, handed her a teacup, and urged Zhi Qing to fetch some snacks.
“How can you curse yourself just because you’re angry with the Son-in-law? Quickly, have a sip of tea to calm your nerves! Sister Zhi Qing, bring some pastries—don’t let the young lady worry on an empty stomach.”
Both were first-rank maids, but Zhi Qing was steady and honest, lacking Angelica Orchid’s clever tongue and pretty face.
Thus, although Zhi Qing managed affairs in front of Shen Shi, she was less favored than Angelica Orchid.
With this soothing and coaxing, Shen Shi leaned forward to take a sip of the light tea and nibbled on a couple of sweet pastries.
Seeing that Shen Shi listened to her, Angelica Orchid smiled happily and said, “Sister Zhi Qing, look—it’s only when I come to persuade her that the young lady is willing to eat some snacks! Don’t blame me for being mischievous; when it really matters, I’m the useful one! Dear sister, please go to the kitchen and tell Aunt Cao to stew a bowl of Chicken Wingtip Soup—it’s the most nourishing and appetizing.”
Shen Shi’s mood was still stubborn. Both Zhi Qing and Granny Zhao had advised her against her wishes, making her even more unwilling to listen.
Only Angelica Orchid echoed her complaints, which naturally soothed her temper. She leaned against the pillow and sat up.
Zhi Qing hated Angelica Orchid’s behavior the most. Clearly, she was the root of the trouble, yet she kept fanning the flames.
But seeing how haggard Shen Shi looked from her suffering, Zhi Qing was also anxious and heartbroken. She had no choice but to leave Angelica Orchid to keep Shen Shi company in the Warm Pavilion while she personally went to the small kitchen to order the soup.
With no one else in the Warm Pavilion, Angelica Orchid sat on the footstool, massaging Shen Shi’s legs and feet, saying only what pleased her, belittling the status of her in-laws while elevating her own young lady’s standing.
“Although the Ningguo Mansion is an aristocratic family, our Shen family is a step above them. Our Master Shen is the Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, while the old Duke here has already passed away. Our Madam holds the title of First Rank Lady of Honor, on par with the Madam here. Our family’s uncles hold positions in the Six Ministries, while the Son-in-law hasn’t even inherited the Duke’s Title yet. Think about it carefully, young lady—in terms of power and influence, our Shen family surpasses the Ning family. You married beneath your station, yet the Son-in-law and Madam still bully you. It’s truly a heartless injustice!”
Shen Shi remained silent for a long time before finally shaking her head and saying, “When the marriage was arranged, the old Duke was still alive, and the Ningguo Mansion was illustrious and powerful. My parents said it was a match of equal social standing. Who could have imagined things would turn out like this? And now it seems as though I was the one climbing up to their family!”
After saying this, she wept again with grievance, and Shen Shi began to show signs of regret.
The Young Lord had not yet inherited the Duke’s Title, so the Ning family was now a step below the Shen family.
Everyone said the marriage was a match of equals, but in reality, she had married beneath her station.
To marry beneath her station and still suffer mistreatment—Shen Shi felt as though needles were pricking her heart, and tears fell one after another.
In truth, Angelica Orchid, as a maid, couldn’t possibly know which family held greater official power or influence—the Ning family or the Shen family.
She had merely overheard Granny He and the others boasting while drinking.
But from Shen Shi’s tone now, it seemed that in the court, the Shen family truly did hold a higher position than the Young Master.
This happened to align perfectly with her own thoughts, making Angelica Orchid extremely pleased. Summoning her courage, she smiled and said, “This servant has an idea to reconcile the young lady and the son-in-law, but I don’t know if I should speak of it?”
Shen Shi, assuming she was about to advise her to humble herself, frowned and shook her head. “Don’t bother persuading me. Not in a hundred or two hundred years will I speak half a word to him!”
Angelica Orchid quickly shook her head. “This servant isn’t asking the young lady to speak to the son-in-law. Instead, I mean to make the son-in-law come knocking on your door himself, kneeling here to beg your forgiveness!”
Shen Shi thought it was a joke, but then Angelica Orchid leaned in close and whispered in her ear:
“The son-in-law is returning to the capital to inherit the title. If you have the master prevent him from inheriting it, won’t he have to yield? The Ningguo Mansion has been bullying you, relying on their noble status. Without the title, let’s see if they still dare!”
The Duke of Ningguo’s first-rank title was hereditary and irrevocable; even the Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat couldn’t interfere.
Angelica Orchid’s words sounded childish, but Shen Shi took them to heart.
On the very day the Young Lord returned to the capital, he drafted a memorial requesting to inherit the title and submitted it to the Ministry of Rites for presentation.
According to court rituals and procedures, it should have reached the Directorate of Ceremonial, and within ten days, an imperial edict would be issued.
Shen Shi, as a noblewoman from an aristocratic family, was well-versed in court rituals and procedures.
Her elder brother, Third Young Master Shen, served in the Ministry of Rites and was specifically in charge of issuing imperial edicts.
With a plan forming in her mind, Shen Shi said nothing more.
Seeing her lack of response, Angelica Orchid wanted to continue persuading her, but just then, Zhi Qing returned, carrying a steaming bowl of fresh chicken soup.
Shen Shi took a sip and complained it was fishy and not fresh, then flung the bowl to the ground.
Zhi Qing was immediately flustered and sent someone to the small kitchen to tell Aunt Cao to quickly slaughter another chicken and remake the soup.
In truth, she also knew that Shen Shi was using the chicken soup as an excuse to deliberately embarrass Aunt Cao.
This was because Aunt Cao had recently listened to Madam Ning’s words, which had displeased Shen Shi.
Angelica Orchid, who was already at odds with Aunt Cao, had been itching to cause trouble in the small kitchen. Hearing this, she secretly rejoiced and decided to go supervise the soup-making herself.
Shen Shi nodded in agreement and immediately opened her dressing case, rewarding Angelica Orchid with a pair of twined silk and pearl gold hairpins.
“Angelica Orchid is clever indeed, able to ease my worries. She’s a hundred times better than those high-and-mighty old hags. Just because I once drank her milk, she thinks she can side with outsiders, practically wanting to trample me into the mud!”
Zhi Qing listened as Shen Shi made veiled criticisms, praising Angelica Orchid while disparaging Granny Zhao. Her heart turned cold, and she remained silent for a long while.
Overjoyed, Angelica Orchid hurriedly knelt and kowtowed four times. Clutching the gold hairpins, she rushed off to the small kitchen to show off her authority.
Pear Moon was picking vegetables in the kitchen courtyard when she suddenly saw Angelica Orchid trotting into the yard, seeking out Aunt Cao to berate her.
“This soup is bland and tasteless, reeking of dead chicken and rotten meat! Even dogs wouldn’t eat such a thing, yet you dare serve it to the young lady in the main quarters? As the cook, don’t you know what the young lady usually likes to eat? Instead of trying to please your mistress all day, are you just thinking of climbing to higher branches?”
Aunt Cao despised Angelica Orchid’s frivolous behavior the most. If someone else had come to scold her on Shen Shi’s behalf, she might have tolerated it, but it was Angelica Orchid who came to berate her, and she couldn’t hold back her anger.
“Whether the mistress likes it or not, I naturally know in my heart. I just don’t know who’s been stirring up trouble for the mistress! You, as a maid, should stick to your own duties. What happens in the kitchen is none of your business to criticize!”
Hearing that Aunt Cao dared to talk back, Angelica Orchid glared fiercely and spat, “As the cook, you won’t allow others to comment on the taste? It was the young lady who said the soup was bland. If I report your words back to her, you won’t get off lightly!”
The other women in the kitchen, fearing a scene, quickly pulled Aunt Cao aside and tried to placate Angelica Orchid. “Don’t be angry, Miss Lan. We’ve already sent someone to slaughter another chicken. We’ll persuade Aunt Cao to remake the soup.”
Pear Moon stood at the back, and when she saw the pearl-studded gold hairpin in Angelica Orchid’s hair, she knew she had gained favor with Shen Shi.
Just as she lowered her head and tried to hide, Angelica Orchid had already spotted her, grabbing her arm and pulling her out.
Pear Moon’s skin was scratched with several bloody marks, and the pain made her grimace. She was pushed into the courtyard without her feet touching the ground.
“Weren’t you trying to show off, you little wretch? Then go make a bowl of Chicken Wingtip Soup! If you dare mess it up again, I’ll beat you and Aunt Cao half to death! Let’s see if you still dare neglect your masters!”