After rebirth, I seduced the abstinent Marquis and became the white moonlight

Chapter 14: Unsolved Case
Just as the competition was coming to an end, a girl suddenly came over and called out to Shen Yuyao: "Yuyao, Shen Ning actually brought a painting too. Can she draw as well as you? You really dare to join in any fun, and you don't even feel ashamed."

Although Shen Yuyao is a concubine's daughter, she has a decent status in this circle thanks to her painting skills.

Xu Qiu Sheng, the president of Wenshu College, once praised her paintings as "the mountains are colorful when viewed from afar, and the water is silent when listened to closely", and regarded her landscape paintings as a benchmark.

You know, the dean was the former chief academic officer of the Imperial College and held a very important position. Just like that, Shen Yuyao became famous with just one painting.

When Shen Yuyao heard that Shen Ning brought a painting, she immediately lost her mind. She knew that nothing good would happen if she met Shen Ning.

In the front hall, when Dean Xu saw Shen Ning's paintings, he was surprised at first, but soon, it was replaced by a complicated look.

Shen Ning stood aside nervously, feeling a little expectant, thinking that his level was at least above average.

But not long after, Dean Xu threw the painting onto the table and said angrily, "How dare you plagiarize someone else's work? Come on, kick her out."

Shen Ning's eyes flashed with surprise, and she bit her red lips and said, "What do you mean by plagiarism? I didn't do that. Don't talk nonsense, you man."

Shen Ning didn't know Dean Xu, nor was he afraid of him, so his voice was confident.

Dean Xu was old, and he had never seen such arrogance before. He pointed at Shen Ning and said angrily, "Okay, okay, you don't admit it, right? If I remember correctly, you are a girl from the Shen family. It's fine if you copied, but you copied your own sister. You deserve to be killed!"

As he spoke, he pulled out a piece of drawing paper from the side, and Shen Yuyao's name was clearly written on it.

Shen Ning took a closer look and immediately laughed. Isn't this the drawing paper she used to practice before she got married? At that time, she didn't know how to cherish it and threw it away. Unexpectedly, Shen Yuyao took it for herself. No wonder she didn't make trouble when she came today. It turned out that she was feeling guilty.

Shen Ning picked up the drawing paper and said fearlessly: "I swear to heaven that my drawings were drawn by myself. As for this one, it's also mine, although I don't know why it ended up in Shen Yuyao's hands."

Dean Xu snorted coldly and questioned, "According to what you said, the paintings that Shen Yuyao usually draws in the academy are also yours?"

Shen Ning nodded as a matter of course: "Of course, with her level, what else can she draw? If you don't believe me, you can compare it on the spot to see if she can draw it."

At this time, people around came to watch the fun, pointing and talking. Most of them believed Shen Yuyao, but Shen Ning was so confident that she was at a loss for a moment. Her friend pushed Shen Yuyao and gave her some advice: "Let's compete. Who's afraid of who? Right?"

Shen Yuyao's face was pale, her fingertips clenched the handkerchief, and after thinking for two seconds, she stepped forward and said, "Sister is usually reckless at home, but why did you come here today? We are family, so I will give the prize to you today. Let's go home and talk about it. Don't make a fool of yourself here."

Shen Yuyao's tactic of retreating to advance made everyone think that she was covering up for Shen Ning, and they couldn't help but look at Shen Ning with disgust.

How could Shen Ning agree to Shen Yuyao's wishes? He still insisted: "What do you mean by forget it? Are you admitting that you stole my scrap manuscript?"

Shen Yuyao was determined to push Shen Ning out, but she didn't expect Shen Ning to be so difficult to deal with. During the struggle, she suddenly made up her mind and slipped backwards. When she fell, she tore the drawing paper and fell to the ground without a sound.

The moment the accident happened, everyone present was silent. It took two seconds for someone to react and help Shen Yuyao up.

"Hurry up and call a doctor, someone has fainted."

*
Because of Shen Yuyao's fainting, this matter became an unsolved case. Shen Ning was so angry that he complained to Shen Rou on the way home: "I really underestimated Shen Yuyao. She actually pretended to faint. She is as good at acting as her mother."

Shen Rou was frightened by the tense atmosphere just now. Now that she had calmed down, she looked at her sister and hesitated to speak: "Ningning, you..."

Shen Ning was confused: "What's wrong with me?"

Shen Rou: "I feel like your personality has changed a lot. Didn't you get along well with Shen Yuyao before?"

Speaking of the past, Shen Ning almost wanted to slap himself twice: "That was because I was ignorant before."

*
Because she had been away for a long time, Shen Rou did not have time to visit her parents' home and went straight back to the Duke's Mansion.

As the saying goes, good news doesn't go out, but bad news travels a thousand miles. As soon as Shen Rou entered the door, she heard Rong Jingyi telling Rong Jingtang about Shen Yuyao's fainting. The Duke's Mansion has a prominent family background, with money and power. Shen Yuyao had set her sights on this piece of fat meat early on. She used Shen Rou's relationship to flirt with the second young master of the Duke's Mansion. She had long regarded herself as the future daughter-in-law of the Duke's Mansion. It was not surprising that she complained to Rong Jingyi at the first time.

Shen Rou didn't want to get involved, so she pretended not to see the two people and walked straight forward.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. She had only taken two steps when Rong Jingyi called out to her, "Wait a minute, sister-in-law."

Shen Rou had no choice but to walk over and met Rong Jingyi's scrutinizing eyes.

"I heard that you teamed up with Shen Ning to bully Yu Yao."

The huge hat was put down, and Shen Rou's face turned red with anxiety: "We didn't, she was exposed for taking Ningning's painting, and she fell down by herself."

Rong Jingyi took two steps closer and snorted coldly, "Everyone knows that Yuyao's painting skills are extraordinary. You and your sister have nothing. Shen Ning tore up the painting. Isn't it because he wants to die without any evidence?"

It is said that the eldest brother is like a father and the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother, but Rong Jingyi did not take his sister-in-law Shen Rou seriously at all and even cursed her openly.

Shen Rou looked at Rong Jingtang and saw that his handsome face was expressionless, and he obviously condoned his brother's behavior. Her wounded heart couldn't help but feel sour.

Shen Rou explained timidly: "It's not like that."

*
Shen Rou returned to the yard in disappointment. Just as she carefully put the hairpin into the box, she was called over by her mother-in-law.

She was prepared. The Duke's wife was a sensible person. She must have heard that her brother-in-law had just made rude remarks and wanted to comfort her.

As expected, as soon as she entered the room, the Duke's wife took her hand and sat with her. She sighed and said, "I heard that you had a quarrel with Jing Yi. He is young and ignorant. You should bear with him."

Since her mother-in-law had said so, she could only respond, "Yes, mother."

The Duke's wife smiled with relief, raised her hand and patted her shoulder. Her smile was warm, but her words were not what she meant: "I have heard some of the causes and consequences. Your sister is too ignorant of etiquette. After all, we are a family. Why make such a big joke in front of outsiders? You should have less contact with people like that in the future."

Shen Rou pursed her lips, and understood the implication of the Duke's wife. The sister she was talking about must be Shen Ning. Normally, she didn't care how she was wronged, but she couldn't stand seeing others look down on Shen Ning. Her mind went blank, and she blurted out: "This matter is not Ningning's fault. Mother probably misunderstood."

The Duke's wife frowned and put the teacup down heavily:
"You're still saying no, but look how obedient you are. Even if Jingtang doesn't like you, I, as your mother-in-law, have never treated you harshly. I didn't even give Jingtang a concubine. Today, I just went out with your sister for half a day, and you dared to talk back to me. If you continue like this, the Duke's Mansion will have you in charge."

Shen Rou was terrified: "That's not what my daughter-in-law meant."

The Duke's wife glanced at her and said slowly, "The concubines in the Marquis's mansion are the head of the family. Your mother's status is..."

After a well-timed pause, when Shen Rou's face turned the color of liver, she continued, "I have never disliked you because of your background, but if you marry into the Duke's Mansion, you are a member of my family, and you still have to follow the etiquette. During this time, you can copy scriptures in the Buddhist temple and calm your mind. You can go out after a while."

This means that it is a disguised form of house arrest.

Shen Rou lowered her eyes and nodded weakly.

Having her family's dirty laundry exposed in front of her, she was too embarrassed to stay any longer. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the Duke's wife say, "By the way, I heard you were rewarded something today."

The Duke's wife signaled to the maid beside her with her eyes: "Go ahead, Madam, bring it. Wan'er is getting married soon and needs a few things for her dowry."

Shen Rou paused, her fingertips tightly grasping the handkerchief, and with great effort she managed to utter a few words: "That's mine."

The Duke's wife smiled and said something chilling in the gentlest tone: "People should know how to be grateful. Look at yourself, from head to toe, everything is from the Duke's Mansion. What's the difference between you and me? Don't you think it's right?"

(End of this chapter)