After giving her contraceptives, she went mad, criticizing the prince for turning white-haired overn

"I'm afraid the eldest young master still thinks that Miss came to this Buddhist hall for the sake of the third young lady," Xiangling said with a smile.

Shen Rou smiled faintly, without answering, and continued to lower her head, copying the Buddhist scriptures stroke by stroke.

Outside the door, Shen Yan froze.

An incredulous expression appeared on his face.

His mind was in turmoil, so he turned and left the Buddhist hall, heading towards Shen Ning's Zhaohua Courtyard.

Inside Zhaohua Courtyard, Shen Ning had already fallen asleep.

When Shen Yan arrived, he only saw Zi Yuan quietly waiting outside the door.

He stared at the closed door, hesitant to speak.

"Young Master, did you hear anything while you were in the Buddhist hall?"

Before Shen Yan could answer, Zi Yuan continued.

"Young Master, you've come at the right time. The Second Miss instructed me to give you something."

As she spoke, she took out a brocade pouch from her sleeve and handed it to Shen Yan.

Shen Yan took the brocade pouch, a strange unease creeping into his heart.

But everything Shen Ningchun said during the hunt has come true, so she shouldn't be lying.

"The young lady said that the eldest young master should act according to what is written in the brocade pouch, and then they will know whether what she said is true or false."

Shen Yan pursed his lips tightly, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded.

"Okay, I believe Ning'er."

He clutched the brocade pouch tightly, turned and left Zhaohua Courtyard, returning to his own Moxiang Residence.

——

The next day, it was dawn.

Shen Rou then took her personal maid Xiang Ling and boarded the carriage, heading towards Yunlai Mountain.

Not long after Shen Rou left, Shen Yan also boarded another carriage and headed to Suiyang City near Yanjing to investigate a case.

After the carriage had been traveling for about fifteen minutes, he instructed the coachman to turn around and head towards Yunlai Mountain.

After Shen Yan's carriage drove away, a servant hurried to the Hua Courtyard where Madam Yu lived.

At this moment, Madam Yu was lying weakly on the couch.

Before long, Wang Mama, a trusted confidante, came in to report.

"Madam, the eldest son has gone to Suiyang City on business. He just left."

Yu raised her head, a slight smile curving her lips.

"Have you taken care of everything I asked you to arrange yesterday?"

The old woman nodded: "Everything has been arranged as instructed by the Second Madam."

"The road from Yanjing to Suiyang is treacherous; that horse probably can't withstand the arduous journey."

"maybe……"

Before the old woman could finish speaking, a smug look appeared on her face.

Who knows, they might never come back.

Madam Yu smiled, gritted her teeth, and struggled to sit up in bed.

For the past two days, the household affairs have been temporarily managed by Zhao, the wife of the third branch of the family, and she has been holding back her anger.

"From today onwards, have your servants go and buy some paper money and incense."

"Who knows, our Shen family... might have to hold a funeral."

The old woman immediately understood: "This old servant will have someone take care of it right away."

"Mother, isn't it a bit too early to act now?" Shen Yue said.

"My elder brother is still at Wanchun Academy, and my uncle is still in the army."

Madam Yu turned her head and glanced at her, saying meaningfully, "Yue'er, what do you know?"

There's a saying: "A long night is full of dreams."

"When your uncle comes back, who knows what kind of trouble will arise."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yue stopped speaking and silently applied the medicine to Madam Yu.

The current plans are entirely beneficial to the second wife.

The Shen family's title had always been a source of anxiety for her grandmother, and she naturally felt that her mother had done the right thing.

The title should belong to the second wife.

-

The news of Shen Yan and Shen Rou leaving the mansion quickly reached Zhaohua Courtyard.

Shen Ning got up from the couch and looked at Zi Yuan beside her.

"Did anyone see the horses being switched between the two carriages last night?"

Zi Yuan shook her head: "Miss, no one noticed."

"The horses were changed, but the carriage was not, and the two horses looked similar. Even if the coachman later realized something was wrong, it was too late."

Shen Ning smiled faintly and sat down in front of the bronze mirror.

"Over the years, Shen Rou's position in the first wife's household has remained unchallenged."

"Today, let my elder brother see her true colors for himself."

"Help me do my hair and makeup. Later we'll go to the south of the city to see the three shops and two inns that Grandmother gave us."

Shen Ning paused for a moment: "Have those two inns been transferred to Wan'er's name?"

Zi Yuan nodded: "Yes, it's all healed now."

"That's good." Shen Ning said calmly.

"Compared to a few shops and inns, what Grandmother cared about more was the future of the second branch of the family."

"After all, she's still hoping her second uncle will inherit the title."

After she finished dressing, the old lady Shen's maid came to Zhaohua Courtyard.

"Second Miss, the Old Madam requests your presence in the front hall."

"understood."

As soon as Shen Ning and Bai Zhi entered the front hall of the Shen family, a nanny came to greet them.

"Second Miss, someone from the palace has come and says that Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see you."

Shen Ning frowned.

Empress Jiang?

Why would I want to see her for no reason?

This Empress Jiang is no benevolent person.

In her past life, after she married into the Regent's Palace, Empress Jiang deliberately made things difficult for her while Xie Linyuan was away on a military expedition.

When she was eight months pregnant, she deliberately let the palace maids accidentally bump into her belly.

She later vaguely learned that Empress Jiang had been infertile for many years.

"This must be Miss Shen the Second. This old servant has been ordered by Her Majesty to escort Miss Shen the Second to the palace."

"Miss Shen, please."

Shen Ning took a deep breath and glanced back at Old Madam Shen.

Madam Shen didn't say anything, but simply gestured for her to go.

She turned around and followed the old woman away from the Shen family, heading towards the palace.

-

About half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the palace gate.

Shen Ning followed Granny Wang to the outside of the Phoenix Palace.

"Miss Shen, please."

Shen Ning gripped the hem of her skirt and walked step by step into the inner hall.

Then she saw Empress Jiang, dressed in a bright yellow phoenix robe, sitting on a high seat, looking at her with a smile.

She immediately bowed and said, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty the Empress."

Empress Jiang did not make her get up, but slowly looked her over.

The girl's skin was like jade, her nose was small and straight, she wore a light purple cloak, and her small face was wrapped in a white fox fur coat, making her look exquisite and delicate.

She had a graceful figure and skin as white as snow.

With such beauty, not to mention men, even she, the mistress of the harem who was used to seeing beauties, couldn't help but take a second look.

Especially the girl's eyes, clear and bright, as if they held the water of a spring stream.

"Miss Shen's rules could be reconsidered."

"When you see me, you must lower your posture even further."

Shen Ning: "Yes, Your Majesty."

"This humble woman greets Your Majesty the Empress."

The Empress smiled calmly: "Never mind, get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Shen Ning got up, she sat down on a chair to the side under the guidance of a palace maid.

"It's rare for Miss Shen to come to my place, and now that I look at her closely, she is indeed different from ordinary young ladies."

The Empress spoke in a friendly tone, as if she were simply having a casual conversation.

Shen Ning: "Your Majesty flatters me."

Empress: "Today, I have prepared some of the finest Biluochun tea in my palace, and I have specially invited Miss Shen to come and taste it."

"If you like it, take it back to the Shen family and let your grandmother have a taste."

As the empress spoke, she gestured for the palace maids to pour tea.

A palace maid came over carrying a jade teapot and poured tea for Shen Ning.

When the palace maid came over to pour tea, her hand trembled slightly.

The entire jade pot, along with the teacup that was only seven-tenths full, was poured straight down onto Shen Ning.

Warm tea spilled onto her pale purple skirt, quickly spreading into a large, dark stain.

"How dare you!" the Empress scolded.

"You've been so clumsy and disturbed our distinguished guests. Go and receive ten strokes of the cane!"

The palace maid turned pale and immediately knelt down to beg for mercy.

"Your Majesty, spare my life!"

Before she could beg for mercy again, several old women came in and dragged the palace maid out.

The Empress turned her head and looked at Shen Ning with a tender expression.

"Miss Shen, you've been frightened. Wearing these wet clothes might make you catch a cold."

"I remember there are a few newly made dresses in the storeroom. Someone, take Miss Shen to change into them."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am humbled." Shen Ning stood up and bowed.

A short while later, an older palace maid stepped forward: "Miss Shen, please come with me."

Shen Ning nodded and followed the palace maid through the corridor of the Phoenix Palace to a quiet side hall.

Incense was burned inside the hall.

After handing the clothes to Shen Ning, the palace maid said, "Miss, please change your clothes here."

With that, the palace maid withdrew and gently closed the door behind her.

Shen Ning stood in the hall holding her clothes, having just untied her belt.

Just as he was about to take off his clothes, he suddenly sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere in the hall.

In the shadows, a murky, dead fish eye stared at her with a lewd expression.

Shen Ning didn't notice anything amiss, only sensing that the atmosphere inside the hall was strange.

She looked around and saw a peony-carved screen directly to her right.

It seemed as if a very faint, slightly rapid breathing sound was coming from behind the screen.

The breathing sounded like a man's.

You can still smell a hint of old Chen's scent.

It smells like... an old person.

In an instant, a chill ran down her spine.