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

"Your Highness, should we send the palace guards to protect the two young ladies from the Shen family?"

Xie Linyuan sat upright in his chair, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Since Shen Yan has come to seek my help, the Shen family must have indeed encountered some trouble."

"If I'm not mistaken, he will go to Weishui Pavilion."

"The guards at Weishui Pavilion are all men, so it's inconvenient for them to venture deep into the inner quarters."

"Select a few female guards from the Moyu Guard to keep an eye on the two young ladies' courtyard at the Shen family's residence."

"Report any unusual activity immediately."

Mo Yu clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

-

After leaving the Regent's Palace, Shen Yan turned his horse around and headed straight for the Weishui Pavilion.

Weishui Pavilion is a notorious assassin organization in Yanjing City.

He wanted to spend a lot of money to hire several assassins to secretly protect Shen Ning and Shen Wan.

Before they even reached their destination, Mo Yu rode up and blocked his path.

"Young Master Shen, why be so stubborn?"

"Our prince has already sent people to the Shen family. Young Master Shen can go to Suiyang to handle the case without worry."

As Mo Yu spoke, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Don't worry, our Prince will definitely take good care of Miss Shen on behalf of Young Master Shen."

The word "take care" felt like a needle pricking Shen Yan's ears.

Xie Linyuan can take a fancy to anyone, except his sister.

The Shen family must never get involved in the vortex of imperial power.

Shen Yan gripped the reins tightly, his voice deep: "Please have Guard Mo convey to the Prince that I appreciate his good intentions."

"I dare not trouble Your Highness with matters concerning the Shen family."

He raised his eyes, his tone resolute: "Please also inform the Prince that women of the Shen family do not marry into the royal family."

Mo Yu couldn't help but chuckle and spurred his horse forward.

He lowered his voice: "Why is Young Master Shen so stubborn?"

"General Shen is away from home most of the year, and the two girls are both very beautiful."

"How many eyes in Yanjing are watching them? Does Young Master Shen think you alone can protect two young ladies?"

Shen Yan's breath caught in her throat, and she felt extremely distressed.

Indeed, the sisters Shen Wan and Shen Ning are truly outstanding.

In addition, his father was a powerful general who commanded a large army and held military power.

Sooner or later, these two sisters will become bargaining chips in the princes' struggle for the throne.

Besides, all sorts of people live in Yanjing City.

The two young girls were alone in Yanjing, with no one to support them.

The inner quarters of the Shen family are still in a mess, so who can protect the two of them?

Mo Yu continued, "Some things are probably beyond our control."

"What does Guard Mo mean?" Shen Yan frowned.

Mo Yu smiled and said, "Young Master Shen probably doesn't know that when Miss Shen entered the palace that day, she was targeted by Prince Ming."

"To protect herself, Miss Shen personally boarded my prince's carriage and thus gained his favor."

"The relationship between my lord and Miss Shen is not as simple as Young Master Shen thinks."

Shen Yan's pupils suddenly contracted.

not simple?

He recalled the night Shen Ning returned from Putuo Temple, when he inadvertently noticed the bruises on her neck.

Could it be...?

"Young Master Shen has important business to attend to; the trip to Suiyang cannot be delayed," Mo Yu reminded him.

"Don't worry, our prince will send people to keep a close eye on the two girls."

Shen Yan remained silent for a moment, then looked at Mo Yu.

"Please, Guard Mo, persuade Your Highness to show leniency and give the Shen family a way out."

"After I return from Suiyang, I will personally arrange Ning'er's marriage."

The sound of horses' hooves rose, and the figure faded into the distance.

Mo Yu gazed at that retreating figure and sighed.

"If I could persuade the prince, that would be wonderful."

-

After Shen Yan left, the Shen family returned to its usual tranquility.

In the past few days, Shen Rou has been frequently visiting the courtyards of Madam Yu and Shen Wan.

On one hand, she plays the role of a gentle and considerate eldest sister in front of everyone in the household.

On the one hand, she pretended to be a well-behaved and filial daughter in front of Madam Yu, Yu Jingshu, and Yu Pingsheng.

When Shen Yue went to visit Madam Yu, she saw Shen Rou and Yu Jingshu diligently serving her at her bedside.

She turned around and went to Madam Shen's room.

"Grandmother, look at Mother. She treats my eldest sister better than she treats me. Anyone who didn't know better would think that my eldest sister is her biological daughter."

Shen Yue sat in the chair, her eyes red-rimmed.

"My mother even hit me yesterday because of my older sister's matter..."

As she leaned on her cane, Old Madam Shen felt a pang of heartache looking at her granddaughter's tearful face.

"Your older sister lost her mother at a young age, and your mother took good care of her. It's normal that they became close over time."

"Grandmother will talk to her about it in a couple of days."

"That's not all." Shen Yue's voice was full of grievance.

"Ever since my cousin and uncle came to the mansion, my mother has ignored me."

"They're like family, and I'm like an outsider."

"Grandmother, why don't we send Uncle and the others back to Yongzhou? We don't want them staying at the Shen family anymore."

"Nonsense!" Old Madam Shen's face darkened.

"That's your own uncle and cousin, how can you just send them away like that?"

Shen Yue sobbed, "I just feel so wronged."

"Why did my cousin take everything my mother gave me as soon as she came to our house?"

Madam Shen looked at Shen Yue with a sullen face, seemingly sensing that something was amiss.

"Alright, you can go back to the courtyard now."

"Your mother is currently ill, so you should be more attentive to her; you'll surely catch her eye."

Shen Yue bit her lip tightly.

She wasn't indifferent to Madam Yu; these past few days, she had stayed by her bedside, trying every possible way to please her.

But the names that Yu Shi kept mentioning were Shen Rou and Yu Jing Shu.

"Fourth Miss, let's go."

"Don't disturb the old lady's rest," the nanny said softly as she approached.

Shen Yue then got up and left Old Madam Shen's courtyard with a wronged expression.

After the person left, Old Madam Shen said quietly, "Have you heard anything from the people I sent to Yongzhou?"

The old woman said, "Madam, it should still be some time."

Madam Shen sighed, "I just hope that I'm overthinking everything."

"They might really be siblings."

-

Inside Zhaohua Courtyard, Shen Ning had just changed her clothes.

Then they heard very light footsteps coming from the back window of the side room.

"Who?"

She turned around and saw two dark figures climbing in through the west window.

The visitors were two women who appeared to be around twenty years old.

Dressed in a black outfit, he looked sharp and capable.

They were dressed as Mo Yuwei, under Xie Linyuan's command.

"Your subordinate is clever."

"Your subordinate is Liuli."

The two men clasped their hands in greeting: "We are here on the orders of the Prince to serve the young lady."

Shen Ning felt a chill in her heart.

Are these two people here to spy on her?

"Did the Prince send you?"

"Yes," Linglong replied.

"Young Master Shen visited the Prince's residence today and entrusted the Prince with the care of the young lady and the third young lady before leaving."

Shen Ning: "I see."

However, these two were secret guards, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

Staying with the Shen family might allow them to inquire about what happened back then from the Yu family.

It's also possible that they found out which child their mother was switched with years ago.

She looked at Linglong: "Linglong, go to my second brother's courtyard and keep an eye on him."

She then turned to look at Liuli.

"Liuli, you don't need to keep an eye on me. Keep an eye on the second wife of the Shen family for me and tell me everything."

"I will call you again if needed."

"Yes, miss." The two female guards nodded and then disappeared from sight.

Shen Ning composed herself and turned to walk towards Shen Wan's courtyard.

As soon as I stepped into the room, I saw Shen Rou sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a bowl of medicine.

She put on a show of sisterly affection and was about to feed Shen Wan her medicine.

Shen Ning felt a churning in her stomach and felt extremely nauseous.

Here we go again, pretending to be sisters.

The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet will be held in a few days.

He probably wants to do what he did in his previous life, to push her or Shen Wan out and hand them over to the Ming King.

"It's too bitter, I don't want to drink it." Shen Wan turned her face away, unwilling to look at Shen Rou.

Shen Rou's eyes suddenly reddened, and she put down the medicine bowl.

"Wan'er, are you still blaming your older sister?"

"Is it because your older sister didn't get you the medicine?"

"When the Prince Ming's mansion sent that piece of clothing that day, I really thought it was you who left it behind, which is why I didn't dare to say anything."

"Do you still hate me in your heart?"

Shen Wan bit her lip and remained silent.

She remembered everything Shen Rou had done these days.

During the spring hunt, even though he knew there was something wrong with the cloak, he still tied it on for her himself.

Over the years, the so-called "most talented woman in Yanjing" has been nothing but a fraud.

Furthermore, when she was beaten to the point of near death and covered in blood by Madam Yu, Shen Rou did not plead for her at all.

She sat in the chair, her gaze towards her filled with indifference and disgust.

It was as if she wasn't her own sister, but her enemy.

"I don't have a sister like you."

Shen Wan raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed, her gaze resolute.

"From this day forward, our sisterly bond is severed, and we shall have no further connection."