The pregnant woman pressed down on the wife, and the cousin collapsed into the prince's arms.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law each had their own grievances, and their relationship naturally plummeted to a freezing point.

Pei Jingnian was naturally not in a good mood either, and he never stepped into the Begonia Garden again.

_

Ningxiang Pavilion

After Shen Yunshuang brought the orchid back, she removed the pot and examined the root system. Sure enough, the roots had turned brown and were somewhat rotten.

She scalded the scissors with boiling water and trimmed the unhealthy roots. Fortunately, she discovered it in time, and some healthy roots were still preserved.

At the time, Green Bud and Snow Branch, watching from the side, were worried: "Miss, will this work?"

They watched as Shen Yunshuang swiftly and decisively brought down the knife, but they were genuinely worried that the delicate orchid wouldn't be able to withstand it.

Fortunately, after the young lady trimmed the roots, she placed the flower in a shady place to dry. Several days passed, and seeing that the flowers and leaves were still green, she was finally relieved.

Shen Yunshuang naturally had a plan in mind. Seeing that the flower roots had dried sufficiently, she took Green Bud Snow Branch to the garden.

The Pei family's garden was naturally tended by gardeners, who, upon seeing Miss Pei arrive, stepped forward and asked, "Miss Pei, would you like to grow flowers?"

Shen Yunshuang smiled slightly, and despite being surrounded by a profusion of beautiful flowers, her beauty was in no way inferior.

She spoke softly, "I'm not looking to grow flowers, but rather for some soil." She explained her needs one by one, and finally said politely, "Thank you for your trouble."

At the same time, Xuezhi handed a silver coin to the gardener.

The gardener repeatedly declined, thinking to himself that Miss Biao was indeed a kind person, treating even servants like them with such gentleness.

Shen Yunshuang knew that potting soil was easy to obtain, but because she had many requirements, she needed leaf mold, river sand, and peanut shells. There were many different kinds, and it would take the gardener some effort to find them all.

She has no connections in this noble household, so being kind to others will not do her any harm.

Seeing that Shen Yunshuang insisted on giving a reward, the gardener had no choice but to accept the kindness and hurried off to do his job, promising to make sure Miss Shen was satisfied.

After giving her instructions, Shen Yunshuang did not leave immediately. It was afternoon, and the weather was not so hot. She had been staying in her boudoir for a long time and had hardly seen the sun, which was why her body had become weaker and weaker.

But now, she is intentionally taking care of her health, knowing that sunbathing is good for her body, especially for someone like her who is naturally deficient in Yang energy. Sunbathing can not only replenish Yang energy, but also promote the circulation of Qi and blood.

The garden of the Pei residence was particularly beautiful, so she took her maid to admire it.

Today, Shen Yunshuang wore a sky-blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a matching belt around her waist. As the breeze blew, the ribbons moved with the wind, exuding an ethereal and graceful beauty.

This is the scene that Pei Jingnian saw.

He was off work today, so he practiced calligraphy in his study for a while before coming out for a walk to clear his head.

Unexpectedly, he encountered Shen Yunshuang.

He could have pretended not to see it, but somehow he moved closer.

Xuezhi, with her sharp eyes, spotted the young master and quietly tugged at Shen Yunshuang's sleeve. Shen Yunshuang turned around, the hairpin in her hair swaying slightly, reflecting the surprise in her eyes.

She gave a slight curtsy, her manners impeccable, and called out, "Cousin."

Her voice was delicate and sweet, like a nightingale singing in a valley.

Pei Jingnian's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He nodded and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I...I'm looking for some soil for the orchids."

Upon hearing the word "orchid," Pei Jingnian suddenly recalled what Su Wanrou had said before.

I casually asked, "Is it that pot of Cymbidium goeringii and Heliotropium indicum? Wanrou said you liked it very much, so your mother gave you that pot of flowers."

The man had a rather rugged build, and Pei Jingnian's intention wasn't to interrogate him, but rather to casually bring up a topic.

But Shen Yunshuang's face instantly turned pale, and her eyes welled up with tears: "Why do you say that, cousin? Shuang'er has never asked Aunt for anything..."

She looked flustered, and Pei Jingnian was also panicked. Her eyes were so beautiful, but he didn't want to let them be filled with tears.

"Hey... don't cry, I was just asking casually." Pei Jingnian showed an unprecedented level of panic.

Shen Yunshuang lowered her eyelashes, and a tear fell. "Did my cousin and sister-in-law say that? Although I come from a humble background, I am not the kind of person who is easily swayed. This orchid was sent to my aunt's place a few days ago, and it has already started to look wilted. I usually like to tend to flowers and plants, and I felt that the orchid was a pity, so I... But I never expected that my cousin would think of me like this."

Pei Jingnian had seen many grand occasions, but he had never seen a beautiful woman like Shen Yunshuang who could cry so easily. He thought that his cousin was delicate, but he really didn't want her to shed tears.

After hearing what she said, he realized that his question was inappropriate and couldn't help but clasp his hands in apology: "Cousin, I didn't know there was such a hidden story. I misunderstood you. Please don't take it to heart."

Shen Yunshuang turned away, refusing his greeting. Her eyes were red from crying, but her gaze was dim. She said softly, "Shuang'er is living under someone else's roof. It's only natural that my cousin would think of me this way."

After saying that, she left without saying anything more.

Watching that departing figure, Pei Jingnian stood there, stunned. Recalling her tearful eyes just now, he felt even more agitated.