Chapter Five: Lady Shen

Since the passing of the old Duke and the unexpected death of her own son, Madam Shen had grown weary of the world and secluded herself in the Buddhist hall for many years. Previously, Shen Qianmo would never have dared to approach the old lady on her own, for fear that Madam Cui and her daughter would discover it and torment her. She only wished to stay quietly in her small courtyard until her marriage.

But Shen Qianmo was no longer the same. She had resolved to break off the engagement with the Prince of Rong, yet this decision would make her position in the household even more precarious. A young woman whose appearance had been ruined and whose engagement had been withdrawn—even if she was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke’s household—would find it impossible to marry into a good family in the reputation-conscious Da Sheng dynasty.

Given her current circumstances, relying on Madam Shen was a necessity she could no longer avoid.

Early the next morning, Shen Qianmo went to the Buddhist hall to see Madam Shen. The hall was built in the northern corner of the Duke’s residence, its tranquil and solemn surroundings ideal for quiet devotion. Shen Qianmo waited outside the hall for half an hour before the attendant matron finally emerged and said, "Miss, Madam requests your presence."

"Thank you," Shen Qianmo replied politely, nodding to the matron without a hint of impatience. The matron’s eyes showed a trace of admiration for Shen Qianmo’s composure and calm demeanor. Indeed, she possessed the bearing of a child descended from the Xie family—there was something distinct about her manner.

Shen Qianmo followed the matron through a series of corridors, arriving at the door of a simple, elegant room. The matron announced at the entrance, "Madam, the young lady has arrived."

"Let her in," came the voice from within, slightly stern and authoritative.

The matron opened the door, inviting Shen Qianmo inside. Shen Qianmo nodded in gratitude and stepped over the threshold.

The room was dimly lit, arranged with serene elegance. At the center stood a Buddhist shrine, incense curling in the air. Kneeling before the shrine on a brocade cushion was an elderly woman in blue robes, her hair streaked with silver. As Shen Qianmo entered, she slowly turned, her gaze sharp and assessing.

Shen Qianmo respectfully bowed and said, "Grandmother, Qianmo greets you." Madam Shen studied her for a moment longer, and Shen Qianmo met her gaze calmly and openly, showing no sign of avoidance. Seeing that Madam Shen was about to rise, Shen Qianmo stepped forward to assist her. "Grandmother, please be careful."

Supporting Madam Shen as she seated herself, Shen Qianmo stood quietly by her side and said, "Qianmo has been unfilial, not visiting Grandmother for a long time. Please punish me as you see fit. Has Grandmother been well?"

Hearing her earnest words, Madam Shen’s expression softened slightly, and she nodded gently. "I heard about your injury. Why have you not rested longer? How is your condition now? Are your wounds healing?"

"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. The physician said that with proper care, my health will recover. Only the injury to my face is difficult to treat and may require more time," Shen Qianmo replied.

Madam Shen sighed softly. "Ah, it has been hard on you." Seeing Shen Qianmo’s calm, unassuming demeanor, she was reminded of the girl’s mother, who had been much the same. It was precisely this gentle nature that failed to win Yi’an’s affection.

Because of the prestige of the Xie family, she had protected Lady Xie many times in the past, but ultimately Madam Cui had managed to exploit opportunities. Eventually, Madam Shen tired of meddling in such affairs. A year ago, she had arranged the engagement with the Prince of Rong for this girl, hoping she could wait peacefully for marriage, thus fulfilling the old Duke’s wishes and honoring the Xie family’s legacy.

She had not expected such misfortune to strike at the end—how fate defies human intentions! Now, she could only hope the Prince of Rong was reasonable and would not withdraw the engagement because of the girl's ruined appearance.

Shen Qianmo was not here merely to reminisce about the past. She cooperated, showing a veneer of sorrow, but spoke with fortitude: "Grandmother, you need not worry. I do not mind. However..." With a sudden thud, she knelt on the floor. "Grandmother, there is something I must ask you to decide for me."

"What is it?" Madam Shen was startled by her sudden kneeling. "Stand up and speak."

Shen Qianmo rose and said, "Yesterday, feeling somewhat better, I went to the burnt courtyard to collect my belongings. To my surprise, I discovered some suspicious clues. The more I considered them, the more I felt that the fire was no accident."

She then recounted her findings and suspicions to Madam Shen, carefully mentioning only Zhao Sanhuai and not Madam Cui and her daughter. Zhao Sanhuai was merely a servant; as long as Madam Shen ordered it, he could be interrogated. As for Madam Cui and her daughter, it was not yet time to confront them.

Madam Shen, having managed the Duke’s household for decades, was shrewd and perceptive. She had already suspected the fire was unusual. Now, hearing Shen Qianmo’s account, whether for the sake of the old Duke’s dying wish or the Xie family’s past kindness to the Shen household, she had every reason to support her. She told her to pursue the investigation and assigned Nanny Ning as her assistant—primarily to lend authority. Everyone in the Duke’s residence knew that Nanny Ning belonged to Madam Shen; having her present was as good as having Madam Shen herself.

Nanny Ning was the matron who had just shown Shen Qianmo the way. Shen Qianmo thanked Madam Shen and showed proper respect to Nanny Ning. Nanny Ning, already fond of Lady Xie, now admired Shen Qianmo even more for her resemblance to her mother.

With Madam Shen's support, Shen Qianmo now had the confidence to act. She disliked procrastination; upon leaving the Buddhist hall, she instructed Lvzhu to gather all the household servants in the front courtyard and sent word to summon Shen Guogong, Madam Cui, Shen Qianxue, and several other concubines.

When Shen Yi’an and his party arrived at the front courtyard, they found the servants assembled in neat rows, Shen Qianmo standing on the elevated veranda, her gaze coldly sweeping over the crowd. Beside her stood a familiar matron—upon closer inspection, it was Nanny Ning from Madam Shen’s side. What was the girl up to? Shen Yi’an frowned slightly, displeased, and asked, "Qianmo, what is the meaning of this?"

Upon seeing Shen Yi’an, Shen Qianmo bowed and said, "Father, I have invited you here today to ask you to uphold justice for your daughter."

Madam Cui interjected with a mocking tone, "Qianmo, this is inappropriate. If you wish for justice, why summon all the servants? Do you fear your father will be unfair and intend to threaten him?"

Shen Yi’an’s brows furrowed deeper at her words, and he snorted coldly, glaring at Shen Qianmo.

Shen Qianmo ignored Madam Cui’s provocation and addressed Shen Yi’an directly: "Father, you know that I recently survived a terrible fire. Now I have discovered that it was no accident—it was a deliberate act to harm me. I ask you to uphold justice and punish the culprit severely."

After speaking, she glanced surreptitiously at Madam Cui and Shen Qianxue. Madam Cui was clearly shocked, caught off guard, while Shen Qianxue's expression was more amused than surprised or fearful. Yet Shen Qianmo, keen-eyed, caught a trace of panic in her eyes, and noticed her hands clenched into fists, hidden within her sleeves—a sign of nervousness.

Could it be that Shen Qianxue was involved in the fire?