I was pampered like a treasure after being married off to the young marshal, but my father and broth

Quan Huai'an was stunned for a moment, opened his mouth to refute, but couldn't utter a single word.

Just then, Xi'er ran in breathlessly: "Miss, the candied fruit is here."

She was holding a small paper packet containing a few golden-yellow candied fruits.

Shang Sheyu took the candied fruit and placed it next to the medicine bowl.

He glanced one last time at the silent Quan Huai'an, said no more, and turned to leave with Xi'er.

Quan Huai'an slowly raised his head only after the footsteps disappeared outside the door.

Looking at the bowl of medicine still steaming on the bedside table, and the packet of candied fruit emitting a sweet aroma.

His eyes were extremely complex.

The shopkeeper scolded him, left him a bowl of medicine and a packet of sugar, and then left.

"snort!"

He gave a reluctant snort, pulled the blanket over his head, and completely covered himself: "A merchant's daughter is a merchant's daughter, always knowing how to win people over... I won't fall for your charm!"

As dusk fell, the setting sun shone like blood.

Si Nan, wearing a black mink cloak, led Shang Sheyu on a slow walk through the garden.

Granny Yan and Xi'er followed far behind.

"This Quan Mansion is an old house left over from the Qing Dynasty. Later, the old master hired a foreign designer to renovate it, combining Chinese and Western styles, and it looks quite spacious."

Si Nan pointed to a small red brick building not far away.

"That's Nanyuan. It's where the eldest son of the main family lives. He's your eldest nephew, Quan Wanggui. That boy is quiet and reserved. He usually just likes to study ancient books and paintings and rarely goes out."

Shang Sheyu followed her gaze.

The South Garden was quiet, with the windows tightly closed.

The two turned through the corridor and came to see another grove of banana trees.

"That's Tingyuxuan, the place you visited yesterday, the residence of the second son's unfilial son, Huai'an."

When Quan Huai'an was mentioned, a hint of helplessness flashed in Si Nan's eyes.

Seeing the emotion in the old man's eyes, Shang Sheyu nodded slightly and said softly, "Young Master Huai'an has the heart of a child. Although he is a bit mischievous, he is not a bad person."

Si Nan glanced at her, a slight smile playing on her lips: "You certainly know how to speak well of him."

Further ahead is an exquisite white Western-style building with a domed top tower, exuding French charm.

"That's the Moon Tower."

Si Nan sighed: "It's your niece Quan Zhihe's place. That girl made a fuss about going to France two years ago, and she's been gone for two years without a word. The building has been empty ever since."

I wrote down everything.

The Quan family appears illustrious, but in reality, it is dwindling in number. Apart from the Third Master Quan, who holds considerable military power, the rest are mostly children without parents.

"As for the West Garden where you and the third brother live, it is the area with the best feng shui in the entire mansion."

Si Nan stopped and turned to look at Shang Sheyu.

"I live in the North Garden, not far from you. If you ever feel bored, you can always go to the flower room or tea room in this mansion."

"You are the third young mistress of the Quan family. You have a share in every plant and tree in this family."

This statement is...

Is this giving her confidence?

Shang Sheyu felt a warmth in her heart and respectfully bowed her head: "Yes, daughter-in-law has remembered."

Just then, a gatekeeper wearing a blue cloth jacket rushed over.

He first glanced at Shang Sheyu with a strange expression, then turned to Si Nan and bowed to report: "Madam, Third Young Mistress, a guest has arrived at the door. She says she is the Fourth Miss of the Shang family and insists on seeing you."

Shang Sheyu raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.

They came so fast.

The bait was laid out just yesterday when I returned to my parents' home, and the fish are already biting the hook after only one day.

It seems the Chi family is putting pressure on her, and Shang Pengyue is really anxious.

Upon hearing this, Si Nan frowned: "This Miss Shang got married on the same day as you, to the Chi family in the south of the city. According to custom, the first few days after a new bride enters her husband's family home are the busiest, and she needs to establish rules and serve her parents-in-law."

Shang Sheyu's expression remained unchanged, only a gentle smile: "Perhaps Fourth Sister has something urgent to attend to."

Recalling everything she had heard before, Si Nan sneered inwardly, "Since we're sisters, we must have something to say to each other. Go ahead."

"Yes."

Shang Sheyu gave a curtsy and, with Xi'er in tow, turned and walked toward the gate.

The gate of the Quan Mansion was imposing and solemn.

Two enormous stone lions stood on either side, and copper nails were driven into the vermilion gate.

Armed guards stood at the entrance, each with an upright posture.

Shang Pengyue stood at the bottom of the steps.

She wore a pink dress with a beige trench coat over it, and her hair was styled in trendy big waves.

Although the makeup on her face was thick, it couldn't hide the dark circles under her eyes and the anxiety in her eyes.

She kept twisting the handkerchief in her hands, her eyes darting around, glancing every now and then at the armed guards at the door.

My body was trembling slightly.

In her previous life, she suffered endless torment in the Quan family.

In her final days, she tried to escape, but was dragged back by these cold-faced and ruthless guards and thrown into the snow.

That despair, and the excruciating pain of the gun butt hitting her body, even after being reborn, still made her feel as if she were in an ice cave.

Fourth Sister.

A clear, cold voice rang out.

Shang Pengyue trembled and came to her senses.

Inside the gate, Shang Sheyu slowly walked out.

"Third Sister."

Shang Pengyue took two steps forward, but stopped three feet away from the guard, not daring to get any closer.

Shang Sheyu stood on the steps, looking down at her: "It's freezing cold, Fourth Sister, what brings you here? Is something the matter?"

Shang Pengyue gritted her teeth.

That scoundrel, asking a question he already knows the answer to.

Yesterday, when Shang Sheyu returned to her parents' home, she clearly promised to go back and discuss borrowing the dowry with the old woman.

She waited at home for a whole day and night, but didn't see a single ghost.

The Chi family was pressuring them relentlessly, saying that if they couldn't produce double the dowry by tomorrow, they would take back their previous promise.

She was forced into a corner, so she reluctantly came to her door: "Third sister, you really have a bad memory. Didn't you promise to help me get my dowry back yesterday when you returned to your parents' home?"

"My sister waited at home all day without hearing any news, and she was really anxious, so she swallowed her pride and came to ask."

"Third sister...you haven't forgotten, have you?"

Shang Sheyu exclaimed "Oh!" as if suddenly realizing something.

"So that's what it was about."

She casually straightened her cuffs: "I've been busy taking care of my mother-in-law these past two days, so I haven't had a chance to do anything else."

"you..."

The merchant held the moon in his hands, his breath stagnant.

Just then, a steady footstep sounded behind me.

"Madam."

The guards at the gate stood at attention and saluted in unison, their rifle butts striking the ground with a crisp, synchronized sound.

Upon hearing this, Shang Pengyue trembled so badly that she almost collapsed to the ground.

That old hag is here!

Shang Sheyu turned around and saw Si Nan supporting Granny Yan as she walked out. She smiled and stepped aside, saying, "Mother-in-law."

Si Nan nodded slightly, her gaze passing over Shang Sheyu and landing on Shang Pengyue below the steps: "I've been thinking about it. Since our daughter-in-law has come, as an elder, it would seem that the Quan family is impolite if I don't show my face."

The moment Shang Pengyue saw Si Nan, her face turned deathly pale, and even her lips lost all color.

In her previous life, she was only unhappy about having to wipe the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall every day. She said a few words, and the old woman punished her by making her kneel in the snow to copy Buddhist scriptures until her knees were rotten.

She was made to wash clothes with cold water, and her hands became covered in chilblains.

That deep-seated fear made Shang Pengyue almost want to turn around and run away.

"What? Miss Shang, you don't even greet your elders?"

Si Nan frowned slightly, her tone displeased.