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

the next morning.

The medicine in the medicine box was almost empty, so Shang Sheyu took Xi'er out to go to the clinic to get some more medicinal materials to make medicine for later use.

Walk through the long covered walkway towards the main entrance.

The snow was heavy a few days ago, so she didn't stroll around the garden much. After the snow stopped for two days and the snow was mostly cleared, the garden's appearance was finally visible.

The landscaping of this garden is indeed exquisite. Even in the dead of winter, the artificial hills, strange rocks, withered lotus leaves and bare branches create a unique desolate atmosphere.

"Let's gather some dry branches to put in a vase when we get back..."

Before he could finish speaking, a short, startled cry suddenly came from ahead.

"Ouch!"

Then came the crisp sound of porcelain shattering.

Shang Sheyu paused, looking in the direction of the sound.

Not far ahead, at the corner of the connecting corridor, a maid wearing a blue cloth vest knelt down in panic, with broken porcelain shards and spilled tea scattered on the ground in front of her.

A man stood opposite me, dressed in a dark gray Zhongshan suit, looking to be about forty years old, holding two walnuts in his hand, which he was slowly turning.

"This servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die!"

The maid knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, trembling with fear, clearly terrified.

The man didn't get angry; instead, he had a gentle smile on his face and reached out to help her up. "Don't be afraid. I won't eat you. You can go now."

The maid felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She kowtowed again before hurriedly getting up and running away.

But the moment the maid ran away, the smile on the man's face vanished without a trace, and he took out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his hands.

He turned his head and said something to his subordinates who were standing behind him with their hands at their sides, his eyes dark and gloomy.

The subordinate nodded and quickly followed in the direction the maid had run off to.

From a distance, and with the sound of the wind, Shang Sheyu couldn't hear what they were saying, but she saw the direction her subordinate had left in, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Miss, what are you looking at?"

Seeing that she was standing still, Xi'er followed her gaze and saw a man in a Zhongshan suit standing under the eaves admiring the plum blossoms with his hands behind his back. He looked quite refined from behind.

"It's nothing."

Shang Sheyu withdrew his gaze, a question lingering in his mind.

Who is that person?

She stayed at the Quan family's house for half a month but never saw this person.

Judging from the respectful manner of that maid just now, she didn't seem to be treating ordinary guests.

The eldest and second sons of the Quan family both sacrificed their lives on the battlefield. Now, apart from the mother-in-law Si Nan, only the eldest son of the eldest son, Quan Wanggui, and the second son, Quan Huai'an, remain in the mansion.

Quan Wanggui lived in the Chamber of Commerce and rarely returned to the Quan Mansion. Although she had never seen him, she knew it couldn't be Quan Wanggui.

The ages don't match.

Could he be a distant relative of the Quan family?

Without much thought, Shang Sheyu left the Quan Mansion with Xi'er.

On this trip to the clinic, the shopkeeper brought out only top-quality medicinal herbs. Shang Sheyu carefully examined their quality and selected a few auxiliary herbs before heading home.

It was already noon when we returned to Xiyuan.

After removing his cloak, he had Xi'er spread the medicinal herbs he had bought out on a bamboo tray.

"These medicinal herbs are delicate and need to be soaked in well water for half an hour to remove the earthy smell before being air-dried in the shade."

Shang Sheyu rolled up his sleeves as he gave instructions.

Xi'er agreed and took the bamboo tray to the small kitchen.

Not long after, the curtain was lifted, and Granny Yan walked in with a smile.

"Third Young Mistress, the Old Madam heard that you have returned and specially sent this old servant to invite you to sit in the tea room."

She was wiping her hands with a handkerchief when she heard this, and nodded, "Okay."

We followed Granny Yan all the way to the main courtyard tea room.

Si Nan sat in the main seat, holding a covered teacup in her hand, her expression indifferent.

And sitting in the guest seat to her left was the same man in the Zhongshan suit she had seen in the corridor that morning.

Shang Sheyu paused for a moment, his expression remaining calm, then stepped forward and curtsied to the old lady: "Mother-in-law."

Si Nan nodded and pointed to the chair next to her, indicating that she should sit down.

The man narrowed his long, thin eyes, his gaze sweeping over Shang Sheyu before he chuckled and said, "This must be the third brother's new bride, right?"

"Hmm," Si Nan responded casually, then introduced Shang Sheyu: "Sheyu, this is your second uncle, Quan Huaien. He was busy with business in other places in his early years and only returned to the Northern Territory these past two days."

Second uncle?

Shang Sheyu stood up and bowed to Quan Huaien: "Second Uncle, I have only recently joined the family and have not yet met all the relatives. That is why I was not able to greet you so abruptly. I hope you will not take offense."

Quan Huaien waved his hand and smiled kindly: "It's alright, ignorance is no excuse. If we visit each other often, we'll naturally become familiar with each other."

As he spoke, he turned and waved to his subordinates standing behind him.

The subordinate was the same person who had followed the maid away that morning. He was expressionless and holding a long, red-lacquered box with gold trim.

"When you and Lao San got married, I was in the south negotiating a business deal and couldn't make it back to celebrate your wedding. It's such a pity."

As he spoke, his subordinate stepped forward and placed the box on the small table next to Shang Sheyu.

"I heard that my niece-in-law's family is a family of doctors, and I couldn't think of anything good to give her. I just happened to get an old ginseng a few days ago."

The box was opened, and inside lay a ginseng root tied with a red string.

The roots are intact, and the rhizome is thick and long; it does look quite presentable.

Shang Sheyu glanced at him, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

If this were something an amateur would do, it wouldn't be so bad, but to bring it to her is like showing off one's limited skills before an expert.

Counterfeit goods can be made by fumigating and processing the roots of pokeweed, and then attaching the rhizome.

Not to mention that the medicine was completely ineffective, although the smell of sulfur used for fumigation was covered by spices, a pungent acidic odor could still be smelled.

What does Quan Huai'en mean by this?

Knowing she came from a family of doctors, why send her counterfeit goods? Was he genuinely ignorant and easily deceived, or was he deliberately trying to disgust her with fake goods and test her abilities as a new bride?

She glanced at the old lady in the main seat out of the corner of her eye and saw that she was looking down and stirring the tea leaves, but did not say anything for her to refuse.

Shang Sheyu lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions within them: "Thank you for your concern, Second Uncle. I will accept it."

Seeing that she accepted it, Quan Huaien's smile deepened, and a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes.

What kind of person did Quan Tuo marry?

And comes from a prestigious family in the medical field?

Ah, nothing to fear.

He then turned to Si Nan and changed the subject: "Sister-in-law, actually, besides visiting my niece-in-law, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you today."

Si Nan took a sip of tea: "Go ahead."

"It's like this," Quan Huai'en sighed, looking worried. "Although the Quan Family Chamber of Commerce has been operating for the past few years, Wang Gui, while intelligent, is still quite young. It's really too much for him to manage such a large operation." He continued, "I've been out in the business world for so many years and I'm quite familiar with things. How about I manage the Chamber of Commerce for a few years, and then hand it back to Wang Gui once he's gained some experience? What do you think?"

The tea room was quiet for a few seconds.

Shang Sheyu sat to the side, eyes downcast, holding a teacup in his hand, acting as if he were just a decoration.

They came here to seize power.

Quan Wanggui is one of the rightful heirs of the Quan family's business empire. Quan Huaien is taking advantage of the child's orphanage and trying to seize control of the Quan family's finances.

Si Nan put down her teacup, her tone cold: "Huai En, you can't talk to me about this. I'm old and only care about this small part of the Quan Mansion. I can't manage things outside. Since your elder brother set the rules for the Chamber of Commerce, then follow the rules. Although Wang Gui is young, he still has Quan Tuo to help him from time to time, so things won't get out of control."

Quan Huaien's smile froze for a moment, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes, disappearing in an instant.