With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Chapter 13 Is Miss so nice to everyone?

She rushed over and shoved the old woman aside.

Caught off guard, the old woman stumbled a few steps and almost fell.

Just as Madam Tong was about to get angry, she saw who it was and immediately put on a smile: "Oh, it's Nannan! What brings you here?"

That smile was so fake you could wring water out of it.

Shen Nannan ignored her and glanced back at Shen Nian.

The little girl was extremely thin, with prominent cheekbones, a sallow complexion, and five bright red, swollen finger marks on her face.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Shen Nannan.

"Sister... Eldest Miss..." her voice was small and timid.

Shen Nannan squatted down and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

Shen Nian looked at her, her eyes red-rimmed, but shook her head.

"No, it doesn't hurt."

The voice was soft, yet carried a stubbornness.

It was as if she had been beaten too many times and had learned to say "it doesn't hurt"—but the tears in her eyes betrayed her.

Looking into her eyes, Shen Nannan felt a sharp pang of sadness in her heart.

What was she doing at this age in her past life?

He was robbing Su Yue for things, swaggering around the streets, and acting arrogantly in the mansion.

This child, at the age of fourteen or fifteen, was already risking his life to protect his mother.

She reached out and gently touched Shen Nian's face.

The little girl froze.

"Don't be afraid," Shen Nannan said, "I'm here."

She stood up, turned to Tong Shi, and her expression instantly turned cold.

"Second Aunt, what's going on?"

Tong was taken aback by the look in her eyes, wondering to herself why the girl was acting so strangely today, but she still smiled outwardly:

"Oh dear, this is my servant. He's been disobedient, so I'm disciplining him. You're a young lady, don't meddle in these things—"

"A servant?" Shen Nannan interrupted her. "She's a daughter of the Shen family, how did she become a servant?"

Tong's expression changed.

Shen Yin, who was standing next to her, immediately chimed in:

"Cousin, what are you saying? She's the daughter of a maid, what kind of girl is she? My mother is disciplining the people in her own room, what right do you have to interfere?"

Shen Nannan glanced at her.

In her past life, Shen Yin was close friends with Lin Wan'er and often schemed against her behind her back. Half of her beautiful jewelry was "borrowed" by Lin Wan'er and never returned.

Later, when the Shen family got into trouble, she was the first to jump out and distance herself from the matter, saying that the second branch of the family had long since severed ties with the first branch.

"Did I ask you a question? What are you meddling in!" Shen Nannan waved her hand again.

Shen Yin subconsciously shrank back.

Knowing Shen Nannan's temper, and fearing her daughter would suffer, Madam Tong quickly said, "Oh dear, it's just a family matter, not worth Nannan's worry. That girl is so clumsy; this morning when she brought me tea, she spilled it all over me. I'll teach her a lesson so she'll remember it."

As she spoke, she winked at the old woman: "Why aren't you taking Nian'er away?"

The old woman reached out to pull Shen Nian away.

"Who gave you permission to move?!" Shen Nannan's spoiled attitude kicked in.

Tong's smile froze for a moment: "My dear, this is a matter for the second branch of the family..."

"About the second wife?" Shen Nannan raised an eyebrow. "This is my Shen family's residence! What? Is Second Aunt planning to divide the family property?"

Tong's expression changed.

The General's Mansion was entirely supported by Shen's father. His second uncle was a coward who was neither good at literature nor martial arts. He would tremble even when holding a sword, let alone going to the battlefield.

Tong's son also bullies men and women at the academy under the guise of the General's Mansion. She was thinking of finding a good marriage for her daughter when Shen's father returned... How could she possibly separate the family!

"What are you saying, little girl?" Madam Tong chuckled dryly, "We're all family, why distinguish between you and me..."

"Family?" Shen Nannan sneered. "Then why are you bringing up the first and second wives? I, Shen Nannan, have never heard of anything in this mansion that I cannot interfere with."

Seeing this, the old woman next to her stepped forward and spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"Miss, you're mistaken. Miss Nian is the second wife's illegitimate daughter, and it's only natural for the second wife to discipline her own child. Although you are the legitimate eldest daughter, you have no right to interfere with your mother's discipline of her child, do you?"

Shen Nannan squinted and looked at the old woman.

The old woman had a fierce face, and relying on Tong Shi's support, she dared to talk back to her.

It's been so long that Shen Nannan had forgotten that she used to be a notoriously arrogant and domineering person in the capital. But this old woman's provocation brought back all those memories!

"It's only natural?" Shen Nannan took a step forward. "You, a mere servant, dare to talk to me about what's only natural?"

The old woman was forced to take a half step back by her imposing manner, but she still retorted, "What this servant says is reasonable..."

"Reason?" Shen Nannan smiled.

"Then I'll show you what reason is today. Qiu Yu, slap yourself! Give it a good beating!"

Qiu Yu, who had been watching this from the sidelines for a long time, swung her arm and slapped him several times.

The old woman, seeing stars from the beating, was used to being arrogant and even pointed at Qiu Yu's nose, shouting, "You little brat, how dare you hit me!"

He went up and tried to tear Qiu Yu apart.

Qiu Yu, not paying attention, bumped into Shen Nannan behind her.

He leaned back completely!

"Miss!"

The autumn rain startled us.

"ah--"

Shen Nannan closed her eyes and waited to fall.

But what hit his back wasn't the cold ground.

It was a warm, hard wall.

A pair of hands reached out from behind and firmly embraced her waist.

The force wasn't strong, but it gripped her tightly.

She was pulled into a warm embrace.

A crisp, refreshing scent, mixed with a faint medicinal aroma.

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat.

She looked up.

He met a pair of unfathomable eyes.

Ah Chao looked down at her, one hand around her waist and the other protecting the back of her head.

They were so close, close enough that she could see his eyelashes—long and thick.

She remembered countless nights in her past life when he would hold her from behind like this, resting his chin on her shoulder, calling her "Nannan" in a hoarse voice.

But his hands were cold at that time.

This hand is burning hot right now.

His face remained expressionless, but the hand around her waist tightened slightly.

Then it loosened up again.

Extremely fast.

As they approached, Shen Nannan almost thought it was an illusion.

"Miss, steady yourself." He said calmly, helping her to her feet and then taking a step back.

Respectful, aloof, and impeccable.

If it weren't for the lingering warmth of his palm on her waist, Shen Nannan would almost have thought that the embrace she had just experienced was her imagination.

"This servant has been disrespectful."

Shen Nannan found it amusing.

offend?

When you offended me in your past life, you weren't this polite.

She stood there, her heart pounding, but her expression remained calm.

What are you doing here?

"Miss left in such a hurry that she didn't take me with her."

Shen Nannan was stunned for a moment.

The old woman knew she had gotten herself into trouble and was about to step forward to beg for forgiveness when...

He was rooted to the spot by a single look from Ah Chao.

That look was terrifying; she felt that if she dared to take another step forward, she would be slowly sliced to death.

Madam Tong knew that Shen Nannan was not someone to be trifled with, but in front of the servants, she still put on airs of an elder.

"Nannan," she said, her face darkening, "what do you mean by this? I'm speaking to you politely, and you're lecturing your elder?"

"An elder?" Shen Nannan laughed. "Second Aunt, I'm calling you Second Aunt out of politeness. But if you try to use your seniority to pressure me, then I'd like to ask, with my parents not home, who's in charge here?"

Tong choked.

Of course, Shen Run has the final say. But that reckless Shen Run listens to his sister in everything.

She took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Nannan, why are you doing this? She's just a concubine's daughter. If you want to discipline her, your second aunt will pick out a few better ones for you to send over another day. This one who doesn't know any better can stay here and I'll teach her slowly—"

"No need," Shen Nannan interrupted her. "I want this one."

"If Auntie has nothing else, I'll take this girl with me. Oh, right, my brother is waiting for me, so I won't keep you company any longer."

After she finished speaking, she took Shen Nian's hand and turned to leave.

Tong's expression changed.

If that troublemaker Shen Run were to come, things wouldn't be as simple as just "talking".

That guy is incredibly protective of his sister; if she wants someone, he'd practically tear down the second wife's house.

Shen Yin wanted to say something, but her mother pulled her back, so she fell silent.

As Tong watched Shen Nannan's departing figure, the smile on her face gradually disappeared, and a sinister glint flashed in her eyes.

Little brat...we'll see.

Ah Chao lagged half a step behind, blocking her and Tong Shi.

----

Until they were far away,

Shen Nannan stopped and looked down at Shen Nian.

Too thin.

His arms were as thin as sticks, and his face was completely devoid of flesh. His old clothes were faded from washing, and the cuffs were worn through.

The little girl was being led by her, walking unsteadily, but she kept secretly glancing up at her.

That look in his eyes was like that of an abandoned puppy that had suddenly been picked up and couldn't believe it was real.

Shen Nannan suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

"Your name is Shen Nian?" she asked.

"Yes...yes." Shen Nian's voice was soft and low.

How old are you?

"Thirteen."

Thirteen.

In her previous life, she was only fifteen when she dared to knock on the Regent's Palace door.

Shen Nannan stopped, squatted down, and looked her straight in the eye.

"Shen Nian, listen to me."

Shen Nian looked at her nervously.

"From now on, you will live with me in the Wutong Courtyard."

Shen Nian's eyes widened.

"Do you want to study literature or martial arts?"

Shen Nian was stunned: "This servant...this servant..."

"You are not a servant," Shen Nannan interrupted her. "You are a member of the Shen family. Tell me what you want to learn, and I will ask a teacher to instruct you."

Shen Nian stared blankly at her, tears welling up again.

"I...I want to..."

She wanted to say something, but couldn't; she just cried.

Shen Nannan reached out and wiped away the tears on her face.

"No rush, think about it slowly."

She stood up and said to Qiuyu, "Take her back to Wutong Courtyard, find her some clean clothes to change into, and get her some food."

"Yes, Miss." Qiu Yu took Shen Nian's hand. "Let's go."

Shen Nian was led a few steps by Qiu Yu when she suddenly turned around.

She looked at Shen Nannan, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't.

Finally, she bent down and bowed deeply to Shen Nannan.

Then Qiu Yu pulled me away.

Shen Nannan stood there, watching the small, thin figure disappear at the end of the corridor.