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

In the back room of the Tong family courtyard, the oil lamp cast a dim yellow light.

Tong Jian sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), with four plates of snacks and two plates of braised meat in front of him. His eating manners were extremely unsightly—he stuffed food into his mouth with both hands, his cheeks bulging out, and oil dripping down the corners of his mouth, which he then licked up with his tongue.

"Aunt, what did you call me here for?" He mumbled, his mouth full, "I'm gambling with Shunzi and the others, and I'm on a winning streak—"

"Eat, eat, all you ever do is eat!" Tong slapped him on the back of the head. "Look at you, what makes you think you're capable of anything!"

Tong Jian choked on his words, swallowed hard, and took a sip of tea. "Aunt, why did you hit me? Don't worry, I've already arranged everything."

"Have you made all the arrangements?" Madam Tong stared at him. "What have you arranged?"

Tong Jian leaned closer, a lewd grin on his face: "Aunt, you don't know, I have a brother who owns a manor in Peach Blossom Valley. I'll have someone keep an eye on that Shen Nannan, and while she's changing her clothes—"

He gestured, "I'll go in, strip her clothes off, and see if she dares to act arrogantly in front of my aunt again!"

Madam Tong frowned. "Don't be careless. That girl has become very shrewd lately."

"Shrewd?" Tong Jian scoffed, tossing the chicken bone he'd finished gnawing on the table. "No matter how shrewd she is, she's still a woman. Women, once they take off their clothes, all they do is cry and beg for their parents."

Tong Jian lowered his voice, but his smile became even more disgusting: "Aunt, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Once I become the Shen family's son-in-law, won't all of the Shen family's assets be ours?"

Tong looked at him, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.

She knew better than anyone what kind of person her nephew was.

He's an expert in all sorts of vices, including eating, drinking, gambling, whoring, and smoking, but he's also not very bright and spends all his time hanging out with a bunch of shady friends.

But this task absolutely requires him!

If it works out, it will ruin Shen Nannan's reputation, and then my own Yin'er can marry into the Pei family.

Even if it doesn't work out, given Shen Run's personality, she can still make use of her.

It's just a good-for-nothing nephew; she's profiting either way.

"Listen carefully," Madam Tong said in a low voice, "If this is done, half of the Shen family's fortune will be ours. If it's not done—"

"Can't it be done?" Tong Jian laughed.

"Auntie, you still don't believe me? Shen Nannan is so delicate, I could easily control her with one hand. Once it's too late, what can she do? She'll have nowhere to cry!"

Seeing his appearance, Tong felt a vague unease.

But thinking of those accounts, the money that had flowed out, and the promises made to the Crown Prince—

The Shen family must be controlled by her.

That Shen Run is a reckless and difficult person to deal with.

That little bitch Shen Nannan has suddenly become quite shrewd lately, I don't know why.

Why is this silly girl who used to only know how to eat, drink, and have fun suddenly starting to check accounts?

This is the only way.

"Remember this," said Madam Tong.

"Don't let anyone get killed. As long as her reputation is ruined, the Pei family will naturally call off the engagement. Then I'll talk to your uncle and let you marry her—what can someone with a ruined reputation possibly complain about?"

Tong Jian's eyes lit up: "Really? Aunt, you really want me to marry her?"

He licked his fingers, his eyes gleaming with lust.

"That Shen Nannan is really hot, even more alluring than the top courtesan at Zuixianglou. That waist, that chest...tsk tsk, if I could taste her, I'd die happy."

He swallowed a mouthful of meat, his beady eyes narrowing. "Once I've taken care of her, let's see if she can still maintain that air of a legitimate daughter. Then, I'll make her kneel and serve me, calling me 'good brother'—"

"Alright, alright!" Madam Tong interrupted him impatiently. "Look at your pathetic self! Marry her, and the Shen family's fortune will all be yours. You'll never have to worry about not having a woman again!"

Tong Jian chuckled and said, "Auntie is right, she's right."

He grabbed another pastry and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it until his mouth was greasy.

"There's one more thing."

She took a letter out of her sleeve and handed it to Tong Jian:

"Send this to Futailong and give it to Manager Zhao. His Highness the Crown Prince is pressing for the 500,000 taels; tell him to arrange it as soon as possible."

Tong Jian was stunned. "So many?!"

"The Crown Prince's appetite is getting bigger and bigger," Madam Tong said in a low voice. "This time he's in a real hurry for the money. I had to sell three shops to raise it."

Tong Jian picked up the silver notes and flipped through them, his eyes darting around. "Aunt, we've invested so much, is the Crown Prince's side really reliable?"

Madam Tong sneered, "If we don't rely on the Crown Prince, who will we rely on? Your uncle, that good-for-nothing, only gets a pittance in the Shen family. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, we'll be doing our part to help him, and the entire Shen family will be ours."

She shoved the banknotes into Tong Jian's arms.

"Keep it safe. Send it to Futailong first thing tomorrow morning. I was lucky to run into someone who didn't know anything about this, which is why the shop sold so quickly."

Tong Jian stuffed the silver note into his pocket and grabbed a piece of pastry. "Don't worry, Aunt, I'll definitely deliver it tomorrow."

He chewed on a pastry, his words muffled, "Once this is all settled, I'll go find that little beauty... Hehe, Shen Nannan's waist, her butt, I saw her from afar once, and I dreamt about her all night..."

Lady Tong was too lazy to listen to his nonsense.

idiot.

But fools have their uses.

A hint of pleasure flashed in Tong's eyes.

Shen family.

She had been married into the Shen family for twenty years, living a life of servitude and subservience. She watched the eldest wife, Madam Li, act like the mistress of the house, while Shen Nannan, that little wretch, was spoiled rotten from a young age.

On what grounds?

Her husband was from the second wife's family, but he was still a son of the Shen family. Why did the first wife get all the benefits?

If this deal goes through, Shen Nannan will marry her vulgar nephew, and the Shen family will have no choice but to give up even more benefits to cover up their shame.

Then the Crown Prince will put pressure on them again.

This general's mansion will belong to the Tong family sooner or later.

Shen Nannan, please don't blame me.

You have only yourself to blame for being blind and insisting on going against me.

-

Wutong Courtyard.

Shen Nannan was leaning against the soft couch looking at the account books when she suddenly sneezed.

"Miss, are you cold?" Qiu Yu quickly handed her a cloak.

Shen Nannan waved her hand and rubbed her nose: "It's nothing, I guess someone is cursing at me."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was gently pushed open.

A tiny head peeked in, its eyes sparkling.

"elder sister!"

Shen Nian carefully walked in carrying a bowl of hot soup. "It was just made in the kitchen. I was worried that it would be too much trouble for my sister to look at the accounts. Please have a taste."

Shen Nannan looked at her and smiled.

After these few days of rest, the girl's face has finally gained some weight and is no longer as sallow as when she first arrived.

She had changed into new clothes, and her hair was neatly combed, making her look rather pretty and charming.

"Put it here," Shen Nannan pointed to the small table.

Shen Nian put down the soup and stood aside, but refused to leave.

Shen Nannan looked at her: "What's wrong?"

Shen Nian lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers. After hesitating for a long time, she suddenly raised her head and said, "Sister, I've made up my mind."

Shen Nannan was taken aback: "Have you thought about what?"

"Think carefully about what you want to learn." Shen Nian looked at her seriously. "Last time, my sister asked me whether I wanted to study literature or martial arts—"

She paused, then mustered her courage and said, "Could I...could I learn both?"

Shen Nannan raised an eyebrow: "Learn everything?"

"Do you know what 'studying hard' means? It means getting up early in the morning, going to bed late at night, being exhausted like a dog every day, getting calluses on your hands, and blisters on your feet—"

"I know!" Shen Nian said earnestly, "I'm not afraid of being tired! I'm not afraid of hardship! I—"

She paused, her voice suddenly softening, carrying a hint of cautious probing:

"I...want to help my sister."

Shen Nannan looked at her, and her heart suddenly softened.

This child—

That's how it was in her past life. She was as thin as a bamboo pole, yet she risked her life to protect her mother.

It's the same now; even though I've just finished eating, I'm already thinking about protecting her.

Shen Nian counted on her fingers, "I'll help my sister keep track of the accounts and prevent bad people from cheating her out of her money. Also, I'll help my sister fight off bad people; whoever bullies my sister, I'll beat them up—"

As she said this, she suddenly remembered something and glanced towards the door.