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

The next day, just as dawn broke, the gates of the general's mansion were pounded on with deafening force.

Linglong rushed in, flustered.

"Young Miss! Something terrible has happened! The clan elders are here! They've brought several senior members from different branches of the family, and they're blocking the doorway, saying..."

"They said the young lady...that she disrespects her elders and disregards ethics."

Linglong's voice grew softer and softer.

"They also said that if Miss doesn't hand over the management of the household affairs, they will go to the ancestral hall to file a complaint and remove Miss from the family genealogy."

Shen Nannan was sitting in front of the mirror tying her hair when she heard this, her hand paused, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"Removed from the list? That's great!" She slowly removed the jade hairpin, then carefully reinserted it.

"I haven't even settled accounts with them yet, but they've come knocking on my door first."

The Shen family relies entirely on her father's military achievements to survive, yet they want to disown her, their legitimate daughter? Do these people really think she's made of dough?

"Where's A-Chao?" she asked Linglong.

"Replying to Miss, he left early this morning. Before leaving, he made osmanthus cake for you to have some when you get up." Qiu Yu came in carrying a tray.

This stable boy has really taken all her jobs away...

Shen Nannan looked at the fragrant pastries,

Oh no, when did I become so dependent on him...?

Shen Nian ran over, tugged at Shen Nannan's skirt, tilted her head up, and said with bright, sparkling eyes, "Sister, I know why they came."

"Oh?" Shen Nannan looked down at her.

The little girl leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Last night, I saw her people secretly deliver a box of silver to the clan chief."

A cold glint flashed in Shen Nannan's eyes.

She knew that the Tong family wouldn't let this go easily.

She didn't dare to come herself, so she brought in the clan elders to pressure her.

She held the osmanthus cake and savored it slowly, the fragrance of osmanthus lingering on her lips and teeth.

This person is truly top-notch at everything they do...

Looking at her young mistress's leisurely demeanor, Linglong asked, "Isn't Miss in a hurry?"

"What's the rush?"

"They came to me, not the other way around. They're the ones who should be worried."

Shen Nian looked at her sister; even the way her sister ate was so beautiful.

"Sister, I'll go with you."

Shen Nannan looked down at her. In those bright black eyes, the usual timidity was gone, replaced by something else—confidence, self-assurance, the light that only comes from someone who has finally been seen and needed.

"Okay." Shen Nannan smiled and said, "You'll come with me."

She stood up, straightened her skirt, and exuded an air of arrogance.

"Let's go and meet our 'highly respected' clan chief."

In the front hall, seven or eight old men sat in a row, all with ashen faces.

Leading the group was the patriarch of the Shen family, Old Master Shen, who was over seventy years old, with a white beard, leaning on a cane, and a long face.

Tong huddled in a corner, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly wronged.

Shen Zhong stood to the side, head down, still looking timid and hesitant.

As soon as Shen Nannan entered the room, all eyes fell on her.

There was scrutiny, dissatisfaction, and schadenfreude.

There was no pity whatsoever.

"Greetings to all my uncles and great-uncles." She curtsied, neither humble nor arrogant.

Old Master Shen gave a heavy snort.

"I dare not accept such a gift. Miss Shen is quite powerful these days, daring to even pressure her own aunt. How can we old folks possibly deserve such a present?"

Shen Nannan raised her head, looked at him, and didn't say anything.

"Your second aunt sent someone to complain yesterday that she worked hard to manage the household affairs, but you led people to search her yard, forced her to hand over the household affairs, money, and even forced her to sign some kind of confession."

Grandpa Shen tapped his cane on the ground with a thud, "Is there any truth to this?"

"Yes," Shen Nannan said.

"You—!" Old Master Shen was so angry that his beard trembled.

"She's your second aunt! She's your elder! Your father's not here, and this is how you treat your elders? Don't you have any respect for the Shen family?"

Other clan elders also spoke up.

"Your second uncle and aunt are elders, no matter what. What right do you, a junior, have to pressure them?"

"I heard you also keep a stable boy of dubious origin, keeping him by your side every day, pulling and tugging at him—what kind of behavior is that! You've completely disgraced the Shen family!"

Shen Nannan, holding her teacup, had originally intended to wait for them to finish speaking, but upon hearing this, she frowned, clearly displeased.

"The stable boy that Seventh Uncle mentioned is a guard arranged by my father. If Seventh Uncle has any objections, you can speak to my father when he returns."

Seventh Uncle choked for a moment, opened his mouth, but didn't dare to say anything.

Who in the Shen family doesn't know General Shen's temper? He's fiercely protective of his own, and if anyone dares to lay a finger on his daughter, he'll break their legs.

Seeing that his seventh uncle was choking, Old Master Shen slammed his cane on the ground again:

"Don't try to scare me with your father! We're talking about your second aunt today! She's been in the Shen family for over twenty years; she's done her job, if not done anything particularly meritorious. What right do you, a junior, have to bully her?"

Shen Nannan looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"What the clan chief said makes no sense."

Her voice was clear and bright, each word resonating with conviction.

"My father fought valiantly on the frontier, leaving the household penniless and without provisions. Tong embezzled family property, sold off ancestral assets, and colluded with outsiders—is this what you call 'hard work'?"

She took a step forward, exuding an aura of power:

"I took back the central administration to save the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers! And you call that unfilial?"

The clan chief slammed his fist on the table in anger: "You dare to argue like that! I think you've been instigated by treacherous people..."

Shen Nannan remained calm, took a sip of tea, and said, "Don't worry, as for managing the household affairs..."

"My father is gone, and my brother is not yet married. If I don't worry about the affairs of the household, who will? If any of you uncles or elders have suitable candidates, please feel free to speak up."

Several old men's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Of course it's true." Shen Nannan smiled sincerely.

"My second aunt is not in good health, and my second uncle is... busy. How can I, a junior, manage such a large family business? We still need to ask our elders to step in."

Upon hearing this, the elders exchanged glances, their eyes now showing a different light.

Managing the household affairs in the Shen family is a lucrative business. Who wouldn't want a piece of it?

Tong became anxious and stood up:

"Chieftain, don't listen to her nonsense! She never intended to hand it over; she just..."

"Second Aunt," Shen Nannan interrupted her, her voice not loud, but her tone made Tong Shi swallow the rest of her words.

"You're not feeling well, don't stand, sit down and rest."

Tong's face flushed red. She wanted to say something but dared not, so she could only sit back down, her fingers trembling as she gripped her handkerchief.

Shen Nannan picked up her teacup and took another sip. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shen Nian standing behind her and gently poked her back with her small hand.

Shen Nian's eyes darted back and forth between Tong Shi and a middle-aged man a few times.

She subtly tilted her head and followed Shen Nian's gaze.

He was an uncle from a collateral branch of the Shen family. He usually kept a low profile in the clan, but he was quite handsome.

But she noticed that he had a sachet hanging from his waist.

The embroidery is exquisite and the colors are vibrant, unlike anything from a respectable family.

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat.

In her past life, she lived in the Regent's Palace, where the courtesan taught her embroidery skills.

Those bright colors and explicit patterns were commonly used by courtesans.

She glanced at Madam Tong and that handsome uncle, and an idea formed in her mind.