The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage Chapter 4: Old Shen Furen

As early autumn arrived, wild geese formed lines against the northern sky, embarking on their journey southward. The once vibrant summer leaves in the courtyard had begun to fade with the season, while the colorful fish in the pond appeared unusually serene.

Her ink-black hair was styled into a deer bun, held in place by an exquisite coral hairpin. Dressed in a deep crimson outfit adorned with embroidered clouds and geese, she exuded a delicate and refined aura, accentuating her slender frame.

Bai Lu gently draped an embroidered cloak over Shen Miao’s shoulders, expressing concern, “Young Lady’s health has not fully recovered; you must be cautious not to catch a cold.”

Shen Miao simply shook her head.

Her physical stature was petite, not reaching the height of Shen Yue or Shen Qing. Her features were rounded, and coupled with her habitually timid disposition, she appeared a few years younger than her actual age, hovering around eleven or twelve.

However, today, a subtle difference set her apart.

Shuang Jiang observed from a distance, sensing an unusual shift within her.

The young lady’s complexion was fair, and despite her small, delicate build, she wore no smile. She seemed neither cold nor foolish, but rather possessed a detached air, gazing towards the sky with a hint of wistfulness. Though she stood still, an undeniable dignity emanated from her, as if she had acquired a unique presence overnight, bestowing an atmosphere of quiet grace.

Shuang Jiang shook her head, attempting to dismiss the peculiar thought. She then smiled and inquired, “Young Lady, what are you gazing at?”

After finishing her morning meal, Shen Miao stood in the courtyard, lost in contemplation as she watched the sky.

“I was merely pondering if these wild geese, journeying from north to south, would perhaps pass over the northwestern desert,” Shen Miao replied softly.

The northwestern desert was the very region General Shen Xin was tasked with defending, and also the location of Madam Shen and the eldest young master. Their last correspondence mentioned that while the capital was only beginning to feel the chill, other regions were already experiencing the harshness of winter, with snow beginning to fall.

“Young Lady must be missing Master and Madam,” Shuang Jiang said with a smile. “By the year’s end, Master will return, and he’ll be overjoyed to see that Young Lady has grown even taller.”

Shen Miao offered a smile, yet a hint of bitterness tinged her lips.

The Great General, returning only once a year, would first be confronted with the shame of his own daughter’s reckless pursuit of marriage, forcing a union that brought disgrace. How could he possibly be happy?

Moreover, the object of her infatuation was a treacherous individual who intended to exploit the Shen family’s military might for his own ascent to the throne. The ensuing struggle for power was a perilous quagmire, and the Shen family had initially wished to remain uninvolved. Regrettably, her misguided affection had entangled them, ultimately leading to the clan’s utter annihilation.

Shen Miao closed her eyes.

Barely half a year had passed, yet it had been sufficient for such a cascade of events to unfold. From the moment she reached a marriageable age, her union became a tool wielded by the Eastern Courtyard for their own leverage. It seemed that from this year onward, the Eastern Courtyard shed its pretense of benevolent beasts, relentlessly cornering her until she stood at a perilous precipice, with no possibility of retreat.

“Young Lady, Young Lady?” Bai Lu noticed the subtle shift in her young mistress’s expression—her fingers had turned white from gripping the cloak so tightly—and softly called out.

Shen Miao regained her senses and saw Gu Yun approaching briskly. “Young Lady, they have sent word from Rong Jing Tang, urging you to come.”

Rong Jing Tang was the residence of the Old Madam Shen. Earlier that morning, a maidservant from the Old Madam’s side had visited Shen Miao. Upon finding her in good health, the maid had conveyed the Old Madam’s invitation to pay her respects once her condition improved. Was this genuine courtesy, or a veiled summons to exert pressure with additional onlookers aware of the situation?

Shen Miao offered a faint smile, adjusted her cloak, and stated, “Let us go.”

Within the Shen residence, a stark contrast existed between the Eastern and Western Courtyards.

During the lifetime of Old General Shen, he would often practice his swordplay and martial arts in an open space within the Western Courtyard. Following his passing, Shen Gui and Shen Wan pursued paths as civil officials, leaving only Shen Xin to inherit the Old General’s legacy. Consequently, that very open space, along with the entirety of the Western Courtyard, was allocated to Shen Xin. The Eastern Courtyard, being more expansive, housed the Second and Third Branches of the family, along with the Old Madam Shen.

The West courtyard, in comparison to the East courtyard, was significantly more distant, receiving less sunlight. It was not a location deserving of any particular praise. Only Shen Xin rejoiced in it, as if acquiring such a modest space was a heaven-sent advantage. Stemming from a military lineage, Shen Xin and Shen Furen possessed a straightforward outlook; their courtyard featured simple white walls and black tiles, with a distinctly unadorned surrounding. This starkly contrasted with the delicate and graceful restored East courtyard.

Consequently, Shen Miao felt a profound dissatisfaction with her family's West courtyard. She had once envied the elegance and charm of the East courtyard, harboring quiet resentment towards Shen Xin in her heart for it. Now, reflecting upon it, she found her past ignorance to be utterly laughable.

Their own courtyard, despite its plainness, lacked for nothing. It exuded a sense of broad-mindedness and openness. How could it be compared to the monstrous and demonic facade of the East courtyard? That place was merely adorned with gold and jade on the exterior, concealing a rotten core within.

After traversing a long corridor and passing through a meticulously manicured garden, they arrived at the main entrance of Rong Jing Tang.

Evidently designed to emphasize a scholarly atmosphere, Rong Jing Tang's layout was exceptionally elegant. A bamboo plaque hung above the door, and the handles were adorned with bronze crane carvings, rendered with intricate detail and lifelike quality.

“Fifth Young Lady has arrived,” Xi-er, who stood beside Old Shen Furen, announced.

Shen Miao stepped across the threshold into Rong Jing Tang.

Rong Jing Tang presented a tableau of joyous harmony, with nearly all key members in attendance. The Second Furen of the Shen family, Ren Wan Yun, and the Third Furen, Chen Ruo Qiu, were seated below Old Furen. Shen Qing, holding a plate of snacks, sat beside Old Furen, with Shen Yuan Bo, the young brother from the Second Household, on the other side. Shen Yuan Bo, merely five years old, casually plucked snacks and fed them to Old Furen, eliciting hearty laughter that made her bend backward.

It appeared no one registered Shen Miao's arrival until Shen Yue offered a smile and inquired, “Why has Fifth Younger Sister only arrived now? Seventh Younger Brother has nearly consumed all the sweet steam milk pastries.”

Shen Miao nodded her head gracefully. “My body has likely not yet fully recovered. I was delayed because I felt dizzy after taking only a few steps and rested by the roadside for a while.”

A profound silence fell upon the occupants of Rong Jing Tang.

Shen Yue intended to imply that Shen Miao had deliberately arrived late, thus she was unafraid to point out that Old Shen Furen, taking advantage of her advanced age, had disregarded her granddaughter’s health and insisted she come for the greetings.

After a moment, Ren Wan Yun smiled and remarked, “I see that Little Five’s body is indeed quite frail. A physician has been summoned twice in these past few days, but fortunately, it is no longer a serious concern.”

“Is your health better?” A hoarse voice inquired, carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible undertone of impatience.

Shen Miao raised her gaze towards Old Shen Furen.

Old Shen Furen had already set aside her smile, her expression now tinged with haughtiness. Though she was seventy years of age, she wore a peach-red collared top over a tight, thin skirt. A green jade necklace rested on her neck, and she carried an embroidered pouch. Her silver hair was meticulously styled into a cloud-like bun, embellished with a few jade beads.

She was a woman who placed great importance on her appearance. In her previous life, during Shen Miao's time in the women’s quarters, she had always viewed Old Shen Furen as the epitome of nobility, a woman who retained her elegance even in her twilight years. This aura of refined grace had captivated her, but now, she found it to be rather ridiculous.

Old General Shen’s principal wife, Shen Xin’s mother, hailed from a prestigious household and was a genuine lady of noble birth, but tragically passed away in her middle age. Subsequently, Old General Shen rescued a singing girl from a local ruffian during a military expedition. Seeing that the singer had no other recourse and earnestly requested to serve as a concubine, she bore Shen Gui and Shen Wan for the Old General. Her status, consequently, was elevated.

A singing girl who had overcome all hardships to become Shen Furen, and later, Old Shen Furen. Her reputation and status had transformed, yet deep within, she remained a person of base character, originating from the streets. This fundamental nature never changed. Shen Miao vividly recalled that in her past existence, Old Shen Furen had coerced her into marrying the crippled Prince Yu Zhou, thereby paving the way for Shen Qing's ambitions.