"Of course I can never forget Aunt's kindness of raising me! A seven - year - old girl, just out of her parents' embrace, was forced to do her own laundry like a servant. She had only leftovers every day, and her food, clothing, and daily necessities were only slightly better than those of the servants in the mansion. How could I ever forget such 'kindness' from Aunt?"
"In winter, I had to wash clothes in icy cold water while wearing only a thin autumn jacket. I was even worse off than a maid. Later, if my brother hadn't returned to the mansion and seen my frostbitten hands and worried that I was being mistreated, and taken me away, there probably wouldn't be a Shen Li standing here today."
"You..." Hearing Shen Li tell this past event with her own ears, Shen Miao's face turned red then green, but she couldn't come up with a single word of defense.
Back then, Shen Miao's mother had always been suppressed by the first - branch aunt. She harbored hatred in her heart. Knowing that the couple from the first branch would be away for many years, she had fewer concerns. So she took out all her old grudges on Shen Li.
"Li'er! You suffered a lot during those days!" Shen Yi looked at Shen Li with heartache.
At that time, he was still young and had just taken over the Night Shadow Division. He was so busy every day that he had no time to take care of Shen Li.
He originally thought that Shen Shi and Shen Junming would take good care of her. But when he returned to the mansion, he saw his sister with a sallow complexion and sores on her hands and feet. He immediately took Shen Li to the Night Shadow Division.
However, the Night Shadow Division was not a suitable place for a seven - year - old girl to grow up. Moreover, she was forced to learn martial arts every day, so she got bored. As she grew a bit older, she often went back to the Shen Mansion.
He had tried to stop her, but Shen Li still wanted to stay outside for a while every year.
Fortunately, Shen Shi, out of consideration for the power he held in the Night Shadow Division, didn't dare to do anything to Shen Li anymore.
Over the years, Shen Li had never mentioned that year's events again and still often went to the Shen Mansion. Shen Yi thought she had long forgotten about it, but unexpectedly, she still remembered.
After hearing this, some kind - hearted onlookers couldn't help but shed tears. They never thought that a young mistress of the Shen family could live such a miserable life, even worse than some common people.
"Uncle, please don't mention expelling Li'er from the family again in the future! Grandfather and Grandmother have already passed away. Although my father is not here, I can fully represent him to divide the first and second branches of the Shen Mansion."
"If Uncle has bought a new mansion and is ready to move out, I will welcome you at any time!"
Shen Yi looked at Shen Junming and said coldly.
"You... You actually want to drive us out!" Shen Junming stared at Shen Yi with wide - open, angry eyes.
"Uncle is wrong! It's not driving you out. It's just a family division! Uncle is still a member of the Shen family after all. How dare I, as a junior, expel Uncle from the mansion? If Uncle has nothing else to say, we'll take our leave first!"
Shen Yi didn't look at Shen Junming anymore. He turned to nod at the three adults in the upper seats, then turned around and pulled Shen Li's arm and left.
When Shen Yi reached the front of the crowd, he felt as if someone was staring at his back. When he turned around, the gaze disappeared.
Seeing Shen Yi suddenly stop, Shen Li asked, "What's wrong, brother? Is there something amiss?"
Shen Yi smiled and said, "It's nothing! Let's go, Li'er!"
Shen Li didn't think much of it. Supported by Jiao Yue, she got into Shen Yi's carriage.
Shen Yi silently remembered this matter in his heart.
He was naturally a cautious person. Now that he sensed danger, of course he had to be well - prepared.
When Shen Yi got into the carriage, he saw Shen Li squinting her eyes slightly with a smile, looking in a good mood. After sitting down, Shen Yi looked at her and asked, "You've been busy all day today, haven't you? Aren't you tired? You're still so energetic!"
Shen Li smiled shyly and said, "Brother, you already know everything?"
"Yes! I know! I know that you deliberately set a trap for Shen Shi to make her fall into it; I know that you sent people to spread the news in the capital that you were disrespectful and unfilial; I know that you deliberately attracted so many onlookers today and even invited the street vendors and waiters from Jiangyang Street half a month ago to watch; I also know that Nanny Wang was deliberately arranged by you just to be a witness for Nanny Zheng!"
"I know all these! Let me think, what else did you do, Li'er?"
Shen Yi pretended to be thinking.
Shen Li glared at him angrily.
"Brother, since you already know, why do you deliberately say it out?"
"Why not say it? My little sister has really grown up! You've done so many things and can protect yourself now. I'm happy, so of course I have to say it!"
"Then aren't you angry with me, brother? And don't you think I'm a scheming and unscrupulous person?"
Shen Yi laughed and touched her head, saying, "Why would I be angry with you? You've grown up now and know how to protect yourself, which saves me from worrying about you all day long!"
"And how could you be scheming? If we're talking about being full of wiles, who can compare to your brother? Your little tricks are just like a little girl throwing a tantrum in front of me!"
"Brother! No one talks about themselves like that!" Shen Li glared at Shen Yi.
In her heart, she actually agreed with his words. Her brother was naturally intelligent and resourceful. At the age of fifteen, he had survived countless life - threatening situations and taken over the Night Shadow Division.
The Night Shadow Division was an organization for the emperor to collect information and was always in the hands of the person the emperor trusted most. After their father left, many people had tried both openly and secretly to seize the power of the Night Shadow Division.
It was her brother who, alone, had faced numerous invisible battles and assassinations, defeated all the contenders, and taken over the Night Shadow Division. In the past nine years, he had even eliminated many people with evil intentions.
In the previous life, when Xiao Hanzhi and the Second Prince Xiao Yujin were vying for the throne, if it hadn't been for her brother's strategies, how could Xiao Hanzhi have defeated the Second Prince, who had a stronger army?
It was a pity that Xiao Hanzhi was as ambitious as a wolf. In the end, he cut off her brother's hands and feet and turned him into a human pig.
"Brother, please drop me off at the Shen Mansion."
"Why? Li'er, do you still want to go back at this time? Shen Junming will definitely take action recently. You'd better go and stay in the Night Shadow Division for a while."
"It's okay, brother! Your sister is so capable now. They can only be bullied by me! You can just rest assured." Shen Li leaned on Shen Yi's shoulder and coquettishly pleaded with him.
Shen Yi was worn down by Shen Li's rare coquetry and had no choice but to agree, saying, "Okay! You can go back! But be more careful and guard against them."
"How are Ming Yue and Han Yue doing with you? Can they be of any help to you?"
"Don't worry, brother. Ming Yue is very careful. I can always trust her with my daily diet. Han Yue is highly skilled in martial arts and always protects me closely. Jiao Yue is also the most loyal to me. With these three of them around, no one can hurt me."