Concubine Su gave Shen Zhen a few words of instruction. Seeing that she still looked rather dazed, she couldn't help but heave a silent sigh.
"Third Miss, shall we go and pay our respects to the Eldest Miss now?"
Shen Zhen looked at Concubine Su in surprise. "N-Now? But it's getting late, isn't it?"
"Third Miss, it's better to pay our respects to the Eldest Miss earlier!" Concubine Su saw that Shen Zhen still didn't seem to understand her meaning, so she explained further, "Now the Eldest Miss is in charge of the household. She's assigned such nice yards and servants to us. We should go and thank her in person!"
Shen Zhen nodded and said no more. Concubine Su tidied up her clothes for her. Then, mother and daughter, accompanied by Nanny Wang and a young maid just assigned to them by Shen Li, left the yard.
Originally, Shen Zhen planned to walk behind Concubine Su, but Concubine Su pushed her to the front. "Third Miss, you're the master. I'm just a concubine. Naturally, I should walk behind you!"
Looking at the unfamiliar inner courtyard of the Shen Mansion, Shen Zhen felt even more discontented. Since coming to this place, her mother was no longer just her mother. She had become a concubine in the Shen Mansion, half a servant. And she was being pushed into situations she didn't want, like a duck being forced onto a shelf.
When Shen Li heard from the servant that the Third Miss and Concubine Su were coming to pay their respects, she sat in the main hall waiting for them to enter.
"Your servant, Shen Zhen, pays respects to the Eldest Sister!" Before coming to the capital, Shen Zhen had been repeatedly taught some etiquette rules by Concubine Su. So when she met Shen Li today, she didn't make any mistakes in the greeting ceremony.
"Your servant, a concubine, pays respects to the Eldest Miss!"
"Third Sister and Concubine Su, please rise quickly! Take your seats!" Shen Li looked at the two of them and said in a rather enthusiastic voice.
Shen Zhen sat down as told. Concubine Su, however, declined, saying that as a concubine, she didn't dare to sit in front of the master. After Shen Li persuaded her a few more times, she finally agreed to sit down.
"Third Sister, have you seen the yard I've arranged for you?" Shen Li looked at Shen Zhen, who was sitting below her, tightly clutching the handkerchief in her hands, looking very nervous.
"I... I haven't had the time to see it yet!"
"After Third Sister has seen it, if there's anything you're not satisfied with, just send a servant to tell me. We can make adjustments."
Hearing this, Shen Zhen just nodded, not knowing what to say.
Seeing that the conversation was about to end, Concubine Su continued Shen Li's words, "Your servant and the Third Miss just went to the yard the Eldest Miss arranged for your servant. It's very delicate. We really have to thank the Eldest Miss for such considerate arrangements! The Third Miss and your servant will always remember the Eldest Miss's kindness!"
Shen Li smiled. "Concubine Su, you're being too polite. We're all family. Now that I'm in charge of the household, these are just my duties. I don't deserve such thanks from you!"
"No matter what, we still have to thank the Eldest Miss for her kindness!" Concubine Su lowered her head but said stubbornly.
Seeing her like this, Shen Li didn't continue this topic. Instead, she changed the subject and said, "I wonder how Second Brother's injury is? Can he endure such a long and tiring journey?"
Hearing this, Concubine Su showed a pained expression. "The two doctors sent by the Eldest Miss both diagnosed that he injured the bone in his left calf. He needs to rest and recuperate! But on the way here, he didn't suffer much. The carriage was padded with thick quilts, so he felt more comfortable."
"Injuring a bone is a serious matter. He must be taken good care of! The four young servants I just sent are all honest and reliable, and the two maids are also very delicate-minded. With them taking care of Second Brother, Concubine, you can just rest assured."
Concubine Su stood up happily, knelt down in front of Shen Li, and bowed. "The Eldest Miss's arrangements are extremely considerate! I really have to thank the Eldest Miss for this!"
Hearing Concubine Su's words, Shen Zhen also stood up from her seat and sincerely thanked Shen Li, "Thank you, Eldest Sister, for your considerate arrangements!"
Shen Li smiled and waved her hand. "Third Sister and Concubine Su, why are you still being so polite? I've said that we're family. You're being too formal!"
"Jiao Yue, quickly help Third Sister and Concubine Su up!"
Only then did Concubine Su and Shen Zhen sit down again. At this time, Concubine Su felt much more at ease.
Concubine Su had given birth to Shen Zhen and Shen Zhang, so she had two soft spots in her heart. For these two children, she had worried herself to death and suffered a great deal.
Although she had been prepared to endure hardships before deciding to return to the Shen Mansion, she had once shrunk back. This time, she wanted to stand up and fight for a good future for her children.
It was okay for Shen Zhen. Although they didn't live in the same yard, at least they were both in the back courtyard, so she could still teach and take care of her. But Shen Zhang, as a man, lived in the front courtyard. She hardly ever saw him on weekdays. Moreover, now that his leg was injured and he had difficulty moving, if someone wanted to harm him, it would be almost impossible to prevent.
But Shen Li's words just now showed that the servants she sent were not only trustworthy but also would take good care of Shen Zhang and watch over him to prevent others from easily hurting him.
With Shen Li's guarantee, how could she not feel at ease?
"When the news of Second Brother's injury came, I immediately sent a message to Uncle. Only after Uncle agreed did I send someone to pick you up. But it was so urgent at that time that I didn't have time to tell Aunt. I'm afraid she still doesn't know that you're back."
"So later when Third Sister and Concubine Su go to see her, if Aunt does something really surprising, you two should be mentally prepared."
Shen Li spoke slowly, but what she said was like a bombshell to Concubine Su and Shen Zhen.
Concubine Su suppressed her surprise and confusion and tried to look calm on the surface. She just said, "Yes!"
"It's getting late now, and Second Brother has had a long and tiring day. I won't bother him today. I'll go and see him with Third Sister tomorrow!"
Concubine Su and Shen Zhen naturally readily agreed. After that, they said a few more words and then proposed that it was getting late and they still had things to pack, so they should go back first.
Shen Li didn't say anything. She asked Jiao Yue and Ming Yue to take out four bolts of brightly colored cloth, two bolts of slightly more mature-colored cloth, and two sets of head ornaments for Shen Zhen and Concubine Su to take away.
Concubine Su declined twice and then accepted. Their clothes and jewelry were really shabby now.
When they got back to Concubine Su's small yard, Shen Zhen immediately stepped forward and carefully touched the cloth sent by Shen Li. She only felt that it was silky and very comfortable.
"Auntie! Look how beautiful the colors are!" Shen Zhen touched the silk cloth she had received and said happily to Concubine Su. But when she looked up, she saw Concubine Su sitting on the chair, looking rather worried.
"Auntie? What's wrong with you?"
Concubine Su didn't answer her. She just turned her gaze to the sky outside, which was dyed red by the afterglow of the setting sun. "The sky is about to change!"