Shen Li and Han Yue exchanged a surprised look. They were now standing on the left side of the door. Han Yue was two steps closer to the door than Shen Li and also nearer to the man.
Shen Li looked at the man who still seemed drowsy and half - conscious. She nodded at Han Yue, who understood and nodded in return.
In an instant, they had worked out a plan. They wanted to fly directly onto the roof.
But just as they exchanged glances, the man inside the door had already taken the first step. Yawning, he walked towards where Shen Li and Han Yue were standing.
Han Yue couldn't help but glance to the side, but quickly turned her head back. Not only she, but even Shen Li quickly turned around.
This man was an old acquaintance of theirs, Yun Lan.
He had been woken up by a pressing need to pee. But the drowsiness was so strong that he tossed and turned in bed for a while before yawning and getting up. It was still dark outside, and he was too lazy to wait. So he stepped out of the door, his hand on his inner - wear pants, planning to quickly relieve himself in the dark so he could go back to sleep.
But somehow, standing there, he always felt a strange, eerie feeling. He turned his head and saw a dark figure standing two steps away from him, and another dark figure two steps further away.
Yun Lan felt a chill run down his back. His voice trembling, he said, "T - there... there's a g - ghost... Waa!"
As soon as he said the word "ghost", Han Yue turned around and covered his mouth with her hand. Yun Lan felt the warm breath from that palm and suddenly realized: It has a temperature. It's not a ghost!
Han Yue originally wanted to knock Yun Lan out directly, but it was too dark. She was afraid that if she missed, this man would shout and attract more people. So she covered his mouth first and then struck the back of his neck with a karate chop.
Yun Lan rolled his eyes and fainted successfully. Han Yue let go of her hand, and he fell to the ground with a "thud".
Seeing that Han Yue had taken care of the trouble, Shen Li grabbed her hand and said, "It's not safe to stay here! Let's go!"
Han Yue stared coldly at Yun Lan on the ground, thinking that just giving him a karate chop was too lenient. Being a hooligan in the middle of the night! He deserved to be given a good scare. Maybe then people like him would stop being so improper and use the proper facilities.
That night, Shen Li had eliminated all the suspected targets in the north of the city on the list except for the Lianyun Opera Troupe. It was a bit of an accomplishment.
Yun Lan, who was woken up by the cold wind, opened his eyes and found himself lying on the ground. He touched his still - aching neck and then ran back into the house in fear.
The next day, Shen Li didn't get out of bed again. While she was still sleeping soundly in bed, the East Courtyard was already bustling.
Early in the morning, Mrs. Shen was sitting in front of the dressing mirror, doing her makeup. Nanny Hu, who was beside her, frowned and walked up to her. "Madam, the third young miss and Concubine Su have come to pay their respects!"
Mrs. Shen said impatiently, "Can't you see? I'm not available now. Ask them to wait in the front hall first!"
Nanny Hu naturally went to pass on the message. Concubine Su and Shen Zhen waited in the hall. They didn't dare to sit down and just stood there.
But Mrs. Shen's "unavailability" lasted for almost an hour. Concubine Su and Shen Zhen watched as the maids from the East Courtyard carried in the breakfast and then carried out the used bowls and chopsticks. Still, Mrs. Shen was not "free".
The maids and servants coming and going in the courtyard could see clearly. The third young miss and Concubine Su, who had just returned to the mansion yesterday, were standing in the hall like they were being punished. Immediately, there were whispers.
"Look, that's our third young miss. She doesn't seem to be liked by the madam very much!"
"You're right. If she were favored, why would she be sent to the manor? And she hasn't even come back during festivals for so many years."
"Yeah, I've been in the mansion for seven or eight years, and I've never seen this third young miss or Concubine Su."
...
Although Shen Zhen was standing in the hall, the maids and women didn't deliberately lower their voices, and their words reached her ears.
Hearing their malicious comments, Shen Zhen felt a bit aggrieved. She wanted to argue with them, but due to her status, she couldn't. So she held back her grievances and her eyes turned red.
Concubine Su was standing slightly behind and to the right of her. With a slight raise of her head, she could see all the changes in Shen Zhen's expression. Seeing that her expression had changed, she gently reminded, "Third young miss, don't forget our purpose today!"
Hearing Concubine Su's words, Shen Zhen forced back the tears that were about to fall.
After they had stood for a full one and a half hours and their calves were already numb, Nanny Hu walked out from the inner hall. She glanced contemptuously at the two of them. "Oh! The third young miss and Concubine Su are still waiting here! I've already told you that the second madam is not available today. The third young miss and Concubine Su might as well go back first!"
After she finished speaking, she turned around and was about to go back into the inner room without waiting for Shen Zhen and Concubine Su to reply.
"Nanny Hu!" Concubine Su immediately called out to her. She gently pursed her lips and said, "Whenever the second madam is available, I and the third young miss will wait here. Please just pass on the message for us again."
Nanny Hu curled her lips and didn't even look at her. Then she walked further inside. "Just wait!"
Half an hour later, Mrs. Shen, supported lightly by Nanny Hu, walked out of the inner room with an unhappy look on her face.
"Zhenzhen pays respects to mother!"
"I pay respects to madam!"
As soon as Mrs. Shen appeared in front of Concubine Su and Shen Zhen, the two of them bowed.
"I was wondering who it was. Coming to pay respects so early in the morning and disturbing my peace!" Mrs. Shen sat on the chair and waved her silk handkerchief irritably. "So it's you who's back! Well, in the past few years without you getting up early every day to pay respects to me, I've had a few good years of sleep."
"I didn't expect that as soon as you come back, you'd disturb my peace."
When Concubine Su first came to the Shen Mansion, she had always been very cautious and didn't dare to offend Mrs. Shen.
Mrs. Shen had often made Concubine Su serve her. Fetching tea, pouring water, massaging her legs and back were all light tasks. She even made Concubine Su wash all her clothes by herself.
Moreover, throughout the day, Concubine Su was required to wait in the courtyard before dawn and serve Mrs. Shen to get dressed and wash up after she woke up. She wouldn't be able to go back to her room until late at night.
It was only later, after Shen Junming had a big fight with Mrs. Shen about this, that Concubine Su was finally relieved.
Now, Mrs. Shen brought up the old matter again, using it to satirize Concubine Su. No matter what, Concubine Su was just a concubine and had to live under the mercy of the main wife.