"Miss, if that's really the case, what should we do?" Jiaoyue asked anxiously. "Wouldn't all our long - term plans go to waste?"
"Not really! Don't we still have the thirty thousand taels of silver?"
"Miss, how can you still be in the mood to joke at this time! That money was originally left by the master and the mistress for the eldest young master and you, Miss! It was just taken away by the second branch of the family for no reason. You've just taken back what belongs to you! They haven't received any punishment at all! This matter can't just be left like this!"
Just mentioning the people from the second branch of the Shen family, Jiaoyue would get extremely angry. Now her puffy face looked anything but intimidating.
"Miss! Think of another way. We must punish those bad people and make them pay for what they've done!"
"I've already had an idea about this. There's no need to be hasty. I believe we can solve this matter in a few days." Shen Li was standing in front of the table, but her eyes were looking out of the window, and her mind was busy planning.
...
"Third Miss! Second Miss has come with some people!" As soon as the maid's voice rang out, Shen Zhen's body trembled uncontrollably. The embroidery needle in her hand pricked her finger, and a drop of blood welled up.
"Miss! Miss! Your finger is bleeding! Wipe it quickly!" The maid looked at Shen Zhen's finger worriedly and handed her a handkerchief.
But Shen Zhen didn't care about the wound on her finger at all. She grabbed the maid's hand and asked nervously, "Where's Second Miss? Has she gone back?"
"Back to you, Miss. Second Miss is waiting in the main hall now! What do you think..."
"In... in the main hall! You can tell Second Miss... tell her that I'm not feeling well. Ask her to go back first. I'll visit her when I'm better!"
Seeing Shen Zhen's panicked and terrified look, the maid was full of curiosity, but still dutifully advised, "Miss, you've already refused Second Miss twice in the past few days. It may not be a good idea to keep avoiding her like this!"
This maid was the one Shen Li sent to take care of Shen Zhen when she first entered the Shen family mansion. She had served Shen Zhen quite attentively these days, so she would correct Shen Zhen's mistakes in time.
"But... but I'm afraid of seeing Second Miss!" Shen Zhen tightened the handkerchief in her hand. Her eyes were filled with tears, which would fall as soon as she blinked.
Seeing Shen Zhen's extremely scared look, the maid shook her head in her heart and didn't persuade or question further. She was about to back out to convey the message when she unexpectedly heard a familiar voice outside the door.
"What's wrong with you, younger sister? If you're not feeling well, you should invite a doctor. How can you get better if you stay in your room all day?"
When Shen Miao's voice came through the door, Shen Zhen's body trembled first, and then she kept repeating in her mind: It's over! It's over! I'm doomed this time!
"Alas! Why is younger sister crying?" As soon as Shen Miao entered the room, her eyes fell on Shen Zhen's face. When she saw the two trails of tears on her face, she was full of disdain in her heart and eyes.
"Your big day is approaching, younger sister! You should be happily embroidering your wedding dress!" Shen Miao walked up to Shen Zhen, took her hand and said.
"Your wedding is even closer than mine! To be honest, you'll be the first one among our three sisters in the Shen family to get married! I've already told mother that your wedding will definitely be a grand one."
Shen Zhen tried to pull back the hand held by Shen Miao but failed. With a blank face and no expression, she pulled a few more times and finally managed to break free from Shen Miao's grip.
Shen Miao looked at Shen Zhen in surprise and exclaimed, "Younger sister, what's wrong with you today? You've become so strange!"
Reminded by Shen Miao's words, Shen Zhen suddenly realized that she didn't know why she had disliked Shen Miao's touch just now and even dared to break free from her hand.
"Nothing... nothing. Second Miss, I just have a headache. I'll be fine after a rest!" As Shen Zhen said this, she stretched out an arm and supported her forehead with her palm, shaking it gently as if she really couldn't bear the headache.
Shen Miao was a master at acting and deceiving. Looking at Shen Zhen's clumsy acting now, she felt it was just like children playing house, but on the surface, she still looked concerned.
"If you have a headache, younger sister, I'll help you to lie in bed for a while." As Shen Miao said this, she helped Shen Zhen to lie in bed.
As soon as Shen Zhen lay down, Shen Miao resumed her former arrogant look. She shouted at Shen Zhen's maid, "How do you serve your mistress! You don't even know to invite a doctor when Third Miss has a headache. What's the use of you? It'd be easier to sell you all!"
"Please spare our lives, Miss! Please spare our lives!"
"Second Miss, please forgive us this time!"
...
Shen Zhen was originally lying in bed with her eyes closed, pretending to be sick. But now, hearing the maids' pleas for mercy, she couldn't help "struggling" to stretch out her hand in mid - air.
"Second Miss! Second Miss! It's all my fault! I thought it wasn't serious before and I could recover after a little rest. That's why I didn't let them invite a doctor. Please don't punish them."
Shen Miao turned around, looked at Shen Zhen lying in bed and said, "You're just too kind - hearted, younger sister. They see you as easy to bully, so they're so negligent. I'll teach them a good lesson for you today. Let's see if they'll dare to treat you like this again?"
"Alas! Sister, it's not necessary! I already feel much better! Please don't blame them!" As Shen Zhen said this, she propped up her body with one hand and stretched out the other hand in Shen Miao's direction to stop her.
Looking at Shen Zhen's appearance, Shen Miao gave a soft laugh and said to Shen Zhen with satisfaction, "That's right! I said a little rest and lying down would be fine. Look how quickly you've recovered, younger sister!"
"Yes, thank you, Second Miss!"
Shen Miao took a few quick steps, took Shen Zhen's hand and said, "Now that you're fine, younger sister, I'll tell you something!"
"Lord Ji sent another box of jewelry for you, younger sister, today! Come with me to have a look later."
Just as Shen Zhen was about to refuse, Shen Miao preempted her and said, "It's not good for your health to always stay in this room, younger sister! Why not go out for a walk with me!"