Chapter 94 - Pressuring Him with Death

Shen Xiao had drank quite a bit at the courtyard outside with the guests who came to congratulate Old Madam Shen. His head felt a bit heavy. After sending away the guests, he was supported by two servants into his study to rest.

Vaguely, he heard someone talk outside.

It was a woman’s soft voice.

“Old Madam knows that the Lord is drunk and wants me to bring hangover tea for him.”

“The Lord ordered for miscellaneous people to stay away from the study. If you guys want to bring tea, wait for the Lord to be awake before doing so.” The servant under Jiao Jiao’s order responded.

A stern voice rang right after, “Presumptuous, you don’t even place the Old Madam in your eyes. You’re quite brazen!”

Shen Xiao’s temple ached from the noise outside. He got out of bed angrily and opened the door to his study with a dark face, exclaiming coldly, “What is all this racket about?”

Outside the study, besides Old Madam Shen’s maid, Cui Hong, there was another woman wearing a mudan-colored dress. She wore a proper expression and stood there arrogantly and coldly. Shen Xiao froze, thinking that he had seen his late wife for a moment.

They looked really alike!

“What’s the matter?” Shen Xiao asked, knitting his brows. Because the other party was a guest, he placed away the anger in his eyes.

Cui Hong walked over and exclaimed, “Replying to the Lord, the Old Madam drank some wine out of happiness, and then got a bit dizzy. It was unclear what Young Miss Chen had done but she made the Old Madam feel much better. She just laid down when she thought of Lord, and how you had also drank some wine too. Therefore, she invited Young Miss Chen over to help you sober up.”

Shen Xiao lifted his eyes and swept his gaze over the expressionless Chen Xueling. She wants an unmarried woman to come to his place and help him sober up? One clearly knew the Old Madam’s intention.

She really… People will only laugh at them if news of this spread! Did she not want her face anymore?

“I’m fine. You guys can go back.” Shen Xiao waved his hands, not having any impure thoughts for Chen Xueling at all.

Old Madam was confused, but was this Young Miss Chen also confused? Didn’t she know what it meant for her to enter his study alone? Even if he was willing to marry her and let her become a concubine, she’d lose her face after this incident.

Did the Old Madam do this on purpose?

Because Chen Xueling looked like Pan Madam, Old Madam was worried that she’d suppress her once she got married into the family. Therefore, she purposely nitpicked and found her fault?

Shen Xiao knitted his thick brows. He was really unwilling to think of his mother in such a dirty way, but there was no other choice.

Hearing Shen Xiao’s words, a satisfied smile flickered in Chen Xueling’s eyes.

How did she know that old woman’s intention? When she heard her request, she almost wanted to wave her sleeves and leave angrily. From then on, she’d cut ties with the Shen Family. She refused to be humiliated like this.

But she didn’t because she knew that she didn’t have a choice.

She was already past her teen age. She was twenty this year, and she was going to lose her charm. She didn’t have the time to choose someone she admired to marry.

Plus, she had seen Shen Xiao before. Although he was past his prime age, he was still sturdy and handsome. She did like him.

She was willing to gamble in exchange for the rest of her life.

If Shen Xiao pretended to be stupid and listened to Old Madam, letting her enter his study to help him sober up, then she’d rather be a nun than to marry him.

But Shen Xiao rejected this.

He knew Old Madam Shen’s intention which is why he rejected the offer. Chen Xueling became excited and her face flushed. She looked at Shen Xiao tenderly with love.

Shen Xiao hadn’t seen her gaze however. He already turned and closed the door behind him.

Chen Xueling returned to De’an Courtyard wearing a happy expression. The moment she entered her room, she hid her happy mood. She didn’t reveal her happiness in front of Old Madam Shen. She stood by the side miserably and sadly, listening to Old Madam Shen cursing out Shen Xiao for not understanding her to Madam Zhou.

That damned old woman! She was selfish, shameless and despicable. She only thought about using her to deal with Shen Ziqiao, but didn’t even bother to give her a good look.

If she really married into the family, she definitely won’t give the old woman a good time.

“My heart is aching. Have someone summon the Lord over.” Old Madam Shen clutched her chest and complained about the aching.

She knew Shen Xiao better than anyone. If he wasn’t even interested in Chen Xueling, who looked similar to Pan Madam, she couldn’t count on him to ever get married this life.

Although Chen Xueling looked like Pan Madam and it made her unhappy inside, it was because of that, would her son possibly marry her. As long as she could control her once she got married into the family, who cares?

Old Madam Shen didn’t think that Chen Xueling would become the second Pan Madam.

She couldn’t control Shen Ziqiao but Chen Xueling definitely could.

She felt as if her heart was cut to pieces whenever she recalled the power of the household being in that stupid girl’s hands.

Shen Xiao came over quickly. He endured the unease in his body and sat by the bed. He asked the Old Madam in a low voice and exclaimed, “Mother, where do you feel uncomfortable? Why don’t I summon a physician over to take a look for you?”

Madam Zhou gave Chen Xueling a look and the two stepped outside of the room to drink tea. However, the voices inside the room faintly spread out.

“I know about my body. Shixiu, I won’t get to live for long. All these years, I’m just worried about one thing. Now that I’m past sixty, I think I’ve lived a worthy life to die since even the empress had summoned someone over to celebrate my birthday. But… what should I do with you? It’s been years, and the three concubines can’t gain your favor. Then you can go and marry someone else. I know what you’re thinking…”

Shen Xiao felt his head throbbing. Hearing his mother emphasize the same thing over and over, his heart hurt even more. “Mother, don’t worry too much. I’m good.”

Old Madam Shen was angry. “How are you good? As a man in your prime age, why are you acting like an old man and fishing and playing chess like that?”

“Mother, I don’t play chess and fish all day long.” Shen Xiao smiled bitterly. He went to the military camp every day, so where was he going to find the time to fish and play chess?

“Then what exactly are you thinking? Are you planning to die alone?” Old Madam Shen asked moodily.

Indeed, Shen Xiao had no intentions of remarrying. It wasn’t because he was unwilling but rather the relationship within the Shen Family gave him a headache. Old Madam didn’t like Jiao Jiao. Even if he did marry someone, they might not obtain the Old Madam’s favor either. Even more, Jiao Jiao might not get along with them. Thinking of these possibilities, he thought of just living alone.

“Mother, you have a weak body. Rest well and don’t be angry.” Shen Xiao said helplessly. Old Madam’s face was red and her words were powerful. She didn’t look sick in the least bit. She was clearly pretending to be.

“Marriage is decided by parents. I don’t care whether you agree or not. Tomorrow, I’ll go propose marriage with the Chen Family. You just need to marry her and ignore everything else.” Seeing that she wasn’t going to get her way by being nice, Old Madam Shen decided to be firm and unyielding, not allowing Shen Xiao to refuse.

Shen Xiao stood up. His cough and serious face revealing his displeasure. “Mother, let’s talk about this later. I drank some wine, so I’m not feeling good. I’m going back to rest first.”

“If you don’t listen to my arrangements this time, I’m going to die in front of you.” Old Madam Shen exclaimed loudly.

She couldn’t think of anything else, so she could only force Shen Xiao like this.

Shen Xiao looked at his elderly mother bitterly and helplessly.

Old Madam Shen started bawling while knocking her chest firmly. “I apologize to Shen Family’s ancestors and your father. There’s not even a proper madam within the Shen Family. Your brothers are going to divide up the home once I die. Will the main household still be able to remain a home? Who is going to be in charge of Kai’er and Jiao Jiao’s marriage? Even your late wife resents me, thinking that I purposely made things difficult…”

Her bawls and crying were shocking and an earful to the people outside. Madam Zhou and Chen Xueling hurried inside, startled.

“Old Madam, what’s up with you?” Madam Zhou hurried over to comfort Old Madam Shen. She turned and said to Shen Xiao in a reprimanding tone, “Brother-in-law, mother is getting old. You need to be more understanding and don’t let mother be upset over you.”

Shen Xiao felt a powerless feeling extending throughout his body.

He was thinking about just following the Old Madam’s way. After all, it was the same no matter who he married.

“Ah, grandmother, what’s up with you?’ Shen Ziqiao’s clear and soft voice rang outside. The curtains were pulled to the side. She wore a swan-yellow flower designed dress, appearing in front of everyone. “I heard Old Madam saying that she wants to die from a far distance. Ah, it’s your birthday today. It’s inauspicious to say these words. I heard that whatever one says on their birthday becomes very efficacious. What if it really… then that’s not good.” Shen Ziqiao’s face flushed and said this a bit rushed, but the smile on her face was sweet, blinding some people.

She had rushed over after hearing the news. Before she could catch her breath, she heard that old woman threatening Shen Xiao.

She really was a shameless old and deceitful woman!

What sort of sins have the Shen Family committed for such a woman to marry into the family?

Old Madam Shen didn’t expect for Shen Ziqiao to suddenly run over, so she stopped crying for a moment. Her face turned red as she glared at her.

Madam Zhou scolded unhappily, “Jiao Jiao, how can you talk to her like this?”

“I’m joking, grandmother. Are you okay? Did I make you unhappy?” Shen Ziqiao asked innocently.

Seeing that his daughter came to mediate the situation, Shen Xiao sighed in relief.

“I want your father to get remarried, so that there is a proper madam in the family. That way, I’d die a content death.” Old Madam Shen laid on the bed, her tone weak as if Shen Ziqiao dared to oppose her, she’d die immediately.

“Oh, marry who?” Shen Ziqiao smiled and asked.

Chen Xueling was in the room. Hearing Shen Ziqaio ask straightforwardly, her face slightly flushed. She kept her head down, not daring to look at Shen Xiao.

Of course, Old Madam Shen was embarrassed to say this in front of Chen Xuelnig’s face.

“Is it Young Miss Liu? Father, I’ve seen Young Miss Liu. She’s such a nice person. I don’t mind her being my mother.” Shen Ziqiao pretended to not see everyone’s awkward expressions, smiling at Shen Xiao.

Chen Xueling’s shy expression became one of embarrassment.

Old Madam Shen was furious and fuming with anger. She knew that stupid girl would only cause trouble for her.

Madam Zhou said, “You’re just a junior. Who gave you the right to talk? Stand to the side.”