Shen Xiaoyan watched her, a flicker of curiosity rising in her heart.
She had only spoken casually just now, so why was Xi He looking so utterly shocked, as if she had seen a ghost?
It took Xi He a very long time to finally calm her emotions before looking at Shen Xiaoyan. "Mistress Shen speaks so carelessly. When I'm out and about, every action I take represents the Palace Master. How could I speak nonsense and bring unnecessary trouble to the Palace Master?"
Seeing Xi He's forced composure, Shen Xiaoyan's curiosity only grew.
Why did Xi He look like she had done something wrong and was afraid of being exposed?
Could it be that her words just now were not at the behest of Zhen Lingrong?
This wasn't Shen Xiaoyan making excuses for her mother.
If Xi He had truly received Zhen Lingrong's orders, her attitude would have been much stronger.
It was well known that Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaoming came from a smaller world and possessed no significant power themselves.
If Zhen Lingrong truly intended to use brute force as Xi He claimed, Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaoming would have been dealt with by the guards behind Xi He the moment Shen Xiaoyan first challenged her.
Seeing that Xi He hadn't reacted strongly yet, Shen Xiaoyan began to suspect that perhaps Xi He had acted entirely on her own initiative.
But what was the benefit for Xi He to do this?
She was a high-ranking and influential aunt by Zhen Lingrong's side. When Zhen Lingrong did not speak, her words were like imperial decrees. No matter what she said, people would eagerly rush to help.
If she truly had the backing, she should have had Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaoming arrested and brought directly to Zhen Lingrong, instead of wasting time arguing with them.
Since that was the case, it would be a disservice to her scheming if Shen Xiaoyan didn't play along properly.
"Aunt Xi He."
"What is it?"
Xi He was lost in thought when she heard someone call her and instinctively replied. Upon seeing that it was Shen Xiaoyan calling her, her face darkened again.
"What do you want, Mistress Shen?" Xi He asked, her tone very displeased.
Shen Xiaoyan's eyes flickered, and she looked at Xi He as if she were looking at an imbecile.
"What is your status?" Shen Xiaoyan asked.
Xi He looked confused. "What did you say?"
Shen Xiaoyan smiled coldly. "In Changqiu Hall, by Zhen Lingrong's side, what is your status?"
"I am the steward aunt by the Palace Master's side," Xi He said, puffing out her chest with pride.
"That sounds nice, but aren't you just a managing wet nurse? Does anyone not have servants?"
These words were not spoken by Shen Xiaoyan. Before she could say them, she heard them.
These words were spoken by Lu Taobao.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others simultaneously turned to look at Lu Taobao and saw him looking at Xi He with disdain. He spoke again:
"The servants of Changqiu Hall call you Aunt, and you think you're truly an aunt? Even if you're called that a hundred times, it won't change the fact that you're a servant. Why are you putting on airs in front of us?"
Looking at Lu Taobao, who was spitting with passion, Zhen Lingrong wanted to give him a big thumbs up.
Damn, he spoke so well.
Why had she never noticed before that Lu Taobao's infuriating mouth actually had such a function?
At this moment, Xi He's face had already turned red with anger.
Lu Taobao, however, stubbornly retorted, "What are you glaring at? No matter how much you glare, I'm just stating the facts. While our family may not be as prosperous as Changqiu Hall, we have at least three parts more rules. At least our servants don't dare to mock or ridicule our young ladies and young masters."
Hearing this, Xi He finally understood.
She wondered why this seemingly foolish person had suddenly started arguing with her. It turned out it was because she had spoken poorly to Shen Xiaoyan earlier.
Xi He's gaze shifted between Shen Xiaoyan and Lu Taobao, and a bad premonition immediately arose in her heart.
Before she could do anything, she heard Xi He speak:
"Mistress Shen, is this your husband? He praises you to the skies. Although he's a bit foolish, he is your husband after all. You shouldn't dislike him."
Her words were purely intended to disgust Shen Xiaoyan.
She could clearly see that Zheng Wei, who was standing beside Shen Xiaoyan, was Shen Xiaoyan's husband. But how could she let that fool who dared to insult her just now get away with it?
What she hadn't expected was that the relationship between Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei could not be so easily disrupted.
Not only that, but she also received a glare from a sweet-looking girl.
This girl was none other than Bai Ying.
Bai Ying actually found it strange. They were merely brought by Shen Xiaoyan to watch a show, but Lu Taobao couldn't help but speak out.
It was fine if he spoke out, as she also found Xi He displeasing.
But the problem now was that Xi He dared to retort.
And she dared to pair Lu Taobao with Shen Xiaoyan? Was that something just anyone could do?
Bai Ying was very angry, and the consequences were dire.
She looked coldly at Xi He, wondering if her master could help her resolve the situation if she killed Xi He.
Suddenly, Shen Xiaoyan turned her head to look at Bai Ying.
Bai Ying was startled by Shen Xiaoyan and asked stammeringly, "Sister Shen, what's wrong?"
Shen Xiaoyan smiled. "Are you thinking about how to kill her?"
Bai Ying was taken aback. How did Shen Xiaoyan know what she was thinking?
Was she too obvious? Or had she accidentally spoken it aloud?
Bai Ying smiled sheepishly. "Sister Shen, please don't mind. I was just thinking. After all, she is someone by your mother's side. I wouldn't dare to act directly."
Shen Xiaoyan smiled upon hearing this.
This little girl was learning to speak in such a tone.
Saying she wouldn't dare to act directly meant she could act in secret, right?
Was she afraid of making things difficult for Shen Xiaoyan?
She really wanted to tell Bai Ying, "Go ahead, I'll be waiting to watch the show."
However, such words could not be spoken for now. She just smiled at Bai Ying and said, "You see, a foul mouth never ends well. If you want to leave here safely and return to your Palace Master, you'd better be honest with me."
"Speak honestly."
As she uttered the last word, the aura emanating from Shen Xiaoyan changed drastically.
This sudden shift made Xi He feel as if her mind had exploded.
Such a situation had never occurred before.
She had cared for Zhen Lingrong since she was a child, and Zhen Lingrong had always treated her with respect.
Even though she knew Zhen Lingrong was decisive and powerful in public, in front of her, Zhen Lingrong was still a well-behaved child who never spoke loudly to her.
What surprised her even more was that Shen Xiaoyan, despite her young age, could already suppress her in terms of cultivation.
At this moment, Xi He remembered that her current achievements were not solely due to her martial prowess.
She was treated as an honored guest by everyone and treated with respect wherever she went because of Zhen Lingrong.
This was because, a very, very long time ago, when she went out on Zhen Lingrong's behalf, she was insulted.
When Zhen Lingrong found out, she went alone to the sect that had insulted her and annihilated them.
It was because of this that Zhen Lingrong's reputation spread.
From then on, she never suffered any bullying.
Although there were a few people who tested her later, trying to gauge her position in Zhen Lingrong's heart, they were all beheaded by Zhen Lingrong in the end.
After several more incidents like this, no one dared to provoke her again.
Perhaps it was due to the passage of time.
Therefore, she had forgotten why she had achieved her current status.
She had forgotten that she was called Aunt by everyone, but she was still just a servant.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at Xi He, whose face had instantly turned as pale as paper, and sneered inwardly.
In this world, the most terrifying thing is not knowing one's place.
Xi He, having been called Aunt for so long, clearly thought she was the Dragon Girl.
But now she realized she was merely the Deaf Girl.
"Stop wasting time. Quickly say what Zhen Lingrong told you to say. Don't waste my time," Shen Xiaoyan urged.
Xi He gritted her teeth.
Why!
Why was this little bitch still alive, and even brought Shen Xiaoming back?
If they successfully returned to Changqiu Hall, what would happen to her child?
Over the years, Zhen Lingrong had transferred all her maternal affection to her child.
Now, if her own child were still alive, would she still treat her child this way?
The thought of her own child falling from a position of high status to the dust made Xi He's face turn incredibly sinister.
She absolutely could not let Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaoming return safely.
No.
It should be said that she couldn't let Shen Xiaoyan return.
From the moment she first saw Shen Xiaoyan, she disliked her.
She looked too much like Zhen Lingrong.
Even someone completely unaware of the situation would know, just by looking at her, that she must be Zhen Lingrong's child.
If Zhen Lingrong saw her, she would undoubtedly dote on her to the bone.
As for Shen Xiaoming, she could bring him back and use him for a while.
As Xi He pondered this, her original intention became even more solidified.
"What did I say?" Xi He said with a forced smile. "Everything I said just now was the Palace Master's intention. You just said yourself that I am merely a servant, so how could I make decisions on my own?"
Shen Xiaoyan's smile became even brighter upon hearing this. "It's good that you know you are a servant."
Xi He's heart skipped a beat. Why did this sound so wrong?
"Since you are a servant, what attitude should you have when seeing young ladies and young masters? Do I need to teach you?" Shen Xiaoyan said coldly.
Looking at the sarcastic smile on Shen Xiaoyan's face, Xi He was so angry she felt like spitting blood.
This Shen Xiaoyan was truly pushing her luck. Did she really expect her to kneel and pay respects just because she admitted to being a servant?
Did she even consider if she was worthy!
Even Zhen Lingrong, she didn't know how long it had been since she had shown such a grand gesture of respect to her.