Chapter 5 Retribution Awaits the Faithless

Han entered the Reed Courtyard and saw the maids and the stewardesses from the household working in an orderly fashion; she nodded approvingly.

“Qingyun, are these maids serving you well? If any of them are insolent, just come to me at once. I’ll make sure you get better ones,” she said, fearing that the maids might look down on Qingyun for coming from the countryside and purposely giving this reminder.

Shen Qingyun smiled helplessly and agreed. In her previous life, her mother had been just as considerate, trying to make up for the years of neglect, giving her everything she possibly could—if only she had cherished it then.

She pulled Han to sit down and couldn’t help but ask, “Mother, what did Grandmother want when she kept you behind just now?”

“It was nothing, just a few reminders,” Han replied, gently stroking Qingyun’s hair. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Qingyun about her mother-in-law’s open and hidden disdain, lest it sadden her.

Yet, some of her mother-in-law’s words rang true. Qingyun had spent more than a decade in the countryside and there was much she needed to learn. Han didn’t expect Qingyun to become a talented lady like Shen Sisi, but she should at least master reading, writing, and basic etiquette.

“Qingyun, I’d like to find some governesses to teach you reading, writing, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Would you be willing?” Han asked gently, afraid of hurting Qingyun’s pride.

But Qingyun answered with an open smile, “Mother, of course I’d like that. Back in the village, I would envy the children who went to the small school. I often sneaked away from farm work just to listen in.”

After all, she had worked hard to learn in her previous life, and by saying this in advance, she could explain why she would progress so quickly later.

Han, however, was heartbroken to hear this. Her child should have grown up cherished and pampered. She couldn’t help but pull Qingyun into her arms. “Qingyun, do you resent me for not protecting you, for letting you be lost all those years? If not for that…”

She choked up, unable to continue. If not for that, her Qingyun would surely have surpassed Shen Sisi.

Qingyun patted her mother’s back comfortingly and spoke softly, “Mother, don’t blame yourself. None of this was your fault. If you hadn’t persisted in searching for me, how could I have returned to the family? I am already deeply grateful.”

“Good child, my precious child—you are the apple of my eye. How could I ever give up on you? I’ll make it up to you, little by little,” Han promised, tears streaming down her cheeks at Qingyun’s thoughtfulness.

Behind them, Nanny Jiang and Nanny Chen watched the mother and daughter, their eyes red with emotion.

—

After calming her mother, Qingyun tentatively asked, “Mother, there’s something I’ve always wondered about. How did the wet nurse manage to swap me all those years ago?”

At this, Han gritted her teeth in anger. “When you were born, I was exhausted and fainted before I could even see you. I was bedridden for half a month to recover, afraid of passing illness to you, and only then did the wet nurse have her chance. I deeply regret it now. The wet nurse must have used that gap to switch the babies.”

“Mother, did you ever wonder why the wet nurse would do such a thing? If she was hired as a wet nurse, her own child must have already been born. Why would she go to such trouble to swap someone else's child? Whose child was I switched with?” Qingyun pressed.

Han was stunned. She had never considered this. Ever since learning that Shen Sisi was not her own, she had only wished to find Qingyun as soon as possible, her heart and soul exhausted by the search.

As for Shen Sisi, she had never been close to her and later even grew to dislike her. Yet, with her mother-in-law and husband insisting on keeping Sisi, Han could do nothing. For the sake of the family’s reputation and for so many years of raising her, she had to acquiesce. Who Shen Sisi truly was, Han no longer cared.

Qingyun sighed inwardly. She knew her mother was simple and kind, never suspecting further.

Moreover, her father, Shen Zhifeng, always played the role of a devoted and loyal husband. Even though Han had not conceived for years, he never took a concubine, thoroughly deceiving Han into trusting him completely, never doubting his loyalty.

But Qingyun, having lived another life, knew it was all a facade. Shen Zhifeng merely wanted to control the General’s Manor through Han, and Shen Sisi was his real child.

Besides Shen Sisi, he harbored many more secrets outside the family…

“Mother, could a wet nurse alone really manage to switch the legitimate daughter of a noble household? Did you ever suspect that someone orchestrated it?”

Han gripped Qingyun’s hand tightly. “No, Qingyun, who would do such a thing? If something like that had happened, I’m sure your father would have discovered it. Don’t be afraid, I’ll protect you from now on. You’ll never suffer again.”

Seeing Han’s anxious and guilty eyes clouded with confusion, Qingyun could only nod softly, pretending to be reassured.

To expose Shen Zhifeng and Shen Sisi for who they truly were would take time and patience.

Having lived a second life, she swore to be good to herself, to cherish true affection, and to make those who were false and deceitful pay for their hypocrisy.

—

As they were speaking, a servant arrived to report that the gatekeeper had received a visiting card from the Lady of Marquis Jiang’s household, inviting Han to bring Shen Qingyun and Shen Sisi for a gathering in a few days.

“Qingyun, the Marchioness is an old friend of mine—she must have heard that you were found and wants to meet you. Over the next few days, I’ll have Nanny Jiang teach you basic etiquette. It’s natural to be nervous your first time out, but don’t worry—the Marchioness is very kind. I’m sure she’ll like you,” Han explained, then went on to tell her in detail about the Jiang family and the ladies they might meet, before reluctantly leaving to handle other household matters.

Jiang Marquis’s household… Shen Qingyun’s eyes grew cold. Of course, she could never forget that bloodsucking family.

She had once thought it a place of salvation, but it had been nothing more than a cage.

The mention of her mother’s old friend was almost laughable.

Marquis Jiang had died young, and his widow raised Jiang Lin alone, doting on her only child. When she learned that the marriage arrangement would switch from Shen Sisi, the brilliant talent, to Qingyun, she had wanted to break the engagement, but the allure of Qingyun’s dowry and the General’s Manor’s influence was too great.

After marrying into that family in her previous life, Qingyun had to attend to household rituals morning and night, never allowed to slack even during her monthly cycle. The slightest dissatisfaction brought verbal abuse—she was called a country maid, a barren hen. When the General’s Manor declined, she was treated even worse; they only wished for her early death so Jiang Lin could marry someone more advantageous.

As for Jiang Lin himself—a man who lived off women, arrogant, indecisive—he wasn’t worth mentioning.

The Marquis’s household looked grand on the surface, but it was an empty shell, without real power or wealth. Otherwise, Shen Sisi would not have kept Jiang Lin dangling while scheming to give up the engagement.

This time, Qingyun was curious to see what life would be like for them if Jiang Lin ended up marrying Shen Sisi as they wished.