Chapter 89: Madness Unleashed

This time, Shen Qingyun had deliberately brought Yicui along so she could witness Shen Zhifeng’s vile nature firsthand. If she hadn’t been worried about Madam Han’s fragile health, she would have brought her as well, just so she could see the true face of her beloved husband and cherished friend.

Yet, upon hearing the schemes these two plotted, Shen Qingyun realized this might be an opportunity for Madam Han to awaken to reality.

Zhenzhu was so furious her teeth ground together audibly, desperately wishing she could rush in and strangle those two wretches on the spot.

Yicui’s eyes reddened with unshed tears. Seeing Shen Qingyun so composed, she realized this was not the first time her mistress had faced such filth. Her heart ached, and she could not help but let tears fall softly as she whispered, “Miss, aren’t you sad at all? After all, he’s...”

She didn’t finish her sentence. The words “your own father” stuck in her throat.

For the sake of profit, could a man truly throw his own daughter into utter ruin?

A woman in this era, unable to bear children, would live a life of endless hardship, enduring constant ridicule and scorn—never mind that Shen Qingyun was a noble daughter destined to be the mistress of a great household.

Shen Zhifeng not only was willing to sacrifice her, but he would also use his wife with such madness to achieve his ends.

Death could be swift, but the cruelty Shen Zhifeng and Lady Jianghou planned would ensure Madam Han and Shen Qingyun suffered for a lifetime.

Shen Qingyun gazed out the window in silence for a long while.

After a time, she summoned Hanfeng and Hanyu. “Hanfeng, you stay here and keep watching. I’m heading back to the manor.”

Hanyu asked, “Miss, aren’t you going to the Healer’s Pavilion?”

Shen Qingyun lowered her eyes, the light within them dimming slightly. “Not today.”

Seeing her like this, Hanyu’s heart clenched with a needle’s sting. He suddenly knelt and clasped his fists. “Miss, let me take care of them. I promise there’ll be no trace left behind.”

Hanfeng shot him a sharp look, frowning.

But Shen Qingyun simply shook her head at Hanyu, cool and detached. “Don’t worry. Death is too easy for them. I want them to suffer a hundredfold. Come, you’ll go back with me.”

After carefully observing the situation in the adjacent room, Shen Qingyun and her party quietly slipped out the back door.

Perhaps she felt too stifled. When the carriage had traveled some distance, she asked to walk a while down a small path. Watching the crowds bustling along, the vendors hawking their wares, seeing everyone striving to live, she felt the gloom in her heart lighten considerably.

Her gaze fell upon a small stall selling sugar figurines. A middle-aged man was haggling with the vendor.

“Look, I don’t have much money. Can you sell me one for ten coins?”

“If you don’t have enough, just buy one, that’s all.”

“But I have two children at home. One won’t be enough.”

He seemed to have just finished a day’s work, his face and arms tanned dark, his clothes and skin streaked with soil, his hands cracked from labor. He smiled awkwardly and ingratiatingly, carefully holding a piece of rag that contained some coins.

“Shopkeeper, how much for one sugar figure?” Shen Qingyun stepped forward and asked.

Seeing a beautiful young lady in a veil, attended by maids, the vendor’s face lit up at once. “Fifteen coins. What kind would you like, miss?”

The middle-aged man, seeing the vendor ignore him, stood forlornly off to the side.

Shen Qingyun turned to him. “Uncle, how much money do you have?”

The man started, glanced around, but saw her clear eyes truly focused on him. Though confused, he answered, “I only have twenty-three coins. I promised my children I’d buy them sugar figures when I earned some money.”

Lowering his head in embarrassment, he counted his coins and sighed, then told the vendor, “I’ll just buy one for now.”

A sugar figure cost fifteen coins; two would require thirty. He was seven coins short.

Seven coins—for a household like the Grand Duke’s, that was less than a servant’s tip—yet for this father, it was a hurdle.

The man’s look was awkward, his means meager, but his eyes were bright and pure, filled with love for his family.

Faced with Shen Zhifeng’s heartless machinations, Shen Qingyun had not cried. But now, she felt her nose sting, her eyes moistening.

“Zhenzhu, buy another for this uncle,” Shen Qingyun said softly.

“Certainly, miss!” Zhenzhu, already moved, hurriedly took out her purse and warmly asked, “Uncle, which one would you like?”

The man panicked, waving his hands. “No, no, I couldn’t possibly. Miss, you should buy for yourself, thank you.”

Shen Qingyun’s expression softened. “It’s nothing. Consider it a gift for your children.”

The man scratched his head, flustered but grateful, and then, as if remembering something, took out two plump white radishes from a cloth sack and offered them shyly. “Miss, if you don’t mind, please accept these. They’re from my own field, dug up this morning—sweet and crisp.”

“Thank you, uncle,” Shen Qingyun said with a smile. Yicui quickly stepped forward to accept the radishes.

“Oh, these are so heavy and large! Such fine radishes,” Yicui praised.

Looking at them, Shen Qingyun said to the man, “My family’s estate happens to need someone to tend the vegetables. Uncle, your radishes look excellent. If you’re willing, you could come work there. The wages are paid monthly—it’s in the northern suburbs.”

The man froze, rubbing his hands nervously. “Miss, may I? My home is just in the northern suburbs as well.”

“As long as you’re willing.”

“I am! Of course I am! Thank you, miss, thank you! I’ll do my very best.”

Shen Qingyun gave Yicui a glance, and Yicui stepped up to explain the location and who to seek out in a few days’ time.

Zhenzhu, meanwhile, pulled out another sugar figure with a bright smile. “Miss, this is for you.”

If not for her mistress, her own life would be even harder than this man’s family—worked like a dog by her uncle and aunt, never knowing what day she might be beaten to death.

Shen Qingyun smiled and patted Zhenzhu’s head. Seeing that Yicui had finished her instructions, she picked up the sparkling sugar figure and left.

“Miss, shouldn’t you at least check on that uncle’s background?” Yicui asked on the way back.

“No need. He had so little, yet still kept his promise to his children, making sure not to favor one over the other. That shows he is trustworthy and kind, grateful by nature. And these radishes are indeed excellent. There’s no need to worry.”

Zhenzhu nodded, helping Yicui carry one of the big radishes, its green leaves and plump root making her want to bite into it right away.

She couldn’t help but mutter, “Miss, compared to that uncle, the Grand Duke really is worthless. What do you plan to do next?”