Looking at Shen Ruoxi's eyebrows and features, which bore a striking resemblance to her own husband, Mrs. Yang felt a wave of bitterness surging in her heart.
She gently nodded and said softly, "As long as you have made up your mind, your sister-in-law will fully support you.
As for Old Mrs. Shen, don't worry, I will keep it from her for you.
Qing'er, Yun'er, and Xiang'er are clamoring to see their aunt every day. If they knew you could come home, they would be overjoyed."
Shen Ruoxi's eyes reddened slightly, her voice tinged with a trace of choking, "Sister-in-law, please take good care of your health. It was I who was too immature before, always thinking of escaping; now I won't be so willful. The Shen family needs me to bear the burden; it's my responsibility."
Mrs. Yang felt immensely relieved upon hearing this, placing her hand over Ruoxi's and speaking softly, "It's right that you think this way. If father-in-law, mother-in-law, as well as your husband and uncles who have passed could see, they would surely be comforted, for their greatest concern was always you."
Shen Ruoxi felt as if her heart had been torn apart, the pain unbearable: "It is I who have been unfilial."
Mrs. Yang felt sorry for her; when she first met her, she was so carefree and uninhibited, yet in a blink of an eye, she lost all her family members.
It was as if she had suddenly fallen from heaven to the dark depths of hell; who could withstand such a blow?
"You were only fourteen at the time, and mother-in-law forced you to marry. How could anyone blame you? It's good to be back; we'll shoulder the Shen family's responsibilities together."
Shen Ruoxi nodded with tears in her eyes.
The two left Juequan Building, with Mrs. Yang carrying delicacies that Shen Ruoxi had carefully chosen for her three nieces.
She bid farewell to Shen Ruoxi: "Sister-in-law is leaving now, I will go back and tidy up Shaohua Courtyard for you. You can come home to stay anytime."
"Thank you, Sister-in-law."
"We are family; there's no need for thanks. I'm going back now. If there's anything, send someone to inform me. If not, we'll go and confront them. Such a small family, I don't take them seriously at all," Mrs. Yang said with a cold sneer.
Shen Ruoxi felt a warm stream in her heart: "I understand, Sister-in-law. Don't worry, I can handle it."
After the sister-in-law duo bid farewell, Shen Ruoxi returned to Xiao Mansion. Just as she and Chuntao were about to head back to Bamboo Pavilion, they suddenly heard a commotion from within the courtyard.
"Young Madam, I beg for your mercy; I am born into this household. You cannot sell me!"
"So what if you're born here? Take her away."
Originally, Shen Ruoxi did not want to get involved in this disturbance. She was about to leave Xiao Mansion and no longer considered herself part of the Xiao family.
Yet the maid's voice seemed to carry a sense of familiarity.
Chuntao was also stunned, "Miss, was it Xueyan and Ning Zhen'er speaking just now?"
Suspicion flickered across Shen Ruoxi's brows, and she turned to walk toward the inner courtyard.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Ning Zhen'er lifted her head, her gaze meeting Shen Ruoxi's eyes unexpectedly.
Today she was still in a simple attire, but it couldn't hide the liveliness in her beautiful eyes and her stunningly attractive looks.
A fleeting jealousy passed through Ning Zhen'er's eyes.
No matter how much she looked down on Shen Ruoxi in her heart, she had to admit that the advantage of a woman's appearance was often overwhelming.
Seeing Shen Ruoxi, Xueyan struggled as if she had seen a savior, crawling over to her side on her knees, "Young Madam, please save me! I don't want to be sold."
"Ruoxi sister, why are you here?" Ning Zhen'er greeted her familiarly, as if she and Shen Ruoxi had a good relationship.
Shen Ruoxi helplessly sighed; she had repeatedly told Ning Zhen'er not to call her Ruoxi sister, but the other party always ignored her.
She didn't want to bother with it anymore, especially since her time in the Xiao family was running out.
"What's the matter?" Shen Ruoxi asked indifferently.
Ning Zhen'er smiled, "Ruoxi sister, didn't you hand over the house management to me? I found there are too many idlers in the mansion, and expenses are high, so I planned to sell a few to reduce the burden on the household."
Shen Ruoxi's face turned icy, "Xueyan is born into the household, and her parents have passed away. Where would you have her go?"
Ning Zhen'er sneered, "What does her staying or leaving have to do with us? Our Xiao Mansion is also stretched thin now. As I am in charge, things have to follow my orders."
"But you can't force someone to a dead end!" Shen Ruoxi retorted angrily.
"Ruoxi sister, those who accomplish great things don't worry about the little things. I am different from you; I believe in the supremacy of interest, the law of the jungle is a natural law. Those without ability are doomed to be eliminated," Ning Zhen'er unabashedly said.
Though Shen Ruoxi somewhat admired her candor, she mostly responded with a cold sneer, "Does Xiao Chengyi know?"
Ning Zhen'er's face instantly turned unpleasant.
Last night, Lv Zhu inadvertently mentioned Xueyan, saying she once served as a maid in the general's quarters, and later, when Mrs. Zhou took a liking to her, she gave her a facial and made her Chengyi's concubine.
In a way, Xueyan was Xiao Chengyi's first woman.
Although Ning Zhen'er understood that in ancient times, the masters of the family keeping concubines was common practice, almost unavoidable.
And moreover, their status remained humble, merely serving as distractions for the masters, still bearing labor during the day without any elevation in status.
However, knowing that such a person existed, it was as if a thorn had lodged in Ning Zhen'er's heart, difficult to let go.
Though she didn't mind Xiao Chengyi's past romantic experiences, she firmly demanded that henceforth, only she could be the one by his side.
Especially when she found out that Xueyan, a woman who once had an intimate connection with Xiao Chengyi, still stayed within his sight, she found it unacceptable.
She then suggested to Xiao Chengyi to sell off a few servants under the pretext of having too many in the mansion.
Xiao Chengyi, already harried by the family's business affairs, also thought it unnecessary to have so many people if expenses were to be cut, so he let Ning Zhen'er handle it.
She targeted Xueyan first, planning to feign ignorance of their past relationship if Xiao Chengyi inquired, but if he never asked, the matter would be swept under the rug.
Thus, when Shen Ruoxi questioned, she didn't know how to respond for a moment.
She forced a smile, "Ruoxi sister, I manage the house now; does it matter whether or not the husband knows?"
Shen Ruoxi slightly frowned.
She didn't have much sympathy for Xueyan's circumstances, but she understood that Xueyan's relationship with Xiao Chengyi wasn't out of her own volition; the servant must comply with the master's commands.
Moreover, she had interactions with Xueyan before.
After Xiao Chengyi went to battle, her days were harsher than those of ordinary maidservants.
Jealousy was human nature.
We were all maidservants serving the general, yet she was elevated to a concubine; scheming against her was a frequent occurrence.
Finally, one night, a few maidservants ganged up to push her into the lotus pond.
Though it was June, the pond water was still cold at night. After soaking for a long time and being rescued, Xueyan caught a cold.
Who would genuinely care about the life and death of a concubine maid?
Though Mrs. Zhou had a soft heart, she was kind; upon hearing the news, she came to see her.
Remembering that it was her decision to make Xueyan Chengyi's concubine, and considering her parents who were once part of the household unfortunately perished in a fire, pity welled up in her, so she summoned a doctor for treatment.
However, the doctor shook his head after checking her pulse, expressing that there was nothing more he could do.
Mrs. Zhou, considering that Xueyan was still her son's woman, instructed the servants to purchase a thin coffin, to bury her properly after her passing.