Volume One, Chapter 8: Is That All the Bumpkins You Sent Over?

“Get up quickly.”

The matriarch supported Shang Yinqiong to her feet.

“Qiong’er, you’ve always been a good child. These past three years, it’s my failing that I couldn’t protect you, letting you suffer so much.”

Mentioning the three years inside the palace, guilt welled up in the matriarch’s heart.

Back then, she was far away at the temple. By the time she learned the news, Shang Yinqiong had already entered the deep palace. Without the Duke’s official order, she couldn’t even see her.

Tears welled in Shang Yinqiong’s eyes, a wave of bitterness rising in her heart.

During those three years in the palace, she had only felt hardship and unbearable sorrow, but not to the point of crying every day. Finally given the chance to leave, her so-called family showed no concern for the torment she endured.

They even shamelessly stood in her place to forgive Shang Runyu.

After all this time, only the matriarch truly cared for her.

“Grandmother, it’s getting late. You’ve traveled so far and must rest early to regain your strength,” Shang Yinqiong spoke softly.

The matriarch glanced out the window, then patted Shang Yinqiong’s hand. “Things in this manor are never simple. I cannot always watch over you. You must stay alert to the schemes and plots around you.”

“Yes, Grandmother,” Shang Yinqiong bowed her head slightly.

Nanny Tang came in upon hearing the noise and helped the matriarch back to the inner chambers.

Shang Yinqiong left the matriarch’s courtyard and walked alone along the path.

The breeze stirred the ends of her hair. She slowly closed her eyes, savoring the cool night air, whispering to herself, “It’s been so long—this feeling of freedom.”

Inside the palace for three years, she had learned to hide her sharpness and present a cautious, meek demeanor before others.

But that was never her true self.

She was always someone who avenged every wrong. Every person in the Duke’s manor who had hurt her or her mother would not go unpunished.

Returning to her empty room, only a few cleaners were present.

Shang Yinqiong sat before the bronze mirror and let down her pinned-up hair.

Clearly, cultivating loyal followers was an urgent matter.

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The next day.

Shang Yinqiong wore a blue dress, one she had painstakingly dug out from the wardrobe. The other dresses were either too small or too vividly colored.

After much searching, this was the only suitable one left.

She had no great attachment to clothes, but upon closer inspection, she could tell this dress was already three years out of fashion.

If she wore this out, those noble ladies would surely scheme against her again.

Lost in thought, she sat down at the chair. On the table lay a bowl of millet porridge and two plates of pastries.

She took a piece, and the sweet, melt-in-the-mouth pastry pleased her greatly.

“Qiong’er, why are you up so early?”

Madam Yu stormed in with a large entourage.

Hearing the affected tone, Shang Yinqiong suppressed her nausea and forced a polite smile. “Mother.”

Uttering those words was a struggle.

But since the great revenge was still far off, she had to continue pretending with the woman who had murdered her mother.

Today, Madam Yu was radiant, her hair perfectly coiffed, adorned with jewels that added an air of nobility. Her graceful figure moved like a willow swaying in the wind.

It seemed her father had spent the night at Madam Yu’s residence.

“Qiong’er, come sit,” Madam Yu said with feigned warmth, grasping Shang Yinqiong’s hand.

She glanced indifferently at the food on the table. “How dare you? You servants are deliberately mistreating the third young lady here.”

The two maids in the room were so frightened they knelt down and pleaded, “Madam, please calm down. The pastries were brought according to the kitchen’s instructions. It was not intentional.”

“Hmph,” Madam Yu assumed the demeanor of the house’s mistress. “These people know how to size up others and act accordingly. Qiong’er, rest assured, with your mother here, no one will dare bully you.”

Shang Yinqiong was speechless.

It would be peaceful enough if Madam Yu simply refrained from bullying her.

Without giving Shang Yinqiong time to respond, Madam Yu raised her hand. Behind her, the senior nanny and a young maid knelt before Shang Yinqiong.

“Qiong’er, I know you’ve been away from home for many years and are not used to those who arrange things casually. These people are handpicked and trained by me to take care of you.”

Shang Yinqiong gave a faint glance around.

Indeed, a few were familiar faces from the past.

But those trained by Madam Yu were likely meant to monitor her.

“Mother, I don’t need so many people here. The two I have now are enough.”

She was no longer the young third lady needing help with every meal and dress. Except for wearing complicated clothes, she would handle everything else herself.

“That won’t do,” Madam Yu insisted, fearing rejection. Her smile was warm and considerate, yet beneath it lay subtle calculation. “Qiong’er, I’ve wanted to properly make it up to you all these years. This is my sincere intention.”

With words spoken so plainly, Shang Yinqiong could hardly refuse. She feigned a coy smile. “Thank you, Mother.”

Seeing her accept the attendants, Madam Yu did not linger. After some casual conversation, she departed.

On the way out, the smile on Madam Yu’s face faded into one of scheming. “That look of hers—she’s looking more and more like her mother. Just seeing her annoys me.”

“Madam, you are now the mistress of the Duke’s manor. Shang Yinqiong will only regard you as her real mother. Isn’t she then entirely at your mercy?”

The voice belonged to Madam Yu’s loyal nanny, Nanny Zheng, who had served her since she was a concubine.

Upon hearing this, Madam Yu’s lips curled. “I thought after three years in the palace, Shang Yinqiong might have grown wiser. But she’s still no threat.”

Wang Lexi, I hope you watch well from heaven—I am the one who sent your own daughter to accompany you.

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Elsewhere.

Facing the room full of people, Shang Yinqiong sat elegantly, every movement radiating confidence and dignity.

“Since you were sent by Mother, I suppose you are trustworthy. But now that we are in a new place, everything must revolve around me. I hope that only I reside in this courtyard to be truly effective.”

She deliberately spoke these words, waiting for their reaction.

Sure enough, a bold one couldn’t hold back and indignantly said, “Third Miss, we have been by the mistress’s side for many years. Even without great achievements, we have borne hardships. To be blunt, we are like your elders. We would never betray our former mistress.”

“Yes, yes, we serve the lady faithfully and have always done refined tasks. If there are any rough chores here, don’t send us—we won’t do them.”

With such instigating words, others quickly followed suit.

Shang Yinqiong sneered inwardly.

Madam Yu sent over a few fools—utterly lacking in guile. Beyond disgusting others, they were useless.