Chapter 11: Taking Her Back to Her Maternal Home

Shen Ningyuan stepped back in shock.

Cui Jin’s face changed immediately, and she coldly rebuked, “Mother-in-law, what are you doing?”

“Ningyuan is your junior. As an elder, you kneel to her in public? You’re wishing her a short life!”

Cui Jin spoke and moved forward to help Chen Shi up.

But Chen Shi pushed her hand away, crawling on her knees to Shen Ningyuan’s feet, clutching her clothes tightly.

She cried out loudly, “Ningyuan, good daughter-in-law to your mother-in-law, I kneel to you. Please spare Huan a chance to live!”

Chen Shi’s sudden kneeling was something Shen Ningyuan had not anticipated.

Not only was she caught off guard, but Ji Zehai, her husband who had shared a bed with her for decades, was also stunned by her actions.

“Chen Shi, what do you think you’re doing?” Ji Zehai whispered sharply. “Today is Yun Chuan’s funeral. Don’t make a scene!”

But Chen Shi wouldn’t listen. She remained kneeling before Shen Ningyuan, shouting, “Ningyuan, I ask for nothing else. For Yun Chuan’s sake, please grant Huan a few more days!”

Upon hearing this, Shen Ningyuan frowned slightly.

From what she knew of Chen Shi, she wouldn’t kneel easily in such a setting unless she had conceived an even more sinister plan to entrap her.

Before anyone could ask, Chen Shi voiced her plea: “Ningyuan, I know Huan wronged you, but can we discuss letting Huan stay until after Yun Chuan’s seventh day memorial?”

“You also know how close the siblings were. At least let Huan see Yun Chuan off.”

After finishing, Chen Shi broke down in tears.

Shen Ningyuan’s frown deepened.

Waiting until after Ji Yun Chuan’s seventh day memorial to send Ji Yunhuan away wasn’t an unreasonable request.

If she refused, she’d appear petty.

But if she agreed, who knew what schemes they might hatch behind her back?

“Fine, we agree to your request.”

Before Shen Ningyuan could consider, her mother had already consented.

Startled, Shen Ningyuan looked at Cui Jin in surprise. “Mother, you…”

Cui Jin gently patted her hand and whispered reassuringly, “Ningyuan, don’t worry. I have my own plans.”

Then, looking at Chen Shi, she said, “Mother-in-law, we agree to your request. Please rise.”

“With so many people watching, what would they think of Ningyuan if you didn’t?” Cui Jin added.

Because this concerned Shen Ningyuan’s reputation, Cui Jin had to take it seriously.

If today’s events were passed around by those with ill intent, they would say Shen Ningyuan was a wicked woman bullying her mother-in-law.

Thinking this, Cui Jin stepped forward and helped Chen Shi up.

Chen Shi continued sobbing, “If Yun Chuan hadn’t left so suddenly, things wouldn’t have come to this. It’s the Ji family’s fault. We wronged Ningyuan, making her lose her husband at such a young age…”

Cui Jin frowned slightly and glanced at Shen Ningyuan.

Seeing no reaction, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, she looked coldly at Chen Shi and warned, “This is Ningyuan’s fate, and she has accepted it. Don’t bring it up again.”

Chen Shi finally shut her mouth, no longer speaking carelessly.

At that moment, Ji Zehai looked at Shen Ningyuan and said in a low voice, “Daughter-in-law, it’s settled then. After Yun Chuan’s seventh-day memorial, we’ll immediately send Huan to the temple. She will no longer affect your life.”

Cui Jin quickly added, “Ji Yunhuan can certainly stay with the Ji family. Not just until the seventh day, even until the forty-ninth day, we have no objection.”

Hearing this, Chen Shi’s eyes lit up instantly.

She eagerly asked, “Really? Huan can stay until the forty-ninth day?”

Cui Jin rolled her eyes. “Of course. You can send Ji Yunhuan away whenever you like. But today, we are taking Ningyuan back to the Shen family.”

“What?” Chen Shi’s eyes widened. “You’re taking Ningyuan back to the Shen family?”

“Why not?” Cui Jin looked calmly at Chen Shi. “My daughter was almost poisoned by Ji Yunhuan. Do you think we’d let her live with Ji Yunhuan any longer in the Ji household?”

With that, Cui Jin snorted coldly and said firmly, “Besides, Ningyuan must have been shocked by the spiritual cultivation today. No matter what, we are taking her away today!”

“That’s right!” Shen Potian immediately chimed in, “My daughter cannot be bullied by your Ji family!”

Seeing their firm stance, Chen Shi dared not say another word and turned her gaze to Ji Zehai.

Ji Zehai bit his lip silently, glancing back and forth between Shen Potian and Cui Jin.

Just as he opened his mouth to persuade them to change their minds, a hurried servant from the Ji mansion rushed over.

He whispered urgently into Ji Zehai’s ear.

After listening, Ji Zehai’s expression changed drastically.

“Is this true?” Ji Zehai grabbed the servant’s collar, disbelief in his voice.

The servant grimaced but nodded repeatedly. “Master, I wouldn’t dare lie. The Shen family’s eldest son really brought soldiers and is stationed outside the Ji mansion, not too close, about a hundred meters away…”

Ji Zehai took a deep breath and looked at Shen Potian and Cui Jin, angry but unable to voice it.

In the end, he gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, “Fine, let the daughter-in-law go back to her family to rest for two days.”

He didn’t say anything final, only that she would rest for two days.

Later, he would find a chance to bring Shen Ningyuan back.

“Master, why did you agree so easily?” Chen Shi’s face changed, staring unbelievingly at Ji Zehai.

Seeing Ji Zehai remain silent, Chen Shi hurried over and grabbed his sleeve.

She whispered, “Master, if you let the Shen family take Ningyuan away, where will the Ji family’s face be saved?”

Ji Zehai glared fiercely at Chen Shi. “You think I haven’t thought of that? They came prepared — hundreds of soldiers have already surrounded the Ji mansion!”

“What?” Chen Shi’s face turned pale in shock.

She looked incredulously at the calm trio of Shen Potian, Cui Jin, and Shen Ningyuan.

No wonder they were so brazen — they had already secured a retreat.

Realizing this, Chen Shi forced a smile and kindly said to Shen Ningyuan, “Alright, since Ningyuan wants to go home and rest for two days, then go. Take care of your health and come back.”

Like Ji Zehai, Chen Shi didn’t speak in absolutes.

Then she asked, “Is there anything you need my help packing?”

“No need,” Cui Jin rejected directly. “Everything Ningyuan has at the Shen family is still there. Nothing is missing.”

Chen Shi could only sulk quietly.

At this moment, Cui Jin patted Shen Ningyuan’s hand gently and said warmly, “Ningyuan, come, let’s go home with your parents.”

Without waiting for Ji Zehai or Chen Shi’s reaction, Cui Jin led Shen Ningyuan away.

Shen Potian followed closely behind mother and daughter before turning to leave.

Before departing, he looked back at Ji Zehai and Chen Shi with a grave expression.

“On Yun Chuan’s seventh-day memorial, we will bring Ningyuan back.”

“Hopefully by then, Ningyuan won’t have to see anything she shouldn’t while at the Ji family.”

After saying this, Shen Potian ignored Ji Zehai’s darkening face and walked out of the Ji family ancestral hall.

Everyone else stood dumbfounded, watching the trio’s retreating backs.

Shen Ningyuan never expected that she could be taken away so easily by her parents.

She had thought she still had a hard fight ahead in the Ji family.

It wasn’t until Shen Ningyuan left the Ji household and saw her eldest brother, Shen Haobai, astride his tall horse clad in full armor that she found the answer.