Chapter 29: The Young Mistress Is Not Coming Back!

"Yuan'er, are you alright?" Song Yan'er asked with concern.

Shen Ningyuan shook her head. "Sister-in-law, you don't need to worry; I won't let it bother me."

"It's good that you don't care."

As Song Yan'er spoke, she suddenly pulled back the carriage curtain. Seeing the scene outside, she was genuinely startled. It turned out that at some point, the streets on both sides had become crowded with commoners, all pointing and whispering at their carriage.

Frightened, Song Yan'er dropped the curtain and looked at Shen Ningyuan in panic. "Yuan'er, there are—there are so many people outside!"

Shen Ningyuan nodded. "Yes, I see them."

"Yuan'er, why do you think they are surrounding our carriage? What are they trying to do?" Song Yan'er asked.

Shen Ningyuan pursed her lips into a faint smile. "They are merely waiting to see if the Shen family is truly sending me back to the Ji family."

Upon hearing this, Song Yan'er became anxious instantly. "How could that be? We would never send you back to the Ji family! That place is a pit of fire; sending you back would be no different than sending you to your death!" Song Yan'er grew angrier as she spoke, her face flushing slightly with sudden indignation.

"But those people outside are unaware of the situation," Shen Ningyuan said, her expression tightening as she spoke in a low voice. "In their eyes, the Shen family would never risk the Emperor's suspicion just to keep a married-off daughter."

Song Yan'er was stunned. "Do you mean that everyone out there believes Mother and Father will definitely send you back to the Ji family?"

Shen Ningyuan nodded. "Yes, including the Ji family."

Seeing that Song Yan'er remained dazed, Shen Ningyuan continued, "Sister-in-law, you should put the curtain down. There is nothing to see. There are many more eyes on our carriage today than just those commoners."

Song Yan'er nodded, gently lowered the curtain, and said no more. The commotion on the streets continued, but Shen Ningyuan turned a deaf ear to it, closing her eyes to rest.

At that moment, among the onlookers, a servant dressed in gray peered for a while before hurrying away from the crowd.

"Are you certain you didn't see wrong? Did the Shen family really arrange a carriage to send Shen Ningyuan back?" In the backyard of the Ji estate, Madam Chen’s eyes lit up the moment she heard the servant’s report.

The servant nodded quickly. "I am absolutely certain. The carriage was heading directly toward our Ji estate!"

Hearing this, Ji Yunhuan looked overjoyed. "Mother, I think he is right. With all the rumors flying about, the Shen family must be unable to withstand the pressure of public opinion, so they arranged for her to be sent back!"

Ji Yunhuan’s face was still somewhat swollen and red, but it could not hide her smugness.

Madam Chen nodded in agreement. "Yunhuan is right. So what if the Shen family is wealthy and powerful? With the rumors so vicious, they must be buckling under the pressure! Hmph, she’s just a daughter, not a direct heir. Could they really jeopardize the entire Shen clan for her sake?"

"Exactly! I actually thought the Shen family would truly back her up, but it seems they are nothing special after all!" Ji Yunhuan said, looking at Madam Chen with gritted teeth. "Mother, once Shen Ningyuan returns, I will make her pay!"

"Of course. She disgraced our Ji family yesterday; today, I will make sure she cannot hold her head up before the people of the capital!"

"Mother, if you calculate the time, the carriage should arrive in about half an hour."

"Hmm." Madam Chen rolled her eyes and ordered the servant in a low voice, "You lot, go and shut the main gate now. No matter how much the young mistress calls from outside later, you are not to open it for her!"

"Mother, why not let Shen Ningyuan in?" Ji Yunhuan asked.

"What do you know? I want her to wait outside the Ji estate like a monkey for the public to gawk at. I want her to be drowned in their spit and have her reputation completely destroyed!" Madam Chen said viciously.

Ji Yunhuan understood her mother’s intent, and her eyes brightened instantly. "Mother is right; we must ruin Shen Ningyuan’s reputation and let the people tear her apart with their words!"

As she said this, images of Shen Ningyuan being pointed at and reviled by the crowd filled her mind. She wanted Shen Ningyuan to experience the same humiliation she had suffered at the funeral yesterday!

Thus, the Ji family barred their gates. Madam Chen and Ji Yunhuan sat in the front hall, drinking tea while keeping their eyes on the gate, both wearing smug, sinister smiles.

"Mother, we must not let her in easily. She must be taught a lesson!" Ji Yunhuan’s face twisted into a cruel expression.

Madam Chen took a gulp of tea and scoffed, "Don't worry, Yunhuan. I’ve already planned it. Today, I will force Shen Ningyuan to voluntarily hand over ten percent of her private treasury to honor me before I let her set foot inside!"

Hearing this, Ji Yunhuan’s eyes shone even brighter. She urged, "Mother, what about me?"

Madam Chen looked at her. "What have you set your eyes on now?"

"I recall that in Shen Ningyuan’s dowry, there is a set of emerald gold-gilt hair ornaments. It’s said to be priceless! The one hundred and eight emeralds inlaid in the pieces are treasures from the Western lands." Ji Yunhuan blushed slightly. "Mother, please ask for that set for my own dowry, won't you? I have come of age and am ready for marriage."

Seeing her daughter’s shamelessness, Madam Chen laughed, annoyed yet amused. She teased, "You, you’ve only just come of age two months ago, and you’re already so eager to be married off!"

"Mother!" Ji Yunhuan whined.

Madam Chen shook her head with a smile. "Alright, I will satisfy you and get that set for you!"

"Thank you, Mother!" Ji Yunhuan laughed happily, as did Madam Chen.

The pair spent the following time chatting and laughing, discussing which treasures in Shen Ningyuan’s private collection they had long coveted. Regardless of the circumstances, they were determined to get everything they wanted today. If Shen Ningyuan wanted to enter the house, she would have to pay a heavy price!

Time ticked by, and their teacups were refilled again and again. After finishing a cup, Ji Yunhuan felt a slight bloating in her stomach and began to sense that something was wrong. She looked at Madam Chen suspiciously. "Mother, do you think the Shen family’s carriage is moving a bit slowly?"

"It’s only a half-hour journey; Shen Ningyuan should have arrived long ago. Why is it taking so long?"

Saying this, Ji Yunhuan stood up and walked to the entrance, anxiously peering out the gate.

"Don't be impatient. I'll send someone to investigate." Madam Chen took a sip of tea and ordered a servant to go out and inquire about the situation.

A stick of incense later, the servant finally returned. Seeing him enter, Madam Chen asked urgently, "Has the young mistress arrived?"