Chapter 51: Assassinate Her

A deep sense of unease settled in Shen Ningyuan's heart.

After getting out of bed and dressing neatly, she took Luying with her and headed toward the front hall.

At this moment, the front hall was packed with people, and guards swarmed the courtyard outside the doors.

Shen Potian and Cui Jin sat leisurely in the primary seats, sipping their tea at a slow, unhurried pace.

The two of them were even casually discussing the quality of this year's new tea in front of everyone.

Ji Zekhai and Madam Chen sat in the side seats. Even though dissatisfaction churned within them, they could only plaster on ingratiating smiles and dared not act presumptuously in the slightest.

Sitting on the opposite side, however, Eunuch Zhou took a sip of his tea, glanced at the sun outside, and said in a deep voice, "Old General Shen, at a time like this, is your beloved daughter still not awake?"

Shen Potian paused, just about to snap back with a retort, when Cui Jin pressed a hand on his arm to stop him.

Cui Jin looked toward Eunuch Zhou and asked rather bluntly, "My daughter has just suffered the grief of losing her husband and has cried herself sick. She wishes to rest longer to recover her health. Is there a problem with that?"

Eunuch Zhou’s expression shifted, and without saying anything further, he simply picked up his teacup and drank.

As the Empress's personal eunuch, he had come to the Shen residence under Her Majesty's orders to supervise Shen Ningyuan's return to the Ji family.

As long as this matter was carried out successfully, nothing else mattered.

"General, the Eldest Miss has finished dressing and is on her way here."

At that moment, the steward of the General's Estate offered a timely reminder.

Hearing this, Madam Chen’s eyes narrowed into slits. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the little bean-sized child standing behind her, a sinister smile erupting in her gaze.

Shen Ningyuan, didn't you want to see this little wretch?

I'll let you see her.

Today, I'll send you off to meet the King of Hell!

At that same moment, Cui Jin caught Madam Chen's expression, and her heart skipped a beat.

She asked in a low voice, "In-laws, the reason you came to the Shen family today is to take Yuan'er back. Why bring a young child along?"

Cui Jin kept her gaze fixed tightly on the child, sensing an inexplicable foreboding emanating from her.

Challenged by Cui Jin, Madam Chen quickly reined in her expression and turned to her with an all-too-beaming smile.

"My dear in-law, you wouldn't understand. Yesterday in the palace, my daughter-in-law specifically named this little girl and said she wanted to see her. Thinking it would give her peace of mind, we brought the child along so Ningyuan could see her as soon as possible."

And also to send your daughter off to her death as soon as possible!

Madam Chen viciously added in her heart.

Unaware of the hidden agenda, Cui Jin vaguely replied, "So that's how it is."

Though she couldn't fathom why Shen Ningyuan would want to see this little girl, her maternal intuition warned her that this matter was far from simple.

With that thought, Cui Jin cast a subtle glance toward Shen Haobai beside her.

Shen Haobai caught his mother's hint, stepped sideways to her side, and asked in a low voice, "Mother, what are your instructions?"

Cui Jin beckoned to Shen Haobai, motioning for him to draw closer.

"Your martial arts are skilled. Once Yuan'er enters the door, keep your eyes fixed on that child." Cui Jin motioned toward the little girl with her eyes. "If she shows any unusual behavior, be quick to react and protect your younger sister."

"Understood."

Shen Haobai nodded and returned to his previous post.

He stood as motionlessly as before, but his peripheral vision remained vigilantly locked onto the silent child standing beside Madam Chen.

Even he could sense that something was deeply amiss with this girl.

Right at that moment, the steward shouted at the top of his lungs, "The Eldest Miss has arrived!"

Everyone turned their heads toward the entrance in unison, their faces reflecting a myriad of different expressions.

Madam Chen lifted her head. Seeing Shen Ningyuan step across the threshold, her cloudy eyes instantly blazed with a fierce light.

Then, she nudged the child beside her with her elbow.

The little girl finally raised her head. Her bloodshot eyes burned with deep hatred as she stared fixedly at Shen Ningyuan.

When Shen Ningyuan looked her way, however, the child quickly lowered her head again, concealing the malice in her eyes.

Catching this exchange, Shen Haobai’s heart sank heavily.

This girl truly was suspicious!

Upon walking in, Shen Ningyuan noticed the child standing by Madam Chen.

Seeing the girl lower her head in silence, Shen Ningyuan assumed she was merely grieving the recent loss of her mother, which explained her low spirits.

Once she returned to the Ji family, she would raise and educate this child properly.

At the very least, it would honor the care Nanny Ming had shown her over the past year.

"Yuan'er, you're awake?"

Seeing that Shen Ningyuan's attention had been drawn to the child the moment she stepped inside, Cui Jin felt a fresh wave of anxiety.

She seized the opportunity to call out, drawing Shen Ningyuan's focus back to her.

"Mm."

Shen Ningyuan acknowledged her with a soft hum, cast one last glance at the child, and walked over to sit beside Cui Jin.

At that moment, Eunuch Zhou let out a cold scoff, his shrill voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look at the kind of daughter the Shen family has raised. Seeing her father-in-law and mother-in-law and she doesn't even bother to greet them. Utterly lacking in filial piety and utterly lawless!"

The piercing, duck-like screech grated harshly against Shen Ningyuan's ears.

She looked toward Cui Jin and asked, "Mother, where is that mallard duck quacking?"

Hearing this, Eunuch Zhou flew into an immediate rage. Crooking his finger into an orchid gesture, he pointed angrily at Shen Ningyuan and shrieked, "Who are you calling a mallard duck?!"

"Eunuch, I was complimenting you," Shen Ningyuan replied smoothly.

Eunuch Zhou froze, growing even angrier. "Do you take me for a fool who doesn't understand human speech? You were clearly cursing me as a mallard duck!"

Shen Ningyuan nodded instantly. "Indeed, that was a compliment to Eunuch!"

"After your castration, I suppose no one else considers you a real man anymore? I might just be the only one treating you as a male."

Shen Ningyuan maintained her sweet smile.

Yet her words left Eunuch Zhou utterly speechless with fury. He trembled as he pointed an accusing finger at her.

"You—you—you—"

Eunuch Zhou sputtered "you" for a long while without managing to string together a single useful word.

In the end, he could only withdraw his hand in an angry huff and refused to look at Shen Ningyuan another second.

This cheap wretch! The Ji family would deal with her in due time!

Seeing that Shen Ningyuan had taken her seat and was no longer paying attention to the child, Madam Chen quickly patted the little girl's back and pulled her forward.

"Ningyuan, this is the little one you specifically asked to see yesterday in the Jiaofang Hall. Fearing you would fret, your mother-in-law brought her along to the Shen residence when we came to fetch you," Madam Chen said with a smile.

Before Shen Ningyuan could respond, Madam Chen turned to the child and instructed, "Little one, this is your Eldest Sister Ningyuan—the person your mother served for a whole year. Go on, greet your Eldest Sister."

With that, Madam Chen gently pushed the child toward Shen Ningyuan.

The little girl looked up at Shen Ningyuan, quickly dropped her gaze again, and shuffled forward in small steps.

At this sight, Shen Ningyuan's expression darkened as she cast a quiet, watchful glance at Madam Chen.

She couldn't shake the feeling that the smile on Madam Chen's face carried ill intentions.

When the child had approached to within roughly a meter of Shen Ningyuan and attempted to take another step forward,

Shen Haobai blocked her path, saying, "Stay right there. No need to come any closer."

Intercepted by Shen Haobai, the little girl dared not advance further. She stopped in her tracks, looked up at Shen Ningyuan, and called out, "Eldest Sister Ningyuan."

Shen Ningyuan was just about to nod in response.

The next second, however, the child suddenly ducked low, scrambled right under Shen Haobai's legs, whipped a small dagger from her sleeve, and lunged straight at Shen Ningyuan.

"Bad person! Give my mother back to me!" the child shrieked at the top of her lungs as she charged forward.

The attack came with breathtaking suddenness, leaving almost no one time to react.

Even Shen Haobai, standing closest, was only just turning around when the child had already reached Shen Ningyuan's face.