Chapter 15: Retaliate with Thunder

An old saying goes, the elder brother is like a father, the elder sister is like a mother.

Shen Yunyun is a concubine-born daughter of the Shen Family Third Branch; although her birth mother lives in this manor, when she sees her she can only call her "aunt", and only when she sees Shen Yunyao's birth mother, Lady Lu, can she call her "mother".

Now Lady Lu is not in the manor; many matters, unless the eldest aunt Zhou Shi speaks, must be decided by Shen Yunyao.

"Where are you wrong?"

Shen Yunyao looked calmly at the concubine-born sister kneeling on the ground.

"We were originally sisters; although there is a difference between legitimate and concubine-born, ask yourself, have I ever treated you or the other few sisters harshly?"

Before Shen Yunyao arrived, the original owner had a soft and gentle nature, always being kind to the concubine-born sisters.

And after she arrived, she never showed any harshness toward those concubine-born sisters; whenever someone made a request of her that was not excessive, she would directly agree.

"Is it because I'm too easygoing that you think I'm someone who can be bullied at will?"

Kindness invites exploitation!

It seems the original owner was too kind and too soft, to the point that these concubine-born sisters have lost all propriety.

"Older sister, I was also stirred up by the people below!"

"Originally, my marriage prospects were already difficult."

"Now that older sister has had her engagement broken, I see no hope for my future."

"When the little maid downstairs muttered a few words, I became muddle-headed."

Shen Yunyun is quite adept at shifting blame onto the little maid.

Hearing this, Shen Yunyao smiled faintly and said, "Since it's the little maid by your side who is stirring things up, then let's sell her!"

The Shen Family has always arranged for the personal attendants of the young masters and misses in the manor to be home-born servants, thus ensuring loyalty.

With a single sentence from Shen Yunyao ordering the sale of the little maid beside Shen Yunyun, she actually tore apart several families.

"Miss Seven, it's unjust!"

"The servant can swear an oath to heaven; if I utter a single false word before you, may heaven take my life and let me die a bad death!"

The little maid who personally attended Shen Yunyun and guarded outside the door suddenly rushed in.

She stumbled to her knees on the ground and swore an oath.

Seeing this, Shen Yunyao looked at Shen Yunyun with a half-smile.

"Older sister, you must believe me!"

"Qing'er is just a little maid; she only swore the oath to avoid punishment!"

Even now, Shen Yunyun still refuses to be completely frank.

Meanwhile, the little maid attending her, Qing'er, upon hearing this, decisively lifted her head to look at Shen Yunyun and said sternly, "Miss Nine, the servant can swear an oath; do you dare to swear?"

Qing'er would rather offend Shen Yunyun, the master she has served for years, than be sold off.

Because once she is sold, her entire family will be affected.

The best outcome is that they will never be reemployed, be exiled to the Shen Family's manor to become laborers who farm for a living.

If luck is worse, after she is sold, her whole family will be sold as well!

Know that being sold is not finding a good family to sell you to; it is directly selling to a slave trader, after which they have no autonomy whatsoever.

A girl her age has a ninety-nine percent chance of being sold into a brothel!

"Go back!"

Shen Yunyao looked at this concubine-born sister and said lightly, "From now on, reflect in seclusion; until you marry, do not go about wandering."

Without her usual magnanimity, Shen Yunyao directly unleashed a major move.

Shen Yunyun was stunned!

Reflect in seclusion until marriage!

This is shutting her up completely.

Her marriage will no longer allow her any participation.

"Older sister, I know I was wrong!"

"It's all my fault; being dissatisfied, I stirred up the third and fourth elder sisters!"

"I truly know I was wrong!"

Shen Yunyun only hopes that Shen Yunyao will, in light of her frank admission of guilt, lighten the punishment a little.

However, Shen Yunyao still kept a cold face.

"Since you admit it's all your fault, are you dissatisfied with my punishment?"

"If you are dissatisfied, you can go complain to the eldest aunt!"

"Or else, go see the grandmother!"

Shen Yunyao will not, just because the other side admits fault and puts on a show of grievance, treat this matter lightly.

She is no longer the former Shen Yunyao!

She returns tenfold respect for any respect given.

If you scheme against me, I will naturally repay in kind.

"Miss, Madame Miao requests an audience!"

Just as Shen Yunyao knelt on the ground refusing to rise, expecting her to change her mind, Cuiyu poked her head out from the doorway and spoke softly.

Madame Miao is the birth mother of Shen Yunyun.

Among the women in the rear courtyard of Third Master Shen, Madame Miao counts as a formidable figure, one who is greatly favored.

However, despite Madame Miao's great favor, she can never surpass Lady Lu.

"Let her in!"

Shen Yunyao glanced at the kneeling Shen Yunyun and clearly understood that Madame Miao had come for her daughter, namely Shen Yunyun.

This person is undoubtedly a clever one.

Even without knowing how Shen Yunyao would deal with Shen Yunyun, her voluntarily coming to the door already says a lot.

"This lowly concubine greets Seventh Miss!"

Concubine Miao saw Shen Yunyao and performed a respectful salute.

Although he is Third Master Shen's concubine, in status he remains a slave/servant.

Even when facing her own biological daughter Shen Yunyun, she must still be respectful in public.

"Concubine Miao, what brings you here?"

Shen Yunyao is basically asking despite already knowing.

Seeing her biological daughter kneeling on the ground and crying, Concubine Miao felt as if her heart were being stabbed.

"Seventh Miss, Ninth Miss is still young; if she has done something wrong, as her older sister you should just teach her more."

"A young lady should be pampered, not mistreated!"

"Concubine Miao, are you teaching me how to do things?"

Upon hearing Concubine Miao say that, Shen Yunyao immediately put on a stern face.

Concubine Miao never expected Shen Yunyao to have changed so much; being questioned like that by Shen Yunyao left her completely dumbfounded.

In the past, whenever Shen Yunyao saw her, she was always polite.

"Seventh Miss...?"

Concubine Miao stared at Shen Yunyao in astonishment, unable to comprehend how the same person could change so much in just a few days.

"Concubine Miao, your duty is to serve my father!"

"As for other matters, you, a mere concubine, have no right to interfere."

"This time, I can let it go!"

"But if there is a next time, I will make you know what the rules are!"

"No mercy!"

"Not a bit left."

Shen Yunyao clearly knows that she must do this; otherwise, her future days will inevitably be filled with various troubles.

In conduct and affairs, harmony is paramount.

But you must let people know you have a temper; you can value harmony, or you can strike with thunder.

As a certain big shot said, you may have a sword in hand and not need to use it, but when the time comes to use it, you must not be empty-handed.

Tomorrow's trial water recommendation is up; please recommend, collect, and give good reviews! Finally, wishing everyone a happy New Year's Day, happy every day in 2024, and all things go well!

(End of chapter)