Chapter 4: When the Map Runs Out, the Dagger Appears

Yan Mama quickly met up with Shen Yunyao and Zhou Shi's group at the Shen family gate.

There were many maidservants and female attendants in the retinue, and four strong guards followed behind.

Shen Yunyao stayed by Zhou Shi's side, and amidst the crowd, she headed straight for the market.

Shen Yunyao didn't know what form the accident would take, but she was completely convinced that if anything happened to her, it would only be an accident.

At least, that's how it appeared to others.

A startled horse?

A fall from a building?

Or perhaps an accidental injury that medicine couldn't cure?

Shen Yunyao had thought it over so much that she almost felt like laughing.

Having lived two lives, she never imagined she'd one day have to calculate how others might kill her.

After overthinking, Shen Yunyao inexplicably felt like laughing.

"What a pity!"

Noticing the smile tugging at Shen Yunyao's lips, Zhou Shi felt inexplicably regretful.

Among the Shen family's young ladies, Shen Yunyao was the most outstanding in appearance.

A lady of such beauty, if married off, would certainly fetch a good price.

The earlier idea of breaking off the engagement with the Zheng family was also based on this consideration.

But things don't always go as one wishes.

Now, such a beautiful lady is destined to meet a tragic end of fleeting beauty and thin fate.

With such looks, yet a life as thin as paper—truly, heaven envies beauty!

Zhou Shi's regret flashed and vanished, after all, she wasn't her own mother.

Even her birth parents didn't care; she was merely an aunt by marriage.

As the group walked down the long street and passed a teahouse, a sudden change occurred.

An accident is an accident precisely because it is unexpected, beyond people's imagination.

Someone fell from the teahouse and struck Yan Mama, who was walking beside Shen Yunyao.

"Ah—"

Shen Yunyao let out a fitting scream, then closed her eyes and collapsed.

Since the opponent wanted to take her life and she chose to fight back, she couldn't merely parry moves; she had to play to her strengths and exploit the enemy's weaknesses.

On her own turf, using what she excelled at was the way to win.

When she went out, Shen Yunyao remained constantly vigilant.

Whenever she passed those two- or three-story pavilions, she would quietly keep a little distance.

After all, objects falling from a height can also kill.

Sure enough, heaven favors the prepared.

Shen Yunyao escaped disaster, but Zhou Shi was frightened out of her wits.

Because this was nothing they had planned.

This was a genuine accident!

The result was that Yan Mama's spine was broken; she would never stand again in her lifetime. Even if her family were willing to spend money, she could only linger a few more days, but that was surely impossible.

Yan Mama is gone!

The day after being injured, she chose to hang herself.

When the news arrived, Shen Yunyao rolled her eyes.

Someone with a broken spine can't even stand—how could they possibly hang themselves?

But how Yan Mama actually died, Shen Yunyao didn't care.

Now she, however, had been frightened and driven mad, and could only stay at home to rest.

The jewelry prepared for her marriage?

Don't joke!

Outside rumors said her life was as thin as paper, unable to withstand the Top Scholar's Lady's blessings, and she might perish at any moment.

Zhou Shi, on the other hand, came every day to visit Shen Yunyao; seeing her complexion grow paler, she grew anxious and frantic, summoning one doctor after another to the manor.

Feigning illness was something Shen Yunyao understood well.

She also understood what the doctors were thinking; the symptoms she described left this bunch of doctors truly perplexed.

Palpitations and shortness of breath, dizziness and blurred vision, and at times she would have frightening dreams…

Thus, the doctors could only prescribe one calming concoction after another.

But Shen Yunyao poured out all those medicines.

Since she wasn't sick, she didn't need to take medicine.

Heaven knows whether those medicines contained something they shouldn't have.

As for her pallid complexion, it was merely the effect of makeup and staying up late.

Zhou Shi was anxious, so anxious that sores formed at the corners of her mouth.

Because Zheng Si Que, the Top Scholar, was about to return to Liu Cheng soon.

Shen Yunyao clearly looked like she couldn't hold on, yet she stubbornly clung to life—what incredible willpower!

Of course, it wasn't only Zhou Shi who was anxious!

"Master of the Shen family, you haven't taken my words to heart!"

Zheng Wangshi was equally anxious.

She came again to the Shen Family, and her outward excuse was to visit the future daughter-in-law.

Zheng Wangshi, leave a line for others!

Yunyao, that girl, only has half a life left!

This old woman can't handle these.

Don't worry about telling you, my son is already engaged for three lifetimes to the Grand Tutor's daughter; if things go awry, we'll see whether your Shen Family can withstand the Grand Tutor's wrath!

Zheng Wangshi doesn't want her son to come home, yet she still has to worry about this vexing marriage agreement.

She is just a widow, yet she can raise her son to talent and pave the way for his future; whoever dares to oppose her will find her utterly impolite.

Engagement, can't we Shen Family proactively dissolve it?

What do you say?

Zheng Wangshi is unyielding.

Now she is not only helping her son clear obstacles; she is also taking the chance to get revenge.

She wants Shen Shen to never find peace for the rest of his life.

As long as Shen Shen lives, he must remember that he personally drove his niece to her death.

Furthermore, later she can still have people relay the news to Shen Lao San's family.

I imagine, brothers fighting each other, will be quite exciting!

Those who bully her, an orphan and widow, deserve their comeuppance!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, you will hear the news you want to hear!

Faced with the pushy Zheng Wangshi, Shen Shen backed down and compromised.

……

Night fell, and Shen Shen entered Shen Yunyao's room.

At this point, Shen Shen could no longer observe the propriety between men and women.

Girl, Uncle is sorry!

Seeing Shen Yunyao's pale little face, Shen Shen burst into tears—this is his niece!

Although they are not close, they ultimately share the same blood.

When the little girl was just born, he had also held her.

It's all the uncle's sin!

If I had been firmer back then, I would have called off this marriage early and cut ties with the Zheng Family, and none of this would have happened!

He, the top scholar, wants a good reputation, yet he wants your life to fulfill it!

Uncle is unwilling!

But, Uncle has no choice!

Zheng Si Que, this little bastard, has climbed up to the current Grand Tutor!

At this moment, Shen Shen has laid everything out, apparently preparing to reveal his true intentions when cornered.

Uncle, if I die, will the Shen Family be safe?

Shen Yunyao gazed at Shen Shen calmly, without sorrow or joy.

If the Zheng Family tells my parents and brothers how I died, what do you think would happen?

Indeed, Shen Yunyao is a daughter who fails to win her parents' favor.

But her two brothers still treat this sister very well.

Or, if the Zheng Family leaves Liu Cheng, spreading embellished rumors of what you've done, what do you think would happen to the Shen Family in Liu Cheng?

Hearing Shen Yunyao's several questions, Shen Shen instantly panicked.

He didn't know what consequences would arise if these situations occurred; he only knew he couldn't let them happen.

Uncle, if I die, the truth of how it happened is actually not important!

Because by then, you won't be able to defend yourself despite a hundred mouths!

As for how to break the situation, it's actually quite simple.

The more the other side wants to achieve something, the more we just need to do the opposite, so they can't get what they want.

(End of chapter)