133. The Great Matriarch, Shen Yanxi

Shen Residence, Creek Garden, Cloud-Viewing Pavilion.

After Lu Jin departed for the Plum Garden, Shen Yanxi sat on the daybed, brow furrowed in thought, a faint, ambiguous smile playing upon her lips.

Huayan, standing nearby, stared in bewilderment, wondering if her mistress had been driven to madness by anger.

"Miss, the Master went too far, embracing and cuddling with other women like that." Huayan hastily voiced her indignation, fearing her mistress was bottling up her resentment and creating a rift between herself and the Master.

"Has he not held you as well?" Shen Yanxi replied with a laugh.

"Servant... Servant is different from them," Huayan stammered, feeling awkward. As the personal maid, it was only natural for her to serve both the Master and the Mistress.

Seeing Huayan’s flushed face, Shen Yanxi could not help but recall those scandalous moments, and she, too, began to feel a touch of shyness.

"The Master should have just brought them home directly. He nearly sent them away, and that was twenty thousand taels of silver," Huayan continued to grumble. Had the Master not tried to send them off, he naturally wouldn't have ended up in such intimate embraces with them.

"We women are ultimately different from men. When a man holds a contract, he must honor it. But those two young ladies are the daughters of high-ranking officials and nobles; they only fell from grace in these past few months. Even if your master saved them, can they truly be content? And how can we dare to trust them? Without trust, how can we keep them by our side? That is why your master sent them away—to win their hearts," Shen Yanxi explained, not bothering to hide the truth from her inner circle; they were her personal maids, and there was no harm in offering them some insight.

"Ah?" Huayan gasped, surprised. Was it really that complicated? And what if they had actually left?

"But your master botched it this time. He underestimated his own radiance. First, he redeemed them, then he granted them freedom. What woman would not throw herself into the flames like a moth? I would be no exception. It is easy to seek a priceless treasure, but hard to find a man of true heart. That is likely the lot of us women," Shen Yanxi sighed.

"Miss, the man of true heart that others find so hard to seek is your own husband. Why are you sighing!"

"Indeed. It is your mistress who is blessed, having met your master in her darkest hour." As she spoke, a glow of happiness returned to her face.

"Miss, the Master bringing those two women back... this..." Yuan Hui, as the wet nurse, was older and naturally more experienced. She had never seen a son-in-law act so audaciously. He was, after all, a live-in son-in-law, yet he had brazenly brought back courtesans from a brothel.

"Aunt Hui, you worry too much. You have spent enough time with him to know what kind of man your master is," Shen Yanxi said with a light chuckle.

Yuan Hui remained silent. Her mistress was still too young. What man was truly virtuous? Never mind that the Master treated her well now, but what man did not dabble in affairs? Looking at the figures of those two girls, Yuan Hui simply did not believe the Master remained unmoved. She didn't even know how to restrain her own son from such things.

"If he truly had such intentions, why would he have brought them back directly?" Though Shen Yanxi said this, a trace of subtle bitterness lingered on her face.

Yuan Hui was speechless. It was just the Master relying on his status in the Shen family, and the fact that you indulge him in everything. If those two were ordinary women, it might be one thing, but they were the descendants of a Governor and a General.

"Aunt Hui, do not fret. Even if they are the daughters of high-ranking officials, so what? Not to mention they are now in the position of servants, could their family standing ever surpass our Mistress?" Siqi chimed in from the side.

In the life of aristocratic high society, Shen Yanxi would not care if maids like Huayan or Siqi had intimate relations with Lu Jin. Their status, their positions, and their emotional bonds were incomparable. Perhaps it was more accurate to describe them as "tools."

Shen Yanxi understood the logic her husband had explained; whether it was the potential for their fathers to rise again or the immediate need for help in the household, both women held value.

But logic is one thing, and emotion is another. Even if those two women were not what they once were, they were ultimately different from the household maids. Even if her husband harbored no intentions now, who in this world could say things would remain unchanged? Especially with two beauties constantly hovering by his side.

Yet, thinking of her husband’s busy demeanor, Shen Yanxi wondered if she was being too selfish.

"But the Master has already torn up the contracts!" Huayan urged anxiously.

"They are the descendants of disgraced officials; every level of government has records on them. Without an amnesty, they cannot return to a civilian life. It is not just a mere contract that stands in the way." Shen Yanxi was not overly worried about the legal status; the main issue was the social optics.

"Then that is for the best, Miss can finally relax a little..." Siqi said.

"I already have the four of you here; too many people would be chaotic. The Master only has two, and he had been looking for more but hadn't found anyone suitable. It just so happens that these two can follow him and help with many tasks."

"Miss, this..." Now even Siqi felt her mistress’s heart was far too vast. As long as the Mistress managed them, could they really jump out of her palm? But it would be different if they belonged to the Master.

Shen Yanxi naturally understood her maids' concerns. But in this life, where can one truly do as they please? Her husband said so, but could she really act that way? He didn't mind this time, but what about the future? If his heart truly changed, what point was there in her trying to stop it?

"What they truly wish to follow is your master. Why must we force them against their will?" As a daughter of an aristocratic family, Shen Yanxi did not lack the capacity to empathize with Liang Muxue and Nie Wuci.

Moreover, the journey she and her husband had taken to reach this point was not easy. This affection needed to be carefully maintained, not treated with caprice. Therefore, she had to handle this situation with precise measure.

"Come with me to see them!" Shen Yanxi stood up as she spoke.

"Oh, Miss, if you want to see them, just have them brought here. Why do you need to go personally?" Yuan Hui fretted.

But Shen Yanxi walked toward the door as if she hadn't heard.

Shen Yanxi’s decision to visit had little to do with whether Lu Jin had brought them back, but rather with their origins. They were once pampered daughters of noble houses, now reduced to this state. If she didn't know, it would be one thing, but now that she did, and they were in her own home, she could not simply ignore them. This was the breeding and decorum of a lady.

Before long, Shen Yanxi led the group to the room where Liang Muxue and Nie Wuci were temporarily resting.

Seeing Shen Yanxi enter, the two women hurriedly stood and knelt on the floor.

"Liang Muxue and Nie Wuci pay their respects to the Mistress!" the two women said, heads bowed.

"Quickly, rise, both of you. I only learned from my husband that you were at the Zhichun Courtyard; had I known sooner, I would have brought you out long ago." Shen Yanxi stepped forward with a warm, springtime smile, helping them up.

"This servant would never dare to disturb the Mistress."

"You two are daughters of noble houses. Since my husband brought you out and tore up the contracts, there is no talk of 'servants' here. Stand up and speak." Shen Yanxi said with genuine emotion.

"Miss, although the Master tore up the contracts, our resolve is set. Heaven is our witness—we beg the Mistress to grant our wish!" Instead of rising, they kowtowed once more.

"Why must you be so difficult? One day, there may be a turn of events. When that time comes, you can return home to reunite with your kin. Besides, how could you be suited for the work of a servant?" Shen Yanxi said, pained.

"Miss, we were as good as dead. It was the Master’s kindness that pulled us from the mire. Regardless of what the future holds, we vow to follow the Master and the Mistress until death. Whatever we do not know how to do, we will learn well."

Despite Shen Yanxi’s repeated attempts to persuade them, the two remained steadfast. Helplessly, she relented.

"This... since you insist on following my husband, then stay at the Shen residence for now, but do not call yourselves servants again. Shuqing, help them up."

After some insistence, they finally sat in the chairs.

Shen Yanxi sat beside them and asked about their life during this period. Liang Muxue recounted the hardships of the past half-year, weeping uncontrollably when she reached the most painful parts. Shen Yanxi shed tears with them, and the maids nearby had red, swollen eyes. They had never imagined these two noble ladies had suffered such torment.

In the modern world, due to global connectivity and the prevalence of a profit-first mindset, most people have seen too much tragedy and lack the capacity for deep empathy. "Each man sweeps the snow from his own doorstep, and ignores the frost on his neighbor's roof" has become a guiding principle for many. Thus, few would empathize with this scene. Looking at ancient people or events through a purely utilitarian lens is often biased.

But in the Great Liang, or this ancient society, the education and values were entirely different. People’s horizons were limited, and they could not constantly see the suffering in every corner of the world. Therefore, in a normal social structure, women had a deep resonance with tragedies occurring around them, especially when the victims were of a similar station. If Shen Yanxi’s initial concern was merely a matter of grace and stature, her current weeping was certainly not.

The three women spoke and cried until the day was half gone, only then drying their tears and stopping their sorrow. Through this shared empathy and their similar backgrounds, the bond between them progressed rapidly.

Shen Yanxi tried her best to persuade them to address each other as sisters, but the two women understood their current situation all too well. Others might give you face, but you must not be shameless yourself. Especially having experienced the cold reality of human nature during their recent downfall.

"You know, my husband is far too charming to women," Shen Yanxi laughed.

Upon hearing this, the two women knelt down with a thud once more.

"The Mistress and the Master share a deep and meaningful bond. We two sisters would never dare to harbor such delusions; we only ask to serve by the Master and Mistress's side," Liang Muxue kowtowed.

"Quickly, stand up. There are no such heavy rules in this house. Since Muxue and Wuci are so determined, I will entrust my husband to your care. He has a gentle nature and will not treat you poorly."

Regardless, Shen Yanxi could not treat them as ordinary servants; that would only prove counterproductive.

Her husband did not bring them back to be ordinary maids. It was clear they were not just randomly purchased. But what the household’s true considerations were, Shen Yanxi did not yet know.

Therefore, Shen Yanxi only agreed to let them follow her husband for the time being—a subtle, nuanced position where she strictly forbade any mention of them being servants. It was a deliberately vague arrangement.

"Muxue and Wuci, stay by my side for a while. In a few days, I will send you to the Master’s side, how does that sound?"

The two had no objections and, after offering their thanks, were shown to their quarters to rest. Yuan Hui hurried after them; since they were staying in the residence, a physical examination was mandatory.

"Miss, aren't you valuing them too highly?" In Shuqing’s mind, they were surely to be servants, regardless of their noble origins.

"If I am not mistaken, these two were likely arranged by their families. Even if they had stayed at the Zhichun Courtyard, it would have been fine," Shen Yanxi said calmly.

"Ah? Why is that?" Shuqing asked, startled.

"There are no such coincidences in this world. They were purchased the moment they were assigned to the Bureau of Music. Either our family had old ties with theirs, but being the children of disgraced officials, they could not grant them freedom, so they brought them to the Zhichun Courtyard to protect them. Or perhaps the family has other plans... If we treat them as mere servants and something changes in the future, a good opportunity might turn into a disaster."

"Ah, then what if the Master brought them back?" Shuqing had not realized there were so many possibilities.

"Bringing them back is fine. Originally, we were just protecting them; now, their hearts are also with your master, are they not?"

Though Shen Yanxi spoke with a smile, her gaze drifted toward the door.

The osmanthus flowers that had once bloomed were now withering and falling, and under the branches, scattered fruits were beginning to form—sour, astringent, and carrying a hint of bitterness.