Chapter 76: Returning Banquet (Part 2)

Shen Gui and Shen Wan were standing outside and when they saw Shen Miao and entourage walking over, their gaze seemed somewhat unnatural. In these days, Shen Xin did not give them any good attitude. No matter how much they explained, he would not even show an expression of hearing. Even the daily greeting to Old Shen Furen, Luo Xue Yan only did it vaguely, like she was doing routine work, which almost angered Old Shen Furen till she fainted.

"Eldest Brother." Shen Wan was much more smooth as he greeted Shen Xin with a smile.

Shen Xin made a nonverbal grunt with his nose and walked to side of his own horse carriage before speaking towards Shen Miao, "Furen and Jiao Jiao, both of you go in first." Shen Xin and Shen Qiu did not have the habit of riding a carriage so they would ride their horses along with the carriage.

To be snubbed like that, Shen Gui's and Shen Wan's faces were not looking good and there was a trace of sullenness in Shen Gui's eyes. One of the two carriages' curtain raised and Shen Yue's and Chen Rou Qiu's faces appeared. Shen Yue softly said, "Does Fifth Younger Sister want to sit with us in the carriage? This horse carriage is big enough and it is even enough for Eldest Shen to come."

"Not needed." Luo Xue Yan coldly said, "One will have peace of mind when one is sitting in one's own carriage."

Shen Miao wanted to applaud Luo Xue Yan in her heart. Previously there was no discord between Luo Xue Yan and the two households, and she had a refreshing personality and treated others warmly and sincerely, thus no one saw this cutting and harsh side of her. One need to know that when Luo Xue Yan was in the battlefield, she would be merciless in the face of the enemies, so no matter how much goodwill Chen Ruo Qiu and Shen Yue showed, it was useless against her.

In the other carriage, Shen Qing and Ren Wan Yun also heard the commotion outside. Shen Qing's face was still somewhat pale but she was clutching Ren Wan Yun's hands tightly. Unconsciously she used too much strength and made Ren Wan Yun to cry out. When Shen Qing let go of her hand, there were fingernail marks on Ren Wan Yun's wrists.

Ren Wan Yun however did not mind the scratches on her hands. She pulled Shen Qing to her embrace and felt the slight trembling of Shen Qing's body.

"Qing-er…" Ren Wan Yun quietly comforted.

"I must kill her…" Shen Qing said it in clenched teeth. Her sanity had gradually restored and also recalled the terrible experience in Wo Long Temple. All of it was thanks to Shen Miao and the most horrid thing was that she was already pregnant, and the foetus could not be aborted else she would be unable to be a mother in her entire life. Thinking of all the suffering she had to go through, Shen Qing wanted Shen Miao to also feel the pain and torture she went though. No, it should be that Shen Miao must suffer ten times more pain!

"Mother will take revenge for you…" Ren Wan Yun's heart felt as though a knife was twisted in it, and she hated that she was unable to turn into a wolf to bite off Shen Miao's throat. Shen Qing's cry was like a knife stab in her heart and when she faced Shen Qing, she would always remember about that night. She was just next door but chose to watch with folded arms.

"I will take revenge for Qing-er…" Ren Wan Yun murmured.

In another carriage, Shen Yue and Chen Ruo Qiu sat face to face. Shen Yue was still somewhat unhappy with being rebuked by Luo Xue Yan. She had all along not looked up to Luo Xue Yan kind of vulgar military people, and now to be mocked by that type of coarse people, she now had a stomach full of anger.

"Yue-er." Chen Rou Qiu slightly frowned, "I have told you so many times that you need not pay attention to this kind of people. Why bother to lose your bearing because of her?"

"Mother, I just dislike it." Shen Yue looked at her palms, "In the past Shen Miao was so respectful to us but now that Eldest Bo's entire family returned, she put up such an arrogant air. A dog threatens based on its master's power. Is not she doing it on purpose for us to see?" In her words, it also revealed jealousy that she was not even aware of.

However Chen Rou Qiu caught that jealousy. She looked at her slender and elegant daughter before sighing, "I had taught you before to keep one's calm no matter what happen. It seem that you are still young, impatient and act too prematurely." After pausing, Chen Rou Qiu continued speaking, "You need not need to take Shen Miao into great importance. Now that First and Second household is at a deadlock situation and Shen Miao had offended your Second Shen, so your Second Shen will definitely make her stand."

When Shen Yue heard this, she looked at Chen Ruo Qiu, "But these days, Second Shen did not do anything to Shen Miao."

Chen Rou Qiu slightly hesitated. Indeed, it had been a long time since Ren Wan Yun had dealt with Shen Miao but after so much time, Ren Wan Yun still was unable to gain any benefits. She tried to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it, and has made a number of mistakes. Now she even let Shen Miao successfully wait for Shen Xin's return. It would be alright if it was others, as Ren Wan Yun was smart and had sophisticated means to clean up the entire inner courtyard of concubines, but she was unable to even fight with a little girl. This was somewhat abnormal.

After a moment, Chen Rou Qiu hid the surprise in her heart and said, "It is exactly because your Second Shen had not been successful all this time. Your Second Shen's temperament is now so close to rage that when she deal with her the next time, she would definitely take risks and even put in all her energy and effort. As such, even with your Eldest Bo's protection, one is afraid that Shen Miao will be unable to escape unscathed."

Shen Yue was muddleheaded after listening to this but seemed to understand something as she said, "As such, we only need to care about sitting down and watching a good show."

"Exactly." Chen Rou Qiu said, "This is what I want to teach you. In the inner courtyard, if it is possible not to take action, do not take action. If one can make use of other things to achieve one's goals then never personally take action. If exploited correctly, without the need to spend any energy, one can benefit greatly from it."

"Thanking mother for the lesson." Shen Yue sat up straight, "I am reminded of it."

They were chatting happily but they did not know that Luo Xue Yan's carriage had long thrown them far away. Shen Qiu and Shen Xin rode the horses and during the entire journey, the commoners who recognised them all casted admiring and respectful eyes at them. The reputation of the Formidable Great General had long since spread out widely throughout the common folks.

In the carriage, Luo Xue Yan kept looking at Shen Miao and smiled without restraint. Even though Shen Miao was calm and collected, she felt weird being smiled at by Luo Xue Yan.

"Jiao Jiao now looks really very pretty." Luo Xue Yan lamented, "After not seeing for a year, you have grown up to be a lady. In this entire Ding capital, one is afraid that there is no one prettier than you."

Luo Xue Yan's words had all along been somewhat strong and if these words were heard by others, she would be a laughing stock. But parents naturally saw their daughter as the best and with the dynamic character of Luo Xue Yan, she saw that Shen Miao was instead calm with an air of nobility. People would always think highly of things that one did not have, so it was natural that Luo Xue Yan started to love this daughter who was suddenly willing to be closer to them even more like precious stones and jewellery.

Shen Miao smiled lightly. Only family would feel proud of her, a so-called idiot.

"Yesterday night I have discussed with your Father." Luo Xue Yan turned her head, "Previously you mentioned about letting your Father staying in the capital for half a year more, it was a good idea. I and your Father are not in the residence most of the year so it is better to accompany you more often. Today when His Majesty ask, your Father will request that from His Majesty."

Hearing that, Shen Miao could not help but be surprised for a moment. She believed that Shen Xin at the end would listen to her words but she did not expect it to be this fast. Because she has time to respond, Luo Xue Yan had already hugged her and smiled, "It just so happens that in this half a year, I can also watch Jiao Jiao grow up."

Luo Xue Yan had an impressive vicious reputation in front of her enemies but in front of Shen Miao, she was very loving. If her old opponents were to see this, they would be so stunned that their front teeth would fall.

"Thanking Mother." Shen Miao clinged onto Luo Xue Yan as she softly said.

Today this evening banquet was not a so-called celebration banquet at all. In it, there would be extreme danger and one was like playing chess, trying to get the opponent's army. After setting the opening game and buried the pieces appropriately, one only need to wait till the moment the other side fall into the trap.

Of course for her, the most important thing was that… She finally returned back to the place that imprisoned her entire previous life, buried her children and loved ones and was filled with enemies and massacres, the Imperial Palace.

Emperor Wen Hui, Fu family and those old friends in the deep palace, to once meet again, it would not yet be known to whom the deer would fall to (who will emerge victor). Her lips slightly hooked up and her clear eyes were so deep like a whirlpool was in them and gradually set off a dark storm.