Chapter 6: Undercurrents

Shen Qing looked at her mother, baffled. Unwilling—but she shut her mouth.
Shen Yue still didn't see what was wrong in Shen Miao's words. Chen Ruoqiu's fear told her enough. She stood properly and said nothing more.
Old Madam frowned. Years beside the old general hadn't taught her court games. Her sky was the inner quarters' four corners. She heard none of Shen Miao's trap—only a girl who'd swallowed the wrong medicine, defying the mistress of the house again and again. She drew breath to explode—
"Little Five speaks well," Ren Wanyun cut in with a smile, blocking the scolding. "A misunderstanding, nothing more. How would front-hall business reach the inner yard? Pure bad luck Prince Ding passed by. His Highness is broad-minded—he won't mind children's play. All a mistake. Poor Little Five—wet, frightened, truly wronged."
Old Madam opened her mouth, annoyed at the interruption. But Ren Wanyun's family were famous merchants. Much of the household's silver came from the second branch. Old Madam swallowed her temper with a cold snort and said no more.
Chen Ruoqiu caught on and hurried to agree. "Yes. Yue, Qing—never speak of what we said. Little Five fell in by accident. Prince Ding saw it. Coincidences happen." She smiled at Shen Miao. "Little Five, Old Madam only worries for you. She isn't truly angry."
Shen Miao looked at her.
Shen Yue took after Chen Ruoqiu in face and manner—literary family, graceful brows, gentle steps, gentle words. Beautiful without being cheap. So easy to trust.
And later?
Later the Hun envoy asked for a princess. Wanyu was the only eligible girl in the palace. Chen Ruoqiu said Shen Yue was older, that marriage abroad was a fitting end, that she volunteered for the steppe. Shen Yue wasn't imperial blood—so Fu Xiuyi made her Princess Yueru. A proper bride.
In the end, Wanyu went.
Wanyu died on the road. Wanyu's palace went to Princess Yueru. Princess Yueru took everything Wanyu had owned.
Her Wanyu—not even sixteen.
Shen Miao shut her eyes. Without Chen Ruoqiu's hand in it, Chen herself wouldn't believe it. Chen and Lady Mei had likely agreed long ago—to let hope rise, then smash it with her own hands.
Chen Ruoqiu's smile stiffened.
The girl facing her—round face, round eyes, round nose—usually read as dull and soft.
Not now. The timid look had vanished. Sober bearing—not forced tension, but something rooted. Distance. For an instant Chen Ruoqiu felt she wasn't facing first branch's stupid girl but some high personage. A hidden edge that made her shiver.
The next second the girl curved her eyes at her. "I understand. Third Aunt agrees now—Little Five did nothing wrong?"
Chen Ruoqiu blinked, glanced at Old Madam's dark face, and forced: "Still—you were careless by the pond. What were your maids doing? With your brother and sister-in-law away, have the servants grown bold? In my view, those girls should be replaced."
Ren Wanyun laughed out loud. Chen Ruoqiu shot her an angry look. Ren Wanyun's mouth curled—she understood.
Her sister-in-law looked refined. Her mind was razor-sharp. That line only fooled the old Shen Miao—probably aiming to swap the girl's maids. Shen Yue was coming of age for matchmaking. However far Shen Miao's foolish name traveled, in rank Shen Yue still sat below her. Shen Xin held the armies.
Third branch was stirring too.
Shen Miao lowered her eyes. "Why replace Guyu and the others? Father and Mother chose them for me. The west wing's staff have already changed so much—I don't know the last batch of second-rank maids. Swap Guyu's group too and I won't have a soul to speak to in my own courtyard."
Ren Wanyun's smile died.
In the west wing, with Shen Xin and his wife gone year-round, servants had been swapped clean—Old Madam's people, second branch, third branch. Second branch ran the house, so second branch had the most. Say that aloud and outsiders would hear: the general's daughter didn't know her own staff. What were second and third branch doing in her brother's yard? No proper sister-in-law inserted herself there.
Her mind raced. She glared at Chen Ruoqiu, then smiled at Shen Miao. "Your Third Aunt was joking. Guyu's lot were merely careless. The Shen are kind—we don't do cruel things. Don't fret, Little Five."
Still a needle for Chen at the end.
Shen Yuanbai watched his mother, then Chen Ruoqiu, and yawned. Old Madam was tired of the verbal war between her daughters-in-law. "Enough—trifles. Second daughter-in-law, bring Seventh Brother. Everyone out. Too many mouths—my head aches."
Ren Wanyun settled Shen Yuanbai on Old Madam's couch. "Mother, we'll withdraw. Seventh Brother—be good with Grandmother."
Chen Ruoqiu glanced at Shen Yuanbai and pressed both hands to her belly as she left. Second branch had a son—Old Madam's favor. What good was talent without a boy? Shen Yue was only a daughter. If she had a son… first branch's goods would be fought over someday. A son could split the table—even now second branch had the edge. And first branch still had a legitimate heir with Shen Xin at the border. Who knew if he'd return for his share?
Thinking, Chen Ruoqiu lifted her eyes to the figures heading west.
The girl wore deep red brocade. She used to love bright, girlish colors and, without parents to dress her, often looked provincial.
Now the red made her skin whiter. Same face—heavier somehow. Almost… commanding?
Guyu whispered, "Miss isn't fully well—why rush to Guangwen Academy? We've reported your illness. Lessons can wait. Or—"
"No." Shen Miao cut her off. "Prepare the carriage. Now."
She didn't raise her voice. Guyu shivered anyway and asked nothing more.