Chapter 164: Willing to Be a Knife in the Hand of a Girl
In December, winter has entered Jiangnan. There was a little snow last night. When I woke up in the morning, I could only see a thin layer of snow on the eaves and branches.
Qinghong brought the maids in to prepare breakfast for Shen Xingwan, who was reading the news sent by the intelligence office.
It's snowing all over the south of the Yangtze River, and it's already snowing in the northwest.
Therefore, the war was temporarily suspended. This weather was too much for horses and people, and the two sides could only confront each other in the air.
With the temporary cessation of the war, the atmosphere also relaxed. Even the dignitaries resumed their lives of drunkenness and dreams.
"It hasn't snowed in Jiangnan for several years. This year's snow is just right. The auspicious snow heralds a good year." Qinghong couldn't help but sigh.
Shen Xingwan drank the porridge and said calmly, "I don't know whether it will be a blessing or a curse."
The cold winter in the northwest will last at least two or three months. After such a long confrontation, either the food and morale will not be able to hold on, and the war will end with heavy snow and winter.
Or hold back your energy, wait for spring to come, start a large-scale war, and fight fiercely.
It was so cold outside that Shen Xingwan didn't leave the yard for almost a day because it was the Chinese New Year, so she and the old lady temporarily moved back to the Shen Mansion.
Fortunately, when she was staying in Changle, the people and things that should be handed over to her were almost sorted out. After running in with the ANBU, a new set of methods for handling things had been formed.
You don't need to see her frequently, and moving back won't have any impact.
In the evening, Shen Xingwan didn't feel sleepy. He spent time playing chess with Chanyi, Pinellia ternata teased Fat Meow beside him, and Dongqing embroidered beside him.
Enjoy rare leisure time in a warm room.
"Dong dong..." There was a knock on the door.
Dongqing put down her embroidery work and walked over to open the door and asked in a low voice what happened.
Soon Dongqing turned back and said, "Miss Seventh's maid is here, kneeling outside to beg to see the girl."
The seventh lady, Shen Ruoyan, is a concubine who usually seems to be transparent.
However, when Xie Zhuohua taught Su Jingyi a lesson, he was willing to take the lead, and when something happened to Du Mingyue, he stood up and hinted at her.
She invited her to tea at the time, but later the murderer of Du Mingyue was confirmed from other places. This matter remains unknown.
Shen Xingwan became somewhat interested, put down the chess pieces in his hand and stood up.
As soon as she walked out of the door, she was shaken by the cold wind. Kneeling straight in her yard was a thin-looking maid in Tsing Yi.
When the maid saw her coming out, she banged her head on the ground, "Please help my young lady!"
Dongqing was startled and quickly supported her, "If you have something to say, please tell her."
This knocking sounds painful, and I'm really afraid of knocking me unconscious.
"The young lady is very ill. The housekeeper refused to invite a doctor. She said she would wait until daybreak." The little maid said with a trembling voice.
It turned out that Shen Ruoyan was ill after the temperature had dropped in the past few days. He suddenly started to have a fever tonight for some unknown reason, vomiting and convulsing.
It was late, almost all the ladies were asleep, and it was winter. Shen Ruoyan had always been unfavored, and the ladies in charge didn't want to bother, saying they would wait until dawn before asking for the doctor.
Shen Ruoyan's personal maid saw that her condition was really not good, and thought that Shen Xingwan had a maid with medical skills, so she boldly asked for a visit.
"Are you seriously ill?" Shen Xingwan asked.
"I'm already burned out." The maid said in a tearful voice.
Shen Xingwan said to Chanyi without hesitation, "Bring the medicine box and go take a look."
Since the request came to her door, she really couldn't ignore it.
Shen Xingwan put on his cloak and followed.
Shen Ruoyan's house was in a remote corner. When he walked in, it was quite warm with a charcoal fire, and the furnishings in the house were decent.
Chanyi stepped forward to make a diagnosis, and Shen Xingwan also took a look. Shen Ruoyan's body twitched from time to time, and it looked like the condition was indeed very bad.
Chanyi first gave her a few injections to stop the convulsions, then took out two pills and asked the maid to crush them and forcefully drink them down to Shen Ruoyan with warm water.
Then he instructed the maid to cool her down. After struggling for half the night, her temperature finally dropped a little and her breathing became much more stable.
"Girl, please go back and rest first, I'll keep an eye on you from here." Chanyi said.
Shen Xingwan left Banxia to help her.
On the way back, Shen Xingwan couldn't help but said, "This seventh lady is a bit interesting."
She saw swords and some exquisite weapons in her room. She must have put them away before she came, but she saw them.
"Speaking of which, although the sixth aunt is beautiful, I heard that she has been cold and indifferent since she entered the mansion, and she did not compete for favors." Qinghong told Shen Xingwan the gossip she heard from the old people in the mansion.
This was just a trivial matter for Shen Xingwan, and she didn't take it to heart.
Five days later, Shen Ruoyan, who had just recovered from a serious illness, came to visit in person.
"Sit down quickly, why are you here now if you don't take good care of your health?" Shen Xingwan said in a gentle tone.
Qinghong quickly served hot tea and snacks.
Shen Ruoyan smiled weakly, "I have some things I want to discuss with the girl alone."
Dongqing took the little maid and retreated.
Shen Xingwan raised his eyebrows, "We are all in the room now. Miss Seven can speak directly if she has anything to say."
Shen Xingwan was not familiar with Miss Shen Mansion, but after meeting Shen Ruoyan several times, Shen Xingwan felt that she was a bit interesting. She seemed to be a transparent person, but in fact she knew everything in her heart.
Shen Ruoyan leaned on the chair, holding the hand stove in her hand and spoke slowly, "Actually, compared to other high-ranking clans, it is not difficult to be a concubine of the Shen family, and she can also read and write. I also have examples of concubines, Mrs. My legitimate daughter-in-law and I will at most ignore me and will not deliberately seek trouble or embarrassment."
Over the past few years, she has lived quietly in her little house, relying on her monthly money and living very comfortably.
Shen Xingwan listened quietly, not knowing what she wanted to express.
"But I learned about the outside world from the book and my aunt's mouth. Even in my dreams, I want to get out of this courtyard." Shen Ruoyan's eyes were astonishingly bright, "I don't want to wait until after the hairpin to obey the government. If you are lucky, you will be a generous wife who will take care of your husband and children for the rest of your life. If you are unlucky, you will be a concubine."
Shen Xingwan understood that he was unwilling to give in and had his own ideas.
Shen Xingwan quite admired that a native girl could have such an idea.
"Then what do you want?" Shen Xingwan asked.
Shen Ruochu said with firm eyes, "I want to be free, and I also want to do something meaningful. What men can do, why can't we girls?"
"Your idea is very good, I agree." Shen Xingwan said sincerely. Unfortunately, in ancient times, it was difficult to realize, or the road ahead was long.
Shen Ruoyan looked at Shen Xingwan with gleaming eyes, "So I hope the girl will give me a chance. I am willing to be the sword in the girl's hands."
The two looked at each other. Shen Xingwan first withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes and said softly, "Miss Seventh is joking. Although I am the legitimate daughter of the Shen family in name, in fact, my virginity is not much better than yours."
