Chapter 26: Catching the Mistress

What...what is going on here?

Shen Qingyun’s words exploded in everyone’s ears.

One is the wife of the owner, the other the owner’s young lady, but from the looks of things, the two clearly don’t know each other!

The waiter who was pointed out was completely stunned. He’d only been here a short while, but he recognized the lady, yet not this young woman. However, seeing Shen Qingyun’s calm and composed demeanor—she seemed nothing like a liar—he had no idea what to do.

The commotion below soon caught the attention of the steward upstairs, who had been resting and now came downstairs.

The waiter, quick-eyed, immediately called out, “Steward, there’s a young lady here looking for you.”

The steward looked at Shen Qingyun with a face full of confusion, walking over to her, “Young lady, may I ask what business you have with me?”

Shen Qingyun had only returned to the mansion a few months ago and was just beginning to learn the management of the household. Naturally, the steward of this shop did not know her.

Before she could speak, the maid named Ling’er couldn’t help but laugh, “Oh my, these days there are still people bold enough to come here and lie so brazenly. My lady has only one young master, so I don’t know where you, young lady, have come from, daring to call yourself the owner’s daughter when even the steward doesn’t recognize you.”

The lady, upon hearing Shen Qingyun’s words, was first startled, then reassured. Sisi had already said that the Shen Qingyun who had just been brought back was yellow-faced and emaciated—a clear country girl, illiterate, surely nothing more than a rustic. The young woman before them exuded elegance; though about the same age, she certainly wasn’t the same person.

Besides, even if she were, there’s no way she would find her way to this shop. Even Han Shi hadn’t managed the shop for years; all the profits went straight into her own pocket.

She wondered what this young lady was after, daring to make such wild claims.

Meanwhile, the waiter quickly explained the situation to the steward in a few words. The steward nodded and continued, “Young lady, I do not know you. As a guest, if you wish to buy jewelry, you may browse and see if anything suits you. If not, please don’t make trouble here.”

Ling’er spat from the side, “Young lady? She’s just a fraud! If she keeps causing trouble, we’ll report her to the authorities. Report her and—”

Before she could finish her tirade, a stone flew out from the shadows and struck her mouth, cutting off her words. She clutched her mouth in pain, crying out.

“Ling’er!” the lady exclaimed in shock.

Zhenzhu couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity, “What nonsense from this steward! Our young lady is the second daughter of the Shen Marquis’s household. This shop belongs to the Shen Marquis. So, our young lady is truly the rightful owner’s daughter!”

“It’s no trouble,” Shen Qingyun said evenly, “I’ve only just started managing affairs, so it’s understandable the steward doesn’t recognize me. But next time, ask clearly before opening your mouth. Don’t make such a laughingstock of yourselves.”

She looked at the steward coldly, then added with a mocking tone, “If you want to report to the authorities, go ahead. My mother, the Shen Marquis’s wife, is alive and well in the mansion. I wonder where this so-called owner’s wife has appeared from—such nerve!”

Her words left the steward stunned, the lady frozen, and the crowd, who had been whispering about Shen Qingyun, now unsure whom to believe.

Ling’er refused to give up, “What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have any proof you’re the Shen Marquis’s second daughter?”

The lady stared at Shen Qingyun, her composure gone, her palms slick with cold sweat.

How could this be...

Shen Qingyun turned to Zhenzhu, “Go call the guards, and report to the authorities as well. Let’s see who’s truly at fault today!”

The onlookers were dumbfounded—was this young woman really the Marquis’s second daughter?

“Please don’t make a scene, young lady!” the lady forced herself to stay calm, picking up the jewelry. “Ling’er, let’s go. Justice speaks for itself; there’s no need to waste time with her.”

Zhenzhu immediately blocked their path, “You’re not going anywhere!”

The steward, aware of some inside details, saw that the truth could no longer be hidden. If it blew up, things would get ugly. He hurried forward to mediate, “Young lady, it’s all a misunderstanding!”

“A misunderstanding? Then explain to me why she dares to impersonate the owner’s wife?”

“This...this...young lady, ask the Marquis when you return; he’ll explain everything. Please don’t report to the authorities.” The steward’s back was soaked in sweat. “The jewelry, yes—the jewelry was meant for the wife. Now that you’re here, you may as well take it back to the mansion.”

He could only hope that Shen Zhifeng could handle Shen Qingyun and suppress the situation.

Why had this young mistress suddenly appeared in the shop, and at such a critical moment?

While speaking, the steward signaled the lady to leave and reached to take the jade jewelry from her hands.

But Ling’er refused to hand it over; the jewelry had been specially made for her mistress.

“Rest assured, no one is leaving today. My apologies everyone, but there’s internal business to attend to. The shop will not be open for business today.” Shen Qingyun smiled at Ling’er as she spoke, then instructed the waiter to clear out the customers and told Zhenzhu to summon the guards and report to the authorities.

The ladies and young misses in the shop lingered, unwilling to leave, watching the spectacle unfold.

“So this jewelry shop belongs to the Shen Marquis?”

“What? The one famed for unwavering devotion? I used to envy the Marquis’s wife so much—her husband loves her more than life itself.”

“Exactly. This must be the second daughter the Marquis brought back; her mother is Han Rou, daughter of General Han.”

“Wasn’t it said that the Marquis refused to take concubines for Han Lady’s sake? Looking at things now, that woman over there seems anything but simple!”

“Yes, just look at her—seductive, with her chest nearly spilling out, like a tempting vixen! I wager she’s someone the Marquis keeps outside the mansion. She’s unlucky to run into the second young lady today!”

“Haha, the impostor dared to call the authorities just now—truly, the thief cries thief!”

One by one, the ladies pieced together the truth, almost entirely. Although Shen Qingyun only accused the woman of impersonation, who couldn’t see the reality?

A mistress posing as the owner’s wife—how disgraceful.

Many of these ladies had restless concubines competing for favor, or their own husbands kept women outside the home. Thus, their resentment toward mistresses was particularly strong.

The lady’s face was red as blood, her palms nearly breaking skin, knowing things had gone awry. She tried to slip away with Ling’er amid the chaos, but the crowd of ladies, eager for drama, blocked their escape.

Zhenzhu darted to the street corner, summoning the guards.

Upon seeing four guards from the Shen Marquis’s household, everyone was even more convinced of Shen Qingyun’s identity, and jeered at the lady and her maid.

“Shen Qingyun!” A furious shout suddenly rang out from outside the crowd.