Chapter 79: An Eye for an Eye

Shen Qingyun decided not to persuade Han for the time being. Now that Han had come to know Shen Zhifeng’s true nature, the rest could be plotted out slowly. But this did not mean she would refrain from punishing Shen Zhifeng now.

For a brief moment, she considered having Hanyu kill Shen Zhifeng outright, but such a course would bring endless trouble. Shen Zhifeng was, after all, a duke, and the old lady would surely not let it rest. Besides, death was far too simple. She had already made up her mind: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Since Shen Zhifeng had been so ruthless, able to steal more than a decade of her life, why shouldn’t she do the same?

Now, she needed a substitute. Let Shen Zhifeng live, live in misery and humiliation, forced to watch as someone else occupied the duke's seat, enjoying all the luxuries he once had. The first step was to let him gradually fade from public view, so as not to attract attention.

The next day, Shen Qingyun went to the Physician’s Pavilion and found Lian Rufeng, asking him for medicine that would slowly weaken a person's body. Lian Rufeng assured her, “My medicine cannot be detected by ordinary doctors. Rest assured.”

“And what counts as an extraordinary doctor?” Shen Qingyun asked with a smile.

“That would be an exceptionally gifted physician. So far, I’ve only met one.”

“Who?” she asked.

Lian Rufeng shook his fan and pointed proudly at his own reflection in the mirror.

Shen Qingyun burst into laughter, thanked him for his help, and handed him a recipe in return—a formula for beauty pills she had acquired thanks to the hazy memories of her previous life, though its effectiveness was not yet certain. “Rufeng, see if these herbs can be combined this way.”

At the mention of beauty, Lian Rufeng’s eyes lit up. He promised to inform her at once should he be able to produce them.

Shen Qingyun took the medicine and arranged for it to be mixed into Shen Zhifeng’s meals. The way he had treated Han, she would repay him double.

Now that the Shen family was under Shen Qingyun’s management, she had already stationed people everywhere. Adding the medicine to Shen Zhifeng’s food was effortless.

It wasn’t long before everyone in the household noticed that the duke seemed ill, his complexion worsening day after day. He had never been a notable presence in court; now, he was so weak he couldn’t leave his chambers, spending most of his time in bed. The family physician could find nothing wrong.

That, in itself, was the greatest problem. Shen Zhifeng grew increasingly uneasy, but no matter how he wracked his brains, he could not imagine Shen Qingyun’s scheme. He assumed his decline was the result of Yueniang’s betrayal and Shen Minglei’s death, blows too great for him to recover from.

The old lady did visit him out of concern, but since the physician declared him healthy, she could only pray more fervently before the Buddha each day.

Shen Qingyun, meanwhile, continued searching for a substitute and outwardly resumed her duties as housekeeper and her studies with Master Xu, returning to a semblance of normalcy. Shen Sisi, obsessed with winning back the Third Prince’s favor, no longer troubled Shen Qingyun. Thus, she enjoyed a few peaceful days.

But Shen Sisi’s absence was soon filled by something else. Early one morning, Jiang Lin unexpectedly sent a letter. Pearl, most reluctant, fetched it, and upon opening, found a command: Meet at the Listening Rain Teahouse at noon.

Shen Qingyun scrutinized it several times, certain it was Jiang Lin’s handwriting. She felt unlucky and tossed it aside.

Pearl, puffed up with indignation, said, “Miss, Jiang Lin thinks too highly of himself, doesn’t he? He’s just ordering you out, without even giving you time to prepare.”

Yicui also protested, “And everyone knows you’re Jiang Lin’s fiancée. He ought to be looking for the eldest miss, not sending you notes. It’s damaging to your reputation.”

“Bah! He isn’t worthy,” Pearl declared, her eyes wide. She thought he wasn’t even fit to carry her lady’s shoes, so angry she flounced around the room.

But soon, Pearl was delighted again. Prince Li had sent another gift.

Recently, Prince Li seemed addicted to gift-giving, sending something to the duke’s residence every few days. The day before yesterday, it was a huge luminous pearl; the day before that, a celadon vase with a flower-shaped mouth...

Every present was exquisitely rare and precious. Pearl’s opinion of him soared, and she praised him earnestly, “Miss, I don’t know about lofty principles, but I think Prince Li is generous and attentive. Such a man is worth entrusting your life to.”

Shen Qingyun tapped her forehead, “What nonsense.”

Hanyu, hidden in the shadows, revealed a lonely look. He, too, wished he could give Shen Qingyun gifts, but the sad truth was he had no money and could not afford such treasures.

Pearl pouted, muttering under her breath, “Compared to Jiang Lin, Prince Li is a star in the heavens and Jiang Lin a worm in the gutter.”

As if summoned, Jiang Lin sent another note that evening. He had waited all afternoon, only to find Shen Qingyun hadn’t come, so he sent another, this time with a clear complaint: After receiving the note, meet me at noon tomorrow at Listening Rain Teahouse. To make an appointment and not appear is unworthy of a gentleman.

Shen Qingyun was amused and annoyed. Who had made any appointment with him? And if he wished to be a gentleman, why involve her, an innocent woman?

She wasn’t going to go.

Coincidentally, the Physician’s Pavilion sent word the next day that the beauty pills were ready. Shen Qingyun prepared to go out, only to be stopped at the door by Jiang Lin.

“Qingyun, did you get my note? I have urgent matters to discuss. Please, step down from your carriage and let us talk in the teahouse.”

Pearl rolled her eyes dramatically, muttering about bad luck, and replied, “Jiang Lin, you’d best leave. Men and women have their boundaries; it’s not proper for Miss to meet you.”

Jiang Lin frowned, suppressing his urge to rebuke Pearl, and pressed, “Qingyun, this is truly urgent.”

Shen Qingyun, a little curious as to what Jiang Lin wanted, decided, since there was still time, to lift the carriage curtain and ask coldly, “No need to step down. Just say what you have to say.”

Jiang Lin stared at her beautiful face, which seemed even more radiant and refined after a brief absence; her skin glowed, and his eyes flickered with emotion.

“Jiang Lin?” Seeing his dazed expression, Shen Qingyun raised her voice, about to lose patience and leave.

Jiang Lin spoke first, “Could you give me five hundred taels of silver?”

Shen Qingyun was stunned. Had she heard right? He wasn’t even asking to borrow money—he simply told her to hand it over, as if it were a robbery, and brazen at that.