Chapter 144: Always Overlooked

"But my dear elder sister, your calculations are wrong. I am no longer the person who will suffer your bullying or do whatever you say."

She smiled indifferently, "In the past, to make my life easier, I never argued with you. But now, the entire Prime Minister’s estate listens to me. Do you really think I will still heed your words, elder sister?"

"If you also want to have an easier life, you had best do as I once did and swallow your pride."

Meng Fangran’s lips trembled imperceptibly. "You bitch!"

"You occupy what rightfully belongs to me and yet you speak with such self-righteousness! You are nothing but a base and lowly creature!"

Listening to the continuous stream of insults from outside, Shen Nanyuan frowned, her grip tightening on her teacup. Qingrui, who had stayed by her side for a long time, could discern her thoughts from her movements. She leaned in and whispered urgently, "My Lady, this is a private family matter."

She continued, "We cannot interfere."

"..." Shen Nanyuan pursed her lips and paused for a moment before loosening her grip on the teacup.

Meng Chuyue stood coldly on the steps, watching Meng Fangran throw a tantrum. The look in her eyes, as if viewing an ant, only fueled Meng Fangran’s rage.

"As long as I am in the Prime Minister’s estate, you will never have a moment of peace!"

"I fear that you won't be in the Prime Minister’s estate for much longer, elder sister," Meng Chuyue said with a smile. "You are at the age for marriage, and I expect you will be wed off soon. However, if you maintain this personality after you marry, I doubt anyone will be able to endure you."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she appraised Meng Fangran. "For the remaining time you have here, you had best not provoke me again. You should be able to see now that my previous meekness was merely a facade. I have plenty of ways and means to deal with you. Would you like to try them out, elder sister?"

"I’m going to tell Father!"

"Go ahead and tell him. Let’s see whether Father believes me, or you—the one whose reputation has already been dragged through the mud?" Meng Chuyue said with a mocking smile. "Perhaps when Father learns you have been causing trouble here, he will be even more eager to marry you off."

"Elder sister," she continued, her expression turning cold, "even if Father knew everything, he would protect me. The scandal involving the mistress and the legitimate daughter has already damaged the estate’s reputation. Father will never allow another incident involving his remaining daughters. The status of a legitimate daughter, which you have always prided yourself on, has long since lost its value in his eyes compared to me, a daughter born of a concubine."

"So, if you are sensible, you should stay quietly in your own courtyard and stop bothering me. If you do that, I might grudgingly, for the sake of your status as a legitimate daughter, continue to provide for you according to the old standards. Do not force my hand."

"Besides, the fate that you and your mother have met is of your own making. If you want to experience how my mother and I struggled to survive under your thumb, I would be more than happy to let you try."

Silence suddenly descended outside.

After a long wait, Meng Chuyue’s voice was heard once more: "Do as you please, elder sister. I am returning to my room."

Footsteps followed.

Not knowing if Meng Fangran had left, Shen Nanyuan looked at Meng Chuyue, who had just sat down. Before she could speak, she saw Meng Chuyue place a finger to her lips, signaling her to remain silent.

After a moment, a maid entered from outside.

"My Lady, the eldest miss has returned."

Meng Chuyue nodded slightly, her expression visibly relaxing. Apologetically, she said, "If my elder sister had known you were here, she might have vented her rage on you in her fury. She has a sharp tongue, and I feared she might offend you."

Shen Nanyuan shook her head to indicate it was fine. "Is she like this every day?"

"Yes," Meng Chuyue replied, taking a sip of tea to soothe her throat. "Previously, I let her act out because I was concerned about her health after her recovery, fearing the agitation would make her ill again. But she has become increasingly insatiable."

"After what I said today, she shouldn't be back for a while."

Shen Nanyuan nodded. "But she likely remains in contact with her mother..."

"It doesn't matter," Meng Chuyue said. "I shall meet whatever comes my way. I have already reached this position; let’s see what other tricks they have to harm me."

Knowing that Meng Chuyue was not someone easily bullied, Shen Nanyuan still felt compelled to offer a reminder: "Regardless, you must be careful."

Not long after returning to the Duke of Zhen’s estate, Shen Nanyuan was summoned by Madam Shen to dine in her courtyard.

Wu Miaofu was there, standing quietly by Madam Shen’s side. She looked up and greeted her cousin with a smile. Shen Nanyuan nodded in acknowledgment before affectionately nestling against Madam Shen. "Mother."

Madam Shen cast her a reproving look. "If I didn’t call for you, you wouldn't think to come and see me! Even Miaofu visits me often."

"I came to have a meal with you just two days ago," Shen Nanyuan said, feigning grievance, her tone tinged with playful jealousy. "Besides, you have Miaofu by your side now; you’ve already forgotten about me!"

Wu Miaofu looked alarmed. "Cousin, Aunt has been thinking of you constantly. Whenever she sees anything nice, she makes sure to set a portion aside to be sent to Shaohua Courtyard."

Madam Shen chuckled. "Don't be flustered, Miaofu. Yuan’er is only teasing; she just likes to talk nonsense."

"How am I talking nonsense?" Shen Nanyuan looked up, her eyes bright. "It’s true."

Madam Shen touched her face with doting affection. "Everyone in the Duke of Zhen’s estate knows how pampered you are, yet you still have the nerve to be jealous of Miaofu here."

She pointed to the tea nearby. "Drink some to soothe your throat. Did you just return from the Prime Minister’s estate?"

A flicker of light crossed Wu Miaofu’s eyes.

No matter who was present, whenever Shen Nanyuan appeared, she was always overlooked.

"Yes, Chuyue went to the city wall as well, so I just happened to return to the Prime Minister’s estate with her."

At the mention of this, the smile on Madam Shen’s face faded slightly.

"Your elder brother has never been content with being a captain in the capital; he has always dreamt of fighting on the battlefield. Your father previously refused him, hoping that at least your brother would be here since he is getting older, but I never expected that your brother would go to the front lines after all."

Shen Nanyuan had known that Shen Sinian wanted to go to the battlefield.

Every time he returned from duty, he appeared listless; only when the topic of war arose could one see his spirit soar. His ambitions did not lie in the capital; like Shen Yi, his eyes were fixed on the battlefield.

Perhaps it was because Shen Sinian had set out today that Madam Shen had called her over—simply to talk.