CMWKSD -Chapter 96 Misunderstanding

General Shen had no choice but to give the housekeeper’s authority to Concubine Zhu, essentially giving her something to do.

At present, the Shen family had more widows than new brides.

The fifth son’s marriage had been canceled after his leg injury.

The sixth son had gone missing. Although the seventh son was engaged, the families of suitable status and means naturally didn’t want their daughters to marry into a house full of widows.

Shen Zongnian thought of Jiu Yue. Her medical skills were exceptional—perhaps she could help his mother?

Speaking of Jiu Yue, when Shen Zongnian returned, he had carefully selected several valuable gifts for her, which he had asked Concubine Zhu to deliver.

He wasn’t sure if they had arrived yet.

With the imperial examinations coming up soon, it wasn’t convenient for him to interact with the Ji family.

But he could still mention the matter briefly to Shen Zongsheng.

“Fifth Brother, do you remember the Madam Ji I mentioned to you before?”

Shen Zongsheng nodded, puzzled. “Yes, I remember. She’s your lifesaver. Father also told you to properly thank her.”

The Shen family had few sons left. If anything happened to Shen Zongnian, the only capable one left in the family would be the third brother.

“I know. If it weren’t for Madam Ji, how could I have escaped the ambush of the northern barbarians alive? She also cured my Spring Ru illness. I just want to ask Madam Ji to see Mother.”

After Shen Zongsheng’s legs were disabled, he had become somewhat despondent and gloomy.

He nodded at Shen Zongnian’s suggestion. “Since you say so, then Madam Ji must have extraordinary abilities. You may go invite her.”

Shen Zongnian nodded. “By the way, the jewelry, calligraphy, and silver notes I asked Concubine Zhu to deliver to Madam Ji… did she send them?”

Shen Zongsheng, who didn’t manage household affairs, had no idea.

Shen Zongnian pushed him back into his courtyard. “Forget it, I’ll ask Concubine Zhu myself.”

“What invitation did you give her? Madam Ji is my lifesaver. I should thank her personally with generous gifts. Yet you send a notice that makes it seem like she’s some opportunistic person coming to exploit us? Concubine Zhu, what were you thinking?”

Shen Zongnian’s face was frighteningly serious.

He had asked Concubine Zhu to handle this task, yet she had made such a mess of it.

“Lifesaver, not lifesaver… A few nameless, insignificant scholars, without any standing, getting an invitation from the General’s Mansion is a blessing from countless past lives. And yet you open the treasury and send her so many precious items? Do you know how much the General’s Mansion has?”

“Those who don’t manage a household don’t know the value of firewood and rice.” Concubine Zhu had become increasingly arrogant in the two years she held the housekeeper’s authority, completely forgetting that she had once been a servant for sale.

Even now, she was only a concubine, not a noble or primary concubine.

She considered herself superior, looking down on everyone.

Especially now, both her sons had died, leaving only a grandson without a father—the only grandchild in the General’s Mansion.

And Madam Shen still had three sons left.

How could Concubine Zhu not prioritize her own grandson?

But the gifts Shen Zongnian had sent were from the General’s Mansion!

Shen Zongnian was so angry he was breathing heavily. “You were told to prepare the gifts—just prepare them! Father already agreed. How dare you interfere!”

Concubine Zhu had been Madam Shen’s maid, taken in by General Shen while Madam Shen was pregnant with the first child.

At first, the relationship between the wife and concubines was relatively harmonious. But after Concubine Zhu bore her own sons, the General’s Mansion became somewhat chaotic.

Madam Shen had always suppressed her, preventing any major trouble.

General Shen was often at war and only returned to the capital once every three years for inspections.

At first, Madam Shen had even followed him to the battlefield.

During these years, she gave birth to Shen San, and the twins Shen Wu and Shen Liu, as well as Shen Qi.

Concubine Zhu bore only Shen Er and Shen Si.

Most of the children inherited General Shen’s bravery and martial skill.

Until Shen Da died on the battlefield.

Following that, Shen Wu’s leg was broken, Shen Liu went missing, and Shen Er and Shen Si were killed in battle.

The Shen family was left devastated—some dead, some injured, some missing. The entire household was steeped in grief.

Madam Shen was ultimately crushed by one tragedy after another and had no energy left to manage the vast General’s Mansion.

Thus, Concubine Zhu took control.

“I don’t care what method you use. Within half an hour, I want to see those items at the main gate!”

Shen Zongnian changed into his casual attire and headed to the Ji family.

Although the Ji family had only two scholars, Shen Zongnian felt a strong connection with Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomin, and wanted to cultivate a good relationship.

Yet Concubine Zhu had ruined it. How could Shen Zongnian not be angry?

He was a military man. Scholars usually looked down on men like him as brutes, but Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomin didn’t.

The angrier Shen Zongnian got, the faster he walked.

Fortunately, he had previously asked where they were staying in the capital, or else he wouldn’t have known where to find them.

As for Jiu Yue—what kind of person was she? Someone capable and skilled would naturally have strong principles.

In Shen Zongnian’s eyes, there was nothing bad about her. With her medical skills, if news spread, countless people in the capital would flock to her, treating her as an honored guest.

Yet now, because Jiu Yue had no base or support in the capital, this opportunity to bring a capable person to be his family’s support was destroyed by Concubine Zhu’s narrow-mindedness.

Shen Zongnian recalled how, back in the snow, Jiu Yue had treated injured soldiers with her medicine. Even if she had just shared a little, countless lives could have been saved on the battlefield.

He was nearly furious with Concubine Zhu.

If things didn’t improve, he would have to ask Father to bring the eldest sister-in-law back.

Concubine Zhu was far too concerned with immediate gains, placing too much value on wealth and ignoring the bigger picture.

As he left the courtyard, he saw General Shen approaching.

Nearly sixty, the general still appeared vigorous, though his face was pale. Despite last night’s events, he was remarkably spirited—truly “old but strong.”

His full head of white hair evoked a sense of pathos.

With sons dead or crippled, General Shen’s black hair had turned white in a short time, making anyone who saw him moved.

“Where are you going?”

Shen Zongnian immediately saluted. “Father!”

General Shen nodded. “Why are you so angry? Where are you headed?”

Shen Zongnian snorted through his nose. “Where else? To apologize to Doctor Jiu Yue. I had asked Concubine Zhu to deliver generous gifts to her. Doctor Jiu Yue saved my son yet never thought of using that favor to demand anything. She merely said she liked some yellow and white items. The Ji family is ordinary; the five brothers are studying, with considerable expenses. Her request wasn’t excessive.”

“I wanted to send her the gifts. Father, you knew and even suggested finding the best. Yet Concubine Zhu, arrogant and haughty, looked down on them, lazily sending a notice claiming it was for a banquet. What banquet? Our mansion has no one attending—just distant relatives with nothing better to do.”

“When Doctor Jiu Yue arrives, what will those distant relatives say? They’ll surely think she’s some opportunist coming to exploit us.”

Shen Zongnian grew angrier. In the future, if he married, he would never choose someone so short-sighted, someone who could only see petty things.