Chapter 28: Heart Mechanism

  "Hmm..." Shen Zhongjie responded ambiguously and continued drinking tea with his head down.

  Chu Xinyi's heart skipped a beat.

  Half a day passed without any news, Chu Xinyi suppressed the joy in her heart and showed a concerned expression. "Today, elder sister is still thinking about it, being neglected by you for five years, I don't know how Madame is doing, probably that temper has also been restrained." A faint sigh seemed to imply that Zhen Shiniang was the person she had been searching for over ten years.

  She recalled Zhen Shining, with a calm and serene expression, her gentle gaze immediately softened. She was so quiet, as if she had merged with the heavens and the earth. He sat beside her, not saying a word, yet feeling an inner peace he had never experienced in all his years of battle.

  "......General!" Seeing a hint of warmth in Shen Zhong's eyes that she had never seen before, Chu Xinyi's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. She unconsciously raised her voice, then suddenly realized it was out of tune and hastily closed her mouth.

  Snap back to reality, and found himself surprisingly missing the natural tranquility emanating from Zhen Shining's body. Shen Zhongjie was also startled, and secretly comforted himself, "A general's success is built on the bones of the dead... perhaps it's because I've been through too many years of slaughter, and have had my fill of bloodshed, that my heart has become unsettled." He looked up at Chu Xinyi, "Xinyi, what's wrong?"

  "Is Grandma doing all right?" Chu Xinyi's voice had returned to its usual gentleness.

  "She's been suffering from anemia, and it hasn't been going well." Shen Zhongge shook his head and sighed, then suddenly asked, "Hasn't she come to the mansion to ask for her monthly allowance in these years?"

  That year he drove her out and forgot to stop her monthly allowance.

  Chu Xinyi's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, and she shook her head. "The eldest madam hasn't returned since moving to the ancestral mansion." She explained further, "I thought she had several thousand taels of dowry and didn't lack silver, plus the ancestral mansion is too far away, and General Shen specifically instructed me not to let me see her, but it seems I forgot about this matter." With a sincere and fearful expression, she looked at Shen Zhongge. "It's all my fault for neglecting this, could it be that the eldest madam has been resentful towards General Shen for shortchanging her monthly allowance?" She stood up, "I'll send someone to deliver the past few years' worth of monthly allowances to her immediately."

  "Never mind..." Shen Zhong shook his head, "She didn't mention anything, I was just curious how she ended up like that?" Although she was still his wife, living a life like that without even asking him for money, this was not like her personality. "It's not Yi'er's fault either, all these years I thought she had several thousand taels of dowry silver and should be lacking in nothing."

  The original champion's mansion wasn't as wealthy as it is now, she took away those dowries and the champion's mansion was almost emptied, he really had a hard time for a while.

  That was her dowry, no matter how poor he was, he would never touch it.

  It was clear that Shen Zhongke was speaking from the heart, and Chu Xinyi's heart sank as she asked, "... didn't Big Madam have a hard time?" Her face was full of worry, but in her heart, she was secretly delighted.

  She'd better starve to death!

  "There isn't even a decent quilt in the house." Shen Zhongge sighed again.

  So he felt sympathetic and didn't mention divorce this time?!

  Chu Xinyi gritted her teeth secretly.

  They say that iron men have soft spots, and Shen Zhongge's tough exterior hides a heart of gold. She has grasped this weakness of his, which is why she can order him around in the General's Manor. If Zhen Shiniang's crying tricks can deceive Shen Zhongge, how could they deceive Chu Xinyi?

  Thinking of this, Chu Xinyi couldn't help but secretly regret that she shouldn't have been so rash and let Shen Zhongqiu go talk to Zhen Shiniang about the divorce. "If I had known earlier, I would have taken care of it myself." With a sigh, she said, "Why don't you just bring her back? It's been many years, maybe she already knows her mistake." Seeing that Shen Zhongqiu didn't respond, Chu Xinyi's heart skipped a beat. "He can't be thinking of really bringing her back, right?" In her panic, she spoke without thinking and tried to probe, "Among the sisters, the concubine who entered the house the latest is not in charge of the inner courtyard, if Dàniángzi comes back, it would be just right for her to take over."

  Just as he was about to part with Zhen Shiniang, how could he possibly let her return to take charge of the General's mansion again?

  Although he didn't say it explicitly, Chu Xinyi should be clearer about this than anyone else. It's not just sympathy, but her words are also laced with ulterior motives.

  For many years, Shen Zhongjie has been on expeditions outside and his mind is never on women. He rarely manages household affairs and is even more impatient with the struggles between women in the backyard. But he is not stupid, otherwise, how could he have become a famous general at such a young age?

  He lifted his head from the tea and quietly looked at Chu Xinyi.

  "General..." For the first time being looked at by Shen Zhongqiu with such a gaze, Chu Xinyi felt a chill run down her spine, and she let out a soft cry.

  Shen Zhongjie poured himself a cup of tea and took several sips before speaking, "From now on, Yier, don't mention this again. I won't let her take charge of the inner courtyard." Just as Chu Xinyi's expression lightened, Shen Zhongjie changed the subject, "I've been away at war for years, and you've worked hard too, Yier. When I handed over the inner courtyard to you initially, I didn't consider your well-being. If you really feel overwhelmed..." His voice trailed off in hesitation, "Let Fang'er come over to help out a bit. As the eldest of the five and Wanyin's biological mother, with her assistance, no one will gossip about you anymore, and you'll have more free time to spend with me."

  Shen's sister is Shen Zhongjie's only daughter, born of Yang Fen, and her style name is Shen Xiaoxian.

  What?

  Let Big Auntie help her?

  Chu Xinyi never thought it would end up like this, her tightly clenched fists had dug into her palm.

  Ironically, this was her proposal.

  "The general said that the concubine had long wanted to get her older sister's help, but the general might have forgotten that two years ago when the concubine was ill, her older sister took care of the household for only half a year and embezzled over 500 taels of silver by making false purchases..."

  Two years ago, Chu Xinyi was squeezed out by other concubines and claimed to be ill, thinking that she would give everyone a warning. However, Shen Lao Furen took the opportunity to let Yang Feng take over the Zhongyin, but Yang Feng was originally clever, unfortunately, Chu Xinyi had been in charge of Zhongyin for many years, and everyone inside and outside the mansion were her people, not only making trouble everywhere but also instigating others to frame Yang Feng for corruption.

  It's said that Chu Xinyi secretly embezzled public funds and used them to lend money at high interest rates outside. After hearing about this, Dajie also became interested. At first, she only took a few dozen taels, which were all spent on Old Madame. As time passed and no one investigated, her courage grew bolder, until she fell into Chu Xinyi's trap.

  Shen Zhongbo also knew about this matter. At that time, most of the silver she had embezzled was spent on her mother, who was also his only daughter's birth mother, so he didn't pursue it further. He just took back the right to manage the main hall and still let Chu Xinyi be in charge.

  Today Chu Xinyi brought up this matter again and gently rejected his proposal.

  Looking at her gentle and soft appearance, Shen Zhongge suddenly felt a little disappointed for a while.

  Chu Xinyi pounced over, and he took the opportunity to hug her and play around for a bit. Pointing at her nose, he said, "This is what you get for not wanting help. Don't come crying to me again in the future."

  Seeing him completely unguarded, Chu Xinyi's previous proposal was just a casual remark, and she put down the anxiety in her heart. She pretended to be angry and said, "Look at what General said, I'm just complaining for a moment, you're coming up with this, really, from now on I'll just be mute." Seeing Shen Zhonghe glance at her lightly and sigh, "Forget it, forget it, I've been calculated by you all my life, I have to be your servant for the rest of my life..."

  Just then, Chun Hong knocked on the door and came in, "......The old lady is back, please go over, General."