Chen Mi stood by the side of her daughter's bed her eyes gazing at her daughter who was currently getting a checkup from her personal physician surnamed Chen.
Chen Mi, the daughter of a wealthy merchant family, a beauty in her prime well versed in music, etiquette, calligraphy and chess. The first time Shen Yu had seen her was at a recital when they were young — and from that day on ward he started his pursuit bent on getting her attention.
She had refused him. More than once but he seemed persistent no matter how many times she told him no — but over time his genuinely persistent efforts won her over and she gradually recognized— and agreed.
When the old lady found out her precious son wanted to marry a merchant's daughter, she disagreed but that wasn't the only thing before she stepped into, the house she had already stated conditions one being that only her his principal wife no lesser ,the second being she could bring her own people into the Shen residence that included Physician Chen and the last being her children would be the rightful heirs for their father even if he had other children. Hearing about all these conditions and what annoyed her being her lovesick son who immediately nodded without any hesitation, but what could she do he threatened her that he would kill himself. She wanted to get Old Shen her husband's help, but she was also aware he didn't like her much after all who would like a woman pushed onto them but being responsible, he did.
So, though she was madam of the Shen household she knew it was mainly just in name but anyway she was happy with it she had her son but no matter how she tried to persuade him he remained stubborn and later she gave up choosing to get as many benefits as possible for her son later.
Soon Chen Mi and Shen Yu married, and she became his primary wife. this lasted for two years after their first son Shen between was vain and not entirely trustworthy and currently maintained two concubines — one surnamed Xu, one surnamed Jui — who had between them produced only daughters in five years and had therefore failed to threaten the position that Chen Mi's two sons and one daughter had established though he went back to them.
She had understood who he was before she married him.
She had made her calculations accordingly.
The power of the second branch's household rested in her hands not because she had taken it but because she was more than competent and knew how to utilize her benefits.
She knew her husband liked her gentle and kind natured. She was the woman her husband had fallen in love with at a recital and had never stopped being enchanted by even now when she was in her thirties.
She glanced at Physician Chen who assured her that the young miss had just fainted from emotional Overload and she was just fine all she needed to do was get some rest.
So, Chen Mi dismissed everyone and told her mother-in-law to head back to her courtyard since it would take long before her daughter woke up again. Her mother-in-law nodded this wasn't the right to talk about anything else and she hand been busy all morning, so she felt tired and headed out going back to her room with the help of her maid and left Chen Mi alone seated waiting for her daughter to wake up.
The time ticked by slowly and it was lunch hour her maid brought her some fruits and other snacks, but she wasn't in the mood to eat and pushed it away waiting for her daughter to wake up first.
Soon brief murmurs came from inside the bed; she rushed to find her daughter stirring awake.
Seeing her daughter's eyes open, she pulled her in without a word — one arm around her shoulders, her daughter's head finding the space below her chin, her hand beginning the slow patient motion as her chin lightly rested on top of Yiyi's head.
"Tell me what happened" Chen Mi said in a low voice as she soothed her daughter. it took a while for Shen Yiyi to understand and when she did. everything that happened that afternoon was recounted of course with a few additions from Shen Yiyi herself. Chen Mi listened to all of it without speaking. Her grip around her daughter stayed light and her breathing the same.
But her eyes, over the top of her daughter's head, held a sort of growing cold something that had nothing to do with the gentleness of her hands.
It took time.
But eventually — every detail had played out in front of Chen Mi's mind as she listened. Then Yiyi stopped and blinked looking around everywhere else except her mother like she just realized she said something wrong.
Seeing this Chen Mi's eyes grew colder her hands clenched a sort of anger growing in her— She had to teach that orphan a lesson for daring to touch her daughter.
Shen Yiyi caught the look in her mother's eye and fell back into the embrace very satisfied.
She knew how much her mother hated that orphaned girl brought back by her first Uncle and first Aunt, but she knew this wasn't enough, so she put on an expression close to enduring in silence
"Mother." Her voice was soft. Slightly unsteady as if afraid her mother will get the wrong idea "You don't have to do anything. I know I'm just being childish." She lowered her head. "It's not that bad I just overreacted this time am sure fourth sister didn't mean it."
Chen Mi looked down at her daughter. She smiled warmly to assure her daughter "don't worry I understand " she pulled her back into her grip.
Her face, pressed against her mother's shoulder, showing a look of hesitation
"Really? Mother it's nothing really " She lifted her slightly watery eyes "You don't have to—"
"Mother understands ...don't worry so much" Chen Mi's voice coaxing though her eyes a kind of calculation.
In an angle that Chen mi couldn't see properly a vicious smirk slowly rose across yiyi's face half her face hidden in the shadows
"Let's see how you escape with this.... ", a sharp glint shining in her eyes "...Sister."