Chapter 14: Keeping a Low Profile
“Husband, be wary of the witchcraft that could bring disaster upon the entire marquisate,” Liu Xiner whispered as she leaned against Shen Yishu’s chest, unaware of the sudden chill that darkened his expression. She only noticed his body stiffen unexpectedly.
Thinking he was frightened, she quickly soothed him in a gentle voice, “Once we drive out the Dou family, witchcraft will trouble the marquisate no more.”
“Silence!” Shen Yishu abruptly pushed Liu Xiner away.
It was the first time he had ever rebuked her so sternly. His face was tense, and his eyes darted swiftly outside, relieved that no one had overheard her words.
Still, a lingering fear gripped him as he said gravely, “Do not speak of ghostly arts. Witchcraft is a grave taboo in this dynasty. If anyone hears such talk, the entire family risks execution!”
Even if he wished to find an excuse to dismiss Dou Hongyan, it could never be by such means. To sacrifice the whole marquisate for one woman—Dou Hongyan—was unthinkable! The current dynasty forbade witchcraft most above all, and Liu Xiner’s careless words nearly brought ruin upon them all!
Shen Yishu was uneasy, and the sight of Liu Xiner’s fragile, innocent face only irritated him further.
He muttered gloomily, “Such narrow-mindedness... Do you intend to doom us?”
“Husband...” she pleaded.
“I—I did not know. I meant no offense,” she stammered, trembling.
Tears welled and spilled from Liu Xiner’s eyes as she lowered herself before Shen Yishu, adopting a delicate and pitiable demeanor. “I only wished to ease your burdens, my lord. I never thought... It is my haste. I feared the Dou family coveted the marquisate’s wealth!”
Having professed her loyalty and feigned weakness, she finally coaxed Shen Yishu’s expression to soften. Together, they pondered why the old madam’s attitude was so ambiguous and strange.
In the end, they could find no clear answer.
Liu Xiner could only brood bitterly, her voice heavy with suspicion: “Husband, Mother is from a noble and virtuous family, with an unblemished reputation. How could she look favorably upon the Dou woman—someone unworthy of you?”
“Could it be...” she bit her lip, leaning weakly against Shen Yishu, shivering as she spoke, “Could the Dou woman be ruthless and have some leverage over Mother? Holding a secret to bind her?”
Otherwise, how could a coarse woman like Dou Hongyan win the old madam’s favor?
If such a woman could marry into the marquisate, why couldn’t she? Surely Dou Hongyan was threatening the old madam behind the scenes!
Liu Xiner’s indignation grew.
Unaware whether she had spoken truth or merely planted a seed, she gently urged Shen Yishu to seek Dou Hongyan’s weakness.
He already believed her.
After a moment’s reflection, convinced by her reasoning, Shen Yishu took Liu Xiner to the old madam’s chambers, waiting there for her return.
When the anxious old madam finally came back, twilight nearly blanketing the sky, she was unprepared to see two shadowy figures and nearly fainted in fright.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded.
“Mother, we need to speak with you,” Shen Yishu said bluntly, his expression stern but not unkind. “These years, have you suffered any wrongs at the hands of the Dou woman? Has she taken hold of some secret to control you?”
Only now did Shen Yishu speak cautiously of the Dou family.
The old madam’s heart leapt.
She quickly scanned the room, her eyes clouded, then lowered her gaze to conceal a flicker of panic before shaking her head. “No, no, that is not so. Hongyan has treated me well all these years. I have never been mistreated. Do not say such things.”
The entire marquisate was under Dou Hongyan’s watchful eyes. Even if the old madam had ten times the courage, she would not dare utter such accusations.