Madam Xin had been living alone outside the city for many years, running a tea stand on her own. She was quite strong, and neither Shen Yunfeng nor Bai Xinrou could match her strength.
To stay in the Princess Mansion, Bai Xinrou often took medicine and pretended to be ill, making her body weak. Now, with a gentle push from Madam Xin, she hit her lower back and couldn't straighten up. She could only watch helplessly as Madam Xin attacked Shen Yunfeng.
"Why was I abandoned by my family while you two can secretly meet and use my identity? Now that I can't go home, you two won't have an easy time either!"
Madam Xin knew that eloping was inappropriate. After seeking help from the government to no avail, she had always been worried about being abandoned by her family. Hearing Shen Yunfeng's words just now, she mistakenly thought it was the attitude of the Xie family. Despair filled her heart. Moreover, having been deceived by the scholar, she hated heartless people the most, so she showed no mercy in her attacks.
Seeing Madam Xin getting more and more excited, Shen Yunfeng quickly explained, "No, no, no. The Xie family sent people to look for you back then. The scholar said you fell into the water and died. My aunt didn't believe it and never wanted to erect a memorial tablet for you. Coincidentally, Xinrou's family encountered trouble, so I let her use your identity."
Except for Madam Xin's mother, everyone thought she was dead. Just as Shen Yunfeng needed to arrange an identity for Bai Xinrou, he simply used Madam Xin's household registration information.
Hearing the noise in the study gradually subside, Hong Shen stepped aside to let the butler in.
The butler rushed in and quickly protected Shen Yunfeng behind him. "Where did this shrew come from? How dare she cause trouble in the Princess Mansion!"
Madam Xin looked dazed. Ignoring the butler, she walked up to Princess Jingning, knelt down, and said sadly, "Please, Princess, uphold justice for this commoner girl. Thoroughly investigate this woman's identity. If she dares to impersonate someone, her real identity must be shameful!"
Shen Yunfeng, supported by the butler, trembled. If someone found out that he was hiding the daughter of a criminal official, the reputation of the Shen family might be ruined in his hands.
Shen Yunfeng would never allow such a thing to happen. He looked at Princess Jingning. "Princess, Xinrou is a commoner girl with a clean background. A few days ago, she even saved Baozhu. Considering this life - saving grace..."
"The daughter of a criminal official has nothing to do with a commoner girl, right?" Princess Jingning interrupted Shen Yunfeng and looked at him with a smile.
Shen Yunfeng was rendered speechless and could only watch as Princess Jingning left with Madam Xin.
"Brother Shen, won't they report this to the government?" Bai Xinrou pinched her palm and said worriedly.
Before Shen Yunfeng could explain, the butler said, "Impossible. The princess will only handle this privately and will never make a fuss about it with the government."
The Shen family wasn't the only one who valued Shen Heqing's imperial examination next year. Unless things got out of control, Princess Jingning wouldn't report it to the government and stain Shen Heqing's reputation.
Shen Yunfeng shared the same thought as the butler, but he thought more deeply. "Yes, but Princess Jingning could directly send Xinrou to the government and say she found a criminal slave returning to the capital on the way?"
"I'll take Xinrou home and hide her in my mother's courtyard. You go and kill Cuiliu right away, then go to the countryside to arrange things. Find an identity of a peasant girl. Make sure it's clean."
At this moment, Shen Yunfeng didn't have time to blame Bai Xinrou. He just hoped to solve this matter as soon as possible.
...
The Shen Family School.
Although she had brought her elder brother home, this was the first time Shen Baozhu had entered the school. She looked around curiously.
The school was the clan school of the Shen family, providing education for the Shen family's disciples. All the expenses were borne by the clan school.
As the most promising person among the younger generation, Shen Heqing had a relatively high status in the school. When he returned, someone immediately stepped forward to greet him with concern.
Shen Heqing ignored them and walked straight in, carrying Shen Baozhu in his arms.
Those people weren't surprised. Shen Heqing had always been like this, rarely talking to irrelevant people. He had an air of arrogance.
They were just curious about the origin of the little girl in Shen Heqing's arms, who could actually be carried by him.
The teacher usually rested in the room on the right side of the school and gave guidance to the students.
At this moment, the teacher was reading the political commentaries of several students and commenting on them one by one. "Minghua's words are flowery, but there's no substance. It's just for show!"
"Yours is the opposite. Although it's well - reasoned, the writing is too simple. It won't do."
"This is Shen Heqing's political commentary. Take a look and you can put forward your own opinions..."
As soon as the teacher finished speaking, he saw Shen Heqing standing at the door and the delicate little girl in his arms. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Who is this child?"
Shen Heqing carried Shen Baozhu into the room, his tone full of pride. "Teacher Li, this is my younger sister Baozhu. She has a great memory. You can test her."
Everyone in the room was confused. Teacher Li picked on Shen Heqing. "It's fine that you took a vacation without any illness, but this school is no place for a girl. Take your sister back quickly."
Teacher Li and Shen Heqing didn't get along well on weekdays. The former disliked Shen Heqing's arrogance, while the latter thought Teacher Li was mean.
On a normal day, Shen Heqing would surely argue with Teacher Li, but today he came to show off his sister. "Heqing just wants the teacher to see if Baozhu has a photographic memory."
Photographic memory...
This term immediately caught everyone's attention. They all looked at Shen Baozhu, especially Teacher Li.
Teacher Li was over fifty, with white beards. He usually criticized the students mercilessly. Looking at the young Shen Baozhu, he hesitated. "Does your sister really have this ability?"
Shen Heqing said confidently, "We'll know after a test."
In the next half - hour, Teacher Li took out many books, from enlightenment books to astronomy and geography. As long as Shen Baozhu heard something once, she could repeat it accurately.
"She really does have a photographic memory. One genius is already amazing, and now the genius's younger brother is smart, and his younger sister is also a genius. God is so unfair!" The one who let out a wail was Shen Minghua, Shen Heqing's cousin and the son of the Second Madam Shen.
Shen Yunhua was about the same age as Shen Heqing but hadn't even passed the scholar examination. He had long admired Shen Heqing's talent. Now, seeing Shen Baozhu's ability, he was even more envious.
Shen Heqing was proud in his heart but humble in words. "It's nothing. Baozhu is just smart."
Taking the opportunity, Teacher Li walked up to Shen Baozhu and whispered, "Little Baozhu, do you have a master?"
Baozhu looked at the kind - looking grandpa in front of her and shook her head obediently.
Teacher Li was overjoyed and almost shouted out. Seeing that Shen Heqing was still busy boasting about how cute his sister was, he quietly took out a small package of oiled paper from his bosom. There were several pieces of high - quality pastries in it, which Teacher Li usually ate as a snack.
Handing the pastries to Baozhu, Teacher Li tried his best to convince her. "Coincidentally, I don't have a little apprentice either. Would Baozhu like to apprentice to me?"
"If I get on well with your elder brother, and you apprentice to me, you can come and play with him every day."
"And I have many old friends in the capital..."
Eating the sweet pastries, Baozhu was about to nod when she heard the gentle voice of a young man declining Teacher Li's proposal. "Teacher, Baozhu is still young. There's no need to rush about apprenticeship."
Hearing the familiar voice, Baozhu subconsciously looked up and met a pair of smiling eyes. "Second Brother!"