Chapter 166 - 164: Drunkenly Striking the Golden Branches

Words : 1479 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Chapter 166: Chapter 164: Drunkenly Striking the Golden BranchesSun Miaoniang had just had a miscarriage, and after resting for ten days, her body had recovered for the most part. Seeing Shen Yinning come over, she expressed her gratitude: "Last time in the Eastern Palace, thank you, Cousin Shen, for helping me. I can see clearly now—among the women of the Shen Family, only you truly care for me." Shen Yinning smiled lightly: "Naturally so. I’ve always had a warm and caring disposition. I came to visit you tonight because I worried you might feel upset with Cousin marrying—after all, a new sister-in-law entering the house might trouble your heart." "Who calls me a concubine?" Sun Miaoniang’s face was somber. "My background is poor and can’t compare to Princess Qianqian, who is noble and of pure lineage. Even committing the grave crime of causing me a miscarriage, the Emperor merely punished her with a few days of confinement. I fear that in the days ahead, life in the Shen Family will become increasingly difficult for me." The candlelight illuminated Shen Yinning’s face—a half-lit visage like a hibiscus blossom. She fiddled with the candle flame, her tone layered with meaning: "No matter how noble, once married into the Shen Family, she is just a Shen Family woman—no different than you. Word has it that Cousin deeply loves you and is merely making a show of it with Princess Qianqian. If tonight Cousin chooses to stay with you, rather than consummate the marriage with Princess Qianqian, then surely even the Shen Family servants will regard you as more important than the Princess and dare not show you disdain." Sun Miaoniang was dumbfounded. She hesitated, nervously twisting her handkerchief: "This..." Shen Yinning’s expression grew serious: "I feel a connection with you, Sister-in-law, so I’ll say a few more words. Since you’ve come to the Capital, you must fight for your place. If contention is inevitable, why delay until later? Even if Sister-in-law doesn’t care for favor and affection, you must still think of Fan’er. What if Princess Qianqian conceives a male heir—what then of Fan’er’s future?" Sun Miaoniang’s breathing quickened. She knew well that Lu Qianqian was no Xue Qingqing. Lu Qianqian was tempestuous and unrestrained, not at all easy to manipulate. In the past, she dared covet Xue Qingqing’s dowry, plotting to have Shen Lang extract half of it for her once Xue Qingqing entered the household. But Lu Qianqian was so fierce—forget about getting half of her dowry, it might be hard for Lu Qianqian to even tolerate her presence! Once Lu Qianqian firmly establishes herself, it’s likely that the first people she’d target would be her and Fan’er! Crystallized in urgency, a sense of crisis overwhelmed Sun Miaoniang, who appreciated Shen Yinning with newfound gratitude: "I knew it—Cousin Shen truly acts in my interest." Having made up her mind, she gathered herself together, then boldly carried Fan’er straight to confront Lu Qianqian. Lu Qianqian had originally been waiting for Shen Xinglei to consummate their marriage in the bridal chamber. Unexpectedly, not Shen Xinglei, but instead Sun Miaoniang and Shen Yinning showed up. The sight of these two—the people she despised most—instantly darkened Lu Qianqian’s expression. Sun Miaoniang, as if oblivious to her displeasure, gracefully curtsied and softly said, "Elder Sister and Shen Lang are newly wed. Miaoniang specifically brought Fan’er to pay respects to Elder Sister. From now on, we’re family. Elder Sister should feel at ease in the mansion. If there’s anything you’d like to eat or drink, don’t hesitate to instruct the small kitchen to prepare it." Lu Qianqian was so furious that her nose almost twisted sideways. Though she was the legitimate wife, Sun Miaoniang spoke with an air of authority befitting the mistress of the household—what did that imply?! Besides, on the night of one’s wedding, what kind of concubine would bring an illegitimate child to visit the bride in the bridal chamber to pay respects?! This wasn’t respect—it was provocation! Suppressing her fury, Lu Qianqian’s temper flared up again, her voice sharp: "Who is your Elder Sister?! Have you learned nothing from losing your child?! Do I need to kill this bastard child of yours to enforce my point?!" Sun Miaoniang gritted her teeth, hate simmering in her eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the hem of a large red robe appearing outside the doorway. Instantly, her expression shifted to one of pitiful sadness, and she dropped to her knees with a dramatic thud: "This humble concubine only wished to pay respects and greet Elder Sister. I didn’t intend to anger you to such an extent, Elder Sister, to the point where you even wish harm upon Fan’er! In my helpless state, I only beg Elder Sister to tolerate the presence of a lowly concubine like me and my child!" Clutching Fan’er close, Sun Miaoniang yet again re-enacted the scene from Shen Yan’s birthday banquet months ago, frantically kowtowing before Lu Qianqian. Crying bitterly, she exclaimed, "All our troubles—the faults of myself and Fan’er—not meeting Elder Sister’s standards! Fan’er, if anyone’s to blame, blame the fate that sent you into my womb, unable to call someone as noble and graceful as Elder Sister your true mother! Fan’er, stop crying. We are born of sin—bastards born of a dishonored mother! You must kowtow to your legitimate mother! Even if you die here, it’s no fault of Elder Sister—it’s merely our ill-fated destiny!" Shen Yinning was astonished. This Sun Miaoniang... What an exceptional talent! Watching the mother and son kowtow furiously, Lu Qianqian, pushed to the brink, shot to her feet and screamed curses: "Are you both insane?! Get out! Stop sullying my sight!" "Bang!" Suddenly, Shen Xinglei stormed in, kicking the door wide open. Drunk and red-faced, he reeked of wine. "Shen Lang!" Sun Miaoniang embraced Fan’er tearfully, the very embodiment of grievance, her sorrow profound. Lu Qianqian, meanwhile, fumed indignantly, her voice shrill: "Shen Xinglei, what kind of concubine did you raise?! She’s mad—kowtowing to me for no reason!" "Shut up!" Shen Xinglei’s bloodshot eyes carried fury as he swung his hand hard, landing a brutal slap across Lu Qianqian’s face. His massive hand, backed by brute strength, sent Lu Qianqian flying backward to crash against the bed. Her ears rang loudly, her vision blurred. Helping Sun Miaoniang to her feet, Shen Xinglei scowled bitterly: "Lu Qianqian, you’re filthy through and through. Marrying you was already an act of grace on my part—how dare you still torment Miaoniang and her child?! Can you not even abide their presence?!" Supported by palace maids, Lu Qianqian glared at Shen Xinglei in disbelief: "I am a Princess—a noblewoman—and you dare strike me?!" "What if I strike you?!" Shen Xinglei roared savagely, like an enraged bull in full charge. His towering build filled the bridal chamber with unbearable pressure, "No matter your status, once married, you’re but a Shen Family wife. If I wish to beat you twice daily, it would simply be a husband disciplining his woman—who’d dare object?! You tried to harm my son—beating you to death would still feel merciful!" "Beat me to death?!" Lu Qianqian shrieked, breaking into uncontrollable rage. Months of frustration erupted forth. Without hesitation, she lunged at Shen Xinglei, scratching at his face: "Strike me! I dare you! Hit me again, if you think you’re so tough!" Already inebriated, Shen Xinglei was not in full possession of his faculties. Provoked further by Lu Qianqian’s assault, his anger exploded. Grasping Lu Qianqian’s wrist firmly, he delivered a ruthless punch directly to her nose! Lu Qianqian let out a bloodcurdling scream as Shen Xinglei, unrelenting, slammed her hard to the ground with all his might. The palace maids screamed in terrified panic, attempting to intervene, but Shen Xinglei kicked them away one by one with brutal force. This wedding night, with Lu Qianqian’s hidden guards absent from the rear courtyard, no one could subdue Shen Xinglei. The man was like a raging bull, turning wild, raining punches on Lu Qianqian with relentless fury, seemingly intent on reducing her to pulp. Sun Miaoniang clutched Fan’er, wailing sorrowfully: "Don’t hit her, please, don’t hit her..." Though she offered words of "intervention," she remained standing at a safe distance, only shedding performing tears with no intention to stop the violence. Shen Yinning stood watching coldly. This brought to mind Lu Qianqian’s preachings at Shen Guogong Mansion: ——It’s not that Shangguan girls disapprove of Second Brother Shen for being too rough. I understand your objections after witnessing him strike someone at the banquet yesterday. However, you, cloistered and innocent of worldly affairs, misread it—men’s willfulness embodies masculine charm. Aren’t real men meant to use brute force? After all, he didn’t hit "you"—why care whom he might hit? We, as daughters destined for marriage, deserve to seek true men like Second Brother Shen!

Chapter 166 - 164: Drunkenly Striking the Golden Branches

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