Liu Qian'er watched as the maid dragged away Concubine Zheng, instantly feeling a touch of sorrow for another's plight, wondering if one day she too would be despised by Master Shen.

She had previously lost favor, but she believed it was due to her own father's troubles, not her own fault. That was why she sought to regain favor, trusting that once Master Shen's anger subsided, he would treat her well again. However, Master Shen’s current attitude toward Concubine Zheng showed her what being truly out of favor meant: outright rejection. Although Concubine Zheng was in the wrong just now, Master Shen had passed judgment without even inquiring into the full story. This could only mean that Master Shen had favored this new concubine from the very beginning.

Once Liu Qian'er understood this, her resolve to regain affection only hardened, and she began to scrutinize the new concubine again.

This new concubine, weeping, was now being comforted gently by Master Shen, who held her on his lap. Seeing this, a pang of bitterness struck Liu Qian'er. She had always thought Master Shen reserved such tenderness only for her; she hadn't expected him to act this way toward another woman.

Suppressing her inner ache, Liu Qian'er knew the priority was regaining favor, and she hadn't yet found her method. She looked back at the new concubine, determined to discover the secret to Master Shen’s affection.

To her surprise, as Liu Qian'er looked up, she saw the new concubine stop crying in Master Shen's embrace and subtly smile, her face devoid of sadness or timidity, instead showing a flicker of fierceness. Liu Qian'er thought she must have misread the sight, but she confirmed it was true. Furthermore, the new concubine maintained this fierce expression while continuously murmuring about how frightened she was and how unjustly treated she felt.

Liu Qian'er had never known a person's expression and words could be so utterly mismatched. The new concubine’s slightly hard look instantly melted into one of fragile innocence the moment Master Shen looked down at her.

Watching this, Aunt Liu seemed to grasp something, feeling she had found a thread to follow. Only after Master Shen and the new concubine had left did Liu Qian'er emerge with Zhu'er.

“Zhu’er, did you notice anything?” Liu Qian’er inquired.

“Mistress, Zhu’er is dull and failed to see it, but the new concubine’s face changed entirely in the Master’s arms. Do you think she was pretending when Concubine Zheng was still around?” Zhu’er had clearly noticed the change in expression.

“She probably was pretending before. Look at that expression; it doesn't suit someone who was just brought to tears. Both Concubine Zheng and the Master were likely deceived by her,” Liu Qian’er stated.

“Then did you figure out why she is so favored?” Zhu’er asked.

“I was just thinking, since she is such a good actress, she must be pretending to be exactly what the Master likes in her daily life. That means her usual demeanor is precisely what the Master desires,” Liu Qian’er explained.

“Oh, Mistress, I hadn't remembered until you mentioned it—your demeanor in the manor used to resemble this new concubine’s a bit,” Zhu’er suddenly remarked.

“Really?” Liu Qian'er asked uncertainly.

Zhu’er quickly nodded, “Really, really!”

Liu Qian'er smiled knowingly; now she was even more certain about the type of woman Master Shen favored.

Thus, by sheer chance, Liu Qian'er encountered Master Shen in the garden. She immediately adopted the new concubine’s expressions, weeping dramatically before him, alternating between professing how much she missed him and lamenting that she hadn't known her father would offend him, claiming she knew nothing of her family affairs since entering the Shen manor. The essence of her plea was clear: she was ignorant of her father’s offense and desperately missed Master Shen.

Master Shen, who was already inclined to vent his anger on Liu Qian'er, actually knew she was unconnected to the offense. Consequently, her tears quickly drew out his feelings of guilt. After soothing the heartbroken Liu Qian'er, Master Shen visited her quarters that very night, and Liu Qian'er regained his affection once more.

After Liu Qian'er deliberately molded herself into the type Master Shen favored, his affection for her deepened immeasurably. Thus, when she tearfully mentioned that she hadn't seen her own mother in a very long time, Master Shen swept his hand and dispatched servants to Wang Family Village to fetch Wang Guiying to the manor.

When the Shen manor carriage arrived, Wang Guiying was working at the old residence. Seeing the visitors from the Shen manor, she immediately felt a wave of relief. If the Shen manor sent someone to fetch her, her daughter must be doing reasonably well. However, she still had so much work left undone.

When Madam Tian saw the carriage from the Shen manor, she rushed forward to curry favor. Upon learning they were there to collect Wang Guiying, she immediately urged Wang Guiying to hurry along, offering to finish the remaining chores herself.

Wang Guiying was also anxious to see her daughter, so she did not refuse. After tidying up slightly, she boarded the carriage bound for the Shen manor.

Having visited once before, Wang Guiying was much calmer on this trip to the Shen manor, no longer appearing as apprehensive as the last time.

Upon seeing her daughter, Wang Guiying immediately asked about the concerns weighing on her mind, inquiring if something had happened to her daughter recently.

Liu Qian'er had only summoned her mother because she feared Wang Guiying would worry. Therefore, Liu Qian'er recounted how she had lost favor and subsequently regained it.

Upon hearing this, Wang Guiying erupted in anger, “Your Liu family has sold you out! You are severed from the Liu family now. And now your father tries to use you to gain money without lifting a finger? It's one thing for him to be disciplined for his own actions, but to involve you and cause you such suffering—it’s infuriating!”

“Mother, please don't be angry. It’s all in the past. Besides, the Master now believes I have no connection to the Liu family. Whatever the Liu family does from now on won't affect me,” Liu Qian'er soothed.

“That’s true; what those people do has nothing to do with you. My poor Qian'er, at least you won't be implicated anymore,” Wang Guiying replied.

“Won't be implicated? Mother, what do you mean...?” Liu Qian'er asked, puzzled.

“Your father gambled and fell into the clutches of loan sharks. Your grandfather, in order to repay the high interest, sold off all the family's land and valuables. Later, your grandfather, furious, beat your father and unexpectedly crippled his leg. Your father now stays home every day, never going out, just cursing constantly,” Wang Guiying sighed.

“Crippled? Grandfather struck him that hard?” Liu Qian'er asked.

“Isn’t that so? Remember, your grandfather sold everything the family owned; they don't even have land left. None of them possess any trade skills either. Who knows what they will rely on for food now?” Wang Guiying said.

Hearing the state of her family, Liu Qian'er didn't know how to react. She had never lived well even when at home, and then she was sold as a concubine by her family for fifty taels of silver; it was impossible not to resent them. Yet, hearing of their current plight brought a flicker of sympathy.

“Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother, and Father are like that now, should I perhaps...” Liu Qian'er didn't finish before Wang Guiying interrupted her.

“Absolutely not, Qian'er. If you help them now, they will feel they have a backer and stop thinking about supporting themselves. They will cling to you later. When they run out of money, they will come to you, and if you refuse them then, they will resent you instead of being grateful for your prior help,” Wang Guiying warned.

To Wang Guiying, her daughter was paramount. After everything she had endured, she could afford to treat the Liu family as if they didn't exist.

Liu Qian'er hesitated slightly.

Wang Guiying added, “Qian'er, think about why you were rejected by Master Shen this time. Aren’t you afraid that if you help them, such incidents will only multiply?”

The thought of her recent loss of favor made Liu Qian'er cast aside all softness. Indeed, it would be better than doing good only to earn resentment; facing Master Shen’s utter disdain would be the worst outcome.

Seeing she had successfully persuaded Liu Qian'er, Wang Guiying then discussed other trivial matters with her daughter. Afterward, taking some items Liu Qian'er had prepared for her, she boarded the carriage and returned to Wang Family Village.

When Madam Tian saw Wang Guiying return with more goods, her heart instantly fluttered with desire, but she hesitated, mindful of the Old Madam’s attitude.

Wang Guiying, recalling what Madam Tian had said to her last time, understood that Madam Tian did not truly welcome her stay. She suspected that if the Old Master and Old Madam weren't keeping a tight rein, Madam Tian would have certainly driven her out long ago. Therefore, Wang Guiying did not take everything back to her own room as she had last time; instead, she selected a few items to give to the residents of the old house. After all, she didn't care that much for material possessions; as long as her daughter was doing well, that was enough.

The Old Madam initially tried to intervene, but Wang Guiying’s stance was firm. Seeing she couldn't stop her, the Old Madam said no more, though her gaze, now fixed on Madam Tian, contained a measure of scrutiny that made Madam Tian extremely uneasy.

After distributing gifts to various members of the old house, Wang Guiying felt it would be improper to only give to the main family line, so she selected more items to give to the Second and Third Branches, nearly making Madam Tian blurt out a curse in her anger.

The Old Madam was naturally not pleased, but she reconsidered. The Second and Third Branches were living better than the main branch. In the future, when she and the Old Master were gone, her daughter might not be able to rely solely on the eldest branch. If Fang'er maintained good relations with the Second and Third Branches now, they might look after her more in the future, allowing the Old Madam to rest easy after her passing. Therefore, the Old Madam said nothing against it.