Matriarch Rules, Scumbag Begs - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Unnecessary Favors

The next day was the seventh day after Shen Qiuci’s elder sister’s passing. After a simple morning makeup, she was about to head to her mother’s home for a memorial.

In the courtyard, she ran into Pei Yuanzhou, who had just finished administering medicine to Xue Yinshuang.

“You’re going out so early?”

Shen Qiuci walked straight out without paying attention to him.

Pei Yuanzhou followed behind her, showing unusual attentiveness,

“With the new snow last night, the road is muddy and difficult to walk on. I prepared a carriage, originally to buy medicine for Shuang’er. Since you’re going out, you can use it first.”

After speaking, he muttered softly, “So that others won’t see you, the Eldest wife of the Marquis Mansion, walking in the snow and gossiping about me favoring my concubine over my wife.”

As the mansion gate opened, Shen Qiuci’s gaze fell on the carriage parked to the side.

The coachman took out the step and placed it in front of the carriage door, bowing and smiling at Shen Qiuci with an inviting gesture.

Shen Qiuci glanced at Pei Yuanzhou, didn’t say anything, and got into the carriage with Xia Shang’s support.

“Go to the Shen Mansion.”

The carriage slowly passed through the long street, the wheels rolling over the snow, making a soft “creaking” sound.
Inside the carriage, Xia Shang handed the warmed hot water bottle to Shen Qiuci, saying softly:

“I’ve never seen the Heir show so much concern for the eldest lady. He’s only thinking of her now because his source of wealth is cut off, and he’s trying to curry favor.”

Shen Qiuci lowered her eyes, her voice cold as she asked:

“Was this coachman familiar with the elder sister?”

Xia Shang thought for a moment and said: “The eldest miss rarely went out when she was in the Marquis Mansion, and only during the second day of the new year when she would return to her parents’ home, would the Shen Mansion’s carriage come to pick her up. She had little contact with the Marquis Mansion’s coachmen in daily life.”

Shen Qiuci looked at her, “So why did the coachman immediately invite me to get on the carriage when I came out with Pei Yuanzhou? Didn’t Pei Yuanzhou say this carriage was for him?”

Xia Shang looked at Shen Qiuci’s gaze and was taken aback, “You think there’s something wrong with the coachman?”

She suddenly lifted the curtain, looking at the streets rushing by outside, and panicked, “Miss! This isn’t the way back to the Shen Mansion!”

She wanted to shout to the coachman to stop, but Shen Qiuci stopped her, “No need.”

Shen Qiuci peeked out the window, her lips curling into a faint smile,

“The capital’s west is connected to many roads, no matter which wrong turn he takes, it won’t affect our safe return home.”
Compared to Shen Qiuci’s calmness, Xia Shang was anxious and her face was red.

After leaving the Hou Mansion, it would be a big trouble if something unexpected happened to just the two of them, weak women.

Just as she was getting anxious, suddenly, the carriage’s speed gradually slowed down and finally came to a complete stop.

Xia Shang saw that they were in front of the Ministry of Rites Minister’s mansion, and for some reason, a crowd of people had gathered in front of the gate, blocking the road completely.

She took advantage of the crowd and immediately pulled Shen Qiuci down from the carriage.

The coachman saw this and asked anxiously: “Why did the Eldest wife get down in this cold weather?”

“How dare you ask?” Xia Shang said impatiently: “Is this the way back to the Shen Mansion?”

The coachman explained: “Today is market day on Chunyang Street, and the road is crowded. I chose to take the Huajing Road, thinking that although it’s a detour, it’s smoother and we’ll arrive faster.”

He looked at the sea of people gathered in front of the Minister’s mansion, scratching his head, “I just don’t know why so many people are gathered here.”

“You’re still saying? You’re clearly…”

Shen Qiuci stopped Xia Shang, then smiled and said to the coachman:

“It’s blocked up ahead, and the carriage can’t move anyway. It’s only about a mile to the Shen Mansion from here, so I’ll just walk and take a look. You can go back now.”

With that, she pulled Xia Shang into the crowd.