Chapter 57 Complete Binding

"Heh."

Dou Hongyan offered a faint smile.

Leisurely, she said, "When Heng'er was three years old, he had already finished learning the *Three Character Classic*, the *Thousand Character Classic*. Master Wang originally wanted to teach Shun'er and the others something else, but after testing them, he discovered they hadn't even finished reading the most basic primers."

"That was why he had no choice but to change the curriculum and lay a foundation for them."

This was an overt and covert jab at Liu Xin'er.

She and Shen Yishu had spent many years away, indulging in romance and leisure; when had they ever truly cared for their children?

Whenever children were mentioned, they would only say with unwarranted confidence that this was Shen Yishu's bloodline and it couldn't possibly be bad... yet who didn't know that Shen Yishu back then was actually useless, a piece of mud that could not be plastered onto a wall.

Unable to keep her composure, Liu Xin'er forced an awkward laugh and urged Shen Yishu to leave.

However, the three boys, who had been completely devoid of enthusiasm upon arrival, now refused to leave.

They were green with envy that Erya could actually have a luxurious courtyard all to herself, along with so many servants in tow. This was what they had imagined life back at the Marquis Manor would be like.

Instead of continuing to crowd into the Listening Rain Garden with everyone else.

The looks the boys cast at Dou Hongyan became even more eager, as they recalled how any casual greeting gift she had given them in the past was a treasured item praised even by their tutors.

If she were to leak a bit more money...

Exchanging glances, they dutifully greeted Dou Hongyan together, hoping to win her favor. "First Madam manages the household so well, and everything you give Erya is so prestigious."

"That's right, that's right, Erya looks just like a fairy from heaven."

The few of them chimed in all at once. Shen Yishu hadn't cared much at first, but after listening for a few more moments, he too grew interested.

A thought crossed his mind.

Although the Emperor had graciously permitted the Marquis Manor to inherit the peerage, he had yet to receive any imperial favor himself; it was about time he had Dou Hongyan spend some money to sound things out.

He urged, "I've been back for so long, it's unreasonable for me not to inherit the peerage yet. Shouldn't you spend some money to probe the Emperor's intentions?"

Alarm bells rang fiercely in Dou Hongyan's heart.

She cast a chilly glance at the brazen Shen Yishu, a rising sense of displeasure swelling within her.

Even now, he still hadn't recognized his own standing and actually wanted to contend with Heng'er for the Marquis Manor's peerage.

"What? Is there some difficulty?" Shen Yishu's voice dropped a fraction.

Dou Hongyan turned away indifferently and remarked casually, "How could we possibly fathom the Emperor's thoughts? I have already sent people to make arrangements ahead of time; when the time comes, there will naturally be news."

"That's good..."

A pair of hands gently rested upon Dou Hongyan's back.

Believing he should grant Dou Hongyan some reward, Shen Yishu placed his hands upon her shoulders with an intimate posture. "It's getting late, we should head back to rest. I've neglected you these past few days—"

Before he could finish, his unruly hands were shoved away without a word by a cold-faced Dou Hongyan.

"I am feeling unwell; Husband should just return to the Listening Rain Garden. I am not to be pitied."

Her tone was icy as she stiffly brushed Shen Yishu off, filled with revulsion and disgust.

Without looking back, she left and frowned as she instructed Liuyun to prepare bathwater. The spot on her shoulder where Shen Yishu had touched felt as though it had been tainted by something filthy.

It left one feeling profoundly uncomfortable.

Liuyun poured water over Dou Hongyan's waterfall-like hair and asked softly, "Since Elder Master brought it up again, if you continue to stall, I'm afraid he won't let the matter rest easily."

"No need to worry." Dou Hongyan closed her eyes, her figure obscured by the shimmering water.

Curving her red lips with absolute certainty, she said, "Someone will care about this even more than I do. The one who most desperately wants Shen Yishu to rise to prominence right now is probably Gu Zhaozhao; she is just aching for me and Shen Yishu to be thoroughly bound together in the eyes of the world."