His Transmigrated Cannon Fodder Fiancé

Shen Ziqiao slept and totally forgot about the time. She ended up waking up the next morning.

She was in a deep sleep and kept on dreaming, dreaming about random things. She dreamed of her life in the modern world for a while, and then it changed into her being choked to death by Sheng Peiyin. This caused her to be startled awake, her forehead covered in sweat.

“Ah, you’re finally awake. I thought you were going to sleep for another day.” Shen Ziqiao just opened her eyes to see a refreshing and beautiful face swaying in front of her and teasing.

Shen Ziqiao rubbed her droopy eyes before seeing Shen Zixin.

“Fourth Sister, why did you come?” She looked at the sky outside. It was actually late morning already.

“I’ve come to look for you several times already. You were in a deep sleep though. You must’ve been exhausted from being in the palace the last few days, right?” Shen Zixin smiled and asked, telling Hong Yu to come in and serve Shen Ziqiao.

Not only was she exhausted, but she was also frightened to death.

By the time Shen Ziqiao walked behind the screen to change her clothes, she just found out that her back was drenched in sweat. She could hear Shen Zixin’s voice ringing from outside.

“What did you dream of when you fell asleep? When I came in, I heard you saying Third Miss Sheng’s name, and saying something along the lines of not wanting to be framed...and something like cannon fodder. What do these mean?”

Hearing this, Shen Ziqiao was completely speechless. Sheng Peiyin was her nightmare now?

She even called out her name. Thankfully, Shen Zixin couldn’t understand.

“Oh, did I say that? I don’t even remember…” Shen Ziqiao replied moodily in a low voice. She did forget what she had dreamed of.

Shen Zixin laughed carelessly, asking about Shen Ziqiao’s days in the palace.

“...I carried the little imperial grandson in my arms and fed him water, and played with him too. The little imperial grandson is very cute, like a little bun.” Shen Ziqiao changed into a jadeite-colored branched design dress and walked out. She looked at her sleeves and hem of her dress, saying to Hong Yu, “Hong Yu, did I grow up? Or did this dress shrink in size?”

“Of course Third Miss grew up.” Hong Yu softly smiled. “Change your outfit. This one is from last year.”

Shen Ziqiao was unwilling to put herself through the work again. After all, she didn’t plan on going out. “Nevermind, I’ll just keep wearing this one.”

“Jiao Jiao is a big girl now.” Glancing at the beautiful and elegant Shen Ziqiao, Shen Zixin covered her mouth and chuckled. “You can’t act so impudent when you leave the house in the future.”

“Little girl, you dare to teach me a lesson!” Shen Ziqiao pretended to scold her coquettishly. She lifted her brows, making her appear handsome.

Shen Zixin glanced at Shen Ziqiao’s bipolarness. Sighing, she said, “Jiao Jiao, you look really beautiful.”

“Of course I’m beautiful.” Shen Ziqiao accepted the compliment. “Ah, I’m done talking to you for now. I’m so hungry.”

Taking advantage of Shen Ziqiao eating right now, Shen Zixin glanced at Hong Yu and Lady Meng. She knew that they were Shen Ziqiao’s trusted aides, so she placed away her casual expression and lowered her voice as she said, “Once you’re done eating, go to Old Madam’s place.”

Lady Meng looked at Shen Zixin in a worried expression.

However, Shen Ziqiao hadn’t detected Shen Zixin’s strangeness. Instead, her attention was on filling her stomach. She mumbled and replied, “Old Madam will definitely be unhappy to see me. Therefore, I won’t go and show myself. That’d prevent her from getting angry too, and sentencing me for being unfilial.”

“Third Miss!” Lady Meng hurriedly stopped Shen Ziqiao from continuing. She shouldn’t mention some things in front of people.

“Don’t always think like this. We’re both granddaughters of the Shen Family. Why wouldn’t the Old Madam like you? It’s just because you have an unyielding personality and refuse to praise the Old Madam. Jiao Jiao, you should know better than to fight against her. Uncle is protecting you right now, but what will happen once he gets remarried?” Shen Zixin lowered her voice and exclaimed.

Shen Ziqiao froze and hurriedly swallowed the congee in her mouth. “What remarriage?”

“You still don’t know?” Shen Zixin froze as well. She thought that Shen Ziqiao would at least know. “I heard from my mother that Old Madam is planning to betroth Chen Family’s cousin to uncle…”

Chen Family? Shen Ziqiao had no memory of her. She didn’t remember Shen Xiao remarrying a woman whose surname is Chen...

“Isn’t it Liu Family’s young lady?” She quite like Liu Yunmeng. If it was her, she’d approve of it.

“It’s Old Madam’s maiden home’s relative.” Shen Zixin said in a hushed tone. Although mother said that Jiao Jiao can’t know about this, this is important to Jiao Jiao. If she didn’t say it now, she might regret it in the future.

How many of the old woman’s relatives are actually good? Shen Ziqiao’s mood was ruined. She placed her spoon down and said, “I’m going to ask my father.”

Lady Meng hurriedly stopped her and exclaimed, “Third Miss, the Lord hasn’t told you about this so he probably doesn’t want you to know. Fourth Miss is just reminding you out of kind intention. Remember to not expose her. Instead…”

“I know. Fourth Sister, thank you for telling me this.” It seems like some things had happened when she wasn’t home for the past few days.

Shen Zixin hadn’t finished her words. That Chen Family’s young lady had her eyes above her head and thought highly of herself. She had fortunately met the young lady once when she returned to her grandmother’s family. She was provoked by Chen Family’s young lady’s arrogance, and she didn’t want to see her a second time anymore.

Not only did she think highly of herself, she was also very dominant. She refused to have anyone go against her. If she did become her ‘mother’ in the future, Shen Family’s days would probably worsen.

Of course, that sucked the most for Jiao Jiao.

Shen Zixin always pitied Jiao Jiao, her cousin. Therefore, she would secretly remind Shen Ziqiao of many things while making sure that Zhou doesn’t find out.

Father had said that she should help Jiao Jiao whenever she could. After all, she shouldn’t let this girl who lost her mother at a young age suffer even more.

Right now, Chen Family’s young miss was at mother’s place. She was scared of Shen Ziqiao rushing over and driving her out. Therefore, she didn’t dare to say anything.

When Shen Ziqiao arrived at the study, she coincidentally encountered Shen Zikai who also came to look for Shen Xiao.

The siblings were stunned to see each other.

“Elder Brother, you’re here to look for father too?” Shen Ziqiao smiled and asked. She couldn’t bear to let her elder brother go to the northwest next month.

Shen Zikai looked pamperingly at his sister and lowered his voice, “I’m here to discuss some matters with father. You? Why are you looking for father?”

“Oh, I’m here to ask if father is going to find a stepmother for me.” Shen Ziqiao didn’t even bother to put consideration in her words. She just said it bluntly.

Shen Zikai froze as a result. He almost couldn’t process the words. He knitted his brows and looked at her. “Where did you get this information from?”

Only the Old Madam and Second Aunt, and a few others knew about this. In order to keep Shen Ziqiao from finding out, even the servants weren’t informed. Even he… father had just mentioned it yesterday.

“So it seems like it’s true. Elder Brother, father really wants to get remarried?” Shen Xiao didn’t seem like the type to be attracted to beauty. The three concubines in the family were like decorations. She hadn’t seen him go to the concubines that much either. Why did he suddenly agree?

Shen Zikai said, “It’s been many years, and it’s not good for the family to not have a proper madam. Even more, you’re still unmarried. It’s better if you have a mother to take care of you than us two men.”

It was impossible to depend on the Old Madam to do everything for Jiao Jiao.

“Then… have you seen Chen Family’s young miss?” Shen Ziqiao asked.

“No, I heard she’s at Second Aunt’s place. I haven’t seen her yet.” Shen Zikai said.

Shen Ziqiao’s pitch-black eyes brightened. She turned and walked, while giving Shen Zikai a look. “I’m going to take a look and tell you about it when I’m back.”

“Don’t mess around.” Shen Zikai hurriedly said.

“I won’t, I won’t. I’m just going to take a look.” Shen Ziqiao said happily.

She arrived at the second concubine’s room. Shen Zixin was talking to Madam Zhou. She didn’t bother to hide her disgust when she heard that Shen Ziqiao was coming.

Shen Zixin personally went to welcome Shen Ziqiao in.

“Why did you come?” She asked Shen Ziqiao in a soft voice.

“You’re really not a good friend. You didn’t even tell me that Lady Chen is in our home. I want to come and take a look.” Shen Ziqiao pinched Shen Zixin’s shoulders, and purposely pouted.

Shen Zixin lowered her head, feeling guilty. Quickly, she said coquettishly, “I’m just scared that you’ll be impudent. After all, Old Madam invited her over. You can’t just drive her away.”

“Am I that sort of person?” Shen Ziqiao humphed. She wouldn’t act like a shrew.

It wasn’t like she hadn’t done that before… Shen Zixin said silently inside her heart.

The two already entered the room. Madam Zhou was leaning against the kang stove bed by the window. She saw Shen Ziqiao entering, but she didn’t bother to look at her. Instead, she fiddled with the golden bracelet on her wrist. “What a rare guest. Third Miss normally disdains coming to my place. How do you have the time to come today?”

Shen Ziqiao smiled and said, “I’m here to visit Second Aunt. You don’t welcome me?”

“You’re a busy person. Why wouldn’t I welcome you when you’re making time to come visit me?” Madam Zhou exclaimed mockingly.

“No matter how busy I am, I need to come.” Shen Ziqiao smiled as she said this. She sat by the tutor chair, observing the arrangements of the room.

There was a small coffee table with plum designs by the kang stove bed. There were vases of fresh flowers inserted on top. Towards the south, there was a row of racks, each one holding antiques and vases of flowers. By the two sides of the room were four tutor chairs. There was a pinkish cushion with flower design on each chair. The room was the portrayal of luxury and wealth.

Shen Ziqiao smiled. The arrangements here were quite similar to the Old Madam’s place.

She still needs Pan Madam’s dowry to subsidize the second concubine? That old woman was really biased. Or maybe, the items in this room belonged to the Pan Madam from the start?

Watching Shen Ziqiao observe her room, Madam Zhou felt a bit embarrassed. She had no choice but to put on a front. “Why exactly are you here?”

“Didn’t I say that I’m here to chat with Second Aunt and Fourth Sister? I’m bored in my room alone. Plus, I brought some food from the palace for the Second Aunt to try.” When she left the palace yesterday, the empress rewarded her with some delicious food.

Humph, she’s clearly her to brag! Madam Zhou humphed in disdain lightly. “Many thanks to you then.”

Shen Ziqiao laughed. “You’re welcome. After all, I can’t finish eating it.”

So she’s only bringing the leftovers over? Madam Zhou’s face darkened.

A maid coincidentally reported that Second Miss Chen was here.

Shen Ziqiao was delighted inside. The time was finally here.