Mrs Shen rose abruptly, glaring at him defensively, "Elder Li, Li'er is sick. She just attempted suicide this morning. Does it please you to upset her further?! How can you blame her for their mischievousness?"
Old Madam Li scoffed quietly, stepping closer to the bed and eyeing Shen Li's pale face without sympathy, "Suicide?" she said coldly, "How dramatic, no wonder you are the best actress! And for what? Because two children cried over her cruelty?"
"Mother…" Shen Li's voice trembled pathetically as she forced her eyes open, tears shimmering, "I didn't mean to… I didn't… I only wanted them to understand discipline… to respect me… they misunderstood everything…"
Old Madam Li's eyes narrowed sharply, "Discipline? Is that what you call it?" Her voice was frigid, dripping with contempt, "You have always been skilled at playing the victim, Shen Li. Even now, lying in this bed, I see nothing has changed."
"Enough," Old Master Li interjected with a heavy sigh, rubbing his temple tiredly as he turned to Mr Shen, "Where are my grandsons now?"
Mr Shen raised his chin stiffly, "They are in their rooms, but you have to understand this, Elder Li, your daughter-in-law is your family's responsibility. Don't blame her for disciplining your spoiled grandsons."
"Watch your words," Old Master Li warned with quiet, lethal calm. He turned to his son, who still stood silently by the window, his face hard as stone.
"Li Feng."
"Father."
"I don't care about what you do with her," Old Master Li said firmly, gesturing dismissively at Shen Li, "But if those boys ever call me again crying like they did today, I will take them away from this house myself. I'm capable of bringing them up by myself!"
Li Feng's dark eyes flickered with something unreadable before settling back into cold indifference, "Do as you wish."
Old Madam Li's lips curled in disgust as she gave Shen Li one final disdainful glance, "Pathetic," she whispered under her breath before turning away.
As their footsteps faded down the hallway, Shen Li lay trembling in bed, her tears soaking her pillow. Mrs Shen quickly stroked her hair, cooing softly, "Don't listen to them, Li'er… you are the real Madam Li. They will see it soon enough."
But beneath her pitiful sobs, Shen Li's eyes gleamed with poisonous resolve.
Shen Li sniffled softly, burying her tear-streaked face deeper into the pillows as her mother continued to stroke her hair lovingly.
"Mom… why… why do they hate me so much…?" she whispered hoarsely, her voice trembling with pain and concealed fury, "Even Old Madam Li… she never liked me… never… what did I ever do wrong…?"
Mrs Shen's eyes darkened as she held her daughter's cold hand tightly, "It's their loss if they don't see your importance, Li'er. You have always been too good for them. That old woman has never liked anyone except her dead favourite, Shen Ruyi. But look where that girl ended up, in ashes and dust."
Shen Li's breathing hitched at the mention of Shen Ruyi, her heart squeezing painfully with buried hatred and twisted satisfaction. Her mother's voice lowered to a poisonous hiss.
"You listen to me carefully," Mrs Shen continued, leaning down close to her ear, "No matter what they say or do, you will remain here as Madam Li. They can humiliate you, but they cannot remove you without destroying their own family's reputation. Hold your place firmly."
Shen Li closed her eyes, fresh tears dripping down her temples as she nodded faintly against the pillow.
"Yes… I know, Mother… I know… I will never leave this house… no matter what they do to me… I will never leave."