Shen Muqing is now most afraid that Li would bring up this matter, she hastily said: "How can we blame the madam......" The rest of her words, she couldn't say out loud.
Her intention at that time was to send Zhu Ji to the pharmacy to ask for a prescription, and she didn't plan to disturb many people. If it were like usual, how could such a thing happen! This is also why she felt guilty towards Chang Liu Niang in her heart.
It's a good thing that Li didn't wait for her explanation, and smiled: "In that case, in two days you'll go with me to the Tianqing Temple - Hu Furen is the abbot's nominal disciple, she invited me to have vegetarian food there. I haven't been at peace these few years, I want to take a look..."
Shen Mu Qing nodded busily.
When medicine is ineffective, ordinary people will seek divine help. As long as they don't blindly listen to monks and nuns, only worshiping Bodhisattvas without taking medicine, Shen Muqing thinks it's not a big deal. At least, there's spiritual support.
Li smiled with pleasure and ordered the people beside her to inform Wang Zongguan, and also asked the mothers to pack their things and go to the Hu Mansion to report. Li saw that things were almost arranged, and said to Shen Muqing: "In the past few days, there are guests at home, I have confined my niece in the house, she doesn't say anything with her mouth, but I'm afraid she still has some resentment towards me in her heart. You go tell her, that man named Ren has come, and I am blocking him. Let her be obedient, don't think about running out all the time, also, remind the people at home a few words, don't let them leak anything."
Shen Mu nodded slightly, and Li said again: "Lin Jincai has only known this surname Ren for two months, but he dares to help him speak good words in a roundabout way. This surname Ren is probably not an honest person either. You should be on your guard!"
Shen Muqing nodded and then went to Shen Yuerong's place.
Shen Yue heard that the one with the surname Ren had arrived, and was so scared that her face turned white. Then she heard that Mrs. Li wanted her to stay in the house and not go out, and she nodded repeatedly. The mother of the one with the surname Huang even pulled Shen Muqing along, saying: "Everything depends on you, miss."
Shen Mu Qing didn't want to linger any longer and bid farewell after saying a few words.
Because Shen Zhen had gone to court, and there was a big commotion yesterday, there were no guests at home. Nevertheless, Shen Muqing was still very busy, the outer kitchen needed to be settled, some valuable items at home needed to be stored, and the inner and outer courtyards needed to be thoroughly cleaned... She was busy until the time of lighting the lamps, before going to pay her respects to Li Shi.
When he left, Li had not eaten yet.
Shen Mu Qing angrily said: "You usually don't exercise, and you eat late at night, be careful not to accumulate food."
"Originally wanted to wait for Master to come back and eat together, but suddenly said something came up and didn't come back to eat."
Shen Mu Qing sat down at the edge of the kang and offered a cup of water to Li Shi, smiling: "Master has just been promoted, I'm afraid he'll be even busier from now on. It's better for you not to wait."
"Li nodded: 'Where did you eat?'"
"I haven't eaten yet!" Shen Muqing reported the situation to Li Shi, then asked Zhuji to bring out the black lacquer box with gold trim and the key and token, "It seems like nothing's wrong, please take these things, madam."
Li said with a smile: "If you can take care of things when they happen, why not when nothing is happening? You just take charge of family matters!"
Shen Muqing was slightly surprised, but thinking of Mrs. Li's physical condition, she hesitated for a moment and put the gold-inlaid black lacquer box away: "Wait until spring arrives and Madame's body is better, I'll return it to her then, it won't be late!"
Chen Yiniang, who had been standing behind Li's back all along, suddenly raised her head and took a glance at Shen Muqing before quickly lowering her eyelids again.
Mr. Li smiled and nodded, looking at the people around him: "If there's anything in the future, just go back to the girl!"
Everyone in the room knelt down and respectfully replied "yes".
Li nodded in satisfaction and kept Shen Muqing, calling the maid to serve dinner.
After dinner, Shen Muqing accompanied Li Shi and chatted for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, they were about to leave when Shen Zhen returned.
Everyone had taken their seats, Shen Zhen changed his clothes under the service of Chen Niang and sat down opposite Li Shi, took a sip of the fragrant tea and smiled: "Why are we having dinner so late today?"
Li smiled and said: "Waiting for Mu Qing!"
Shen Zhen raised an eyebrow in puzzlement.
Mr. Li slightly exaggeratedly told the story of Shen Muqing's housekeeping for the past few days: "……I handed over the keys and nameplate to her, letting her temporarily help with management, so that when I'm in charge myself in the future, there will be a precedent."
"What family has come to propose a marriage?"
Shen Mu Qing saw that the topic involved her own marriage, and she pretended to be shy, lowering her head while perking up her ears to listen.
"Mustn't one make early arrangements just because no one has proposed?" said Li with a smile.
"It is." Shen Zhen smiled and glanced at his daughter who was standing behind Li with her head down, "If there's a good one, you can also pay attention."
"That's natural!" Mr. Li said with a smile, and then heard Shen Zhen say: "Yesterday, Liu Ju thought of making an ice man for the eldest grandson of Ru Xue Shi, the original Hanlin Academy..."
Mr. Li coughed heavily and said loudly: "Mu Qing, you've been working hard these past few days, get some rest early!"
Shen Zhen also reacted and smiled awkwardly at his daughter.
Shen Muqing knew that the couple was going to discuss their own marriage, so he hastily bowed and retreated, also instructing Luo Mei: "Think of a way to find out what Madame and Master said!"
Luo Mei's face was tense as she responded and left.
Shen Muqing did not reject the idea of marrying someone chosen by her parents, at least everyone's living environment was similar and communication would be easier to understand. However, she also wouldn't put her marriage completely in her parents' hands, at the very least she had to confirm that the person she married was a good person.
It was a while before Plum Blossom returned: "I asked the lady and Orange Fragrance, who serves her. Although Master and Mistress have mentioned the young lady's marriage, they both think she is still too young, so let's take our time to choose a good one, it won't be late in two years. However, Fourth Young Lady's marriage has been settled."
"Is it the elder sister's?" It is indeed true that flowers do not bloom when intentionally planted, but a willow tree grows into shade without being tended to. Without hearing any news about herself, she instead heard news about Shen Yuerong. "What did Master and Mistress say?"
Lu Mei's face turned a bit pale, saying: "Today the old master came back late, it was because he was stopped by that man with the surname Ren at the door. That man with the surname Ren also didn't know what he said to the old master, but the old master saw him in the flower hall and even had dinner with him."
This is terrible! However, after just one meeting, they can already mix into the Shen family's flower hall for dinner. Moreover, this also explains that Ren's heart is not pure. Otherwise, Shen Yuesong is not a stunning beauty, why would Ren go to such great lengths to form an alliance with her?
Shen Mu Qing said: "The old master didn't go back to have dinner with his wife, it turned out he was accompanying that man surnamed Ren!"
Luo Mei nodded slightly.
"What happened afterwards?"
The old master said to his wife, "This Miss Ren is a good match for the fourth daughter. Don't wrong her. Let's talk to the fourth daughter tomorrow and send her back to Taicang after the New Year."
I didn't expect things would turn out this way.
Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Shen Yue's marriage was escaped by Bai.
At this time there was nothing to say, Shen Mu Qing quietly followed Zhen Yu's instructions and rested.
Yingfen and Mingxia pulled Luomei into the western wing room to talk: "Didn't Master and Mistress really mention Miss's marriage?"
"Orange fragrance said, really didn't say."
The Englishman curled his lip: "How can you believe what that little hoof says."
The fallen plum blossoms revealed their rare and subtle beauty.
Ming Xia's expression turned gloomy: "I said, how did so many little maids suddenly enter... it seems they are prepared as dowry maids for the young lady. Ying Fen sister, what do you plan to do?"
Ying's expression was somewhat unwilling: "If the person Madam has chosen is good, I will marry him and spend my days with him. If the person she has chosen is not good, I will ask to be excused and serve as a maid for Miss for the rest of my life."
"Don't be reckless!" Luomei's expression was tense, "It's easy to say, but hard to do."
Ying Feng smiled coldly: "Sister still doesn't know how I came to the Shen family!"
Plum blossoms fall, and I am taken aback for a moment.
"My family only had four or five mu of paddy fields, barely enough to make ends meet. Because my mother gave birth to six daughters and no sons, my father quarreled with my mother about hiring someone to bear a son. Our family couldn't afford the money, so my father sold off the three eldest daughters... I was that third daughter."
Luo Mei and Ming Xia were shocked.
Her eyebrows were slightly raised, and her expression was somewhat sharp: "You look at the old master again. The mistress suffered a lot for him, one son and daughter died one after another, but what was the result? It's still because of having a son that he took a concubine... This is the glory of the first assistant's wife, this family property that has been struggling for a lifetime, isn't it still in the hands of those who are greedy for power and profit?"
Plum Blossom suddenly covered Ying Fen's mouth: "Quickly, don't say anything!"
******
The next day, Shen Muqing got up early and paid his respects to Li after which he made an excuse that he had to prepare some things for the temple tomorrow and left for An Garden.
After a while, chaos erupted from the direction of Chaoxitang.
Shen Mu Qing let Ying Fen take all the maids, daughters-in-law and rough servant women of An Yuan into custody in the garden, not allowing them to go out.
It wasn't until almost noon that it finally subsided over there.
Shen Mu let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly went to see Madame Li.
The courtyard of Chaoxi Hall was quiet, and all the maids and daughters-in-law stood silently under the eaves.
Shen Mu Qing entered the house and saw Li Shi lying on the large kang by the window in the west wing, looking exhausted.
She was somewhat regretful. She shouldn't have avoided this matter and let Li alone face it.
Mr. Li was unmoved: "This is also an expected thing."
"Has sister said why she doesn't agree with this marriage?"
Li sighed and said: "It's unbearable for Ren to be her superior."
Also, I think when her mother was alive she also suffered a lot from this concubine.
"Then, madam, what are you going to do?"
Li was just about to speak when Chunyi, who had been sent by Li to attend Shen Yuerong, suddenly rushed in.
"Madam, madam, it's terrible! Fourth Miss has hanged herself!"
Everyone was shocked.
Li was supporting himself on the kang table and was about to get up, but as soon as he moved a little, his body leaned back and he fell onto the kang.
For a moment, everyone panicked.
The closest attendants, including Orange, Emerald and Madame Chen, rushed over, surrounding Madam Li on all sides, shouting "Milady! Milady!" in a chaotic chorus.
The spring intent was even more two legs one soft, just paralyzed on the ground.
I'm so curious, working day and night like this, I'm exhausted but feel very fulfilled... could it be that I was born to be a hard worker (@_@)~!!!!!!!