Two days later, early in the morning, Shen Muqing's bedroom had just lit up, and Liang Jimin was already standing there.

  She heard Ying Fen laugh and say: "Third Master is up so early! Third Madame and Second Miss haven't gotten up yet! Would you like to sit down and have a cup of tea?"

  "No need." Liang Jimei's voice was somewhat tense. "I just have a few words to ask San Shao Nai about our country's Zijian Monitor and several of my fellow students who made an appointment to go to Lin Jiu's house for New Year's greetings, I want to leave early."

  Shen Mu Qing instructed the steps of Yue beside him: "Tell Third Young Master that I'll be fine soon!"

  Yuè stepped out in response to the sound, and Shen Mu Qing stood in front of the mirror, gently stroking her raven-black hair, smiling at Ming Xia: "Braid a peony bun for me!"

  Ming Xia was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "The young master is still waiting outside, why don't you braid a bun..."

  "Today is the fourth day of Lunar New Year," Shen Mu said calmly, looking left and right in front of the mirror, "You always say I dress too plainly, don't you? Today, let me show off my skills."

  Ming Xuan looked at Ying Fen, who was helping Shen Muqing match her clothes, with a hint of unease.

  Ying furrowed her brow and blinked her eyes, making a "do whatever you want" expression.

  Ming Xia's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she responded with a "yes".

  The quiet and peaceful atmosphere has been restored. Outside, it is already broad daylight.

  She smiled and bowed to Ji Min. Liang Ji Min hastily came over: "Did you see an old fan in my room?"

  Shen Mu Qing called out to Ming Xia, "Give the fan cover I gave you yesterday to Third Master." Turning around with a smile, she said, "It's just an old fan cover. Look at how anxious Husband is."

  Liang Jimin was taken aback for a moment, and then his expression changed in an instant. He muttered to himself: "I like that style. Prepare to make another one according to it."

  "Oh!" Shen Mu's eyes sparkled like stars. "Since we're going to make another one, my embroidery skills in the house are also top-notch." Then she called out to Ming Xia. "Don't return that template for now, let's make a new one according to it. We'll send both the old and new ones to Third Young Master together later. Husband, what do you think?"

  Liang Jimin murmured for a while before responding in a mosquito-like voice with a single word: "Good".

  "Rest assured, rest assured, I won't lose this set. Speaking of which, I was just about to ask you, sir, who embroidered this set? The embroidery is so well done. Now that spring has begun, it's time to make spring clothes, and it would be perfect to invite her over to make a few sets for me."

  Li Qiming frowned slightly: "Your own embroidery skills are also top-notch, let alone bringing a maid and daughter-in-law over, why bother asking someone to do needlework and ruin your reputation?"

  "What Mr. Xiang said makes sense!" Shen Muqing gazed at Liang Jimin, her smile as radiant as peach blossoms in full bloom in March.

  ******

  On New Year's Day, go back to your hometown; on the second day of the new year, visit relatives' homes; and on the third day, everyone goes to their wife's family. After these three days, people can move around freely.

  On the fourth day, Liang Jimin and his classmates went to Lin's house to pay their respects for the new year. On the fifth day, Shen went to Zhang's old house, and on the sixth day, he was taken to the Jinwang Palace by the imperial son-in-law. On the seventh day, the Wei family next door invited Liang Jimin and his brother to drink wine. On the eighth day, Liu Jin came to the mansion as a guest, and Liang Jimin accompanied him in place of his father... During this busy time, Shen Muqing would spend every day visiting with Madame Taifu and Fengshi after dinner, then take a stroll with Liang Youhui in the flower garden or return to Cuicuiyuan to do needlework, enjoying her leisure.

  Before long, it was Shen Muqing's birthday on the ninth day of the first month.

  Shen Muqing opened her eyes, and Luomei and Zhuji led the young maids to pay their respects and wish her a happy birthday. Shen Muqing smiled and accepted their greetings, giving each of them a small silver ingot worth eight cents.

  Yingfen and Mingxia brought over the longevity noodles.

  Liang Youhui, who was woken up, hastily shouted at Danzhu: "Quickly bring me the things I'm going to give to Third Aunt."

  Dan Zhu smiled all over her face and nodded, taking out a large red-based stone lotus gray mouse hair cloak: "This was embroidered by our second aunt for Third Young Madam."

  Ming Xia took over the cloak, Shen Mu Qing smiled and thanked Liang You Hui, inviting her and Dan Zhu to eat longevity noodles together.

  Danzhu smiled and declined with a hint of embarrassment.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said, "You two girls are with me every day, this cloak is definitely someone's handiwork, I can tell." As she spoke, she hugged Liang You Hui who was pouting, "However, one has the intention, the other has the skill, I appreciate both."

  The two of them burst out laughing at what was said.

  Ying Fan then pressed the danzhu onto a small brocade cushion beside her: "Our young lady's birthday has never been one for formalities. Whoever comes to pay their respects will receive silver ingots and longevity noodles."

  Dan Zhu followed Liang You Hui and had been by Shen Mu Qing's side for many days, knowing that Shen Mu Qing was a person without many taboos. Moreover, with the intention of getting along well with her, her courage gradually grew. Hearing what Ying Fen said today, she immediately seized her verbal mistake: "Good, Sister Ying Fen usually scolds people fiercely, but today you also have times when you say something wrong."

  Suddenly felt a little dazed.

  Dan Zhu smiled: "Your family's daughter is now our family's third young madam...... Sister, you spoke incorrectly."

  "You little rascal!" Yingfen laughed and went forward to pinch Danzhu's ear.

  Dan Zhu quickly hid behind Shen Mu Qing's back: "Third Young Mistress, save me! Ying Fen sister is bullying me!"

  Everyone was giggling and watching them make funny faces.

  Liáng Yòu Huì pushed Shen Mù Qīng beside her: "Look, look, even my maid has been won over by you!"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said:

  Ming Xia even rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find that embroidered Shu brocade skirt of mine for you, how could you forget it in the blink of an eye!

  Liang Youhui smiled and went to push Shen Muqing away.

  For a moment, the room was filled with laughter and chatter, which also startled Liang Jimin.

  Liang Youhui insisted on Liang Jimin sending gifts to Shen Muqing.

  Li Jiemin's expression flashed with embarrassment: "I didn't know beforehand and didn't have time to prepare..."

  Liang Youhui refused, and Shen Qing helped him out of the predicament: "Early in the morning, you let him change a gift somewhere!"

  Everyone in the room looked at Shen Mu covering his mouth and smiling.

  "Third sister, I'm helping you. You not only don't appreciate it, but also help Third Brother speak..." Her words had just fallen when someone chuckled.

  Shen Mu's face turned bright red. He had no choice but to pretend he hadn't heard, and loudly shouted at Ying Fen: "Aren't you bringing out the longevity noodles yet?"

  Ying glanced at Liang Jimin with a hint of embarrassment and suppressed her smile as she left.

  "I have a little something that's quite interesting...," Liang Jiemin said with some embarrassment, smiling, "If you don't mind it, consider it a birthday gift!"

  Shen Mu Qing lowered his head and remained silent.

  Liang Youhui has a smile on her face: "This is almost it! Go quickly, go quickly!"

  Liáng Jìmǐn had a way out, and he left at the sound. Before long, he brought over a small red lacquer gold-inlaid box. Luò Méi received it and handed it to Shěn Mùqīng.

  Liáng Yòu Huì excitedly said by the side: "Quickly open and take a look, what thing is it?"

  Zhu Qi was afraid of what wasn't good and hastily laughed: "Let's look at it later!"

  Li Qiming felt a bit uneasy and smiled: "It's something I made, do you like it?"

  If you say so, then it's something that can be opened.

  Shen Mu Qing opened the box. Inside was a pair of small copper men. Two monks, posing as if they were about to fight.

  Everyone was stunned.

  Liáng Jìmǐn has taken it out for demonstration.

  He wound up the little copper man with a long key and it began to fight.

  Everyone gathered around in amazement.

  Shen Mu Qing softly said "thank you" to Liang Ji Min and smiled: "I like it very much!"

  Her dark eyes sparkled with joyful smile, her face as tender and lovely as a blooming flower.

  Liang Jimin was taken aback and remained silent for a long time.

  The house was in a joyful commotion when a young maid came in to report: "Third Young Mistress, someone from the Shen family has come to deliver your birthday gift."

  Since Li returned from junior high school, she had been letting Yuegui bring letters to Shen Muqing when he came to visit her.

  Her letters are usually very long and contain a lot of gossip. For example, she once wrote about the time when Tian Mian, the governor of Shandong, sent dried plum blossoms to Zhang Ge Lao. She also told Shen Muqing that Tian Mian and Zhang Canran were originally from the same place and had taken the imperial examination in the same year, but they had a falling out over a case 12 years ago when they were both serving as county magistrates in Shaanxi Province. It wasn't until five years ago, after Zhang Can was promoted to be an academician of the Imperial Academy, that they started interacting with each other again. In yesterday's letter, Li wrote about the recent rumor circulating in the capital city that "Pang Hong, the Grand Secretary of the Zhongji Temple, wants to include his son born out of wedlock in the family register". She not only expressed her own views on this matter but also made a detailed prediction about the final outcome... But she didn't mention anything about sending someone to give her birthday gifts today?

  Shen Muqing suppressed the confusion at the bottom of her heart and hastily called Xiaoyu to welcome the person in.

  The visitor is Wang's mother.

  She was wearing a bean-green embroidered jacket with a plum blossom pattern, and on her ears were earrings made of Dongzhu pearls as big as lotus seeds. On her hands were ruby rings the size of fingernails, looking three points more noble than usual.

  Wang's mother was immediately attracted by the small bronze men still fighting on the kang table as soon as she entered the house.

  "This was done by Third Young Master, he said it's a birthday gift for me."

  Mom's face immediately bloomed into a flower.

  She first greeted Liang Jimin and then bowed her head to Shen Muqing to wish him a long life.

  Dong's mother, who had accompanied Wang's mother, waited until she finished her courtesy and then hurriedly came forward to help Wang's mother up.

  Wang's mother then had someone present Li with a hundred longevity peaches made of glutinous rice flour and two sets of clothes, shoes and socks.

  Although it's ordinary, it's the birthday gift that Li prepares for her every year. She looks at it and can't help but be moved to tears.

  Shen Mu Qing sent off Wang Mama and Dong Mama with ten taels of silver each, and also had Ying Fen pack the longevity peaches separately to be delivered to Old Madam, Madame Feng, and the two aunts.

  Liang Jimin saw a room full of women and bid farewell after exchanging a couple of words.

  As he left, the atmosphere in the house became even more lively.

  Shen Mu Qing pulled Wang's mother aside and asked about Li Shi's situation.

  Mrs. Wang's eyes narrowed into a slit as she repeatedly said, "The mistress is fine, miss, don't worry. The medicine is taking effect and the food is delicious..." As she spoke, her eyes darted towards the small copper figure again.

  Shen Mu Qing saw that she was interested and wound up the music box for Wang Mama to appreciate.

  She'll probably tell Li about it when she gets back...

  As expected, Wang's mother looked at the pair of small copper men with a curious expression on her face, nodding repeatedly: "The young master is really good to the young lady!"

  (Power outage... Sisters, this weekend can only be updated once a day!) (If you want to know what happens next, please log in, more chapters, support the author, support UC e-book!)