Dong's mother stood under the eaves of the house.

  Seeing Shen Muqing, she hastily lifted the curtain: "Third Young Mistress, the mistress has been waiting for half a day."

  "Thank you, Mom!" Shen Mu Qing lightly nodded towards her.

  Her voice had an unexpected calmness and determination.

  She entered the house.

  There were only Feng and Liang Qiming in the house.

  Feng sat in the hall's armchair with a calm face, while Liang Jitian stood in front of him with a frown, the atmosphere was very heavy.

  Shen Mu Qing's heart felt relieved.

  As usual, Yuegui brought a letter from Li when she went back this morning... If something had happened to Li, everyone's expression should be sad... Or maybe I was just too sensitive.

  She curtsied to Madame Feng and said: "You've called for your daughter-in-law; I don't know what instructions you have?"

  Feng nodded slightly and beckoned with his hand.

  Shen Mu Qing immediately walked obediently in front of Shi Di.

  Feng grabbed Shen Muqing's hand: "Muqing, something big has happened to Master Hou!"

  Deeply shocked and saddened.

  Feng said: "Yu Mengke Khan Tudemwu set up a trap to lure the old master out of the pass to respond to the battle... The 50,000-strong army was completely wiped out. Moreover, Tudemwu also occupied Xuanzhou City..."

  Xuanzhou. It is the location of Xuan Tong's general governor's mansion and yamen. Moreover, it is the first stronghold in the northwest... Many years ago, Emperor Taizong of the Great Zhou was only able to claim to have unified the Central Plains after driving out the Mongols from Xuanzhou.

  She couldn't help but sweat through her clothes.

  Feng's eyes were brimming with tears: "Mu Qing, now only you can save our Liang family, can you save Master Hou?"

  With such a big hat coming down, Shen Muqing was frightened: "Me, save Master Hou?"

  "The memorial to be presented to the Emperor will only arrive five days later, and the news was sent by Father's trusted aide, who rushed day and night," said Liang Jìmǐn with a sorrowful gaze. "Mother means that while the Imperial Court is still unaware of this matter, we should return to the Shen family tonight to discuss with Uncle what to do about this."

  So that's how it is...... But can Shen Zhen help Liang Yuan with this big matter? And will Liang Yuan's defeat this time drag down Shen Zhen as well? Will the Liang family decline because of this?

  All sorts of thoughts flooded her mind, but she didn't dare show any hesitation or delay in responding to Liang Jiemin's proposal. Firstly, since the engagement was settled, the two families were already tied together like a pair of grasshoppers on a string, and there was no possibility of backing out. Secondly, if she made any improper move at this critical moment when the Liang family's survival was at stake, she feared that she would find it difficult to stand in the Liang family from then on.

  As she looked up from her thoughts, she happened to see Madame Feng's tearful eyes gazing at her with a pleading expression.

  Shen Mu Qing's heart softened and she curtsied to Madame Feng: "Mother, I'll go back with my husband now and ask Master for his opinion."

  Or perhaps it was the hope that had been worrying her all along, a faint smile appeared on her face. She carefully instructed Shen Muqing: "The sky is already late, and the city is also under curfew. You take the Houye's name tag to Ming Shi Fang, if you encounter the patrol officer on the way, just say that your mother is seriously ill and you are going home to visit."

  Almost all officials in Kyoto knew that Shen Zhen had a bedridden wife, and Shen Muqing also understood it. There was no better excuse than this. But when Fengshi brought it up as an excuse, she still felt uncomfortable in her heart.

  Shen Muqing's eyebrows slightly furrowed and he responded in a low voice, "Yes."

  Feng had been carefully observing his daughter-in-law's expression and very keenly felt Shen Muqing's subtle displeasure.

  After a moment's thought, Feng smiled and said: "It's really embarrassing to ask you to go back to your mother's house for help. However, the Lantern Festival is coming soon, and if you go now, you can take advantage of this opportunity to stay at home for a few more days. Ji Min, you accompany Mu Qing too!"

  Shen Muqing and Liang Jimin were both taken aback.

  How many days will you stay at home? The abacus of the mother-in-law is really precise. At that time, others will think that it was their own fault for being unreasonable and not understanding things, making a disturbance in the middle of the night to return to their maternal home. Wang Wenxiang and Jiang Shuangrui might also be secretly resentful, and at that time, they won't be able to show their true feelings either inside or outside!

  Shen Mu Qing thought for a moment and smiled: "Since we're going back home to stay for a few days, shouldn't we pay our respects to the Old Mistress?"

  Feng had not yet replied when Liang Jiemin furrowed his brow: "What's going on? By the time we leave Xianhe Hall, it'll probably be daylight."

  Shen Muqing's expression turned cold and her eyes narrowed slightly.

  "Madam is still unaware of this matter!" Feng's expression was somewhat gloomy. "You don't need to go bid farewell."

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but bitterly smile in her heart.

  Liáng Jìmǐn urged Shěn Mùqīng to change his clothes: "You should also tidy up, with your hair disheveled and face covered in dirt, if Mother-in-law sees you like this she'll be worried sick."

  Shen Muqing only then realized that she was wearing the wrong clothes - it turned out that Jing Bi had hastily put Liang Youhui's clothes on her while she was in a daze, and she hadn't even noticed, and now she was meeting Liang's mother and daughter like this.

  Unexpectedly, at this time, Liang Jimin still noticed these small details.

  Why didn't you think of how frightened this would make Mrs. Li?

  Shen Muqing suppressed the unpleasant feeling in her heart, knelt down and paid respects to the Feng family, then returned to her room to comb her hair and change her clothes.

  Liang Youhui rolled over in a daze and mumbled: "What's going on? Where are you going?"

  Shen Mu Qing gazed at Liang You Hui's tranquil and slightly naive face, then thought of Liang Yuan who was now trapped in a desperate situation. If anything were to happen, even this peaceful life would be a luxury. Her heart softened involuntarily as she helped Liang You Hui adjust the bed corner, speaking softly:

  "It's okay, I'll talk with your third brother."

  "Come back early!" Liang Youhui said drowsily.

  Shen Mu nodded quietly, she had already fallen asleep.

  Shen Mu Qing called Ming Xia and Ning Bi to serve her washing face and dressing, while calling Yue Gui to instruct her: "You and Li Mama stay at home to guard the house, if someone asks, just say I miss my wife, Madam is kind, let me and my brother-in-law go back to our hometown for a few days."

  Everyone looked at each other in dismay, with puzzled expressions on their faces, yet they didn't dare to discuss anything and all knelt down to respond with a "yes".

  ******

  Feng personally saw Mu Qing and Liang Jiemin off at the door.

  All the way they did not meet anyone checking, back to the Shen family, it indeed caused a great commotion.

  On a cold winter day, Shen wore a piece of clothing and came out to greet him. Seeing Shen Muqing walking in front of him with a tense expression, he repeatedly asked: "Where's Ji Min? Why did you come back alone?"

  "Sir, come with me. There's something important to discuss with you in the flower hall of the outer courtyard."

  The sun was setting, casting a faint misty glow over everything. She turned around and went back into the house to change her clothes.

  In the inky blackness of night, two yellow lanterns were getting closer and closer.

  "It seems like orange fragrance."

  Shen Mu Qing smiled wryly and sighed softly.

  As people approached, it was indeed Orange Fragrance.

  She didn't wait for Xiang to approach and loudly said: "I just miss my wife, Mother-in-law has allowed me to come back and stay for a few days. Quickly take me to see my wife!"

  Cheng Xiang went forward and greeted Shen Muqing, taking the lantern from the maid's hand and personally lighting the way to serve Shen Muqing to the Chao Xi Hall.

  The Chaoxi Hall was not as brightly lit as Shen Muqing had imagined, but rather quiet and still, with only an old servant woman holding a lantern at the corner gate. As they entered the courtyard, the east and west wing rooms were all dark, with only a faint light coming from the western room of the main house, shining through the window and casting a warm glow in the bright moonlight.

  He walked in with quick and light steps.

  Mrs. Li, wearing a stone-blue silk cloak with silver fox fur trim, sat upright on the kang and, seeing her daughter enter, stretched out both hands excitedly: "Come, let me take a look."

  Cheng Xiang hurriedly picked up the sheep horn lamp on the kang table before Shen Muqing.

  Shen Mu Qing burst into tears and rushed into Li's arms, excitedly shouting "Madam".

  Li held Shen Muqing in her arms and gently stroked her hair, ordering the people in the house: "All of you go down!"

  A faint sound came from inside the house.

  Shen Muqing raised her head, and the moisture in her eyes sparkled like precious gems: "Is Madam all right?"

  "Li smiled: 'You let Menggui come and see me every day, aren't you at ease yet?'"

  Thinking of what had just happened, Qing buried her head in Li's bosom.

  The thick fragrance of medicine lingers in the nose and lungs, so familiar that it calms people down...

  "My mother-in-law asked me and my husband to come back and stay for a few days!" Shen Muqing smiled, "I'm afraid when the time comes, the wife will be annoyed with me again!"

  Li's face showed surprise: "Really? Your mother-in-law really let you come back and stay for a few days?"

  Shen Mu nodded quietly.

  Li was hugging her and laughing hehehe.

  Shen Mu Qing felt her mother's excitement and quietly nestled in her arms.

  "Mu Qing," after a while, Li said with a serious tone, "you are clever, tell me how you happened to come back at this time?"

  Shen Muqing didn't hesitate, got up from Li's arms and sat straight, telling Li the reason for his return.

  Mr. Li listened quietly and said, "Since your mother-in-law asked you to come back and live for a few days, just live in peace for a few days. You can't rush this matter. A person's life is long, it's impossible to be smooth sailing all the time. As the saying goes, when husband and wife are of one mind, their benefits are as strong as cutting through metal. The more it is at this time, the more you should work together with Ji Min in harmony. Don't harbor complaints."

  "Ma'am, don't worry!"

  But in his heart, he was thinking of Feng Wanqing's affairs.

  Let's put it aside for now!

  ******

  The two of them settled down at the Shen residence.

  The courtyard still maintained its quiet and serene atmosphere, just like before she got married. Even the small stool beside the toilet was in its original place. She seemed to have returned to her pre-marriage days, eating and drinking carelessly, wandering around in front of Mrs. Li every day. Occasionally, she would remember something and go take a look at Liang Qiming. Meanwhile, Liang Qiming was kept in the Jiuxi study, diligently practicing his calligraphy in the study room every day.

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but feel a little worried, so he called out to Shi Yan: "Tell Third Young Master that the study has many books, whatever you need, just take it and read - the exam is just around the corner."

  Shi Se laughed and said: "This character was taught by Master himself, how dare Third Young Master be lazy?"

  Deep and quiet, serene and subtle, lost in thought.

  At this time, how could Liang Jiemin be allowed to practice calligraphy... Could it be that Liang Jiemin's learning is really so good that he takes being a jinshi for granted... Even if that were the case, there are still times when one unexpectedly fails the exam... Liang Jiemin was also somewhat too careless!

  She thought for a moment and then remembered that Shen Zhen had been absent for several days.

  Should be busy with Liang's family affairs, don't know if there is any progress...

  Shen Mu Qing thoughtlessly went to Li's place.

  "These days of daily power outages, I don't know when they will end... Waaahhh... (To find out what happens next, please log in to m, more chapters available, support the author, support the official version!)"

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