Chapter 94: Unexpected Gain

  Mu Qing's expression turned slightly dazed, an unusual feeling rising in her heart, but the smile on her face grew even brighter.

  "I have something I'd like to discuss with Mother," she said with a faint smile at Feng Wanqing.

  Feng Wanqing immediately said: "Aunt, I've come but haven't seen Young Hui yet. Let me go to her place and greet her."

  Feng nodded slightly: "Go, sit with Yu Hui for a while. Speaking of which, it's been a long time since you came to our place. This time you're here, you should stay for a few more days."

  Feng Wanqing knelt down and responded with a "yes", smiling and saying something like "Thank you, Auntie, for thinking of me all the time". Then she respectfully bid farewell to Shen Muqing and retreated slowly.

  After Feng Wanqing left, Mu Qing stepped forward a few steps and stood in front of the Feng family.

  "Mother, I see Father busy with social engagements every day, and the day of the imperial examination is approaching. Do you think we should send someone who used to serve by your side to help Father deal with these matters?"

  Feng furrowed his brow slightly after hearing this, and didn't seem very interested in Shen Muqing's proposal: "He's not feeling too great inside, going out to socialize and clear his mind is also an option."

  It seems that Feng knew about the rumors in Kyoto... Feng Anqing is indeed famous for being quick to grasp information. Or perhaps, because it involved Liang Jitian, she was particularly concerned... But what did she tell Feng about? And Feng's reaction indirectly shows that Feng Anqing's words had an effect...

  "Mother, although the top three scholars don't need to take the imperial examination to become compilers or revisers in the Hanlin Academy, look at the history of past dynasties - most of the number one scholars ended up as clean officials in the Hanlin Academy. They can't compare with the common scholars who will be enfeoffed and appointed as officials in the future..."

  Feng looked at her with a sly gaze, as if Shen Muqing was deceiving her.

  Shen Muqing was speaking when he suddenly felt very angry. Before he could finish his sentence, it got stuck in his throat.

  "I am a woman, I don't understand these things." Madame Feng said calmly. "But I've heard that being one of the top three scholars is something that can leave a name in history, it's an extremely glorious thing. What a pity for our Ji Min, he had just managed to pass the imperial examination as a jinshi with great difficulty and was expecting to bring glory to his ancestors, but now this good opportunity has slipped away..."

  Shen Mu Qing listened with a cold heart.

  So it turns out Shen helped in vain

  Even so. Shen Zhen's intention was good anyway.

  She smiled coldly and was about to say a few words when suddenly a little maid outside reported: "Madam, the second young mistress has arrived."

  Feng no longer looked at Shen Muqing and said with a serious face: "Let her in."

  Soon, Yan Hong supported Jiang Shuangrui, who was holding his belly in pain, and walked in.

  Seeing Shen Muqing here, Jiang Shuangrui was slightly surprised.

  Shen Muqing bowed to Jiang Shuangrui, who smiled and nodded slightly in response. Then, he turned to Madame Feng with a respectful smile and said, "You've called for me, ma'am. I don't know what instructions you have?"

  Feng turned coldly and glanced at Shen Muqing: "You go down first, I still have something to tell your second aunt."

  Shen Muqing suppressed the unpleasantness in her heart and curtsied to Madame Feng before retreating.

  With a loud "bang", Feng's hand slapped heavily on the kang table.

  "What's going on with you and that Yuan Shifu? When the Emperor asked who wrote better, Min Lun or Ji Min, he actually said Min Lun's writing was better. Didn't you deliver my message? Or did he get some benefit from Min Lun?"

  Jiang Shuangrui's face was full of surprise: "Mother, what are you saying? I don't understand what you mean?"

  "You've always been so clever, I say something and you don't understand...” Feng's face turned bright red, “Our Ji Min's top three honors were ruined because of a single sentence from Yuan Yu..."

  Jiang Shuangrui was shocked: "Mother is pregnant every day, and she doesn't know what's going on outside. At that time, I heard that Master Yuan was the chief examiner, and I thought to myself, 'I can finally help my third brother.' You told me to go to Master Yuan's place without hesitation, and I immediately agreed. Later, when the painting was lost, you also instructed me not to mention sending the painting again..." She said, tears streaming down her face "From childhood, I grew up under your care, treating you like a mother. Since then, I have never hidden any thoughts from you... even when Uncle wanted to take a concubine, I disagreed, and when you asked me, I honestly said 'I don't want to.' In front of you, I have never dared to have any evil intentions..."

  Feng listened and thought of his daughter-in-law's grievances and tears when his son wanted to take a concubine, and his heart softened again.

  "Madam, Second Young Master has arrived," a little maid whispered to report.

  Feng listened and sighed, then said to Jiang Shuangrui: "Quickly wipe away your tears, or else Old Two will see them and scold you again."

  Jiang Shuangrui responded with a humble "yes", took the handkerchief handed over by Yan Hong and wiped away his tears.

  "Let him come in."

  Liáng Shūxìn walked in quickly, and after paying his respects to his mother, Féngshì had a young maid serve them both tea. However, Liáng Shūxìn said: "Wife, you go back first. I have a few words to say to Mother."

  Feng and Jiang Shuangrui are both stunned.

  Liang Shu Xin has become increasingly eccentric over the years and rarely takes the initiative to talk to Feng Shi.

  "Alright, alright, alright," said Feng hastily. "Shuangrui, you go back first and let us mother and son have a word."

  Jiang Shuangrui's eyes flashed with confusion.

  Liang Shu nodded and left immediately.

  Feng smiled and looked at his son: "Shu Xin, what's going on that you want to talk to your mother about?"

  Li Shu-xin frowned and said, "Mother, you should send someone to take charge of Third Brother. He spends all his time drinking and attending banquets; what will happen when the imperial examination for scholars comes around?"

  Feng sighed and said: "You don't know, your third brother is unhappy in his heart, and many unfavorable rumors about him have been circulating outside..."

  Li Shu broke into his mother's words: "Mother, the wind blows down the phoenix tree and people talk about it. What more can be said about a person? You shouldn't always listen to rumors. To say the least, being able to pass the imperial examination as a scholar is much better than being a chief compiler."

  Feng was taken aback: "How can you say that?"

  Liāng Shūxìn was somewhat surprised: "Is there also someone who says this?"

  "Your third brother's wife," the lady's eyebrows furrowed slightly, "She also said that being a Hanlin is good. And she said, those in the Hanlin Academy are all honest officials..."

  The mother and son were talking, but Jiang Shuangrui had already arrived at Diecui Temple.

  “…I don’t know who is so reckless either.” She said indignantly, “If there’s anything to say, I, Jiang Shuangrui, am not someone who dares not to face it head-on.” As she spoke, she looked at Shen Muqing with a hint of expectation.

  Quiet and calm, not joyful in heart.

  Jiang Shuangrui entered the house alone, and if she were to look at herself with such eyes, she would not have done so even if she were pregnant. She must be trying to get her to argue back and "lose her words" to say something... It's really unexpected that because of this matter, Feng Shi has also suspected Jiang Shuangrui... No wonder a proper mother-in-law can't even win an argument with a concubine-born daughter-in-law... However, thinking carefully, such a mother-in-law is much better than those clever ones who reveal their thoughts with just one glance.

  She suppressed the smile in her heart, took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her eye and swallowed: "It's not. I don't know which troublemaker is talking nonsense in front of my mother. Not to mention Second Aunt, Mother now suspects even us. Saying that Master didn't get the top three in the imperial examination was all our fault... Second Aunt, you're a wise person. You tell me, who can influence the Emperor's decision on this matter of the number one scholar?

  Jiang Shuangrui nodded repeatedly after listening: "That's right. This is just what we women talk about among ourselves, if it gets out, who knows what will be said."

  "If something like a cheating scandal were to come out, then both Yuan Ren and our master would be in trouble, no matter how hard they tried to clear their names..."

  Jiang Shuangrui hadn't thought of it that way. Now hearing Shen Muqing say so, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat on his back.

  "I don't know who has such a vicious heart."

  As she spoke, her gaze turned westward.

  There lived Wang Wenxuan.

  Shen Muqing's heart moved slightly.

  Even I myself suspect it was said by Feng Wanqing, if...

  She made a serious face and said, "Second sister, I think this matter can't be ambiguous. We'll both be finished off if we're not careful. Why don't we discuss it with our elder sister? After all, she's the one who should take charge. Even if there's an investigation, she'll have a way to handle it."

  Chiang Shuang-ju had several reservations.

  Two people have been fighting for a long time, and sometimes their minds are stuck.

  Jiang Shuangrui walked away: "Second sister-in-law, I'll help you go."

  Jiang Shuangrui wanted to speak but stopped himself and remained silent, following Shen Muqing to the Changchun Temple where Wang Wenxuan lived.

  Chang Chunyuan and Jiang Shuangrui's houses are small, with the same layout. But in its courtyard, there is a swing, on the stone steps, a cat basking in the sun, under the grape arbor, a stone table drying children's cotton shoes, as soon as you enter, you feel a warm atmosphere rushing towards you, and you immediately feel the warmth of the courtyard.

  Jiang Shuangrui and Shen Muqing arrived together, and Wang Wenxiu's eyes flashed with surprise.

  She hastily ordered her maid to bring in a tea set and serve tea.

  Jiang Shuangrui felt a bit uneasy as soon as he entered the door, and Mu Qing naturally jumped out to take the lead.

  She smiled at the three children.

  Wang Wenxiu also knew it was a opening remark and briefly said, "The mothers took them to the garden to play for these two days. The weather is really good."

  After two people chatted about their children for a few words in Tai Chi, Shen Muqing tactfully stated the purpose of his visit.

  At this point, Wang Wenxiu could no longer conceal his astonishment.

  She said in surprise: "Let me help you investigate who said it?"

  Shen Mu nodded solemnly and said, "I and Er Sao have thought it over, this matter can only be entrusted to Sao. It's really a small thing, we're not trying to be difficult, we just want to know who that person is, so in the future, we'll have a number in our hearts and keep away from such petty people."

  Wang Wenxiang listened and his eyes fell on Jiang Shuangrui's body.

  Jiang Shuangrui lowered his eyelids and said softly, "Thank you, Auntie."

  Shen Mu Qing listened and felt relieved in her heart.

  With Jiang Shuangrui's words, this matter is settled.

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  Chapter 94: Unexpected Gain