Chapter 116: Dawn Breaks

  The Temple of Prison God in the suburbs of Kyoto is just outside the gate of Chongyangmen, which is a five-room and four-advance courtyard.

  The first courtyard houses the prison gods, the second courtyard is home to the Zhūgōng and Zhūpó who are in charge of the incense and fire for the prison gods' temple, the third courtyard is where the bailiffs of the Dalisi Temple live, while Li Shi, Chen Niangniang, Da She and Wang Mama, Cheng Xiang etc. are locked up in the fourth courtyard.

  The original chief assistant Shen Zhen was not convicted, and the women in his family were not put in a big prison but were detained here. This decision itself has an unusual flavor, how could those corrupt officials in the Dali Temple not smell it out?

  So when Shen Muqing went to pick up Li, a steward in his forties led her to the gate and stopped: "Madam, just go straight ahead and you'll be there - inside are all ladies, we can't go in."

  The heart that had been hanging in the air finally fell down.

  It seems that Li and others have not suffered any hardship, judging from how they are treating the ladies of the Shen family.

  Ying took out some silver and rewarded him, then supported Shen Muqing into the courtyard.

  In the courtyard, two strange women wearing coarse clothing were sitting on a stone bench talking. Seeing Shen Muqing, they both paused for a moment. One of them came forward with a smile and said: "Is this the young lady from the Shen family? Are you here to pick up Mrs. Shen?"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and nodded slightly.

  The woman smiled and said: "We are from the Dalit Temple, Master Wang called us over to help with some rough work."

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and let Ying Fen reward those two women.

  Wang's mother heard the noise and came out to see Shen Muqing, and tears immediately fell down.

  Shen Mu Qing hastily grasped Old Lady Wang's hand: "Mother was frightened!"

  Mrs. Wang shook her head, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away tears, revealing a smile: "How are you, young lady?"

  "Good, good, good!" Shen Muqing nodded repeatedly, "How's your wife?"

  Wang's mother repeatedly said "good" and said: "Thanks to Xiaoqi, the lady's medicine has not been interrupted, and she took out money to pay for it, we are no different from being at home."

  Shen Mu Qing was taken aback for a moment.

  Xiao Xiao is actually so bold, not avoiding suspicion at all...

  "Wang's mother had said: 'It is said that the shop owner has received favors from the old master, and it is not convenient for him to show up at this time, so let him help out.'"

  Mr. Li introduced Xiao Sa like this!

  "I never thought I'd see the day!" Mrs. Wang sighed, "She was so fierce when she came to collect rent, who knew she'd change like this... One must do good deeds. Look, now there's a return on that..."

  Shen Muqing ignored Wang Ma's nagging and smiled: "Is there still a Manager Pang?"

  "Yes, it was the last time with Xiao Qi to settle the account." Wang's mother nodded, and tears fell again. "I heard that except for us, all the people in the family were locked up in the big prison of Dali Temple. Yesterday, Mr. Wang came to tell us that we can go back to the old house in Shihua Bridge, but we don't even have a servant. Fortunately, there is Manager Pang... He went to Dali Temple early this morning and said he would come to pick us up after lunch." As she spoke, she tiptoed and looked around Shen Muqing's back, "Has the master arrived?"

  Wang Zongguan, as the Shen family's chief steward, was also locked up.

  Still don't know when I can be released.

  Shen Mu's eyes dimmed for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and smiled: "Brother-in-law has arrived. The servants didn't let him in, I thought since there were only women here, I wouldn't force the servants."

  Wang's mother nodded and led Shen Muqing into the house.

  The house is very simple and can't be compared with Shen's family, but it's clean.

  As soon as he entered the bedroom on the east side, Shen Muqing immediately smelled a strange smell.

  She couldn't help but slightly frown, yet she saw Li shut her eyes and lean against the big pillow, her grey hair combed neatly, her usually pale face had a faint rosiness, looking very spirited.

  Chen's aunt was massaging Li's legs on one side.

  Hearing the noise, she turned around. Seeing Shen Muqing, she revealed a relieved smile, then made a "don't disturb Li Shi" gesture.

  Shen Muqing saw that she was still serving Li with all her heart in this situation, and all the unpleasantness before had disappeared.

  She and Wang's mother walked out quietly and stood on the stone pier talking.

  "Didn't you sleep well?"

  It's already this late, how can Li still sleep soundly in such a situation?

  Shen Mu Qing suspected that she hadn't slept all night.

  "Wang's mother smiled quietly and said: 'The lady is sleeping well!'"

  Shen Mu Qing raised an eyebrow slightly.

  "Wang's mother said, 'It was Xiao Qi who saw that the lady's spirit wasn't good, so he found a new medicine. After taking it, the lady would sleep for a while and when she woke up, her spirits would be much better.' Her tone was filled with delight."

  Shen Mu Qing was quite surprised. He thought of his own foot injury that had never healed...

  Or maybe there's no shortcut at all.

  "Is it?" She happily said: "Quickly let me see, what medicine did Xiao Qi find for the madam?"

  Wang's mother shook her head and smiled: "That medicine is in Pang's hands, I haven't seen it either. Only know that it needs to be added to the smoke and inhaled..."

  Shen Muqing's smile froze on his face, and the blue veins at his temples slowly bulged: "Which Xiao Qi? Where is he?"

  The voice was cold as the weather on the 29th of the third month.

  Wang's mother was stunned, and after a while, she said: "He has only come twice, usually it is Manager Pang..."

  Shen Mu Qing looked up at the sky with a calm and serene expression, letting out a long sigh, and for a while, couldn't say a word.

  "Madam, could it be that there's something wrong with the medicine? I've never seen this before. Every time, it was always that steward bringing it over bit by bit... I found these two people suspicious, but since Madam nodded in agreement, I didn't dare say anything..."

  Shen Muqing was very angry. She walked back and forth in the courtyard a couple of times, then turned around to see Cheng Xin standing at the gate of the courtyard.

  "What's wrong?" She said with an unpleasant tone.

  The usually smiling face of the Third Young Mistress suddenly turned stern, and a few strands of intimidating majesty flowed out between her eyebrows... somewhat similar to the look of Master Hou and the Eldest Young Master.

  Cheng Xin's expression cleared up and he spoke in a soft voice: "Third Master asked when we will set off?"

  Yesterday, it was agreed that today would be the day to go and receive Li's family, but as a result of this early morning, Chen Yazhi had a servant send over a note saying that while strolling down West Avenue yesterday, he saw a damaged stele on a slope, which seemed to be a genuine work by Liu Gongzheng, asking for Liang Jimin's help in appraising it.

  Liang Jimin became restless at once.

  Shen Muqing looked a bit worried and repeatedly reminded him, "Today's situation is special, we've received the news that Madam will be back early, so when the time comes, let Bai Mu hurry up and send you over... even if it's delayed, it won't be for very long."

  Liang Jimin nodded repeatedly at first, but as time went on, he became impatient.

  Thinking of Li's current situation, Shen Muqing's tone was not harmonious, and he said sternly: "If Third Young Master has something to do, please go ahead and take care of it first. I'll settle the mistress down before returning."

  "Wang's mother stopped him: "What's the matter, let's talk it over. The uncle is here to accompany you to see your wife. It's almost noon now, where do you want the uncle to go for lunch?"

  "Wait!" Shen Muqing called out to stop Chengxin who was about to turn around and leave, "The servants at home are still locked up in the Dalisi Temple. Tell Third Young Master to let Bai Mu stay behind and serve me."

  Wang's mother heard the unpleasant tone and shouted "Auntie" with a hint of dissatisfaction.

  She looked at Wang's mother and then at Shen Muqing, unable to move forward or backward.

  "Leave your uncle here, what's for dinner?" Shen Muqing deliberately glanced at the simple courtyard and then ordered Chengxin, "Go!"

  Wang's mother looked gloomy and slightly bowed her head, no longer speaking.

  The clear mind has seen it, and responded with a sound, then left.

  "When will Madam wake up?" Shen Muqing asked Wang's mother.

  "Wang's mother said in a disappointed tone: 'It's usually time to wake up by the end of May.'"

  The two rough servant women sent by Lord Wang stood awkwardly in the corner, staring at them. She let out a soft sigh and said, "Let someone start cooking!"

  "Wang's mother hesitated: "Should the lady take a look at the menu? Xiao Qi had two buckets of yellow croaker sent over just two days ago, saying it was for the mistress to nourish her blood and energy!"

  Third Young Master's wife was about to speak when Clear Heart rushed in: "Third Young Mistress, Third Young Mistress, the young master said that this afternoon he will go to Songshu Hutong to pick you up."

  ******

  When Mrs. Li "woke up" and knew her daughter had come to pick her up, she was overjoyed.

  "...I heard that his house was searched and he didn't feel well for several days. He took a leave to take care of me at home, it's really embarrassing to ask for another leave... Today he sent me here and went back, later he will go to Songshu Hutong to pick me up."

  Mr. Li was delighted and smiled: "Madam had promised me that she would take good care of you, and indeed she did not go back on her word."

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and called Xiang Huai to set the table.

  Tian's mother was also locked up in a big prison, and during this time, Dage was taken care of by Chen Yiniang herself.

  He kept pulling at Chen Ayi's sleeve, and when Ying wanted to hug him, he wouldn't let go, making it very inconvenient for Chen Ayi to move around.

  "Come on, auntie, you're not a stranger, let's sit down and eat together like we always do!" said Li with a smile.

  Aunt Chen wiped her eyes with her sleeve and sat down at the table, holding onto the armrests.

  Dove soup, fiddlehead fern stir-fried with sliced meat, assorted tofu, flower mushroom duck feet, crispy fried quail, vegetarian stir-fried eel shreds, fresh bean sprouts... The rice is emerald green, and the meal is quite good.

  Li brought over a dish of braised duck and placed it in Shen Muqing's bowl: "Officer Wang used to work under Master, he found these two women with good skills, and the ingredients purchased by Manager Pang are fresh... try some."

  The duck's paw has fallen off the bone and is very chewy. The cook is very careful.

  "It's quite delicious!"

  "Then you should eat more!" Li smiled at her daughter and gave her another quail.

  ******

  When they arrived, the bedding and furniture were all purchased by Wang Daren. Li Shi didn't prepare to take them away. Later, Pang Guanshi sent some clothes, cushions, tea leaves, candies, incense, and other things. Since everything was exquisite, and considering that Songshu Hutong had also been ransacked, these things would be useful when taken back, so Li Shi ordered Chen Niang and Cheng Xiang to pack them up together. Ying Fen heard this and rolled up her sleeves to help as well.

  Li and Shen Muqing sat in the main room talking.

  "Look at you, you've lost a lot of weight. You must have been scared stiff?"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said: "Something big like this has happened, how can one not worry or be afraid?"

  "After a setback, you gain wisdom. From now on, you will naturally be more calm and composed when dealing with things."

  Shen Muqing finally understood the contradiction that Li had been facing all along.

  Indeed, as parents, we always hope that our children will not experience those cruel things, but if the child is really naive and innocent due to lack of experience, then parents worry that the child does not have enough survival ability... This has always been an unsolvable problem.

  (Haha... Today I'll add another update... The debt will be less and less...)