Chapter 124 Walking to the End

  Shen Muqing couldn't say a word.

  Mr. Li sighed, gently stroking her hair: "Good child, I understand... but it's precisely because I understand that we can't continue like this... He's done so much for you, you can't harm him. He still has a bright future ahead of him!"

  Shen Mu Qing lowered his head quietly.

  "Take good care of yourself and Li Jiemin!" Mrs. Li said with a sigh, "What women can really rely on are their children, not men. Don't worry, Master won't come to any harm, he won't fall like this either. He will definitely see the birth of his grandson, and you will be luckier than me..."

  "Madam, rest assured, I know what to do!"

  Mr. Li still instructed her with some unease: "If there's anything, discuss it thoroughly with Ji Min, don't ignore each other at every turn. Between husband and wife, you must also talk more, only by talking more can you understand what the other is thinking, and live a good life."

  Shen Mu nodded slightly.

  "I still have something to say to Aunt Chen, it's getting late, you go back!" Li Shi "hurried" Shen Muqing for the first time.

  It's too hurtful for your mother like this!

  Shen Mu left her maternal home with a complex mood and a clear heart.

  ******

  Back at the Liang's home, Liang Youhui asked her with concern: "What did Madam ask you to do?"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said: "Nothing, just called me to chat."

  Liang Youhui didn't ask any more questions and instead started chatting with Shen Muqing about preparing for Old Lady Tai's 72nd birthday.

  "...they say seventy-three, eighty-four, the King of Hell doesn't invite you himself. She's seventy-two this year, and after this birthday it's unknown if there will be a next one, so we must make it lively... From September 20th to September 26th, we'll have six days of flowing water banquet..."

  Shen Muqing suddenly realized his own oversight.

  "Young Hui, you didn't mention it, I really forgot about this matter!"

  Liang Youhui's expression was sincere: "With such a big thing happening in San Shu's family, how can they still have the mood to care about these things? I've embroidered a white dress for Grandmother as a birthday gift on your behalf, don't mention it."

  "Xiao Hui, you're really good to me!"

  Liang Youhui laughed happily: "Third Aunt is also very good to me! She even gets up in the middle of the night to make pancakes for me to eat."

  That's because she was also hungry...

  Shen Mu Qing pulled her hand, half a day without speaking.

  The next morning, after paying respects to Madame Tai, Shen Muqing took Luo Mei and Zhu Ji to the rear courtyard where the dowry was being packed.

  "...this is the first birthday of the old madam after I got married, can't lose etiquette."

  Luomei and Jizhu brought out everything with the meaning of "Fu, Lu, Shou, Xi", from large screens to small rings, and arranged them for Shen Muqing to review.

  Just as she was dazzled and hesitated, Ying Fen walked in with a somewhat uneasy expression.

  "What is Third Young Mistress doing?" she said, pointing to a pen holder made of longevity stone on the table, "This is nice, from afar it looks like an old man blessing longevity!"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said: "What's on your mind, just say it straight out. Being roundabout isn't like you, Ying Fen!"

  Ying burst out laughing: "Nothing escapes Third Young Mistress!"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled quietly as he looked at her.

  "Hmm, it's that Chang Hui... again!" Ying Fen said, glancing at Shen Muqing with a knowing look, "He says he wants to borrow twenty taels of silver..."

  Shen Muqing let out a sigh and said, "Give him 200 taels of silver!"

  As soon as he heard it, he immediately responded with a "yes" in a delighted tone.

  "Wait for me to call you then!"

  "Ying Fengying said: 'I know Third Young Master's wife is not that heartless!'"

  "Ah!" Shen Muqing laughed and said, "Tell Chang Hui not to listen to everything Liu Niang says. Now the house is empty, adults can endure, but what about the two children? Moreover, he went out to walk with a sedan chair, who serves in front of Liu Jie? Let him listen to me, temporarily move to Bai Zhi Fang to live, Lin Jincai's family is over there, and can help take care of serving tea and water. After passing this difficult time, life will be smooth! Don't put everything on your mind, who hasn't had a hard time?"

  Ying nodded repeatedly and followed him out.

  Luo Mei sighed and said: "This Liu Niang's temper is really stubborn!"

  "Going too far in correcting a mistake." Shen Mu Qing smiled and said, "When it's time to accept someone's kindness, then just accept it. One day when you have the ability, help others out as well, isn't that even better!"

  Luomei and Zhuiji nodded repeatedly as they listened, just then Yinfeng panted and pushed open the curtain to enter.

  Zhu Qi teased her: "How come you're back so soon? Did you find out that you took the wrong silver?"

  Ying's face turned pale, her eyes brimming with tears as she stared at Shen Muqing, shaking her head, unable to utter a word for a long time.

  "What's wrong?" Shen Muqing walked forward and patted her, "Could it be that you were really given too much silver?"

  Ying exclaimed "Oh no!" and burst into tears: "Madam, madam... it's gone... it's gone..."

  Three people stood like wooden chickens, and the house was filled with only the sound of mournful crying.

  ******

  Li's white hair was combed neatly, with four gold pins securing a black square handkerchief on her head. She wore a white silk jacket and skirt, over which was a large red embroidered sleeveless jacket. Her swollen face still bore the painful expression of her final struggle.

  Shen Mu Qing held her mother's hand, unable to shed a single tear.

  “…Last night, she called me over and repeatedly told me to serve you well. Then, she had this divan bed moved into the house.” Wang's mother looked pale and her eyes were dull as she knelt in front of the divan bed, stiffly recounting the scene when she last saw Madame Li, "I thought that Madame would be smoking opium on this bed every day, so I didn't think much of it when she asked me to have the bed moved in... It wasn't until almost dawn that Madame called me over and said she wanted to smoke some more, asking me to call Xianghuang... When I came back, the door was locked tight and wouldn't open no matter how hard I knocked. I thought something was off, so I had Xianghuang climb in through the window... and we found Madame fully dressed and curled up on the divan bed..." As she spoke, tears began to flow silently down her face, "And a pair of gold earrings is missing!"

  Outside the door, Chen's wife was crying and shouting loudly: "...my wife, how could you just leave like this......I burn incense every day, asking Buddha to bless you to live a few more days than me......Buddha, why don't you open your eyes......my good wife, how can we go on living......"

  "Who else knows about this?" Shen Muqing's voice was as cold and biting as the wind outside.

  "Wang's mother shook her head: 'No one dared to say...'"

  "Open the door!" Shen Muqing stood up, "The outer courtyard has Mr. Ouyang, but this inner courtyard still needs you to be in charge... send off Madam on her last journey!"

  Wang's mother covered her face and burst into tears.

  Shen Muqing went to open the door herself.

  Aunt Chen's crying paused for a moment before resuming again

  “…who would have thought, it was fine in the evening, had a bowl of bird's nest congee, and even instructed me to consult with my aunt in the future... I said that since marrying into this family, everything has been taken care of by you. Your words, I will definitely remember them in my heart…” while crying, she also pounded on the door frame.

  Her calm and cold eyes swept over the kneeling Luomei, Zhuiji, Yingfen and Mingxia under the eaves, and she asked softly: "Where is Dasher? Why haven't I seen Dasher?"

  With a terrified look on her face, Niu Xiang stood under the eaves and stared at Chen Niang.

  "Chen Yini stood up straight, wiping her eyes while sneaking a peek at Shen Muqing's expression: 'I... I let him stay in the house for now...'"

  Shen Mu looked at her deeply and quietly, softly saying "oh", instructing Cheng Xiang: "Go, bring Shu Ge over to keep vigil for the mistress... If he's unwilling, write a letter to Er Shu in Ta Cang, say that the mistress has passed away, need someone to help with the funeral, see which of the brothers have this filial piety, and send him over to help with the funeral."

  Madam Chen's face turned pale and she hastily said, "Young mistress, please don't get angry. I saw that my brother was crying from exhaustion, so I let him rest in the house..."

  "Have Mr. Ouyang come in again," Shen Muqing ignored Chen Niang's words and continued to instruct Cheng Xiang, "You should clear up the account of the things belonging to the mistress in front of me and him. In case Master continues his marriage in the future, it will also be a good explanation for the new mistress."

  "Auntie," Chen Yiniang knelt in front of Shen Muqing, "it's all my fault... I'll take Shuige out right now!"

  "Chen Niang, you've been with our family for so long, how can you still be so careless in handling things? This habit needs to be changed."

  Aunt Chen struggled to get up: "Yes, Miss said so, I must change this habit." She then hastily went towards the east wing of the Da Sha residence.

  ******

  Xiao Xiao followed Mr. Ouyang to the front of the Chuihua Gate, and from a distance, he saw Shen Muqing standing under the eaves.

  She stood up straight, her snow-white face slightly raised, posing a very proud posture, casting a sideways glance at Chen Niang, who was crying like a pear blossom in the rain at her feet.

  She slowly turned her head upon hearing the noise.

  The eyes of the two people met.

  Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, she stood still on the threshold of the Flower Gate.

  Those eyes that once shone so brightly, those eyes that always sparkled with joy... as clear and calm as moonlight — making one feel not a hint of warmth.

  Those familiar eyes appeared in the eyes of that warm woman like a March breeze.

  "Mu Qing..." He spat out these two words with a mosquito-like voice.

  It was as if she had heard the sound of rustling leaves, Shen Muqing revealed a faint smile and said a few words to Chen Niangniang, who immediately shrunk back and scrambled out of the east corner gate.

  "It seems we don't have to worry about the old lady at all," Mr. Ouyang, who was fully focused on Shen Muqing and didn't hear Xiao Sa's muttering, smiled and turned his head around, "When people encounter difficulties, they will show more courage and determination than usual."

  "No," Xiao Xiao shook her head.

  He didn't want her to become like that... The bright eyes gradually dimmed with the passage of time; The delicate face, like a spring flower, slowly faded in color... Became a woman he no longer recognized... Looking back, he could no longer find the lovely woman who would occasionally flash a sly glance at him...

  (Sisters, get up tomorrow morning and check for updates... (*^__^*) Hehe...)