Chapter 126: Where to Go and Where to Follow

  After seeing off Chen Yiniang and Da She, Mr. Min pointed to the bedroom.

  "Still the same! Ask him anything and he'll just pretend he didn't hear, always reminiscing about the past..."

  Mr. Min and Mr. Ouyang in the house also sighed softly.

  Several people were speechless when Liang Jimin walked in.

  He bowed to Mr. Min and said politely: "Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Min."

  Mr. Min smiled and returned him a courtesy.

  He went to pay his respects to Xiao Xiao, but found that Xiao Xiao was standing with his back to him, leaning against the window, as if there was something extremely interesting outside the window that had attracted all his attention, so he didn't have time to care about what happened in the house.

  He was just a merchant's son after all.

  Liáng Jìmǐn let out a quiet sigh of relief.

  Just avoided greeting this person.

  He smiled faintly and pretended not to see Xiao Sa's appearance, saying to Mr. Ouyang: "Wang Gong Lao and Hu Gong Lao have both arrived, do you think we should let your father-in-law go out and greet them?"

  Mr. Ouyang hesitated and said: "The old master's body is not suitable, I think it's better to forget it!"

  Liáng Jìmǐn hesitated: "This... probably won't be good, will it?"

  Mr. Min thought for a moment and said, "Not welcoming him is indeed not good. However, if we welcome him, it will weaken our momentum. I think it's better for me to accompany Mr. Ouyang outside and respond accordingly when the time comes!"

  Mr. Ouyang thought for a moment and said, "Alright then. I'll go out and welcome him on behalf of the old master."

  Liang Jimin saw Mr. Ouyang and Mr. Min leaving together, hesitated for a moment, and said to Shen Muqing: "I'll go take a look too!" After finishing speaking, he didn't wait for Shen Muqing's response and quickly left.

  Xiao Xiao's hands behind her back were clenched into fists.

  "What are you going to do?"

  He coldly opened his mouth, startling Shen Muqing greatly.

  "What?" she said in confusion.

  Xiao Xiao turned around, her expression extremely cold and stern: "Feng Wanqing, what are you going to do?"

  "How did you know?"

  "No paper can wrap up fire!" Xiao Xiao's voice was somewhat low and even, making it impossible to discern his emotions. "And stop beating around the bush with me - Madam is no longer here, what else do you have to be cautious about?"

  "Is everyone secretly spreading it around?"

  "That's not the case." Xiao Sa said calmly, "Don't worry, the Liang family isn't one to be trifled with either. If they can't even handle something as small as this, how can they still claim to be a noble family?"

  "How did you know?" Shen Muqing stared at him, pressing for an answer.

  "That's not the point!" Xiao Sa looked back at her without backing down, his eyebrows raised in a condescending scrutiny, "The point is what are you going to do?"

  It's this evasive attitude again.

  Under his gaze, Shen Muqing was momentarily stunned.

  Jet-black hair, distinct facial features, broad shoulders, robust and strong physique... In the memories, the awkward youth is quietly growing up - masculinity has replaced the former handsome!

  The wife is right... He's like the sun at 7 or 8 in the morning, with an infinitely beautiful future ahead of him!

  "Don't even think about becoming sisters with Feng Wanqing!" Anger churned in Xiao Sa's eyes, "I'm telling you, things aren't as simple as you think. Later on, it'll be about the children, the family property, and they even have a noble title - for these things, they'd be capable of murder and arson!"

  This is Xiao Xiao's personal experience!

  Her heart was filled with a sour and bitter feeling, as if something was about to burst out of her chest... making her feel instinctively afraid...

  She took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions, and smiled softly: "Xiao Xiao, things are not as serious as you think! Moreover, many people in the Great Zhou Dynasty have concubines, it's not just your husband alone. If it were like what you said, wouldn't it be chaos? My cousin and her husband have been together since childhood, they love each other, and my cousin is very respectful to me. Once she enters the household, I'm sure we'll get along harmoniously. You don't need to worry!"

  Xiao Xiao gazed at her smile, which was completely free of any grudges, her slender and delicate figure, and her waist that seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand... The anger in his heart spread like wildfire throughout his entire body.

  Don't worry, don't worry! This way, how can people not worry...... Having met Liang Jimin that hypocrite, Mu Qing was like a naive child who didn't know the ways of the world...... Now that his wife is no longer around, where is she a match for Liang Jimin?

  Xiao Xiao's eyes sank: "When the third anniversary of Madam's death comes, we will hold a Buddhist ritual. At that time, you bring Feng Danqing home, and I'll take care of him for you!" His voice was cold and unyielding, with no room for compromise.

  She lowered her head quietly, fearing that her tears would fall at this moment...

  At this moment, she was certain that Xiao Sa had feelings for her that even he himself didn't know... He had already done too much, gone too far... If he didn't stop in time, it would become a disaster... Anyway, she was just a passerby, and the fame, honor, and other things that worldly people cared about were all meaningless to her... But Xiao Sa was different, he always had grand ideals, always worked so hard, and lived so earnestly...

  Shen Mu Qing blinked hard and then lifted her head to reveal a faint smile to Xiao Sa: "This is my family affair, it's better if you don't interfere."

  "Household chores..." Xiao Xiao's face turned slightly pale, muttering these three words repeatedly, suddenly her mind was in a mess, unable to make sense of anything.

  "Yes!" Shen Muqing emphasized, "This is my family affair! And now that the master has returned, if there's anything, I'll naturally have to consult with him... During this time, you've worked hard for our family's affairs. If possible, I'll let the master reward you handsomely!"

  Xiao Xiao's face turned even paler.

  He slightly lowered his eyelids and remained silent for a while.

  For a moment, the room fell silent.

  Since you've already drawn the knife, just stab it in... one cut after another, it's even more painful... especially when he still hasn't felt the pain and you behead him...

  Shen Mu Qing thought to herself, faintly hearing the sound of loud laughter coming from outside, mixed with a few indistinct sentences: "... Wang Ge's old lady is too polite... Hu Ge's words are reasonable... We'll have to rely on each other more in the future..."

  The speaker is Mr. Min.

  It seems that Wang Shengyun has come to visit Master in person...

  Shen Mu's heart moved slightly, and he urged Xiao Sa: "It seems that Hu Ge Lao and Wang Ge Lao have come to visit Master. Xiao Sa, you'd better withdraw for now! If the two elders ask about it, how should we introduce...?"

  Xiao Xiao slowly raised her head and gazed at Shen Muqing.

  Shen Mu's body shook slightly.

  Those eyes are so strange. Gone is the former pride, swagger and confidence... only a void remains.

  Let her feel the fear emotion stronger than last time gushing out... sour, tender, warm, yet with a dull ache...

  Shen Mu Qing clenched her fists tightly, preventing herself from doing something impulsive that she would regret later.

  A faint smile gradually emerged on his pale face - a stiff and self-mocking smile.

  Then he nodded slightly towards her: "Third Young Master's wife is right..."

  Still and quiet as if struck by thunder.

  Xiao Xiao, it was the first time he called her "Third Young Mistress"... In the past, he had called her "Hey", called her "Fool", called her "Mu Qing"... but never had he called her "Third Young Mistress".

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but lower her head.

  Heavy footsteps have already sounded in my ears...

  Gradually, the surroundings returned to calmness!

  Shen Mu Qing lifted her head, only to find that the world in her eyes had become a blur... It was as if she was wearing glasses that had been splashed with water, and the bright light refracted into her eyes, but she couldn't see clearly where she was.

  ******

  Shen Mu stood quietly behind the screen, listening to Wang Shengyun and Hu Xinfang chatting with Shen Jian.

  As it happens, she has never met Wang Shengyun before.

  If it were usual, she would have carefully observed him through the gap in the screen... But today, she was really down and her heart was full of regret.

  If I had known it would be like this, why bother at the beginning?

  Shouldn't have gone to Bai Shu Hutong to see him... should have parted ways like that, how good would it be...

  "Master, Master," Shen Muqing was startled awake by Mr. Ouyang's flustered voice, "The Emperor, the Emperor has arrived..."

  The commotion in the room masked her nervousness.

  When she calmed down, the house once again restored its high-quality silence.

  Shen Muqing heard Shen Zhen's low voice: "Your minister, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

  "Quickly, please get up!" The voice was very gentle and sounded very young. "It's all my fault," the voice had a strong sense of despair. "Mr. Wang said that the corruption case in Yuyao has stirred up the anger of the officials, so it's better to wait for some time, until the storm passes, before releasing you... Who would have thought, but instead, you... It's all my mistake!"

  The tone was so sincere... that Shen Muqing couldn't help but curiously peek through the gap in the screen.

  A bright yellow dragon robe, a slender figure like a girl's, a fair and delicate face... This is the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Emperor who holds the life and death of the world in his hands.

  He gazed weakly at Shen Zhen, his face full of loss.

  "How can this be blamed on the Emperor?" Shen Jian knelt there with a respectful posture, his head full of silver hair was so piercing in Shen Muqing's eyes, "It's all me, I couldn't share the burden for the Emperor..."

  Shen Mu straightened his back and leaned against the armchair again, listlessly listening to the emperor's self-reproach and Shen Zhen's words of comfort.

  Finally, the Emperor put his mind at ease and smiled at Shen Zhen: "Ai Liao has suffered a great loss, I think it's better to rest at home for a few days. The affairs of the Grand Council will be temporarily handled by Zhang Gong lao, and when the new year begins tomorrow, Ai Liao can return to Wenquan Hall without delay."

  The political situation changes rapidly, next spring, next spring doesn't know if the emperor still remembers Shen Zhen...

  "Thank you for your imperial kindness!" Shen Zhen knelt down to thank him, his voice full of sincerity and gratitude.

  Shen Muqing swallowed the sigh that was about to escape her throat.

  ******

  Mr. Min and Mr. Ouyang were worried about the emperor's words, Shen Jian did not express his opinion, only Liang Jimin was very excited: "Master, it seems that you are still in the emperor's favor!"

  Shen Zhen looked at him expressionlessly and said, "I'm a bit tired, Mu Qing, attend to me and let's take a rest!"

  Shen Mu Qingying supported Shen Jian into the bedroom.

  Mr. Min and Mr. Ouyang simultaneously let out a soft sigh.

  Haha... found out that the ticket prices have gone up again...

  Mind, first launch of handwritten text version, new domain name and new starting point! Update faster, all e-book formats are free to download.

  New thinking, first launch of handwritten version. New domain name new starting point! Update faster, all e-book formats free download.