Chapter 147: First Stabilize the Domestic Situation (Pink Ticket 600 Additional Chapter)

  Ke Shenxun didn't think so though. (handwritten)

  The first thing he did after receiving the imperial edict was to send Chen Niang back to the Chen family.

  Aunt Chen was stunned at the time, and when she came to her senses, Shen Zhen had already written a letter and sent it to Qiantang where Mr. Chen worked.

  She neither ate nor drank, and lay on her bed wailing loudly.

  Shen Muqing knew about it and asked Mr. Ouyang to persuade Shen Zhen, while he himself went to the Liu Yi courtyard.

  She didn't like Chen Yiniang, and sympathized with Li Shi... but she also knew that Chen Yiniang was the mother of Da She, and Shen Zhen was old and needed a companion. If this matter could change Chen Yiniang for the better, it wouldn't be a bad thing.

  "Aunt, you are still in your youth, but Master is already an old man. I also understand your concerns, fearing that if Master remarries, the new mistress will not treat you well; fearing that if Master passes away before you, Da Ye will be young and vulnerable to being bullied... In short, it's all about wanting someone to rely on." Shen Muqing sat beside her bed, trying to comfort her.

  Aunt Chen looked at Shen Muqing with tear-swollen eyes, then continued to wail on the bed - only this time, her voice was a little softer than before.

  "Don't cry anymore! Since I've come to see you, it's because I don't want any conflicts between you and your father... Whatever issues there are, let's talk them through openly. If they can be resolved, we'll resolve them; if not, we'll discuss what to do next."

  Aunt Chen sat up, occasionally using a handkerchief to cover her eyes, sobbing and sniffling.

  "Madam, you're a wise person, please tell me. Since I entered the Shen family's door, no matter whether it was to the madam or the old master, I've always been respectful and courteous. But I don't understand why after the madam passed away, the old master couldn't tolerate me?"

  Maybe it's because of guilt!

  Shen Mu was deep in thought.

  "That's also because you're too incompetent!" Shen Muqing remained stern, "Helping the Fourth Miss bring things in and accepting that person's silver, you're also from an official family, what do you have to say for yourself?"

  Aunt Chen lowered her head and explained: "I, I didn't burn the letter, did I?"

  "This isn't about whether it's burning or not, this is a matter of your principles. Shen Muqing said bluntly, "You're uneasy in your heart, I can understand that. Even with the accounts of the Jiangnan shops, I've been turning a blind eye, do you know why?"

  Madam Chen stared at Shen Muqing in surprise.

  "That's because of the Shen family. When we were in trouble, you could still take good care of your wife with all your heart." Shen Muqing's eyebrows were cold and stern, "For a family to prosper, they must first be united as one. To be honest, I agree that you should be sent back to the Chen family since you only care about yourself."

  "No, no, no! I won't go back!" Chen Yiniang cried tears like rain, "I don't want to be separated from Da She, I don't want to spend the rest of my life with my head hung low..." As she spoke, she suddenly knelt down in front of Shen Muqing, "Madam, please beg Master for me, say that I will never dare again... I was possessed by a demon at the time..."

  "Why not take the ruby earrings as well?"

  Chen's aunt showed an expression of both shyness and fear.

  Shen Mu's heart skipped a beat as he loudly rebuked, "Are you somehow related to that Dài Guì... or is there some kind of connection between you two?"

  "No, no." Chen's aunt's face turned pale, and she shook her head repeatedly. "None, I only saw Dai Gui once... Don't believe me? Ask Xiang Lian, no, no, no... You ask Wang Mama... ask the women in our courtyard..." She cried and swore, "None, I really didn't..."

  In ancient times, women had private feelings, but the difficulty coefficient was too high - because there were always a large group of people around them, especially for women like Chen Niang who had no "power" at home.

  Shen Muqing just felt that Chen Niang's expression was too strange, and then thought of Jia Dai Gui's delicate eyebrows and eyes...

  But Chen's aunt saw Shen Mu Qing being slow to speak and was really afraid that this matter would become a reality.

  She believed that the third young master of the Liang family had a private relationship with her cousin, but she didn't believe it had developed to the point of intimacy... What woman would be so stupid? Who knows what kind of tricks this lady from their own household used? Others may not know, but Li's tactics she had witnessed with her own eyes...

  "It was the fourth young lady who told me, Dai Gui likes her..." She said, looking at Shen Muqing with some trepidation, "But the elders want the Shen family to form an alliance... so they didn't tell Madame about it... After she returns to Taicang and breaks off the engagement, the Dai family will come to propose... That's why I received those three thousand taels of silver, supposedly as a thank-you gift..."

  "She said whatever you believe!" Shen Mu Qing slapped a palm on the kang table.

  Aunt Chen said in a low voice: "I, I didn't believe it at first. On the day of your wedding, Dai Gui came to find me personally and told me exactly the same thing as Fourth Young Lady... asking me to send something to Fourth Young Lady... so I sent it!"

  Shen Mu was so shocked that she couldn't say a word, so she simply told her about Shen Yue's disappearance.

  "How could this be? How could this be?" Chen Yini's face was terrified, grabbing Shen Muqing's hand, "You deceived me! You deceived me!" As she spoke, tears poured down her face.

  It seems like this isn't fake sadness after all.

  Shen Mu Qing quietly let out a soft sigh.

  "This matter, whether it's the Taichang Lao family or Kyoto, we've all kept it strictly confidential, so don't go spreading rumors outside!"

  "Aunt Chen nodded repeatedly: 'Miss, I really didn't mean to...I opened the letter and read it, it was a love poem, didn't mention anything about eloping...otherwise, I would have told Madame about this. I'm not that muddled-headed person!'"

  "So from now on, you must be more careful in your actions." Shen Muqing advised her, "You are the birth mother of Da She, and Da She is my only younger brother. We are a family, and if we can't unite as one, the Shen family will only decline."

  Aunt Chen nodded, and Shen Muqing stood up and said, "You think carefully about what I just said."

  She left the Liu Yi courtyard and went to the main house.

  "Master has not returned yet!" Then he invited her to sit by the window on the kang.

  Shen Muqing and others pulled Shen Zhen aside to chat: "Madam is no longer here, you and Cui Lian are both people who have served Madam, do you have any plans?"

  After the mistress left, the two senior maids, Orange Fragrance and Emerald Ribbon, lost their backbone. Although they still served in the main house as before, it was not the same as when Madam Li was in charge - everything had a procedure under her rule. In Madam Li's time, senior maids were let go at eighteen years old, but now she and Emerald Ribbon had reached that age, yet no one took charge of them.

  Upon hearing Shen Muqing say this, Cheng Xiang knelt down: "Young Mistress, I'll listen to you!"

  Shen Mu nodded slightly: "Do you want to stay in the mansion or get married?"

  "Orange fragrance face one red: 'I, I want to stay in the mansion!'"

  "Is there anything you'd like?"

  "Orange fragrance lowered her head: 'I like someone else, but that person may not necessarily like me!'"

  "Say it out loud and I'll take a look!"

  A faint voice like a mosquito's hum spat out a name - Shuixiang.

  Shen Mu Qing nodded slightly, and outside, Cui Lian reported: "Young Mistress, the Master has returned!"

  She hastily said: "You also ask Cui Lian, I have an arrangement too!"

  Tangerine fragrance walked away with gratitude all over her face.

  Shen Zhen's expression was calm and composed, showing no signs of having just drunk with Mr. Ouyang.

  The father and daughter sat down in their respective seats, and Shen Jian didn't wait for Shen Muqing to speak before saying: "Are you here to plead on behalf of Chen's wife?"

  "Old master is indeed sharp-eyed!" Shen Mu Qing laughed and said.

  "Don't pretend to be blind here..." Shen Zhen dismissed all the servants in the house, "I heard from Wang's mother that you went to Liu Yi's courtyard, are you thinking of telling me about Chen Yiniang?"

  "Give her a chance!" Shen Mu Qing nodded calmly.

  Shen Zhen disagreed: "You're too soft-hearted!"

  "Having done good deeds, good things will follow!"

  Shen Zhen shook his head: "Do you really want to keep Chen Yiniang? She's too reckless in her actions!"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and nodded.

  "Go on, what's your bright idea!"

  Shen Mu Qing said slowly: "Aunt Wang is also old, this time we return to Jiangnan, let Aunt Wang and General Manager Wang leave the mansion!"

  Shen Zhen thought for a moment and said, "You mean, let Jie Hong take charge of the household?"

  Shen Mu nodded calmly: "Speaking of which, Auntie is also a good person. Especially in the Prison God Temple, she can do her part - why don't we just let her take care of this family! And there are some things that we should clarify with her, so that she won't be uneasy all the time."

  "Explained clearly?" Shen Zhen was stunned.

  "Yes, let's clarify things." Shen Muqing said with a smile, "For example, do you plan to remarry? If not, how will the family affairs be arranged after your hundred years; if remarried, how will the family affairs be arranged... Everyone sits down and talks clearly, I think Chen Niang may not feel so insecure!"

  Who would have known that Shen Zhen coldly let out a "hmmph" and said, "What's there to arrange? I'm at such an old age already, with sons and daughters, what string am I supposed to continue? Besides, family matters were all divided up by the wife when she was still around..."

  Shen Mu Qing frowned and rubbed her forehead: "Master, what about Chen Niang? She's much younger than you. You must have some plans for her?"

  Shen Zhen really didn't have any plans.

  He was taken aback by her words, and after a long while, he spoke in a confused tone: "She naturally followed Da She...and I didn't plan to let her keep vigil for me either. Later, when we meet someone suitable, she can remarry..."

  "This is also an arrangement?" Shen Muqing sighed with a bitter smile, "If you say this to Chen Niang, I'm sure Chen Jie Niang will feel better too!"

  Shen Zhen wanted to speak but stopped himself.

  Shen Muqing let out a long sigh.

  It's no wonder that Chen's wife is greedy for money, with a husband like this, she doesn't want to think of ways to make some herself, and instead relies on others!

  "She thought for a moment and said: 'I have an idea, what do you think?'"

  Shen Zhen nodded slightly with some hesitation.

  "Just as you said, Madam divided the family property when she was alive," Shen Muqing smiled and said, "I'm the beneficiary, I don't have any opinion." As he spoke, he winked at Shen Zhen.

  Shen Zhen was amused by his daughter's appearance and couldn't help but smile, easing the tense atmosphere that had existed just a moment before.

  "Let Chen's wife take charge at home. I've calculated that the household expenses are much less than before, and 1,200 taels of silver per year is enough to maintain it. I live at home and pay 600 taels of silver to Gong Zhong every year - but this does not include the monthly allowance for the side room, seasonal clothes, and festival bonuses. What do you think?"

  Shen Zhen furrowed his brow: "Calculating it this way, you need at least a thousand taels of silver per year to maintain your expenses..."

  "Even if you sit and eat a mountain, it will eventually be empty." Shen Mu Qing smiled cunningly, "So I want to manage the White Paper Tea House well...I believe it will definitely do well."

  Shen Zhen burst out laughing: "You! If you want to open a shop, just say so. In this regard, you're like your wife, always beating around the bush!"