Chapter 128: Unknown Prospects

  Fu Hua Gongzhu and Jiang Shuangrui sent the maid, Mama, from the back garden to the Die Cui Yuan.

  The gate of the Cuiyuan was wide open, and two young maids with their hair down stood in the corner of the wall whispering to each other.

  Fu Hua and Jiang Shuangrui exchanged a glance, both of them let out a sigh of relief.

  The little maid knew both of them, one hastily went to inform, and the other smiled and came forward to greet the two with a bow.

  The princess Fu Hua revealed a kind smile and asked the little maid: "On such a cold day, why are you standing in the courtyard?"

  The little maid smiled and said, "Third Young Mistress and Second Miss are not at home. Fifth Miss of the Feng manor is waiting for Second Miss here. As a result, Third Young Master suddenly returned, so Eldest Young Mistress had us wait on them in the courtyard. She also said that many guests came to our house today, if someone comes, there will be someone to announce!"

  "What happened to the others?"

  Xiao Yāo Róng smiled and said: "Chūn Shù Jiě Jie and Bì Yún Jiě Jie have both been called away by Dīng Xiāng Jiě Jie, who is beside the young mistress, to help with something. The stove has also gone out, and there's not even any hot water for brewing tea. Chéng Xīn went to the kitchen and said that they would boil a kettle of hot water."

  Involved Wang Wenxu again!

  The unease in the hearts of Princess Fuhua and Jiang Shuangrui grew stronger.

  The two of them quickened their pace and headed towards the east wing where Liang Qi Min lived, but they ran into Feng Wan Qing who was coming out with a swish of her curtain.

  She looked no different except for some redness at the corners of her eyes.

  "The princess and second auntie came over without bringing anyone with them?"

  Princess Fuhua noticed that when Feng Wanqing said this, her expression was somewhat tense.

  She smiled quietly and said: "We deliberately shook off the people around us to come out for a walk - I heard that Ji Min is back, let's go ask about the situation at Mu Qing's home!"

  Feng Wanqing heard Princess Fuhua mention "Mu Qing" and revealed a few hints of resentment in her eyes.

  Rich and luxurious princess in her heart moved. On the one hand, she walked forward, on the other hand, she smiled and said: "How come, after Season Miao became a scholar, he started to show off? He knew I came but didn't even come out to greet me?"

  Jiang Shuangrui remained silent all along, with Fuhua Gongzhu singing the leading role and following behind Fuhua Gongzhu.

  Feng Wanqing was taken aback, hastily walked to the front of Fuhua Princess, lifted the curtain for Fuhua Princess and loudly said: "Third brother, the princess and second sister-in-law have arrived!"

  Liang Ji Min in the house had already received news and was about to lift the curtain and come out, almost colliding with Princess Fu Hua.

  "You're so big now, but still so reckless!" Fu Hua scolded Liang Jieming with a smile, her eyes sizing him up from head to toe.

  Liáng Jìmǐn's face turned red, and he bowed his head: "Your Highness, forgive me!"

  Apart from her hair being a bit disheveled, Liang Jimu couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

  Jiang Shuangrui finally felt at ease.

  The rich and noble princess has already inquired about the situation of the Shen family.

  "...The mistress is gone, the old master doesn't care about worldly affairs, and there's no one in charge at home... Mu Qing can take care of the illness and also help manage the household... The big house's lessons can't be delayed, need to find a teacher, and there's also the Jiangnan store, saying that there's a problem with the accounts, checking the accounts..."

  Princess Fuhua initially listened to Liang Jimin's words very seriously, but gradually, a suspicious expression appeared on her face, and later, she began to feel somewhat restless.

  Feng Wanqing's face changed slightly. She hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said: "Third Brother, just answer the princess's questions, don't be so evasive!" Her eyes glared at Liang Jimin for a moment.

  Liang Jimin's eyes flashed with a few points of discomfort, and he showed a cramped smile to Princess Fuhua, completely losing his usual elegance.

  Princess Fuhua's eyes sank, and she stood up: "It's getting late, let's go back to Xiangyun Temple - lest the mothers don't know where we went later!"

  Jiang Shuangrui stood up with Princess Fuhua.

  Li Qiming said: "The princess still sit for a while! I'll let someone go and tell the mothers of Xiangyun Temple."

  Feng Wanqing also smiled - but her smile was somewhat forced. She said: "Yes, Princess, why don't you sit for a while?"

  The princess Fu Hua sighed softly and insisted on leaving.

  Liang Jimin naturally didn't insist on staying, everyone exchanged a few pleasantries, and Feng Wancheng followed Fuhua Princess and Jiang Shuangrui back to Xiangyun Temple.

  Liáng Yòu Huì saw Féng Wǎn Qīng but ignored her and continued playing with Guì Jiě.

  Feng Wanqing smiled awkwardly and explained in a low voice to Liang Youhui.

  The princess Fu Hua saw it and walked straight out, standing on the platform, teasing the skylark under the eaves.

  Jiang Shuangrui personally served bird food on the side.

  "Princess, is there something wrong?" Jiang Shuangrui asked in a low voice, somewhat uneasy as he understood the Princess of Fuhua.

  The rich princess gazed at the lively jumping sparrows in the bird cage, with a hint of melancholy on her face.

  "Shuang Rui, why is it always women making things difficult for other women?"

  Jiang Shuangrui was taken aback.

  The princess Fu Hua said: "When I went in, I smelled the scent of lily!"

  The fragrance of lily in the imperial court is secretly made, commonly known as "**Fragrance"!

  Jiang Shuangrui was stunned: "This, this......"

  "After all, we were one step too late." Princess Fuhua sighed softly, "I hope the two of them can hold on to each other and remain pure..."

  ******

  The 72nd birthday of the old lady ended in Shen Muqing's absence. At the end of October, she returned to the Liang family and Liang Youhui happily pulled her hand, telling her about the old lady's birthday: "... The princess sent a jade ruyi, a string of Gannan rosary beads, King Jin sent 100 longevity peaches, Zhang Ge Lao sent two cranes... But the old lady liked the 'White Robe Ferry Mother' painting that San Shu gave her the most, and even had someone hang it in the Buddhist hall." As she spoke, she smiled with a pleased expression.

  Shen Mu Qing rubbed her nose: "You just want to say that the gift you gave is the best! And here you are, still trying to deceive me."

  Liang Youhui giggled and said: "It would be better if San Shu was at home, we even set off fireworks that day."

  Shen Mu Qing listened quietly for a moment, then said: "Releasing fireworks? Didn't Big Sister say anything?"

  Liáng Yòu Huì Qí said: "How did you know Eldest Sister is unhappy?"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled slightly and said: "I guessed it!"

  "Third sister really guessed it!" said Liang Youhui, "She said to save this firework until New Year's Day to set off, which made grandmother unhappy. She said, since no outsiders were invited, they were all relatives at home, what's the big deal?"

  "Is that so?" Shen Muqing's expression was dazed as he responded, "She is an intelligent person, how could she not know the danger in this?"

  "What's so fierce?" Liang Youhui asked curiously.

  Shen Mu Qing softly exclaimed "oh" and gave a sweet smile to Liang You Hui, taking out the big-headed doll that had been brought back from Wuxi and handing it over: "For you!"

  Liáng Yòu Huì was overjoyed, and soon forgot what she had just asked. She hugged the big doll in her arms and went to play with her two nephews who had just come back from school.

  Shen Mu Qing looked at her back and smiled.

  "Third Young Mistress, this is setting off fireworks, isn't that a bit too bold?" Jing Yun said with some concern.

  "What are we going to do with these?" Shen Muqing smiled and said, "Isn't there still Wang Wenxuan?"

  ******

  Before long, it was December and every household began preparing for the New Year.

  Wang's mother took out the account book and went to see Shen Muqing to discuss New Year's matters with her.

  Feng was somewhat dissatisfied: "I don't even have anyone to help me here, but she's doing well, managing things all the way to her mother's house!"

  Wang Wenxian's hand that was calculating stopped for a moment, and she smiled: "This is also an unavoidable thing, can't let the aunt take over the house!"

  Feng pouted and didn't say anything else.

  On the other side, Wang's mother and Shen Muqing settled everything for the New Year. Wang's mother did not get up to bid farewell as usual, but sat there hesitantly, looking at Shen Muqing with a hesitant expression.

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but laugh: "Is it Chen Niang again making some kind of request?"

  Everyone at home was released, but everyone was very frightened. Several families proposed to Shen Zhen that they wanted to redeem themselves.

  Shen Zhen wasn't encountering this for the first time, and he indifferently waved his hand: "Those who want to leave can leave!" And handed this matter over to Shen Muqing to handle.

  There is income and expenditure.

  Chen Yiniang kept nagging Shen Muqing every day to buy a few more houses and move in.

  Shen Mu Qing didn't say much to her either, and instead focused on reassigning tasks to the remaining staff and increasing their monthly allowance. As a result, although there were fewer people, household chores weren't delayed in the slightest.

  Aunt Chen whispered in her ear, saying: The family is not what it used to be, if we don't sell a few more, it's already good, and the monthly expenses are still increasing? And she brought up Mrs. Li again: "Even when the mistress was around, things weren't like this!"

  He smiled lightly and said, "I haven't heard that our family is short of money!"

  Then they started checking the accounts at home. As they checked, they found that it was related to the sixteen shops in Jiangnan, and even asked Zhou Bing, who helped take care of the tea shop in Baizhi Fang, to come and help with the check.

  Aunt Chen finally shut up.

  Wang's mother covered her mouth and laughed: "Aunt Chen is now more honest than the mistress was at that time!"

  Shen Mu nodded calmly: "When the lady was locked in the Temple of Prison, she could serve me wholeheartedly, I won't forget that. Now that the lady is gone, the old master also needs someone who knows cold and heat by his side, she can be so honest and simple, I'm not unwilling to accommodate her."

  Wang's mother nodded repeatedly: "I'm really afraid that Auntie will send her back to her parents' home in a fit of anger!"

  "I'm not someone who doesn't know about the world either." Shen Muqing sighed, "People who are alive have to keep living!"

  Wang's mother nodded and chatted with Shen Mu for a few sentences, but ultimately didn't say what she wanted to say.

  Shen Muqing trusted Wang's mother very much. Since she didn't say anything, it meant there was an unspoken understanding between them. She also didn't mention it and personally escorted Wang's mother out of the second gate.

  On the way back, he ran into Liang Jitian.

  Since she came back, Liang Jimin felt uneasy when seeing Shen Muqing, just like a mouse seeing a cat. This time, he didn't dare to linger and hastily bowed to her before quickly leaving for Xianhe Hall.

  ******

  On the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, Shen Muqing returned to her mother's home once again.

  After checking the prepared annual goods, he also urged Da She to move the things for ancestor worship to the ancestral hall with the ancestral portraits on the incense table.

  Aunt Chen watched from the side as Xiao Xiao struggled to move those heavy bronze tripods, her face filled with distress.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said: "Aunt should be happy instead - this is something that can only be done after being recorded in the family tree!"

  Aunt Chen hastily accompanied her with a smile: "Yes, madam."

  Since returning from the Temple of Prison God, Chen Yiniang has been taking care of Dashu personally, showing great kindness and warmth. Perhaps it's the natural affection between mother and son, or perhaps it's Chen Yiniang's genuine love for him, but Dashu is also willing to get close to her. Once, on a rainy day, he even pushed Tian Mama, who was trying to stop him from going out to play, to the ground, shouting at her "You're not my family", which made Tian Mama cry sadly for several days.

  Things were almost done, Shen Muqing went to see Shen Zhen.

  Shen Zhen was reclining on a couch covered with sable fur, reading a book.

  Shen Mu Qing gazed at the bed and let out a sigh in her heart.

  That was what Li used when he died to stop his bed.

  Hehe...... Sisters, get up early tomorrow to see the update!