Thinking of this, a faint smile appeared on Shen Muqings face.

  Before long, it was time, and the self-striking clock rang out a clear "ding-dong" sound. Mr. Min stepped into the study right on schedule.

  Min Bi Shan was in his early twenties, with a sword-like eyebrow and starry eyes, a slender waist and long arms, extremely handsome.

  He wore a Buddhist-style blue velvet changshan today, holding several thick books in his hand. His jade-like face was radiant with a soft glow in the gentle light, and his eyebrows were filled with joyful smiles, as bright as the first ray of sunlight at dawn.

  Seeing Shen Muqing reviewing his lessons for the past few days, Mr. Min smiled and nodded, saying: "Muqing, not bad, not bad."

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and bowed to Mr. Min from behind a silk screen.

  Mr. Min sat down, put the book in his hand on the table, hesitated for a moment, and said very seriously: "Mu Qing, about the sentence the people can be made to follow it but cannot be made to understand it that we discussed two days ago, I have thought carefully about it, although there is some reason, but it is not feasible. As the saying goes, governing a country is like cooking a small fish, if according to what you said, wouldnt it mean that all the current official schools and private schools would have to be re-established..."

  This sentence was originally quite controversial, and it involved the system of feudal monarchy, which is not something that can be explained in one or two sentences, nor is it something that people can accept overnight... Shen Muqing just spoke out of emotion that day, and had no intention of continuing to argue with Mr. Min, but Mr. Min seemed to be enchanted by Shen Muqings words "If you want the country to be rich and strong, you need to popularize basic education" and didnt care about Shen Muqings feelings, pulling her to continue this topic. However, unlike two days ago, this time it was Mr. Min speaking, and Shen Muqing listening...

  Luomei just stood beside Shenmu Qing with her hands down, helping to grind ink and lay paper when she needed it. Jinxiu, on the other hand, flitted about like a butterfly, sometimes serving tea water to Mr. Min, sometimes tidying up the books in the western room.

  Half a watch passed quickly, and Mr. Min stood up with a smile: "Three people travel together, there must be my teacher among them. You are indeed not deceiving me!"

  "Indeed, sir, your broad-mindedness is great, allowing Shen Muqings nonsense."

  Mr. Min shook his head regretfully: "What a pity... such good talent..." After saying that, he was still not giving up and hesitated for a moment before handing Shen Muqing a collection of Bai Juyis poems: "Take some time to memorize all of these."

  Shen Mu smiled slightly and took it over.

  Mr. Min knows this student of his. Whether you say it or not, whether she does it or not, looking at her like this, although she accepted the book, Im afraid she wont read it seriously.

  He sighed and left.

  Shen Muqing went to Chaoxi Hall where his mother lived.

  ******

  Shen Zhen was very busy, and her free time was already scarce. Sometimes she had to go to Chen Niangs place, and when she was with Li Shi, there was hardly any time left. Although the house was bustling with many servants coming and going, every time Shen Muqing looked at Chen Niangs face, which was radiant with youth and beauty, she felt sorry for Li Shi, and her heart would ache secretly. But what could be done? This was just how society was, and it couldnt be changed by one persons efforts... She could only try her best to accompany Li Shi. Listen to Li Shi talk, venting her lonely emotions; or listen to Li Shi talk about old times, searching for some sweet memories in the past; or pretend to be silly and foolish, making Li Shi laugh... In this shared experience of being a woman, Shen Muqing gradually developed a sense of dependence on Li Shi, from initially fulfilling her filial duties to now enjoying each others company like friends.

  As they walked along the bund, they met Wang Mama.

  Mrs. Wang frowned, her expression somewhat stern, with several maidservants who usually attended to her following closely behind. They surrounded two unfamiliar women. One of the women was about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a white high-collared shirt with a lake-green face and a narrow-sleeved jacket, a white silk skirt with a silver pin on her temples, without any other decorations. The other woman was in her thirties, with black hair combed into a bun, wearing a white high-collared shirt, a white double-layered skirt, and a blue satin jacket outside.

  The Shen Mansion often had women from various mansions or mothers of the stewards coming and going, but none were dressed like this - firstly, the weather had already turned cool, so she was a bit too thinly dressed; secondly, even if she had come to pay her respects as a guest, the color was still too plain.

  Shen Mu Qing couldnt help but glance over with curiosity.

  Wangs mother had already seen Shen Muqing and hastily curtsied, smiling: "Miss has finished school!"

  Shen Mu Qing dynasty wearing a smile nodded, that lake-colored narrow sleeve jacket little girl already curtsied: "This is the host sister, right? I am your Tai Cang second uncles fourth elder sister Shen Yue Rong."

  Tai Cangs second uncles familys fourth elder sister Shen Yuerong? Who is she?

  She had never heard of a second uncle in the warehouse since she could remember.

  Shen Mu quietly gazed at Wangs mother with a clear and distant expression.

  Wangs mother gently shook her head at Shen Muqing and smiled: "The fourth girl doesnt get along with us, and the relatives have become estranged."

  Shen Yues face turned red.

  Shen Muqing listened carefully and understood the implication, knowing that Shen Yuerong was indeed a relative of hers. She politely bowed her head and smiled: "Im young and dont understand much about family matters, sister please dont blame me!"

  Shen Yue Rong hastily put on a smile and returned a courtesy to Shen Mu Qing, while the Luomei and Jinyou behind Shen Mu Qing paid their respects to Shen Yue Rong. The woman following Shen Yue Rong also paid her respects to Shen Mu Qing. After a flurry of greetings, they finally stood still once again.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said: "Sister, when did you arrive? Have you seen Madame?"

  Shen Yue smiled and said: "Just arrived, was just about to go see Madam."

  "Thats great!" Shen Muqing laughed and said, "Im also going to Madams place, just in time to go together."

  Everyone went to Chaoxi Hall together.

  It seems that Li already knew Shen Yue Rong was coming and had sent Cheng Xiang to wait in the corridor.

  Cheng Xiang saw Shen Muqing and Yueniang together, was startled, knelt down to pay respects to Shen Muqing, and at the same time called a little maid beside her to inform them, saying "Miss has finished school and also came to pay respects to Madam".

  Inside the house, Li wore a lotus green hundred butterfly embroidered silk narrow sleeve jacket and sat alone on the black lacquer carved arhat bed in the main room. Chen Niang was sitting on the black lacquer velvet stool beside the arhat bed, massaging Lis legs.

  As they entered, Chen Ayi quickly stood up and curtsied to Shen Muqing. Meanwhile, Shen Yuesong was already wiping away tears with her handkerchief: "Aunt... Im your niece Shen Yuesong!" As she spoke, she fell to the ground in a bow.

  The woman who had been Shen Yues bodyguard quickly followed and knelt down: "Huang Shi pays her respects to the madam."

  "Quickly get up, quickly get up!" she said, also taking out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes. "I only just heard today... its already been over a month, and yet not even a single person came to report the news... if you hadnt come, I would still be in the dark..."

  Shen Yue Rong burst into tears: "...... Eldest Aunt, please make a decision for your niece!"

  The people standing on both sides also covered their faces, only Shen Muqing was unclear.

  Chens aunt was saying words of condolence such as "bear with the sorrow and accept the change" and "dont cry, it will ruin your health", trying to comfort Li. Wangs mother and Lis mother then stepped forward and picked up Shen Yueshuang. Everyone slowly stopped crying, and Li pointed at Shen Muqing and said to Shen Yueshuang: "This is your younger sister, four years younger than you, her nickname is Jijie."

  Shen Yues eyes were red as she greeted Shen Muqing again.

  Li said with a sob: "Jie Hong, you accompany the young lady to the western wing for a while. I still have something to ask the fourth young lady."

  Chen Yiniang nodded and supported Shen Muqing into the western wing room.

  On the southern windows nunnery bed, Shen Muqings favorite snacks had already been arranged. Luo Mei helped Shen Muqing take off his shoes and get onto the kang, while Chen Niangniang took over the tea brought by Xiang Huo and personally served it to Shen Muqing.

  Shen Mu Qing glanced at the hall with a calm and clear gaze, and said in a low voice: "Whats going on here?"

  "Master has a younger brother born of a concubine, in Taicangs old home, with whom he hasnt had much contact for many years. Just this afternoon, after the young lady left, Liu Quans family suddenly came to report that the second wife of Masters younger brothers household had passed away, and the fourth daughter of Masters younger brothers household specially came to request an audience with Madam, and is currently waiting in her room... it gave us all a fright."

  "This news also made Shen Muqing feel very surprised: "Tai Cang is so far away from here... how can he suddenly say that he has come... and Er Tai, when did she not have any news beforehand..."

  Its about relatives, but they havent seen each other for many years and dont know if this person and thing are true or not!

  Shen Mu Qings heart skipped a beat as she thought that Li Shi was a shrewd person, and some things were even more obvious to herself. How could Li Shi not think of it? Since she had sent Wang Ma to pick someone up, it already proved that Shen Yue Rongs words were true. Her own explanation was still inappropriate, so in the end, she swallowed her words.

  Aunt Chen smiled and said: "Specifically, Im not clear either - its the person Madam asked Wang Mama to pick up."

  Shen Mu Qing was taken aback for a moment.

  Aunt Chen was able to gain the liking of everyone in the Shen family, and she was undoubtedly a very clever person. She chose to be ambiguous on this matter, which was enough to attract Shen Muqings attention to this matter.

  Shen Mu Qing quietly gazed at Chen Niang with an unchanged expression, listening to the movements in the main hall through a screen.

  The voice was very low, occasionally mixed with a few sobs from Shen Yue Rong, and only heard a few sentences "Doing this to oneself, letting people point at ones nose and scold" and "It can be said that the family tradition of poetry, books, etiquette has been abandoned, what cant be done".

  Li did not utter a word from start to finish, and when Shen Yues crying gradually subsided, she called out to Li Mama: "Fourth Miss has been traveling by boat and carriage for a long time, take Fourth Miss to Xiangpu Garden to rest and tidy up."

  Shen Yues voice trembled as she spoke hastily: "Aunt... I, I dont know where to sit..."

  Mr. Li sighed: "Yue Rong, its not that I dont want to respond to you. After all, the parents are in charge of the marriage, and I am an outsider... Dont worry, listen to me... You can stay for now and take care of your body. When your uncle returns from the government office, we will make a decision."

  Sisters, celebrate opening a new pit, and send out another chapter, four updates today!

  Also thank you all for giving me a great start (*^__^*) hehe......