Mrs. Xie smiled and said, "You don't know that. When Mr. Han was alive, he was extremely stingy, afraid of wasting even a single wick when lighting lamps, let alone helping his poor relatives at home. On the other hand, Mrs. Han often took some silver back to buy sacrificial fields and repair the ancestral temple. So when Mr. Han died, not one person from his family came forward for him."

  Mrs. Hu Xin, over sixty years old, clasped her hands together and said "Amitabha", saying: "This can also be considered as good deeds being rewarded."

  Mrs. Liu was the youngest, only twenty-seven or eight years old. She listened and burst out laughing, saying: "I thought of a joke."

  Everyone's eyes were all on her.

  She coughed and laughed, saying: "A man married an old wife. When they sat in the hall, he saw her wrinkles and asked: 'How many years do you have?' The woman replied: 'Forty-five or six.' The husband asked: 'The marriage certificate says thirty-eight, but I think it's not just forty-five or six, tell me the truth.' The woman replied: 'I'm actually fifty-four years old.' The husband repeatedly asked her, and his wife only responded with her previous words. After a while, the husband came up with a plan and said: 'I want to get up and cover the salt jar, otherwise the mice will eat it away.' The woman said: 'Ha! I've lived to be sixty-eight years old, but I've never heard of mice stealing salt to eat.'"

  As soon as Madame Liu finished speaking, several ladies and all the maids in the room couldn't help but burst out laughing. Especially Mrs. Hu, who laughed so hard that tears came to her eyes: "You child, you're quite sharp-tongued!"

  "Madam doesn't know," Xie Minfu laughed until he was out of breath, "that Mrs. Han is seven or eight years older than Chen Daiting..."

  "Oh, there's such a thing!" Now, even the dignified and elegant Mrs. Qin Wei has become interested.

  Liu Jin saw that everyone was leaning in to listen, and after taking a deep breath, he smiled and said: "Not only that, but she and Lord Han have been married for over twenty years without having any children..."

  Now everyone's interest was piqued, and they all started discussing it enthusiastically.

  Shen Muqing saw Zhu Di quietly lift the curtain and enter, staring straight at her with wide eyes.

  Shen Mu Qing quietly and calmly said in a low voice beside Li Shi's ear, "Zhu Xi is looking for me. I'll let her take care of the utensils on the banquet table - I'm going to take a look."

  Li nodded slightly.

  Shen Mu Qing quietly and lightly stepped out of the hall.

  Pearls immediately followed with agility.

  "What's wrong?" Shen Muqing asked softly before she could even steady herself.

  Perhaps due to the influence of her profession, she dislikes the current feeling of powerlessness in grasping Li's condition. She wants to grasp everything that can be grasped to ensure that when unexpected events occur, her life will not be turned upside down. So she has been wanting to ask Mr. Liu to clarify what is going on, but unfortunately, they have missed each other several times and have not had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Liu alone. Thinking of today's situation, he might come, so she specially let Zhuji go to the front yard to inquire.

  Zhu Qi smiled and nodded: "Mr. Liu is drinking tea in the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion of Yu Xuan in the garden - Lin Daren, the Sacrificial Ruler of Guozijian, is also there."

  "Go!" Shen Muqing felt that he couldn't wait a moment longer and hastily walked forward.

  Zhu Qi saw the snow outside the window getting bigger and bigger, and hurriedly ran to the west wing room to fetch Shen Muqing's cloak.

  When she came out, Shen Muqing was nowhere to be seen. She looked at Yingxiu and Buxue who were still standing beside her and asked in confusion: "Who followed the young lady?"

  She stepped forward hesitantly under the moonlight and said: "No one... we thought you were going out with Miss..."

  Zhu Qi stomped her foot and muttered in a low voice, "Ying Fen, look at the good girl you've taught!" Then she ran quickly to the Lotus Fragrance Hall.

  ******

  Salvia, Angelica, Imperata, Plantago, Alisma... The words kept swirling in Shen Muqing's mind like a lantern. The emerald green leaves, the dazzling white snow, the crimson red railings, and the blue-green eaves all fell backwards one after another in the face of the oncoming cold air...

  She hastily entered the garden, where a familiar young servant greeted her: "Miss, how did you get here? Are you looking for someone?"

  Shen Mu Qing Zheng worried that no one would go to find Mr. Liu - she herself was good, the people in her house were also good, they were all girls, how could they be allowed to run wildly in the garden.

  That little fellow was also very clever, seeing Shen Muqing's face turn urgent, he hastily said: "Miss, why not go to the Wenyu Pavilion next door and wait, whatever it is, I can take care of it for you."

  Shen Muqing's gaze fell on the octagonal pavilion hidden among the cypresses, its green glazed tiles and grey pillars supporting glass doors. Underneath the pavilion was a heated floor, which would be lit up sometimes, making the pavilion warm as spring. Every winter, Shen Zhen would entertain friends here, drinking wine and admiring the snow.

  "Isn't anyone in the pavilion?" Shen Muqing asked strangely.

  The young servant smiled and said, "Earlier, Liu Xiansheng from the Hanlin Academy and several officials from the Ministry of Rites were drinking tea here. Later, they heard that Wang Ge had arrived, so everyone went to the Jiusi Building together."

  "King Ge Lao? Wang Shengyun?" Shen Muqing was slightly surprised, her eyebrows slightly raised.

  "It's Master Wang!" The young servant nodded, "I've already swept that place clean just now, it's very tidy."

  Shen Mu Qing slightly nodded and entered the Warm Jade Pavilion.

  Inside was indeed swept clean, and at the corner of the pavilion a small golden incense burner in the shape of an animal horn was still lit, emitting the fragrance of wormwood.

  "What's your name?" Shen Muqing sat on the rosewood chair by the pavilion window, smiling and asking the young servant.

  The young servant's face turned slightly red as he muttered: "My name is Huixiang."

  "Thank you, Xiang," Shen Muqing said politely. "Help me quietly call over Mr. Liu from the Imperial Hospital who often examines the Empress."

  Fennel busy making bows and leaving in response to the call.

  ******

  The room was warm as spring, but Mr. Liu felt a sweat on his back as soon as he stepped in. He subconsciously took off his earmuffs, but felt it was not proper to do so in front of the young lady in the boudoir. He immediately put them back on, but appeared somewhat awkward and lost his composure as an elder. So wearing them wasn't right, nor was taking them off; holding them in his hand, he revealed a flustered expression that even he himself didn't know: "I don't know what the young lady wants me for, is there something?"

  "Mr. Liu, let's sit down and talk - who knows, I might even recite a prescription for you later!" he said with a hint of a smile, his eyes glinting with amusement as he gestured to the rosewood chair in front of him.

  Mr. Liu's forehead was covered with a thin layer of sweat, and it was unclear whether Shen Muqing's words made him worried or because the weather in the house was really too hot.

  Being able to be chosen to entertain guests in the garden, there must be a few clever ideas. Angelica immediately felt the unusual atmosphere in the house. She secretly glanced back and forth between Shen Muqing and Mr. Liu, then carefully placed the brewed Xinyang Maojian tea on the tea table next to Mr. Liu.

  Shen Muqing made another "please" gesture to Mr. Liu, but turned his head to Ai Xiang and said: "You go outside and watch. If someone comes, help us block them."

  Angelica cleverly responded and left, also helping them bring up the warm jade pavilion's fan door.

  Mr. Liu's smile was somewhat forced, but he sat down in the rose chair, picked up the teacup and held it in his hand, without drinking. A thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

  Shen Mu Qing didn't say a word, just smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth and sat quietly there.

  After a long while, Mr. Liu let out a long sigh as if he had put down a heavy burden and said in a low voice: "I also know this is not good, but it's Mr. Shen's idea. He says he doesn't want to worry the people at home."

  Shen Mu's heart skipped a beat as he hastily asked, "How many more days does the lady have?" His tone was filled with hope.

  Mr. Liu looked at her silently, but his eyes were filled with sympathy.

  Her bright and clear eyes gradually dimmed, she pursed her lips and said stubbornly: "Does Madam still have many good days?"

  Mr. Liu remained silent for a long time before saying, "At most half a year, at least two months."

  Two months... two months...

  Shen Muqing's mind suddenly went blank.

  Maybe still waiting for the New Year... Shen Zhen has just been promoted to Grand Chancellor...

  She only felt her eyes getting wet, and the world in her eyes became a blur. She heard her own voice say hoarsely: "The old master also knows!"

  "Hmm!" Mr. Liu's voice was like a distant drumbeat at dawn, both far and muffled.

  "Thank you, Mr. Liu, for telling me the truth!" Shen Muqing closed his eyes, not wanting the moistness in them to fall down unscrupulously: "It's almost noon, and the flower hall outside is also starting to serve lunch. Xiangxiang, take care of Mr. Liu on his way out!"

  These years of fragments with Li's dealings flashed through her mind, making her heart like a knife cut, unable to calm herself.

  "Don't be too sad, miss!" Mr. Liu consoled her with deep feeling, "Birth, aging, illness and death are all natural human experiences..."

  Yes, everyone understands the truth, but when it really happens to you, how many people can still think clearly... Just two months ago, she had advised Li in the same way!

  Shen Mu Qing's heart ached more and more as she thought about it.

  No wonder she was urged so sternly to learn needlework...

  She forced back her tears and smiled: "Mr. Liu, I've kept you waiting. Don't mention this to the old master either, lest he worry."

  Mr. Liu looked at the face in front of him, which was streaming with tears but forcing a smile, and gently shook his head, responding with a "Don't worry, miss".

  Hearing the shouting, Angelica rushed in and helped Mr. Liu lift the curtain. After Mr. Liu left, he ran to Shen Muqing's side and said, "Miss, your sister Zhenzhu has gone to the Lotus Fragrance Hall." Then, he quickly slipped out of the Warm Jade Pavilion and followed Mr. Liu to the Flower Hall.

  ******

  The snow continued to fall, and the water pavilions, high halls and spacious mansions of the Shen family garden were all covered with a thick layer of jade dust, cold and refreshing.

  Serene and quiet, I tread on the pristine white snow, listening to the crunching sounds beneath my feet, feeling lost and aimless.

  Suddenly coming to this world, she didn't cry because of Li's comfort; becoming a confused child, she didn't cry because of Li's protection; striving to adapt to the new life, she didn't cry because of Li's guidance... But this time, the tears that had been held back for so long finally fell down...

  She wandered aimlessly on the snow-covered winding path with tears in her eyes, and faint laughter echoed in her ears.

  It's not even the right time for this sorrow...

  (It snowed heavily, the internet at home was cut off, and I rushed to finish the document at work... sweating... If there are many typos, please leave a message in the comments section... Then... Please sisters who still have tickets, give me more support, thank you!)