Chapter Eighty-Seven: Sudden Change

  She Liang Youhui: "How did you know I was at Er Sao's place?"

  Liang Youhui smiled and whispered in her ear: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone"

  Shen Mu Qing stood still, gazing at Liang Yu Hui with a suspicious look.

  Liang Youhui covered her mouth and smiled: "Second sister asked you to listen to the zither, but you fell asleep... Fortunately, second sister was alert and called me over, also asking me to pass on a message to you. She said that if anyone wakes up, just say we suddenly had a craving for something sour and went to her place to eat hawthorn fruit."

  Shen Mu Qing let out a long sigh.

  For Liang Yuan's matter, it was she who made a big fuss and returned to her mother's home, earning herself the reputation of being arrogant. Now that Jiang Shuangrui has spoken out the truth, if he himself doesn't speak out, then he would be considered a good-for-nothing person... thinking about how he had stayed in Shen for seven years and easily earned a good name, but after less than a month with Liang, all his accumulated good reputation was almost ruined... was it because Li Shi had been too doting on him before? Or did he not have the fate to be with Liang?

  She felt that since arriving at Liang's place, Jiang Shuangrui's every move was full of deep meaning.

  The next two days, she had been wanting to find an opportunity to communicate with Jiang Shuangrui, but Liang Youhui kept pulling her around the new house, rummaging through boxes and cabinets to find the clothes worn on February 2nd. Shen Muqing saw that Liang Youhui was not satisfied, so he suggested finding someone from the needlework class to make spring clothes.

  Liang Youhui shook her head: "We have to wait until February 2nd, the palace starts making spring clothes before we can make spring clothes."

  Shen Mu Qinggan was uninterested, and in her own boudoir, she found a piece of purple-colored satin fabric and a piece of goose-yellow colored Hangzhou silk, which she gave to Liang Youhui: "Use the purple one to make a dress, and the yellow one to make a small jacket."

  Liáng Yòu saw that the fabric was exquisite. Very happy. Shaking it open on her body, she said: "Let Mingxia from your house and that Lu Chun help me make it."

  Shen Mu nodded quietly and called Ming Xia to bring two pieces of fabric over to her.

  Ming Xia held it in her hand and stroked it: "This fabric is really good. It looks like a tribute from Jiangnan Weaving Factory."

  She checked the dowry and found that everything was in order. No one knew where they came from. She said so, but it was just to show her gratitude to Liang Youhui. If it were an ordinary day, Shen Muqing would have added a few words of praise. But these days she had been feeling a bit emotional, and she felt that only Liang Youhui was a sincere person. Shen Muqing frowned and scolded Mingxia: "Just focus on your needlework, don't learn to talk nonsense."

  Ming Xia smiled slightly and left with a bent knee.

  Liáng Yòu Huì felt a bit embarrassed. Just as she was about to say something, a little maid outside reported: "Third Young Mistress, Second Miss, Dong Mama is accompanying Third Young Mistress's mother, Wang Mama, who has arrived."

  "Quickly, please come in!"

  The little maid outside was busy helping to lift the curtain, and Mama Dong accompanied her mother in.

  After paying respects to Shen Muqing and Liang Youhui, the maidservants brought over small stools for the two mothers and served tea. Mother accompanied them for a few words before excusing herself to go pay her respects to Liang Jimumin, pulling Liang Youhui away with her.

  Shen Mu Qing sent away the maid Wang Mama in the house: "Is there any news from Wan Bao Zhai's side?"

  Wang's mother leaned in and whispered: "It really was as the young lady guessed, Dai Gui did indeed buy a pair of ruby earrings at Wanbao Alley."

  Shen Mu's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he remained silent.

  "But don't worry, Auntie," comforted Wang's mother, "the mistress has had someone investigate Dai's movements and it seems that Dai Gui has been in Kyoto all along..."

  Shen Muqing's eyebrows were tightly locked together, and Wang Mama asked: "What excuse did you use to come here?"

  "Wang's mother smiled and said: 'I was ordered by the old master to come and pass on a message to the young master'"

  Deep and quiet, serene and subtle, lost in thought.

  "Wang's mother said: 'The old master said that this year's imperial examination has been moved forward to the first day of February.'"

  "Changed to February 1st?" Shen Mu Qing was stunned.

  How could they have gone on an outing when Liang Jiemin was still attending the imperial examination on the second day of the month? Besides, the date for the imperial examination had always been set in mid-March since ancient times, so why would it suddenly be changed to a different date? Is this matter related to Liang Yuan's defeat in battle?

  For a moment, Mu Qing's thoughts were a thousand miles away.

  "Wang's mother had said: 'It was just decided at today's early court, so the old master sent me to Liang to inform Madame Taifu that Guniu should make preparations early.'"

  Shen Mu nodded slightly and said, "You can't stay here for long either. After you return, discuss with your wife and find an excuse to let me go back to my mother's place. Also, it would be best if we could figure out where Eldest Sister is... Traveling by boat or horseback is already perilous, not to mention that she has a military background. If she returns safely to Taicang, our responsibility will be fulfilled, but I'm afraid something unexpected might happen along the way."

  "Wang's mother opened her mouth and after a while said: 'No, it can't be.'"

  "Fourth Sister wouldn't be so muddled, would she?"

  Shen Muqing gave Wang's mother a sideways glance.

  "Wang's mother hurriedly said: 'Don't worry, madam, I will definitely pass on this message'"

  Two days later, Wang's mother came again and brought Shen Zhen's message: "Let the young master and his wife go back for a while. If anyone asks, just say they are going to see their aunt."

  Old Mrs. Tao immediately sent Wang's mother to pay her respects to Shen Muqing, while she herself called in Liang Jiming and spoke with him behind closed doors for a long time.

  Shen Muqing was worried about such an excuse, and asked Wang's mother: "Is the old master really giving orders to the young master?"

  Mrs. Wang nodded and whispered:

  It's been decided that it will be Old Master's fellow alumnus. The Old Master said, "Yuan Ren's article is steady and stable, so I want to instruct Young Master once."

  "Yuan Ren?" Shen Muqing was taken aback, "Which Yuan Ren?"

  "Ah, it's Vice Minister of Rites Yuan Yu, a man of great reputation."

  Shen Mu Qing lowered his head and fell into deep thought.

  "Auntie," Mother Wang called out to her, "I told my wife about what you said last time. My wife specifically asked Commander Hu Ren of the Jiangsu Commandery to keep an eye on Fourth Miss's movements, so don't worry, nothing will happen."

  Shen Mu Qing uttered an "oh" and perked up to tidy herself before going with Wang Ma to bid farewell to the elderly lady.

  Back in Shen, Shen was indeed waiting for Liang Jimin in the study.

  Shen Mu Qing ignored Ji Min's sideways glance and pulled Shen Jian out of the study to talk.

  "Did you ask him to break off the engagement with your elder sister?"

  Shen Zhen was taken aback and asked, "What's wrong?"

  Shen Mu ignored Shen and continued: "What does the chief examiner Yuan Yu look like?"

  "Ah, you're so fat and white, even if I saw you, I wouldn't recognize you."

  "Do you like painting?"

  Shen Zhen nodded: "How did you know? He and Bie Shan are both good at painting ink wash paintings, known as the Northern Yuan and Southern Min..."

  Shen Muqing didn't wait for Shen Wan to finish speaking and dropped Shen Jian, who was covered in sweat, before running towards the Li residence.

  "Madam, please send someone to Tai Cang again, whatever you do, don't lose anyone."

  "Rest assured," said Li with a smile, "I've already sent someone..."

  Mrs. Shen hastily interrupted Mrs. Li's words: "Madam, if Dài Guì had come to ask Master to dissolve the engagement for Fourth Sister, then there would be some true feelings involved. Even if she followed him, with Fourth Sister's status, even if she couldn't become a legitimate wife, she could still become a noble concubine. But I just went to see Master and that Dài Guì never mentioned anything about dissolving the engagement to him. This person is completely insincere and not a gentleman. If Fourth Sister really made a mistake, then it would be all over."

  Li listened, his expression gradually becoming stern.

  She instructed Wang's mother: "This matter, it's time for the master to take charge. It's no longer something we women can handle."

  Wang's mother nodded repeatedly: "I'll go ask Master to come over as soon as he and Young Master come out of the study."

  Shen Muqing stayed at Li's place for less than an hour before Shen Jian and Liang Jimin finished their conversation.

  She also wanted to accompany Li more, but Li urged her to go back: "Ji Min is about to take the imperial examination soon, this is a matter of life, you should take good care of his daily life, and don't act like a child anymore, hurry up and follow Ji Min back."

  Back to Liang, Liang Jiemin was still lingering in Mrs. Tai's house for a long time.

  Shen Muqing then went to the Feng's residence to pay her respects.

  Mrs. Feng was not in the house, and Qinglian, the maid beside her, smiled and came forward to greet Shen Muqing: "The lady has gone to Second Young Master's place."

  Shen Mu Qing Han smiled and nodded towards Qing Lian, saying: "Since that's the case, I'll come again later."

  Qinglian respectfully sent her out of the Guihuai Hall, but ran into Fengshi who was returning to the house surrounded by a group of maids and wives. Shen Muqing paid respects to Fengshi and returned with her to the Guihuai Hall.

  Feng let Dong's mother bring over the warehouse's account book: "Let me take a look at what kind of antiques and calligraphy are inside."

  Dong's mother went out at the sound of his voice.

  Feng sent someone into the house and told Shen Muqing a few words: "I just went to your second aunt's place. The chief examiner, Yuan Yu, before he passed the imperial examination, used to be a tutor at Jiang's place, and all four of Jiang's children were taught by him personally, so their relationship is not ordinary. I told her to go to Yuan's place to pave the way, and she agreed. As for Yuan's hobby, it is said that his lifelong wish is to collect paintings of flowers and birds from the previous dynasty's Ai Emperor. I remember there seems to be one in our house, so when the time comes, let your second aunt take it to give to him."

  All mothers are the same

  Shen Muqing secretly sighed in her heart, got up and kowtowed to Madame Feng: "Thank you, Mother"

  Feng saw it and Shen Muqing's gaze became even softer.

  She helped Shen Muqing up: "Silly child, he is your husband and also my son, what are you thanking him for?"

  Shen Muqing was still full of gratitude: "My husband and I are young, without Mother's guidance, all these social niceties were a complete mystery..."

  She was speaking when Mrs. Dong's voice came from outside: "Madam, I've brought the account book."

  Feng gave Shen Muqing a "don't say anything more" look and then said loudly, "Come in."

  Dong's mother and Qinglian brought in the account books, Shen Muqing was about to take his leave, but Fengshi smiled and pointed at the thick five-volume account book: "It's not like you're an outsider, come help us find it quickly, where did we put it?"

  Shen Mu Qing saw Dong Mama and Qing Lian each holding several account books, sitting on a small stool to one side, beginning to flip through them page by page. She thought for a moment, then smiled and took an account book, sitting down beside Dong Mama on a small stool to start flipping through it.

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  Chapter Eighty-Seven Sudden Change