In the evening, Liang Jimin came to pick up Shen Muqing.

  Li let her go: "It's come to this, worrying is useless. If there's any news, I'll have someone tell you."

  Shen Muqing looked at the camphor wood box on the kang, then looked at the house with bright lights but no sound, and pulled Liang Jimin outside to discuss: "Mr. Ouyang has not returned yet. I want to stay and accompany Mrs. You go back first!"

  Liang Jimin's face was full of hesitation: "That grandmother over there..."

  "Just tell grandma what I said, she won't blame you!"

  Liáng Jìmǐn gazed at Shěn Mùqīng's resolute face and thought of Tàifūrén's request for them to investigate why Shěn Zhēn was imprisoned. He hesitated for a moment before muttering, "Alright."

  After seeing off Liang Jiemin, Shen Muqing patted his cheek and then returned to the Li family's house.

  Li saw her stunned and frowned, saying: "Why haven't you left yet? Where's Ji Min?" Shen Muqing slightly lowered his head: "Ji Min asked me to stay here with you... Grandmother Li said so!"

  Li gazed at the two red clouds on the woman's face and finally revealed today's first heartfelt smile. At night, the mother and daughter slept in the same room.

  "...That afternoon, the old master was demoted to Long'an Prefecture in Sichuan as a county magistrate. It's a place I'd never even heard of before. The old master pawned our family heirloom, three inkstones, for 500 taels of silver and left them with me without looking back. I cried for a whole day and night at home, thinking that the mountains were high and the waters were long, if something happened, we might never see each other again. The next morning, I chased after him...and followed the old master to Long'an Prefecture, where we spent six years together. We ate salted vegetables, drank well water, wore coarse cloth, and used earthenware jars...it was there that your brother was born.

  Li's voice as she spoke of past events was not painful, but rather had a faint sweetness to it. "I thought I'd never be able to return...but unexpectedly, in the seventh year, the old master was promoted to Magistrate of Mianzhou, and before he had even completed his term, he was promoted again to Governor of Sichuan due to the sudden death of Governor Wang...I often wonder, if I hadn't chased after him back then, would the old master have been content with being a county magistrate in Long'an Prefecture, starting everything from scratch?"

  The hardships of the past were like medicine, treating Li's current anxiety and fear, giving her the confidence and hope to get through difficult times.

  Shen Mu Qing tightly hugged Li Shi: "Yes, Master will be fine. I still remember when I was a child, you told me that once Master was demoted to some place, but before he even got there, the imperial edict arrived, and not only was Master not dismissed, but also promoted." Li Shi tightly grasped her daughter's hand, smiling: "It was Shandong Governor - that place produces apples."

  "Hmm!" Shen Mu nodded calmly, "I heard that you can still see the sea there, is it true?"

  "Didn't you go?" Li's voice was laced with amusement. "I don't know if there is a sea or not. However, one time Master brought back a geomancy map from the Ministry of Works, and when I looked at it, it seemed like there was a sea, right next to it."

  Two people were chatting and laughing, watching as the sky turned white. Chen Ayi came in to help Li Shi get out of bed.

  She looked pale and worn out, probably didn't sleep all night either.

  Mrs. Li's heart softened when she saw her, and let her go back to rest: "...you just take care of the big house, I have my personal maid here." Chen Ayi heard this, tears streaming down her face: "Madam, you must think of a way! The old master is getting on in years, how can he bear such suffering? If something happens to him, who can we rely on?"

  Mr. Li's eyes dimmed, and he said dejectedly: "I know, I know."

  "Besides, Mr. Ouyang hasn't returned yet, who knows what he's been up to outside? Chen Yiniang's face showed fear, "I think you should send a few reliable people! Otherwise, we'll be deceived by these servants without knowing what's going on. Or else, call my brother back to help with the arrangements?"

  Shen Muqing listened quietly and thought of Chen Niang's experience. When she was a young girl, her father had been demoted, and she had experienced the ups and downs of life, so she must be worried and afraid. Shen Muqing couldn't help but comfort her: "Niang, don't be afraid. Mr. Ouyang has followed Master for thirty years, through thick and thin, if he was only after wealth and glory, he would have left long ago, and wouldn't have waited until today."

  Li nodded directly, and Chen's expression relaxed a bit. Shen Muqing had Xianglian support Chen back to the house, she personally served Li washing her hair.

  Just after finishing her toilette, Da She came to pay his respects. Shen Muqing pulled Tian Mama aside and said, "Da She is still young, if there's any commotion at home, take him away for the time being."

  Tian Mama nodded with red eyes: "Let it go, I've been through it, and I know what's important." Shen Muqing couldn't help but mock himself: Who would have thought that Master would marry a convicted official's daughter as his concubine and still have such benefits? He had never experienced this before, so he wasn't about to be terrified and quarrelsome. After sending off Da She and Tian Mama, Shen Muqing was just about to order dinner when Mr. Ouyang arrived.

  Shen Mu Qing retreated behind the screen.

  "Madam, several high-ranking officials who are close to the master have all gone to visit him, but no one can figure out why he was imprisoned." His voice was filled with exhaustion. "Minister Xin entered the palace early yesterday morning and has not returned yet."

  I left a message for Jinzhuai. If Mr. Min returns, please ask him to come home once.

  "Thank you for your hard work!" Mr. Li's voice was full of courtesy, "Nowadays at home it's the old and the young, Master's affairs are all entrusted to you to run errands."

  "Madam is really worrying me..." Mr. Ouyang said a few humble words and then said: "Don't worry too much, madam. This afternoon I plan to visit Liu Gong at the Hanlin Academy. He has been accompanying the Emperor to practice calligraphy recently, so he might have heard some rumors. I also need to visit Zhao Fu, the Left Censor of the Ducha Institute, to see what they are impeaching these days..."

  Mr. Li saw that he was well-behaved and nodded repeatedly: "Sir, just do what you think is right, if you need to spend money, just go to Wang Gui's place to get it."

  Mr. Ouyang responded with a sound, comforted Mrs. Li a few words, and then retreated.

  Shen Muqing came out from behind the screen and smiled: "With Mr. Ouyang's help, you don't have to worry."

  Mr. Li smiled and nodded, letting out a long sigh. After all, they had been husband and wife for over 40 years... If he didn't let her out for the day, he wouldn't be able to rest easy!

  Mr. Ouyang ran for two more days and didn't get any news from the palace, but instead, a sacred edict was issued from the palace, relieving Shen Zhen of all his duties, and temporarily putting Zhang, a 44-year-old cabinet minister, in charge of cabinet affairs.

  Shen Mu Qing's heart turned cold as she listened quietly.

  The young emperor favored the use of young officials, which can be seen from the two cases of granting the title of Zhuangyuan. Zhang Ge Lao was also a meritorious official who helped to quell the rebellion of Zhen An Wang... If Shen Jian were released, it is unknown whether he could withstand such a blow.

  Mr. Ouyang saw this and consulted with Li: "Why don't we directly ask the prison guards to see if we can get any information from the old master's mouth."

  Mr. Li handed over 5,000 taels of silver notes to Mr. Ouyang: "If it's not enough, look for me again."

  Five thousand taels of silver tickets were taken out and brought back in the same way.

  Mr. Min's place was quiet, and Liu Yu didn't know anything when asked three times.

  Li felt anxious in his heart and gradually lost his spirit.

  Li Qiming happened to come and pick up Shen Muqing.

  "Don't you know why you were put in prison?" Liang Jimei was very worried.

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but smile bitterly.

  Mr. Li asked his son-in-law: "Find a way to meet Mr. Min."

  Li Ji Min hesitated and said, "I, I'm not very familiar with Mr. Min."

  Shen Mu Qing listened intently with great urgency, Li Shi's expression turned gloomy.

  The atmosphere was heavy for a moment.

  Liáng Jìmǐn suddenly realized he had misspoken and hastily said: "However, please be assured, Mother-in-law, I will do my best to find Mr. Mǐn."

  Mrs. Li smiled ambiguously and urged her daughter to hurry back home: "Your mother-in-law can let you stay at home for these two days, it's already a favor. Hurry back!"

  Shen Muqing suggested to Liang Jieming again, "Why don't we wait until we get the exact news before going back?"

  Liang Jimin was in a dilemma: "Grandma specifically asked me to come and pick you up." If Liang Jimin's attitude was firm, Li Shi would probably be even more worried if she knew.

  Shen Muqing could no longer find an excuse to stay and held back her tears as she returned to the Liang manor.

  Old Lady Tai hastily asked, "What's the matter? Do you know why your father was imprisoned?" Just then Qing shook her head and suddenly thought of Xiao Xiao.

  Liang Shu said Xiao Sa is after getting along with Fuma that she got close to Wang Gonggong...

  She now doesn't want to let go of anything she can think of. Shen Muqing asked Mrs. Ta: "Can the son-in-law help ask Wang Gonggong about the situation... If we need to bribe, I'll go back to my mother's house to get it!"

  Madam Ta's eyelid twitched and she smiled: "You can rest assured, Uncle Liang has helped our family a lot. Now it's time for us to return the favor. Those with strength will contribute their strength, those with money will contribute their money. I'll let Uncle Shi go to the Marquis' residence tomorrow to take a look!" Also Yu thought that after all, Uncle Shi was more reliable than Liang Jiemin when it came to getting things done.

  Shen Mu Qing listened quietly, feeling a warmth in her heart, and gratefully bowed to Tai Fu Ren.

  Back at the Liang's residence, Liang Youhui pulled her hand and asked, "Has Master been released? Is Madam all right?"

  Shen Mu Qing gazed at her with eyes full of deep emotions, and couldn't help but have tears well up in his eyes. The forced smiles he had been putting on for the past few days all turned into heartache: "No, I haven't let go yet. Madam seems to be doing fine, there's no news or anything, nor do I know what happened."

  Liang Youhui was very worried: "It's been four or five days..."

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't answer, she just felt her cheeks were wet and soggy.

  Liang Youhui saw that she was injured and had someone bring water for her to wash her face. She personally poured a cup of tea for Shen Muqing.

  Shen Mu washed his face, took a sip of hot tea, and felt a bit relieved in his heart. He couldn't help but sigh and say, "Tomorrow, I'll have Second Uncle go to the Marquis's residence to beg for mercy from the Marquis!"

  "Why ask Brother-in-law?" Liang Youhui was puzzled. "He can't even manage the affairs of the imperial court!" Shen Muqing knew she had said too much and didn't understand herself, so she smiled: "It's to let your brother-in-law go and sound out the Emperor's intentions. See if we can find out what crime Master has committed, then we can look for someone to help." Liang Youhui thought for a moment and said: "Then why don't we find Wei Thirteen instead? His cousin is the Empress, so he has more opportunities to get close to the Emperor than Brother-in-law!"

  Complete book