Chapter 140: United Front

  Shen Zhen sighed and said: "Don't you want to live in the house where Chen Yiniang used to live?"

  Too sensitive!

  Shen Mu Qing let out a sigh in her heart.

  That's right.

  From Xianglian's every move, she had already vaguely understood that there was a disagreement between Shen Zhen and Chen Niang, about eighty or ninety percent of which was for her own sake... Li Shi was no longer around, and Shen Zhen was getting older too. Having Chen Niang by his side to serve him was also a blessing in disguise. No need to stir up any unpleasantness for her own sake!

  She thought of those white-haired people in modern society - they paid out, shouldn't they have some gains?

  "Not really," Shen Mu Qing thought for a moment, smiling as she explained, "I've been used to living in big houses since I was young, so I don't like living in small ones."

  Shen Zhen thought of the betrothal gift list from the Liang family, which read "Three rooms in the main house of Die Cui Yuan, and two side rooms."

  He sighed helplessly.

  "What are you going to do about Ji Min's matter?"

  Now we're getting to the point.

  Shen Mu Qing supported Shen Zhen to sit down on the big kang by the window.

  Because they had temporarily changed houses, the kang in this house had just been heated up. She then asked Ying Fen to take out a blanket made of black fox fur from her own trunk and cover Shen Zhen with it. After dismissing the servants who were waiting on them, she began to talk to Shen Zhen about what was on her mind.

  "I want to separate from Liang Jiemin, whether it's a divorce or a breakup, in short, I don't want to continue living with this person like this!"

  "What are you talking about?" Shen Zhen was indeed shocked, "You want to take him in, I'll help you, but you want to be separated from each other, no way!"

  This was expected, Shen Muqing wasn't surprised or angry. She looked at Shen Zhen softly: "Why not?"

  "You and he may not have... but after all, you've been through thick and thin together. How will you spend the rest of your days if you separate? A decent family would be hesitant to marry someone from the Liang family... a concubine. Even if someone were willing, it would only be as a substitute wife, and later on, with stepsons, stepdaughters, a legitimate wife, and concubines, it might be even more unbearable than now... You're better off staying in the Liang family."

  Shen Zhen's expression turned cold and stern as he questioned her. His voice gradually lowered, "A slightly worse-off family would either have no outstanding sons or have ulterior motives... I also don't want you to suffer this hardship... Mu Qing, I won't harm you. Just listen to me, stay at home for a few days, clear your mind, and when Liang Jiemin comes to pick you up, give him an excuse and follow him back. He's learned his lesson from this experience and will be more cautious in the future... After all, he's still young, and after a few years, he'll understand what's important..."

  Shen Mu Qing leaned on the kang table, propping her elbow and supporting her cheek, her pink fingernails blooming like peach blossoms on her snowy cheeks.

  "Old master, you say, after such a thing happened, does Liang Jieming still have any future?"

  Shen Zhen was taken aback for a moment, then immediately understood his daughter's meaning.

  He glanced at Shen Muqing: "Don't get any wrong ideas... Madam never thought he could do much anyway!" His tone carried a hint of resentment.

  "But I don't want to spend my whole life with someone like that!" Shen Muqing gazed at Shen Jian, her eyes brimming with tears. "This is just like you not wanting to waste another six years in Long'an Prefecture."

  Shen Zhen's body shook slightly. He hesitated and said: "Yes, did Madam tell you?"

  Shen Mu nodded slightly: "... That year, the old master was demoted to Long'an Prefecture in Sichuan as a county magistrate. The county magistrate was your fellow student Wang Shan, who is timid and afraid of trouble, greedy for wealth, but also narrow-minded. The old master worked under him for six years, doing things himself, but getting credit for them... Not only that, he would often frame the old master... If it weren't for the old master's clever plan to persuade him to surround and annihilate the Miao bandits and die in battle, I'm afraid the old master would still be a county magistrate in Long'an Prefecture now!

  "That Liang Jiemin is to me like Wang Shan. When we were prosperous and wealthy, I was his wife, fulfilling my duties and responsibilities, but when it came to life and death, I was just a bystander, leaving our fate to heaven...". Then she told Shen Zhen about the strange maid who peeked at her on their wedding night, how she accidentally discovered Liang Jiemin's treasured fan case, and later pretended to fall into the water to test their feelings for each other, as well as Liang Jiemin's protection of Feng Wanchun today. She exaggerated a bit as she told Shen Zhen everything. "You see, can I put my hopes on someone like that? I'm afraid I'll end up like Wang Wenxian. Sir, I'm only 14 years old this year! When Princess Furong passed away last winter, she was only six years older than me... We didn't expect it when Madame died either... Life is short, and I don't want to waste my time on Liang Jiemin. I want to spend a few days living the life I like!"

  Liang Jimin's protection of Feng Wanching, in the eyes of Mr. Ouyang, Mr. Min and Yuan Yu, was the best choice among the helpless... But now that Shen Muqing has said this, Shen Jian's way of thinking is a bit different again.

  Incompetent, weak, unjust... and still no brains. Mu Qing followed him, let alone a future, even if he can keep his current idle life is also a problem...

  He pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice: "But... without children, when you're old, what will you do?"

  The tone has relaxed a bit.

  Shen Mu's heart was filled with joy.

  She moved over to sit beside Shen Zhen, resting her head on his shoulder: "Isn't there still a big house? Don't forget, I'm a rich lady. When the time comes, generously giving out red envelopes can keep the money from flowing out and also gain the favor of the younger generation, isn't that a win-win situation? You don't have to worry about me."

  Shen Zhen was not as optimistic as his daughter.

  A look of sorrow flashed across his face, and he gently stroked Shen Muqing's head: "You child!"

  I guess this counts as an agreement!

  Shen Mu Qing chuckled quietly.

  Shen Zhen gazed at her and let out a sigh.

  Such strategic vision and courage, yet she's just a daughter!

  He hesitated for a moment and asked her tentatively: "Then what do you plan to do?"

  His expression was serious and calm, and he said slowly: "I think that this matter will ultimately have to be discussed with Liang Yuan. If the Liang family reacts quickly, they will send someone to deliver a message to Liang Yuan tonight, and Liang Yuan will also receive the news around the 20th of the first month. According to your words, Liang Yuan is clever and capable, with a lot of strategy. He will definitely be able to see the pros and cons of this matter. Not to mention other things, just offending the emperor's close officials will be enough to put this 'general outside' in a difficult situation at any time. Therefore, he will definitely not agree to me and Liang Jiemin being separated. We can only take advantage of this time difference. One is to think of a way to let Liang Jiemin bring Feng Dancheng into the house before the 20th of the first month, two is to think of a way to spread this matter out... Of course, we have to take her as a concubine first, and then make the situation bigger... In this way..."

  Shen Zhen smiled in his eyes and said, "In this way, by the time Liang Yuan reacts, it will be too late. Then we can retreat and propose a divorce. We can avoid offending both the Liang and Feng families while still achieving our goal..."

  Madam Qing smiled: "The dowry given to me by the madam, I had long transferred it to the White Paper Workshop and opened a tea shop nearby. Although it didn't make money, it also didn't lose any, and it took care of the expenses of the Zhou Bingyi family. So when I left, I wasn't planning on taking those things back either."

  Shen Zhen was first surprised and then burst out laughing: "Good, when the time comes, let everyone in Kyoto see how the Liang family bullies people."

  "That's exactly what I mean!" Shen Muqing chuckled, "When the time comes, I'll go back to Baizhi Fang to live. No longer getting up before dawn, no longer thinking about coming back to see if Master still needs me... If you're tired of living in Songshu Hutong, you can also come to my place to relax..."

  "No, if you're going to stay, then just stay at home." Shen Muqing hadn't even spoken yet when Shen Jian firmly opposed her, "You're a young girl living alone in such a big house, it's not safe at all... and there's no one in charge at home either. If you really don't want to stay at the Liang's anymore, then just come back and live here! It would be great to have someone help with managing the household!"

  "Old Master, so you agree with me?" Shen Muqing smiled and looked at Shen Zhen, asking for a promise.

  Her long eyelashes fluttered, her ink-black eyes shone like jewels, sparkling with cleverness and playfulness.

  Shen Zhen suddenly thought of Li Shi when she was still alive.

  Every time he returned to the Chaoyang Hall, his daughter would kneel down and salute him, then tilt her head and ask him in a lovely voice, "Has the old master returned from the government office?"

  Time seems to have never passed, but when you take a closer look, everything around has changed beyond recognition.

  Shen Zhen turned his face away: "I'm so regretful..." His voice was filled with a thick nasal tone.

  What's the regret?

  Is it regrettable that I married Liang Jiemin? Or is it regrettable that I didn't pay attention to family matters earlier? Or do I only know how to cherish after losing?

  Chen Mu Qing didn't want to think about it anymore - she was afraid her own tears would fall...

  From that day on, Shen Muqing settled down in Tingyu Xuan with a peaceful mind.

  Every morning, she would get up early and have breakfast in Ting Yu Xuan before taking a stroll in the courtyard. When she went to Zheng Fang to pay her respects to Shen Zhen, Shen Zhen would usually keep her for a chat or read a book together with her father, writing a couple of lines. At noon, she would eat lunch. After lunch, Shen Muqing would return to Ting Yu Xuan for a nap. In the afternoon, she would either go see Shen Zhen or instruct the maids to clean up Ting Yu Xuan, occasionally going to Da She as well. At night, they would each have dinner in their own courtyards. After dinner, Ying Fen would take Shen Muqing for a walk to digest their food before returning to lie on the warm kang and read books or do needlework with the maids, going to bed at midnight.

  After a few days, Shen Muqing's face was as pale as a pear blossom, and her lips were like red lotus, much more spirited than when she had just returned.

  Aunt Chen smiled with a hint of meaning: "It's still the food at home that nourishes people, and the young lady has become plump all over."

  Shen Zhen and his daughter smiled silently - neither of them told her about Shen Muqing's plan.

  During the Lantern Festival, Shen Muqing brought the maids to make lanterns and made a big pile of irregular things. Shen Zhen had people hang those so-called "lanterns" on the eaves and treetops, illuminating the courtyard brightly. Shen Muqing also brought the maids to make all kinds of tangyuan, and Dage looked at them from time to time, glancing at Shen Muqing with a look that seemed eager to participate.

  Shen Muqing beckoned to him, and Da She ran over with a flattering smile, calling her "sister". Shen Muqing thought of Li Shi's reserve when he was around, and his heart softened. He told Da She how to wrap the tangyuan. Da She ended up with white glutinous rice flour all over his hands and clothes.

  (Sister, I'm still a bit late again (__)) Hehe...

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  Chapter 140 United Front