Chapter 29: Choosing a Daughter-in-law

  Shen Zhong's bell returned home and first went to the upper house. He heard that Old Lady had gone to Anqing Houfu, so he came to Bixi Garden.

  It's said that Old Madam is back. He let go of Chu Xinyi and stood up, "Xinyi, you rest first." As he spoke, he adjusted his clothes and walked out.

  "Shall we have dinner together when General returns?" Chu Xinyi asked ambiguously, seeing him off at the door.

  According to the roster, Shen Zhongge is free tonight.

  "Hmm..." Shen Zhongjie thought for a moment, "Let Yi'er use it herself, I'll use mother's tonight."

  As she watched him leave, Wu Yiniang's face gradually darkened.

  "Yang Aunt just sent someone to ask when this year's winter clothes will be made?" Spring Red took the opportunity to reply as Fu Chu Xinyi entered the house.

  "...It's still far from winter, what's the hurry?" As soon as Yang Niang said three words, Chu Xinyi burst out a fire from her heart, "...and also mention that she has never worn it, tell her, if she is worried about not having winter clothes to wear, just let her go find the general and ask for it!"

  "Look what Auntie said, who's worried that you won't have winter clothes to wear." Chunhong chuckled, "It was she who secretly sent Dujuan to ask me, it seems her brother-in-law opened a brocade shop, probably she wants to get business for her brother."

  "Just tell her, if each winter garment is worth one or two silver coins to me, I'll let her brother do it!" Chu Xinyi snorted with laughter, recalling Shen Zhong's words about letting Yang Feng help manage the central supply, "Not even looking at their own weight, wanting to get involved in everything!"

  The young maid's winter clothes were all given to her, and they didn't even amount to one or two taels; what was the point of running a silk shop?

  Also knowing that Chu Xinyi was just talking big, Chun Hong lowered her head and didn't say a word.

  Chu Xinyi suddenly raised her head after thinking for a moment, "You go find San Ye and let him personally go to Wutong Town to investigate what the general has been doing these past two days."

  As she spoke, Chu Xinyi narrowed her eyes slightly, "It seems that she has to go to Wutong Town in person."

  ……

  "General..." was promoted to Zhengdeng outside Bìzhú Yuán, and saw Shen Zhongjie come out, so he went up to meet him.

  Seeing him, Shen Zhong was stunned for a moment, "What are you doing here?"

  Rong Sheng smiled and said, "I was just about to go in and look for you, but I saw Sister Bimonthly come to invite you, thinking that you would be out soon, so I didn't go in."

  "What's up?" Shen Zhongge asked as he walked forward.

  Rong Sheng looked around cautiously, lowering his voice, "I've heard that four years ago, Jixiao indeed came to ask for the monthly allowance on behalf of Dainai, kneeling outside the mansion gate for an entire morning, repeatedly asking to see you and begging you to save Dainai's life."

  In Wutong Town, Rong Sheng privately asked Xi Que why she didn't go to Jiang Jun's mansion for help. Xi Que told him that four years ago, she had come to ask for help but was beaten away. After that, Zhen Shi Niang no longer allowed her to come to the capital to seek General Jiang's help. Rong Sheng then told this matter to Shen Zhongge.

  "What?" Shen Zhong stood up abruptly.

  He doesn't know anything about this matter at all.

  "At that time, the general was on an expedition outside, and Wu Yiniang was in charge of the internal affairs. She had Xi Que beaten up and chased away, and also warned her that if she dared to come again for silver, she would break her legs." Knowing Shen Zhongge's favor towards Chu Xinyi, Rong Sheng secretly looked at his expression, "Many people in the mansion know about this matter, because you don't like Da Nainai, naturally no one dares to tell you."

  "How could it be?" Shen Zhongqiu's heart was incredulous, "...how could Yi'er do such a thing?" He asked again, "Are you certain that Wu Yiniang had someone do it, and not the second door being marked with her flag?"

  Nowadays, Chu Xinyi may be eager for fame and wealth, but four years ago she would never have been like that.

  "How dare I deceive the general?" Rong Sheng argued, "It was Chun Hong who brought people to beat him up at the time. The joy sparrow's head was beaten into a pig's head, and Xiao Liu Zi couldn't bear to watch on the side. Later, when no one was looking, he secretly hired a horse carriage to send him away." He glanced stealthily at Shen Zhong Shuo's expression, "Otherwise, I'll call Xiao Liu Zi over, and you can ask him yourself tonight?" Xiao Liu Zi was the little servant who guarded the second gate that year.

  A deep disappointment welled up in Shen Zhong's eyes, and he walked forward without a word.

  "Perhaps it was then that Old Lady Lin fell ill, which is why the magpie came to ask for your help." Rong Sheng hurriedly caught up.

  Shen Zhong Xiao walked forward with a stern face and big strides.

  "...What's the matter with Mother being so happy?" Arriving at the old lady's Nurturing Heart Courtyard, Shen Zhongge heard the giggles of the little maid from afar and quickly stepped inside.

  Mrs. Shen was examining several scrolls of paintings with a young maid, and when she saw him enter, she smiled and beckoned him to come over and sit down. She instructed the senior maid, Zi Yue, "Quickly serve tea to General."

  Zi Yue responded with a sound and quickly walked out.

  "...I heard that Mother went to the Houfu of Anqing?" Anqing Hou Xue Yi was the father of the current Empress, relying on his daughter being the Empress and the Emperor's indulgence, he had been widely gathering followers and monopolizing power for years, already arousing the Emperor's suspicion. It was said that Old Madam had actually gone to his residence, Shen Zhongge felt extremely disgusted in his heart, but after all, it was his mother, so he didn't show it on his face, instead casually sitting down beside Old Madam, "What is this?" He took a hand-painted scroll and unrolled it, lost in thought.

  In the painting was a slender and elegant young woman with a refined demeanor.

  "Mother......this......is......" Shen Zhongke's voice was somewhat astonished.

  "......is it handsome or not?" The old lady smiled and took out another painting to show Shen Zhongjie, "Zhongjie take a look at this one."

  "Mother..." Shen Zhongke didn't pick up the painting and called out in a low voice.

  "She is the tenth young lady of Anqing Hou, thirteen years old. Don't look at her age, she's a steady and sensible girl." Madame Shen pointed to the girl in the painting who was as shy as a closed flower, "Today is the third birthday of Anqing Hou's grandson Xiang Ge, our house invited a theater troupe, this little girl sat with us old folks to watch the play. Other kids were running around laughing and making noise, couldn't sit still for a moment, but she quietly chatted with me, soft-spoken and gentle, however you look at her, she's likable..." Smiling at Shen Zhong Ke, "I had people take a look, they all say she's a auspicious wife." Lowering her voice, "Slim waist and big hips, she'll definitely be able to bear sons in the future." Although there were five concubines in the house, Shen Zhong Ke only had one daughter, which made the old madam anxious.

  Bixueziyue covered her mouth and giggled quietly.

  Shen Zhong's face turned red with anger, "Mother..." his tone was filled with a strong sense of discontent.

  The old lady finally put down the painting, her expression turned serious. "Peng'er is no longer young, and in the future, these social interactions between relatives will be unavoidable. If there's a virtuous wife to help, I'll have fewer worries and won't need to exhaust myself helping you with these matters..." Her tone was calm but firm, leaving no room for doubt. "In the manor, it's fine for your aunt to host the banquet, but outside, this matter of etiquette must not be handled by her." She looked at Shen Zhongpeng with a heavy heart, "That would be humiliating to others." As she spoke, the old lady let out a soft sigh.

  She wasn't unaware of her son's thoughts, but Chu Xinyi was too cunning and their family background couldn't match up to Shen Zhongge's, so she absolutely couldn't be made legitimate.

  The most important thing is that Shen Zhongjie was a straightforward person. Although he was a general, he never used his power to secure official positions for his relatives. His youngest son, Shen Zhongxin, had failed the imperial examination for three consecutive years. Many officials' wives had hinted to him that if Shen Zhongjie just dropped a word, the Hanlin Academy would immediately arrange a position for his son. However, not only did Shen Zhongjie refuse, but he also used the excuse of wealth and honor corrupting people and kicked his brother out to study in Baiquan, three hundred miles away.

  She can't pin her hopes on her son, so she has to pin them on her daughter-in-law instead.

  If Shen Zhongge could marry a daughter from a powerful and influential family as his second wife, this small matter would be easily settled by his father-in-law with just one hand.

  In order to prevent Shen Zhongge from marrying Chu Xinyi, she had already made a private agreement with Madame Anqinghou, and as soon as Shen Zhongge's divorce was finalized, she would immediately bring the betrothal gifts and ask for the hand of the tenth miss!