He favored his concubine and I cut off my wealth. Everyone in the mansion was in a panic.

The wife of Yangling Marquis was stunned, and then she heard Lin Xuefu continue to speak, "Aunt, I'm afraid you don't know yet, but in the past six months this year, my cousin has been to Zuixianlou no less than five times. Miss Qinglan inside is my cousin's favorite prostitute. The two of them would meet every once in a while, drinking wine around the stove, listening to music, and indulging themselves. But even so, I always pretended that I had never known anything and treated my cousin with the same warmth. Do you know why, aunt?"

The wife of Yangling Marquis was full of surprise. She never thought that Mu Ziqian actually had such a romantic history. The most outrageous thing was that Lin Xuefu knew everything. After a while, Yangling The Marquis' wife asked back, "Why?"

Lin Xuefu smiled suddenly, "Because I know that even if my cousin likes that prostitute, it will not threaten my position. Men can't hold back their desires, so as long as it's not too outrageous, I'll just turn a blind eye."

The Marquis of Yangling's wife looked gloomy, "But your uncle has brought the person back..."

Lin Xuefu asked back coldly, "So what? As long as the Marquis's legitimate son comes from your belly, your position will never change."

This is also the reason why Lin Xuefu proposed to cut off the Marquis of Yangling's ability to give birth to children.

Mother and son are one, as long as Mu Ziqian's position is stable, even if the Marquis of Yangling favors Aunt Xu, it will be of no use.

The Marquis of Yangling nodded, and the more she thought about it, the more she agreed with Lin Xuefu's words.

Seeing this, Lin Xuefu sighed again, "Aunt, you have to know that a man's promise is always just empty words. If you take it seriously, it will be endless torture."

Mu Ziqian has also made a solemn promise to Lin Xuefu, but what is the result? Has it ever been fulfilled?

So from that time on, Lin Xuefu understood that instead of asking for those illusory promises, it is better to ask for something practical, such as status, and... children.

Thinking of the child, Lin Xuefu's eyes flashed darkly. She always knew that her miscarriage was not caused by Lian Rui.

Because Lian Rui and the servant had an affair, she knew it early on, and Lian Rui told her in person. She also promised that when her child was born safely, she would arrange a marriage for the two of them, so how could Lian Rui harm her?

But Lin Xuefu also knew that at the moment, it was the most rational choice to protect herself, so she chose to lie.

As for the identity of the person behind the scenes, Lin Xuefu also had a vague guess, and Lin Xuefu also understood that she could not touch that person at all now, so she could only take it slowly.

She would remove all obstacles on her way up one by one until no one could threaten her position.

…

Yun Xiaoxiao left on the morning of April 20th, and Shen Qing sent her to the city gate.

I wanted to keep Yun Xiaoxiao for a few more days, but I didn't expect that news came from Yuncheng that Mr. Yun was making a big fuss.

When Mr. Yun was young, he was a lovesick man. He only had one wife, Madam Yun. After Madam Yun died young, Yun Yuan, who looked 50% like Madam Yun, became Mr. Yun's only hope.

It can be said that Yun Yuan was raised in the palm of Mr. Yun's hand, but she fell deeply in love with Shen Yian.

In the past, in order to avoid the suspicion of the royal family, the Yun family moved away, leaving only Yun Yuan in Shengjing. Old Master Yun was heartbroken, but he had to leave for the safety of the family.

Fortunately, Yun Yuan would go back to visit Old Master Yun once every twelfth month of the lunar calendar. Seeing that Yun Yuan had been doing well, Old Master Yun was a little relieved.

But since the year before last, Yun Yuan had been ill, lying on the bed, and becoming thinner and thinner. That year, Old Master Yun waited for a whole year but could not wait for his beloved little daughter.

Until February last year, the news of Yun Yuan's death reached Yuncheng, and Old Master Yun also fell seriously ill. Fortunately, Yun Xiaoxiao came back in time to save Old Master Yun, who was suffering from a heart disease.

However, after Old Master Yun woke up again, he forgot many people and things. The only thing he remembered was Yun Yuan.

He mistook Yun Xiaoxiao for Yun Yuan.

Yun Xiaoxiao would panic if she didn't see him for a few days, so before coming to Shengjing this time, Yun Xiaoxiao had a thorough explanation with Old Man Yun before she could leave Yuncheng.

"Grandfather is old and his health is getting worse and worse. Even I am a little helpless. If possible, let's go back to Yuncheng in December this year."

Yun Xiaoxiao has always been the one who treated Old Man Yun's illness. He has long been on his last legs. These two extra years are her greatest ability.

Shen Qing's expression stagnated, as if she had guessed something. After a moment of silence, she nodded seriously, "Don't worry, cousin. I will go back to Yuncheng in December this year."

Yun Xiaoxiao responded, said goodbye to Shen Qing, and got on the carriage.

Shen Qing didn't turn around and enter the city gate until Yun Xiaoxiao's carriage completely disappeared from sight.

Today is Jiang Li's coming-of-age ceremony. Looking at the sky, it was already late, so Shen Qing ordered the driver to go directly to the Duke Jiang's Mansion.

As for the wife of the Marquis of Yangling, she had asked Chan Yi to deliver the invitation a few days ago. As for whether to go or not, that was not her concern.

When Shen Qing came, many people had gathered at the gate of the Duke of Jiang's mansion. After asking the driver to park the carriage, Shen Qing led Chan Yi to the gate.

The Duke of Jiang's mansion was a century-old family. The ancestors of the Jiang family and the first emperor of the Great Chu had a friendship on horseback. After years of fighting, they finally pacified one side. After founding the country and becoming emperor, they lavishly rewarded. The glory of the Jiang family began from that time, and the title has been smoothly inherited to this day.

Seeing Shen Qing coming, the maid who was guarding the side hurried over to lead the way, took Shen Qing to the back garden, and explained in detail that the venue for the coming-of-age ceremony was at Fuyun Hall outside the east exit of the back garden, and then turned and left.

Many young ladies from official families had gathered in the back garden, many of whom were familiar faces to Shen Qing, but there were not many with whom he had a relationship.

When he raised his eyes, Shen Qing saw Xie Zhaohua in the corner, wearing a red dress, as hot as fire, but her delicate little face was full of listlessness.

Shen Qing had seen Xie Zhaohua many times, either domineering or arrogant, but this was the first time he saw her so lifeless.

Shen Qing's mind suddenly flashed back to the scene when Xie Zhaohua danced with a sword at Qi Lie's welcoming banquet last time. At that time, she also looked absent-minded.

So...she was unwilling?

While Shen Qing was thinking, Qi Yichuan, dressed in a black brocade robe, came from the other side and walked straight towards Xie Zhaohua.

The moment he saw Qi Yichuan, Xie Zhaohua hid his expression and put on a bright smile.

But Shen Qing felt that the smile was a bit forced.

Shen Qing did not look away until Xie Zhaohua and Qi Yichuan left.

He wanted to find a secluded place to sit down and rest, but heard whispers from the side, "Did you see it just now? Miss Qi and Master Lu are walking together. They are a perfect match."

"Master Lu and Miss Qi? When? Why didn't I see it?"

"Of course it's true. I saw it with my own eyes. The two are flirting behind the rockery over there. It will probably be soon that the news of the marriage will be spread."

Shen Qing paused. Lu Yan and Qi Suining? Flirting? Marriage?