Shen Que was stunned for a moment, then realized that his sister-in-law made sense, so he went over and drank the soup while standing.

After setting down the soup bowl, Shen Que cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for the soup, sister-in-law!"

Li Yunyan finished her soup and felt warmer.

She tapped her fingers on the table, gesturing for him to sit down.

"Chen Que, I have something to tell you!"

Shen Que was surprised again.

He felt that his sister-in-law today seemed somewhat different from the ones he had met briefly before.

He obediently sat down, somewhat curious about what his sister-in-law, who was just as pitiful as him, wanted to say to him.

Li Yunyan knew he was a promising talent, so she immediately came up with an idea.

She looked him in the eye, her expression serious. "Chen Que, I want to discuss a business deal with you!"

"I'll support your studies, and once you're in high school, you'll be my support, how about that?"

Li Yunyan's plan was that once Shen Que became an official, he could become a support for the Li family. In that case, if she divorced and returned home or lost her husband, she and her sister would not be bullied.

As for whether there will be another layer of relationship with Shen Que in the future, we need to establish this cooperative relationship first!

Shen Que was taken aback. He really hadn't expected that his sister-in-law would tell him about this!

He lowered his eyes, pondering the feasibility of the matter.

He does need money to study, and he will need even more money when he takes the imperial examination next year!

But now, he has to earn his daily meals by copying books, which is indeed difficult for him to make ends meet.

But why did my sister-in-law suddenly bring this up? What is she trying to achieve?

She just heard her brother's voice; could it be that he wants to leave this house?

Is she trying to support herself by gambling her unknown self on an uncertain future?

Knowing he was thinking, Li Yunyan didn't disturb him. She tidied up the tray and stood up. "Tell me when you've made up your mind! I'm leaving now!"

"Respectfully seeing off my sister-in-law!"

Shen Que watched her departing figure, his expression shifting in a complex and unpredictable manner.

Li Yunyan returned to her Liuyan Courtyard.

Back then, Shen Fengxian spared no expense to ensure she could marry into the family with peace of mind, building Liuyan Courtyard to be exquisite, spacious, and fully equipped, rivaling the courtyards of any matriarch!

However, the male owner of the courtyard never came in again, except for the night he lifted her veil on their wedding night!

She didn't even have a maid; the old lady only allowed her to have one maidservant.

That unskilled old woman was neither diligent nor lazy; she was only responsible for washing and scrubbing in her yard. After finishing her work, she would return to her own quarters.

Li Yunyan toured her residence, a faint smile appearing on her face.

This suits her perfectly!

After she stepped behind the screen, the bathwater in the tub had already cooled down a bit. If she had come back any later, there wouldn't have been any hot water available!

It seems we still need to have our own people!

After washing up, she began to take stock of how much of her personal property she still had.

Fortunately, Shen Fengxian and his mother had a sense of shame. They never asked for the original owner's things themselves. Instead, they would make things difficult for her in various ways until she would give them to them on her own!

This inevitably stretches the battle lines a bit too far.

Therefore, she still has more than 800 taels of silver in her hands, and two shops that she has not yet given away.

As for the gold and silver jewelry that came with the dowry, apart from those given away as gifts, we haven't bought any new ones for several years!

There were still quite a few clothes left, because the original owner's older sister was in the fabric business! Over the years, every time she went back to her parents' home, her sister would make her bring back a lot of clothes!

Thinking of her sister's experience in the story, Li Yunyan's expression hardened, and she raised her hand to close the wooden box.

It's time to go back!

I slept without any dreams.

The next morning, Li Yunyan got up early.

She opened the wardrobe and found that the original owner had recently been wearing clothes in old-fashioned colors, just like her heavy mood.

She scrolled down and finally found a few sets with brighter colors!

She changed into an orange-yellow padded ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) that reached her chest, paired with a blue belt and vest, and finally added a thick cape.

He didn't even have breakfast, and just walked straight out of the Shen family's gate.

He casually ate a bowl of wontons on the street, then hired a horse-drawn carriage and drove off.

*

Mother Shen waited for a long time in the main hall of the Shen family, but her daughter-in-law did not come to pay her respects.

What happened?

Li Yunyan usually arrives early to serve her mother-in-law her meals!

Her expression was displeased. "What's wrong with Li Yunyan? Does she expect me, her mother-in-law, to wait for her daughter-in-law?!"

"The merchant's daughter has no manners!"

Shen Fengxian took a sip of thick porridge, then picked up a gold thread bag and put it in his mouth, ignoring his mother's complaints about his wife.

Li Mingshan sat close to him, seemingly engrossed in eating, but his feet were entangled with Shen Fengxian's.

After a while, there was still no sign of Li Yunyan, and Mother Shen was furious!

She slammed her chopsticks down, exclaiming, "This is outrageous!"

"Whose daughter-in-law is this? It's so late and we still haven't seen her!!"

"Granny Lin! Go to Liuyan Courtyard and see if she's dead or crippled. Why hasn't she come over yet? What are you trying to do?!"

"Yes, this old servant will go right away!"

Granny Lin strode away, but Mother Shen continued her nagging, "She's a barren hen, brought into the family just to be a decoration, she can't do anything! Now she doesn't even respect her mother-in-law!"

Fearing his mother might utter some more vulgar words, Shen Fengxian put down his chopsticks: "Mother, calm down! Don't let Brother Li see this and make a fool of himself!"

Li Mingshan spoke politely, "Auntie is straightforward, which reminds me of my own mother, and I feel very close to her!"

Madam Shen had always liked her son's advisor. He was eloquent, respectful, and polite; one could tell at a glance that he was a well-educated scholar! A family of her standing deserved to have such an advisor.

On the other hand, Li Yunyan is a money-grubber. Just because she has a pretty face, she managed to seduce my excellent son into condescending to marry her. She is truly disgracing the family!

She's so angry!

Thinking that Li Yunyan had been married for four years and still had no children, and that her own son had repeatedly rejected her arrangements for this woman, refusing to even take a concubine into the house, she was even angrier!

He was so angry that he couldn't eat!

She crossed her arms, waiting for Granny Lin to call Li Yunyan over so she could see how she would deal with her!

Lin Mama returned shortly afterward.

She came back alone, and her expression was somewhat strange.

When Chen's mother saw that Li Yunyan hadn't come with her, she frowned.

"What happened? Where is Li Yunyan?"

Lin Mama glanced at the old lady, then at the eldest young master, and replied, "Reporting to the old lady, eldest young master, the eldest young mistress is not at Liuyan Courtyard!"

"What?!"

Mother Shen slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "Where is she? Why hasn't she come yet?"

Granny Lin's expression became even stranger.

"Madam, the gatekeeper said that the eldest young mistress went out very early this morning!"

"What?!"