In the struggle, the quilt wrapped around her slipped to the ground, revealing large patches of her jade-like skin. Blood began to seep from the wound on her shoulder again. Meng Zhao was utterly infuriated by his unreasonable behavior and forcefully pushed him away: "If you keep pestering me like this, I'm packing my things and heading to Jiangnan tomorrow!"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over his head. Shen Qing froze, the light in his eyes gradually dimming. A single tear slid down his nose, hitting the floor with a soft sound. "I'm leaving," his voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, "I'm leaving right now, don't be angry."

Watching the man stagger out, Meng Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that if Shen Qinghe stayed any longer, she would fall back into her old habit of being soft-hearted.

The next day, as soon as it was light, Meng Zhao ran to the door. Aunt Chen was sweeping fallen leaves when she saw Meng Zhao walking over with an unfriendly expression. She quickly stopped what she was doing.

"Aunt Chen," Meng Zhao's voice was icy, "who let Shen Qinghe in yesterday?"

Aunt Chen paused in her broom, then replied somewhat uneasily, "It was...it was me. Yesterday, Lord Shen said he had urgent business to discuss with you. Seeing his anxious expression, I let him go straight in."

Meng Zhao was annoyed, but she knew the two families were on good terms and that Chen Qinghe had always been free to come and go as he pleased, so she couldn't blame Aunt Chen for this. However, she didn't want to say much, but simply ordered in a stern voice, "From today onwards, without my permission, no one in the front yard is allowed to let Shen Qinghe in. Later, you also tell Granny Wang and Xiao Chuan this." She paused, her tone becoming even more stern, "Anyone who dares to let him in on their own will face my wrath."

Since arriving at the Meng residence, this was the first time Aunt Chen had seen Meng Zhao so angry. Not daring to ask further, she nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes, I'll go and instruct them to make sure Lord Shen doesn't step into the courtyard." She hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked, "What if Madam Gu, Young Master Qingze, and Miss Qingyu come to visit?"

Thinking of the other members of the Shen family, Meng Zhao frowned even more deeply, and after a long while, she said helplessly, "If they come, just welcome them in as usual." In the end, she couldn't bring herself to take her anger out on others, and could only sigh inwardly.

Because he had been drinking the day before, Meng Dashan didn't get up for breakfast. Only Xu Yunrong and Meng Zhao were at the table. Xu Yunrong picked up a side dish with her chopsticks, her gaze lingering on her daughter's slightly haggard face for a moment, and asked casually, "I went to the front yard just now and heard Aunt Chen telling Granny Wang that you ordered Qinghe not to come over anymore. What's wrong? Did you have a fight?"

Meng Zhao's grip on the porridge bowl tightened slightly. The matter between Shen Qing and Xu Yunrong was too distressing. Meng Zhao didn't want to say much about it, so she could only vaguely say, "Well, it's about business. We had a little argument, but it's nothing serious."

Seeing that her daughter didn't want to say more, Xu Yunrong didn't press the matter. She simply offered a few words of comfort, "Alright, you're both adults now. Even if there's some misunderstanding, you can probably resolve it yourselves." As she spoke, she added another half bowl of hot porridge to her daughter's bowl. "This porridge is just right, drink more."

After finishing breakfast, Meng Zhao rushed to Mingxianglou Restaurant. Tomorrow would be the last day of business before the New Year, and there would be some ingredients with a short shelf life. She was worried that they would spoil during the New Year, so she thought she would try to deal with them in the next few days. Just as Meng Zhao was busy, Huang Cui suddenly rushed over and said happily, "Manager, Miss Song has arrived! The carriage has just stopped!"

Meng Zhao's eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up, rushing downstairs in a few strides. Just then, she saw Song Wanyin lifting her skirt as she entered. "Sister Wanyin!" Meng Zhao exclaimed joyfully, then hugged Song Wanyin tightly, her voice filled with excitement: "Ever since I heard that Lord Wang had been transferred back to the capital, I've been looking forward to your visit every day. I thought I wouldn't see you before the New Year, and I was so disappointed. I'm so happy to see you today!"

Song Wanyin's eyes were also filled with smiles: "I only arrived in the capital yesterday afternoon, and went to pay my respects to my parents last night. I couldn't sit still this morning, and I had to come see you first." As she spoke, she gently pulled over a nanny behind her and softly said to the little girl in her arms, "Manman, come and see your Aunt Zhao Zhao."

A small head peeked out from the nanny's arms. It looked about two years old. Its round face was adorned with a pair of big, watery eyes. It had two little pigtails on its head and rosy cheeks, just like a lucky baby in a New Year's painting.

Arriving in an unfamiliar place, the little one was initially a bit timid, but upon seeing Meng Zhao, whether she genuinely recognized her or not, she suddenly broke into a sweet smile and called out in a childish voice, "Auntie Zhao Zhao~"

Meng Zhao's heart almost melted at that sound. She pouted and kissed the little girl several times from a distance, saying, "Manman has grown so much! The last time I saw you, you couldn't even speak properly." The little girl giggled at her expression, looking even more cheerful.