Chapter 33 He is more wronged than Dou E

The second wife fainted from the successive blows, and Zhao Jue carried her around the waist and carried her back to Jingde Hall.

The second master was startled and followed him while ordering the maid, "Quickly call the palace doctor."

Shen Mingzhu stepped out of the door and looked back at Zhao Yi.

He had red lips, white teeth, and picturesque eyebrows and eyes. He supported his forehead with one hand, leaning against the back of the chair tiredly and lazily, with a natural demeanor.

Duke Zhao values him very much. If he were not weak, he would have been established as the heir long ago, right?

The second branch of the family fought for the job of transporting military rations, but with just one word from Zhao Yi, the job fell on a bastard's head.

Shen Mingzhu looked at the night sky with a blank look in her eyes. If she married Zhao Yi...

As soon as this thought came to her mind, Shen Mingzhu shuddered and immediately cut it off.

After the people from the second house left, Duke Zhao ordered food to be served.

Duke Zhao and the old lady had no appetite, and the third master and the third lady didn't even dare to pick up their chopsticks.

The eldest lady was worried about her father and brother and had not eaten properly in the past few days. Now that the grain transportation was settled today, she immediately had an appetite, but she had to observe the rules because her elders were there.

She winked at the master and glanced at the food.

The eldest master understood instantly and told Guan Mama: "Madam has lost a lot of weight. The palace doctor said she needs to eat more. You should serve her more rice and vegetables."

Then he looked at the Duke of Zhao and the old lady: "She is old, but she is still picky and willful. She won't eat when she goes home. In front of you, she is more obedient and dare not lose her temper."

The eldest master seemed to be very concerned about the eldest lady's meal and picked up some dishes for her with his serving chopsticks.

He deliberately kept a straight face and said, "Eat it all. Don't be picky."

The eldest lady's bowl was filled with her favorite dishes, but she was not happy at all.

The eldest master's words were humiliating to her. The eldest lady wanted to beat him up, but unfortunately the occasion was not right and she felt very uncomfortable.

Duke Zhao and the old lady saw that the eldest lady had lost weight and looked miserable while eating, so they looked at the eldest master with a reproachful look.

The eldest lady was satisfied when she ate a piece of tender fish.

The old lady said lovingly, "Old lady, if you can't eat, then don't eat. There's no need to force yourself."

The eldest lady sighed because there was only one piece of fish: "Mother, don't force it, and don't waste it."

"Yes." The eldest master glanced at Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi: "The juniors are still here."

Shen Qingtan: “…”

Zhao Yi: “…”

The eldest lady finished the meal "with reluctance" and enjoyed it very much.

As the group left Shi'an Hall, the eldest lady took Shen Qingtan's hand and couldn't help but share: "Daughter-in-law, today's fish dish is very delicious. I will ask the kitchen for the recipe later. You can take it to the small kitchen and cook it. You will definitely like it."

Seeing the eldest lady savoring the food, Shen Qingtan thought of her "painful" appearance at the dinner table and couldn't help laughing for a moment: "Mother doesn't like to eat fish, but she thinks it tastes good. I must try it."

“…”

The eldest lady saved her dignity: "Although I don't like fish, I can't deny its deliciousness."

"I'm narrow-minded." Shen Qingtan added, "Mother, remember to ask father to get the recipe. It was he who was overbearing and wanted to cook fish to nourish you."

Madam: “…”

"My daughter-in-law will take her leave first." Shen Qingtan gently pulled Zhao Yi's sleeve.

Zhao Yi glanced at the wide sleeves fluttering in the night wind, raised his eyes and saw the smile that could not be hidden in her eyes. He smiled unconsciously and left with her.

The eldest lady looked at the young couple walking away and faintly heard Shen Qingtan's clear laughter.

The master came to his senses and said, "Yes, if you ask for the recipe, you'll be exposed...ah..."

The eldest lady pinched the soft flesh on the eldest master's waist and said, "It's all your fault for forcing me to eat and letting my daughter-in-law tease me."

The master put on a mask of pain: "..." Dou E was not even as wronged as him.

——

Shen Qingtan walked on the moonlight shining on the ground, the corners of his lips slightly raised. It was the first time he felt so relaxed since his rebirth.

The eldest lady has a proud and arrogant personality, but she is not annoying, and can even be said to be somewhat cute.

She couldn't help but cast her eyes on the man beside her. He had an indifferent expression. He had neither the cheerfulness of the master nor the straightforwardness of the lady. He was too taciturn.

Zhao Yi stared at her soft eyebrows and eyes: "Are you very happy today?"

"Yeah." Shen Qingtan nodded, a smile on his lips: "My mother and I think differently."

A smile flashed across Zhao Yi's eyes: "Father will suffer."

Shen Qingtan was stunned.

Zhao Yi smiled lightly and said, "Because her father forced her to eat too much, she was laughed at by the younger generation."

Shen Qingtan: “…”

She looked guilty: "I have implicated my father."

"You don't have to feel guilty. Father is used to it. He will only feel uncomfortable if one day mother stops bothering him."

Zhao Yi paused for a moment, looking into her clear eyes with a quiet gaze: "There's no need to be too restrained when family members get along with each other. You behaved very well just now, and you were as lively as you should be at your age."

Shen Qingtan stood there in a daze. What should she look like at her age?

The memory was too distant and vague for her to recall.

She was close to the eldest lady. Besides the fact that she treated her well, she envied the relationship between her and the eldest master.

Every time she was with the eldest lady, she unconsciously let down her guard and revealed some of her true self.

True...

Zhao Yi saw her standing quietly under the willow tree, her dark, bright eyes covered with a layer of mist, her expression was blank, and even a little pale and fragile.

He had met her several times before they got married. She was dignified and virtuous in front of the elders, calm and decisive when facing difficulties, and innocent when she was with her close friends.

I can always discover a different side of her, but the only thing that remains unchanged is her carefree and contented nature.

After getting married, although she was gentle, chaste, shrewd and wise, she wore a thick mask on her face and carried a heavy shell on her body, becoming more calm and introverted.

She no longer has the carefree attitude she had when she said to her close friend, "Enjoy life while you can."

Being so relaxed tonight, it's the second house that's in trouble.

The night was cold in late spring. Zhao Yi took off his cloak and covered Shen Qingtan's shoulders with it.

A warm feeling instantly enveloped Shen Qingtan. She smelled the light bitter medicinal fragrance and looked at Zhao Yi in a daze.

"Grandfather asked me who would escort the military rations because he was thinking of the injustice you suffered and wanted to compensate the eldest wife."

Zhao Yi's lips curled slightly, and his tone was gentle: "Grandfather didn't want to see brothers fall out, so he demoted Zhao Jue's official position as a warning to them. If Zhao Jue can repent and take this opportunity to hone himself, Grandfather will promote him when the time is right."

It all depends on whether Zhao Jue can understand Duke Zhao's good intentions and seize this opportunity.

Shen Qingtan gathered his cloak in his hands, the heat from his body reddening his snow-white face. "Zhao Jue harbors resentment towards Grandfather, blaming him for favoring you. This prejudice has doomed him to be unable to appreciate Grandfather's painstaking efforts."

Zhao Yi smiled and stopped discussing.

The couple returned to Lanxue Garden, and the maid brought them hot water and helped them wash their hands.

Liu Yue came in and announced, "Second Master, Second Madam, someone from the Fourth Room has arrived."

"Fourth wife?" Shen Qingtan's mind flashed with the cold face of the Fourth Madam. He asked uncertainly, "Is Fourth Uncle here?"