Chapter 129 Making All the Preparations

Inside the room, Shangguan Jin and Shen Huaichen looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Why don't you lock the door when you sleep?" Shen Huaichen asked Shangguan Jin.

Shangguan Jin was speechless.

What door are you locking? How are you locking it? Locking a door in broad daylight is the problem!

"It's alright. Dongmai already knew about this, and she never intended to hide it from her."

"We'll have to let her know sooner or later; Dongmai isn't an outsider," Shangguan Jin comforted her.

Just as Shen Huaichen was about to speak, the door was gently pushed open again.

"Miss, would you like some hot water boiled and brought over?" Dongmai cautiously peeked in again to ask.

Shangguan Jin glanced at Shen Huaichen and said without thinking, "Burn it! Burn a lot and send it to the warm pavilion."

Also, could you ask the kitchen to make some chicken soup? It's getting cold; some chicken soup will warm you up.

Dongmai nodded, indicating that she understood.

Then he tiptoed away again.

Throughout the entire process, Dongmai never looked at Shen Huaichen again, acting as if he didn't exist.

Shen Huaichen was speechless. This girl must have been spoiled by Shangguan Jin, otherwise why would she not even say hello?

He was, after all, a Duke, the head of the family!

"she......"

"Dongmai did the right thing, so we should just pretend you're not here."

Otherwise, she was afraid that others would notice something amiss. "Shangguan Jin said bluntly.

With Shangguan Jin protecting him like this, Shen Huaichen had nothing to say.

Well, he couldn't understand this master-servant relationship either.

So, before dinner, Shangguan Jin said that she had sweated a lot while sleeping at noon and wanted to take a hot shower.

Then, after taking a shower, I was accidentally exposed to a cold draft and seemed to catch a chill again.

Dinner was served inside.

Because Shangguan Jin had a poor appetite, Dongmai personally went to the kitchen to oversee the preparation of several additional dishes.

Pheasant soup, wild mushroom stewed with bones, and many other exquisite stir-fried dishes were sent into several food boxes.

Fearing that she might spread her illness to others, Shangguan Jin only allowed Dongmai to serve her personally.

With this arrangement, everyone in the household knew that Shangguan Jin had caught a cold and was feeling slightly unwell.

Shen Huaichen was also hiding in Shangguan Jin's room.

During the day, he would talk to Shangguan Jin and discuss their grand plans.

At night, he would crawl back into the tunnel to sleep.

Shangguan Jin even thoughtfully took all the bedding from her own bed for Shen Huaichen to take away.

“The tunnel is a sealed space with poor air circulation. It’s also cold now, so putting a charcoal brazier in there could easily lead to poisoning.”

"Just cover a little more!"

Shen Huaichen happily carried the bedding downstairs.

He figured it must be because he had come all the way back to deliver living expenses that Shangguan Jin was moved.

Otherwise, why didn't she care about me this much last time?

Shen Huaichen felt that he had been sleeping very well underground these past two days.

There are no worries, and no need to worry about others hearing you talking in your sleep.

I can fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow and sleep soundly until dawn.

Of course, Shen Huaichen also secretly met with Old Madam Shen, Shen Qingyue, and Shen Qingjun again in the past two days.

Shen Huaichen was a good son to Madam Shen.

"Mother, your son is doing well over there, everything is stable."

He missed his mother so much over there. The thought of not being able to be with her and fulfill his filial duties to her made his heart feel like it was being cut by a knife.

You must take good care of yourself and wait for your son to come back so you can fulfill your filial duties.

Eat and drink well, and go out for tea or opera when you have time; otherwise, I won't feel at ease leaving my son outside.

With tears in her eyes, Madam Shen agreed.

Look how good my son is! He's having such a tough time out there, yet he's still thinking of me.

I must listen to my son more, go out to see more operas and drink more tea, and I must not let my son worry about me...

Shen Huaichen was a strict father to his eldest son, Shen Qingjun.

"Your mother said you study hard and set a good example for your elder brother, so your father has nothing to worry about."

Jun-ge'er, you must remember that in the days when your father is away, you must help your mother keep the household in order.

You'll be seventeen soon, and you'll inherit the title in a year at most. Then you'll be an adult.

Respect your elders, love your sisters, and never let your father down.

Shen Qingjun agreed with red eyes.

The last person I met was Shen Qingyue.

Shen Qingyue's eyes reddened as soon as they met.

She still felt that it was her fault that her father had faked his death.

She always sneaks around when she comes home; she's really not a dutiful daughter.

"Father......"

"Sister Yao seems to have grown a little taller; she's really going to be a grown-up."

Your mother said you are very good and have helped her a lot.

"Good boy, do whatever you want, don't worry about what others say," Shen Huaichen said first.

Shen Qingyue agreed to them one by one.

After meeting these people, Shen Huaichen finally relaxed.

Being a son or a father is not an easy job.

Living with a mask on is never easy.

Thinking of this, Shen Huaichen suddenly realized that Shangguan Jin was also wearing a mask to be a good daughter-in-law and a good mother!

Faced with all sorts of people, they also had to think about how to prevent the Duke's mansion from falling into the abyss.

She... must be even more tired!

Shen Huaichen made a decision; he really couldn't just be a hands-off manager anymore.

Even in the north, he would try to find a way to help Shangguan Jin in some way.

......

Three days later, in the morning, Shen Huaichen prepared to go back.

This time, Shangguan Jin did not prepare any more gold beans.

However, they prepared quite a lot of food.

"I didn't let the manor do it."

They were all bought from outside.

As you said, someone is waiting for you in the outskirts of Beijing. If you bring things from the mansion, it will arouse suspicion.

These are pastries from Taoyuanxuan. They keep well and won't spoil even if you go to the north.

This package also contains Hu Ji dried meat and braised beef, which keep well and you can keep them for the road.

In addition, this package contains some pills, which I bought at a pharmacy in Kyoto.

For preventing colds and treating diarrhea, I also asked Dongmai to prepare some plasters, as the northern region is bitterly cold.

Take it with you.

If you need anything, just send a message back through a trusted person. I'll always find a way to get it to you...

Shangguan Jin tidied up Shen Huaichen's things while nagging.

Shen Huaichen laughed as he read.

"Shangguan Jin, you still need to be careful. You need to prepare everything."

I have a feeling that if the border is stable, the capital city will definitely not be stable.

That old bastard, Duke Anguo, certainly won't stay quiet for long.

You want to sit back and watch the tigers fight, but maybe that old man is thinking of striking first.

You... still need to be more vigilant.

If anything seems wrong, take your family and run away immediately.

They kept running north.

"Once you reach the territory of the Weiyuan Army, you will be safe!" Shen Huaichen suddenly said.

Shangguan Jin nodded seriously.

"Okay! I've got it! If anything seems wrong, I'll run faster than a rabbit."