Chapter 89 Chapter 89 She is like a rabbit that will bite when it is cornered.

Lord Shen was startled, and then he couldn't help laughing out loud.

"Okay... okay, I'll give Ting Lan a good spur when he comes back."

Mrs. Shen couldn't calm down and was still filled with indignation. "How could he do such a thing?"

Lord Shen was thinking that when he insisted on marrying Zhu Yinluan, he also told his family that it was not that Zhu Yinluan was unable to give birth, but that it was he who caused Wei Ruzhuo's infertility.

Everyone in the Shen family was shocked at that time. Mrs. Shen seemed to know about it at the time, but she probably didn't believe it very much. Later, rumors spread in the capital. Mrs. Shen naturally would not blame Shen Jingzhan for some unfounded rumors.

Now, Lord Shen had told her personally, and even with all the things that happened before, including the imperial physician's corroboration, Madam Shen had to believe it even if she didn't want to.

"What a bastard!" Mrs. Shen continued to curse a few more times.

There was no one else around at the moment, and in front of Lord Shen, Madam Shen didn't have so many concerns.

Knowing that Madam Shen was already unhappy, when she started to scold Shen Jingzhan, Lord Shen did not stop her and let her scold.

After a while, Mrs. Shen stopped scolding enough.

Mrs. Shen came back to her senses and asked Lord Shen, "By the way, does my daughter-in-law know all these things?"

Lord Shen paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "You didn't know before, but you must know now, otherwise why would you fight with Ting Lan?"

"Madam has been with her daughter-in-law for some time. Don't you know what kind of personality she has?"

Madam Shen sighed, "I was so angry that I asked such a question."

"Although Zhu Yinluan is a little dull, she is still quiet and gentle, and her temperament is also very gentle."

Sometimes they are like rabbits, looking easy to bully.

But Mrs. Shen also knew that Zhu Yinluan had her own opinions when doing things.

This can be seen from the fact that she had no support from her natal family, resolutely rebelled against the Wei family, divorced from the Wei family, and then married Shen Jingzhan.

Although he looks easy to bully, he will never be bullied for no reason.

The rabbit was forced to bite people, which was enough to show how excessive Shen Jingzhan was.

"I will go and fetch her tomorrow, and I will take charge of her and give Ting Lan a lesson! My husband, please come with me."

Lord Shen laughed, "Madam, have you forgotten again? You have to go to the Meng family tomorrow."

"Maybe some time later."

Mrs. Shen was still worried, "How long will this last?"

The two of them had conflicts, and Zhu Yinluan had a stubborn personality. What if she and Shen Jingzhan had a big fight? What if something happened?

Lord Shen said, "Ting Lan has been busy these days and has not been able to return home. The issues between him and his wife have not been resolved yet. It would be good to let them stay out for a few days to relax and let them coax themselves. After some time, they will come back."

"That being said..." Mrs. Shen said that she still couldn't feel at ease.

Lord Shen comforted her many times.

Mrs. Shen asked him when he could take another leave.

Lord Shen told Madam Shen openly, "The capital has been in turmoil these days, the government is unstable, and the people suppressed on the borders of several states are secretly attacking. Not only that, they have even sneaked into the capital and the camps outside the capital..."

Mrs. Shen was shocked when she heard this, "Didn't you say before that it was just a formal inspection?"

Lord Shen goes out early and comes back late, so Madam Shen asked him if something was going to happen.

At that time, Lord Shen said it was just a routine visit and nothing happened.

Now, foreigners have been allowed to infiltrate the capital and the army? So this is not a routine matter at all, but a case of detecting spies.

"This is a long story." Lord Shen frowned, "Many problems were found in the case of the Grand Marshal. After the Grand Marshal was demoted, the capital was in turmoil and the people were complaining. Madam, do you know... In addition to the border, even many towns and counties have made trouble under the pretext of an uprising to protect the Grand Marshal. In addition to the capital, the outside world has been in turmoil."

“What?!” Mrs. Shen was shocked after hearing this.

What is going on?

How did it turn out like this?

“Isn’t that internal and external troubles?” Speaking of court affairs, even if there were no outsiders around, Madam Shen couldn’t help but lower her voice.

Yes.

Lord Shen nodded slowly, "So Madam, please keep a close eye on the door at home and strengthen the management of the gatehouse, so that no one can take advantage of the loopholes." Madam Shen nodded quickly, telling Lord Shen not to worry, she would definitely do a good job on this matter.

"Just say that my mother's health is not good, and the imperial physician has told me to rest and recuperate. I'd like to use the Meng family as an excuse to accept as few invitations as possible from other noble families."

"Okay." Mrs. Shen had just thought about it in her mind and had originally wanted to do so.

It just so happened that Lord Shen was speaking out her thoughts.

Madam Shen couldn't help but worry again, and asked if it was so difficult for Lord Shen to take leave, why did Shen Jingzhan suddenly get a leave?

After all, the Taiwei's case has not been solved yet.

"Madam is indeed smart." Lord Shen saw that she looked extremely nervous, and praised her at this critical moment, also to comfort her heart.

"Tinglan has been impeached repeatedly in the court. Now, I, the four generals of Biaoqi, Zhendong, and Shouwei have received the imperial decree to investigate spies and suppress the rebellion. Tinglan is always backed by the Shen family. If he doesn't take a few days off and is impeached by the Taiwei's party, then what we are doing will also be suspected."

Madam Shen listened, with endless worry on her face. Thousands of words came to her lips, and she could only say to Lord Shen, "Be careful."

Lord Shen patted the back of her hand and said, "The reason I told Madam is that I wanted to tell Madam to be careful in everything."

"Ting Lan was chosen by His Majesty to be the disciple of General Yao in order to understand him. Now this matter has become a topic of gossip, and it is not easy to argue in front of others."

"Will anything happen?" Mrs. Shen asked.

"It's all right, ma'am, don't worry. Even if the sky falls, I will hold it up."

Hearing this, Mrs. Shen smiled, but her worries remained.

"......"

The next day, Madam Shen first asked the old lady to pick out some supplements and materials and sent them to Zhu Yinluan, and asked the old lady to tell her to relax and not worry about the family. It would be nice to relax with Shen Jingzhan outside, but she must take care of herself.

Before leaving the Meng family, Madam Shen followed Lord Shen to walk through Old Lady Shen's yard.

Old Mrs. Shen's health is still the same, neither good nor bad.

I've been taking medicine for a long time, but I'm not feeling as energetic as before.

Seeing Lord Shen coming over and talking to him for a while, there were some more smile lines on his face.

Knowing that the two were going to the Meng family, and hearing Mrs. Shen's plan, Old Lady Shen nodded repeatedly, "That's great, it's very thoughtful after all."

"Mother, you must take care of yourself. Tinglan's wife hasn't given birth yet." Mrs. Shen said worriedly. She personally took the tonic soup brought by the old mother and sat next to Mrs. Shen to feed her.

After eating half a bowl, Mrs. Shen said she didn't want any more.

She leaned against the soft pillow and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I know my body well, and I won't be so useless."

"Is the court still stable?" Old Madam Shen asked Lord Shen again.

"Mother, rest assured that your son will be able to handle everything."

"That's good." Although Mrs. Shen was recuperating, her eyes and ears were alert in all directions and she was very perceptive about many things.

"Just rest and recover."

Lord Shen and Madam Shen came out of Yunmei Hall, counted the list, and went to Meng's house.

At the same time, Shen Jingzhan also took Zhu Yinluan back to the Zhu family.

During this time, Zhu Yinluan kept looking outside. She looked at the streets leading to Zhu's house, which were very different from what she remembered. She still remembered that the Zhu's house was always crowded with people in the past few years. She was in the courtyard of the Zhu's house, close to the gate, and it was always noisy at night.

Nowadays, it has become so desolate. This is within her expectation. After all, the Zhu family is embroiled in lawsuits, and the sons of the family are avoiding them. Even the relatives don’t come to visit. Who else would come?

Even though the eldest sister married into the palace, she couldn’t solve the Zhu family’s predicament. Is the Zhu family really doomed?

Will I die?

Thinking of this, Zhu Yinluan cast his gaze towards Shen Jingzhan.

He was holding a scroll and reading, looking extremely handsome like a modest young man. Even though his hand holding the scroll was injured, it did not diminish his elegance in the slightest, and instead made people unable to help but stare at him.

Just looking at this face, how could one imagine what he had done? Yesterday, he had to lock her up to rest and hold her tightly. He was simply a scary lunatic.

If she hadn't been making a fuss today, Shen Jingzhan wouldn't even have planned to untie her.

Having said that, he moved so quickly that Zhu Yinluan didn't even see how he opened it, and the lock ring opened.

While she was lost in thought, Shen Jingzhan had already put away the lock ring. When she realized it belatedly and wanted to find it and throw it away, it was gone.

"What's wrong?"

The young man, who had originally been aloof, immediately became warm and cheerful when he shifted his gaze from the book to her face.

"Luan Er, are you looking at me like this, do you want to kiss me?"

Zhu Yinluan, "......"

I can't stand it anymore.

She didn't even want to reply to Shen Jingzhan's words.

The girl's slightly speechless expression made Shen Jingzhan chuckle.

He reached out his hand and wanted to pinch her cheek, but he was afraid that she would be angry again, so he just pulled her cloak closer.

After four months, her waist became visible.

Before coming out, Shen Jingzhan gave her a cloak, and after she put it on, she couldn't see anything.

"Since you don't want to kiss me, then you have something to say? Luan'er, what do you want to say to me?"

"Didn't you guess?"

"I did guess it, but I want to hear Luan'er speak."

Zhu Yinluan glanced at him again and decided not to keep him in suspense any longer. "What will be the fate of the Zhu family?"

The current situation of the Zhu family is due to Shen Jingzhan's calculations, so he must be very clear about the ending of the Zhu family.

"Is Luan'er soft-hearted?" Shen Jingzhan was referring to Lord Zhu.

This is currently the only person in the Zhu family who has a blood relationship with her.

Zhu Yinluan paused for a moment, then lowered her head and said, "...My father treated me coldly and almost never looked at me straight in the eye..."

In his eyes, she, a concubine's daughter, might not be as good as a useful item in the family.

He treated her like this, why should she take it seriously?

Seeing what she meant, Shen Jingzhan just raised his eyebrows and didn't want to say more.

After a moment, Zhu Yinluan asked, "You still haven't answered my question."

What will be the ending of the Zhu family?

"The fate of the Zhu family does not depend on me, but on the choice of the Zhu family itself." Shen Jingzhan said this in a confused manner.

Originally, she wanted to ask more, but suddenly she remembered what Shen Jingzhan had said to her before.

He said that he was just offering some inducements to the Wei family, and whether or not they would take the bait depended on the choices made by the Wei family members.

Shen Jingzhan was the driving force behind Wei Ruzhuo's move to this point, but it was not him who dragged Wei Ruzhuo forward, but it was Shen Jingzhan who brought out the greed and arrogance in him.

It can be said that Wei Ruzhuo had brought this upon himself.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yinluan couldn't help but ask, "What about you?"

"What?" Shen Jingzhan always seemed to have a lot of patience towards her.

When she first married into the Shen family, Mingya told Zhu Yinluan that she had heard news about Shen Jingzhan from other people.

It is said that when Shen Jingzhan is reading, he must be very quiet and cannot be disturbed by anyone, and even the biggest things cannot be passed on.

But now Shen Jingzhan was reading a book. She interrupted his thoughts again and again and asked him questions, but he didn't show any impatience and kept looking at her.

In fact, it was not just this time. There were several times when Shen Jingzhan was in the study, she looked at him, and he would respond to her when he was busy, such as smiling at her and giving her a reassuring look.

With Chen Jingzhan around, she always felt inexplicably peaceful.

"......"

As they were talking, they had already arrived at the Zhu family.

Zhu Yinluan originally wanted to go down by herself, but the man who put down the book put his arms around her waist and carried her down.

During this time, Shen Jingzhan even threatened her, saying that if she didn't ask him to hug her, he would kiss her.

In broad daylight, on the streets of the capital.

People come and go, and he is really...shameless.

No, it's shameless.

Zhu Yinluan couldn't help but glare at him again.

He carried her out of the carriage, still holding her wrist and refusing to let go.

Zhu Yinluan struggled twice but couldn't get free.

He couldn't argue with Shen Jingzhan, so he could only let him lead.

The desolation of the Zhu family was beyond her imagination. The gatekeeper was gone and there were even cracks on the plaque.

If she didn't know clearly, she would even suspect that this was not the Zhu family.

"Are you sure there is someone inside?" Zhu Yinluan asked.

"Luan Er, just go and take a look and you'll know, right?"

Shen Jingzhan led her up the stairs and knocked on the door twice. Before anyone came to open the door, the door opened by itself.

Zhu Yinluan was shocked.

The inside was fine, although not as bright and shiny as before, it was tidy at least. However, several of the flower trees under the corridor had died, and the servants had taken them somewhere and had not replaced them.

Zhu Yinluan was just about to speak when she heard a noisy sound coming from the corridor. It was an old woman who was cursing the sky and the earth.

She walked out with silver in her hand. Her movements were extremely vulgar and her steps were a little unsteady. It was obvious that she had been drinking.

Zhu Yinluan recognized her. This was... the maid who carried her stepmother, Madam Zhu. How could she... ?

Without waiting for her to say anything, the other party collected the money and looked over.

"Who is it——" The old woman squinted her eyes and looked over. The moment she saw Zhu Yinluan, she thought she was seeing things.

Why is Zhu Yinluan here?

But when she saw the handsome young man standing next to Zhu Yinluan, the expression on his face was cold and frightening for no reason. The old woman was so frightened that she almost fell to her knees, "Miss San...Miss San San San San?"

Soon, the old woman came back screaming "Third Miss".

Half a moment later, Zhu Yinluan followed Shen Jingzhan and sat in the main hall of the Zhu family. Her father and brother were now pouring tea for her and Shen Jingzhan and greeting them in a flattering manner.

Mr. Zhu looks much more haggard. I don’t know if it’s because he has been asking too many people for favors in recent days. He has been very humble and there is a sense of anxiety between the lines.

It could be seen that her elder brother Zhu Mingsheng was vaguely dissatisfied.

Zhu Yinluan also knew why. It was because he had been pampered since he was a child and was used to being praised. Even if he became a stray dog, he would not accept it.

"Luan'er has brought her son-in-law back. Why didn't you send a message in advance so that I could send someone to pick you up? No! I will go to pick you up in person!" At this moment, Lord Zhu looked at Zhu Yinluan and Shen Jingzhan as if he had seen a savior.

His face was full of calculation as he pondered the two men's intentions. Looking at his concubine who was getting better and better, he felt really regretful. He should have treated her better at that time, otherwise he would not be so desperate now.

As a concubine's daughter, she was really lucky. After leaving the Wei family, she was able to marry into a wealthy family.

As for Shen Jingzhan next to him, Master Zhu didn’t dare to look at him any more.

Because he was a son-in-law who was so young but already made people fear him, even the old officials in the Censorate did not dare to confront him. How could he, a minor official who was idle at home, dare to take the initiative to talk to him?

Precisely because of Shen Jingzhan's presence, Lord Zhu's behavior was particularly cautious and humble.

Zhu Yinluan was too lazy to pay attention to her father's pretentious look. Just as she was about to explain her purpose, Lord Zhu started crying first.

He said earnestly that he was very sorry to her, and that it was his blessing and good fortune that she could come back to see him as her father.

He also said that he was always thinking about her and wanted to visit her many times, but because of a lot of things at home, he really couldn't spare the time. He also asked her if she was in good health.

She was said to be about five or six months pregnant? I wonder if the Zhu family's affairs have affected her.

As he was talking, he even mentioned Zhu Yinluan's deceased mother. "Your mother came to me in a dream the other day. She said she missed you and felt that she was not doing well in the afterlife. I had people burn silver coins and ingots for her and also asked someone to perform a ritual."

"Her tablet is now enshrined in the ancestral hall. Your stepmother is ill, and your brother even wrote Buddhist scriptures for her, which he burned..."

If Lord Zhu had not mentioned her mother, Zhu Yinluan would have wanted to have a nice conversation.

But he was so hypocritical that he wanted to use her little girl to gain her sympathy.

A dream? It comes out so easily.

Burning silver coins and gold ingots to write Buddhist scriptures, did he think she was a three-year-old child who could be fooled so easily?

Do you think saying this will make her feel a little bit of sympathy?

Zhu Yinluan waited for Lord Zhu to finish speaking and looked at him quietly.

She said nothing, and the stage that Lord Zhu had set up couldn't help but become awkward.

If it had happened before, if Zhu Yinluan dared to look at him like that, Lord Zhu would have slapped her in the face.

Now that she has a noble status and is pregnant with the eldest grandson of the Marquis's Mansion, he dare not really touch Zhu Yinluan.

Instead, she had to smile and change the subject, saying that the pastries in the mansion were what she used to eat often, and asked her to eat more, then she gave Zhu Mingsheng a look.

Zhu Mingsheng took over the stage and spoke, "Yes, Third Sister, don't disbelieve me. Ever since my father had the dream, I have been copying Buddhist scriptures for your mother to bless her—"

Zhu Yinluan was in no mood to listen any further. She asked, "Really?"

"Of course it's true."

Zhu Mingsheng was interrupted, dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes, but Shen Jingzhan, who was supporting Zhu Yinluan, was looking at him.

Zhu Mingsheng immediately suppressed his dissatisfaction and put on a slightly flattering smile, but in fact he still cursed Zhu Yinluan thousands of times in his heart.

"Third sister, your brother was pretty good to you at home in the past, right? Has he ever been harsh to you?" Zhu Mingsheng asked.

He was also glad that he had completely looked down on this half-sister in the past, had not taken her seriously, and had always treated her coldly, so now he could just say some nice words to get away with it.

"Father and mother asked you to withdraw..."

Originally, he wanted to mention the Wei family, because he didn't go there that day, so he could confuse right and wrong. But Shen Jingzhan was here, and he was Zhu Yinluan's legal husband, so he should not make him unhappy.

Regardless of whether Shen Jingzhan really likes his boring third sister, everyone can see that he dotes on her to the sky.

No one likes to hear about the past of the person sleeping next to them.

Zhu Mingsheng skipped over it and said, "I was against it at first and wanted to stop it, but you also know that everything in the family is decided by mother."

I originally wanted to talk about my father, but Lord Zhu was right beside me, so I had to pass the blame on.

"I--" Zhu Mingsheng was about to say something else, but was interrupted by Zhu Yinluan again.

She said, "Brother, please stop pretending in front of me. We all know how our family got along in the past. Some words are unpleasant to hear and will embarrass each other."

Zhu Mingsheng's face immediately turned pale and blue, and he was so angry that his teeth were itching, but he couldn't do anything to Zhu Yinluan.

With a smile on his face, he asked, "What are you talking about, Third Sister?"

"You're right. We are all family. Don't hurt the harmony. A harmonious family brings prosperity."

Zhu Yinluan couldn't help but sneer.

Lord Zhu saw her dissatisfaction and immediately jumped out to reprimand Zhu Mingsheng, saying that his words were unpleasant to the ear. "Your sister is pregnant now, why can't you consider her feelings when you speak? Why bring up things from the past!"

Master Zhu glared at Zhu Mingsheng, then said to Zhu Yinluan, "Your brother's words were not pleasant to hear, and I have already reprimanded him. Today you and your son-in-law have a rare visit, and I have asked the servants to prepare wine and food. Later, our family will sit down and have a meal and chat..."

"Father said he still remembers my mother and told him that she appeared in his dream some time ago?" Zhu Yinluan asked back.

Lord Zhu didn't understand her intention, but still nodded affirmatively and said yes.

"Father, you are speaking so earnestly. I would like to ask you what kind of clothes and other pearl hairpins did I wear in my dream? What did they look like?"

"This... is just a plain white dress..." Lord Zhu was a little confused by the question and began to evade, "She kept crying, I was busy comforting her, my heart was hurting, and I didn't have time to pay attention to these."

"Really?" Zhu Yinluan sneered, "Then I'll ask someone to bring up pen, ink, paper and inkstone. Father, why don't you draw the image of my wife that you saw in your dream?"

Mr. Zhu has really shot himself in the foot. He was just about to say that it would be enough time to draw after dinner.

But Shen Jingzhan had already told the people around him to go down and get the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and they quickly brought them up and set them out.

Mr. Zhu has not yet thought of a solution. He is completely forced into doing something he is not able to do. Even with the brush and ink in his hands, he cannot paint at all.

He was just talking nonsense. How could Zhu Yinluan's wife have appeared in his dream? If Zhu Yinluan was not still alive, he would not even have thought of this concubine.

Because of this incident, Lord Zhu smiled awkwardly and was about to change the subject, saying "Think about it, let him think about it."

Zhu Yinluan said at this time, "Father can't draw it, or does he simply not know what my mother looks like?"

Master Zhu was embarrassed. "I remember, of course I don't remember, it's just that it was a long time ago, and the dream was very vague. She was always crying, so I really can't remember it for a moment."

"In that case, I won't make things difficult for my father." Zhu Yinluan suddenly relaxed, and Lord Zhu felt relieved.

But before she could even lift the heavy stone in her heart, she heard Zhu Yinluan say, "Father may not remember what my daughter looks like, but he must remember her name and date of birth, right?"

"Didn't father also set up a new tablet for my mother and moved it to the ancestral hall a few days ago?"

"Please write down my daughter's date of birth and her name, and I will go and burn incense for her myself."

Lord Zhu, “...I...this......” So many years have passed, what was the name of this concubine?

I only remember that she was very beautiful, but now I can't remember her name and date of birth...

Lord Zhu held the pen tightly, and because of his anxiety, the ink even splashed onto her clothes. His face was covered with cold sweat, and he was groveling and looking very embarrassed.

"Master Zhu, things have come to this, and you still want to deceive me?" Zhu Yinluan changed his words and stopped calling him father. Instead, he called him Master Zhu in a mocking tone.

"I know I am sorry for you, but... my family has been busy these days, and I really have no choice."

"You are my daughter, I must be thinking about you in my heart."

"Really?" Zhu Yinluan sneered again.

"If you can't remember my wife's, then what about me? My birth date, does father still remember it? What did I like to eat, what did I dislike to eat, what books did I read, did father ever pay attention to it?"

Master Zhu really can’t remember.

Back then, his concubine gave birth to a daughter who was as weak as a kitten. He was in no mood for it, so he simply threw the child to Zhu and asked her to raise her.

Zhu Yinluan is just like her mother, quiet and silent, always keeping her head down. If she wasn't so beautiful, no one would have any impression of her.

It was precisely because Zhu Yinluan was born with a pretty face that he would occasionally think of this daughter and let Zhu take care of her so that he could use her to curry favor with the aristocratic families in the future. It would be impossible for him to make Zhu Yinluan his legal wife.

But she is beautiful and can be made a concubine. As long as she is sent to a noble family, it can be considered as a marriage and they will get benefits.

Zhu Yinluan is indeed very lucky now, but who could have known that things would turn out like this.

"Father wants me to help the Shen family. He should do his best to please me. You are just talking nonsense. Do you really think I am a three-year-old child?"

Lord Zhu's face turned pale. After being exposed, he was so embarrassed that he didn't know what to do. He sighed, forced out tears, and repeatedly said sorry to Zhu Yinluan and her mother.

"Even if you're raising a dog, you have to give it some good food. What's more, I'm your daughter."

Zhu Yinluan looked at the cakes on the table.

"What I ate before were all leftovers. The servants picked out the unwanted ones. When Master Zhu asked someone to bring them up, didn't he ask anyone?"

Shen Jingzhan noticed that her emotions were gradually getting out of control, so he reached out and held her hand.

The moment she touched Zhu Yinluan's fingertips, she resisted defensively.

But when his big hand held her fingers through her fingers, she gradually relaxed without being noticed.

Shen Jingzhan, who had been sitting quietly for a long time, spoke. His voice was cold and gloomy.

"Master Zhu, I am here with my wife to move my mother-in-law's spirit tablet. I don't think it will be inconvenient for the Zhu family, right?"