"You're going back to the Hu family tomorrow. After all, you're a daughter-in-law of the Hu family now, and you'll be buried in the Hu family's ancestral grave after you die. I don't blame you for speaking up for the Hu family, but since you no longer care about the Shen family, there's no need for you to be so hypocritical here. All my concern for you has been for nothing!"

As if she had made up her mind, the old lady's face was resolute, and she said directly, "Bochun, give the order that Fourth Aunt is leaving tomorrow, and send more servants to help pack her clothes."

After saying that, he coughed twice, turned around and took Granny Tian's hand, saying, "I'm tired."

Then she went back to the inner room. Shen Pinzhen didn't expect her mother to be so heartless as to kick her out. She threw herself on the ground and cried bitterly, but no one in the room sympathized with her. This was all retribution.

The old lady used to dote on her so much, sending her some tea every year. The old lady would happily share it, and would always mention that it was brought back from Mingsheng Lake by her fourth aunt, so that everyone could have a taste of something new. But who knew that as soon as she returned to the capital, she would start causing trouble and ruining the marriage between the Shen and Wen families, and even clamoring to act as a matchmaker for Shen Anqing!

Does Shen Anqing need her help as a matchmaker? The Shen family is of noble lineage, and Shen Anqing is the eldest grandson of the eldest branch. The reason she hasn't gotten married yet isn't because no one is willing to marry her, but because the Shen family wants to choose a suitable eldest grandson's wife!

The three Zhao sisters-in-law got up and left Meishou Hall together. Shen Bochun then pulled his wife back and said, "Don't rush off. Go and ask Mother if she's feeling unwell. If she is, go and call a doctor. Mother doesn't have many people she can talk to now. You are the eldest daughter-in-law, and she can only rely on you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao nodded, suddenly realizing the weight of her responsibilities as the eldest daughter-in-law of the main branch of the family.

Shen Pinzhen will not return to Suzhou and Hangzhou. The wedding of the two families is scheduled for next spring, and her husband should return to Beijing at the end of the year to report on his work. She plans to wait until her husband returns to Beijing and see her daughter get married before trying to maintain a good relationship with her family.

She was, after all, the only aunt in the Shen family, and her mother had only done so in a fit of anger, which was why she had the heart to send her away. She believed that her mother would not treat her like this forever.

He immediately had someone rent a house outside, intending to settle down there first.

The night was as dark as ink, the wind whistled like a ghostly shadow. In the pitch-black autumn night, Shen Mingzhuang was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window, holding a pale yellow doll in his hand. It was a gift from Jiang Wang, who said that such cloth dolls were very popular in Linhai, especially among young women. He thought he would like them too, so he had some bought and sent to the palace.

Shen Mingzhuang really liked it. The cotton-stuffed rag dolls were just like the dolls of later generations—soft and fun.

"Is Your Highness going to rest?" Zhu'er stepped forward and said, "His Majesty has matters to discuss with his ministers tonight, so I'm afraid he won't be able to come. Should we leave a light on in Hehuan Palace?"

Shen Mingzhuang looked out at the lattice window with its stained glass and nodded: "Let's rest. Leave one light on outside." She was worried that if Jiang Wang came over after he finished his work, the Hehuan Palace would be completely dark.

Zhu'er responded, and Manhuan brought in a cup of Chrysanthemum Dew. "The weather has been dry lately. Your Majesty, drinking this chrysanthemum water will help relieve the dryness."

Shen Mingzhuang nodded, drank his tea, glanced at Man Huan again, and after thinking about it, decided not to bring up the matter again.

She originally planned to send Manhuan and Wenxin out of the palace. The palace was too dangerous, and the two young girls were still too young. She was worried that they would be plotted against because of her. But Manhuan refused to do so, saying that she would rather die by her side. How could she bear to bring up the matter of leaving the palace again?

As for Wenxin, she has always been somewhat prone to following the crowd, and seeing that Manhuan wasn't leaving, she was unwilling to leave as well.

Shen Mingzhuang thought he should respect their own choices as much as possible. In any case, he had made the pros and cons clear, and it was up to them whether to stay or leave.

However, she was still very happy that Man Huan was willing to stay. As long as Man Huan was willing to follow her, she would never let her follow in the footsteps of the characters in the book.

The only person she can fully trust right now is Man Huan, so she naturally hopes that Man Huan will stay and help her. Besides that, there are also Zhu'er and Tan'er. Zhu'er is clever and Tan'er is honest. These two can be properly trained and will be of great use in the future.

There's also Xin Nu, the little palace maid we got from the Yeting Palace. She's clever, and most importantly, she's young. The tacit understanding between master and servant can be cultivated. We can teach her from a young age, and she'll become more and more useful as we use her.

She decided to leave Xin Nu in Man Huan's care. After drinking the chrysanthemum water, she handed the bowl back and casually asked, "How was Xin Nu's cooking?"

Manhuan handed the teacup to Tan'er and replied, "Xinnu is very clever. She learns everything quickly and is good at applying what she has learned to other situations. She is a smart person. She has already become quite familiar with the affairs of Hehuan Palace. After I observe her for a few more days, she will be able to enter the palace to serve. At that time, Miss... Her Majesty can also test how Xinnu is doing."

Shen Mingzhuang nodded in satisfaction, then couldn't help but yawn and said with a smile, "I'm tired, you can all go and rest."

Today is Man Huan's turn to be on duty, but Zhu'er and Tan'er don't dare to go back to sleep. After all, they are personal maids who receive the monthly allowance of second-class palace maids. If something happens to their master and they can't be found, or if something goes wrong, they will be beheaded!

However, they could also take a nap in the tea room, and could only go to sleep after midnight.

Once Manhuan was alone in the inner room, Shen Mingzhuang suddenly opened her eyes. She rolled her eyes and sat up abruptly. Manhuan, thinking she wanted something, quickly asked, "Does Your Highness want something?"

Shen Mingzhuang shook his head, beckoned her to come closer, and whispered a few words to her. Manhuan immediately became nervous, her heart pounding like a drum. Shen Mingzhuang patted the back of her hand to reassure her, and then tiptoed up and went behind the changing screen.

The little fat boy, who was sleeping soundly in the space, was awakened. He yawned and jumped off the stone bed where he always slept. He dragged his round little body to his box, fiddled with something, and then turned around and came back with something in his hand.

"Take this!" The chubby boy placed the item in front of him and explained, "This is my secret treasure, an invisibility pill. After you take it, you won't be visible for an hour. As long as you don't make a sound, no one will find you."

"This is amazing!" Shen Mingzhuang exclaimed, his eyes widening as he caught the pill it tossed to him.

Are those ordinary little brown pills really that powerful? Shen Mingzhuang was skeptical, but then swallowed the pill whole.

With the help of the dumpling and the chubby boy, Shen Mingzhuang quickly found Cixi Palace. At this time, Cixi Palace was already locked. The chubby boy told her that the Empress Dowager's private treasury was hidden in a secret room, and if she wanted to go there, she would have to enter through the Empress Dowager's bedroom.

This is a difficult problem!