Shen Mingrong knew immediately that her husband must have gotten wind of something.

After all, Shen Mingzhuang's visit to her place wasn't done secretly, so it's not surprising that her husband knew.

Thinking of the thorny issue Shen Mingzhuang was facing, Shen Mingrong couldn't help but sigh. However, she didn't think of telling her husband about it. After all, this matter was of great importance. If it were to leak out and those with ulterior motives found out that the emperor was on his deathbed, it would likely cause quite a stir.

“She said she was tired of staying in the palace and came to talk to me for a while.” Then, wanting to change the subject, she said to her husband, “Now Yan’er is in the palace every day studying with the Crown Prince. This can only last for two more years at most. When Yan’er turns seven, we will have to find her a new tutor.”

She always felt that the saying "a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent" was used to restrict women. She believed that people should learn from books, read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles. If one cannot travel ten thousand miles, then one should read ten thousand books and be able to summarize one's own set of rules for doing things from books, so as not to be swayed by worldly customs.

Lu Chengye always respected his wife, partly because she was different from ordinary women in many ways. She could always offer her own insights on thorny issues, and her opinions were always substantial. This was one of the advantages of being an educated woman.

His mother-in-law, Madam Gu, was a well-read woman, and his wife, Madam Shen, was also very intelligent and quick-witted, having received a good upbringing. Upon hearing this, he nodded and said, "I'll do whatever you say."

Shen Mingrong burst out laughing upon hearing this, "With you like this, no wonder people outside say that the Duke of Rongguo's wife is weak-willed. I'm the one who took the blame. I consult you on everything, so how can you say that she's weak-willed? It's clearly because my husband trusts me."

"Who said I lack authority as a wife?"

Shen Mingrong didn't tell him, but put a piece of food in her husband's bowl with her chopsticks and said with a smile, "Don't worry about who says it, you don't have any anyway."

Hearing his wife tease him, Lu Chengye couldn't help but smile.

After dinner, Shen Mingrong thought of something and discussed it with her husband: "Mother said that it's the eldest wife's birthday this month, and asked me what I'm planning to give her so she'll have something to say."

It was Zhao's birthday. As the matriarch of the Shen family, her birthday couldn't be treated casually. Lu Chengye looked at his wife and said, "Why don't you ask your mother-in-law what she plans to give you, and give her something similar? What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingrong smiled and said, "They say that couples who have been together for a long time will develop a tacit understanding. You seem to understand now. I think so too, but I feel that since this is a gift sent from the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, I still need to discuss it with you."

"The wife makes the decisions when it comes to household matters."

As Lu Chengye spoke, he placed another piece of food on his wife's plate.

A few days later, Shen Mingrong took Lu Yan and her husband to the Shen family home.

The Shen family home is now much larger than it was five years ago. The three branches of the family now live independently. The eldest branch lives in the middle and occupies the original houses of the Shen family. The second and third branches live on either side.

When Shen Mingrong returned, he naturally went to the second branch of the family first.

Upon entering the room, she sensed something was amiss. When she saw Shen Mingrong, she glanced inside and gave him a meaningful look. Shen Mingrong understood and followed her out of the room to the veranda to talk.

"Grandma, you've come back just in time. You must persuade Madam. Can't we just ignore the Third Miss's affairs? Madam was so upset by the Third Miss just now that her heart ached."

"What's the matter this time?"

Shen Mingrong frowned slightly and glanced unhappily in the direction of the main house.

Then Huangzhi said, "They say that the Lin family is going back to the capital."

Third Madam Lin is returning to the capital? Shen Mingrong wondered if he had misheard!

"Where did this news come from? The Third Madam is doing just fine in Jiangzhou, why would she return to the capital?"

Shenzhi sighed, "I don't know what the Third Miss said to the Lin family. It was Princess Jiayuan who stood up for her. Princess Jiayuan spoke up, and the old lady is no longer here. Who can stop her now?"

Princess Jiayuan was also involved in this matter?

But what exactly is Shen Mingshu trying to do? Five years have passed, why would she suddenly want to bring Lin Shi back to the capital?

As she entered the room, she saw her mother smiling and lifting Lu Yan onto the kang (a heated brick bed), teasing her granddaughter with a smile: "Our Yan'er looks like she's grown quite a bit again?"

Lu Yan proudly raised her little head, saw her mother, and smiled as she said to her grandmother, "Yan'er must grow up to be as tall as her mother quickly!"

Madam Gu looked towards the door and saw her daughter. She was deeply moved and waved to her daughter, saying, "Come here quickly. Why didn't you come inside? If Yan'er hadn't told me you were in the courtyard, I wouldn't have known."