We changed horses at the post station and had a warm meal.

Why is it getting colder and colder here?

Shen Mingzhuang frowned, looking at the increasingly numerous mountains in the distance, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Ling Feng then said, "Weizhou is surrounded by mountains and water. Going east, there are more waterways and fewer mountains. Going west, it's all mountains with few people. Most of the people living there are hunters who make a living by hunting. It's a sparsely populated area. Unless you're going to Qingmao Mountain, no one in Weizhou would go west."

Shen Mingzhuang felt relieved. Thinking that there was a lot of miasma in the mountains, he instructed Ling Feng: "Try to find some medicinal herbs that locals use to protect themselves when they go into the mountains. Get some that can prevent miasma and snakes and insects."

Ling Feng nodded, "Young Master, rest assured, Benyue has already gone to make preparations."

Shen Mingzhuang felt somewhat relieved upon hearing this, realizing that those who had come with him were all experienced.

This put her at ease.

After finishing a bowl of hot noodles on the second floor of the inn, Shen Mingzhuang suddenly sensed something was wrong. She took the bowl and walked to the window, where she saw someone leading two horses into the inn. She paused, then looked at Ling Feng behind her. Ling Feng was still busy eating and didn't seem to notice anything unusual.

Shen Mingzhuang was stunned. Could it be that she was being too sensitive and had misjudged the situation?

With a slight frown, she ate the last bite of noodles, turned around, and went downstairs.

Seeing this, Ling Feng quickly finished the last bite of his noodles, turned around, and followed.

Downstairs in the lobby, some people were eating while wearing straw hats. Shen Mingzhuang glanced outside and realized that the two horses from earlier must belong to these people. She felt a little relieved, but she didn't want to linger here any longer.

She went straight out of the post station and said to Ling Feng from outside, "Go and see how the preparations for the journey to the moon are going."

Ling Feng nodded and quickly returned. "Young Master, you can go now."

The group remounted their horses and headed west.

It was already broad daylight. In the imperial palace of the capital, Jiang Xuan was looking at Lu Yan, who was reciting her book with great care, and he couldn't help but admire her.

"My cousin Yan'er can actually recite such a long passage! That's amazing!"

Lu Yan's face flushed slightly. "I'm just a slow learner. I've heard my mother talk about this article several times at home, which is why I was able to memorize it so quickly. My mother said that memorizing also requires reading it aloud so that you can hear yourself reciting it. If you read it aloud several times, you can memorize it quickly."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xingtai exclaimed in amazement, "I read it too, but I couldn't memorize it as quickly as my cousin."

"That's because you're stupid."

Jiang Xuan bluntly exposed Shen Xingtai's past, then looked at Lu Yan, her expression immediately softening as she smiled and said, "Cousin Yan'er, when will you invite us to your home? We're tired of being in the palace all day. Aunt Rong is so capable, you could invite us to her home to study, so we can go out of the palace for a trip."

Lu Yan felt somewhat troubled upon hearing this.

She glanced at Jiang Xuan, then at Shen Xingtai, whose face was also full of expectation, and shook her head with a bitter expression. "No way."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan was puzzled, "Why not?"

"I'm telling you this, but you mustn't tell anyone else."

Jiang Xuan and Shen Xingtai immediately nodded and said confidently, "Don't worry, we won't say anything, we'll keep it a secret."

Lu Yan sighed and said, "My nanny said that my mother is pregnant with a younger brother for me. I can't keep bothering my mother to tell me stories anymore. My mother can only tell me stories again after she gives birth to my brother."

Is she pregnant with her brother?

Jiang Xuan and Shen Xingtai were clearly unaware of this. They exchanged a glance and began to ponder, "Why can't I tell you stories now that I'm pregnant with your younger brother? Is your brother more important than you?"

"Is our son more important than Yan'er?" In the Rongguo Duke's mansion, Shen Mingrong looked at her husband with displeasure.

As soon as Lu Chengye came in from outside, he saw his wife giving him an unpleasant sidelong glance.

His wife, who was always the gentlest and most virtuous woman, had never complained to him like this before. Lu Chengye took the jewelry box in his hand and walked over.

What do you mean?

When Shen Mingrong saw her husband's gentle and jade-like face, her heart softened. She stepped forward and took her husband's hand, saying with some dissatisfaction, "Granny Qin won't let Yan'er come to play here anymore, saying she's afraid I'll have a miscarriage. I'm not happy about that. They're all my children. What's with all this talk about miscarriage? I can't let Yan'er suffer because of this baby who hasn't even been born yet."

So that's what you're angry about. Lu Chengye was both amused and exasperated. "Is this even a big deal?"

He gently stroked his wife's soft, black hair. "You are the mistress of the house. If you feel it's nothing, then you can make your own decisions. Yan'er is a sensible and good child. Even if she comes over, she won't cause any trouble. Granny Qin is indeed a bit too nervous."

Shen Mingrong was already unsure of herself, fearing that her husband also cared about the child, which was why she had temporarily let Qin Mama handle things. Now that she heard her husband's words, she was immediately overjoyed, her heart softening, and she took her husband's hand and led him into the inner room.

"I've prepared your favorite dishes for you today."

Lu Chengye couldn't help but laugh when he saw the table full of dishes.

"Are you trying to bribe me?"

Shen Mingrong blushed slightly, but said coquettishly, "It's not a bribe, it's just that I care about you."

Lu Chengye couldn't help but laugh and sat down with his wife.

"I heard someone from Beiyuan came here?"

Lu Chengye had wanted to ask about it yesterday, but seeing that his wife hadn't brought it up, he didn't ask further. Today, seeing that his wife was in a good mood, he finally asked.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!