After dinner, Shen Biyun chatted with the old lady. Because they were talking about some things in the past, it was not convenient for outsiders to listen. When they were alone, the old lady looked at Shen Biyun and smiled: "You, kid, your eyebrows and eyes haven't changed much. You said that I wanted to marry you to An Zhongtao, but you refused and insisted on being with that poor scholar. Now, what did he leave you? Ah? In addition to a son, I'm afraid there are debts?"
There was a trace of embarrassment on Shen Biyun's face: "The debt is gone. I sold the house and land to pay off the debt, but there is nothing left. Biyun has disappointed my aunt..."
"Yes, you really made me angry at that time. I just couldn't understand why you didn't come to the General's Mansion... Yes, let's not talk about this now. It's all in the past anyway. What do you think? My General's Mansion is not bad now, the emperor's grace is great, and the grace is endless. Ranyue and Yanran will marry into the palace in a few years. By then, the General's Mansion will be even more prosperous. It's just a pity that I have been so strong all my life, but in the end, when I get old, I don't even have a close friend..."
Shen Biyun was very curious about why the old lady said that, but she didn’t know how to interrupt for a moment.
The old lady sighed and said to Shen Biyun: "Fortunately, you are here. I now have hope..."
"Aunt's kindness to Biyun is greater than that of her parents, but Biyun has no way to repay her now..."
"Silly child, who asked you to repay me? What do I need in my current family situation? Isn't it just a caring person? You are staying in the general's mansion now, but it is not a long-term solution. Although they said that you can treat this place as your home, it is not really a home, right? Now, I have an idea, which is to see what you mean..."
"My aunt said so!"
"I say, you didn't agree to marry Zhong Tao before, but now you have another chance. I wonder if you are willing to join the general again and become my wife?" The old lady wanted to tell her about her plan in a few days, but she really couldn't wait.
She wants to take a concubine for An Zhongtao.
Shen Biyun felt very complicated when she heard this. On the one hand, her husband had just passed away, and she still had to remain faithful to him. On the other hand, her husband had been ill in the past few years and could not share much of the burden with her. Instead, her husband had caused the family to fall into poverty and live a very poor life. She had to think about every penny she spent. Now that she entered the general's mansion, the grandeur made her feel inferior. Even the clothes worn by the servants were better than hers. How could she not be moved? Moreover, she hadn't seen her cousin for so many years, and he became more mature and more charming than when he was young. Her heart began to move.
But how could she express her opinion directly? She just shook her head and said, "Biyun has come to live with her aunt, so I'll make the decision on everything..."
The old lady understood and smiled: "Okay, this is my good niece!"
The old lady had a plan in mind: if she couldn't get Lian Jinyu, she could at least make her fall from favor.
With Shen Biyun's good looks, she knew that An Zhongtao would not last long. Besides, Lian Jinrong had lost power, and there was no one in the general's mansion who could compete with Lian Jinyu.
How could she possibly figure it out?
It was snowing outside that day. When An Zhongtao returned home, it was still quite early. He went back to the study after seeing Lian Jinyu. He had a form to write. When he was halfway through, someone knocked on the door. It was Shen Biyun. She came in with a tray in her hand and put it on the table: "Cousin, do you remember the silk soup I made before?"
"Silk soup?" An Zhongtao's eyes lit up. "I haven't had it for many years. You've only been here for a few days. Why are you cooking? The servants do all these things. Just give your orders."
Chen Biyun was wearing a red Shu brocade with fur trimmings today, which made her face look as white as snow. She had two dimples when she smiled: "Cousin, this silk soup is made for you. If the servants make it, even if the ingredients are the same, the taste will be different if made by different people, right?"
"That's really hard work for you!"
"It's not hard. I live and eat for free at my cousin's house, so how can it be hard?" Shen Biyun said with a wry smile on her face.
Looking at her expression, An Zhongtao frowned: "How can you say that? I've already said it before, this is your home, you don't have to worry so much..."
Shen Biyun wiped her eyes, reached out to pour the soup into a bowl, and brought it to An Zhongtao: "Cousin, try it, this soup tastes better when it's hot..."
An Zhongtao took it and took a sip: "It still tastes the same as before..."
"Yes, it's hard to find loofahs in this season. I only found two after searching the entire kitchen. This water shield is the dried one I brought from home. After soaking it in dew, it becomes as fresh as fresh ones. Cousin, you said I should tell the servants so that they can be so careful and pick out the ones with broken edges and those with damaged growth..." Shen Biyun said with a smile.
An Zhongtao nodded gently after hearing this: "That's true, but I'm sorry to bother you. I can't drink much... Have you drunk it?"
"I served some to my aunt, the rest is here..."
"Then you should drink some too!" An Zhongtao said.
In his heart, he had great admiration for this cousin. Although she was a girl, she was very independent. She did not hesitate to break up with her family and married Qin Shulin. It was a pity that he died young. Otherwise, it would have been a beautiful thing in the world for the husband and wife to follow each other.
So, he was quite polite to her.
What's more, she was new to the general's mansion, and she must have many constraints. After hearing what he said, Shen Biyun didn't hesitate to serve a bowl and drank it. She sighed, "When I was at home before, there were such ingredients, but Shulin didn't like to drink it, so I didn't make it much. Sometimes I think that this hard work is secondary. Being appreciated by others for what you make is also a kind of affirmation and satisfaction for the cook..."
The two of them were talking and laughing for a while, and it was time for dinner, but they were still unaware.
Lian Jinyu was sitting there, and seeing that An Zhongtao hadn't come yet, she asked Madam Hong quietly. The old lady sitting at the table also asked, "Why hasn't Biyun come yet?"
"Madam, Miss Shen has gone to see the general..." a maid replied.
"What does she want to do with him?" the old lady asked doubtfully, then she remembered something and smiled, "I know about this child. She must be in the general's study. She made a bowl of soup this afternoon and sent me one. That bowl must be for the general. Zhongtao loved to drink the soup made by Biyun in his early years..."
The following words were addressed to Lian Jinyu.
Lian Jinyu smiled and said, "I've never heard Zhong Tao mention this before!"
"They used to have a good relationship. They always played together when they were young. Later, they each started their own families and separated. They are probably reminiscing about the past now..."
As they were talking, An Zhongtao and Shen Biyun walked in together, talking and laughing, but when they entered the hall and saw so many people looking at them, they stopped.
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