Wei Chenglin shook his head: "No, I just happened to learn about this matter and thought it was a little inappropriate, so I came to look for my mother."

Shen Xinyan nodded slightly, but did not ask him what was wrong.

Wei Chenglin hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help but stammer: "Mother, I think you should have informed father about this matter in advance. After all, these are the people who serve father. If you create a rift with father because of this, wouldn't it be more of a loss than a gain?"

Perhaps he felt that as a son it was inappropriate to talk too much about his parents' affairs, the boy's voice became softer and softer, and he lowered his head gradually.

Shen Xinyan was surprised. She had never dreamed that he would say such a thing to her, and she had never expected that he would be so concerned about her affairs. For some reason, she suddenly felt a little sour in her nose, and she quickly took the opportunity to sip tea to cover it up.

Wei Chenglin became increasingly uneasy as he did not receive a response from his mother for a long time. He couldn't help but regret that he should not have been so reckless.

"I'm sorry, I'm the one who's causing trouble. You don't have to..."

"No, mother is very happy. My son cares about me, which is why I worry that I will anger your father because of this matter. I am deeply pleased by my son's filial piety." Shen Xinyan interrupted him and said with a smile.

The boy, who always had a stern face, couldn't help but blush slightly. He glanced at her shyly, then lowered his head and whispered, "You are my mother, and I will naturally keep you in my heart."

Shen Xinyan did not miss his words. The smile on her face froze slightly, and then became a little bitter.

Is that so? Because she is his mother, he cares about her. If so, what happened to her in her previous life?

She knew she was getting stuck in a rut again, but she couldn't suppress the crazy thoughts growing in her mind. It was as if there were two little people arguing loudly in her head.

"You're lying, he's lying. He's saying it nicely now, but once Zhou Wanning shows up, you'll be nothing!"

"Nonsense! Brother Lin never tells lies. If he says so, then that must be what he really thinks in his heart!"

"You're crazy. Aren't the lessons from your last life deep enough? Do you want to learn from them again in this life?"

"The last life is the last life, and this life is this life. No matter what, he is your son. You should fulfill your responsibilities as a mother. How can you completely deny him now because of something that may happen in the future?"

"You are too kind-hearted! You are too kind-hearted!"

"I am a woman, so what if I have a woman's compassion?"

…

Shen Xinyan calmed down and locked all the arguing little people deep in her mind. She raised her hand to touch her son's head, but paused before touching his hair. There was a hint of struggle in her eyes, but in the end, her soft palm still rested on the boy's head.

"You...I'm glad you think this way."

Although she didn't know what had happened to make this son in this life a little different from him in the previous life, she was quite happy to see these differences. No one would want their own flesh and blood to be separated from them, and she was the same.

Her tone paused slightly, and she somehow thought of something from her previous life. She lowered her eyelids for a moment, looked into the boy's dark eyes, and taught him tenderly, word by word.

"But, Brother Lin, you have to remember that you are a man, and you will have to do something to support the Duke of England in the future. Your world should be outside. The inner house is the battlefield for women. As the saying goes, 'Men are responsible for the outside and women are responsible for the inside'. As a man, you should not spend your mind and energy on the inner house, and you should not interfere in women's disputes. Do you understand?"

Wei Chenglin blinked his inky black eyes and nodded: "I understand, kid!"

Shen Xinyan smiled slightly, stroked his soft hair, and said softly: "Since ancient times, women have been the most gentle and solid support for men. Like your grandmother, it is because there is a smart and capable mistress like your grandmother in the mansion that your grandfather can rest assured to build his career outside. For Lin'er's future daughter-in-law, appearance is secondary, but these four words "smart and capable" are absolutely indispensable!"

However, Zhou Wanning has nothing to do with the words smart and capable!

She admitted that she had other intentions when she said this. But so what? No one can say that what she said was wrong!

The young boy felt even more embarrassed, and pouted his mouth slightly, his tone carrying a hint of coquettishness: "Mother——"

Shen Xinyan chuckled so much that Wei Chenglin's face turned red. He even forgot to be polite and turned around and slipped out.

Seeing her son showing this rare side of himself that was consistent with his age, Shen Xinyan couldn't help laughing.

The laughter was like a gust of wind that blew away the mist that had been shrouding her heart.

Yes, her son is only ten years old this year, and he still has seven years to go before he meets Zhou Wanning. Although her son has always been independent and determined, so what? She is his mother, and as a mother, she has the obligation to teach her son. Who can be sure that he will not keep her teachings in mind during these seven years?

I don't dare to expect him to take everything I say to heart, but even if he listens to one-tenth or one-twelveth of it would be enough!

"Madam, that old woman Zhang has indeed gone to look for Lianxiang." Qiutang frowned slightly and walked in through the curtain, reporting.

Shen Xinyan nodded, her eyelids slightly lowered: "I see, just let someone pay attention to her, don't pay too much attention to her."

Qiu Tang's brows were filled with worry. "I don't understand. Madam must have known why that old woman Zhang went to look for Lian Xiang, but why did she let her do it? If it was the prince..."

"I understand. Don't worry, just do as I say. I'll take care of everything!" Shen Xinyan knew what she was worried about, but she didn't say it out loud. She just gave vague instructions.

Seeing that she insisted, Qiu Tang wanted to persuade her again, but Shen Xinyan had already turned her face away, making it clear that she didn't want to listen anymore.

She could only sigh and retreat helplessly.

After the sound of the curtain being lowered was heard, Shen Xinyan absentmindedly grabbed her handkerchief. Although she had been mentally prepared, she could not hide her nervousness.

What if that person disappoints her? She felt a little regretful.

Maybe I shouldn't test him like this. If the couple becomes estranged because of this, it would be a loss.

In her previous life, she didn't interfere much with Wei Junhang's affairs, and she also let the people who served him go. But in this life, she planned to get along well with him, so naturally she had to pay more attention to him.

However, she didn't know much about Wei Junhang, so she planned to test his bottom line so that she could be more cautious in her actions in the future.

So this time, with her tacit consent, Nanny Wang fired several servants of Wei Junhang in one breath, among whom was Lian Xiang's younger brother.

Lian Xiang's mother, Mrs. Zhang, loved her only son to her core. When something happened to her son, she would naturally ask her daughter to plead with the Crown Prince for mercy.

If Wei Junhang finally gave Lian Xiang this respect, then she would have to find the most suitable distance between her and him again.

***

"...Mother, Zhuzi was caught red-handed, and there's nothing we can do about his dismissal from his job. Besides, Nanny Wang is someone close to the Crown Prince's wife, and Zhuzi's dismissal from his job was also agreed by the Crown Prince's wife. Now you ask me to think of a solution, but what can I think of?" Lian Xiang said helplessly with a bitter face.

Mrs. Zhang was so annoyed that she pinched her arm and said, "You stupid girl, you can't even do this, what's the point of having you! Nanny Wang is someone close to the Crown Prince's wife, and you are still the Crown Prince's person! You won't go and beg the Crown Prince to spare your brother this time."

Lian Xiang's expression became even more bitter: "Mother, what nonsense are you talking about! The Crown Prince and his wife are husband and wife. How could the Crown Prince disobey his wife for a servant? Isn't this damaging the relationship between husband and wife?!"

"Of course the prince and his wife have a relationship as husband and wife, but you have served the prince for such a long time, don't you have any feelings for him? Besides, Zhuzi was just having fun for a while, and he was young and easily influenced, so he was instigated by those with bad intentions to gamble. Who would have thought that Nanny Wang happened to take people to inspect the courtyard at that time!"

Lian Xiang lowered her head, not knowing what she was thinking, as if she hadn't heard what she said. This annoyed Mrs. Zhang so much that she slapped her on the back of her shoulder again: "I'm talking to you! Did you hear me?"

Lian Xiang staggered after being hit by her, but she managed to steady herself and glared at her with anger and grievance: "Zhu Zi is already 20 years old, and you still say he is young? Normally, a man like him would have started a family and established a career long ago."

"You're so rebellious, and you dare to talk back?!"

"Go ahead and hit me. If you do that again, don't even think about me begging the prince for mercy!" Lian Xiang puffed out her chest, and instead of retreating, she advanced, stiffening her neck and saying.

Mrs. Zhang was furious at first, but then she became happy and patted the wrinkles on her clothes with a smile: "No need to hit me, the matter of the pillar is entirely up to you."

Lian Xiang pursed her lips and said, "I'll do my best, but success or failure is not something I can decide."

"Look at what you said. You have served the prince for such a long time. Don't you think he won't even give you this little respect?" Mrs. Zhang didn't care at all. When she saw her daughter's face darken, she quickly changed her words and said, "Okay, okay, as long as you try your best, success or failure is the master's business, and it has nothing to do with you!"

That night, Wei Junhang came back from outside and first went to the main house to have dinner with his wife and children, and then returned to his own Jinxiu Residence.

Although Jinxiuju is not the main courtyard of Funing Courtyard and does not occupy the largest area, its scenery is not much worse than Ning'an Courtyard where the Grand Princess lives. There are three small rooms, the east room is the bedroom, and the west room is Wei Junhang's study.

After bathing, Wei Junhang held the treasure box in his hands and carefully counted the treasures inside several times as usual. Then he let out a long sigh. For the umpteenth time, he felt that his family background was too meager, and he was unable to buy good things for his wife and daughter.

"Your Highness!" He put away the treasure box helplessly. As soon as he turned around, he saw Lian Xiang walked in at some point and knelt down in front of him.