Chapter 219 Investigation, Birthday Gift
After leaving Shen Chu's courtyard, Marquis Changning kept thinking about it and felt that something was wrong.
He always felt that Aunt Qiao and Shen Chu were keeping a secret from him.
After two days of coaxing Aunt Qiao, he gently and attentively won her over.
But whenever Chen Chu is mentioned, Aunt Qiao immediately loses her enthusiasm and becomes extremely wary.
That feeling is that I do have a secret, but I can't tell you.
And this secret must be about Shen Chu.
On the way back, I happened to run into Shen Qingshuang.
"I have met my father."
Marquis Changning paused for a moment, then frowned and sized up Shen Qingshuang.
"Shuang'er? How did you become so thin?"
Shen Qingshuang wore a plain white dress, and she looked much more docile than before, having lost some of her former arrogance.
Upon hearing Marquis Changning's words, she lowered her eyes and curtsied.
“My daughter has been suffering from the summer heat and hasn’t been able to contact me these past few days. She also misses her mother, which is why she has lost weight.”
The Marquis of Changning looked displeased when the deceased Lady Chen was mentioned.
“Chen committed a grave mistake, almost causing my family to be divorced. What kind of mother are you?”
In a few days, I will officially recognize Aunt Qiao as my wife; from then on, she will be your mother.
To elevate Consort Qiao to the rank of official wife?
A flash of hatred crossed Shen Qingshuang's eyes, and she clenched her fist tightly inside her sleeve.
Why is it that her mother died tragically while being vilified, her brother fell out of the carriage and no one cared, while that vile woman Qiao is to be promoted to the rank of official?
No wonder the mansion has been decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations these past two days.
It's hateful that her mother died less than a hundred days ago.
If Qiao is promoted to the position of legitimate wife, wouldn't Shen Chu become the eldest legitimate son?
That bastard, does he even deserve it?
Marquis Changning, oblivious to the hatred in Shen Qingshuang's eyes, waved his hand and gave the order:
"Alright, if there's nothing else, go back to your own courtyard and rest. I have things to do."
Marquis Changning left with his hands behind his back.
Shen Qingshuang thought for a moment and then said loudly, "Father, I have something to say to you."
Marquis Changning turned his head. "What is it?"
Shen Qingshuang hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward.
"It concerns Chen Chu, and it's a very important matter. Shall we go to the study to talk about it?"
What about Chen Chu?
Marquis Changning gave Shen Qingshuang a deep look. "Come with me."
In the study.
Shen Qingshuang handed the blood-written letter left by Chen to Marquis Changning.
“I found this in my mother’s sleeve. It was left by my mother before she passed away in the Flying Eagle Guard.”
Marquis Changning stared at the blood-stained cloth strip for a long time.
The small print above still carried a faint smell of blood.
Shen Chu is a person named Bai.
The last two characters were blurred by blood, and only half of them could be barely made out; it was impossible to discern what the characters actually were.
Marquis Changning frowned. "What does this mean?"
Shen Qingshuang shook her head, "I don't know what it means either, but since Mother specifically left a letter in blood, it means that Shen Chu must have a problem."
I have no idea what the problem is.
But I was afraid this matter would affect our family's future, so I left it to my father to consider."
Marquis Changning frowned.
Recalling Aunt Qiao's evasive words, could it be that his suspicions were misplaced?
The secret between Shen Chu and Aunt Qiao is not about the Changsha Salt Administration case, but rather a problem that Shen Chu himself has.
He put away the blood-written letter and said to Shen Qingshuang, "Alright, I understand. I will send someone to investigate this matter thoroughly."
A glimmer of hope flashed in Shen Qingshuang's eyes.
Unfortunately, she had no one to help her and couldn't find any useful information, so she handed the blood letter to her father.
If they really find out that Shen Chu has any problems, let's see how Qiao Shi and Shen Chu will still have the face to be smug in the court.
After Shen Qingshuang left, Marquis Changning summoned his trusted confidants.
"You personally lead a team to Huzhou and thoroughly investigate everything that happened to Shen Chu from childhood to adulthood."
Especially the Taoist temple where he grew up, to see if anyone is still alive there.
He had to find out exactly what Shen Chu was hiding.
Perhaps this secret can be used to blackmail Shen Chu into handing over the witnesses and physical evidence that the Feng family wants.
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Shen Chu was unaware that the Marquis of Changning had sent people to Huzhou to investigate her.
She was dragged by Aunt Qiao to inspect the shop early in the morning.
Shen Chu yawned repeatedly with a pained expression.
"His Majesty finally gave me a five-day holiday, and I haven't even had a day of rest yet, and you dragged me out to inspect the shops."
Didn't you take all the shops back and manage them yourself?
Aunt Qiao smiled and pulled her into the silk shop, picking up a large red satin with gold flecks and embroidered intertwined flowers.
"Achu, what do you think of this piece of satin? I'd like to use it to make a bright red wedding dress."
Shen Chu raised an eyebrow, "A wedding dress?"
Aunt Qiao's face was flushed.
"Yes, the Marquis said that on the day he is officially recognized as the wife, he will hold a banquet and formally marry me and take me into his family."
You don't know, but I was carried into the Marquis's mansion in a pink sedan chair back then.
As I was a concubine, I naturally couldn't wear a wedding dress; I only wore a pink dress.
Which girl doesn't dream of wearing a bright red wedding dress and marrying the man she loves in a grand ceremony?
Whenever I think about this, I feel extremely sad.
Fortunately, the Marquis cares for me and is considerate of me, so he wants to make up for my regrets over the years.
When Aunt Qiao spoke of Marquis Changning, her face beamed with joy, and her eyes and brows were filled with laughter.
Shen Chu sighed deeply.
Love really can make people blind and heartless.
"Has the banquet been scheduled?"
Aunt Qiao nodded with a smile, "We had already agreed before you came that the banquet would be held five days from now."
Five days later?
Shen Chu rubbed her fingers together; time was running out.
"Before you returned to the capital, the Marquis had already sent out invitations, which were only for relatives and friends who frequently visited the Marquis."
Ah Chu, being able to attend your parents' wedding ceremony is an experience that many people never get to have.
Shen Chu chuckled, indicating that he didn't want this kind of experience.
Aunt Qiao gave her a reproachful look and held up the satin against her body.
"Oh dear, can you quickly help me see if this satin is pretty or not?"
Chen Chu rested her chin on her hand, her attitude completely perfunctory.
"nice."
Aunt Qiao was overjoyed. "This is it! Fortunately, this is our own shop, so we can have the embroiderers work on it as quickly as possible and finish it."
After giving instructions to the embroiderer, she pulled Chen Chu outside.
"Six days after my marriage to the Marquis will be his birthday. Let's go pick out a gift for him."
Shen Chu frowned, unwilling to go.
Aunt Qiao advised him, "Achu, don't always make the Marquis angry. He's doing it for your own good and for the good of the whole Marquis's mansion."
When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. If something happens to the Marquis's mansion, you will also be affected in the future.
So whatever the Marquis asks for, as long as it's not excessive, just grant his request.
"What if it goes too far?"
Aunt Qiao rolled her eyes at him, "You're arguing with me again. How can there be any grudge between father and son that lasts overnight?"
Listen to me, this time we'll choose a good gift for the Marquis, give him a way out, and we can still be a close family."
Shen Chu did not want to choose a birthday gift for Marquis Changning.
But when she thought about her birthday gift, she suddenly remembered something she had overlooked.
Sun Yan said a couple of days ago that Pei Yuan's birthday is coming soon, and if you calculate the time, it's exactly the day after tomorrow.
Go pick out a birthday gift for Pei Yuan to repay his kindness.
But what should I give him?
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