Chapter 88 A Tactic to Turn the Tide: The dim light shone on their faces...
*
The main room was filled with the aroma of pigeon soup.
The soup inside the white porcelain soup bowl has an enticing color.
Yu Liuzhu tested the temperature of the soup, then placed it in front of Shen Linlang.
Beside Shen Linlang were several account books. Without even looking at the words on the cover, Yu Liuzhu could tell what kind of accounts were recorded just by looking at the thickness of each account book.
Over the years, Shen Linlang has been intentionally cultivating her ability to manage the household, not only in terms of the internal affairs of the manor, but also in terms of the harvest and profits of the estates and shops.
In the past, she would have brought the account books over and helped review them. But now, her status is different, and she is no longer qualified to look through these account books.
"Mother, this is the soup I just made. Please try it."
"You're still sick, how can you work so hard? You can have the servants do these chores and rough work."
“I have nothing to do, I can’t just do nothing.” She lowered her head, looking very disappointed. “Now, besides doing these things, I can’t help my mother much.”
Shen Linlang looked at the soup in front of her, feeling a pang of sadness. "You never knew how to make these things before..."
The mother and daughter have shared so many years, and the memories of the past decade or so are not something that can be easily forgotten. Those warm and intimate times can never be erased.
“These days I’ve been away, so I have to do everything myself, even if I don’t know how,” Yu Liuzhu said, pushing the soup toward Chen Linlang.
Shen Linlang immediately noticed the scratch on the back of her hand and quickly asked what happened.
Her eyes reddened. "It's nothing serious. I just accidentally cut myself while putting firewood into the stove."
The scratch was quite long and dark red in color.
Shen Linlang's heart immediately ached.
The child she raised with the utmost care had never been scratched. When he was little, he would occasionally trip and scrape his skin, and she would be so distressed that she couldn't sleep at night.
She instructed Granny Yu to fetch the ointment and personally applied it to Yu Liuzhu.
The atmosphere was warm and intimate for a moment, as if time had turned back.
After applying the medicine, Yu Liuzhu reminded her, "Mother, the soup is getting cold, you should drink it quickly."
Shen Linlang sighed inwardly, her heart aching as if it were being torn apart.
Just as she was about to drink, Bao Kui lifted the curtain and came in to report that Shen Qinglu had brought people into the mansion.
“I asked her, and she said that after being hit, the girl couldn’t remember who she was or where she lived. The eldest young lady had no choice but to bring her back and settle her in the Pear Garden.”
"What?" She frowned. "Go quickly and bring Ali here!"
Then he said to Yu Liuzhu, "You're tired too, and you're not fully recovered yet. Go back and rest."
“Mother, Ali is naive and doesn’t know the wickedness of people. Please talk to her properly and don’t let her repeat the same mistakes and cause unnecessary trouble.” After saying this, Yu Liuzhu obediently took her leave.
Just as she stepped out the door, she ran into Shen Qinglu, who was on her way to find Shen Linlang.
They had already broken off all pretense, so there was no need for pretense when no one else was around. The moment their eyes met, one's expression was subtle yet not entirely devoid of schadenfreude, while the other's was icy cold, filled with disgust and mockery.
When they passed each other, it was a scene of flashing swords and shadows.
Bao Kui shivered inexplicably, thinking to herself that the weather was clearly warm, so why did it still feel a little creepy?
She didn't go in, but stayed outside the door.
Yu Liuzhu didn't leave either, remaining standing in the same spot.
Shen Qinglu went in and came out expressionlessly in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. When she saw the person still in the same place, she seemed to be provoked, and her bright red face darkened.
"I know why you went to such lengths to stay. You want to compete with me, to snatch it from me, right?"
"Sister Ali, you've misunderstood me. I won't fight with you for it. Mother raised me for so many years, I just want to stay by her side and fulfill my filial duty." Yu Liuzhu argued aggrievedly, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.
Having lived two lives, there are some things she no longer cares about!
She wanted to make those who abandoned her and those who looked down on her regret their past treatment of her.
"Who are you trying to fool?" Shen Qinglu approached step by step, her dark eyes like the endless polar night. "Let me tell you, I am my mother's biological daughter. No matter what you do, you can never take my place!"
"Sister Ali, everything I said is true." Yu Liuzhu seemed to have suffered a great injustice and began to cry softly. When Shen Qinglu approached, she swayed and fell to the ground against the wall.
"Young lady, young lady, what's wrong?" Dengzhi shouted and rushed over to help her.
Her gaze towards Shen Qinglu was full of provocation and smugness, but her words came out urgently, "It wasn't Sister Ali who pushed me, don't tell anyone..."
This move is quite familiar.
An eye for an eye – Shen Qinglu was that person.
The weather has warmed up, and in just one night, the leaves of the mimosa tree look much more lush. It's not just life that changes overnight, but also people's hearts.
Shen Linlang came out upon hearing the noise and asked them, "What happened?"
Yu Liuzhu was still sitting on the ground when she quickly replied, "Mother, it has nothing to do with Sister Ali. I'm still sick and I lost my balance and fell."
"You fell down by yourself!" Shen Qinglu pretended to be aggrieved. "Mother, I didn't push her. The way she's acting makes it seem like I pushed her, but I really didn't."
"I fell by myself, it has nothing to do with Sister Ali." With Dengzhi's help, Yu Liuzhu stood up weakly. "Mother, please don't blame Sister Ali, I really fell by myself."
They argued, and it sounded like Shen Qinglu was being unreasonable.
Bao Kui thought to herself that her chance had come. Wanting to curry favor, she whispered, "Madam, the eldest young lady did not push Miss Tang'er. I saw it clearly just now. It was Miss Tang'er who was weak and lost her balance."
Because of the angle, she couldn't actually see it clearly at all.
Her words clearly sided with Shen Qinglu, and Shen Qinglu went along with her to clear her name, "Mother, did you hear that? She fell by herself."
“Mother, I fell by myself. I didn’t say that someone else knocked me down. Sister Ali is overthinking it.”
Shen Linlang looked at this and then at that, her expression somewhat grave.
Shen Qing's dark green eyes were veiled with moisture, making her look extremely pitiful and aggrieved. "Mother, don't you believe me?"
Yu Liuzhu was not to be outdone, her eyes filled with tears. "Mother, I just want to stay by your side, to do my best to repay your kindness in raising me for more than ten years."
Shen Linlang was caught in the middle, feeling awkward.
After a long pause, she sighed and said to Shen Qinglu, "Ali, I believe in you. Don't overthink it. These are turbulent times, so it's best to be careful in everything you do. The person you brought back, quickly send someone to find out where she lives and send her away as soon as possible."
“Mother…” Shen Qinglu lowered her head sadly, “It’s my fault, I didn’t think too much for a moment. Don’t worry, I’ll send someone to inquire right away, and once we find her family, we’ll send her back.”
"Go."
After she left the courtyard, Shen Linlang sighed again, "Ali has only recently recovered and knows too little about what's happening outside. How could we just bring someone of such unknown origin home? What if someone has ulterior motives..."
"Mother, don't worry too much. Since Ali was recognized and brought back, so many things have happened, and every single one of them has been troublesome, but in the end, they all turned out alright."
These words sound like they're meant to comfort someone, but they actually imply that Shen Qinglu is a jinx.
Shen Linlang seemed not to have heard her, and was still worried. "What happened yesterday is not over yet, how can I not worry? I'm really afraid that something else will happen... Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Look how pale you are, go back and lie down."
A hint of reluctance appeared on Yu Liuzhu's sickly face. "Then Mother, you should rest well and remember to drink the soup."
As she turned around, a strong hatred immediately surfaced on her weak face, turning her expression extremely gloomy.
However, she wasn't the only one whose expression changed; Shen Linlang did too.
Shen Linlang stared at her retreating figure, her gaze difficult to decipher.
*
Around 3 PM, the matter of Hua'er's parents being murdered came to a conclusion.
Even in the bustling capital city under the emperor's feet, there are no shortage of places where filth and corruption lurk.
A woman of decent appearance, left to wander alone, was naturally targeted early on. Those who wanted to seize her by force would find obstacles in their path, so someone devised a plan to eliminate those in the way first.
When the news arrived, Shen Qinglu was practicing calligraphy.
She looked at Renchun, who had been gone since yesterday and had only just returned, put down her pen, walked to the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and handed it to her personally.
Ren Chun was flattered and accepted the gift with both hands, quickly recounting everything she had inquired about.
"I heard she was a madam from a shady business. She happened to see them arguing with the girls that day, which is why she had such a wicked idea. I also inquired and found out that the girl is currently being held in the Ministry of Justice, and it seems she will be dealt with after the case is closed."
Shen Qinglu gestured for her to drink some water first, "Has Yu Qingxue made any moves?"
After taking a small sip, she said, "As you expected, she went to Prince Xin's residence last night."
This matter is indeed related to the Prince Xin's residence.
Prince Xin, impatient to ascend the throne, sought to stir up trouble in the capital and first target those who did not support him. He set his sights on the General's Mansion, whose weakest point was this family.
In the struggle for imperial power, it's either you die or I die.
Their entire family's lives depended on the master behind the general's mansion.
Thinking of this, Shen Qinglu's eyes turned a deep, dark color, like a starless, moonless night.
As night falls, the city lights begin to illuminate the scene.
The brothers Yu Jingxian and Yu Jingliang returned one after the other, and the family gathered together for a meal.
Everyone was seated in the same positions as in the morning. Shen Linlang sat in the middle, Yu Jingxian and Yu Liuzhu were on the right, and Yu Jingliang and Shen Qinglu were on the left.
A large table of dishes, with a fish soup in the center, the soup had been simmered until it turned milky white and smelled delicious.
This soup was also personally prepared by Yu Liuzhu. Three soups a day—her filial piety and her anxious heart are truly remarkable.
Shen Qinglu didn't drink, and neither did Yu Jingliang.
Yu Liuzhu drank a bowl herself, and Shen Linlang also drank a bowl.
Yu Jingxian hesitated at first, but then for some reason, he drank a bowl. After finishing it, he said, "I didn't expect Tang'er's cooking skills to be so good. The soup she makes is even more delicious than what a professional chef makes. This morning's soup was truly invigorating and refreshing. I didn't feel sleepy at noon."
"I will cook soup for Mother every day from now on. If you like it, please drink more." Yu Liuzhu looked very sensible and got up to serve him another bowl.
What he didn't see was the look of reluctance in Shen Linlang's eyes as he continued drinking the soup.
The meal was quite distinct, like two separate groups.
Shen Qinglu and her brother Yu Jingliang seemed excluded, standing out as an oddity amidst the harmonious family of three.
After the meal, Yu Jingliang brought up the case.
Yu Jingxian said irritably, "What kind of despicable person dares to scheme against others? Does he really think that just because our family has fallen on hard times, everyone can kick us while we're down?"
"You all need to be more careful in your actions from now on," Shen Linlang advised.
“When have we ever caused trouble? It’s all because of Ali…” Yu Jingxian hadn’t finished speaking when Yu Jingliang glared at him, making him swallow his words.
Yu Jingliang's sharp, knife-like gaze swept over Yu Liuzhu. "That filthy person must have been instigated by someone. If I find out who it is, I will not let her go!"
Yu Liuzhu lowered her head, looking as if she was in great pain.
Upon seeing this, Shen Linlang told her to go back and rest.
She said she was indeed quite tired, and when she left, she was noticeably weak and had to be supported by Dengzhi.
Upon returning to the left wing, Dengzhi immediately went to close the window.
She went to the chamber pot behind the screen, gagged herself repeatedly, and continued to vomit until she had vomited up all the food and soup she had just eaten and drunk.
Two people were squatting outside the tightly closed window.
The sound of vomiting wasn't too loud, but it clearly reached the ears of the person next door.
In the darkness, they exchanged a glance, their eyes both understanding. The dim light cast shadows on their faces, one exuding a natural air of heroism, the other possessing boundless beauty.
It was Shen Linlang and Shen Qinglu.
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