Chapter 72 IKEA Brings Good Fortune to His Wife Mu Hanshi's eyes suddenly deepened, but...
In her previous life, Shen Qinglu struggled to survive her entire life and never thought about anything else, such as matters between men and women.
She hadn't thought about it, but that didn't mean she didn't understand. However, Mu Hanshi gave her the impression of being a madman, and even if his behavior seemed to suggest it, she found it difficult to think in that direction.
"Lord Mu, who are you to me? What business is it of yours whether I have a scar on my face or not?"
This question was quite blunt, and there was no intention to beat around the bush or be vague.
Mu Hanshi could hear obvious disdain and impatience in her words, a stark contrast to the complete trust and reliance he remembered.
So this is what she really is like.
Not only is she cunning and shrewd, but she also has the means to scheme and plan. She is exceptionally thoughtful and knows when to advance and when to retreat, yet she is cold-hearted and cowardly. She is not obedient or compliant at all. No wonder I never saw her clearly.
"I feel uncomfortable looking at it, is that not allowed?"
"..."
Shen Qinglu almost laughed in anger.
It turns out this person was not only crazy, but also a perfectionist with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
"Then just don't look! Who told you to look?"
"I've already seen it."
"..."
He's a scoundrel!
Shen Qinglu almost laughed out of anger.
She used to be so serene and unassuming, which, while partly a facade, was also because, apart from her poor health, she had no other troubles. Her adoptive parents were wonderful, and her brother was even better. She was protected by them, far removed from the hustle and bustle of society and the outside world.
Unlike this life, where everything at home and outside is a mess, and I've also gotten involved with this madman.
"Lord Mu, Yu Liuzhu is no longer here. I didn't target her, nor did I offend you, so why are you still looking for me?"
"I can't sleep."
"you……"
Shen Qinglu wanted to say that it was none of her business if he couldn't sleep, but when she saw the sadness and sorrow welling up in Mu Hanshi's eyes, her words were like snowflakes falling secretly at night, light and cautious.
"You must have heard some of my story. My parents are both deceased, and no matter how close my relatives are, there's still a distance between us. Over the years, even though I have many relatives, I've always felt like I'm all alone. Can you understand this feeling of loneliness?"
She wanted to say she didn't understand, but the truth was she knew better than anyone else.
Before she was eight years old, she lived in an orphanage. There were many people in the orphanage, all of whom were the same person, the director. They seemed like a family, but she knew that she was alone.
"Then why don't you look for someone else?"
"I don't know either. The moment I saw you, I knew what kind of person you were." Mu Hanshi slowly approached, suppressing the greed in his eyes. "I think we might be the same kind of people."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglu felt as if someone had stabbed her in the heart, and her heart clenched in pain.
Her heart was pounding as she looked at the person so close to her.
Just then, Xia Chan heard the noise and lifted the curtain to enter the inner room. She glanced at her young lady standing by the window, and saw an unforgettable face outside the window. She immediately shrank back.
After a while, I heard a "snap" sound, the sound of the fork being pulled away and the window closing.
She peeked out again, and although she couldn't see Shen Qinglu's expression, she could sense the emotion in her young lady's tone as she urged him to leave through the closed window, "It's so late, Lord Mu, you should go back now."
After a moment of silence, a sound like a sigh or falling snow came from outside the window, "You should get some rest too."
After waiting another quarter of an hour, when the scent of bamboo disappeared, Shen Qinglu, after confirming that the person had left, said to her, "Light the lamp."
As soon as the candle was lit, the room suddenly became bright.
The room was warm and elegant, and the warm light shone on Shen Qinglu's stunningly beautiful face. Her expression showed obvious displeasure, as if she were both irritable and annoyed.
This was the first time she had ever seen her young lady like this, so she asked in a low voice, "Did you and Lord Mu have a fight?"
"He's meddling too much!" Shen Qinglu said irritably, already sitting down in front of the dressing table.
The beauty in the mirror had gorgeous, flowing hair, like a swaying red apricot blossom. Her eyes and brows were filled with an irresistible allure. Unless one looked very closely, one would not notice the faint scar on her forehead. Once seen, it was as if a rare gem had been flawed—tiny, yet regrettable, or even unbearable.
When her slender fingers touched the scar, Xia Chan immediately asked, "Miss, would you like some medicine?"
She lowered her eyes, deep in thought.
That Mu Lao Jiu is insane. If the scar hasn't faded in seven days, what if that person really comes every day to personally apply the medicine for her...?
Thinking of this, she nodded.
Xia Chan took out both bottles of medicine and then asked her which one she wanted to use.
The bottles were almost identical, and it was impossible to tell from their appearance which one was given by Yu Jingliang and which one was given by Mu Hanshi. She could only point to one at random and say, "This one will do."
Regardless of which bottle Mu Hanshi gave her, she assumed in her heart that she was using the one Yu Jingliang gave her, and as for the other bottle, it was best to just not see it.
Thinking this through, he suddenly had an idea and said, "Go ask that shop if they will take this medicine. If they will, then sell it."
Xia Chan agreed, handed over the bottle she pointed to, and put the other bottle away.
As she scooped a small dollop from the bottle and slowly applied it, her mind was filled with their previous conversation.
Perhaps they were the same kind of people, but she didn't want to associate with a madman.
It seems some people are too idle; she should find something to keep them busy.
She thought for a moment, then gestured for Xia Chan to come over, and whispered some instructions to her.
*
The plaque for the Shen Mansion has been hung up, and apart from the character "Yu" being changed to "Shen," everything else seems unchanged.
The servants in the mansion were busy coming and going, each doing their own job. They seemed to be doing the same thing as before, but their state of mind was completely different.
They were like that, and so were their masters.
In the past, Yu Jingxian and his son Yu Zhiheng were practically inseparable. One would get up early to go to the Jixian Hall, while the other would go to the school. When one finished his shift, he would make a special detour to pick up the other.
Now, whether he goes to school or goes home after school, Yu Jingxian is always alone.
His change in mindset wasn't just due to the absence of his father, but also to the different treatment he received from others. His classmates talked about him openly and subtly; some knew to avoid him, while others seemed to be deliberately trying to upset him.
When he came out of the Tang residence, he was dejected and looked very listless.
"Big brother."
Hearing the familiar voice, he was initially delighted, but then, realizing what was happening, that joy instantly turned into an indescribable mix of emotions and discomfort.
Yu Liuzhu arrived at his side, looking worried, and asked, "Brother, what's wrong? Did someone upset you?"
The two siblings have always had a good relationship. He loves his sister Yu Liuzhu wholeheartedly. However, times have changed. Now, after only a few days apart, they seem to have become quite estranged.
In particular, Yu Liuzhu's attire was quite different from her past appearance. She was not wearing red clothes or floral decorations. Her green clothes made her sickly complexion appear even more pronounced, making her look somewhat pale and unfamiliar.
"Why are you here? Are you...are you all alright?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Liuzhu's eyes immediately reddened, and she shook her head.
"Big brother, I'm not good."
How could she possibly be alright!
Hearing these words made Yu Jingxian feel even worse.
“I never expected Mother to be so heartless this time. She used to love you so much. I thought that even if you weren’t her biological child, she wouldn’t abandon you.”
“Mother has no choice. She gives in to Ali in everything now, and Ali won’t tolerate me.” She sobbed. “I really don’t understand. I’m innocent too. Why is Ali targeting me like this? I’m really afraid of her…”
Her voice grew softer and softer, as if she were afraid of something.
Yu Jingxian's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly remembered the house-protecting talisman. After the matter was exposed, even if he denied it to the death, his mother knew it was him. Those disappointed words and those earnest admonitions still made him feel ashamed when he thought about them.
"Tang'er, you may be overthinking it. Ali... what bad intentions could she possibly have? It's just that her words and actions are inevitably different from ordinary people."
"Big brother, you..." Her resentment rose again, and she deliberately pretended to be heartbroken, clutching her chest and revealing the scratches on her hands.
Upon seeing this, Yu Jingxian hurriedly asked her how she had done it.
She seemed hesitant to speak, pausing several times before finally stammering that she was temporarily staying at Da Xuan Kong Temple and had to do odd jobs in the temple's kitchen in order to stay longer.
"You actually went to do servant's work?" Yu Jingxian was shocked, looking incredulous. "Doesn't your aunt care about you?"
“She never raised me, so she doesn’t have much motherly affection for me. Besides, my mother took back her dowry, and she’s struggling to make ends meet. I never imagined I’d live like a lowly maid in this mansion. Brother, sometimes I really want to die…”
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Yu Jingliang's heart skipped a beat again. He quickly took off his silver pouch and stuffed it into her hand. "Don't waste yourself anymore. This is my allowance. Take it first."
"Brother, I...can't take your money."
As soon as she got her hands on the money pouch, she knew roughly how much it contained without even counting it, because she had previously managed the household expenses and knew exactly how much pocket money Yu Jingxian received each month. It should have been sixty taels of silver in total, and she figured she had spent more than half of it, leaving less than thirty taels.
She kept saying she couldn't take it, but she wouldn't let go. After a struggle between the siblings, she ultimately lost. However, her loss wasn't because she couldn't win against Yu Jingxian; in a true sense, she was the winner.
"Big brother, you're the one who loves me the most..."
“Even if you’re not my biological sister, you’re still my cousin. How could I bear to see you suffer? Tang’er, don’t think like that. Maybe in a few days, I’ll change my mind and take you back.”
"I can't bear to think about it." She wiped away her tears, her eyes filled with sarcasm.
Do they really think of her as a servant they can dismiss at will?
She clutched Yu Jingxian's money bag tightly, her hatred still burning.
This guy is still as easily fooled as ever, believing whatever she says without ever considering how she could possibly be working as a kitchen helper in a temple.
In fact, she did intend to cultivate good relationships with the people in the temple, having Qin Mama and Qiu Lu help out in the kitchen, but not to stay longer; rather, she wanted to inquire more about Mu Hanshi. As for the scratches on her hands, she had been accidentally scratched while teasing the temple's stray cats.
But one thing is true: she is really short of money.
"Big brother, you're all I have now."
Yu Jingxian couldn't bear to hear such words. He was filled with heartache and said that he would not abandon her.
She appeared very moved, turning her face away as if wiping away tears, her expression full of sarcasm.
All of this was observed by a pair of eyes not far away.
*
About half an hour later, Yu Jingxian returned home.
Upon entering, he went straight to the mansion's accounting office, intending to withdraw his allowance for the following month in advance.
Without a word, the head accountant handed him the silver. He looked at it and asked in confusion if there was a mistake; his allowance was sixty taels, not forty.
“Young Master, I am not mistaken. You and the Second Young Master each receive a monthly allowance of forty taels of silver.”
"What?" He thought he had misheard. "It was always sixty taels for me and twenty taels for him before. How come it's changed now?"
The head maid smiled obsequiously, "Madam has entrusted the affairs of the manor to the eldest young lady. The eldest young lady said that you and the second young master are brothers and should be treated equally. There is absolutely no reason for one to be superior to the other."
With a new emperor comes a new court, and with a new young lady in the household, some things naturally have to change as well.
"It's Ali again!" He gritted his teeth.
“If the young master is not satisfied, he should go to the young lady. I am just following orders, so please do not make things difficult for me.” The head maid said, and then added, “At this time, the young lady should be at the Pear Garden.”
He snorted coldly and turned away.
I walked towards Pear Garden, feeling sullen all the way.
Before even getting close, I saw Shen Qinglu and Renchun standing at the door talking. For some reason, I quickly hid to the side.
“I used to hear the servants in the manor say that Sister Tang’er was lucky. She was born into the Yu family’s darling, and was loved by her parents in a life of luxury. I was so envious back then, but I didn’t know that all of this should have been mine.”
“Miss Tang’er is truly fortunate. She is the daughter of a disgraced official, yet she has lived for sixteen years in your place. She should be grateful for the lady’s nurturing kindness and feel guilty towards you.”
“My mother doesn’t expect gratitude from her, and I don’t want her to feel guilty. I only hope that she remembers the good things my mother did for her, remembers the sixteen years of happiness she enjoyed, and doesn’t repay kindness with enmity and become greedy.” Shen Qinglu said this, then sighed softly, took two steps forward, and moved closer to where he was hiding.
"Are you afraid she'll come back to bother you?" Renchun asked.
Shen Qinglu shook her head, "I'm not afraid of her coming to me, I'm just afraid she'll go to my eldest brother. My eldest brother used to dote on her the most, and inevitably treated her like his own sister, giving her whatever she wanted. My mother was denounced, and it was only with great difficulty that she was cleared of trouble. I'm really afraid that her status as the daughter of a disgraced official will cause trouble for my eldest brother."
"If someone sees my brother and her being intimate, and rumors start circulating, at the very least it will affect my brother's future; at worst, it will be detrimental to our whole family."
As they spoke, the master and servant took a few more steps forward.
“I’ve heard people say that Madam has raised her well, so I think she should understand this principle and won’t go looking for the eldest young master, let alone cause trouble for the family.”
“If she were truly sensible, she wouldn’t have done this. I hope she’s a good person and, out of consideration for the Shen family, will let us go and let my elder brother go. My elder brother is kind-hearted and is my mother’s eldest son. I hope he will be praised by everyone, that everyone will commend him for his virtue, generosity, and love for his younger siblings, and that he will become a pillar of the Great Ye Dynasty in the future.”
Yu Jingxian heard these words clearly and felt a thousand emotions in his heart.
To avoid being discovered, he hid behind a tree until Shen Qinglu and Renchun were far away before daring to show himself. After thinking it over, he did not go to find Shen Qinglu again, but instead went to his own courtyard.
Unbeknownst to him, after he disappeared, Shen Qinglu and Renchun returned and stood where he had been hiding.
"Girl, will this work?" Renchun asked.
“That should be enough to deal with him.” Shen Qinglu looked in the direction he left. “It takes two to tango. As long as he’s clear-headed, Yu Tang won’t have a chance to take advantage of him.”
If he remains obstinate, then he has no one to blame but himself.
As the two were talking, Xia Chan returned from outside.
Xia Chan went out for two reasons: first, to sell the bottle of medicine for thirty-eight taels of silver; and second, to find Mei Wu and relay Shen Qinglu's arrangements.
From her account, both matters were handled satisfactorily, and Shen Qinglu was quite pleased. However, what they didn't know was that both the medicine and Mei Wu were currently before Mu Hanshi.
Mu Hanshi toyed with the bottle of medicine with his slender fingers, his expression unreadable.
In the past, to recuperate, his A'Zhu drank countless bitter medicines that were hard to swallow, never complaining, so obedient and docile. Now, she refuses to even apply medicine; she's really nothing like him.
That's fine.
If he doesn't want to apply it himself, then let him do it.
“My lord, there is one more thing…” Mei Wu dared not conceal anything and brought up the matter that Xia Chan had relayed. “Miss Shen asked me to spread some rumors in the capital, which concerns you, my lord.”
Mu Hanshi finally raised his eyes and gave him a calm look.
He quickly lowered his head, his voice becoming much softer, "The Mu family has a son as beautiful as an orchid, hidden deep within the mansion, unknown to anyone. He is more beautiful than a white lotus and more skillful with his hands, the most suitable for the family and brings good fortune to his wife."
Yang Zhen was taken aback, glancing at him and then at Mu Hanshi, wondering what that Miss Ali was up to.
Mu Hanshi's eyes suddenly deepened, but instead of being cold, they showed a hint of pleasure as he savored the words, "A good wife and a virtuous wife."
After a long pause, he let out a soft laugh, "Well said, she understands me best."
Yang Zhen seemed to understand, but Mei Wu was completely confused.
They weren't in the backyard of Xunzhen Pavilion, but in the coffin shop.
Rows of black lacquered and gilded coffins exuded a lacquery odor. Paper offerings filled the air, depicting houses, beautiful women, carriages, and servants, all conveying a sinister atmosphere.
Mei Wu wasn't afraid of these things, but he felt that his master's attitude today was even stranger than these things.
He half-raised his head, gazing respectfully at the snow-white expanse.
Even after seeing it many times, he always felt that his master was just a figure in a painting, beautiful as he was, but lacking any sense of life.
But today, it seems to have a more human touch.
"My lord, should I tell Miss Shen what she asked me to say or not?"
He thought that his master was the least interested in attracting attention and would certainly not want to be talked about. When Miss Shen asked, he would have to think of a way to cover it up.
Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly heard Mu Hanshi's voice.
"Do as she says."
"!"
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