Chapter 176: Xiao Sa's Mother (Pink Ticket 880 Additional Update)

  Shen Mu Qing remained silent, while Tu Xiao Que smiled and talked to herself: "The eldest lady is a capable woman, I'm really lucky to have met her. Speaking of which, the second aunt of the young master is also quite impressive. Gentle and kind, she manages the household chores of the Xiao family without being biased or partial... The third lady is also a clever person, speaking and acting in a straightforward and generous manner, like a skylark that makes people like her; The fourth lady, although an official's wife, is also very harmonious with others; The fifth lady comes from a wealthy family, with a noble demeanor; The sixth lady's maiden family runs an embroidery shop, famous for its needlework in Shanxi province, many young ladies and madams from high-ranking families in Taiyuan come to Lincheng to learn from her...

  She was calm and composed, lowering her head to savor the tea carefully.

  The silence in the room makes the chirping of the little sparrow more noticeable.

  She gradually felt a little uneasy, her voice getting softer and softer: "...Mrs. Qi was a beauty...was very good to me...even gave me a Buddhist scripture once..."

  Shen Mu Qing listened quietly as her hand paused slightly while pouring tea.

  She really wants to know what kind of person Xiao Qi is in other people's eyes... The relationship between husband and wife can reflect many problems... What Pang Debao said about the death of Xiao Sa's personal maid, was it true or just a cover-up?

  Ying Fen had always been paying attention to Shen Mu Qing, but she misunderstood - she thought Shen Mu Qing was feeling uncomfortable in his heart.

  "Second sister has really broadened her horizons in recent years!" Ying Fen said with a sarcastic smile, "The madams of the Xiao family are all at your beck and call!"

  "What is Yinfeng talking about?" Shen Muqing's expression was calm and indifferent as she interrupted her, "Second sister is not the same as before, you can't speak to her in this tone."

  Ying burst out laughing and responded with a "yes", but turned around to Tu Xiaoque and said: "Second sister, I didn't recognize Mount Tai when I saw it, I underestimated you. Please don't treat me like a servant. It's been a few years since we last met, I don't know what to call you now? Can you remind me, so I won't accidentally call you 'Xu Dama' again..." She said with a smile, covering her mouth.

  Xiao Que saw Shen Muqing and immediately began to sing a duet with her maid, their voices blending in harmony. However, when she heard Ying Fen's sharp words, her face revealed a hint of embarrassment. But her expression changed quickly, and she immediately regained her composure, revealing a smile. "Look at my memory... it's indeed not as good as before," she said. As she stood up, her demeanor was somewhat strange, and she curtsied to Shen Muqing, saying: "This time, I came on the orders of the elderly lady - she wanted to see you."

  Deep and quiet, serene and subtle, lost in thought.

  Tiao Xiao Que had already shouted out "Ba Jiao" towards the outside.

  A fifteen or sixteen year old little maid came in at the sound of her voice, still holding a red lacquer and gold decorated incense box.

  Xiao Que took over the box from his hand and handed it to Ying Fen.

  "Also, please ask your aunt to meet her."

  Ying Fan opened the box and found a red invitation card with golden characters inside.

  Shen Muqing glanced over and smiled: "Where is Eldest Madam now?"

  A hint of pride flashed across Xiao Que's eyes: "The madam is currently waiting at the main gate of your estate."

  Deep in his heart, Shen Mu was secretly burning with anger.

  Since it's the young lady who wants to see you, why don't you speak directly and ask to meet her? Instead, you're chatting with me here while she's waiting at the gate.

  Ying Feng's face changed, and just as she was about to say something, Shen Muqing stood up with a smile and instructed Ying Feng: "Please ask the old lady to enter through the side door - welcome her to the flower hall of Tingyu Xuan for tea. Just say that everyone in the family has returned to Jiangnan, and it's not convenient to open the main gate since the house is empty. If there's anything lacking in hospitality, please forgive us."

  With a flicker of her eye, she responded and left.

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said to Tu Xiao Que, "I'll go change my clothes, Second Sister please feel free!" After finishing speaking, she smiled at Tu Xiao Que, hinting for her to leave.

  Tu Xiao Que smiled awkwardly.

  ******

  Shen Mu Qing gazed at her own pale and beautiful face in the embroidered flower mirror, tied up a bun, hung a pair of rice-grain-sized southern pearls on her ears, still wearing a silver-white striped silk shirt, a lotus-colored lace skirt, and went to the Flower Hall.

  The flower hall of Tingyu Xuan was originally a resting room for reading and taking a nap. The ice-cracked window frames, the large kang by the window, on the left side of the kang there is an automatic bell, on the right side of the kang there are four treasures of the study. On the right side of the kang is a door made of yellow poplar wood screens, on the left side of the wall hangs four blue and white porcelain mountain and water screens, under the screen is a long table, on both sides of which are placed Qinghua three friends map jade vases spring bottles, in the middle is a green jade carved coral basin. Under the long table is a coiled grape pattern drum tooth square table and two Taishi chairs.

  Against the big kang was originally placed a lacquer bed of the previous dynasty, because Shi Jingzhu was coming, Shen Muqing had someone move the bed to the Green Lotus Institute, and next to the wall, a Wanzi Bat Longevity Character Three Surrounding Luohan Bed was arranged.

  When Shen Mu Qing walked in, she saw Ying Fen standing beside a woman wearing a white silver-threaded blouse and an ice-blue silk skirt with golden embroidery, examining the coral landscape on the long table: "...... Everything was taken away during the confiscation of property, this was later given by Yuan Yu, the Minister of Rites..."

  Tou Xiao Que was smiling all over her face as she waited on the woman.

  Shen Muqing had already understood a bit - this woman should be the birth mother of Xiao Sa, who came from Jinzhou Zheng's family!

  Ying Fan saw her coming in and paused for a moment.

  The woman and Tuo Xiaoque both turned around vigilantly.

  Shen Muqing smiled and bowed to the woman, while secretly sizing her up.

  She looked like she was thirty-seven or eight years old, with fair skin and dense eyebrows and eyes. Although the corners of her eyebrows already had the marks of time, she was still a stunning beauty that caught people's attention at first glance.

  As Shen Muqing bowed to her, she burst out laughing - her big eyes curved into a crescent moon, and the ripples between her eyebrows and eyelashes were so captivating that Shen Muqing's heart skipped a beat.

  "This is Shen's aunt!"

  "I am the eldest lady of the Xiao family!" She said with a warm smile, "Xiao Sa's birth mother."

  Although the woman in front of her was beautiful and had a gentle attitude, Shen Muqing couldn't help but think that she was Xiao Sa's mother, and how Pang Debao always spoke of Da Taite with genuine admiration, as well as Tu Xiaoyu's complete transformation, making it impossible for her to relax.

  Although Shen Muqing's face showed a calm and peaceful smile, her heart was like a tightened string that didn't dare to relax for even a moment.

  "Please sit down, madam!" She sat down on the left side of the armchair that symbolized the host's position and made a "please sit down" gesture towards the madam.

  The madam smiled and looked at her, sitting in the armchair on the right side of the square table.

  Ying Feng poured tea for Madame again, while Tuo Xiao Que stood behind her with a well-behaved expression.

  The lady looked at Zhuo Xiaoque with a smile and said, "I heard from Xiaoque that you are familiar with the young lady, so I took the liberty of asking Xiaoque to come and see the young lady. If there's anything wrong with Xiaoque, please take care of it for her."

  Is she referring to the fact that someone broke into their house when no one was home?

  However, Mrs. Darcy's tone was one of maintenance and fondness.

  Shen Mu Qing dynasty wore a small bird-like smile, and slowly said to the old lady: "You are too polite. To say, it is I who should ask Madam to take on more responsibilities - our family has been in chaos lately, if there's any disrespect, please don't mind."

  The lady looked at Shen Muqing's glance at Tu Xiaoque, her mouth slightly curved, and smiled politely to Shen Muqing for two sentences. Then her gaze turned to the Qingyu carved coral bonsai she had just examined: "I heard that this bonsai was a gift from Yuan Daren, the Minister of Rites?"

  The green jade carving on the bonsai pot is very characteristic, with six deer flowers, meaning "six deer big Shun", often used on window frames, not many are used on bonsai pots - this was carved by Yuan Yu himself.

  The big wife also finds it strange!

  Shen Mu Qing thought for a moment, smiled and nodded: "At that time, our home was empty and in disarray, so Governor Yuan gave this potted landscape to my father. It was also hoped that from then on, good fortune would follow my father, and he would live a peaceful life."

  The lady nodded, stood up, turned around and examined the scenery basin again: "The knife fell with some hesitation—is it carved by Lord Yuan himself?"

  Shen Muqing was very admiring of Madame's insight, stood up and turned around to gaze at the coral scenery, smiling as she responded with a "yes": "Mr. Yuan likes to do things himself, this scenery is something he carved with his own hands."

  The lady turned her head and smiled at Shen Muqing, saying: "I heard that the Ministry of Rites wants to send Lord Yuan as an envoy to Bahe. I wonder if you know about it, madam?"

  Shen Muqing smiled bitterly in her heart.

  As expected... The Qinghua San You Chun vase next to the coral pen holder was given by Hu Xin Hu Ge Lao... But she only mentioned Yuan Yu alone with herself.

  She nodded solemnly: "I've also heard... but it's still uncertain how things will turn out in the end."

  The big wife suddenly grabbed Shen Muqing's hand and looked at her with eyes full of sorrow and pleading: "Auntie, please save my Xiaoer!"

  At this moment, Shen Muqing saw a flash of fatigue and helplessness in the bright and spirited Madame's eyes.

  Her eyes dimmed, and her heart felt bitter.

  Alas, the hearts of parents all over the world... Xiao Xiao Ming had a chance to escape but followed the emperor to Bahe... Now, no one knows what he's thinking... Moreover, there is still much controversy in the court about whether or not to send an envoy to Bahe...

  "We, the Xiao family, have been merchants for generations. If it's about money, 500,000 taels is not a problem... But if the imperial court doesn't intervene, Sa'er will be back, and I'm afraid that by then, she can only change her name and hide... What's the difference between that and death?" The old lady gazed at Shen Muqing, "I've also heard some things from Manager Pang... I hope you, Miss, can help my Sa'er out a bit. If you need to bribe someone, just speak up!"

  Shen Muqing sighed quietly in her heart.

  When Zeng Ju proposed to the Shen family, Shen Muqing had suspected that this matter had been recognized by the Xiao family from top to bottom... Now hearing Mrs. Shen's tone, she was already very certain in her heart.

  Let's talk about this when Changhui gets back!

  It's not something that can be decided in a day or two...

  She nodded to the madam: "Please rest assured, I will do my best. If there's any situation, I'll go tell you." She smiled slightly apologetically, "I haven't even asked where you live yet? If there's any news, I can also send someone to inform you."

  The lady heard it, but a few sharp flashes appeared at the bottom of her eyes, only to disappear instantly, making Shen Muqing doubt his own eyes.

  "I'm temporarily staying at the Lian Sheng Inn in Jintai Fang. If you have any news, ask someone to find the shopkeeper and mention that it's for Mrs. Xiao, and someone will bring it to me!"

  Finally paid off the debt...... Hehe......

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