Lihoumen

Chapter 34 The Reward Returns to Madam

Although Li didn't like Lin Ruoqing, she had to admit that Lin Ruoqing, who was born into a noble family, was definitely more knowledgeable than Qingqing in such political affairs.

When she heard her husband mention this, she suddenly remembered what the old lady had been talking about a while ago, so she said to her husband: "You don't know yet, but mother seems to be planning to let my third brother marry Ruoqing."

Hearing this, Shen Feng couldn't believe it and said, "No way, my cousin has been married before. How can our family marry a widow?"

Li said, "Don't you know? Mother has always liked my cousin. Now that her husband has passed away, she has come back to our family. It is only natural that Mother wants her to become a member of our family."

Shen Feng also knew his mother's personality. She was the kind of person who couldn't make sense.

He sighed and said, "If she marries a divorced woman, it would be better. If she marries a widow, it will be a disgrace to the Marquisate. Besides, my third brother is married now. If my cousin is willing to be his mistress, it is understandable."

Li snorted coldly, "I'm afraid mother can't let this precious niece be a concubine." Seeing Shen Feng's unhappy face, Li hurriedly changed the subject and said, "Forget it, let's not talk about this. Anyway, there is no sign of it yet. When mother really makes up her mind, we can talk about it later."

"It's getting late. We have to attend court tomorrow. Let's go to bed early." As she said this, Li pushed the door open and called someone in to serve her.

Just as the couple was about to go to bed, the maid outside came in and reported in a panic, "My Lord, Madam, Aunt Mei is complaining about a stomachache and is asking my Lord to come over."

This Aunt Mei was a maid who used to serve Shen Feng. Later, she was assigned to Shen Feng by the old lady as a concubine.

Shen Feng listened to the report from the maid, but did not express his opinion. Li, who was standing by, saw this. Although she was unhappy, she did not show it on her face. She pretended to be generous and said, "Madam Mei is pregnant and is in her advanced period. The Marquis has not been there for a while. Since she is not feeling well, the Marquis should go over and keep her company."

Shen Feng was silent for a moment, and replied to Shen, "I'm tired today and don't want to move." Without waiting for Li to speak, he said to the maid who was reporting, "Go and tell Aunt Mei that if she is really uncomfortable, go and tell the housekeeper to ask a doctor to come and see her. I don't know any medicine, so what can I do even if I go there?" With that, Shen Feng turned around and got on the bed.

Seeing that the maid was about to leave, Li called her back and told her personal maid, "Lan'er, go to the small storehouse and get some of the best bird's nests and have Madam take them to Aunt Mei. She is in her advanced period now, so she needs to be well nourished."

The old woman and the maid took the order and went down to the bed. Shen Feng hugged his wife and whispered, "Madam, although you are a princess, you are not arrogant at all. You are so virtuous. I, Shen Feng, am so lucky to marry you in this life."

Li rested her head on Shen Feng's arm and said gently, "I will take good care of the harem so that my husband can focus on his career. If my husband is successful, my children and I will have more hope."

The mandarin duck tent fell, and it goes without saying that the couple was very affectionate and loving that night.

The next day, after Li sent Shen Feng away to attend the morning court, she was busy taking care of the children in the private school. When she finished the work in the yard and went to the front hall, there were a lot of big and small things to take care of that would never end.

When she finally finished the day's affairs, it was already the afternoon. Li returned to her own courtyard tiredly. Just as she was about to take a rest, the steward came in and said that the palace had issued a reward.

Because Shen Feng had told her yesterday that Shen Han was going to be promoted, Li asked, "Is it for my third brother?"

The steward replied, "It's for the third young master." He then went on and on, "Two large carts full of gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and all kinds of silks and satins." Two large carts of rewards were indeed a huge fortune. Even Li, the princess, had to marvel at it.

It can be seen that Shen Han's pacification of the Three Feudatories really pleased the Emperor.

The Shen family has made progress, and Li's face is more glorious. She relaxed her brows and asked, "Have you registered?"

The manager replied, "They have all been registered." Then he said with difficulty, "In the past, the Third Young Master received many rewards, but they were all confiscated. But now the Third Young Master has married. Madam, how do you think we should deal with these rewards?"

There is a rule in the mansion that the salaries and extra rewards of unmarried men will be confiscated. After marriage, the salaries will still be confiscated, but the rewards will belong to their own room. Logically, these rewards should naturally belong to the third room alone, but Qingqing's status in the mansion is awkward, so the manager can't make up his mind, so he comes to ask Li for instructions.

Li thought for a moment and replied, "Since it is a reward from my third brother, it should naturally belong to the third house."

The housekeeper received the instruction and was about to bow and leave, but Li called him back and said, "You don't have to send these rewards to the Third Madam. Just hand them over directly to the Third Young Master. We have no right to interfere with how the Third Young Master wants to deal with them."

If the things were sent directly to Qingqing, the old lady would inevitably be angry with her when she found out. Giving them directly to Shen Han would both comply with the rules and avoid upsetting the mother-in-law.

After Li's suggestion, the steward understood and said hurriedly, "Madam is wise. I will take care of it right away."

Today, Shen Han returned early and went to the study as usual.

Seeing this, Ajiang immediately came over to help Shen Han change his clothes, and then asked, "Master, you haven't had dinner yet, right?"

Shen Han nodded and said yes.

Ajiang hesitated after hearing this, and then asked hesitantly: "Sir, do you want to use it in the study?" Seeing that Shen Han did not answer for a long time, Ajiang glanced at his face and asked tentatively: "Otherwise, sir, do you want to use it in Lan Yaju? At this time, Madam must not be able to use it either."

Shen Han was silent for a while, then said, "Forget it, let them bring the food to the study. I have food to eat, but I still have government affairs to attend to."

Ajiang took the order, and after helping Shen Han undress, he went out and told the maid to go to the kitchen to get food. After a while, the maids served the food. While Shen Han was eating, the steward came in to report about the rewards sent from the palace today.

After hearing the butler's report, Shen Han simply said he knew. After the butler left, he put down his jade chopsticks, called A Jiang again, and ordered, "Take all the things sent from the palace to Madam."

Ajiang was just checking the gifts with the steward outside. Suddenly, he heard Shen Han's order and blurted out, "Are you going to send all of them to Madam? Sir, I just saw that there are quite a few antiques, calligraphy and paintings in there. They are all your favorite things."

"Send them all to Madam." Shen Han then ordered, "Tell the steward that any future rewards should be sent directly to Madam."

(End of this chapter)