Chapter 1438: Master Miao's Matters Resolved

After having a drink, Shu Yu asked about Xiao Shi's health.

Xiao Shi smiled and said, "Doctor Zhao has come three times. He just examined my pulse a couple of days ago and said that my recovery is going well. After taking a few more doses of medicine, the remaining toxins should be cleared. Look at me, I've gained some weight."

Indeed, she had gained some weight, but compared to before, she was still on the thin side.

However, her spirits were good, and she no longer appeared as frightened and nervous as before.

"This place is treating you well, right?"

"It's great. Sister Zheng and the others have taken good care of me. Ah Yu, thank you."

Shu Yu took another sip of tea, "No need to be so polite. I'm happy to see you recovering. If there's anything you need in the future, just tell me directly."

As she said that, Xiao Shi's expression seemed hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but held back.

Shu Yu paused and placed the teacup on the table, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Shi bit her lip and finally spoke, "I want to ask if you received any letters from the capital? About my parents?"

Shu Yu suddenly realized, "You want to know about your parents' situation?"

Xiao Shi nodded quickly. She was doing well here, but her parents were still imprisoned, and she had already experienced the cruelty of the Xiao family. She was afraid something might have happened to them.

"I haven't received any news from the capital." Shu Yu regretted, trying to comfort her, "Sending and receiving messages is risky. By not taking any action with the higher-ups, I'm trying to protect you as much as possible. No news might actually be good news. If something really happened to your parents, the higher-ups would surely inform you. The calm situation now indicates that they are fine."

Xiao Shi pondered for a moment, and indeed, it made sense.

"You're right. I've been too anxious."

After meeting Shu Yu, Xiao Shi felt a strange sense of calmness in her heart. She then inquired about Meng Yunzheng's exam.

"Some time ago, many people came to the temple, mostly the families of candidates. Some who passed the exam came to express gratitude, and some who didn't pass came to pray and seek success in the next year's examination. When I was at the Xiao family, I was in a daze and didn't pay much attention. But seeing them here at the temple reminded me that Young Master Meng was also a candidate this year. I wonder how he did?"

Shu Yu smiled with a slightly proud expression, "He achieved the top ranking."

Xiao Shi's face lit up with joy, "Really? That's wonderful news!"

When Meng Yunzheng participated in the imperial examination, his performance was also outstanding.

The two of them found a shared topic, even though it wasn't their own exam, they could talk about it for a long time.

They chatted until noon before finally stopping.

After having lunch with Xiao Shi, Shu Yu planned to leave the mountain and return to the capital.

At the front hall, Sister Qiu was in the midst of giving divination to someone. When she saw Shu Yu, she nodded to signal her to wait for a moment.

Shu Yu stood outside for a while, and soon, Sister Qiu came out.

"Has everything been settled with Master Miao's matter?" Shu Yu asked.

Sister Qiu nodded, "Yes, it's all been sorted out. Master Miao has chosen another date to prepare everything and conduct a ceremony here before moving the Longevity Lamp to the Ancestor's grave."

Shu Yu guessed as much. Master Miao cared deeply about his sister, so he wouldn't rush through this ceremony.

She had fulfilled her part of the agreement with Master Miao, and she didn't plan to intervene further. When the year was up, he could sell the estate of the black market to Meng Yunzheng as planned.

Chapter 1437: The Tranquil Xiao Family

Shu Yu saw him anxious and didn't keep him waiting. She told him about the decision of the Dongqing Temple's leader.

Upon hearing this, Master Miao took a deep breath, looking a bit dazed as he sat back on the stone stool. A faint smile appeared on his lips, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

After a moment, he stood up again, clasped his hands together, and said to Shu Yu, "I understand. Thanks to Lu Xiangjun's intervention, the master of Dongqing Temple has agreed. I am grateful for your help Lu Xiangjun."

Shu Yu waved her hand modestly, "Master Miao you're too polite. My master also asked me to convey a message to you."

She then relayed the words of the Dongqing Temple's Master to him, exactly as she had heard them.

Master Miao listened quietly for a long while, then looked up and smiled, "The Master is truly worthy of her position. What she said is right. The Dong'an Prefecture has probably already forgotten about me, Miao, a long time ago. After years of struggle, I was indeed anxious and irritable at first, but I have come to realize that even if I squander all my wealth, it won't bring my sister back to life. Those unscrupulous businesses can be avoided, and it will still allow my sister to rest in peace."

He felt that living like this was quite good now; he no longer felt as burdened as before.

Moreover, now that his sister's worries had been resolved, he had even fewer things to worry and be troubled about.

As Shu Yu had to go see Xiao Shi, she resolved the doubts in her heart and said to Master Miao, "Since you're already here at Dongqing Temple, please wait for me a little longer. I'll go find Senior Sister Qiu and convey my master's wishes to her. Then you can discuss whether you want to move the Longevity Lamp today or choose a more auspicious day for the ceremony."

Master Miao's eyes brightened, "Alright, I'll trouble Lu Xiangjun with that."

Shu Yu nodded, got up, and went to the main hall.

Senior Sister Qiu was as busy as ever, but when she saw Shu Yu approaching, she instructed the other nuns and took Shu Yu to a side room to talk.

"Last time, you said you were going to see the Temple Master. Did you find her?" Senior Sister Qiu poured her a cup of water and asked with concern.

Shu Yu nodded, "I met her and had a conversation. Master asked me to bring back a letter for you."

With that, she handed over the letter, and Senior Sister Qiu, somewhat surprised, opened and read it.

The letter was not long, besides mentioning Master Miao's situation, it also contained some instructions about the affairs in the temple.

After reading it, Senior Sister Qiu put the letter away, "Okay, I'll take care of these matters."

"Master Miao is waiting outside the hall. You can discuss it with him. I'll go to the backyard to check on my friend."

Senior Sister Qiu waved her hand, "Go ahead. Shall we have lunch here?"

"Sure."

After she left, Shu Yu noticed that Xiao Shi's demeanor had changed from the last time she saw her.

The first time she saw Xiao Shi, she was haughty and proud.

The second time, Xiao Shi had become thin and despondent, showing signs of fear and trembling.

But now, Xiao Shi appeared unusually serene.

It seemed that this temple was a suitable place for her to recuperate both physically and mentally.

Xiao Shi poured her a cup of floral tea, saying, "I picked this from the back mountain myself. It's been dried in the sun for a short time due to the hot weather, and it smells lovely. Please have a taste."

As the daughter of the Xiao family, Xiao Shi had received professional training in tea brewing, and Shu Yu truly enjoyed this authentic and mellow tea.

 Chapter 1436: Master Miao

Master Miao only smiled and didn't go into further details.

Indeed, Liu Ru was someone he had personally groomed and promoted. He had initially thought her ambition and ruthlessness were good qualities. However, her ambition had grown too large, and Fragrant Mist Courtyard couldn't accommodate her anymore.

Establishing Qin Lou and Chu Guan involved dealing with people who were not clean, and not all the girls there willingly sold themselves.

Some of them were forced or had their innocence destroyed, leaving them with no choice but to stay there.

Liu Ru was skilled in such matters, even more so than Master Miao himself.

But now, Master Miao was considering other business ventures, and since last year, he had stopped paying much attention to the brothels. He even forbade Liu Ru from using extreme methods to force unwilling girls to sell themselves.

As a result, Fragrant Mist Courtyard's business was inevitably affected.

Liu Ru became restless and dissatisfied. The owners of other brothels came to her several times, and after a few encounters, she left with them directly.

Master Miao didn't stop her, but in doing so, Liu Ru had betrayed him. Even though he had become less impulsive and more patient, he still couldn't tolerate such behavior.

Furthermore, Liu Ru didn't just leave; she took most of the girls from Fragrant Mist Courtyard with her and even slandered the establishment before departing.

Although Master Miao had changed, he still had the means to deal with such situations. Consequently, while Liu Ru might have gone to another brothel, her current life was not as easy as she had hoped.

But there was no need to tell Shu Yu about all of this.

Master Miao just watched his wife and daughter nearby and said, "It's good that Fragrant Mist Courtyard has closed. Even though we can't make money, life seems more fulfilling."

In the past, when he ran the brothels, he often had to meet with Liu Ru for discussions.

After staying in the brothels for a long time, Liu Ru's behavior naturally took on a certain charm, and his wife thought that they had an affair.

Their relationship had always been distant, and Master Miao hadn't cared much about it before. He hadn't married his wife out of love; they each did their own thing, and that was enough.

Later, when Fragrant Mist Courtyard closed, his wife assumed he was feeling sad, and during that time, she took care of him very well. For a while, they opened their hearts to each other and talked about many things. Master Miao also admitted that there was nothing between him and Liu Ru.

He wasn't interested in such matters; he had a wife and concubines at home, so he wouldn't touch the women in the brothels.

After his relationship with his wife improved, Master Miao felt the warmth of a family. In the past, he only felt like he had a family when his sister was around.

Even after marrying and having children, he still felt empty inside.

But now, his life had undergone a complete transformation.

Looking at Master Miao's expression, Shu Yu probably guessed some of the situation, but she didn't comment on it. Master Miao had turned over a new leaf, but he had also committed many sins in the past.

Therefore, Shu Yu and Lord Miao were destined not to see eye to eye.

Fortunately, Master Miao only briefly mentioned Fragrant Mist Courtyard and then turned his attention to his sister Chang Mingdeng.

"I wonder if Lu Xiangjun has news from the Master of Dongqing Temple and when she will return."

Shu Yu withdrew her gaze and pursed her lips. "I think my master won't be back for the next year or two."

"What? That long?"

"I saw my master not long ago and mentioned your situation to her."

Master Miao suddenly stood up, his excitement evident. "What did the Master say?"

Chapter 1435: Fragrant Mist Courtyard Has Closed

Shu Yu was driving the carriage, and after a brief rest at the inn, they set off again.

The carriage made its way through the streets and alleys, heading towards the southern city gate. Shu Yu pulled back the curtain and looked at the streets along the way. She was pleased to see two shops with signs that read "New Instant Noodles."

It seemed that during her absence, instant noodles had gradually gained popularity in the capital.

Shu Yu was happy about this but was about to lower the curtain when her hand suddenly paused.

"Ying Xi, slow down."

The speed of the carriage instantly slowed down, and Shu Yu looked ahead at Fragrant Mist Courtyard, her face showing surprise.

"Why is Fragrant Mist Courtyard closed at this time?"

As far as Shu Yu knew, the only time Fragrant Mist Courtyard had closed was a few months after the Emperor's death last year. When she left the capital not long ago, it had already resumed normal business. So why was it now shut tight, with no young ladies in sight, and even the entrance looking somewhat desolate, as if it had been abandoned?

Ying Xi asked in a low voice, "Miss, has something happened to Master Miao?"

Shu Yu shook her head. As her master had told her, even without a prominent figure like Master Miao, he should be living a comfortable life without any problems.

She was considering whether to go to Master Miao's house, but looking at the direction the carriage was heading, it was about to Master the southern city gate, and going to Lord Miao's residence would take too much time. She decided to wait until she returned from Dongqing Temple.

Ying Xi quickened the pace, and they soon left the city and headed straight for Dongqing Temple.

To Shu Yu's surprise, although she hadn't gone to the western part of the city, when she entered Dongqing Temple's gate, she saw Master Miao.

Master Miao also spotted her at once and was taken aback. "Lu Xiangjun?"

After lighting incense in the temple, Shu Yu walked out with Master Miao and climbed onto a nearby pavilion.

Master Miao's wife and daughter were also with them. This was the first time Shu Yu had met them.

With Fragrant Mist Courtyard closed, Shu Yu had expected Master Miao to look downcast, or at the very least, show signs of decadence. After all, it was a business that had been running for many years, and its closure would have some impact.

However, contrary to her expectations, Master Miao appeared quite calm, and his wife and daughter looked rather cheerful.

As they sat down in the pavilion, Master Miao's daughter, who was still young, couldn't sit still and wanted to go play. His wife held her hand and took her outside the pavilion to watch the squirrels jumping around in the forest.

Hearing the melodious laughter of the little girl, Shu Yu couldn't help but relax a little, and her inner doubts naturally came out.

"I just came from the capital and saw that Fragrant Mist Courtyard's door was closed."

Master Miao was briefly stunned, then smiled, "It has been closed for half a month."

"Then..."

"Liǔ Rú took a group of girls and went to another brothel. I saw that the remaining girls either had average looks or were older, or they were unwilling to serve guests. Naturally, Fragrant Mist Courtyard had no business left. I asked them what they wanted, gave them a severance fee, and closed Fragrant Mist Courtyard."

Shu Yu didn't understand, "Why did Liu Rú do this?"

Wasn't this Madame Liu, his capable right-hand woman at Fragrant Mist Courtyard? She had been with him for so many years. How could she just leave like this?

Master Miao thought for a moment, "Perhaps she sensed that I was thinking about other ways to make a living and didn't care much about Fragrant Mist Courtyard. She might have felt a sense of crisis. With the promise of good prospects from others, it's not impossible for her to leave."

Shu Yu, "..."

 Chapter 1434: Going to Handle Some Matters

Shu Yu suddenly realized, as she had suspected, Meng Han must have experienced incidents of Tao Qin stealing things from her in her childhood, which is why she had erupted only now.

"It's true, every family has its own difficulties," Shu Yu sighed. "If only we could encounter understanding family members, but otherwise, it's a headache every day."

"Sister Shu Yu," Meng Han rode her horse to the side of the carriage, her face flushed, and her eyes shining brightly, "I heard from Xia Yan that you have a huge field of sunflowers, very beautiful, and it's the only one in Da Su dynasty. Is that true? Can I go and see it?"

Shu Yu looked at her with a sense of regret and said, "You can't see it now. I arrived at Changjin Prefecture half a month ago, and the sunflowers were just harvested. Even if we replant them now, it will take at least three months for them to grow again."

"Ah?" Meng Han was indeed disappointed. Three months? Could she stay in Dong'an Prefecture for that long?

But now that she missed it, she didn't know when she would have a chance to see it. Based on Xia Yan's description, she really wanted to go and see it.

Meng Han's eyes rolled around, wondering if she could delay for that long.

Shu Yu watched her ride away on the horse again and couldn't help but shake her head and smile.

Their journey was quite slow. Since they weren't in a hurry, they didn't want to force themselves.

Especially during the first few days of their journey, Shu Yu had rushed so much that her fast horse riding was almost injuring herself internally. Now, most of the time, she lazily lay in the carriage, taking their time.

Moreover, it was currently summer, and the weather was hot. It was a real ordeal to travel during the midday heat, so they preferred to wait until it was cooler before continuing on.

Occasionally, Shu Yu would ride horses with Meng Yunzheng for a few laps, and when they found a suitable place, they would stop and have a picnic.

Meng Han had never experienced such a life before, and she maintained great enthusiasm throughout the journey.

However, after living such a decadent life for a long time, it became quite boring. As they approached Dong'an Prefecture, they all wanted to reach home as soon as possible, so they suddenly sped up.

"We've finally arrived." When she saw the city gate of Dong'an Prefecture, Shu Yu stretched lazily and let out a big yawn.

Meng Han poked her head out, "Is this Dong'an Prefecture? Sister Shu Yu, it's still early, can we go straight back to Jiangyuan County?"

"No, let's stay in Dong'an Prefecture for one night. I have some things to take care of," Shu Yu said regretfully.

"What kind of things? I'll accompany you," Meng Han regained her energy.

Before Shu Yu could refuse, Meng Yunzheng directly spoke up, "You don't need to go, stay at the inn."

Meng Han, "......"

Well, when her cousin spoke, Meng Han didn't dare to argue.

She looked at Shu Yu with a pitiful expression, but the latter didn't respond to her gaze.

Meng Han thought her cousin would also accompany Shu Yu, but she didn't expect that after they settled their belongings at the inn, Shu Yu only took Ying Xi and left.

Meng Han felt elated, thinking that her cousin was sharp-tongued but kind-hearted and was afraid she would be frightened in this unfamiliar place all alone.

Who knew that just after they arranged their belongings, Meng Yunzheng told Xia Yan, "Look after her, I'm going to handle some matters."

Meng Han, "......"

So, she was being presumptuous.

Chapter 1433: Meng Han, Who Hasn't Seen the World

Meng Han still didn't know that her runaway trip had not only changed herself but also affected her elder brother's attitude towards Tao Shi and the Tao family.

At this moment, she sat excitedly in the carriage, looking at the scenery outside.

Unlike her elder brother, Meng Han had learned some martial arts, but due to her young age and being a girl, Meng Xiaoshu never took her on his escort missions. On the other hand, Meng Qi had accompanied him on two escort missions while still focusing on his studies, broadening his horizons and gaining experience.

For Meng Han, who had never been far away from home, leaving the Changjin Prefecture felt like a bird leaving its cage, soaring freely under the vast sky.

Throughout the journey, she had many questions and found everything she saw to be very novel.

Shu Yu had nothing to do, so she answered whatever questions Meng Han asked, and Meng Han admired her so much that it was about to overflow.

However, she was now somewhat afraid of Meng Yunzheng. She didn't know if it was because when she ran away from home that day, he ignored her, or because the experience of being attacked by the Bandits was too profound. She could no longer associate his character with his appearance.

She felt that her cousin, on the surface, appeared gentle and kind to everyone, but in reality, he was a devil.

So, most of the time, she stayed with Shu Yu.

However, sometimes she was very mindful of the situation. Every time she saw her cousin getting into the carriage, she immediately got on a horse and rode alongside with Xia Yan. After all, she was quite skilled at riding, and the view from the back of a horse was different.

Shu Yu watched her chattering with Xia Yan, unable to help but smile. She lowered the curtain and asked Meng Yunzheng, "Normally, Meng Han is also the young lady of the escort bureau, why doesn't she have any maidservants with her?"

"It's said that she used to have one," Meng Yunzheng leaned against the soft pillow, his body swaying slightly. "That maidservant got along very well with her, and they had a deep bond. But earlier this year, the Tao family's Tao Feng took a liking to the maidservant and wanted to take her as a concubine."

Meng Han naturally refused, but this matter was not within her control. The contract of sale was in Tao Shi's hands.

Tao Shi wanted to reward her nephew with a maidservant as a concubine, and it was easy to do so. Besides, she felt that the maidservant was not worthy of her nephew.

Meng Han was so angry that she cried, but the maidservant had been with her for so many years, and she had to protect her.

She went to plead with Meng Xiaoshu. In this matter, Meng Xiaoshu actually sided with her. He even thought the whole thing was absurd.

Tao Feng was Tao Qin's younger brother, even younger than Tao Qin. He was only fourteen years old this year.

Meng Xiaoshu felt that seeking a wife so early and taking a concubine was not good for the body and would damage the reputation of the Tao family, so he refused to agree.

Moreover, the maidservant was by Meng Han's side, not an object to be given away. If she were to marry someone, she should at least agree to it herself.

Meng Xiaoshu took a stand and rejected the proposal. Tao Shi made a big fuss, but in the end, the matter was dropped.

However, Meng Han felt that Tao Feng wouldn't give up so easily, so she quickly found a reliable person and married off the maidservant while the matter was still hot.

After the maidservant got married, Meng Han didn't look for another one, as there were servants at home to handle everything.

"That's the real reason Meng Han came to me for advice on how to deal with the Tao family."

Chapter 1432: Meng Qi

Meng Qi heard the words and his facial muscles tightened, lips pressed tightly.

Yes, Meng Han ran away from home, and she did leave a letter behind.

She left early yesterday morning, and the letter was discovered by the Tao Shi at noon.

If they had sent someone to chase her immediately, they could have caught up with her in the capital before the city gates closed last night.

However, upon seeing the letter, Tao Shi not only didn't chase after her, but also got angry, blaming Meng Han for being immature.

Tao Shi thought that her daughter became disobedient after going to the city, and Tao Qin she was hurt and wronged by Shu Yu, who forcibly brought her back.

After returning, Tao Shi wanted to comfort her and, knowing that she liked the jade flute her uncle had obtained a while ago, she wanted to give it to her.

That jade flute was brought back by Meng Xiaoshu a few months ago after escorting a shipment. Meng Han cherished it dearly.

Tao Qin also saw it and was envious. Now that she had the chance to get her hands on it, she was naturally delighted.

Tao Shi asked Meng Han to bear the pain of parting with the flute and understand Tao Qin's feelings, and Meng Han was so furious that she almost exploded. Thinking about the slap and the words Shu Yu said, Meng Han was itching to take action and ended up slapping Tao Qin without hesitation.

Tao Shi erupted on the spot and instinctively raised her hand to slap back, but Meng Han's movements were agile, and she dodged it.

However, the fact that Tao Shi's slap missed completely left Meng Han thoroughly chilled.

She didn't want to stay with Tao Shi any longer, nor did she want to acknowledge her as her mother.

Still, even so, before leaving, Meng Han left a letter, so they wouldn't search for her everywhere.

Little did she know that Tao Shi was still angry and had no intention of looking for her. Tao Shi even thought that Meng Han was just throwing a tantrum, saying she was going to the city to find her elder brother. With her small and inexperienced self, how could she have the courage to venture out? It was entirely impossible.

Tao Shi wasn't worried, so she delayed until the evening.

Meng Han hadn't returned, and Tao Shi finally became anxious. She hurriedly went to find Meng Qi, who was studying at the academy, to discuss countermeasures.

Meng Qi was shocked when he heard the news. His thirteen-year-old sister had never been to a place farther than the city, and that was when she went with her family. Now she ran off alone?

Unlike Tao Shi, Meng Qi cared a lot about his sister.

Without a second thought, he wanted to ride a horse and chase after her, but the city gates were already closed, and he didn't have the means to have them opened for him.

He spent the whole night restless at a small inn near the city gates, hoping that nothing had happened to Meng Han and that she was safely resting in the city with Meng Yunzheng.

When the city gates opened this morning, Meng Qi was the first to rush out and head for the city.

Therefore, Meng Qi looked quite exhausted at this moment, and the bloodshot in his eyes was evident.

Thankfully, Meng Han was alright. He sat on the steps, feeling a bit drained, and rubbed his forehead.

Aunt He was a bit worried about him. "Are you alright?"

Meng Qi looked up, smiled at her, and waved his hand, saying, "I'm fine, just resting for a bit."

"Are you going to chase after Young Master Meng? They left an hour ago."

Meng Qi shook his head. "No, there's no guarantee I'll catch up."

Although he didn't like Meng Yunzheng, the "child from another family," he had to admit that he felt relieved when Meng Han was with him.

This man was a scholar, well-traveled, and had been to many places. With him around, Meng Han might get a chance to broaden her horizons.

However, after this incident, Meng Qi had a very clear understanding of Tao Shi's attitude towards the Tao family.

His mother had gone too far this time.

If this continued, the family would fall apart.

Chapter 1431: A Short Letter with Only One Sentence

Because the couple treated her well, Aunt He also reciprocated by doing her best in everything.

Now that Meng Yunzheng and the others are leaving, Aunt He feels particularly reluctant.

So, this morning, when she came over, she also prepared some local specialties for them to take along.

After Shu Yu handed the red envelope to Aunt He, Meng Yunzheng called her, "Ah Yu, let's go."

It wasn't early anymore, and if they delayed any longer, they wouldn't reach the next town before dark.

Shu Yu waved goodbye to Aunt He and boarded the carriage.

Aunt He stood at the entrance of the small courtyard, watching the landlord lock the courtyard door and leave. She couldn't help but sigh with a hint of loneliness for some reason.

Her son and daughter-in-law called her, "Mother, let's go home."

However, Aunt He shook her head, "You two go ahead, I have something to do here. Leave that small stool here; I'll sit for a while."

Her son and daughter-in-law were puzzled and looked at each other.

"Mother, now that Young Master Meng and the others have left, what else do you have to do here?"

"Ah, don't worry about it. I won't go back today."

Unable to figure out what was going on, the two could only pick up their things and go home first.

Aunt He sat on the small stool at the entrance of the courtyard and chatted with the neighbors to pass the time.

After more than an hour passed, a horse suddenly galloped over with a young man sweating profusely on its back.

As the horse stopped at the entrance of the small courtyard, the young man dismounted quickly and looked at the courtyard in front of him, confirming he hadn't come to the wrong place. He hurriedly knocked on the door.

"Is anyone there? Meng Yunzheng, are you here?"

Aunt He quickly stood up and rushed forward, "Young Master, are you looking for Young Master Meng? Are you from the Meng family?"

The young man was taken aback and turned to look at Aunt He, "I am indeed from the Meng family. And who are you?"

"I am Aunt He, who used to help Young Master Meng with chores."

"I see. You must be Aunt He." The young man sighed in relief, "I am Meng Qi, Meng Yunzheng's cousin, here to find my cousin."

"But Young Master Meng has already left quite a while ago."

"Left? Has everyone left?"

"Yes, the courtyard has been vacated, and even the door is locked."

Meng Qi looked at the big lock on the door and realized he was too hasty before and didn't notice it.

His face changed slightly, and he turned to leave.

Aunt He hurriedly stopped him, "Young Master Meng, wait a moment. Although Young Master Meng has left, he left a letter for Miss Meng Han, and he entrusted me to give it to whoever comes looking for her."

"A letter?"

Aunt He took out an envelope from her sleeve and handed it over.

Meng Qi thanked her and quickly opened the letter.

The letter contained only one line: "Meng Han, follow me to Dong'an Prefecture. After arriving there, I will have Dad write back to report our safety."

A single line of words, concise to the extreme.

Meng Qi gritted his teeth, crumpled the letter into a ball, and clenched it tightly.

Nevertheless, seeing this letter and knowing that his younger sister was safe, Meng Qi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He composed himself and looked up to ask Aunt He, "Before they left, did they say anything else?"

Aunt He thought for a moment, "They didn't say much. Young Master Meng muttered something about expecting someone to come for Miss Meng Han last night. If they had come last night, they could have taken Miss Meng Han back with them."

 Chapter 1430: Leaving the Rented Place

Meng Yunzheng didn't know if there was a black market in Changjin Prefecture, and he was indeed unfamiliar with this place.

Although he had been living here for a few months, he spent most of his time preparing for the exam. Occasionally, he went out for a walk but didn't explore the streets and alleys like Shu Yu, nor did he visit the dentists.

He mostly exchanged knowledge with his fellow exam takers or occasionally visited the local academies and schools.

Therefore, he didn't see as much as Shu Yu did.

As for the situation of buying and selling people, he was even less informed. However, there were transactions involving the buying and selling of people in the black market.

When he thought about people being abducted on the official road, the first thing that came to Meng Yunzheng's mind was the black market.

Talking about the black market, both of them fell silent.

"What's wrong with you two?" Meng Han came out and saw the two of them standing opposite each other, looking up at the sky, with a worried expression.

Shu Yu turned around, "Are you done washing up? Good, let's have dinner."

"Okay."

Meng Han held Shu Yu's hand and skipped towards the kitchen.

They would set off the next day, so Meng Yunzheng and the others stayed up late packing.

They didn't have many belongings, mostly books brought by Meng Yunzheng, and he had also bought some during his time in Changjin Prefecture.

Fortunately, the carriage was spacious, and everything fit inside. The other things that couldn't be taken were directly given to Aunt He.

Aunt He was very excited; the things used by Young Master Meng were all valuable items. Even though they weren't much, they were a huge gain for her.

She felt that she had really gained a lot during the time she helped Young Master Meng.

Meng Yunzheng asked her to arrange the things she wanted and directly move them tomorrow.

Aunt He nodded repeatedly, and the next day, she even asked her son and daughter-in-law to help carry the things.

She tidied up both inside and outside the house. When the landlord came to collect the house, the entire courtyard had a completely new look.

The landlord was satisfied not only with Meng Yunzheng's care for his house but also because he was a talented scholar.

Thus, he refunded all the rent for these few months to him.

Meng Yunzheng didn't refuse. He knew that once he left, there would be no worries about finding tenants for this house. Even if the landlord raised the rent by twice, there would still be plenty of people willing to rent it.

The landlord was very pleased and probably wanted to get closer to Meng Yunzheng. Before he left, he insisted on holding a conversation with him.

Seeing this, Shu Yu simply walked over to Aunt He and handed her a red packet, "This is from Ah Yun to you, he said you've been taking care of us for these few months. We're leaving now, and who knows when we'll meet again. This is a token of good luck."

Aunt He felt embarrassed to accept it, but upon hearing Shu Yu say it was for good luck, she thought about it and accepted it.

"Thank you so much for your kindness. Both you and Young Master Meng are really too polite. It was my good fortune to serve Young Master Meng. He's easy to talk to and generous in his actions. I've worked in other people's houses too, and Young Master Meng is the most kind and easygoing person I've ever met."

Aunt He genuinely liked this unmarried couple; they were very polite in their speech and considerate in their actions. They never treated her like a disposable servant, and when they had meals, they would invite her to join them.

Sometimes, when they went out shopping and bought some snacks, they would also invite her to eat together.

They even knew that she had young grandchildren at home, so they specifically bought some candies for her to take back.

 Chapter 1429: Suspicions in the Heart

Meng Yunzheng rubbed his forehead. "She said she wants to go with us to Dong'an Prefecture."

Pausing for a moment, he glanced in the direction of the room and lowered his voice. "Leaving is not a bad idea; the situation between the Tao and Meng families has become chaotic lately. She's not having an easy time at home."

Shu Yu narrowed her eyes. "What did you do?"

"Nothing much, just yesterday, after returning to Chenggu County, the county magistrate invited me to have a meal and we had a chat," he replied casually.

The county magistrate rewarded all the scholars who passed the exam this time, let alone Meng Yunzheng, who had excelled in the exams. As an official appointed by the court, the county magistrate knew a bit about Meng Yunzheng's background.

Meng Yunzheng was someone of great potential and hence received special treatment from the county magistrate, who invited him for the meal.

During the conversation, Meng Yunzheng inadvertently mentioned his recent worries, and the Tao family came up in the discussion.

He didn't intend to do anything to the Tao family, he just didn't want them to exploit his name for their own interests. Given Tao Qin's and Tao Shi's current behavior, this was bound to happen.

If they were merely bragging about their connection with him, that would be tolerable. But if they used his name as a future son-in-law while he was away from the county, things would get messy.

To prevent any potential issues, he decided to make it clear to the county magistrate and his subordinates about his relationship with the Tao family and that he had no involvement in their actions.

Shu Yu looked at him and silently gave him a thumbs-up.

"But, if the Tao family encounters trouble, won't Uncle [Meng Xiaoshu] help them?" she asked.

Meng Yunzheng calmly replied, "Unfortunately, Uncle received an important urgent escort mission this morning and has already left Chenggu County."

Shu Yu sighed, "I knew it."

Meng Yunzheng smiled, "Now, only Tao Shi is left at the Meng family, and Meng Qi is studying. As for Meng Han, she has run away, and Uncle is out on an escort mission. If anything happens, Tao Shi will have to deal with it herself."

If Tao Shi couldn't handle it, the Tao family would definitely blame her.

Although Meng Yunzheng claimed not to meddle in the Meng family's affairs, when necessary, he didn't mind creating some discord among them.

Shu Yu raised her head and smiled at him.

Then, she mentioned what she saw at the black market and Meng Yunzheng frowned. "From what you're saying, it does seem abnormal. Besides, on the way here, Meng Han encountered bandits on the main road, and they dared to kidnap people openly. With the scale of Changjin Prefecture, such incidents shouldn't occur."

Human trafficking, legal or illegal, was quite common, but performing such activities openly on a main road with constant traffic indicated lawlessness.

Meng Yunzheng pondered for a moment and said, "I'll send a message to Qi Lie and tell him about the situation here. If they can spare some manpower, they might send someone to investigate."

"Do you suspect something?" Shu Yu asked.

"Yes," Meng Yunzheng nodded. "I am concerned about the black market activities."

 Chapter 1428: Running Away from Home

Shu Yu came back to her senses and smiled, shaking her head. "No, Aunt He's cooking is delicious."

She then thought that Aunt He was a local, so she couldn't help but ask, "Auntie, I noticed many people selling themselves at the slaves market. Has something happened in Changjin Prefecture?"

Aunt He was taken aback and shook her head. "Not that I know of. Besides the county exam, there hasn't been any significant event recently. Miss, don't be surprised. At places like the slaves market, many people often sell themselves for a bite to eat."

Shu Yu was aware of this, but there seemed to be too many people doing so this time.

Her family was in Dong'an Prefecture, and she had visited capital, Huajiang Prefecture, and Shangyang Prefecture. Apart from briefly passing through and staying for a night in Shangyang Prefecture and Linzhang Prefecture, she had spent a few days or a considerable amount of time in the other three places.

Unfortunately, she had visited the slaves market in those three places, but they weren't as extreme as in Changjin Prefecture.

There didn't seem to be anything particularly special about Changjin Prefecture.

Shu Yu couldn't figure it out, but since it didn't concern her too much, apart from feeling strange, she temporarily stopped thinking about opening a shop here and didn't pay much attention to it.

However, the next morning, she went out again and couldn't help but visit the slaves market once more.

Compared to the previous day, there were slightly fewer people coming and going at the slaves market, but still more than she had imagined.

Shu Yu returned home again, still perplexed.

In the evening, Meng Yunzheng returned, but to Shu Yu's surprise, he was accompanied by Meng Han.

Meng Han seemed very happy. She rushed to Shu Yu as soon as she got off the carriage and said cheerfully, "Sister Shu Yu, I want to go to Dong'an Prefecture with you."

Shu Yu blinked, looking puzzled as she turned to Meng Yunzheng.

The latter seemed a bit unhappy and said, "We bumped into each other on the way."

Meng Han held Shu Yu's hand pitifully and said, "Sister Shu Yu, please don't chase me away. I'm now homeless. You don't know, this morning, Tao Qin provoked me again, and I couldn't help but hit her. Then I ran away."

It was the first time she had laid hands on Tao Qin, and she was both excited and worried. She was afraid that her mother and uncle would scold her, so she ran away in a fit of anger.

But she didn't know many people, and most of her relatives were in Chenggu County. The only person she could rely on was her elder cousin.

So she waited for her cousin at the city gate with her luggage. However, despite his outward appearance of being refined, courteous, and well-mannered, he was actually quite ruthless. He pretended not to see her and walked away directly.

Meng Han almost burst into tears. Since her cousin refused to take her in, she couldn't go back either. She had no choice but to follow him to the Changjin Prefecture.

She left the city gate and headed toward the city. It didn't matter; if her cousin wouldn't take her, she would find Sister Shu Yu instead.

However, because Meng Han was young and had never gone out alone before, she was easily targeted by someone.

On the way, someone attempted to kidnap her, but she managed to fight them off. Unfortunately, there were too many people trying to snatch her, and she was about to be taken away when Meng Yunzheng showed up and saved her, bringing her along.

Shu Yu examined Meng Han, understanding why she looked so disheveled when she got off the carriage, as if she had rolled on the ground.

She quickly asked Aunt He to prepare some water and let Meng Han take a bath first.

After Meng Han entered the room, Shu Yu turned to ask Meng Yunzheng, "What happened?"

 Chapter 1427: Strange Phenomenon

After Meng Yunzheng bought everything, he planned to return to Chenggu County the next day to pay respects to Song Xin's grave.

Shu Yu didn't go with him; it wasn't appropriate for her to go to Meng's family ancestral grave before their marriage. Moreover, after the unpleasant incident with the Tao family, she didn't want to have any more contact with them.

So they decided that Shu Yu would wait for him at home while he went.

However, she still felt a bit worried, so before Meng Yunzheng left, she carefully reminded him, "Please take care of yourself."

Meng Yunzheng smiled, "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself. You stay at home, and I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

Although he didn't plan to stay long at Meng's family, being a successful examinee, he still needed to visit the other candidates from the same year. Also, he had to express his gratitude to the scholar who vouched for him. So he might not be able to come back today.

Shu Yu watched Meng Yunzheng and Xia Yan leave. Once they were completely out of sight, she called Ying Xi and went out to stroll around.

She realized that she hadn't properly explored Changjin Prefecture during the few days she had been here.

On the first day, she arrived in the evening, the next day she went to Zhongo Village to find her master, and when she returned, she encountered Meng Xiaoshu's family. Yesterday, she accompanied Meng Yunzheng to buy things, but they had a purpose and a route.

So she still didn't know much about Changjin Prefecture compared to Dong'an Manor.

Shu Yu instructed Aunt He, "We might eat outside for lunch, so you don't need to prepare our meals."

"Okay, Miss. Take your time shopping. Changjin Prefecture is quite lively."

Shu Yu strolled around with Ying Xi, visiting all the nearby alleys and finally reaching the main street.

Changjin Prefecture was indeed much more bustling than Dong'an Prefecture. She began to consider opening a shop here.

Meng Yunzheng had told her before that the instant noodles she prepared for him had caught the attention of many people during the exam. Several examinees had inquired about them.

Meng Yunzheng had introduced them, but everyone was busy with the exam, and since they hadn't seen this type of food in Changjin Manor yet, they were afraid of not being used to it, so they temporarily didn't pay much attention.

But now that he had passed all the three levels, every move he made might become a focus of attention. Especially during the exam, what he ate and wore might be scrutinized.

Instant noodles were perfect for exam time. They could be eaten dry or cooked, and she believed they might become popular here in a few days.

Shu Yu thought that opening a noodle shop here might have a market.

However, she wasn't familiar with Changjin Prefecture, and she would need to do some market research if she wanted to do business here.

But she didn't have much time to stay here this time, and she might have to leave in a couple of days.

Forget it, she'll check the situation in the next two days.

Shu Yu began to observe the nearby shops and stalls with a purpose. She also went to inns and restaurants to listen to gossip, and even went to the vegetable market.

Then she accidentally noticed a very strange phenomenon—Changjin Prefecture... didn't seem as prosperous as it appeared on the surface.

There was a significant wealth disparity here. The rich were very wealthy, casually throwing silver notes around, which she found extravagant and wasteful.

On the other hand, the poor were struggling to make a living. Some were even selling themselves at the slaves market to become servants or maids.

Shu Yu frowned, lost in thought, as she returned to the small courtyard.

Aunt He noticed that she was absent-minded during dinner and couldn't help asking, "Miss, is the food not to your taste?"

Chapter 1426: Taking Them Home

Meng Xiaoshu's words were quite severe, and Tao Shi and Tao Qin were both stunned, looking up at him in disbelief.

Meng Xiaoshu took a deep breath and said to Meng Han, "Go pack your things; we're going home now."

"Yes, yes, Father." Meng Han nodded repeatedly, swallowing nervously, and hurried to pack.

Meng Xiaoshu turned around, full of apologies, and said to Meng Yunzheng, "Ah Yun, I'm sorry. Originally, I thought that since you passed the prefectural exam, our whole family would come to celebrate with you and have a good time. I didn't expect it to bring you trouble. I'll go back first, rest assured, I won't let anyone ruin your wedding."

For Meng Xiaoshu, although the Tao family was related to him, his nephew, his eldest brother, Meng Pei, meant more to him. They relied on each other when they were brothers, and everything he has today was given by his elder brother. As for Tao Qin, she naturally couldn't compare to his dear nephew, Meng Yunzheng.

Moreover, Tao Qin's actions today made Meng Xiaoshu even more disgusted.

If such a person were to marry Meng Yunzheng, wouldn't she drag him down in the future?

It seemed that he needed to have a good talk with his nephew after going back.

Meng Xiaoshu exhaled, then turned to Shu Yu and said, "You and Ah Yun take care of each other. What my niece-in-law did was improper, and I'm absolutely on your side. I hope you and Ah Yun will have a happy and fruitful life together. Ah Yun chose you, and I know he has good taste. You're a good girl."

Shu Yu smiled and said, "Thank you, Uncle."

As they spoke, Meng Han had already packed everything, and she came over, "Father, are we leaving now?"

"Yes." Meng Xiaoshu walked to Tao Shi and pulled her up with a face full of determination.

Tao Shi struggled, "What are you doing? I'm not leaving. Ah Qin is still sick..."

"If you're not leaving, then don't come back in the future." Meng Xiaoshu's face remained stern, with a touch of fierceness in his eyes.

Having traveled far and wide for many years, he naturally carried a bit of a bandit-like aura.

Seeing him like this, Tao Shi inexplicably felt afraid and stopped struggling, letting Meng Xiaoshu pull her out of the yard.

Xia Yan had already cleverly brought the carriage to the door. Meng Xiaoshu asked the two to get on the carriage, and Meng Han sat at the back. She waved excitedly at Shu Yu before hurrying to get in as well.

Once everyone was seated, Meng Xiaoshu shook the reins and left without any extra words.

In an instant, the noisy Meng family from earlier became quiet.

Shu Yu turned her head and looked at Meng Yunzheng, "They just... left like this?"

"Do you want them to stay for dinner?" Meng Yunzheng said with a smile.

"That's not it, it's just that it feels quite sudden. So, what should we do now?"

"Let's go shopping in the street."

"Okay."

Meng Yunzheng took the list that Meng Xiaoshu had given him and took Shu Yu's hand as they went shopping.

Ying Xi stayed at home to guard the door. When Aunt He brought a big basket of vegetables over, she saw only Ying Xi at home.

Aunt He was stunned and waited until she heard that Meng Xiaoshu's family had already left earlier. Then she looked down at the vegetables in the basket—did she buy too much?

Yesterday's vegetables haven't been cooked yet, and today, there was another big basket; in this hot weather, they might spoil.

Aunt He was quite worried.

Chapter 1425: Furious Meng Xiaoshu

Tao Qin took a sharp breath; of course, she didn't dare.

In this day and age, most people approached oaths with a devout and cautious mindset. Besides, what Shu Yu said was too cruel, mentioning being struck by lightning, intestines ruptured, and all that; even thinking about it made Tao Qin shudder.

But everyone was looking at her, and Shu Yu still had a gentle smile on her face.

Suddenly, Tao Qin couldn't catch her breath, her eyes rolled back, and she fell backward, fainting.

Tao Shi was greatly alarmed, "Ah Qin, Ah Qin, what's wrong with you?" She called out twice, then turned her head and glared angrily at Shu Yu, "It's all because of you. Ah Qin is already sick, and you still physically attacked her. Let me tell you, if anything happens to Ah Qin, I won't spare you."

Shu Yu chuckled, "Fainted? It's okay, I happened to have learned a little about medical skills, and I have experience with fainting spells. Don't worry, I'll wake her up now."

Saying that, she stepped forward and stomped on Tao Qin's fingers placed on the ground.

Tao Qin visibly trembled, and Shu Yu's smile grew even wider.

She squatted down and was about to pinch Tao Qin's pressure point.

"What are you doing? Stop it." Tao Shi wanted to stop her, but Shu Yu grabbed her wrist and exerted some force, causing Tao Shi to cry out in pain.

Shu Yu let go of her hand and accurately pressed Tao Qin's pressure point.

Tao Qin was not a person with much perseverance, and her hand had been painful after Shu Yu stomped on it; now, under Shu Yu's forceful pressure, how could she endure it?

She woke up with a cry.

Shu Yu clapped her hands, "See, it's all fine now."

"You, you..." Tao Shi looked at her with hatred.

"Alright, Miss Tao, you can continue with your oath now," Shu Yu said calmly.

Tao Qin didn't dare to make the oath; she immediately pounced into Tao Shi's arms and started sobbing.

In the room, Meng Xiaoshu's temples throbbed, and he was furious. He loved and trusted his wife and niece, so if they had some selfish motives and didn't like Shu Yu, he didn't think it was a big deal. After all, they wouldn't be living together in the future, so there was no need to force harmony between them.

But that didn't mean he was a fool. Meng Xiaoshu had traveled far and wide and had seen through many tricks like Tao Qin's.

Seeing Tao Shi looking at him again, wanting him to make a decision, Meng Xiaoshu suddenly roared, "Enough!"

"Uncle..."

Meng Xiaoshu's face was stern, "Do you two have any sense of shame? Trying to sabotage Ah Yun's marriage and thinking it's justified? In the past, you didn't like him, but now that you see he's successful, you want to pounce on him. Where can you find such a good deal in the world!! Both of you, get up and come back with me to Chenggu County now."

Tao Shi widened her eyes in disbelief, "husband, what are you saying? Ah Qin is still sick..."

"What illness? I see she has enough energy to cause trouble, not at all like someone who's sick. I've been saying, the county town has a medical clinic with skilled doctors. She keeps running to the capital city to see what illness can't be cured. It's clear that she's come up with the idea of destroying someone else's marriage."

He got angrier and angrier as he spoke, "You two insist on meddling in Ah Yun's life. You're happy when you turn our family upside down, aren't you? Such young girl, why don't you do something better instead of willingly becoming vixen? You've truly disgraced the Meng and Tao families."

Shu Yu thought, 'Vixen' is too much of a compliment for Tao Qin. With her appearance, she's more like a toad.

 Chapter 1424: Do You Dare?!

Meng Han swallowed hard, her eyes gradually shining.

"U-understood."

She never thought there could be such a solution.

Looking at Tao Qin, who had always been able to gain her mother's unconditional support just by flattering her, now with a red and swollen face, sitting on the ground and trembling, Meng Han felt an indescribable pleasure.

At the next moment, Tao Shi screamed, pushing Ying Xi away, and hugged Tao Qin, crying in sorrow.

"My poor Ah Qin, no one has ever dared to hit you from childhood until now. How dare she, how dare she use such a heavy hand on you."

Shu Yu felt embarrassed listening to her words, as if Tao Qin were her daughter.

Tao Shi suddenly looked up, with red eyes, and looked at Meng Xiaoshu, "husband, are you just going to stand there and watch? She hit Ah Qin, you saw it with your own eyes."

Meng Xiaoshu opened his mouth, genuinely confused by the situation in front of him.

Meng Yunzheng explained, "Don't be troubled, Uncle. Shu Yu just feels that she can't let Miss Tao's false accusations go unchallenged. Since she said that Shu Yu hit her, it's only right to implement her claim and give each other an explanation."

Meng Xiaoshu, "... What? Explanation?"

He looked at Meng Yunzheng with a complex expression, but the latter was serious, as if he didn't think there was anything wrong with what he had just said.

Shu Yu also turned around and sincerely said to Meng Xiaoshu, "Yes, Uncle, don't feel troubled. This is a conflict between the two of us. Miss Tao knows that Ah Yun is my fiancé, but she still wants to covet him. She should bear the consequences. It's just a slap, and I think it's too light. After all, for shameless women like her, they deserve to be dunked in a pig cage."

Meng Xiaoshu was trembling with anger. "C-Covet Ah Yun???"

Shu Yu nodded, "She just said it herself. She wants me to step down and give up my position for her. She says I'm just a county girl, even if I'm made a village lord, I have no power or status, and I'm not qualified to be Ah Yun's wife, especially considering his boundless future. But she's different. Her aunt is Ah Yun's aunt, and her uncle is Ah Yun's Uncle, so they have an unbreakable relationship. Her aunt and uncle will definitely support her and persuade me to be sensible, not making a scene that will make both of us look bad."

She raised her head, "Just now, I saw it clearly. Little aunt did help her. So... Uncle, what about you? Do you also think I'm not worthy of Ah Yun and want me to break off the engagement, giving up the position to your niece?"

Meng Xiaoshu was so angry that he trembled all over, "Nonsense, how could I help her? You and Yunzheng are officially engaged through proper matchmaking and formal exchanges of betrothal gifts. No one is allowed to disrupt it. You are the daughter-in-law recognized by my big brother and Ah Yun. No one can compare to you."

Shu Yu looked relaxed, "If that's the case, I can rest assured."

But Tao Shi and Tao Qin were almost fuming with smoke coming out of their heads. They never expected that the twisted truth that they planned to tell would be preempted by Lu Shu Yu.

Tao Qin endured the pain and shouted, "Uncle, don't listen to her lies. I never said those things at all."

Shu Yu smiled, "Oh? Is that so? Then, do you dare to say that you never coveted Ah Yun? Do you dare to swear an oath, saying that if you have any improper thoughts, you'll be struck by lightning, your appearance ruined, intestines ruptured, and never die a good death? Do you... dare?!"