Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 173 Is it really her?!
As Lu Jia spoke, her heart was already in turmoil. Qin Zhou, no, what this Young Master Shen had done was all too much. She had been suspicious of him for some time and concluded that he was no ordinary person. But she never expected that he would be this extraordinary!

"No!" She suddenly stood up, slamming her hand on the table. "No matter how much I say, these are all just my guesses. I have to confirm whether it's true or not!"

"—Silver Willow, come with me to Swallow Alley. Let's think of a way to lure Young Master Shen out!"

Yinliu was stunned: "The Grand Commandant's mansion is a deep, secluded compound. How do we lure them out?"

"Are you dumbfounded?" Lu Jia said. "The guards in Yanzi Hutong were also hired by him. If I'm not mistaken, those people, like He Qu, are his men."

"In the past, whenever I had any trouble, Qin Zhou would always appear. It must be because someone was secretly sending me a message."

"Go and keep watch outside the Grand Commandant's mansion. If he really is Young Master Shen, then all I have to do is make a commotion in front of a few guards, and he should show up, right?"

Yinliu's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "You've got a brilliant idea, young lady!"

Qinghe, however, was a little worried: "If it is confirmed to be true, what will you do then, Miss?"

Lu Jia said decisively, "Let's confirm first!"

After saying that, she and Yinliu went out.

Qinghe followed her out the door, but she couldn't stop her at all.

Fuxiao and Zhimu, following behind, could not hide their worry: "What should we do? Judging from how anxious the girl is to get confirmation, we can't get past this hurdle."

"No matter what, Young Master Qin deceived you, Miss. You were completely sincere towards him, but he hid his identity and stayed by your side. Won't you blame him?"

Even though Qinghe had seen many storms, she couldn't remain calm at this moment. She wrung her hands and said, "Go ahead and find Changfu. Have him pass on a message to the Xie family. Briefly tell Madam what happened and ask her to keep an eye on things. We've only just gained a foothold in the Lu family, and there are still wolves and tigers watching us from behind. We can't afford to cause any trouble!"

"it is good!"

Fuxiao immediately went out.

Qinghe frowned and sighed at them, then turned to Zhimu and instructed, "Miss has just returned to the manor, so there are probably not many things she knows."

"Go down to the mortal realm and find out what kind of dealings our master has with the Grand Commandant's mansion on a regular basis."

She had witnessed these powerful forces at the Prince Ji's residence. Since the other party was the Shen family, which held a first-class position in the court, it was no longer just a matter between two young people.

Lu Jia confirmed that Qin Zhou's identity was correct, and as her confidante, she couldn't just do nothing at this moment.

……

It was already completely dark.

Shen Zhui stood in Yanzi Hutong, leading his horse, grinning as he stared at the small house not far ahead.

He discovered that his luck had been absolutely terrible ever since he arrived in the capital. He was constantly running into obstacles, getting beaten up wherever he went. Back at the border, he was a skilled young general! Why did everything go wrong as soon as he entered the capital?
Ugh, it's all because that weirdo Shen Qingzhou doesn't like me.

We've lived under the same roof for almost a year, and I've never received a kind word from him.

Of course, Shen Zhui wasn't completely ignorant. He knew about Shen Qingzhou's mother—Ang, whom he should call "mother" now, in short, Madam Shen. Those years in the capital had been particularly difficult for her.

Shen Qingzhou had it tough too; despite being sick and disabled, he managed to keep the huge Grand Commandant's mansion afloat.

Although he was annoying in every way, Shen Zhui had to admit that he did have some skills.

Shen Zhui hadn't done anything for the Shen family, yet upon his return, the Grand Commandant's mansion was perfectly organized, heavily guarded, and as impenetrable as an iron barrel. He was back immediately as the second young master; ultimately, he was the one who benefited. Shen Zhui also understood that his existence was somewhat unfair to Shen Qingzhou.

He also wanted to ask his own mother, why did she have to marry a man who already had a wife?

But he has never seen his mother since he can remember. Where is he supposed to ask her?
Besides, this wasn't something he could choose. He became the son of the Shen family without even realizing it. He has a home and a father, so where else can he go if he doesn't go home?

He doesn't compete with him for the position of eldest son!
He's just curious!

He wanted to know how someone with such thin arms and legs could swing that halberd.
I wonder how someone who spends 300 out of 360 days a year on medication can still write poetry and prose?

Upon seeing He Qulai in Yanzi Hutong, he guessed that it must be related to Shen Qingzhou. However, just as he had discovered some clues, Mr. Zhang assigned him a mountain of homework, which is why he only found an opportunity today.

As if he was unlucky, he just happened to meet him at this very moment... and the eldest daughter of the Lu family!

—That's right, he now knows the girl's identity.

After being so angry with the pageboy, he stormed out of the mansion.

Although the pageboys and the others served him impeccably and took care of everything perfectly, they all listened to Shen Qingzhou! They didn't listen to him, the second young master, at all!

He came out without bringing anyone with him.

Then he found several of his father's former subordinates who had followed him on the battlefield.

Some of them now serve in the military, while others remain by their fathers' side.

He pleaded and begged them to find out who the girl was and how they met.
In the end, they didn't find out the answers to these questions, but they did learn that Guo Yi, who had gone to Tanzhou as an imperial envoy, had returned. After his return, Shen Qingzhou immediately went to see him.

Shen Zhui admitted that he wasn't as smart as Shen Qingzhou, but he wasn't stupid either. He immediately remembered that Shen Qingzhou had disappeared for several months in the first half of the year.

Where did he go during those months?
He only came back once in total, so he definitely wasn't near the capital.

So did he go to Tanzhou?
What is the connection between Tanzhou and this family in Yanzi Hutong?
Before dark, he arrived here alone again. He spent some money and asked around among the people in the neighborhood. He immediately learned that the family's surname was Xie and that they came from Tanzhou Prefecture!

And their adopted daughter has really made something of herself; she's none other than the eldest daughter of Lu Jie, the Minister of Rites, who was brought back to the mansion with great fanfare just a few days ago!

So, who was the girl Shen Qingzhou was with this afternoon? Wouldn't that answer the question?

It turns out that Shen Qingzhou, this reclusive oddball, actually had his eye on the eldest daughter of the Lu family.
Lu Jie is a treacherous official who is aligned with Yan's faction. Shen Qingzhou is actually dating his daughter. If he reports this to his father, he'll be in big trouble!
However, more important than seeing him suffer is why the eldest son of the prestigious Shen family is dressed like a lackey with Miss Lu.
too weird.

So much so that he seriously doubted whether the young lady he saw in the afternoon was really the adopted daughter of the Xie family and the eldest daughter of the Lu family.

"Please go in first, young lady. I will do as you instruct..."

As Shen Zhui stood on the street lost in thought, a carriage arrived ahead. One of the men got off first and then helped a young lady down to the ground.

He quickly hid behind a tree.

The moonlight bathed the capital city, illuminating the young lady's face perfectly.

Shen Zhui, who was behind the tree, immediately straightened up. The stunningly beautiful girl in front of him—who else could she be but the young lady who had been with Shen Qingzhou that afternoon?!

It really was her!