Contentment with modest wealth

Mr. Chong, Chapter 186

When He Qu pushed open the garden gate, Shen Qingzhou was sitting on the lakeside behind Bibo Pavilion, fishing.

After several cold winds, most of the trees in the garden had withered and fallen. A few clusters of golden chrysanthemums bloomed among the withered grass on the lake shore. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau predicted that there would be heavy snow in the next few days, and once the snow came, these few clusters of flowers would also be gone.

He Qu walked over, stepping on the rustling yellow leaves, and bent down: "Young master, the wind is strong by the lake. Be careful not to catch a cold, or it will aggravate your old illness."

Strangely enough, ever since he fell into the water and suffered a serious illness at the beginning of the year, and after changing the doctor who had been treating him for many years and the pharmacy that supplied him with medicine one after another, his young master's health has gradually improved. Especially since he met Miss Lu, not only have the number of times he has fallen ill decreased, but he also looks much stronger than before.

Shen Qingzhou gazed at the lake: "How long has it been since Mr. Chong last wrote?"

He Qu paused for a moment: "It's been almost a month."

Shen Qingzhou pursed her lips and stared at the lake without saying a word.

Eleven years ago, in the winter, my hardworking mother fell seriously ill. She took the prescriptions from the imperial physician for two months without getting better. Later, she switched to a traveling doctor, and after taking a few prescriptions, she was able to get out of bed again.

Shen Qingzhou still remembers how, after happily helping his mother bask in the sun in the yard for half a day, he immediately gave orders to prepare for the Winter Solstice, to make it a lively and joyous occasion, and to bring good luck to his mother.

On that same day, the traveling physician made the diagnosis of "vital energy returning to the fields and withered trees blossoming in spring," and thus moved out of the Shen residence.

But on the eve of the winter solstice, news of the unfavorable situation in the northwest war arrived. My mother was worried about my father's safety and didn't sleep for two days and nights, constantly sending people to the Ministry of War to inquire about the news. Finally, the good news came, but she breathed a sigh of relief and her health collapsed.

Shen Qingzhou stayed by her side until midnight, but ended up spitting out a mouthful of blood, which splattered half of his robe red.

He was terrified. He immediately sent someone to fetch a doctor.

But when his men rushed to the itinerant doctor's residence, the doctor had already been summoned away.

Shen Qingzhou cried and shouted for people to intercept the person, but the people who went returned and reported: They couldn't intercept them; it was the Yan family who took the doctor away.

Eight-year-old Shen Qingzhou braved the heavy snow and ran to the Yan family's house by herself. Halfway there, the cold air entered her body, and she coughed so hard that she couldn't catch her breath.

When they arrived at the Yan family's house, Yan Shu stayed for half the night before hurriedly coming out, saying that he was really sorry, his elderly mother had suffered a heart attack and he was being treated.

There are several imperial physicians in the palace who are skilled at treating impatient patients. When has the Yan family ever considered hiring an outside doctor? Let alone an unknown itinerant physician like this?

Shen Qingzhou knelt down before him, but Yan Shu refused to release him.

My mother had already passed away by daybreak.

Shen Qingzhou rushed as fast as he could, but only managed to get back in time to catch a handful of her tears.

After Shen Bo was ordered to go to the Northwest in a time of crisis, the entire Shen family was left to Madam Shen.

Domestic matters are easy to resolve; what's difficult to deal with are matters outside the home.

Before Shen Bo set out on the expedition, Yan Song strongly opposed the war and, together with a group of cronies, tried to dissuade the emperor by claiming that the national treasury was empty.

Shen Bo, however, insisted on resisting the enemy and eventually reached a consensus with the emperor, who was a man of unyielding integrity, and was appointed as the commander-in-chief.

After that, the tide of the war in the Northwest turned, and the emperor praised the Shen family in court and rewarded Madam Shen and her son from time to time.

Following the emperor's wishes, the concubines in the harem often invited Madam Shen and her son to the palace for conversation.

The favor shown to the Shen family is undoubtedly a slap in the face to the Yan family.

Military matters are of paramount importance, and the mistakes made by the Yan family in military decision-making cannot be easily covered up.

Shen Bo quickly demonstrated his talent, which boosted the emperor's confidence in resisting the enemy. The Yan family could no longer turn the tide on this path, and they even had to occasionally receive the emperor's dissatisfaction.

The Yan family was deeply entrenched in the court, and the emperor's favor brought Madam Shen far too much trouble. Madam Shen had to show gratitude to the emperor while trying her best to remain outspoken and appease the Yan faction's resentment.

Her health was almost inevitably damaged.

But the Yan family were indeed the culprits who directly killed her!
If they hadn't taken the doctor away beforehand, there was no certainty that Madam Shen would have been saved. How could Shen Qingzhou not hate them?
Even if he tried his best, he was only eight years old at the time, and there was very little he could do!

He desperately needed someone to guide him and help him. But his father, the only one who could provide that, was far away in the Northwest!

He could only grit his teeth, pretending to be a cool and aloof gentleman in public, while secretly fighting with a knife to protect himself.

Just when the Yan family thought that Madam Shen was dead and that their young son would not live much longer, he survived!
A month after his mother's death, he received a mysterious letter signed "Mr. Chong".

The letter was given to him by a concubine in the palace.

The Dowager and my mother were very close friends during their lifetime.

The Dowager said that this was a very insightful hermit she knew, who could be her teacher and guide her on the path she should take next.

He was initially skeptical, but as time went on, he eventually came to believe it.

Because this Mr. Chong not only taught him how to deal with people, but also taught him many other things.

Shen Qingzhou told Lu Jia before parting that he would have three days to deal with family matters, but in reality, he only had one night to do so.

After leaving Shen Bo's study that night, he sat in Bibo Pavilion all night. The next morning, he got up and went to the yamen to work as usual.

In addition, he hadn't gone anywhere in the past two days. At this moment, he desperately wanted to contact Mr. Chong, but his letters had become increasingly scarce over the past few months, which made him worry that it wasn't good news.

The fishing rod twitched, and he lifted it up. A golden carp leaped out of the water.

Ripples appeared on the lake's surface.

The wind did indeed pick up.

He Qu hurriedly helped collect the fish, saying, "Young master, Miss Lu just wrote a letter. She says she has something important to discuss with you and will be waiting for you in Yanzi Alley this afternoon."

Shen Qingzhou paused in reeling in the fish, frowning as she glanced at him: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

He Qu was taken aback for a moment: "I think it's still early..."

In addition, he hasn't said more than ten words in the past few days, and he's so engrossed in fishing that he doesn't dare to disturb him easily!

Shen Qingzhou glanced at him, put down her fishing rod, and left.

He wanted to receive Mr. Chong's letter, but that wouldn't stop him from seeing Lu Jia.

As he walked out of the garden gate, he instructed Tang Yu, "Go and fetch the cloak."

Tang Yu left, and Shen Qingzhou continued on her way alone.

As we walked out of the garden, two more people approached from a distance along the path in front of us.

Shen Qingzhou stopped, then turned her toes to the left and went around to the other side.

Shen Zhui watched him leave from afar, then looked dejectedly at Shen Bo: "Father, is my elder brother still angry with me?"

Shen Bo looked away: "Are you scared?"

Shen Zhui muttered, "He's so fierce and powerful, who wouldn't be afraid?"

Honestly, I almost got kicked out.

He didn't chase them away, and when he thought about his tantrum that day, he felt quite ashamed.

Shen Bo said gently, "If you're scared, then listen to him more. Don't make him angry."

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