Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 316 He had to rely on his own abilities

Lu Jia said, "It's a journey of over 300 li, and it would take a lot of time to go back and forth. In addition, with the investigation, it would take at least ten days to come down. Now that you hold an official position, your sudden disappearance for many days will definitely arouse suspicion."

This place is not a peaceful place. Although Lu Jia believed in Shen Qingzhou's abilities, he was worried that Shen Qingzhou's vitality was still lacking and he couldn't withstand this ordeal.

Furthermore, things are different now than when he went to Tanzhou. Back then, no one took Shen Qingzhou, who was "recuperating," seriously. More than a year has passed, and he has not only become "Lord Shen" in the eyes of the world, but has also become one of the thorns in the side of the Yan family once again. Right now, the Yan family must be trying every means to find something to hold against the Shen family. A court official leaving the capital without permission is a ready-made crime.

"Woof! Woof!!"

Shen Qingzhou was also pondering her words when suddenly several large dogs under the courtyard gate began to bark wildly.

Before Song En could stop them, Shen Zhui poked half his head out from behind the wall hidden by the bamboo grove. He winked and handed over a paper package, greeting the dogs in a low voice, "Don't bark, I've brought you some food!" As he finished speaking, the paper package fell off, and several chicken legs tumbled out.

Shen Qingzhou withdrew his gaze: "Let him go."

Lu Jia and Song En were both stunned.

Shen Qingzhou glanced at them: "Ready-made idlers, aren't they?"

Lu Jia gasped as she watched him calmly return to his room, then looked at Song En, who also wore a shocked expression.

……

As Song En entered Huzhitang, the servants at the door immediately bowed and greeted him as "Mr. Song".

"Where is the second young master?"

"He's reading inside!"

The servant stretched out his long arm and then trotted over to lift the curtain for him.

Upon hearing the word "reading," Song En raised an eyebrow and went inside.

As soon as you enter, there is a loud crash. Books are scattered all over the floor in front of the bookshelf. Shen Zhui is bent over, busy picking up the books. It's unclear whether he's trying to pick them up or to say hello.

"Second Young Master... is he so diligent?"

Song En went over and helped him pick up the book.

Upon looking at the two poetry books in his hand, his gaze fell on Shen Zhui's face with surprise.

"So the Second Young Master was looking at our Young Master's poems?"

Shen Zhui blushed and quickly snatched the two poetry books away: "Who learned from him? These were, Mr. Zhang forced them on me!"

Song En looked at the book cover with amusement: "But this is the original, and the serial numbers on it were all handwritten by me. I don't remember giving it to Mr. Zhang. However, after the Grand Commandant returned to his residence, he called me over to ask about the eldest son's studies over the years, so I gave these two books to the Grand Commandant."

Now Shen Zhui not only blushed, but also didn't know what to do with his hands and feet: "How would I know how I got here? I was just looking around!"

Song En smiled and put his hands behind his back: "You're so unconvinced by the eldest young master, it seems that if the eldest young master asked me to pass on a message, the second young master definitely wouldn't want to hear it?"

Shen Zhui turned his back to me: "What did he say? Does he have something to say to me?"

"Anyway, the second young master doesn't want to hear it, so just consider this trip a waste of time."

"Wait a minute!"

Shen Zhui stepped forward and blocked his way, then bit his lower lip and glanced at him: "Whether I listen or not is one thing, but if you come here on orders and don't speak, wouldn't that be considered incompetence?"

Song En brought his hands, which had been behind his back, to the front: "Second Young Master grew up in the Northwest with the Grand Commandant. It's been eight years since then, so he was eight years old. There was a major incident involving the military pay in the Northwest back then. Second Young Master should remember it, right?"

Shen Zhui was stunned: "I know, the man who escorted the grain died in prison, and his family even submitted a memorial to accuse my father."

“This is it.” Song En nodded. “This man is the grandfather of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yan family, who tried to scheme against your sister-in-law a few days ago.” “It’s him?!”

Shen Zhui immediately raised his voice.

"Grand Commandant, the war is of utmost importance, so we let them suppress this matter at the time. However, this time the Jin family has committed evil deeds, and we must settle this score with them."

"Of course we have to calculate it!" Shen Zhui blurted out. "There's definitely something fishy about that batch of military pay. So that's why Grandma Yan was targeting my sister-in-law!"

"Besides personal grudges, the more important thing is that this matter concerns the imperial court. To dare to embezzle even military funds is an unforgivable crime. The loss of these funds resulted in the sacrifice of countless soldiers. If this matter is not thoroughly investigated, the souls of the fallen soldiers will not find peace!"

Shen Zhui gritted his teeth upon hearing this, but then he shuddered and immediately waved his hand: "Don't worry, this is a matter for the court, I definitely won't do anything reckless!"

"I'll move to Mr. Zhang's house tomorrow and come back after I pass the imperial examination!"

This time, Song En blocked him: "We'll talk about the imperial examination later. The eldest young master has a task for you!"

"……Task?"

Shen Zhui pointed to his nose: "Give it to me?!"

……

While playing chess in his room, Grand Commandant Shen suddenly heard a strange cry from Shen Zhui in the west courtyard. He jerked his hand up, nearly knocking over the chessboard.

"what happened?"

Yi Zhe strode in: "Grand Commandant, isn't it strange? The eldest son actually sent the second son out on an errand!"

"Yu'er?...Give a mission to Zhui'er?"

Commander Shen was stunned again.

Who in the manor didn't know that Shen Qingzhou regarded this younger brother as a thorn in his side? No, in Shen Qingzhou's eyes, Shen Zhui was a good-for-nothing. In the year or so since he returned to the manor, his older brother either ignored him or told him to get lost. Yet Shen Qingzhou actually assigned a mission to his younger brother!

"What mission?"

"I heard that we're going to the cliff where the silver chariot crashed to look for clues."

Grand Commandant Shen put down the chess piece and stood up. "Logically speaking, He Ping should also lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard there, right? This is no easy task; it requires both boldness and meticulousness."

If the Embroidered Uniform Guard discovers that someone from the Shen family is secretly spying on them, then things will become very complicated.

"That's why I'm so surprised. Could it be that the eldest young master has something going on behind his back...?"

"No." Grand Commandant Shen glanced at him. "I believe in Yu'er."

Yi Zhe raised an eyebrow: "So, Young Master, this is to train the Second Young Master?"

After thinking for a moment, Grand Commandant Shen's expression softened: "It's not a bad thing either."

"When I think of what happened to Grand Secretary Yang back then, I can never bring myself to be harsh with Zhui'er. So I have always indulged him over the years, which has made him simple-minded and his studies have not improved."

“Yu’er is willing to put him through the trials; this is his blessing, and it is also my blessing.”

Yi Zhe nodded: "This child is simple-minded, but the eldest young master is exceptionally intelligent. If he is willing to teach him, he will indeed be a good teacher."

"I wonder if the Second Young Master is up to the task? Should we secretly send someone to follow him?"

Grand Commandant Shen paced a few steps, then stopped: "No need. His brother rose to power through his own abilities, so of course he must also earn his brother's approval through his own abilities."

"Let them go. If Yu'er doesn't bring it up, don't ask her either."