Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 65 Next time I'll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!
He Qu, who was scooping water with a huff, was disgusted by Shen Qingzhou's swindling and deceitful behavior, and his complete disregard for the villagers in order to please them.

But Shen Qingzhou still returned to the capital with twenty taels of silver in his pocket.

Lu Jia is actually focusing on managing the shop, which is currently in the transition between the old and new owners. In addition, business is slow during the rainy season, and there aren't many things that require Shen Qingzhou's help.

After all, Lu Jia's original intention in taking him in was to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. Given their current situation, whether or not they needed a steward was not a problem.

Shen Qingzhou traveled by land, riding at full speed, and arrived in the capital on the Qixi Festival. He entered the Grand Commandant's residence under the cover of night, where the capital was still brightly lit.

Voices came from the small garden to the east, and the lamplight shifted. Shen Zhui's voice drifted over: "I always felt that the halberd at home was too light and lacked power. Perhaps my elder brother would be more suitable for it, since he is frail and cannot use heavy weapons. I still prefer Father's halberd. Father, when will you grant me one to use?"

Shen Qingzhou stopped at the garden gate and glanced sideways. An old man and a young man were strolling in the garden.

"Son!"

At this moment, Song En came out from the east courtyard to greet them.

The old man and the young man in the garden stopped when they heard the sound and looked over in their direction.

Shen Qingzhou withdrew his gaze and continued walking.

"Father, is that my eldest brother?!" Shen Zhui abruptly withdrew his gaze. "When did he return? How come he appears and disappears so mysteriously?!"

Looking at the now empty garden gate, Shen Bo said slowly, "He has been recuperating; he has never gone out."

Shen Zhui:......

……

Shen Qingzhou has been staying at Bibo Pavilion in recent years. It is a quiet place with a lake view and a martial arts training ground on the other side.

After entering the gate, the servants came up to help him remove his cloak and poured hot water for him to wash up.

Song En handed him a plain-looking letter: "I received the letter at the end of May, which is three months after you left the capital. The letter said that during the court meetings, the cabinet mentioned your illness several times. In front of the Grand Commandant, they pretended to be concerned, but in fact they were probing. Because before the Grand Commandant returned to the court, even when you were recuperating, you never saw anyone for more than a month or two."

"After the Grand Commandant returned to the capital, the Emperor was already dissatisfied with the Yan family's passive approach to peace in the fight against the enemy. Now the Shen family has been repeatedly rewarded. I forgot to mention that after the young master left the capital, the palace rewarded the Shen family several more times. It is said that the Emperor even considered promoting the young master's official rank by one level, but the Grand Commandant declined."

"In short, given the Shen family's current powerful position, although there are many people watching them, even more people are trying to get close to the young master! That's fine, but some people have repeatedly suggested that the imperial physician examine the young master. Fortunately, Physician Sheng is reliable and has been instructed by His Highness the Crown Prince to keep it a secret. But I think this is not a long-term solution. After receiving Mr. Chong's letter, I immediately sent it to the young master."

Shen Qingzhou glanced down at it, then placed it in the hidden compartment behind the cabinet, pressing it neatly onto a thick stack of letters with the same paper and handwriting. After gazing at it for a moment, he closed the cabinet.

"...I clearly saw him, why won't you let me in?"

A defiant voice came from the courtyard gate.

Looking out the window, Shen Qingzhou saw Shen Zhui arguing with the guards at the gate, his neck stiff with anger.

He withdrew his gaze: "I will send a memorial to the palace first thing tomorrow morning and go to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

Song En accepted the order and left.

Shen Qingzhou turned her head and glanced outside again before taking off her clothes and entering the inner room.

Upon seeing Song En emerge, Shen Zhui immediately said, "Mr. Song, why won't you let me in? I need to see my elder brother!"

Song En nodded: "Our young master has already retired for the night. Second young master, please return."

After saying that, he turned around and closed the courtyard gate, gave the guards below the gate a wink, then nodded politely to Shen Zhui and walked out.

Shen Zhui made a face at his back, then glared angrily at the closed gate of the courtyard, stamped his foot, and left as well.

The fatigue from days of traveling dissipated the moment I soaked in hot water.

Hearing a noise outside, Shen Qingzhou's mind instantly cleared.

He put on his robe, got up, glanced at the roof beam, then looked out through the display shelf, frowning.

Shen Zhui was tiptoeing over a large bow hanging on the wall when he was startled by footsteps suddenly appearing behind him. The robes folded beside him slipped to the ground, which he hurriedly picked up, then said stiffly, "I know you haven't been in the manor lately. Don't worry, I'm a member of the Shen family, I won't tell anyone. But you've clearly returned, so why didn't you greet Father just now?"

Shen Qingzhou's gaze slid indifferently from his face to the clothes in his hand, the killing intent in his eyes was extremely obvious.

Shen Zhui, however, tightened his grip on her hand even more.

After a while, probably realizing there was no reason to take his clothes, they put them down.

"roll."

This is intolerable! What did he do to deserve being kicked out? It can't be because he messed with his clothes, can it?

"I do not……"

"Throw it out."

Two guards jumped down from the roof beam, landing on either side of Shen Zhui, and without saying a word, they carried him out.

Shen Qingzhou picked out a bright red talisman bag from the pile of clothes and carefully blew on it twice.

“Pick a few vicious dogs and keep them under the wall.”

……

In the morning mist, Shen Zhui stared at the several strong, four-eyed wolfhounds below the wall, gritted his teeth, and turned to rush to the martial arts arena.

"Father!" He casually picked up the large halberd that Shen Bosu usually used: "My elder brother actually kept a dog at Bibo Pavilion! What's he doing? Is he preventing us from entering?"

Shen Bo lowered his head and wiped the sword.

As the morning light gently fell, his sharp features were illuminated by the light and shadow, adding to his imposing presence.

“If you can’t go, then don’t go,” he said calmly. “The manor is so big, there are plenty of places where dogs aren’t kept.”

"But--"

"Son."

Suddenly, the servants greeted him in unison, drawing the attention of the father and son who were talking.

Shen Qingzhou, dressed in neat official robes, passed by the door with a blank expression.

Today he was dressed in the crown and robes of the Duke of England, his whole body gleaming with gold, like a Bodhisattva who had just been gilded in a temple, making it hard not to attract attention.

Shen Zhui glanced at Shen Bo, whose gaze was fixed, then stepped forward with his halberd to block Shen Qingzhou's path: "You're acting all high and mighty again!"

Shen Qingzhou stopped.

Shen Zhui tilted his head to indicate, "Quickly greet your father!"

Song En stepped forward: "Second Young Master!"

Shen Qingzhou raised his hand to stop him. After taking half a step forward, a golden light suddenly flashed under the corridor, and the right hand with gold patterns embroidered on its sleeve somehow grabbed the halberd!

Shen Zhui reacted and instinctively tried to protect himself, but then another golden light appeared. The halberd, weighing fifty or sixty pounds, flew through the air and spun a few times before striking the ground with lightning speed!
He stood right in front of Shen Zhui!
"If this happens again, I'll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!"

Shen Qingzhou left those words behind, walked past him, and went straight out the door.

Shen Zhui was both angry and ashamed. He turned around quickly, but unexpectedly twisted his body and fell to the ground!

Upon closer inspection, it turned out that when the halberd was thrust downwards, it had actually driven into the steps along with his clothes!
Shen Zhui was even more embarrassed and angry!
Even someone as burly as him struggled to wield this halberd, but in Shen Qingzhou's hands it was as light as a broom, so obedient!
He is dead!

(End of this chapter)