Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

It wasn't the scorching heat of a fire, but a gentle warmth that rose from the soles of our feet, instantly dispelling the chill from everyone.

Pei Jundai was taken aback and subconsciously took two steps inside.

The bluestone slabs under my feet were actually warm!

"What... what is this?"

"Earth dragon." Shen Qiongju took off her cloak and handed it to the little maid who came to greet her. "I asked Master Lu's apprentice to re-lay the chimneys in the entire courtyard and make some modifications. Although it's useless, the whole house is warm."

Everyone was stunned; the underground heating system in this manor was much warmer than the one in the Pei family's house.

In this harsh northern region, to be able to spend the winter so warmly is truly a privilege.

"Everyone, stop standing there and go back to your rooms to check on things," Shen Qiongju said with a smile, leading the way.

Supported by her maid, Pei Junlan entered the main room of the east courtyard.

The curtain was lifted, and a warm fragrance wafted out.

Her previously tense face froze completely the moment she saw the furnishings inside the room.

It was a room almost exactly the same as the one she had in her old house in the county town.

The Luohan couch by the window, the "Winter Plum Blossom" painting hanging on the wall, the chipped celadon vase on the antique shelf, and even the placement of the orchid on the table are all exactly the same.

The only difference is that it's warmer and brighter here.

The flowers and plants were specially moved here by a gardener hired by Shen Qiongju, along with their root balls. Now, in the warm indoor environment, they are stretching out their leaves, lush and green.

"This..." Pei Junlan's hand trembled as she touched the warm edge of the bed.

"Qiongju, you're so thoughtful...you're so thoughtful."

She hadn't expected that this child's heart could be so delicate.

On the other side, cheers came from the west wing.

"Fish! Mother! Look! My little fish!"

The little girl was lying on the edge of an exquisite white porcelain water vat, where several red carp were swimming happily.

The water temperature is suitable, and the aquatic plants are abundant.

Originally, at the old house, the water tank froze over because of the cold weather, and the fish almost froze to death. The little girl cried several times because of this.

Now, they have moved to a new home and are living even better than before.

The gloom and despair on the faces of the Pei family members vanished completely at that moment.

This isn't a case of misfortune; it's clearly a time to enjoy good fortune!

.

The night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind was as sharp as a knife.

An unassuming horse-drawn carriage with a green canopy sped along the official road leading to Shenjia Village.

Pei Zhihui sat in the carriage, clutching the letter from home tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white.

He rushed back.

On the cliff of Si Xue, he studied day and night, wrote policy essays, and even memorized texts while sleeping, finally completing his teacher's requirements ahead of schedule.

He didn't even have time to rest in the city before hiring a carriage to rush back.

In his letter, Shen Mo said that he could not get the Pei family's house back. The house had caught the eye of the mistress of a certain high-ranking official, who was a confidante of Prince Shou and could not be touched for the time being.

So all I could think about was the tragic scene of the Pei family being driven out of their home and left to wander the streets in the dead of winter.

And that woman, Shen Qiongju.

Will he suffer alongside the Pei family this time, or has he already returned to the Shen family and become indifferent to their plight?

Pei Zhihui's lips curled into a cold, sharp smile.

"Second Master, we've arrived." The coachman's voice was broken in the wind.

Pei Zhihui lifted the carriage curtain and jumped down.

Before me stood a village shrouded in the night, its high walls giving it a somewhat imposing appearance.

The farm seemed even more desolate at night than before.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood in his chest and the urge to cough, and strode towards the courtyard gate.

Just as my hand touched the door knocker, I heard faint laughter coming from inside.

It wasn't crying, it was laughter.

Pei Zhihui frowned and suddenly pushed open the door.

There was no bleak wind and rain as I had imagined, no mess on the ground; instead, what came into view was a bustling, almost absurd scene.

The main hall doors were wide open, and the interior was brightly lit.

A huge round table was placed in the center, with a hole cut out in the middle to hold two copper pots.

The charcoal fire at the bottom of the pot glows red and bright, and the milky white broth boils and rolls in the pot. Thinly sliced ​​mutton, cut as thin as cicada wings, rises and falls in the soup, emitting a rich and domineering aroma of meat.

The Pei family, consisting of more than a dozen people, were sitting around the table, their faces flushed from the heat.

"Wow! This mutton is amazing!"

Pei Jundai held chopsticks in his hand, eating with his mouth full of oil, showing no trace of the refinement of a scholar.

"The pastures behind this estate are fantastic; the sheep raised there have absolutely no gamey smell, and they're so fat! Really fat!"

Not to be outdone, Liu was placing a large chopstick of meat on her son Pei Zhiyan's plate: "Eat more, it's warm here, you don't need to wrap yourself in a thick cotton-padded coat to eat, it's so comfortable!"

Pei Junlan sat at the head of the table, eating slowly and deliberately, but her eyes and brows were full of relaxed smiles.

Meanwhile, his sister-in-law, Shen Qiongju, was standing by the table, holding a long-handled ladle, serving soup to Xiao Zhichun.

She was wearing a casual, light purple jacket and skirt, with the sleeves rolled up to reveal a section of her jade-like wrist.

The light shone on her profile, making it incredibly soft.

Pei Zhihui stood at the door, the chill emanating from him clashing violently with the heat inside.

He froze, looking somewhat out of place, so... superfluous.

"Second...Second Brother?"

Pei Zhiyan, who was facing the door, was the first to see him, and slammed his chopsticks down on the table.

All eyes turned to them instantly.

The room fell silent for a moment.

"Zhihui!" Pei Junlan stood up in surprise. "Why are you back? Come in quickly!"

Shen Qiongju also turned around and saw the boy standing in the wind and snow.

He had lost weight, his face was paler, and there were obvious dark circles under his eyes. He looked like a sword drawn from its sheath but rusted, sharp yet fragile.

"What are you still standing there for?"

Shen Qiongju put down the soup spoon, walked over quickly, and naturally reached out to undo his cloak.

"Is it cold outside? Come inside and warm up."

Her hand touched his cold neck. Pei Zhihui instinctively tried to dodge, but his body stiffened and he couldn't pull away.

As his cloak was removed, a wave of warmth instantly enveloped him.

He was pressed down to the table, a pair of chopsticks were shoved into his hands, and a bowl of steaming mutton soup was placed in front of him.

"This..." Pei Zhihui looked at the scallions floating in the bowl, his throat feeling a little itchy.

"Eat up." Pei Jundai poured him a glass of wine. "This is a good sheep that your sister-in-law specially had someone pick up. It's also our first reunion dinner after moving into our new house."

Moving to a new house?

Is this what Shen Mo referred to in his letter as...falling into misfortune?

Pei Zhihui picked up a piece of meat somewhat blankly and put it in his mouth.

Fresh, tender, and piping hot.

The taste buds exploded instantly; that real, scalding touch slid down the esophagus into the stomach, dispelling the accumulated chill along the way.

"Come on, Zhihui, have a drink." Pei Jundai was already a little tipsy and insisted on clinking glasses with his nephew.

Pei Zhihui didn't want to drink, but looking at the smiling faces at the table, he picked up his wine glass as if possessed.

That was a special fruit wine brewed by the Shen family; it was smooth on the palate but had a strong aftertaste.

He was not a good drinker, and after two drinks, his vision became blurry.

The noise around me gradually faded into the distance, leaving only the woman's figure moving before my eyes.

She was smiling, serving food to her aunt, and trying to make Zhichun happy.

"The second brother is drunk."

In a daze, he heard that familiar voice in his ear.

Then, a soft, warm hand supported his arm.

"Zhiyan, lend a hand and help your second brother back to his room."

Pei Zhihui felt as if he were walking on cotton, being half-supported and half-carried through the corridor and into a room.

The door closed, shutting out the noise.

Pei Zhihui shook his groggy head and barely opened his eyes. Upon seeing this, he instantly sobered up a bit.