Chapter 23 Seek kindness and gain kindness
Looking at the thing in front of him, Shen Linchuan's face froze.
With his whitened fingertips, he pinched the land deed which looked like a piece of waste paper, and after a long while he uttered dryly, "My wife is thoughtful."
Song Shiwei smiled slightly.
The old lady is reluctant to part with the things left by her late husband and wants to get the land deed back.
She gave it to him. Does this count as asking for benevolence and getting it?
She suppressed her smile, sighed quietly and said, "What a pity, I originally saved those dowries to help you build relationships.
You also know that it is important to build up connections in the capital, but these all cost money to maintain.
But I didn't expect that the Shen family owed such a large sum of money, and my mother didn't mention it to me in advance, and even you, my husband, didn't tell me.
I was caught off guard and had no preparation at all.
Now that the dowry is gone and my husband has not yet entered the officialdom, we have to be frugal with the expenses of this household.
Life at home may not be easy in the next few months.
I can only ask my family to help me get through this period. As long as my husband can graduate from high school, there will be hope for our Shen family."
Hearing that Song Shiwei kept the dowry to help him build relationships, Shen Linchuan couldn't help but feel a little regretful, but it was too late to say anything now.
The dowry is gone, and so is the title deed.
His mother was obsessed with the dowry that Song Shiwei brought, but ended up losing more than she gained.
Shen Linchuan was holding back a lot of anger in his heart, unable to spit it out nor swallow it down, and had to pretend nothing had happened to coax Song Shiwei: "I'm sorry for making you suffer.
When I get a salary in the future, I will redeem all of my wife's dowry."
Song Shiwei said coquettishly: "Words are not enough, you have to write a written statement to avoid denying it later."
As he said this, he walked over and started grinding ink for him.
Shen Linchuan just said it casually, but he didn't expect Song Shiwei to ask him to write a document. But he had already made the promise, so how could he go back on his word?
So she gritted her teeth and wrote a note to Song Shiwei, just treating it as a pleasure in her boudoir.
Song Shiwei took the receipt and said with a smile: "Husband, please study hard, I won't disturb you.
I will definitely go out more for you at the banquet at Yongning Marquis's residence next month."
Shen Linchuan relaxed his brows and smiled: "Thank you, my lady."
Song Shiwei nodded, turned and left the study.
In the previous life, during the banquet at the Yongning Marquis Mansion, Madam Shen suddenly fell ill.
As a daughter-in-law, she could only stay in the mansion and serve wholeheartedly, so Shen Suyun took her invitation and went to the banquet.
It was just that this banquet was a trap set by Zhou for her.
Shen Suyun did not stand out at the banquet, but was instead laughed at and embarrassed.
Old Madam Shen felt sorry for her daughter who had been wronged, but she turned around and blamed her, saying that Shen Suyun had suffered on her behalf.
I guess it’s the same this time.
Old Madam Shen would not miss such a good opportunity and would definitely find ways to stop her from attending the banquet at the Yongning Marquis' Mansion.
Song Shiwei suppressed her thoughts and returned to her own yard. When she opened the door, she saw a man sitting at the table, drinking tea leisurely.
She was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly closed the door and said, "How dare you come here in broad daylight? Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"
Xiao Jingheng really couldn't wait until dark. Fortunately, the wall of the Shen family was not difficult to climb over, and there were no guards in the mansion, so it was easy to sneak in.
He raised his handsome eyebrows, looked at Song Shiwei and said with a smile: "Didn't you ask Jingque to tell me that you wanted to see me for something? I was just afraid that you would be waiting anxiously."
After receiving the letter, he rushed here without stopping, and then saw the wonderful scene taking place in front of the Shen Mansion.
Song Shiwei almost forgot about this. It was indeed her who asked Jingque to deliver the letter.
She said, "You can make an appointment outside, there's no need to come to my place."
Xiao Jingheng said: "There are too many people outside, I think it's good here."
Song Shiwei rolled her eyes at him. This man treated this place as his own home.
She was too lazy to argue with him and asked, "Is the prince so free?"
Xiao Jingheng shrugged and said, "The Crown Prince is wary, and my father doesn't like it either. I can't even attend court these few days since I returned to the capital, so I'm naturally free."
When she heard him mention the prince, Song Shiwei's eyes dimmed.
In her previous life, the Shen family had sided with the prince, so she became a pawn to overthrow Prince Ling.
The biological mother of the current crown prince is Empress Sun, and Empress Sun’s sister is the wife of Marquis Yongning.
Sixteen years ago, the Sun family suffered greatly in the Huo family turmoil.
Empress Sun's father and brother risked their lives to protect Pingyang Pass and safeguard the territory of Nanli.
The men of the Sun family died in the war, leaving only two daughters.
At that time, the eldest daughter of the Sun family, Sun Ruotong, was still Concubine Rong in the palace.
After Empress Huo hanged herself, His Majesty, in gratitude for the Sun family's sacrifice, made Concubine Rong the Empress.
The second prince she gave birth to became the current crown prince because of her status as a son.
Xiao Jingheng, who was supposed to be the crown prince, was rejected by the emperor because of the Huo family's rebellion.
Even though he has made great military achievements, he is not even qualified to stand in the court.
Song Shiwei felt that Xiao Jingheng was actually quite similar to her. Both of them had their mothers die young and were not loved by their fathers, but her father was more cruel.
She poured a cup of tea, took a sip and said, "Having a little free time may not be a bad thing."
Jamel Xiao raised his eyebrows, and asked her with a smile in his eyes: “Are you comforting me?”
Song Shiwei put down the teacup and said, "Your Majesty's face is thicker than a city wall. Does he still need comfort?"
Xiao Jingheng choked. He shouldn't have asked any more questions.
He stopped joking and asked her, "You said you wanted to see me for something, what is it?"
Song Shiwei said: "I went to see Shen Linzhou and asked him about Shen Xiuwen's death indirectly.
Shen Linzhou said that his father died accidentally when his carriage overturned off a cliff while traveling at night.
But I think the Shen family may know that there is another hidden reason behind Shen Xiuwen’s death.”
At that time, she observed Shen Linzhou's reaction and found something was obviously wrong.
Xiao Jingheng frowned: "You went to see Shen Linzhou? Just to help me find out about Shen Xiuwen?"
"I'm not helping you. I also have something I want to ask you for help with. This is considered a collaboration."
Song Shiwei looked at him and said, "I'll help you find out about the Shen family, and you help me find someone."
Xiao Jingheng asked: "Who?"
Song Shiwei said: "She is a maid who served my mother when she was alive. Her surname is Feng, she is about 60 years old and in poor health. I only know that she lives in Tongzhou, but I don't know where exactly.
This person is very important to me, I would like to ask you, Your Majesty, to help me find her and save her life."
She stood up and took out a portrait from the book on the table: "This is her appearance. When you find her, tell her that I want to see her.
But this matter must be kept secret and not be made known to others."
Xiao Jingheng took the portrait, looked at it for a few seconds and said, "No problem."
He put the portrait away and said, "I'll tell you as soon as I have any news."
Song Shiwei nodded. She had no choice as she was tied up and couldn't go to see Nanny Feng in person.
In her previous life, when her time was up, Nanny Feng secretly came to see her for the last time and told her about her mother and the Xu family.
But she died before she could finish her words.
Nanny Feng is most likely the only person who knows the truth, so she must find her and save her life.
Only in this way can we seek justice for the Xu family and her mother.