Yingxiu still didn't quite understand.
Shen Qing explained with a smile, "It's obvious that Jiang Chan is trying to kill two birds with one stone. She wants to get rid of Xu Chenghui, her biggest threat, and make Shen Mian suspect me."
"She thought she'd covered her tracks, but once something's done, there'll always be traces."
Yingxiu seemed to understand. "So, Steward Wu might be a good breakthrough?"
Shen Qing nodded.
"I understand, miss!"
Shen Qing only needed to go to Sangu Zhai once every five days, but Shen Yan had to go there every day. The next morning, after Shen Yan left, Mrs. Liu came to find Shen Qing and said she was going to move out.
Mrs. Liu said, "I see that the courtyard over there is almost ready. It's not proper for an outsider like me to stay in the Duke's Mansion all the time. I'd better move out as soon as possible."
Shen Qing pondered for a moment. Shen Yan's studies were now on the right track, but the matter of adoption hadn't been settled yet. Under such circumstances, it was reasonable for Mrs. Liu to want to move out.
A loving parent always plans far ahead for their child.
Mrs. Liu was truly a great mother.
"Have you picked a date, Aunt Liu? We'll set up a table in the courtyard and have a get - together then."
Mrs. Liu said, "Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival. It's a good day for moving. Let's do it tomorrow."
"Isn't it too rushed?"
"I don't have many things anyway. Besides, it's just me. It won't take long."
Since Mrs. Liu had said so, Shen Qing didn't say anything more.
"I'll call more people to help you move then, Aunt Liu."
And so, the matter of Mrs. Liu's move was settled.
For this, Shen Qing even specially asked for a day off for Shen Yan.
On the Double Ninth Festival, Mrs. Liu moved out. The small courtyard without a plaque now had a name: Liu Mansion.
A mansion that belonged only to Mrs. Liu.
Not only Shen Qing but also Mrs. Jiang came, despite her illness.
Mrs. Liu had originally told her not to come, but Mrs. Jiang said she was bored staying in her room all day and might even get sick from it. It would be good to go out and relax once in a while.
Mrs. Liu had cut off relations with both her husband's and her own family. Shen Yan was her only relative, and with Shen Qing around, Mrs. Jiang's arrival made the Liu Mansion a bit livelier.
Since there were no outsiders, during the meal, they talked about Mrs. Liu's future plans.
Shen Qing asked, "Have you thought about what you're going to do in the future, Aunt Liu?"
Mrs. Liu said, "The Liu family is in the liquor business. I've known how to make wine since I was a child. I'm going to open a winery."
"That sounds good," said Mrs. Jiang.
Shen Qing reminded her, "You should be careful that the Liu family members might come to cause trouble, Aunt Liu."
Mrs. Liu smiled. "It doesn't matter. The Liu family makes grain wine. I'm going to make fruit wine."
This idea brightened Shen Qing's eyes. "Most of the current wines are a bit too strong for women. If it's sweet and fragrant fruit wine, it should be very popular among girls."
Mrs. Jiang also thought this proposal was good.
The atmosphere was just right, but there were always some people who spoiled it.
"Madam, Miss. The Liu family members are here. They're outside, shouting that they want to see Mrs. Liu. They also said that if Mrs. Liu doesn't see them, they'll make a scene in the neighborhood and make it impossible for Mrs. Liu to live here."
The atmosphere at the dinner table instantly froze. Looking at Mrs. Liu, she was so angry that she was trembling.
Shen Qing quickly said, "Aunt Liu, you've already cut off relations with them. Don't get angry and hurt your body for some outsiders."
After Shen Qing's words, Mrs. Liu also came to her senses. Right, she had already cut off relations with them. She wasn't a member of the Liu family anymore. Why did the Liu family members come to cause trouble for her?
Mrs. Liu took a deep breath. "I'll go and meet them."
Shen Yan stood up. "Mom, I'll go with you."
Mrs. Liu nodded and took Shen Yan out. Shen Qing supported Mrs. Jiang and followed them out, but she didn't plan to intervene. She just watched from the side.
In this situation, Aunt Liu had to stand up for herself. She could help her solve the problem once, but she couldn't do it every time.
Mrs. Liu's father and mother, her younger brother Liu Yu, and his wife, the four members of the Liu family, were brought into the courtyard. Liu Yu couldn't help but complain first.
"Liu Xuan, we're your family. You just let us stand in the courtyard without even offering us a cup of tea?"
Liu Xuan looked coldly at her younger brother, who she had grown up with. The once - young boy was now big and round. The fat on his face had squeezed his eyes into slits.
"We've already cut off relations. What kind of family are you to me?"
Mrs. Liu's mother scolded her, "What are you talking about? Can family relations be cut off so easily?"
Mrs. Liu's father didn't say a word, but his face looked grim.
Liu Xuan didn't want to waste any more words with them. "Just tell me what you want."
Mrs. Liu's mother's face stiffened. She looked at her husband, then at Liu Yu and his wife beside her, and then slowly said, "Xuan'er, you're the daughter I gave birth to after ten months of pregnancy. How could I not love you..."
Liu Xuan interrupted her coldly, "Get to the point."
Liu Yu got angry. "Liu Xuan, how can you talk to Mom like this?"
Mrs. Liu's mother calmed down the angry Liu Yu and said, "There's a Mr. Liu, a wealthy landowner in the east of the city. His wife passed away not long ago, and he's going to take a second wife. He doesn't mind that you're divorced..."
"I won't agree," Liu Xuan said.
By now, Liu Xuan was completely disappointed in them.
Mrs. Liu's mother advised her, "Xuan'er, you should think about it again. Mr. Liu is well - off. If you marry him and give him a child, you'll have food and clothing for the rest of your life."
Liu Xuan retorted, "If he's really that great, why don't you marry him yourself?"
Mrs. Liu's mother was stunned. She didn't expect that the once - obedient Liu Xuan would talk to her like this.
Liu Yu roared, "How can you talk to Mom like this? Mom is doing this for your own good. You're divorced. It's already good that Mr. Liu doesn't mind. If you don't marry into such a good match, do you want to marry the new champion?"
Liu Xuan retorted, "That Mr. Liu is over fifty this year, isn't he? I'm not even thirty. He's old enough to be my father. You still call this a good match?"
Mrs. Liu's father got angry. "Marriage has always been decided by parents and matchmakers since ancient times. We've already accepted the betrothal gifts and signed the marriage contract. You have to marry whether you like it or not!"
"So that's what you're up to," Mrs. Liu said sarcastically as she looked at them. "I was sold by you once. Now that I'm divorced, you still want to sell me a second time."
These were her family members!
How ironic!
Liu Xuan took a step back and said coldly, "Anyway, I won't marry into this match. Since you've accepted the betrothal gifts, find another daughter to marry. We've already cut off relations. Don't come here again in the future. If you do, I'll go to the Yingtian Prefecture and accuse you of breaking into a private house!"
"Come on, throw them out!"
The guards of the Liu Mansion had been hired long ago, and they had been carefully screened by the Duke's Mansion. They were already angry just listening. Even if the daughter was divorced, they couldn't marry her to a man old enough to be her father!
Now, as soon as they heard Liu Xuan's order, they pushed and shoved the people out, with a bit of personal resentment.
How could the Liu family be willing?
Mr. Liu had given a huge betrothal gift. That stupid girl Liu Xuan didn't know the value of money since she didn't earn it. If she didn't marry, they would lose all those good things!
Liu Yu's wife, Mrs. Li, was anxious. "Sister - in - law, you're a divorced woman. Do you think the heir of the Duke Protector's Mansion will take a woman with a divorced stain? You're being unfilial by disobeying your parents. When your mother - son reputation is ruined, let's see if the Duke Protector's Mansion will still take you in!"