Chapter 46: Making Things Difficult

Chapter 46: Making Things Difficult

Jiang Shu was amused by Tanyu and took a leisurely stroll around the courtyard in high spirits.

After walking a few rounds to stretch her limbs, Jiang Shu held some vegetable leaves to tease Bu Bai.

"Bu Bai, you've gotten plumper again."

Bu Bai couldn't understand her words and chewed the leaves quickly with its three-part mouth.

A true glutton.

"Indeed, this body is just right for cooking." Zhong Yue stood under the veranda, munching on a cucumber while contemplating how to cook rabbit meat.

Tanyu listened with trepidation: "Don't even think about it."

"Don't you want to eat it? Stir-fried rabbit cubes are delicious." Zhong Yue whispered enticingly into Tanyu's ear.

Tanyu swallowed audibly.

Zhong Yue noticed and a mischievous smile spread across her lips. She looked at the foolish-looking Bu Bai munching on the leaves and felt a sudden urge to be wicked.

At dinner time, Zhong Yue personally brought food to Tanyu.

Seeing Tanyu savoring the meal, Zhong Yue asked expectantly, "How is it? Delicious?"

"Mm-hmm, what kind of meat is this? Chicken cubes?" Tanyu nodded repeatedly, unable to stop eating.

Zhong Yue teased with a grin, "Rabbit cubes."

Tanyu was struck as if by a bolt of lightning, holding the rabbit meat in her mouth, afraid to swallow. She stammered, "W-which... which rabbit?"

Zhong Yue pointed outside with her hand: "That one."

Tanyu followed her finger and saw a shiny black rabbit skin hanging from a tree branch in the courtyard.

Tanyu was terrified, staring at the stir-fried rabbit cubes on the table. "This is Bu Bai!"

"The meat is quite white after peeling the skin." Zhong Yue picked up a piece of meat with her fingers, chewed it, and said, "Quite fragrant."

Tanyu almost cried, unsure whether to swallow or spit out the meat in her mouth.

"Eat quickly; we can't let the rabbit die in vain." Zhong Yue urged deliberately.

Tanyu thought it made sense and sadly picked up her chopsticks.

As she ate, she silently mourned, "Wah, Bu Bai, you died so tragically... but it's so fragrant."

It had to be said that Zhong Yue's cooking was truly exceptional, better than even Cuiyun Building.

Tanyu unintentionally finished two bowls of rice.

"Burp—" Rubbing her bloated belly, Tanyu looked at the remaining half-dish of rabbit cubes, pouting sadly: "Don't throw it away; I'll eat it tomorrow."

Since Bu Bai was already dead, it shouldn't go to waste.

"Hahaha..." Zhong Yue could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.

Her laughter attracted Chuyu, who came downstairs to deliver the dishes and curiously entered the room.

"What are you laughing about?" Chuyu asked, puzzled.

Zhong Yue explained the whole story with a laugh.

She bought a black rabbit from outside, made stir-fried rabbit cubes, and deliberately didn't tell Tanyu the truth, leaving her in the dark.

"What? This isn't Bu Bai? You tricked me!" Tanyu's eyes widened in shock and anger as she glared at Zhong Yue.

Zhong Yue grinned and asked, "Are you going to eat the leftovers tomorrow?"

Tanyu smacked her lips: "Yes."

Chuyu poked her forehead and laughed, "What a shameless one."

Tanyu huffed. What did shamelessness matter when she would starve if she skipped a meal.

On July 17th, the weather cleared up. Shen Changze took a day off and led his servants and guards to the dock to personally welcome Shen Qingrong and her family of three.

According to the returning servants, Shen Qingrong brought many gift boxes and trunks. It took more than an hour to unload everything from the boat onto the carriages, filling several carts, causing quite a stir.

At that moment, Jiang Shu sat in Shouyong Hall, listening to Shen Qingrong, dressed like a colorful butterfly, vividly recounting the scenery of Pingyang County.

Shen Qingrong, a year younger than Jiang Shu, resembled Mother Shen somewhat, with a beautiful face and graceful figure, making her a stunning beauty.

Today, she wore a long, floor-length dress adorned with golden hibiscus flowers, her head decorated with shimmering jewelry, exuding an air of opulence.

It was evident that the Lu family treated her very well.

Sitting beside Shen Qingrong, Lu Mingke wore a clean and elegant sky-blue robe embroidered with pine and cypress patterns, matching Shen Qingrong perfectly.

"Pingyang is indeed a wonderful place. You're blessed to have landed in such a fortunate nest." The words of Old Lady Shen seemed to praise Shen Qingrong but were actually complimenting the Lu family.

Lu Mingke understood and humbly replied, "No matter how good Pingyang County is, it cannot compare to Shang Jing. My parents always praise Qingrong for being polite, understanding, and graceful. They say the marquis's household has raised her well, truly living up to being a noble clan."

These words pleased Old Lady Shen and Mother Shen greatly, making them look upon Lu Mingke even more favorably.

Especially considering the valuable gifts in those carts, they were even more satisfied with their son-in-law.

Shen Changze was also pleased with Lu Mingke's proper conduct and courteous demeanor.

He and Shen Qingrong were siblings born to the same mother, and he had always doted on his younger sister. Seeing her marry well and live harmoniously with her husband, he genuinely felt happy for her.

"Xingyuan, are you tired after such a long boat ride?" Mother Shen fondly teased Lu Xingyuan.

"Not at all." Lu Xingyuan, chubby and fair like a snowball, spoke in a soft, childlike voice, which was incredibly endearing.

"Fearing that the journey might tire him, we specifically took the boat to Shang Jing. Otherwise, we would have arrived days ago by carriage," Shen Qingrong said, her eyes filled with affection as she looked at Lu Xingyuan.

"A few extra days don't matter; the child's comfort is most important."

The family chatted and laughed together in harmony, while Jiang Shu sat quietly, like a wooden statue.

After showing off enough, Shen Qingrong shifted her gaze to Jiang Shu.

"Why isn't my sister-in-law saying anything? Could it be that you're not happy I'm back?"

Even though she now lived a good life, she still resented Jiang Shu for advising her to marry far away in the past.

With one sentence from Shen Qingrong, everyone's attention immediately turned to Jiang Shu.

Especially Lu Mingke, who had heard many bad things about Jiang Shu from Shen Qingrong over the years, looked at her with a scrutinizing and prejudiced gaze.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Jiang Shu maintained her composure and smiled faintly, calmly saying, "Why would my little sister say such a thing? The Marquis Jingan's residence is your natal home, and your return is a great honor. We should treat you with the utmost respect. Is there something we did improperly that caused a misunderstanding?"

Jiang Shu's words were a reminder to Shen Qingrong that even if a married daughter returns to her natal home, she is still a guest and should act accordingly.

But Shen Qingrong showed no awareness of this, behaving just as she did before her marriage, with an arrogant and domineering attitude.

What was improper? Her mere presence was the greatest impropriety!

Feeling annoyed, Shen Qingrong deliberately found fault and said, "When Xingyuan entered the residence, he almost tripped on a pebble on the path. How is the courtyard cleaned? Knowing that I love Snow Mountain Cloud Mist tea, the servants served West Lake Longjing instead..."

Shen Qingrong listed several trivial matters and publicly questioned Jiang Shu, hoping to embarrass her.

But Jiang Shu only smiled, slightly raising her almond eyes to look at Mother Shen and asked, "Did you hear what my little sister said, Mother?"

Mother Shen looked embarrassed, her expression awkward.

Even the elderly Lady Shen and Shen Changze felt ashamed in front of Lu Mingke.

"Do you think Mother will still protect you? These are all evidence of your poor management," Shen Qingrong persisted.

Jiang Shu sighed and said, "My little sister doesn't know, but Mother is now in charge of the household."

"What?" Shen Qingrong looked stunned.

After Shen Changze returned to the capital, the Marquis Jingan's residence sent her a letter, which only mentioned that Shen Changze and Cheng Jinchu had returned with their two children, without any other details.