"Ladies, please wait a moment." Shen Huaizhou quickly stepped forward, blocking everyone's path.
The Countess frowned. "Young Master Shen, what is the meaning of this?"
"My sister has long admired Madam Cai and wishes to ask a question, if I may inquire if that's acceptable?"
"This is not proper etiquette."
The Countess's face showed displeasure. If it weren't for Shen Huaizhou's status as the Young Master of the Duke of Zhenguo, she would have already ordered the guards to throw him out.
Madam Cai waved her hand. "Countess, there's no need to be angry. Let the young lady come over."
Shen Huaizhou's face lit up with joy. He had achieved his goal and directly ignored the impatience in the Countess's eyes.
Song Ci knew this was an opportunity not to be missed. She quickly stepped forward, looked at Madam Cai's kind face, and boldly asked, "Madam, between abdominal muscles and chest muscles, which type do you prefer?"
Madam Cai... did not speak.
The Countess beside her could not bear to listen further. What kind of strange question was this? Did chicken come in so many types?
Were these two siblings mentally impaired?
Suddenly, Madam Cai moved, letting out a sorrowful sound.
"Xiao Ci! It's you..." She excitedly pulled Song Ci into a tight embrace.
"Mom..."
Song Ci called out softly, her eyes reddening as she hugged back tightly.
Unconsciously, her mind recalled the past when she had accidentally discovered her mom scrolling through handsome guy videos and asked a casual question.
"Oh, Mom, you're still watching young guys? Truly young at heart, despite your age."
"Yes, the experts say women stay younger by looking at handsome men. See any you like? Do you prefer looking at chest muscles or abdominal muscles? Want me to recommend some to you?"
Song Ci quickly waved her hand.
"Mom, spare me. Men only slow down my advancement."
"You child, looking doesn't cost money and can lift your mood. You're busy all day, just like your dad—no fun at all."
Song Ci had nothing to say.
She did not expect that a past teasing remark would become the secret code for mother and daughter to recognize each other.
Cai Tingshu was also deeply moved, tears streaming down her face.
"Good child, Mom never thought she'd see you again."
The sudden car accident that night had left them unwilling to close their eyes. They never expected to reunite in such a way.
Song Ci whispered a consolation.
"Mom, don't cry. Eldest brother is here too. This isn't the place to talk. Let's gather again after the banquet ends."
Song Ci whispered an address in Cai Tingshu's ear.
Cai Tingshu quickly wiped the tear stains from her eyes and resumed her dignified demeanor.
The Countess had watched the whole scene. Her expression shifted several times, curious about what had happened but afraid that asking might offend Madam Cai.
She could only suppress the irritation in her heart and look at Song Ci.
"Madam Cai, are you an old acquaintance of this young lady? How about gathering together?"
Song Ci declined: "Thank you for the invitation, Madam, but I won't intrude on your enjoyment."
Cai Tingshu knew her daughter disliked socializing, so she didn't insist and walked away, turning back every few steps.
Shen Huaizhou leaned in and whispered like a cricket.
"Little sister, look, our mom only has eyes for you. She didn't even glance at me. Why didn't you follow her and ask about her specific situation?"
"What's the rush? The backyard is where the womenfolk of various mansions gather. More women means more gossip. Many eyes and ears—it's best not to let outsiders know about our matters."
They had transmigrated. Even with disguise, there were differences from their original bodies. If discovered, they would surely be captured as anomalies.
More importantly, she didn't want to put on a flattering smile. She had already had enough of that at work.
Shen Huaizhou sighed.
"True, more women means more trouble. Come on, let's take a walk around."
"Alright."
Song Ci was in a good mood after finding her mom and happily accepted the invitation. She also wanted to enjoy the beautiful scenery here.
The siblings chatted as they walked.
Song Qianqian, who had been watching the duo's movements, saw that the time was about right and gave a signal to the wet nurse beside her, Granny Hua.
Granny Hua understood the hint. She pinched something in her sleeve and, with a little maid, stealthily followed behind the two.
Shen Huaizhou found a lakeside pavilion and sat down. The guards and servant boys behind him automatically dispersed, keeping watch around the pavilion.
"The ones around Mom... they seemed special."
"Eldest brother, it's just us two here. Spit it out. Are you curious about what relationship Mom has with those guards around her?"
"Nothing escapes your sharp eyes, little sister."
Shen Huaizhou scratched his head awkwardly.
Song Ci spoke seriously: "Mom is now the Madam of the General's Mansion. She just lost her husband and son. As a rich widow from a powerful family, there's nothing wrong with her having a few guards to protect herself, right?"
"No..."
Shen Huaizhou coughed dryly. "I'm not a rigid person. I'm just worried that if we ever find our dad, their relationship might..."
His tone was somewhat complicated.
The identities they all had now were complicated enough.
Song Ci sighed. She understood her brother's meaning—he was afraid it would be hard for their parents to get along later.
"Eldest brother, have you ever considered that Mom and Dad's relationship might not be as harmonious as it seemed to us?"
Dad was a university researcher, completely absorbed in his studies, and had to supervise graduate students every day. He simply didn't have time to take care of the family.
For the sake of the family and the three of them, Mom willingly gave up her job, trapped in this tiny corner of the home, cooking three meals a day, raising children, cleaning, day after day, toiling hard for decades.
The hardships were endless.
She didn't even have time to meet friends.
Even a robot would get tired.
"Eldest brother, we've grown up. We should understand Mom's hard work. If Mom wants to... live a different life, we as children shouldn't interfere."
The reason Song Ci didn't marry was partly due to being busy, but also because she saw her mother's endurance and exhaustion in marriage, her compromises.
She couldn't act out a lifelong play with a man and still be a good mother.
It was too tiring.
Shen Huaizhou fell silent. As a man, he didn't understand his mother's behavior, but as a son, he sympathized with her difficulties.
The two were silent.
Just then, a delicate maidservant entered carrying a teacup, her eyes darting nervously as she looked at Shen Huaizhou.
Shen Huaizhou frowned. In the Duke's Mansion, there were always maidservants trying to get into his bed, and he had kicked them all out.
This was the Earl's Mansion, so he could only scold her coldly.
"Put down the tea and get lost!"
The little maid trembled in fear and quickly retreated.
Shen Huaizhou raised the teacup to drink, but Song Ci stopped him.
"Don't drink. The tea has something wrong."
Song Ci turned to the guard behind her. "Detain that girl."
The guards around quickly leaped and subdued the girl. The little maid was terrified.
"Spare me, my lord! This servant knows nothing..."
"Too noisy. Block her mouth."
After shouting, Shen Huaizhou nervously looked at Song Ci. "Little sister, what did you notice?"
Song Ci lifted the tea and sniffed it. "The tea has been drugged with an aphrodisiac. Someone is trying to scheme against you... and probably me too!"
"Damn it. I'll go interrogate that girl."
Shen Huaizhou's expression darkened. Scheming against them siblings like this was too much.
Several guards exerted some means on the little maid. Unable to bear it, she quickly confessed.
Following the clues, they traced it back to Granny Hua.
Song Ci looked at the result and her face darkened instantly.
"Granny Hua is Song Qianqian's wet nurse. This was aimed at me. I've dragged eldest brother into it."
"Enough, we siblings don't need to say such things. I'll go drag out that wicked servant and avenge you."
"Miss Song! Please show some restraint."
Just then, a young man in plain blue clothes walked over with a grim expression, looking at the two with displeasure.
Song Ci looked at the newcomer in surprise.
"You are...?"
"I am Gu Mingyuan, the new Tanhua, and engaged to Miss Song." Gu Mingyuan's tone suppressed dissatisfaction. "I came specially to remind Miss Song that you are being too intimate with Young Master Shen. You must know that gossip is dreadful. The two of you should mind your boundaries and be careful not to lose virtue!"
Song Ci...
Was he here to lecture her?
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