A huge snake, as thick as an adult's arm, appeared before them.
The guards quickly stepped forward, ready to slay the giant snake!
"Hiss hiss hiss!!!"
Sensing danger, the snake slowly moved forward, flicking its tongue, preparing to kill these despicable humans.
They must be eyeing its "treasure"!
Those who covet its treasures deserve to die!
Aaaaaah!!!
Shen Mingzhu was speechless!
Why didn't this happen when Shen Jiaojiao was digging for century-old wild ginseng?
Is it only Shen Jiaojiao who can get good opportunities?
She didn't believe it!
"Whoever slays the giant serpent will be rewarded of one hundred taels of silver, two bolts of cloth, and ten bushels of grain!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up as they looked at the giant snake!
"Charge!"
The two sides quickly engaged in fierce combat!
"Mingzhu, step back and come behind your father."
This dad turned out alright in a pinch!
Shen Mingzhu silently gave him a thumbs up in her heart.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of swords clashing were incessant.
Several trees and shrubs in the surrounding area have fallen over.
In the end, the guards of Marquis's residence prevailed.
Seeing the injured guard, Shen Changyuan stepped forward and said,
"You will all be rewarded when we get back!"
"Thank you, Lord Marquis!"
Shen Mingzhu quickly went forward to search and finally found the treasure under a big tree.
"Father, look! Ginseng!"
"Haha, my daughter is so lucky!"
Shen Changyuan stroked his beard and said with a smile.
Soon, Shen Mingzhu personally tied a red string to the century-old ginseng and began to carefully dig it up, afraid of knocking off even a single ginseng root.
Looking at the wild ginseng that resembled a baby, Shen Changyuan was also happy.
After Su Huaiyuan climbed the mountain, he looked at everything in front of him.
"Oops... I'm late! I'm so late!"
"Lord Su, you've come to Huguo Temple too!"
"Yes, let's pay our respects! I never expected Shen Mingzhu to be so lucky!"
Everyone was horrified as they watched the large snake being carried away by the guards of Marquis's residence.
The group then proceeded in a grand procession to return to Marquis's residence.
"Father, sister~"
"Jiaojiao! Let's go home together."
Since we've run into each other, we should definitely go back together.
Shen Mingzhu's clothes were somewhat dishevelled, even a little dirty. Shen Jiaojiao looked at her and asked softly
"Sister, what have you been doing? How did you get into this state? This is disgraceful for Marquis's residence."
Before Shen Mingzhu could speak, Shen Changyuan stepped forward and said,
"Jiaojiao, there's a reason for this. We need to hurry back, or the city gates will close!"
Shen Jiaojiao looked at Shen Changyuan with a somewhat aggrieved expression.
Shen Changyuan tapped her forehead.
"Hurry up and get in the carriage. We should set off!"
[Guagua, Shen Jiaojiao's green tea is so well brewed. It's almost as good as Biluochun! She's such a show-off!]
[Host, she had chest pains twice this afternoon. She's probably quite anxious right now!]
Why was Shen Jiaojiao so agitated? She looked at the wild ginseng in Shen Mingzhu's arms, then glanced in the direction of the palace. Shen Changyuan and Su Huaiyuan exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke.
[Guagua, quickly show me what kind of melons are edible.]
Su Huaiyuan's eyes lit up when he heard that he could gossip again.
It was worth the trip!
[Host, the person who bullied the beggar this afternoon is the illegitimate son of Minister Su. He came today to secretly meet his lover. Because this is a sacred Buddhist site, he could only appease the beggar with words, and he was in a bad mood, which is why he beat the beggar until his head bled.]
How shameless!
Su Huaiyuan: Shameless scoundrel!
Shen Changyuan: Why is it the Su residence again!
Minister Su, you must hold on!
[Hehe~~~ Host, I'm not "here to reveal this" gossip. What I want to say is that this illegitimate son of the Su family is not Minister Su's biological son.
Surprised? Unexpected?
[A pleasant surprise! A complete surprise! But for Minister Su, it was truly astonishing! He was being cuckolded, and as the Minister of Rites, he was probably furious!]
It's definitely possible!
The Minister of Rites is in charge of court etiquette, sacrifices, banquets, academies, imperial examinations, and foreign affairs. It's a huge embarrassment that his own family has run into such a mess!
Moreover, Minister Su Qingshan is extremely concerned about his reputation. He even kicked his own granddaughter out of the house, regardless of her life or death, in order to clear his name.
well...
[Guagua, what happened? Tell me more.]
[Host, to be precise, this is Minister Su's younger brother!]
Ah?
This is pretty explosive!
[Guagua, really? Really? What happened? Tell us quickly!]
Hehe~~~
[On a dark and stormy night, the old patriarch of the Su family, the father of Minister Su, got drunk in his excitement and encountered the weeping and wailing Concubine Wan Hoping the old patriarch would stand up for her, she insisted that he kill her if he won't help her solve her marital issues!]
The next morning, both knew they had made an irreparable mistake and could only keep quiet. Later, the old lady had a deep talk with Minister Su, after which Minister Su frequently stayed overnight in Consort Wan's courtyard. She became pregnant and eventually gave birth to a son, Su Mingli, the same spoiled brat who kicked the beggar that afternoon.
Well...
That's amazing!
[Guagua, does the old master know about this? Does Minister Su know?]
[Host, the old master of the Su family, has been dead for many years. How could Aunt Wan possibly let him know? She always believes it was his son, Minister Su's son.]
As for Minister Su, he knew even less! If he did know, the Su family would be in an uproar!
Shen Mingzhu: That's right!
The father cheated on his son!
Who could stand this?
Shen Changyuan and Su Huaiyuan exchanged a glance, then silently turned their heads to look out the window.
[Guagua, will Minister Su ever know this secret in his lifetime?]
[Host, Minister Su is about to find out this secret!]
Wow!
So fast!
Shen Changyuan: Once Mingzhu knows something, it will no longer be a secret.
Su Huaiyuan: This is terrible! What should we do now?
Su Mingli sat on horseback, utterly disoriented, feeling as if he were dreaming!
He is the son of the Minister of Rites, not the son of his deceased grandfather.
Right!
He's going to find his mother and get to the bottom of this!
He doesn't believe any of this; it's just nonsense!
"Shen Mingzhu, get out here right now!"
"Su Mingli, what's wrong with you! Beating up a government official in the street, do you have a death wish?! Let me tell you, I am the Crown Princess. Shut up!"
"Shen Mingzhu, if you don't shut up, I'll slap you!"
"Yes, Lord Shen!"
Snort!
Shen Mingzhu gave a soft hum and sat in the carriage, picking up a piece of pastry to eat.
"Father, Scholar Su, please try this! This jujube blossom pastry is delicious!"
"Eat more if it tastes good."
Shen Changyuan looked at his daughter with doting affection.
Her revelation just now clearly means that Su Qingshan will soon know this secret!
What went wrong?!
Aunt Wan was very frightened.
Soon, her fears became a reality, as Madam Su barged into her courtyard with a bowl of medicine.
"Lady!"
"Hmph! Vixen! Drink it."
Only the dead can keep secrets!
After being forced to drink a bowl of medicine, Aunt Wan slowly stopped breathing.
Mrs. Su looked at her corpse,
"Serves you right!!!"
Su Mingli ultimately did not get to see his mother one last time.
The Su family will not allow any scandal to occur!
On this point, Minister Su and his wife share the same view and are united against external threats!