Half in the river wind, half in the clouds

In the Shen Mansion, Madam Shen had just finished worshipping Buddha. The whole room was filled with sandalwood incense. She sent away the maids and servants, sipped her tea, and said to Shen Guxing slowly, "Yiye, you have always been good friends with the young master of the Jiang family, and it seems that you are also familiar with the third young lady of the Jiang family. What do you think of Ah Feng?"

Shen Guxing smiled and said, "Why did mother ask about Ah Feng?"

"I met the girl from the Jiang family today and I really like her, but I don't know what her character is like. I was thinking, if her character is good, would you mind introducing her to Zi'an?"

Shen Guxing looked at his mother in surprise, and he suddenly laughed out loud. Mrs. Shen asked in surprise, "Why is my son laughing?"

Shen Guxing pulled up his robe and said seriously, "Mother is so biased. When she saw such a good girl, she only thought about my second brother."

Mother Shen thought he was joking, but she couldn't help but smile and said, "If you say that Ah Feng's appearance and personality are impeccable, but after all, her family background is poor. I'm not bragging as a mother, how can she match you? Mother has thought that she must find you a lady from a famous family, who has both good looks and a good personality, and can manage the household properly. Your father died early, and you have a heavy burden on your shoulders. Not only do you have to support the family, but you also have to support your younger brother. Even your aunt's family of orphans and widows will rely on you in the future. If you don't find a good family background for your in-laws, it will be too hard for my son..."

"Mother, a man should live a peaceful life. How can he always rely on others? In terms of family background, is there anyone who can compare to the princess? But my son will never marry her in his life."

Shen Guxing took over his mother's words and spoke loudly.

Madam Shen noticed that her eldest son was sincere in his words and didn't seem to be joking. She was shocked and asked, "Yi Ye, are you interested in Miss Jiang?"

Shen Guxing stood up and bowed respectfully to Shen's mother, saying earnestly: "When my son first met Ah Feng two years ago, he had already made up his mind to marry her. Please grant my wish, mother!"

"How can this be possible!" Shen's mother scolded in a low voice.

"Why not? Since my second brother can do it, why can't I?" Shen Guxing said anxiously.

"Although the princess's marriage with the Wu family was finally called off, the queen knew that a forced marriage would not be happy, and turned her attention to the children of the Wei family. I think she has given up on you. These days, the Princess of Shouchun County has become more friendly, and her family's Ji'an County Lady can also get along with you. The county lady has a fairy-like appearance and temperament, and is a little stronger than Jiang Feng. Your father died early, your uncle's official career has also reached the end of the fifth rank, and your uncle is far away in Liangzhou and cannot be relied on. If you don't find a helpful in-law family..."

"Mother!" Shen Guxing interrupted, "Although I get along well with the county lady, it's only because we share some common hobbies. How can it be related to marriage? Besides... besides, Ji An also knows that I am determined to marry Jiang Feng."

Mother Shen looked surprised and said, "But that year you passed the imperial examination and held a flower-viewing banquet in the Apricot Garden with other scholars of the same period. All the girls threw their flowers at you, but you gave the biggest and most colorful one to the Princess of Ji'an County. This made the Queen unhappy, and the next day she summoned Princess Shouchun and me to the palace. Although she didn't scold us openly, she didn't look happy either. I thought you were..."

Shen Guxing explained: "It was just a flower. I didn't expect it would cause such a big disturbance."

"But since then, Princess Shouchun has been trying to bring you and Ji'an together. I thought you were also attracted to the princess, so I had this idea as well..." said Shen's mother.

She hoped that her son's wife's family would be able to help him, and she also hoped that Shen Guxing could spend his life with the person he loved, and she deeply believed that the Princess of Ji'an was a good match for him.

Shen Guxing knew that his family had a close relationship with the Shouchun Palace, but he never expected that the two middle-aged ladies would actually have the idea of ​​arranging marriages for their children.

At this time, Shen Guxing turned around and wanted to marry another girl. How could Jiang's mother accept it? Seeing her son so determined, she was glad that the Shouchun Palace was quite afraid of Empress Wei. The two families did not dare to discuss marriage in a big way. They just contacted each other to test each other and never brought the matter of their children to the table.

Otherwise, the situation will be difficult to reverse.

Shen Guxing couldn't understand what his mother was thinking, so he could only continue, "Some of the young masters and classmates like me have donated money to become officials, some are still studying hard without any achievements, and some are just playing around. Only my son studies the hardest, never stopping from winter to summer, and insisting on writing even when he has frostbite in winter. My mother once cried and advised me, 'Other parents advise their children to study hard, but I want my son to take a break.' My son is now in the officialdom. Because of the princess, his colleagues and superiors have suppressed him a lot. Fortunately, he got acquainted with the Prince of Baling, so there are fewer open and secret attacks. Until now, I have actually seen through it a little bit, and I think it's boring to be so busy. My son said this, but it seems that he has no ambition and has failed his mother's expectations and his father's cultivation. But if he can be with his beloved girl, even if he is a commoner and spends the rest of his life in Zhongnan Mountain, he will have no regrets!"

Shen Guxing has actually made such a plan!

How could Shen's mother not know how hard he had gone through? But Shen Guxing never complained, so she could only pretend to be ignorant. Thinking about the past, Shen's mother was filled with grief, and when she heard that he had no interest in a career, she felt as if her heart was pierced by needles, and she cried out in pain: "Yi Ye, you have suffered... But if you give up a bright future for a girl you have only met a few times, in the afterlife, I... I... How can I face your father!"

"Since I was little, I envied my father and mother for their loving relationship and their equal status. After my father passed away, my mother cried every day until she saw through the mundane world and converted to Buddhism. The deceased is gone, but my mother cannot help herself. Is she going to let her son experience another separation?"

When Shen's mother thought about her husband's death, she felt so heartbroken that she wanted to die with him. However, she couldn't bear to leave her two young children behind, so she managed to hold on until now. If her husband were alive, what would he do? Would her son already have a girl he loved so much? She had no idea at the moment, so she could only say, "You are still young, how can you say that love is over so quickly!"

Shen Guxing helped his mother sit down and consoled her: "Mother, I just didn't like princesses at first. I thought that if I were stronger, no one would be able to influence me to marry someone. But since I met Afeng, I feel that life would be too miserable if I couldn't have her by my side. Mother! My son's marriage is difficult. This is the girl I want to marry with all my heart. Please consider it."

Shen's mother herself is a noble lady with a rich spiritual world. Her love is sweet, harmonious, and she has a high-quality marriage life. Although she still thinks that Jiang Feng is not worthy of Shen Guxing and cannot be the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family, she is willing to put aside her prejudice and get to know the girl.

If she is really a good girl, perhaps she is willing to give up wealth and glory for the sake of her son's happy marriage.

He immediately suppressed his thoughts and inquired carefully about Jiang Feng.

Shen Guxing only concealed the matter about Li Longye and revealed everything else.

Shen Guxing's side was going smoothly after some pity-playing and reasoning, but Jiang Feng's side was a mess.