Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

"Did you have fun yesterday?" Yun Shuxuan asked Shen Chuning who came to pay her respects.

Shen Chuning smiled and nodded, excitedly talking about what she had seen and heard along the way.

She excitedly described the beauty and delicious food of Daming Lake, especially the mouth-watering fish banquet. "Mom, that fish banquet on Daming Lake is really good. I've booked a boat trip for seven days. Dad happens to have a day off that day, so we can go as a family."

There was a glimmer of anticipation in Shen Chuning's eyes.

However, Yun Shuxuan showed an embarrassment, shook his head slightly and said, "Seven days later is really not possible. Let's send someone to notify another time."

"Ah? What happened, mother?" Shen Chuning asked in confusion, the smile on her face gradually disappearing.

Yun Shuxuan sighed, "A welcoming banquet."

Shen Chuning frowned and asked in confusion, "A welcoming banquet? A welcoming banquet for Dad?"

Yun Shuxuan pursed his lips and said with disdain, "It was arranged by the concubine surnamed Song in the west courtyard."

Shen Chuning's mouth opened wide in surprise. She really couldn't understand why the Wang family would make such arrangements.

So she couldn't help but complain, "This Wang family is so weird. How come it's the concubine who has to take care of such a big thing as a welcoming banquet for the superior?"

Yun Shuxuan sighed helplessly. He knew a little about the Wang family's situation, so he explained, "Because they have so many children! The Wang family relied on constantly marrying off daughters and daughters-in-law, relying on their in-laws to slowly build their family. So in their family, whoever has the most children has more say."

After hearing this, Shen Chuning curled her lips and said with disdain, "No wonder Song was able to live in the East Courtyard before. I heard from my brother that Madam Wang only gave birth to a son and a daughter, but Song gave birth to seven children."

Yun Shuxuan gently patted Shen Chuning's hand and comforted her, "We can't interfere in other people's affairs. But fortunately, the East Courtyard and West Courtyard of the Governor's Office are two independent courtyards. We don't have to deal with that big family too much, otherwise we would be annoyed every day."

Shen Chuning couldn't help but burst out laughing when she heard this. She felt that Yun Shuxuan's words made sense, but at the same time she sighed, "This may be because our Shen family has been too quiet in recent years. In fact, most wealthy families have conflicts between wives and concubines, and between legitimate and illegitimate children."

Yun Shuxuan couldn't help but shudder, and said with lingering fear, "I'll find you a husband from now on. I don't ask for a high-class family, just a well-governed family with simple household chores and not too many messy things. And with your father and brothers helping you, you can live a more comfortable life."

Shen Chuning smiled and said coquettishly: "A Ning finally became my mother's daughter, I don't want to get married!"

Yun Shuxuan smiled dotingly, gently stroked her hair, and said softly, "It's okay if you don't marry. Mother will leave you enough money to ensure you have food and clothing. If the sisters-in-law can tolerate you, you can continue to stay at home. If they can't tolerate you, we will let your brother go out and live alone."

After hearing what Yun Shuxuan said, Shen Chuning couldn't help but laugh so hard that she bent over and almost cried.

After laughing for a while, Shen Chuning finally stopped laughing and brought the topic back to business. She asked in confusion, "This Wang family is really strange. If they want to hold a welcoming banquet, even if not on the first day we arrived in Jinan, they should have held it when we just moved into the Governor's Office. Why did they only remember to hold a welcoming banquet for Dad after so many days? And they had to schedule it for seven days from now. I really don't know what they are up to."

Yun Shuxuan pondered for a moment and then said, "Perhaps it's because your father and Wang Haiquan will both be on vacation in seven days, so this will be more convenient."

However, Shen Chuning's doubts remained. She asked doubtfully, "Isn't the welcoming banquet just a simple meal invited by Lord Wang and his family? Why do they have to wait until their vacation?"

Yun Shuxuan also frowned, puzzled. "Maybe Wang Haiquan has too many family members?"

Hearing this explanation, Shen Chuning couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Even if there are a lot of people, they really can't all show up at such an occasion."

Yun Shuxuan rolled his eyes and said dissatisfiedly, "Even the concubine is involved in this matter. Is there anything that the Wang family can't do?"

Shen Chuning shook her head slightly and said firmly, "I still feel that this matter is strange in every way. We must investigate it as soon as possible."

……

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

This morning, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was blowing, which made people feel happy.

In the east courtyard, Yun Shuxuan was sitting leisurely on a chair drinking tea when he suddenly heard a burst of hurried footsteps.

She looked up and saw Song walking towards her quickly with a warm smile on her face.

"Mrs. Shen, the guests are about to arrive. How are your preparations going? Is there anything I can help you with?" Song asked with a smile, her tone friendly and natural.

However, Yun Shuxuan seemed somewhat puzzled.

She asked softly, "Guests? Song, have you invited anyone else?"

A trace of barely perceptible embarrassment flashed across Song's face, but she soon returned to her smile.

However, she pretended to be calm and replied, "Mrs. Shen, today is a big day! The families of all Shandong officials above the sixth rank will be attending the banquet."

Mrs. Shen frowned, a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

She responded coldly: "Isn't it you who prepared a welcoming banquet for us today?"

Song smiled and explained, "Madam Shen, I'm just a lowly concubine. How can I be qualified to organize such a big event? We in Shandong have always had a custom that the wives of newly appointed officials host banquets. This is to welcome the new official and also to allow everyone to get to know each other and communicate. So the protagonist of this banquet should be you!"

Yun Shuxuan frowned, shook his head slowly, and said softly, "No one has ever said this before."

A subtle hint of joy flashed across Song's face. "Oh, look at my memory! I forgot to tell you. But I was right. Our Wang family's welcoming ceremony for Lord Shen is the same as that for all Shandong officials above the sixth rank. It's actually the same thing."

Yun Shuxuan asked somewhat unhappily, "But you clearly told me that you were in charge of arranging this."

Song raised her lips, raised her eyebrows, and said with a hint of provocation, "I'm responsible for arranging it. Madam Shen, you've just arrived and are not familiar with the ladies in Shandong. Naturally, I have to inform them."