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

"Mother, please tell me what your daughter-in-law should do." Qin Qimei asked softly with her head lowered.

Old Madam Shen looked at her with a look of disappointment, and glared at her fiercely, her gaze seemed to be able to penetrate one's soul.

"The third branch of the family has few children to begin with, and the only child has been living in that cold family temple all year round. How ridiculous! If this goes on, won't the third son's family line be cut off?" Old Lady Shen became more and more angry as she spoke, and her voice unconsciously rose a few degrees.

Qin Qimei's heart tightened. She cautiously raised her head to look at Old Madam Shen and asked tentatively, "Mother, do you want your daughter-in-law to ask my father-in-law to bring Wan'er back from the ancestral temple?"

Her tone was filled with uncertainty and worry.

Madam Shen snorted softly: "Not that stupid at all."

Qin Qimei didn't feel relieved after receiving a positive answer. Instead, she frowned and said with a worried look on her face, "But...but will my father-in-law agree? After all, this involves family rules, so I'm afraid it won't be easy to handle."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but clench the handkerchief in her hand, her heart beating fast.

Hearing this, Madam Shen curled her lips indifferently: "If he doesn't agree, then go to him and cry. Cry at home first. If that doesn't work, then go outside and cry. If that doesn't work, wait until he leaves the court, then you can just wait at the palace gate and cry. I don't believe he won't give in in front of so many court officials!"

In order to bring Shen Jingwan back home, Old Madam Shen could think of any method, even if these ideas sounded a bit absurd.

However, although she dared to come up with such an idea, Qin Qimei did not dare to agree to it easily.

She looked embarrassed, and after a moment's hesitation, she slowly said, "Mother, as a daughter-in-law, is it inappropriate for me to rashly run to my father-in-law and cry like this?"

Old Madam Shen glanced at her with a hint of dissatisfaction and contempt in her eyes, and said coldly: "I am just giving you some advice with good intentions. As for the trivial matters in your room, it is ultimately up to you, the wife, to make the decision. Our Shen family has a rule that a man can take a concubine only when he is forty years old and has no children. Now that the third son is about to reach forty, the third branch cannot break the incense inheritance! So I am thinking about finding a good girl with a decent character and a good family background to marry directly into the family as a co-wife. In this way, the status of the son born in the future will be better..."

Before Madam Shen could finish her words, Qin Qimei couldn't wait to interrupt and said, "Mother, I will ask my father-in-law for help on this matter."

Hearing this, Old Madam Shen nodded slightly in approval, a look of relief on her face as she spoke slowly, "It's not that I want you to go unprepared. I've already sent invitations to every family in the capital, inviting them to attend Xiaojiu's coming-of-age ceremony, but Xiaojiu doesn't want to come back, and it's difficult to take back the invitations I've sent out. It just so happens that Wan'er and Xiaojiu's birthdays are not far apart, and they're both daughters of the Shen family. Why not hold Wan'er's coming-of-age ceremony on the same day?"

Qin Qimei quickly agreed: "Daughter-in-law understands, I'll try it when I get back."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Madam Shen frowned, her face showing displeasure, and she sternly said, "What do you mean by try? This matter can only succeed, not fail! If it fails, you will come with me to select someone for the Third Master's room."

……

General Dingguo's Mansion.

In the early morning, the sun had just risen, and the golden sunlight shone on the courtyard of the general's mansion.

Zhou Lin walked towards the main hall with steady steps, ready to pay his respects to General Zhou and Madam Zhou.

When he stepped into the main hall, Mrs. Zhou immediately saw his slightly tired face. Her heart ached and she asked with concern, "Did Hanzhi stay up all night again yesterday? Look at the dark circles under his eyes, they're almost seeping to the corners of his mouth."

Seeing this, General Zhou, who was sitting nearby, couldn't help but chime in, "Hmph! I usually despise those civil servants who only know how to grumble and whine. They all look so weak and frail. But you, boy, insist on taking the imperial examination! In my opinion, it's best for you to fail quickly so you can return to the battlefield sooner. That's what a man of our Zhou family should do!"

However, Madam Zhou was not happy to hear this. She frowned and retorted, "It's a good thing for the child to be ambitious. Besides, life and death are unpredictable on the battlefield. How can it be safer than being a civil servant?"

After being contradicted by Old Madam Zhou, Old General Zhou immediately lost his temper. He groaned and said no more, just turned his head and sulked.

At this time, Zhou Lin hurriedly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Grandfather and grandmother, please calm down and don't worry about your grandson's affairs. In fact, I took the imperial examination this time because the teacher said that I have some confidence, so I wanted to give it a try. I hope that grandpa and grandmother can understand and support me."

After hearing this, General Zhou glared at Zhou Lin, then blew his beard and said in a serious tone, "As the grandson of Zhou Antai, I must give my all in everything I do. How can I just give it a try?"

After listening to this, Zhou Lin clasped his hands together and responded in a firm and resonant voice: "Yes, grandson will do his best! I will never let grandma and grandpa down!"

After saying this, his eyes, bright as stars, sparkled with anticipation, and he once again turned his gaze to Madam Zhou who was sitting in the upper seat.

At this moment, the smile on Madam Zhou's face faltered slightly, as if something had interrupted her train of thought. However, she quickly regained her composure and, still with that amiable smile, slowly spoke, "Everything has to come in a certain order. I have to wait until you've passed the exam and made your name on the list before I can legitimately come and propose marriage for you."

When Zhou Lin heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then he couldn't help but feel that he was indeed a little too anxious.

Fortunately, he quickly adjusted his mentality.

He bowed deeply to his grandparents, then ran to his room like an arrow, ready to study hard.

After Zhou Lin disappeared, General Shen, who had remained silent until then, slowly asked, "Propose a marriage? To whom?"

Madam Zhou smiled slightly and replied softly, "She is the niece of the Mu Jin family."

"Haha... As expected of my grandson Zhou Antai, you have a unique vision! I knew at first sight that the little girl from the Shen family was quite good. Not only is she beautiful, but she's also well-educated and well-mannered. We can wait until the results are announced before proposing marriage. I think it won't be long before that happens. Shouldn't we start preparing the betrothal gifts now to avoid being scrambled when the time comes?"

General Zhou laughed heartily and enthusiastically discussed the follow-up matters with Madam Zhou.

But there was no smile on Mrs. Zhou's face. "I went to my mother-in-law's place a while ago to get some information."