She remarried a cold-faced, powerful man, and the scumbag regretted it and cried his heart out.

Unlike his parents, Shen Yuanzhou didn't have many worries. He just felt that his brother-in-law had survived a disaster, and he was simply happy.

Song Wan smiled and pulled Shen Jingshu to her side, looking her up and down with a smile in her eyes, "It's only been a day, but my daughter looks very well."

Shen Jingshu snuggled up to Song Wan and said coquettishly, "My mother still loves me the most."

As the group entered the main hall, Shen Zizhong finally couldn't hold back any longer and began to berate Jiang Jin'an.

"You brat! Do you know how worried the whole family was after the news of your 'death' broke?"

He paused, his hair and beard bristling, his anger rising even higher. "And you, sitting back and doing nothing, not even sending a single message home!"

"Is your aunt even speaking human language? The whole capital knows! It's all thanks to the Crown Princess and Prime Minister Lu's help, otherwise Jing Shu would have been so embarrassed!"

Jiang Jin'an lowered his head and listened attentively to the admonition.

Seeing that Shen Zizhong was getting angrier and angrier, he finally grabbed a feather duster and started chasing after Jiang Jin'an and hitting him.

"You unfilial son! Stop right there! I'm going to break your legs today!"

Jiang Jin'an was agile, dodging and weaving in the courtyard, and Shen Zizhong couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

"Father-in-law, please calm down. Be careful not to hurt yourself."

Shen Zizhong was so angry that his beard bristled. "You dare to hide? If I don't beat you up today, I'm not a Shen!"

"Father-in-law, please let me explain."

"I won't listen!"

"..."

Chickens and dogs were running around in the front yard. Shen Jingshu laughed for a while before going up to stop Shen Zizhong, "Please don't chase after him, he's still injured."

Shen Zizhong paused, tossed the feather duster to Uncle Fu, but continued to argue, "Injury? What injury does he have? He's perfectly fine, he doesn't look injured at all."

Shen Jingshu saw through Shen Zizhong's pretense at a glance. She took Shen Zizhong's arm and said coquettishly, "Father, stop pretending. You know the truth, but you still kept it from me and Mother. How dare you say it?"

When his daughter exposed his lie, Shen Zizhong blushed and pretended to be serious, saying, "Although this matter is an imperial decree that cannot be disobeyed, what harm would it have done if you had told me beforehand? You've made the whole family worry about you for no reason!"

Jiang Jin'an breathed a sigh of relief. Just as Shen Jingshu was about to greet everyone and distribute the gifts, the doorman rushed over to report: "Master, Madam, the Xie family's Old Madam and First Madam request an audience."

Shen Zizhong and Song Wan exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.

Since Xie Wanqing's incident, the Xie family has closed their doors to visitors. Why are they suddenly coming to visit today?

Shen Zizhong pondered for a moment and said, "Please invite them in."

A short while later, the Xie family mother and daughter-in-law were led to the main hall. With the help of a maid, the old lady Xie walked in shakily.

Both were dressed simply, with ingratiating smiles on their faces, a stark contrast to their usual arrogant demeanor.

Especially Madam Xie, who was already old, now looked even more frail and decrepit. Her cloudy eyes kept glancing at Jiang Jin'an, clearly showing her considerable fear of this powerful captain.

Meanwhile, Madam Xie followed behind Old Madam Xie with her head bowed and eyes lowered, looking extremely cautious, as if afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing.

As soon as the two entered, they bowed to Shen Zizhong and Song Wan with extremely humble posture.

"Lord Marquis, Madam Marquis, I apologize for my intrusion in coming today," said Madam Xie first.

Shen Zizhong responded calmly, "You're too kind, Madam. Please have a seat."

After Madam Xie and Madam Xie took their seats, they began a barrage of flattery and compliments.

"Jing Shu is such a lucky girl, to have married such an excellent husband." As she looked at Shen Jing Shu, Madam Xie ordered someone to present a small gift.

Madam Xie chimed in, "Indeed, the Commandant is young and promising, and he and Jing Shu are a match made in heaven."

Song Wan and Shen Zizhong knew perfectly well that these two wouldn't come to their temple without a reason, but they didn't point it out and just exchanged pleasantries with them.

Shen Zizhong laughed it off: "Not at all, it's all thanks to His Majesty."

Song Wan also said, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and we elders shouldn't interfere too much."

After talking for a while, seeing that the two were changing the subject, Madam Xie became anxious and finally couldn't help but speak up: "Madam, to be honest, I have come here today to ask you for a favor."

Song Wan feigned surprise: "What brings you here, Madam?"

Old Madam Xie looked heartbroken. "It's all because that girl Wanqing did something foolish. Now, the Cheng family has broken off the engagement, Wanqing's reputation is ruined, and our Xie family has also lost face..."

Shen Zizhong and Song Wan sneered inwardly. Xie Wanqing's fate was entirely her own fault.

Seeing that they didn't react, Madam Xie continued, "My eldest daughter's second daughter is quiet, gentle, and well-educated. I was thinking... could we try to arrange for her to marry into the Cheng family?"

The head maid she mentioned was Madam Xie.

Madam Xie chimed in, "Yes, Madam Hou, our second daughter is also a good girl, and she is about the same age as Young Master Cheng. If she could marry into the Cheng family, it would be a perfect match for our two families."

Song Wan and Shen Zizhong exchanged a glance, already understanding each other's intentions.

The Xie family really knows how to play their cards right.

After Xie Wanqing got into trouble, she wanted to push her other daughter forward, hoping to continue to use the influence of the Marquis of Pingyang's mansion and Jiang Jin'an to curry favor with the Cheng family.

What do they take the Pingyang Marquis's mansion for?

Song Wan gave a forced smile: "This matter... in principle, I would naturally be willing to help if I could. However, marriage is a major event that requires mutual consent. Your request is probably a bit unreasonable, isn't it? Even when the old lady spoke to me, it was no use."

Madam Xie quickly said, "If Madam Hou is willing to help mediate, the Cheng family will definitely give you face. After all, Jing Shu is now the wife of a military officer, and you two are both prominent figures in the capital."

Song Wan's face darkened: "Madam, what do you mean by that? Are you suggesting we use our power to oppress others?"

Madam Xie's expression changed, and she quickly explained, "I wouldn't dare! I had no such intention! I just... I just beg Madam Hou to help me out of consideration for the relationship between our two families."

Shen Jingshu, who had been sitting to the side, suddenly spoke up: "Madam, you must know why Xie Wanqing ended up like this, right? I'm sitting right here, your plan is a bit too cunning."

Shen Yuanzhou also said, "You know better than anyone what my elder sister has gone through. How dare you come to the Marquis's residence now, for such a shameless thing?"

The old lady Xie was speechless after being choked by the words of the two siblings, her face turning pale and then red.

That's right! Why did Xie Wanqing end up like this? It's because she went mad and poisoned Shen Jingshu!

But Xie Wanqing was raised by their Marquis's family. What does she have to do with the Xie family? Why should she be implicated?

Madam Xie was thinking and wanted to retort, but when Jiang Jin'an, who was sitting opposite her, shot her a sharp look, she was so frightened that she trembled and dared not utter a sound.

Song Wan was too lazy to deal with them anymore. "Jing Shu, you and Jin An must be tired. Go back to Shao Guang Courtyard and rest. Madam, today is Jing Shu and the Commandant's homecoming banquet. The family banquet has been prepared, so we won't keep you two any longer. We'll talk another day."

Shen Jingshu agreed, and Jiang Jin'an also stood up, bowed to Shen Zizhong and Song Wan, and left the main hall with Shen Jingshu.

Shen Zizhong and Song Wan also got up to see the guests off, showing no respect whatsoever to the Xie family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.