She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

Shen Man smiled and nodded: "Yes, Mother is staying at the government office with great peace of mind. A few days ago, I took her around the city, and she loves it here."

A relieved smile appeared on Meng Zhuo's face, his eyes sparkling: "That's good, that's good..."

As he spoke, he gently rubbed his hands together, as if he had a thousand words to say but didn't know where to begin.

Shen Man keenly sensed Meng Zhuo's thoughts, and she quickly stepped forward and said softly to him, "Uncle Meng, you must be exhausted after your long journey back."

I'll have someone prepare a room for you right away. You can wash up and rest properly. Tonight, I'll have the kitchen prepare a few extra dishes to welcome you back.

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhuo was deeply grateful for Shen Man's understanding. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his excitement, and slowly said, "Man'er, thank you!"

"Uncle Meng, you're no stranger to me, why be so polite with me!" Then, she called over a servant and had him take Meng Zhuo to the guest room.

After that, Shen Man lost the will to continue working. She returned to the backyard and told Lanxiang about Meng Zhuo's return.

"Mother, Uncle Meng has returned from the capital and is washing up in the guest room now!"

Lanxiang was overjoyed to hear that Meng Zhuo had returned.

She had originally thought that he would stay in Beijing for a while after returning to overturn the case, but he returned in less than a month.

"Man'er, your Uncle Meng has been busy traveling and I don't know if he has any clean clothes left. Why don't you send someone to the clothing store on the street to buy him a couple of new outfits?"

Also, have someone prepare some calming incense for him; he's been traveling a lot these past few days and probably hasn't had a good night's sleep.

Lanxiang only realized the wonders of the calming incense after she arrived at the border town government office and couldn't sleep well.

Shen Man nodded in agreement and immediately arranged for servants to make preparations.

By the time Meng Zhuo finished washing up and tidying up, it was already completely dark.

"Second Master Meng, the city lord has prepared wine and dishes in the dining room and invites you to dine there." As soon as he stepped out of the room, a servant came over and said this to him.

When Meng Zhuo followed the servant to the restaurant, Lanxiang and her daughter were already seated at the table.

Meng Zhuo stared intently at Lanxiang, then suddenly stumbled, bumping into the screen beside him with a soft creak.

He gripped his sleeve tightly, his nails almost digging into his palms, but he was completely unaware.

Today, Lanxiang is dressed in a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her figure slender and graceful, just like a white magnolia blossoming in the moonlight, elegant and refined.

A hairpin she had bought a few days ago was tucked behind her ear. It swayed gently with her movements, the gold beads and jade jingling as they collided, adding to her liveliness and charm.

In the candlelight, her eyes appeared even more expressive and radiant.

The commotion at the door immediately caught the attention of the mother and daughter.

When Shen Man saw that it was Meng Zhuo, she immediately stood up and greeted him, "Uncle Meng, come and sit down."

Meng Zhuo nodded and mechanically moved his feet, but accidentally knocked over a teacup on the table when he reached for the chair.

The scalding hot tea was poured onto the blue bricks, and the rising steam blurred the view.

In his panic, he picked up the porcelain shards, cutting his fingertip and drawing blood. The smell of blood mixed with the aroma of tea filled the air.

Lanxiang got up to get a handkerchief, but Meng Zhuo suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Realizing his rudeness, he released his grip as if electrocuted, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice hoarse and unlike his own: "Don't move..."

He crouched down and carefully picked up the porcelain shards one by one, his knuckles turning white from the effort. "There were broken porcelain shards on the ground; I was carefully scratched."

Seeing how nervous Meng Zhuo was, Shen Man smiled quietly and excused herself to go to the kitchen to add more food before leaving the restaurant.

Only the two of them remained in the room, the candlelight casting interplay of light and shadow on Meng Zhuo's face.

He looked at Lanxiang, hesitant to speak, and finally managed to utter only, "Lanxiang, you... you've lost weight."

He regretted it before he finished speaking, and hurriedly lowered his head to drink tea, but his hand trembled and he spilled half a cup on his clothes.

Lanxiang silently handed him a handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus flowers. The moment her fingertips brushed against the back of his hand, Meng Zhuo felt as if his heart was about to burst out of his chest.

In the rising steam of the tea, he saw Lanxiang's long eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Let's talk after we finish eating!" Lanxiang said to him in a low voice, feeling embarrassed by his gaze.

Just then, Shen Man returned, and Meng Zhuo quickly sat up straight.

"Man'er, come and eat quickly, or the food will get cold!" Lanxiang hurriedly called to Shen Man.

The three of them finished their meal chatting and laughing. Shen Man then made an excuse that she had some business to attend to at the government office and went straight to the study.

After a few drinks, Meng Zhuo's cheeks flushed red. He looked at Lanxiang sitting beside him with deep affection and urgency in his eyes.

"Lanxiang, my dear sister, you have been on my mind the whole way back from the capital. Now that the injustice done to my Meng family has been cleared, I want to marry you as soon as possible."

"Once we return to Autumn Wind Town, I will send someone to propose marriage to you, shall we?"

Lanxiang looked at Meng Zhuo, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes, but she still gently shook her head.

She put down her chopsticks, her voice gentle yet firm: "Brother Meng, I understand your intentions. I have always remembered what you have done for my daughter and me over the years."

However, I cannot agree to this marriage proposal just yet.

Upon hearing Lanxiang's refusal, Meng Zhuo sobered up considerably: "Lanxiang, is it because I don't have a decent house? Don't worry, once we get back to Qiufeng Town, I'll buy land and build a house right away, and I promise you won't suffer with me!"

Lanxiang shook her head again and said softly, "Brother Meng, it's not that I dislike you for not having a house, nor that I'm unwilling to marry you. It's just that Man'er is not married yet, and I don't want to get married for the time being."

I raised Man'er single-handedly. In my heart, as long as she is not married, she is still a child, and I cannot let go of her.

If I marry you and start another family, then Man'er will have no home.

"If she suffers any injustice in the future, she won't even have anyone to rely on. How can I, as her mother, live in peace?"

Upon hearing Lanxiang's words, Meng Zhuo's heart instantly calmed down, and his eyes were filled with understanding and tenderness.

He gently held Lanxiang's hand and said, "Lanxiang, I understand your feelings. I see your love for Man'er. I'm willing to wait until Man'er gets married before we talk about marriage."

Lanxiang was surprised by Meng Zhuo's understanding, and her eyes welled up with tears. She looked at Meng Zhuo gratefully and said softly, "Brother Meng, thank you. I am content with your kindness."

Meng Zhuo smiled and nodded. "There's no need for thanks between us. As long as you're at ease, I'm at ease too."

At this moment, the moonlight outside the window was like water, shining into the room and illuminating the two figures leaning on each other, creating a warm and beautiful scene.