"Mother, if there's honor, we're a family, but when there's trouble, we split? Shouldn't we share honor and disgrace?" Shen Congjun disagreed.
Old Madam Shen shook her head, "As long as the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn."
As Shen Congjun was about to say more, Madam Zheng, who was beside him, took his arm and said, "Yunlan is about to take his imperial examinations. Do you want to ruin his career?"
Shen Congjun trembled all over, looked up at Shen Yunlan, who said, "Father, you don't need to worry about me."
"Nonsense. Look how much effort you've put into these imperial examinations. I see it all clearly," Madam Zheng said tearfully. She would not allow anything to ruin her son's career.
"Alright, it's settled then. Anyone who still wants to leave can do so now. There won't be another chance later," Old Madam Shen closed her eyes.
"Grandmother, Father, Yunxiu is unfilial."
Old Madam Shen's eyes snapped open, and she looked at Shen Yunxiu, who was kneeling below. She was shocked. "Yunxiu, you..."
"Unfilial son, you want to disown the Shen family too?" Shen Congwen, furious, stepped forward and kicked Shen Yunxiu.
Shen Yunxiu did not dodge, enduring the kick.
The eldest and second branches saw this and quickly left. This was the third brother's family affair; they had no right to interfere.
"Master, Old Madam, Yunxiu is also... also about to go to the capital for his examinations. If this happens, it might..."
"Without the Shen family, would he have everything?" Shen Congwen said angrily.
Shen Yunxiu heard this and let out a low laugh, his smile tinged with unwillingness. "Because I am a son born of a concubine, I don't even have the right to take the examinations?"
Old Madam Shen heard this and said, "Your father doesn't mean that. It's just that if you disown the Shen family at this time, won't it make your father a laughingstock?"
"Grandmother, if the eldest uncle's family can disown the Shen family, why can't I?"
"Because your father is me," Shen Congwen said angrily.
"Father, it's you who is in trouble, not me. I have my own path to follow, so..."
Shen Yunxiu kowtowed, "Father, Grandmother, your unfilial son bows to you three times to thank you for raising me."
"Unfilial son, I will beat you to death today, you unfilial son..." Shen Congwen was so angry he was about to call for family punishment. Just then, Old Madam Shen spoke.
"Forget it. You can keep the person, but not their heart. Let him go..."
Shen Congwen looked at Old Madam Shen, "Mother..."
"Don't you see? When disaster strikes, everyone flies in different directions?"
Shen Congwen took several steps back, came before Concubine Feng, and bent down. "Feng Yudie, I believe I haven't treated you unfairly all these years, so will you leave too?"
Feng Yudie lowered her head and bit her lower lip. "This concubine will follow the second young master. If he stays, I stay. If he leaves, I..."
"Get out..." Shen Congwen pushed Feng Yudie away, his voice cold and angry.
Shen Yunxiu kowtowed three more times, then got up and helped Concubine Feng. "Aunt, let's go."
Beside them, Shen Yueyue suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to Concubine Feng.
Feng Yudie trembled all over and looked at Shen Yueyue. "Fifth Miss, what is this..."
"Aunt, I cannot go with you. I will stay," Shen Yueyue said word by word.
Concubine Feng looked astonished, and Shen Yunxiu frowned. He looked at his sister, with whom he had never been close since childhood, and asked, "Have you thought about it?"
Shen Yueyue nodded solemnly. "The Shen family is in trouble. As a member of the Shen family, I cannot leave at this time. A true man knows what to do and what not to do. Although I am a woman, I also follow this principle."
"As you wish. Have you thought it through?" Shen Yunxiu asked again.
He didn't have much affection for this sister, so he didn't feel anything.
Concubine Feng couldn't believe it. "Fifth Miss, come with Aunt!"
"Aunt, since childhood, your heart has only been for second brother. I was dispensable. It's good that he's willing to take you away now, but don't regret it one day," Shen Yueyue said.
"Aunt, let's go!" Shen Yunxiu helped Concubine Feng and they left.
"Why aren't you leaving?" Old Madam Shen looked at Shen Yueyue, her gaze deep.
Shen Yueyue knelt down and said, "The country is in trouble, and every citizen has a duty. Now that the family is in trouble, I also have a duty."
"Good, well said." Shen Congwen looked at this daughter, whom he had neglected since childhood, with approval.
Old Madam Shen nodded. "You are good. Now that Concubine Feng has left, you will be raised under the knees of the legitimate daughter."
Shen Yueyue trembled all over, almost disbelieving. "Can... can I?"
Madam Shen didn't have much of an impression of Shen Yueyue, but she remembered that Shen Yueyue would come to greet her every day and was very punctual. Such a child was a good child.
Seeing Shen Yueyue's cautious demeanor, she felt a long-lost maternal love. She stepped forward, took Shen Yueyue's hand, and said gently, "I have been negligent towards you. I will pay more attention to you from now on."
Shen Yueyue said excitedly, "Mother."
Old Madam Shen said, "From now on, she will be registered under your name and be considered a legitimate daughter. Once things are over, her name will be added to the family genealogy."
"Yes, Old Madam," Madam Shen agreed.
Shen Yueyue felt as if she were dreaming. She was really not a concubine-born daughter anymore, but a legitimate daughter?
"I am tired. Everyone can leave now," Old Madam Shen waved her hand, signaling everyone to withdraw.
Shen Congwen and the others withdrew.
"Limei, go and stand guard outside," Old Madam Shen said.
Limei walked out. Only then did Old Madam Shen turn to the screen behind her and say, "Miss Ning'an, come out!"
An Ning walked out from behind the screen. She had heard everything that had just happened from beginning to end.
"Did you gain anything?" Old Madam Shen asked.
An Ning nodded. "Observe Shen Yunxiu closely."
Old Madam Shen looked at her and asked, "Is there something wrong with Yunxiu?"
"What Fifth Miss can think of, he will also think of. His eagerness to distance himself now suggests that something major is about to happen," An Ning said slowly.
"Something major?" Old Madam Shen frowned and said coldly.
An Ning nodded. "What the Old Madam just said reminded me. You mentioned that the third young master had a grievance with the Nian Gong family's daughter?"
Old Madam Shen was startled. "Are you saying this matter is related to the Nian Gong family?"
"A guess," An Ning said, not daring to be certain.
Old Madam Shen shook her head. "She is now a favored person before the Empress. Why would she pay attention to an insignificant existence in the Shen family?"
"No, because she now has the Empress's backing, she will retaliate against everyone who offended her in the past."
"How can that be?" Old Madam Shen didn't quite believe it.
"This is just my guess," An Ning said.
Old Madam Shen frowned. "If that's the case, then the Shen family is doomed. The Nian Gong family has been very arrogant these years with the Empress's backing. Congwen, as prefect, repeatedly restrained and suppressed them, which is why the Nian Gong family's arrogance subsided. It is likely that this has already offended Nian Gong Yue."
"Old Madam, this is just a guess; it may not be true," An Ning comforted Old Madam Shen.
Old Madam Shen shook her head. "No, now I've thought of many things. This is not a guess. You have a clue, don't you?"