Madam Feng smiled and curtsied, "Old Madam, the second young master has taken a liking to a young lady and wishes to take her as his wife."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Shen glanced at Madam Feng and said faintly, "That is good news. May I know which young lady Yun Xiu fancies, and if your father will propose on your behalf?"
Shen Yun Xiu stepped forward and suddenly knelt on the ground, cupping his fists. "Grandmother, the young lady that your grandson fancies might cause some conflict with third brother."
"Oh? Could she be your third brother's person?" Old Madam Shen asked.
"Yes..." Shen Yun Xiu readily agreed.
"The master has arrived," Li Mei hurriedly entered the room to report to Old Madam Shen.
Soon, Shen Congwen walked in. Seeing Shen Yun Xiu and Madam Feng there, he said, "You are here too?"
Madam Feng said, "Master, the second young master has fallen for a young lady and is awaiting Old Madam's approval."
Shen Congwen smiled upon hearing this, "What does the young lady Yun Xiu fancies have to do with his grandmother?"
Madam Feng stepped forward and curtsied, "Master, you may not know, but the young lady the second young master fancies might cause some conflict with the third young master."
Shen Congwen's gaze flickered slightly, "What conflict could there be with that rebellious son? Which young lady is it? I will be your advocate."
"Congwen..." Old Madam Shen interjected.
Shen Congwen waved his hand, "Mother, that rebellious son is always looking for novelty; he won't fight with Yun Xiu."
Shen Yun Xiu kowtowed and slowly raised his head, his gaze firm. "Grandmother, Father, Yun Xiu fancies Miss Ning An, who is beside Third Brother."
Old Madam Shen: "..."
Shen Congwen: "..."
An Ning within the inner chamber: "..."
Madam Feng, who was standing by, exclaimed, "Second Young Master, how can you snatch someone's beloved? Don't you know that Third Young Master had a very unpleasant argument with Master over this girl? How can you get involved? No, no."
Madam Feng shook her head.
Shen Yun Xiu said, "Grandmother, Father, Yun Xiu fell in love with Miss Ning An at first sight."
Shen Congwen's expression was unreadable. "When did you ever meet Miss Ning An?"
Shen Yun Xiu's face flushed slightly. "Before, Miss Ning An unintentionally stumbled into my courtyard, so..."
He did not continue.
An Ning, inside the inner chamber, however, felt a sense of dread. If Shen Yun Xiu continued speaking like this, Shen Congwen's impression of her could only worsen.
She, who belonged to Shen Yun Xuan, was found in Shen Yun Xiu's courtyard, alone with him.
Even if she claimed to be lost and wandered in by accident, who would believe it?
Especially since Shen Congwen did not have a good impression of her. Putting aside her origins from a brothel, she had already caused a dispute between Shen Yun Xuan and him. Now, there was another accusation: attempting to seduce the second young master.
An Ning narrowed her eyes. Shen Yun Xiu's move was truly cunning.
She could imagine Shen Congwen being eager to give her to Shen Yun Xiu.
Shen Congwen scrutinized Shen Yun Xiu. Although this illegitimate son's knowledge and everything else surpassed Yun Xuan's, he was still an illegitimate son, and this status overshadowed all his merits.
His legitimate son absolutely could not marry a woman from a brothel; he would be ridiculed.
Now, if someone could share the burden, he would be very pleased.
"Yun Xiu, although you are an illegitimate son, you are also a son I have nurtured well. I will not show favoritism to anyone. Your wife should not be..."
"Father, I truly love Miss Ning An. I beg you to grant my wish," Shen Yun Xiu kowtowed, his gaze flashing with sarcasm that no one noticed as he lowered his head.
Shen Congwen heard this and said, "I heard you are about to go to the capital for your examinations. If your funds are insufficient, go to the accounting office to withdraw them. I have several friends in the capital; I will ask them to take good care of you then."
Shen Yun Xiu's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Thank you, Father."
Shen Congwen stepped forward and helped Shen Yun Xiu up. "Are you being so polite to your father? You are my son too."
"Then, Father, you agree?" Shen Yun Xiu asked.
Shen Congwen smiled, a rare sight. "This matter..."
"If you want my person, you must also ask if I agree."
A voice chimed in, and Shen Yun Xiu froze.
Shen Congwen frowned, and soon a figure in green walked in from outside.
Although his face still showed some fatigue, it could not hide his handsome features.
Shen Yun Xuan looked at Shen Yun Xiu, stepped forward with a cold expression and sharp eyes. "You want Ning An?"
Shen Yun Xiu said, "Third Brother, I have fallen in love with Miss Ning An. I ask Third Brother to yield her. I will certainly..."
Before Shen Yun Xiu could finish speaking, Shen Yun Xuan delivered a punch.
Shen Yun Xiu, caught off guard, stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground.
Madam Feng cried out in alarm and rushed forward to help Shen Yun Xiu up. "Second Young Master, are you alright?"
Shen Yun Xiu shook his head. "Auntie, I'm fine."
Shen Yun Xuan sneered, "You dare to covet my person? Shen Yun Xiu, you truly aren't afraid of getting beaten."
"Shen Yun Xuan, I am still here. You dare to act before me, do you have any regard for me as your father?" Shen Congwen was furious.
Shen Yun Xuan turned to look at Shen Congwen and grinned fiercely, "If I weren't considerate of you being here, Father, I would have beaten him until he was spitting teeth."
"Shen Yun Xuan, you..."
"Father..." Shen Yun Xuan interrupted Shen Congwen and said coldly, "Ning An is the person I intend to marry. Now, he also wishes to marry her. Is this not a grievance of a stolen wife? Must I watch him snatch the woman I love? Although I, Shen Yun Xuan, am reckless and unrestrained, I know I must protect my own, lest I be unworthy of being a man."
"Shen Yun Xuan, I tell you, you will not marry a woman from a brothel. I do not consent..."
Shen Congwen said in exasperation.
"Father, whether you consent or not, I will do this. Therefore, your disapproval is useless to me."
"You... you... you are stubborn and beyond redemption. Guards, bring the family discipline! Today, I must..." Shen Congwen was burning with rage.
"Congwen, Old Madam is still here," Old Madam Shen suddenly spoke.
Shen Congwen froze, only then remembering that Old Madam Shen was behind him.
"Mother, Yun Xuan is too much of a scoundrel. Your son must teach him a good lesson," Shen Congwen said indignantly.
Old Madam Shen said, "Where is Yun Xuan wrong? He is protecting the girl he likes; Old Madam thinks there is nothing wrong with that. However, Yun Xiu, you are wrong to snatch someone's love."
Shen Yun Xiu wiped the blood from his lip and said, "Grandmother, everyone has a love for beauty, and your grandson is no exception."
"While that may be true, he is your third brother. You can snatch anyone's belongings but not your third brother's, because he is the legitimate son, and you are an illegitimate son," Old Madam Shen said coldly.
Shen Yun Xiu stiffened; it was the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate sons again.
Shen Congwen was also shocked. Although he disliked Yun Xuan's fondness for a brothel woman, his mother was not wrong. How could an illegitimate son snatch something from a legitimate son?
"Yun Xiu, your grandmother is correct; you have overstepped."
Madam Feng, standing by, trembled. "Old Madam, Master, please forgive us. Second Young Master merely likes Miss Ning An too much, which led him to overstep the rules."
"The rules cannot be broken. You will receive five strokes shortly," Shen Congwen said coldly.