"Congwen, you are not allowed to hit Yunxuan," said Madam Shen, who had just woken from her coma, rushing over to stop Shen Congwen from using family discipline.
Shen Congwen sighed, "Mother, he's completely spoiled by you all."
Madam Shen heard this, stood in front of Shen Yunxuan, and said, "Congwen, listen to your mother and put down the whip."
Shen Congwen sighed and dropped the whip. Madam Shen breathed a sigh of relief, turned to look at Shen Yunxuan, and said with heartache, "You child, why don't you say a single soft word? Get up, get up..."
Shen Yunxuan stood up and said, "Thank you, Grandmother. Grandmother is still the best to me."
Madam Shen was amused to the point of laughter and said, "If you used the words you use to coax your grandmother to coax your father, you would receive fewer punishments."
"Mother, even though family discipline is not used, a punishment is necessary. Go to the ancestral hall and kneel for three days. No one is allowed to bring food without my permission," Shen Congwen said coldly.
Madam Shen did not stop him this time. She looked at Shen Yunxuan and said, "Grandmother cannot help you this time. Yunxuan, you must reflect on your actions."
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Yes, Grandmother."
After he spoke, he came before Anning and said in a low voice, "You don't need to be afraid. Do things according to your own nature. The more you stir up trouble, the better."
Anning nodded and suddenly said to him, "What if someone hits me? Can I hit back?"
"Of course, you can," Shen Yunxuan said.
"What if it's someone close to you?" Anning asked.
Shen Yunxuan paused, then said, "I will tell them not to touch you."
After giving these instructions, Shen Yunxuan whispered a few more words to Madam Shen. Finally, Madam Shen sighed, seeming very helpless, "Alright, you may go!"
Shen Yunxuan left, and Madam Shen stepped forward, saying, "You come with me!"
"Thank you, Madam, for your trouble," Anning said. She knew Shen Yunxuan had entrusted her to Madam Shen. With Madam Shen present, no one would dare to touch her.
Moon Cloud Pavilion
"Master did not punish the third young master?" Concubine Feng frowned and asked.
Liping nodded, "Yes, after the eldest young master intervened, Master did not take further action. The old madam also appeared, and he was punished to reflect in the ancestral hall."
"He is truly lucky to be unharmed after such an incident," Concubine Feng said with disdain.
"Why should concubine be angry about this? After all, he is the father's only legitimate son. How could he bear to strike him? Moreover, the grandmother intervened?" Shen Yunxiu shook his head.
To be honest, he was a bit curious. What would the courtesan, whom his third brother, who had always been uninterested in women, had defied his father to marry, look like?
Concubine Feng sighed upon hearing this, "Concubine is merely indignant for you. Your knowledge is far superior to the third young master's, but your status as a concubine's son holds you back." Otherwise, her son would be no worse.
"Concubine need not worry. This year's imperial examinations, I will surely give concubine a surprise." He dared not guarantee the top scholar, but the third place was almost a certainty.
Concubine Feng smiled with relief, "Concubine knew you were a good child. Go back and study!"
Shen Yunxiu nodded, stood up, bowed, and said, "Yunxiu takes his leave!"
Shen Yunxiu left the Moon Cloud Pavilion and returned to Xiu Yi Xuan. He found the servant boy still following him at the door of his room and said, "Go back and rest. Come back tomorrow."
The servant boy nodded joyfully, "Yes, Second Young Master."
Shen Yunxiu looked around, saw no one, and then pushed open the door and walked in. A woman was already sitting in the room. Shen Yunxiu said, "I apologize for my late return."
The woman did not seem to mind and simply asked, "How is everything being handled?"
Shen Yunxiu replied, "My lady, rest assured, everything is proceeding according to plan."
The woman nodded, looked at Shen Yunxiu, and her lips curved as she slowly said, "Aren't you going to ask why I'm doing this?"
"Whatever my lady does, or how she does it, I do not wish to know. I only wish to achieve high academic success and leave Zhaoping," Shen Yunxiu said slowly, looking up.
"Your status as a concubine's son makes you very insecure," the woman said word by word.
Shen Yunxiu's hands in his sleeves clenched tightly. He lowered his gaze, for as a son born to a concubine, he could not dine with his siblings in the main hall, nor could he attend any banquets, all because of his status. Achieving high academic success was his only way out, his chance to hold his head high.
"It doesn't matter if the Shen family declines?" the woman asked again.
Shen Yunxiu gave a low laugh, his smile filled with endless mockery. "The Shen family has nothing to do with me. I have no stake here. It would be for the best if it were to be destroyed."
The woman chuckled charmingly and said, "I will grant you your wish. But now, shouldn't you be attending to your master?"
The veins in Shen Yunxiu's sleeves bulged, but he had no other choice. He suppressed the disdain in his eyes, looked up, his gaze as usual, walked forward, the curtain fell, and inside, a scene of passion unfolded.
Shen Family Ancestral Hall
The door was opened, and a figure walked in. Shen Yunxuan looked up and saw the person, showing no surprise at all, "You've come."
Anning said, "You knew I would come?"
Shen Yunxuan smiled at this, his smile somewhat sarcastic, "No one else would come here but you." The patriarch had spoken, and who dared to disobey? Only Ning An could disregard it.
"Why?" Anning asked.
"Why what?" Shen Yunxuan looked up at her.
"Young Master Shen, you know what I'm asking," Anning said calmly. Da Feng Novel Network.
Shen Yunxuan grinned, "Is there anything to eat?"
Anning took out a paper package from her embrace and pushed it towards him. "There are a few meat buns inside. Please make do with them. I couldn't bring anything more."
Shen Yunxuan did not disdain them. He picked up a bun and took a large bite. Soon, three buns were gone. He wiped his mouth and said, "I suspect someone in the family is causing trouble, trying to bring down the Shen family."
Anning frowned, "You suspect someone in the family?"
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Yes. Six months ago, I accidentally discovered discrepancies between the family's storehouse and the account books."
"Did you not inform Master Shen?" Anning asked.
"I did, but when they went to investigate again, they found no trace of anything," Shen Yunxuan's gaze gradually turned cold.
"Someone is playing tricks," Anning said.
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Yes. That's when I knew someone in the family wanted to bring down the Shen family."
"Do you have any leads?" Anning asked again.
Shen Yunxuan replied, "Some leads."
"Who is it?"
"Everything points to the Moon Cloud Pavilion."
"Concubine Feng?"
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Yes, but I don't know why she's doing it now."
"Perhaps there's a helper," Anning said. Otherwise, how could a concubine have so much capability?
"Miss Ning An, do me a favor," Shen Yunxuan suddenly said.
"What is it?" Anning asked Shen Yunxuan.
Shen Yunxuan replied, "Cause as much trouble as possible."
Anning nodded, "Don't worry, I will."
Leaving the ancestral hall, Anning looked up, wondering what her father and sister An Ru were doing. She lowered her head and smiled. She would also be returning soon.
Shen Yun Pavilion had extinguished the candles, with only dim firelight from the outer room. She tiptoed inside, and suddenly a voice came from within, "Did you see Yunxuan?"