Volume 1 Chapter 103 Second Master

  "Mother!" Shen Zhong's voice was laced with a hint of impatience, and a thin layer of bloodshot appeared in the bottom of his eyes.

  Since childhood, Shen Zhongge had never spoken to her in this tone before.

  The old lady stood still for a long time, and then her voice suddenly became shrill. "Have you made up your mind to keep her?!"

  It is said that after marrying a wife, one forgets his mother, and indeed it's true!

  In an instant, the old lady's face, which had just calmed down, turned dark and greenish again, with her hands grasping the back of the chair trembling slightly.

  The air suddenly stagnated.

  The tense atmosphere was suffocating, and Zi Yue felt her legs go weak. She secretly regretted listening to Bi Yue's words and staying here. Chu Xinyi also didn't expect this, and she anxiously thought about how to break the silence and resolve this awkward situation, so that Shen Zhongjie would be even more grateful to her in the future.

  A little maid rushed in panting, "The second master is back!"

  The old lady's face turned pale and her whole body was still tense, but when she heard the news, a flash of surprise appeared in her eyes. She was about to shout "please come in" when a hurried footsteps came, "...mother, mother!" The second master Shen Zhongxin walked in with big strides, "I'm back!" With a dusty face and a joyful expression of a returning traveler, he stepped into the door and stopped suddenly.

  What's wrong at home?

  The atmosphere is so depressing?

  Shen Zhongxin's expression slightly froze, and then he quickly turned around the golden silk nanmu screen with a crane pattern, his face filled with joy as if he hadn't noticed anything. He smiled at Shen Zhongge, who had looked up at him, "Big brother is also here?" Seeing the dozens of maidservants standing nervously on both sides, he felt even more surprised in his heart, "...... Big brother, what's going on? You're actually arguing with mother in front of all these servants?" His face still smiling, he looked at the table full of food and asked, "...... Haven't eaten yet?" He smiled warmly at the old lady, "Is it that you knew I was coming back, so you waited for me?"

  Looking at the two-year separation, Shen Zhongge was genuinely delighted to see his younger brother, now grown into a man. "...... How come you're back?" His face still stern, but his tone carried a hint of joy.

  A message has been sent long ago. Baiquan is only about 300 miles away from here, according to his plan. Rushing day and night, he should be back on New Year's Eve.

  Shen Zhongxin chuckled, "I received Big Brother's letter and rushed back, but the snow was too heavy on the road, so I got stuck in Anping for 7 or 8 days." He reached out to grab the old lady's hand, "Mother, I'm back."

  Pulling her little son's hand, the old lady burst into tears of joy. "Xin'er has lost weight and gotten darker, he must have suffered a lot outside." She glanced at Shen Zhongge sideways, "As long as Xin'er can return home safely, I'm happy, whoever dares to say you're late, I won't listen!" She looked up and instructed Ziyue, "Quickly take these away and heat them up, tell the kitchen to add a braised lion's head, it's Er Ye's favorite dish." Pulling Shen Zhongxin down to sit together. "Xin'er didn't even give me a heads up before coming back, I've prepared your favorite food."

  With a kind and gentle gaze, Shen Zhen still looks like a child. Every time he comes back home, the first thing he asks is if there's any delicious food at home.

  Shen Zhongxin took the tea handed over by Biyue and drank more than half a cup. Only then did he speak, "I thought I wouldn't be able to make it back for the Lantern Festival, so I didn't dare let anyone send word, lest Mother worry, besides..." He changed the subject, "This way, we can give Mother a surprise." His tone had a hint of playfulness.

  The old lady heard and smiled with a "heh heh".

  The old lady's anger dissipated, and the mother and son chatted warmly. Shen Zhongge stood up, "Second brother just came back, let him chat with his mother first, I have some things to deal with."

  "Big brother, go quickly. After I've eaten, I'll come to see you." Just now it was clear that big brother and mother were arguing, he had better hide first. Shen Zhongxin didn't even lift his head, still holding the old lady's hand, "Mother's white hair has increased again..."

  Shen Zhongbo bid farewell to the old lady again, "...... I'm going back."

  The old lady suddenly turned her head to one side.

  "Huh?" Shen Zhongxin exclaimed in surprise, "Mother has changed her earrings and isn't wearing gold anymore. Let me see, is it a South Pearl or an East Pearl?" He reached out to touch the pearl stud on Old Lady's left ear, drawing her attention away.

  As soon as Shen Zhongge saw him, he let out a sigh and walked away without hesitation.

  "General..." Seeing him not even looking at himself, Chu Xinyi hesitated and called out, wanting to say something comforting.

  Shen Zhongbo slowly turned his head and only then discovered that the three aunts led by Chu Xinyi were looking at him with a smile.

  In this house, apart from him and his mother, she was the highest in status. Just seeing her mother get angry, why didn't she take everyone out... Quietly looking at Chu Xinyi, suddenly, Shen Zhongge's heart ached, he turned his head and walked out quickly.

  Taking a step forward, Chu Xinyi stood quietly in the center of the hall, gazing at Shen Zhongke's lonely and proud back. A cold smile slowly spread across her lips as she thought to herself: With all these servants watching, this humiliation would likely be etched in his memory for a lifetime.

  That cheap woman brought such great shame to him on her first visit to the mansion, let's see how he'll still spoil her!

  ……

  Lying on his back on the arhat bed in the study, Shen Zhongjie felt empty and desolate, with a sense of solitary bleakness.

  He was stubborn since childhood, unlike his second brother Shen Zhongxin who had a sweet mouth. His mother had always liked Shen Zhongxin and was strict with him from a young age. However, being her own flesh and blood, she wouldn't let anyone else touch him. But today... He remembered how during the New Year, his mother had secretly formed an alliance with Madame Anqinghou for Shen Zhongxin's future, almost bringing disaster to the General's household. He sat up abruptly.

  Mom, when did you become so powerful?

  Where is the loving mother who used to worry about his safety?

  Zhen Shining was his legitimate wife. When Zhen Guogong was in power, she was too young and didn't understand the art of hiding her true nature. The overbearing aura had long been unbearable to Zhen Guogong. If it weren't for her and her family's backing, he would have become a sacrifice under Zhen Guogong's knife. After Zhen Guogong fell, he stepped on her family's blood to reach today's glory. Not to mention that she was already dying, just talking about this guilt, he absolutely couldn't abandon her again!

  Even so, in order to consider his mother's feelings, he did not plan to bring her into the mansion. Otherwise, there would be no need for him to go through great lengths to renovate the ancestral home.

  Last night, he shared a bed with her, and today, he wants to establish his authority for her. He just wants her to feel the honor and prestige of being the legitimate wife of a general in her lifetime, even if she only stays in the general's mansion for one day. The people in the mansion must respect her as their master, so that she will no longer regret having loved him, let her... leave with peace of mind.

  Is this too much?

  Even if there was hatred in the past, five years should have been enough to dissolve it. Why can't mother abandon her prejudices and start anew? Why must she keep tormenting me?

  Even if it's just for him, can't his mother give in a little?

  For the sake of his younger brother's future, for the private resentment in her heart, and for the sake of dignity in front of others, his mother no longer regarded him as her own son, but rather as an opponent who could be exploited.

  With a loud crash, Shen Zhongge's fist heavily smashed onto the bed of Arhat.

  Just as he was lost in thought, Rong Sheng knocked on the door and came in, "......Second Master has arrived."

  "Please."

  When Shen Zhongxin came in, Shen Zhongge was already sitting calmly at the desk with a military book in his hand. Seeing him come in, he asked without lifting his head, "Has mother had dinner?"

  "I've finished, I said I need to wash up first, Mother has already gone back to her room to rest." Knowing Shen Zhongge was worried about Old Madam, Shen Zhongxin spoke in detail without needing Shen Zhongge's instructions, and had already sat down across from him. "Mother said you're planning on bringing Eldest Sister into the manor?" His expression held a hint of calmness.

  "What else did Mother say?" Shen Zhongge remained noncommittal.

  "Big brother!" Seeing his big brother, Shen Zhongxin reluctantly called out, seeing his serious expression, he sighed again, "Mother said she would rather die than agree to let Eldest Sister enter the manor." He looked at Shen Zhongge seriously and carefully advised, "Mother is afraid of being bullied by Eldest Sister, besides, big brother doesn't have any feelings for her either, why not... divorce?"

  The house fell silent, and Rong Sheng quietly slipped out.

  A long time

  Just as Shen Zhongxin thought he wouldn't answer, Shen Zhongke's low voice came, "It was the Emperor who forbade us from divorcing."

  Long live?

  Long live is the Son of Heaven, but it's not a father or mother or elder brother, what right does he have to interfere with other people's husband and wife business?

  Shen Zhongxin's eyes widened unbelievably.

  "The second brother is not in the imperial court, and does not know the danger of this temple..." It was beyond Shen Zhongxin's expectation. Shen Zhongxian's face was solemn and serious, with an unprecedented expression, looking at him seriously. "The other day, mother almost brought disaster to the Shen family for your future...". After telling the whole story, he sighed, "The emperor has already made up his mind to deal with Anqing Hou, the imperial edict is absurd, but it also means that mother's unintentional crime of forming a party will be exempted. We can't make any more mistakes." Although this statement was somewhat exaggerated, it was all true.

  In his heart, Shen Zhongge didn't want to waste his breath explaining to his brother why he had to keep Zhen Shiniang.

  "How could this be?" Shen Zhongxin's face turned somewhat pale, "Mother actually wants to use big brother's marriage to curry favor with the nobles?" Isn't the wealth and honor that big brother has brought her enough? Does she still want to climb higher?

  In my impression, mother has never been such a powerful person.

  "All these years, I've been away on expeditions and neglected the matters at home." Shen Zhongge sighed, "Mother can get so close to Anqing Hou..." His voice hesitated for a moment before he resolutely said, "I'm sure there are people from Anqing Hou by her side. Second brother, remember, this time when you come back, don't mention any political matters in front of Mother..."

  "I understand." Shen Zhongxin's sweat flowed down, "No wonder big brother is so stubborn, mother is a bit absurd, but..." He looked up at Shen Zhonghui and tentatively said, "Although the holy will cannot be disobeyed, big brother after all dislikes big sister-in-law, why not just raise her outside the mansion according to mother's idea?"

  No way?

  Long live the emperor, but he is not allowed to be with Li, and yet he does not require him to be loyal to his elder sister-in-law. His elder brother can be very loyal, but it's not necessary for him to sacrifice his chastity and sleep with that arrogant elder sister-in-law just to show his loyalty.

  Isn't this... overdoing it?

  Shen Zhongxin couldn't understand his elder brother very well, and his gaze towards Shen Zhongqiu carried a hint of inquiry.

  PS: Happy Children's Day...