No matter how angry Shen Shiqian was, he was still at the entrance of his estate.
Furthermore, there was a crowd of servants watching.
There was no telling if there were spies planted by his rivals among them.
Having served as an official for many years, he naturally knew that family scandals should not be aired in public.
These were all potential leverage against him.
If his rivals seized upon this to submit a memorial against him, he would be lucky to escape with his life, let alone his career.
Shen Shiqian took a deep breath, and his expression returned to one of gentleness.
"Qingyuan, there were reasons for what I did back then; I did not intentionally abandon you and your mother. Now that I have brought you back, it shows that I still care for you in my heart."
Shen Qingyuan, however, had no desire to entertain her biological father's act.
"Reasons? What reasons? It was nothing more than you seeing the Liu Family rising in power and coveting their influence.
Unable to let go of my mother's dowry, you found an excuse to drive us to the countryside to fend for ourselves."
Shen Shiqian frowned slightly. This girl had been raised in the countryside since she was young.
How did she know about the Liu Family's rise?
Could it be that Gu Minglan told her?
If she was secretly inquiring about these things, it meant that Gu Minglan still could not let him go.
Shen Shiqian recalled how Gu Minglan used to work tirelessly for him without complaint.
He felt a bit better.
Shen Shiqian softened his tone, then noticed that the servants behind Shen Qingyuan were all dressed in coarse cloth.
It was clear that Gu Minglan had not returned with them; she was likely long dead.
He immediately put on a look of lamentation.
"Father knows that you and Minglan suffered grievances in the countryside, but I was forced by circumstances. There hasn't been a day that I haven't thought of you."
Shen Qingyuan felt like cursing.
Gu Minglan, however, gently pulled her daughter aside and stepped out from behind Shen Qingyuan.
No matter how much Shen Shiqian deserved to be hated, he was still Yuan'er's biological father.
If her daughter tore off the mask of her own father the moment she returned home, it would be seen as unfilial regardless of the circumstances.
Gu Minglan did not want her daughter to bear that reputation.
She, however, was different; she, Gu Minglan, was Shen Shiqian's first wife.
It did not matter if she tore Shen Shiqian's reputation to shreds and trampled it into the dirt.
"That's right, you, Shen Shiqian, coveted the wealth of the Gu Family and begged to marry me.
It is a pity that my parents died early and my family's fortunes declined.
Seeing the Liu Family rising, you began an illicit affair with Lady Liu and used the Liu Family to pave your way.
You have truly spent your whole life 'thinking' of others, haven't you?"
The surroundings fell into a deathly silence, with only Gu Minglan's tearful questioning echoing in the air.
The servants wished they could bury their heads in the dirt; they feared they would be silenced for hearing such private matters of the master's household.
Shen Shiqian had his true colors exposed in public, especially with that remark about "thinking of others."
It struck the deepest, most hidden secret he never wanted anyone to mention.
Back then, Shen Shiqian was merely a man of Humble Background.
If he hadn't married Gu Minglan, the daughter of a merchant, where would he have found the money to grease palms and study in peace to earn his rank?
Shen Shiqian was somewhat annoyed. He looked at the person who had spoken—her skin was slightly dark, and she wore no makeup.
Yet, he could faintly see the shadow of Gu Minglan.
He was shocked, but felt even more displeasure.
He was shocked that Gu Minglan, that wealthy young lady who never lifted a finger,
was still alive after so many years in the countryside.
What he disliked was that Gu Minglan's once well-maintained appearance was gone.
Now, she looked no different from a farm woman.
Thinking of Lady Liu in the estate, he instantly felt that his choice had been correct.
Lady Liu was beautiful and uninhibited in bed.
She was far better than this Gu Minglan.
Shen Shiqian flicked his sleeves and entered the estate.
He left behind only one sentence.
"Qingyuan, you are lax in managing your subordinates, allowing a servant to make such accusations against an official.
Later, hand this person over to the Mistress of the House to be disciplined."
He could not acknowledge her.
Gu Minglan had to die; the person Shen Qingyuan brought back today could only be a servant, no matter what.
He had to let Lady Liu finish her off quickly.
Gu Minglan watched his retreating back as he fled in a panic with cold eyes.
She did not lash out.
Very well, Shen Shiqian, since you refuse to acknowledge me,
then don't blame me for being heartless.
Gu Minglan was not only a wealthy young lady but also an only child.
Her mother died early, and her father had taken her by his side since she was a child.
It could be said that Gu Minglan had been navigating the business world since she was young.
From purchasing goods at shops to negotiating at the table,
Gu Minglan had learned it all perfectly.
Before the elder Gu died, he would often sigh.
"If only Minglan were a boy. In this world, it is never easy for a woman."
Gu Minglan used to think her father was upset that she couldn't inherit his shops.
She had even naively said,
"Father, don't worry, your daughter will recruit a live-in son-in-law for the Gu Family."
The elder Gu would smile and stroke his young daughter's hair without a word.
At that time, Gu Minglan did not understand.
Looking at Shen Shiqian, who was fleeing in a panic before her,
Gu Minglan understood everything now.
What her father worried about was never whether she could inherit his business.
It was that since ancient times, women have been sentimental, while men have been fickle.
Shen Shiqian used her family's wealth to pave his way.
Once he found a better option, he abandoned her.
He even attempted to seize her property under the guise of being her husband.
She used to think that perhaps Shen Shiqian had his own difficulties and would come to pick up Yuan'er.
Yuan'er's future still required his support.
The daughter of an official should have better marriage prospects than the daughter of a merchant.
That was why she hadn't made things too ugly with Shen Shiqian.
Now, Shen Shiqian had indeed come.
But it was to marry her Yuan'er off to a dying Prince for a Wedding for Luck, all to trade for his own future.
Gu Minglan's eyes were filled with ice.
Since you have started this, don't blame her, Gu Minglan, for finishing it.
Gu Minglan pulled Shen Qingyuan and walked inside.
"Yuan'er, let's go. Mother will take you to reclaim everything that belonged to your Maternal Grandfather."
Shen Qingyuan had not spoken just now; she had been observing her mother's changes.
Seeing her go from initial worry to her current high-spirited fighting stance,
though she was a bit surprised, she felt it was a good thing.
At the very least, from now on, her mother's motivation to live was no longer just to raise her.
Although Shen Qingyuan could not see the Fate of her biological mother,
she had followed her Master to handle matters outside,
and had seen many similar parents.
They lived their own lives without any vitality,
but the moment their children were mentioned, they were instantly filled with life.
Gu Minglan was the same.
Shen Qingyuan looked at her mother's forehead.
The black aura had not yet vanished, but because of Gu Minglan's fighting spirit,
it had faded significantly.
Shen Qingyuan was very satisfied with this.
If she had known there was such a benefit, she would have brought her mother back long ago.
Shen Qingyuan allowed her mother to pull her into the estate.
The servants at the entrance looked at each other in dismay.
Seeing the master go inside, the two who had been brought back followed as well.
For a moment, they did not know whether they should follow to watch the spectacle,
or go to report to the Madam.
Nanny Liu rolled her eyes and began to disperse the crowd.
"Keep your mouths shut. Do not let the Madam hear any idle gossip, or else watch your own skins."
After saying this, Nanny Liu walked straight toward the Madam's courtyard.
As for that country girl,
the Madam hadn't prepared a courtyard for her anyway.
Once she entered the estate, could she still be so arrogant outside?
Once the master beat her half to death, they could just throw her into the Woodshed.
Nanny Liu hurried to Lady Liu's courtyard, only to see Lady Liu sitting on a couch.
In front of her were several pastries from "Chunxiang Residence."
Seeing Nanny Liu enter, Lady Liu frowned slightly.
"Why do you look so disheveled? How did the matter go?"
Nanny Liu hurriedly stepped forward and recounted the events from beginning to end.
Because she had lost her silver bracelet, she inevitably added some embellishments.
She described Shen Qingyuan and Gu Minglan as aggressive and lacking any official family decorum.
"Madam, you wouldn't believe it. Those two have a talent for making a scene that is even worse than the lowliest farm woman."
Upon hearing this, Lady Liu's expression turned unpleasant.
"Those two sluts, one must look at the owner before beating a dog, yet they dared to strike you.
Isn't this a slap to my face?
Where is the master? Did he just let those two little sluts run wild at the estate entrance?"
Nanny Liu hurriedly said,
"Madam, the master originally wanted to settle the matter quietly.
But that slut exposed the master's true colors in public, and the master couldn't save face.
He flicked his sleeves and entered the estate, and before leaving, he ordered that the slut be handed over to you, Madam, to be disciplined."
Lady Liu sneered.
"Hmph, the master did well.
Where are those two sluts? Why weren't they brought to me?
Weren't they handed over for me to deal with? I will definitely make them know what the consequences of offending me are."
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