Testing the waters

The study.

As soon as Shen Zhijie entered, he held up his fingers and waved them in front of his father.

"Dad, how many is this?" he asked.

His father froze in bewilderment.

Then he snatched the paperweight off the desk and hurled it at him. "You little bastard!"

"Your father isn't senile yet! You think I can't count?"

Seeing the paperweight flying toward him, Shen Zhijie hurriedly caught it.

If it broke, they would have to buy another one.

Thank goodness.

He set the paperweight back on the desk.

"I was just worried about you, Dad!" he replied.

Leaning closer, he asked quietly, "Dad, do you remember what birthmark I have? And where it is?"

"Of course I do," Shen Wuji replied.

"There's a red mark shaped like a bamboo joint on the left side of your waist!"

With that, he grabbed him by the back of his collar and thumped him on the head. "Well, well! You even dare question your own father now?"

"You're asking for a beating!"

"Dad! Dad! Hear me out first!"

Shen Zhijie dodged and begged for mercy.

Then he asked, "Do you remember the first thing you said when I was born?"

"Of course! How could I forget?" Shen Wuji stopped.

"When I took you in my arms, I said, 'This ugly little thing put my wife through all that suffering!'"

The memory of what his wife had endured made his hands itch again.

He grabbed the feather duster from the desk and swung it at Shen Zhijie. "You ugly little thing! I'll beat you to death!"

"Dad! Dad! Whatever else I am, I'm still your son! A father shouldn't despise his son for being ugly!"

Shen Zhijie kept dodging. "Besides, I haven't complained about you!"

"Pah!"

Shen Wuji spat at him. "Who do you think you are, daring to complain about me?"

Seeing his father grow angrier, Shen Zhijie immediately shut up.

He was his father, after all. Better spare him some anger-once he was dead, he would be gone for good.

He ran over to Xiao Yu.

"Your Highness, verification complete. This is indeed my perfectly ordinary father!" he told him.

Shen Wuji paused at those words.

Only then did he notice the child in the corner.

Once he recognized him, his heart sank.

His boy had brought home... someone they would have to wait on hand and foot!

He shoved the feather duster back into the corner and straightened his clothes.

Approaching Xiao Yu, he bowed. "I did not know you were visiting my humble home, Prince Yu. Please forgive me for failing to greet you!"

"No need for such formalities, Lord Shen. I was merely taking a stroll," Xiao Yu said.

Judging by that exchange between Shen Wuji and his son... he's still himself. He hasn't been replaced.

He asked with an air of casual interest, "Lord Shen, has anything been amiss in your household lately?"

Shen Wuji stepped forward and replied, "Your Highness, all is well in my household!"

"Oh, I see."

Xiao Yu changed tack. "Elder Imperial Brother believed that, as an incorruptible official, you might be struggling to make ends meet after donating a hundred thousand taels toward military pay."

"He specifically sent me with a thousand taels to tide Lord Shen over... it seems his concerns were unnecessary."

A thousand taels!

Shen Wuji and Shen Zhijie exchanged a glance.

Shen Zhijie spoke up for them. "Your Highness, to tell you the truth, we really are struggling to put food on the table..."

Xiao Yu lifted his gaze slightly, the corner of his lips curling. "Then Elder Imperial Brother's gift came at just the right time!"

Actually, I just thought this whole family of suckers was... far too pitiful!

I couldn't help wanting to show you a little kindness.

No need to thank me too much, haha!

Shen Wuji: "..."

Shen Zhijie: "..."

The father and son replied, "We are grateful for His Majesty's generosity. Sorry for troubling you to deliver it in person, Prince Yu..."

"Not at all."

"Have there been any changes in the household recently?" Xiao Yu asked.

His question seemed to remind Shen Wuji of something.

"Now that you mention it, Your Highness, something does come to mind. My younger brother recently wrote to say a good friend of his was coming to Capital City to make a living, and asked me to look after him."

"Second Uncle wrote?" Shen Zhijie asked delightedly. "Did he say when he was coming back?"

"He didn't mention that," Shen Wuji said.

Shen Zhijie's smile vanished at once, a trace of displeasure entering his voice. "It's been so long. Isn't he going to come back and visit Yuzhu?"

"It's all right. Isn't Yuzhu doing well here with us? I've raised her as my own daughter."

"If your second uncle came to take her away, I'd hate to let her go," Shen Wuji replied.

Shen Zhijie pouted. "We don't mind, but that doesn't mean Yuzhu doesn't care."

"I've seen her crying over Second Uncle's letters at night several times. She must miss him..."

He could not help complaining. "Honestly, what's wrong with Second Uncle? He's been gone for over a decade. Yuzhu is eighteen now, and he still hasn't come back to see her."

"Does he not even plan to return when Yuzhu gets married?"

"Ahem..."

Hearing him stray further and further out of line, Shen Wuji could not help reminding him that they had a guest present. Family disgrace was not something to air in public.

Shen Zhijie glanced at Xiao Yu and finally fell silent.

Suddenly, he remembered the thoughts he had heard earlier.

It seemed his second uncle had not shown up even after Yuzhu married. Otherwise, how could that wastrel have bullied her?

If he ever found out who that man was, he would beat him to death.

What a piece of trash!

How dare he treat my sister like that? He's asking to die!

Shen Wuji turned back to Xiao Yu. "Forgive my son's lack of manners, Your Highness."

"It's quite all right. Brother Zhijie was simply expressing his true feelings," Xiao Yu replied.

Ah, should I tell Brother Zhijie that his second uncle isn't coming back?

Shen Zhijie stiffened and was just about to ask why.

Then he heard Xiao Yu's thoughts.

After all, Second Uncle Shen already has a lovely wife and beautiful concubines elsewhere, with children gathered around him. His life is perfectly happy. Why would he remember he still has a daughter here?

Clatter-

Shen Yuzhu had just returned when she heard those words. Her mind reeled, and she nearly fainted.

Fortunately, she caught hold of the doorframe.

Hearing the noise, Shen Zhijie looked up and saw his sister.

He hurried to her side. "Sis, are you all right?"

"...I'm fine."

Shen Yuzhu steadied herself and walked over to Shen Wuji.

"Uncle Dad, I brought your favorite flaky baked flatbreads."

With that, she took the flatbreads from the food carrier and handed them to him.

Shen Wuji accepted them happily. "A daughter really is better. You remember me, unlike that brat, who spends all day making me angry."

"Uncle Dad, Zhijie does care about you," Shen Yuzhu told him.

The moment he heard Uncle Dad was going to be replaced, Zhijie had rushed straight home.

She took out another portion and handed it to him. "Zhijie, these preserved mustard green pies are for you."

Then she took a neatly wrapped package of pastries from the food carrier and offered it to Xiao Yu. "These are for Your Highness."

Xiao Yu froze, then looked up and murmured, "There's something for me too?"

What a wonderful daughter... Second Uncle Shen really doesn't appreciate how lucky he is.

Don't be afraid, sweet daughter. I'll take care of you from now on.

Shen Yuzhu: "..." There's really no need...

Shen Wuji: "..."

Has Prince Yu come to steal my daughter?

Shen Zhijie: "..."

Is Prince Yu trying to become my dad?

"Uncle Dad, I'll leave you to talk. I'm going back to my room," Shen Yuzhu said.

"Go on. Your aunt made your favorite lotus seed soup. Have some, then get some rest. I'll call you for dinner," Shen Wuji said.

"All right, Uncle Dad." Shen Yuzhu turned away.

The smile vanished from her face.

"-Sweetheart, it's not that I don't want to take you... the road is too rough. You're still little. You wouldn't be able to bear it..."

"Be good and stay here with your uncle dad for now. Once you're a little older, I'll come back for you."

"You have to remember, Dad."

"I will, I will. Even if I forgot myself, I could never forget my precious little girl..."

The light dimmed in Shen Yuzhu's eyes.

Dad...

Do you really not want Yuzhu anymore...?

Oh, I almost forgot.

You probably don't even know your daughter's name yet...

After all, you hadn't even given me a name when you left.

Aunt was the one who named me Yuzhu.

Yuzhu, Yuzhu. Like jade, like bamboo.

Uncle Dad and Aunt truly love me as their own daughter.

But you, Dad... do you no longer want me?

If that's truly how it is, then I don't want you anymore either.

I only want Uncle Dad, Aunt, and my little brother Zhijie.

That's enough.