Just as Shen Yan had worried, the Shen Family's decision to close their doors to visitors was useless.
Despite all banquet arrangements being cancelled, the Shen Family still had a large number of guests!
Those who forcibly followed Shen Yu included the old and powerful Fang and Li Family Fang Family, followed by the Pang Family, Zhang Family, and Gu Family. The families of the Nine Ministers and Four Grand Secretaries of the capital all sent important figures. Du Kangnian, the vice dean of the Yin-Yang Academy, even came in person. Madam Zheng's eyes were dazzled as she watched the name cards being handed out one by one.
This kind of spectacle is something even the patriarch of a thousand-year-old aristocratic family might not be able to achieve at his birthday celebration. Given the Shen Family's status, especially when hosting a celebration banquet for a child, the presence of even a few women from slightly better aristocratic families would already be considered a sign of good family relationships.
Seeing that the room was filled with elders, Shen Yan and the old master Shen Qingfeng broke out in a cold sweat.
"Mother, has something happened at home?"
Even Shen Yu, who had just returned home, sensed something was amiss. If the Fang Family taking a liking to him was his good fortune, and the Li Family taking a liking to him was a stroke of good luck, then anyone who still thought this scene was normal must be out of their mind.
Looking at her most outstanding son, Madam Zheng, who had been shrouded in anxiety all day, finally couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears while holding her son in her room.
"What exactly happened to Mother?" Shen Yu became increasingly uneasy.
"It's all because of your bastard brother!" Madam Zheng gritted her teeth. "Did I owe him something in my past life? If he ruins your future, I'll haunt him even as a ghost!"
"Big brother?"
Shen Yu was taken aback, and an inexplicable sense of unease suddenly arose in her heart.
From the time he was old enough to understand, his mother was indifferent to his eldest brother, and the people around him also looked down on him. As the most talented member of the family for three generations, he naturally wouldn't associate with such a useless person. After entering the academy, he almost never saw this so-called eldest brother again.
After all, he wasn't even entitled to sit at the same table as me during family holiday meals.
I heard that he later participated in the imperial examination. At the time, I thought he was quite smart, knowing to earn an official position instead of having to manage the affairs of his half-brothers and sisters and embarrass himself.
He never imagined that this elder brother would have any further interaction with him in the future. According to the family rules, he would only be able to stand on the periphery during ancestral worship ceremonies, and he might not even have the chance to meet him.
How could someone I've almost forgotten cause such a huge uproar?
"Mother, what exactly happened?"
"Even I can't explain it clearly," Madam Zheng said, her voice choked with sobs. "I couldn't understand what your father and those elders were saying, all that secret teachings and array formations. Your heartless father only knows how to blame me, and he even said I'm not suitable to be the mistress of the house. Is that even human language?"
Shen Yu felt a surge of annoyance as she looked at her incessantly chattering mother.
He's just a mortal after all; he's completely unreliable in crucial moments, unable to even provide us with any useful information!
What are the differences between my mother and my eldest brother?
My elder brother lacked the necessary skills and almost ended up doing menial tasks, which made him lose face. Isn't this ordinary mother the same?
Which of those high-status sorcerer families isn't a renowned sorcerer themselves? Their everyday conversations are completely different from those of people like my mother. My mother shamelessly tries to ingratiate herself with others, but how many of them are willing to pay her any attention?
After all, our backgrounds are worlds apart; what could we possibly talk about? The trivial gossip of ordinary women?
Unable to integrate into aristocratic circles, she's already twenty and still unmarried.
If she had even a modicum of ambition and had bothered to learn about sorcery, she wouldn't have been so clueless about what her father and elders were saying. How could someone like that have been the matriarch of the Shen Family for over twenty years?
"Don't cry!!"
Frustrated, Shen Yu finally snapped and shouted, leaving Madam Zheng stunned on the spot.
When I looked up at my son, my heart skipped a beat!
Her son's eyes were as cold as ice, just like her ex-husband's!
"Son, what's wrong? Don't be angry with your mother." This time, Madam Zheng was a little flustered.
Her greatest reliance was on her youngest son, who possessed the best qualities in three generations, ensuring her stable position as the matriarch for over twenty years. If he were to also despise her, then she would truly be finished!
"Alright, Mother." Shen Yu took a step back, avoiding Madam Zheng's hand that was trying to grab her again, and frowned, saying, "Get some rest. Don't worry about what's going on outside; you wouldn't understand anyway."
His words seemed to express concern, but Madam Zheng became increasingly panicked.
That cold, emotionless tone, coupled with that icy gaze—was this still her precious son?
She didn't react until Shen Yu left.
"Mother, Yu'er is so sleepy, can we read again tomorrow?"
"What time is it? You can't even handle this little bit of hardship? Are you trying to become like your good-for-nothing older brother?"
"Mother, why do you say that about my eldest brother? He works very hard."
"You still think he's great, huh? If you don't strive for improvement and end up like your good-for-nothing older brother, then your mother won't want you anymore!"
"Mother, no!" The child's innocent voice pleaded, " Yu'er will try her best, she will try her best to improve!!"
Huh?
Madam Zheng came to her senses, touched her face, and tears seemed to flow uncontrollably. She didn't know why she suddenly remembered such distant scenes.
But children back then were so good; they were so obedient and inseparable from their parents.
She's grown into the person I'd always hoped she'd become, so why treat her like this?
It wasn't me who did something wrong.
"Oh dear, Lord Gong has arrived too?" Shen Yan personally stepped forward to greet him, "Please come in, please come in."
Shen Yan was sweating profusely from his work, but it made sense; everyone who came here needed his personal attention.
"Oh my, congratulations!" The visitor was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a gentle smile on his face. "Your son is only in his twenties and has already made it onto the list. He is truly a young talent, and I am very envious."
"What are you saying, Lord Gong? My son's achievements are nothing to mention!" Shen Yan's smile was extremely forced.
These words might be acceptable if they came from second-rate aristocratic families they encountered on a daily basis. But for these top-tier families, which direct descendant couldn't make the list? It's commonplace for them. What do other people think of the little achievements their son has made?
The fact that everyone was showering him with such flattery today made him feel utterly absurd.
But deep down, he knew that the more absurd it was, the more serious the situation would become!
"Oh, the main character has arrived?"
Just as Shen Yan was busy and overwhelmed, a teasing voice came from afar, which immediately attracted the attention of Shen Yan and Lord Gong.
Then, Shen Yu, dressed in white, arrived at the garden seating area, and everyone immediately exclaimed with laughter, "Our little son-in-law has arrived?"
Upon hearing this, all the elders at the table burst into laughter, creating a seemingly harmonious atmosphere. However, Shen Yu found these words extremely grating.
He knew perfectly well that none of the people here genuinely wanted to propose marriage. What trouble had that good-for-nothing caused in Jiangnan to warrant such a scene?
" Shen Yu!" Shen Yan frowned and said, "Aren't you going to pay your respects to the elders?"
Shen Yu snapped out of his daze and quickly bowed, saying, "Greetings, seniors! Please stop teasing me. If I can't find a wife in the future, I'll be relying on you all!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Everyone burst into laughter again. Shen Yan saw this, but his eyes remained cold. He was clever enough to try and be witty, but at this moment, instead of quickly leaving, did he think he was being clever by trying to be clever here?
Just like his foolish mother, acting like a timid, submissive woman, always causing trouble!
Sure enough, people at the table laughed and said, " The Shen Family is very good at raising their children. It's enviable. The eldest son is so promising, and the second son is so clever. Tsk tsk, it's making people jealous."
It's here!
A hint of helplessness flashed in Shen Yan's eyes. Although he knew he couldn't avoid it, he was truly helpless that his stupid son had delivered the topic to his door so quickly.
Sure enough, the atmosphere at the banquet changed completely when the eldest son of the Shen Family was mentioned. Everyone turned around and stared intently at Shen Yan.
Shen Yu was stunned. Only now did he truly understand that these people did not take him seriously. They claimed to be clever, but no one present even gave him a second glance!
It's obvious that everyone is here for Shen Yuan!
What exactly did that guy do outside?
Shen Yan smiled wryly and bowed, "What merits do I, your humble son, possess to deserve such high regard?"
"Hey, Lord Shen, you're too modest!" The fourth master of the Fang Family stood up and sneered, "In this world, apart from Celestial Master Zhang of Cloud City, only your eldest son can Void Formation Drawing. If this ability is possessed by my son, then what are the children of us noble families? Maggots?"
Shen Yan's bitter smile deepened, while Shen Yu in the distance looked as if he had been struck by lightning!
Did he mishear?
Void Formation Drawing?
Shen Yuan?
There's no way to avoid it.
Shen Yan sighed and could only bite the bullet and say, "Please listen to my explanation, everyone. We really don't know."
"That's because Fourth Master Fang is ignorant!"
Before Shen Yan could finish speaking, a faint voice rang out from outside the courtyard, interrupting Shen Yan.
"Those basic skills are something almost every junior student in my Heaven Academy knows; they're not anything special."
In an instant, everyone's gaze, like sharp arrows, turned towards what was behind Shen Yan!!!
One more chapter, one more chapter, hahaha...
Now that I've made up for this, I still owe six more chapters. I'll try my Mofang to finish them before the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. Thank you again for your monthly votes!!