What is he doing here?
Madam Zheng's hands quickly regained their softness, and she continued wiping the tea stains off Shen Yuan's body, her expression indifferent. "Didn't you say he wasn't qualified to come?"
"I underestimated the head of our Shen Family," Shen Yuan sneered. "I used to think he was just a heartless person, but now it seems he's also a brainless one. If he had even a shred of sense, he wouldn't have done something like this."
While other aristocratic families also prioritize their own talented children, at least they remain clear-headed in the end. But he's different. Even if the jade assessment is terrible, he still insists on sending people over, a pure waste of a spot. Doesn't he know that having one more Shen Family in the academy increases the chances of obtaining advanced techniques?
It's one thing for him to be so brainless, but isn't the old man supposed to be quite sensible? How come he tolerates such nonsense?
Madam Zheng glanced at Shen Yuan, her eyes filled with complex emotions. This child, Shen Yuan, had tolerated her coldness over the years, disregarded past grievances, and brought her to Jiangnan. Yet, his attitude towards his father was completely different.
"I see." Madam Zheng sighed and looked at the other woman. "No wonder you tricked me by saying that Nanyang had produced fine tea and insisted that I come and see it. So you wanted me to avoid your brother?"
Shen Yuan was immediately at a loss. "I didn't! Nanyang really does produce good tea. Mother, don't you think this Ziyang tea is good?"
"Fine," Madam Zheng rolled her eyes at the other person, but didn't say anything more.
The month she spent in Jiangnan was arguably the most comfortable month she had lived in decades. She ate and drank well every day, no longer had to worry about the endless household chores, no longer had to put on a smiling face to please those ladies from noble families, and most importantly, no longer had to live in fear of gain and loss.
There were no maids here, but a room for one person was very easy to tidy up. Now that I think about it, it seems that the maids of the Shen Family sometimes secretly laughed at me, wondering what I had been striving for all these years.
Here, there are no more worries, yet the quality of life is still quite high!
Although Shen Yuan didn't hire maids, he did hire a cook. There were countless novel ingredients, all incredibly delicious. Every meal was so good that he almost ate his tongue off. The cooks had beautiful fabrics that even the best tailors in the entire capital couldn't find. The clothes made from them were even more beautiful than those worn by the ladies of first-rate families. Moreover, his child was a core disciple of the academy, and whenever the latest fabrics came out, he could get some for him. He was always the most fashionable lady among the ladies around him.
Here she had close neighbors who came together through their shared interests in tea ceremony and flower arrangement. They were all refined people, and no one looked down on anyone else or deliberately excluded anyone. She spent her days drinking tea and playing cards with them, and the pleasant life made her feel like it was a dream.
For the first few days, I often woke up in a fright, fearing that when I opened my eyes I would be back in the cold courtyard of the Shen Family.
To be honest, she really didn't want anyone to disturb her on days like this, but it was Shen Yu came.
Shen Yan and unfaithful, but she also bore some responsibility for Shen Yu's current state. Completely ignoring it left her with a bitter taste in her mouth.
Seeing Madam Zheng's silence, Shen Yuan sighed and finally spoke up, "Mother, if Shen Yu comes to beg me, what should I do?"
" Shen Yu came to beg you?" Madam Zheng was taken aback, then laughed and said, "You're overthinking it. Your brother is very proud. Even if he fails the exam, his pride won't allow him to lower himself to beg you."
"It seems that Mother doesn't know my younger brother very well."
"Forehead?"
"Yes!" Shen Yuan nodded. " Shen Yu has already set off, and will likely arrive in Nanyang within the next day or two!"
Madam Zheng: "."
"Does Mother want to see him? If not, I'll take you to Yunzhou for a few more days; I guarantee he won't find you there."
Madam Zheng stared blankly at Shen Yuan, and after a long while, she couldn't help but ask, "What if he keeps looking for you? Can you avoid him?"
"If Mother doesn't want to see him, I naturally have ways to send him back to the capital!"
"Um..." Madam Zheng bit her lip, finally saying, "Why do you have to test your mother like this? Now that I've come with you, I won't interfere with that father and son anymore!"
Shen Yuan glanced at Madam Zheng, but ultimately shook his head. "Mother is lying, you will definitely take care of it."
"Why?"
"Because Mother is a soft-hearted person." Shen Yuan looked up at her. "Just like back then, when I was so disappointing and said I wanted to change my path and participate in the imperial examination, you were so disappointed in me for completely giving up the path of the sorcerer, and you became more and more indifferent after that, but you still hired the best tutor for me."
Madam Zheng: "."
The mother and son stared at each other in silence for a long time before Madam Zheng finally couldn't hold back any longer. "What if I were to do as you say and interfere?"
"Then there's nothing I can do about it." Shen Yuan sighed.
"What business is it of yours if your mother is disciplining him?"
"Mother is talking nonsense again. How can you possibly interfere with what Shen Yu wants to ask for? If you interfere, aren't you just indirectly asking me to interfere? My brother and I don't get along well to begin with, and the first person he came to me for was you, Mother. Isn't he still trying to ask me for help through you?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng took a deep breath. "Can you help him?"
"It depends on the extent of the help," Shen Yuan shook his head and said, "It's definitely impossible for him to enter the Heaven Academy directly. Lord Chen has already established the rules. Not to mention me, even if those gentlemen of the Nanyang Shen Family wanted to put someone in, it wouldn't work."
"Then what can you do to help him?"
"We'll know once he comes and begs his mother."
--
Meanwhile, the scions of prominent families who arrived in Liuzhou were still diligently studying late into the night, clearly trying to maintain a good state of preparation for the exam.
"Sis, aren't you asleep yet?"
Shen Yang brewed a cup of hot tea and carefully brought it to Shen Xue.
Shen Xue glanced at the sky outside, then at the exquisite clock in the room, and was slightly taken aback. Before she knew it, it was almost noon!
"Thank you, Brother Yang." Shen Xue smiled as she accepted the tea, then looked down and frowned. The floor-to-ceiling glass allowed her to clearly see the state of the Stargazing Tower opposite.
She remembered that on the thirtieth floor and above across the street, there were people from prominent families, just like them, only they were from the north.
All the lights were on in the rooms; clearly, the young men across the street weren't resting!
Seeing Shen Xue looking out the window, Shen Yang followed her gaze, paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "It seems everyone wants to stay here."
Upon hearing this, Shen Xue looked at the teacup in her hand. The tea was emerald green, and its aroma permeated her lungs. The abundant spiritual energy made her feel comfortable all over. Drinking a cup of this every day had doubled her meditation efficiency!
"Who wouldn't want to stay in such a wonderful place?" Shen Xue said calmly, gazing at the person opposite her.
"On the contrary," Shen Yang grinned, "I've heard that the families of those from the north have even stricter rules. This is probably the only chance for many. If they miss this opportunity, and the direct descendants catch up on their math and science foundations, their families might not send them again."
"You actually thought of that?" Shen Xue asked curiously, despite her usual boisterous and immature demeanor.
"What's so unexpected?" Shen Yang chuckled. "Those scions of aristocratic families aren't all good-for-nothings. They just usually focus more on inheriting the techniques. Once they settle down and start studying, they can catch up quickly. Not every family is like ours."
"Shh!" Shen Xue glared at him. "I just praised you a couple of times, and now you're getting cocky. Don't talk nonsense!"
Shen Yang rolled his eyes. "What's there to be afraid of? Those two lackeys are right next door."
"We can't just say things like that." Shen Xue sighed. "But you're right. The patriarch seems to trust those few key disciples more than us. I don't know why, but we must seize the opportunity in tomorrow's exam. If we miss this chance, just like you said, once those already favored disciples catch up, we'll be out of the running!"
"Yes, cousin!"
"Go and rest. It would be a real loss if you were too tired and didn't perform well tomorrow."
"Um"
After leaving Shen Yang, Shen Xue's expression suddenly darkened slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she went to a small cubicle and took out a Xiaomu from her luggage.
In the shadows, she watched as her blood dripped onto the puppet.
The puppet's eyes suddenly flashed green light.
"Sir." Shen Xue had only dripped a few drops of blood, but her face was as pale as if she had bled profusely.
"Please lend me another hand!"
A strange thing happened: the puppet slightly raised its head, looked at Shen Xue, and a strange smile appeared on its face.
If Chen Qing or Shen Laoqi were to see this scene, they would surely jump in shock!
Because that puppet, upon closer inspection, had the exact same expression as Wang Ye!!
--
"Hmm?" In the distance, Shen Qi, who was leisurely playing chess with Shen Laosan, suddenly frowned, waved his hand, and an eyeball floated in the air, showing the location of Shen Xue.
"It's so late, don't stick your eyeballs out, okay?" Shen San glared at the other person and said, "It's creepy!"
Shen Qi immediately found it amusing. "You, who manage the ghosts of the Underworld, think I'm creepy?"
"What's wrong with ghosts?" Shen San said coldly, "Those under my jurisdiction are all good people. Even if they are spirits after death, most of them are kind. They are not evil ghosts from the Yin-Yang Road. What's the difference between them and those in life?"
"I can't be bothered to talk to you, you hypocrite." Shen Qi quoted Chen Qing, then looked at Shen Xue with a puzzled expression.
In the scene, Shen Xue was studying intently, and everything seemed normal, but just now, that unsettling feeling had stirred a sense of unease within him.
"What's wrong?" Shen San asked, frowning.
"I feel," Shen Qi hesitated for a moment before saying, "That someone is using my magic to monitor me!"
"Ah?"
I was supposed to write the third chapter today, and I had enough time, but something came up and I had to go comfort my girlfriend, haha.
Tomorrow is a holiday for Mofang, so get up early to finish this chapter. Everyone should get up early too; it's the same whether you read it tomorrow.