"Dead??"
A group of old men couldn't sit still any longer and stood up, staring at Shen Xue in astonishment.
Even the usually composed old man couldn't help but stare intently at Shen Xue: "Xue girl, what Shen Yu said... is it true?"
Shen Xue's face immediately turned cold. She didn't understand why Shen Yu would target her after she had already given in to this extent. But since he dared to expose this matter, there was really no point in discussing it anymore.
"Yes!"
"Hiss"
The elders all gasped, and Shen Yan's face turned ashen. If it weren't for Shen Xue's extremely high status and the fact that she arranged the houses for the Shen Family, they probably would have slapped her across the face.
"Girl, what are you thinking?" Old Master Shen's expression wasn't very good either.
He had been researching the Underworld for the past few days. He was shocked to learn that people from Jiangnan could be taken in a place after they died, instead of going to the Yin-Yang Road. The most crucial thing was that the dead could even move around in the mortal world as spirits. He was afraid that Jiangnan was the only place in the world with this special case.
After learning of the authority of the Underworld, he kept thinking that once he had the chance, he would definitely try to build a good relationship with the powerful Underworld.
But that's not how you fight!
Currently, only two members of the family are successful and have established themselves in Jiangnan: Shen Yuan and Shen Xue. After Shen Yuan brought his mother back, he showed no interest in the Shen Family whatsoever. They had been here for several days, and this Liuzhou education commissioner hadn't even bothered to pay them a visit. They were, after all, elders; they couldn't very well grovel and go to visit him, could they?
The only one who can turn the tide is Shen Xue.
And this girl actually got together with a ghost?
If word gets out, what will the Shen Family think? Not only have they broken their promise, but they haven't even gained anything from it. If they had broken their promise, it would be one thing if the Bai Family had married into a powerful family like the Chen Household, but to be so attached to a dead person? Have they lost their minds?
Shen Xue took a deep breath, looked up and said, "On the day of my daughter's exam, the evil spirit that possessed her was summoned by her two cousins. Grandpa, do you remember that?"
"Of course I remember," the old man nodded. He received the news of this matter immediately and severely reprimanded the third and fourth branches of the family. He also conducted a thorough investigation of the entire Shen Family from top to bottom, fearing that any of his descendants would dare to come into contact with those evil gods and their stuff.
The Third Elder and Fourth Elder's faces immediately darkened upon hearing this topic; they really knew how to rub salt in the wound!
"At that time, the young master of the Murong Family died tragically at the hands of that evil spirit while trying to save his daughter."
The elders exchanged glances.
"I see." The old man nodded. "So, it's to repay a life-saving debt?"
"No." Shen Xue shook her head. "No one has ever been so kind to me since I was born. At that time, I was just an unvalued concubine's daughter in a family, while he was the most valued legitimate son of the Murong Family in the Northern Wasteland. He was able to lend a helping hand when I was in my most difficult time. I feel good about him. I think the old master can understand that, right?"
The group of elders were momentarily speechless.
Of course, they wouldn't take this damn life-saving grace seriously; how could that be more important than the Shen Family's future? But they certainly couldn't say it so bluntly.
"That makes sense," the old man said, looking at Shen Xue. "Gratitude is fundamental to being a person, especially when it's a life-saving favor. But girl, you just said you would honor the Bai Family's marriage agreement!"
"Granddaughter had no intention of breaking the contract!" Shen Xue looked up and said, "I have always kept my distance from Murong Master Murong. What one thinks and what one does are two different things. Although we have met a few times, both Murong and I know what is important and have remained rational. We judge people by their actions, not their intentions. Isn't that what you meant, Grandpa?"
"Forehead"
"Ha, who knows?" Shen Yu said sarcastically.
Shen Xue said calmly, "Every time I meet Murong, it's in a public place, and Bai Family is always there too. Bai Family knows whether I've done anything impolite. Although Murong is from a family in the Northern Wasteland, he is clearly a person of propriety and integrity, and he has always kept his distance from me. I don't know where my cousin got the news that Murong Master Murong and I are being all lovey-dovey?"
"Whether it's true or not, only you yourselves know the truth!"
"Enough!"
Before Shen Xue could speak further, the old man interrupted her, looking at Shen Yu: "You say your cousin has an affair with the Murong Family, do you have any concrete evidence? Do you have any proof?"
"I..." Shen Yu stammered for a moment, then said, "It's something everyone can see."
"So there's no evidence?"
Shen Yu's face darkened. "She hid it well, but some things can't be kept secret forever."
"Well hidden," the old man nodded. "Your cousin has been watching you closely, afraid he wouldn't find anything wrong with you, but even he couldn't find a single piece of concrete evidence. It seems you are indeed very proper."
"Grandpa." Shen Yu's face immediately turned pale. What did that mean? What did he mean by saying I was afraid of not finding fault with Shen Xue, making it seem like I had been targeting her all along?
"Have you been gossiping outside?" the old man asked Shen Yu quietly.
Feeling uneasy under the old man's gaze, Shen Yu immediately lowered her head and said, "No, no!"
"Is that so?" The old man's eyes were icy. "It's better if that's not the case. Even if something shameful happens in the family, we try our best to cover it up. If you don't even have the slightest evidence and instead ruin the reputation of your own bloodline, then you are an enemy of the Shen Family. Remember that!"
Shen Yu's face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down his back!
He raised his head slightly, only to find that all the elders in the Shen Family looked at him with the same cold gaze as his grandfather, including his father who had once valued him so much.
In an instant, along with fear and guilt, an overwhelming resentment and venom corroded my internal organs!
"Get out!!" The old man's eyes were filled with not only anger but also utter disappointment.
He certainly knew why Shen Yu was targeting Shen Xue. She was an insignificant concubine's daughter, yet she was now high and mighty, stepping on his head. Having been treated as a chosen one since childhood, he naturally felt resentful.
But the more this is the case, the more you need to remain calm. Now that Shen Yuan and Shen Xue have been given important positions, in Jiangnan, a place full of opportunities, why not take advantage of such good helpers and connections, instead of offending people because of your own petty mentality? What's the point?
Those who act impulsively are reckless, but to say you're truly resolute is one thing, but he's heard that Shen Yu had absolutely no confidence in the last assessment, and didn't he have to swallow his pride and beg his mother for help?
Where is your backbone when you bow your head?
Shen Xue must be out of her mind. Her status in the Shen Family is now unparalleled. Where does she get the audacity to be sarcastic and confrontational?
It seems we really can't waste resources nurturing such a spineless and clueless fool!
Seeing the old master's anger, Shen Yu didn't dare to argue and silently retreated with her head down.
Shen Yan's face turned ashen, while the elders sneered. They had long disliked Shen Yan's precious son!
It's fine if he's rejected; the freed-up resources can be used to raise more capable offspring.
"Tell me, young lady," the old man said, looking at Shen Xue, "Are you really planning to honor the marriage agreement and marry into the Bai Family?"
Shen Xue: "A person cannot stand without integrity. My Shen Family has a shallow foundation in Jiangnan. If we cannot even guarantee a good family tradition, how can we establish ourselves? Although currying favor with the powerful may bring temporary benefits, it is not a long-term solution. Moreover, the Bai Family patriarch is a great scholar of Neo-Confucianism, and his value is not low. If the two families can successfully form a marriage alliance, the benefits to our family's descendants may not be less than those to the Chen Household. What do you think?"
"Good!" The old man narrowed his eyes, clapped his hands, and laughed, "Your mother has raised a fine daughter, Shen Xue, you're very good!"
"Thank you for the compliment, Grandpa!" Shen Xue bowed her head, a slight joy rising in her heart. Knowing her father's personality, the old man's public praise of her mother would surely make him value her even more. While making her the legal wife was impossible, it would be good if she could live a better life in the Shen Family from now on.
Especially after I got married, I was even less able to be filial to my mother.
"In that case, you'd better not associate with that kid from the Murong Family anymore," Shen Yan said. "The debt of saving your life is great, but if you continue to maintain contact with him, even if you're being polite, it's easy to cause trouble. The Bai Family will also have a problem with you, won't they?"
Shen Xue's body trembled slightly, a strange emotion flashing in her eyes, but she ultimately said, "Father is right."
"I should indeed keep my distance from Young Master Murong, but Father, there's really no need for this. My Chen Household should repay this life-saving grace. I urge Father to personally express our gratitude!"
"Go to his door to express your gratitude?" Shen Yan frowned. "Is that necessary? He's a dead man. What's the point of expressing gratitude?"
Shen Xue frowned at these words, and the old man also frowned deeply. He hadn't even realized that his son was such a cold-hearted person.
" The Murong Family is a powerful clan in the Northern Wasteland. Perhaps the top families in the Central Plains wouldn't even look at them, but the Murong Family is a behemoth to us. Moreover, winning over the Northern Wasteland is also a national policy." Shen Xue knew that using the debt of saving her life wouldn't be enough to get her to show any appreciation, since she only knew how to calculate interests. She could only act based on self-interest.
"Winning over the Northern Wasteland?" Shen Yan asked in surprise, "Is that so?"
"Yes," Shen Xue nodded, "I've already received the news. People have been sent to the Northern Wasteland!"
I was held up by something today, and I'll have to be gone again tomorrow. I have to visit the Fang Family. I'm so sorry! The extra update will have to be delayed; it should start the day after tomorrow, haha. Sorry, sorry!