Chapter 154

Seeing his son fiercely protecting a woman, Shen Jun almost ground his back teeth to powder.

It seems that he hadn't taken good enough care of Shen Rang. He, as her father, was completely unaware of when Shen Rang had been bewitched by this little vixen.

Shen Rang met Shen Jun's gaze, taking in the emotions in his eyes, but his expression remained indifferent.

He achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations, and now he has joined the Crown Prince's tutelage. To outsiders, he seems to have a bright future ahead of him, but who can know what he has paid for this apparent success?

Shen Jun and Zheng Shi had high hopes for him, and he started his education at a young age, after which he spent his life with books.

He had no freedom or friends in his childhood. Even when he accompanied Shen Jun and Zheng Shi to banquets outside, he was always required to be well-mannered and not to do anything impolite. So when he sat with his peers, he could only watch them laugh and joke.

The more bustling his surroundings were, the lonelier he felt.

Once, a cat somehow darted into his study, stepped into the inkstone, and left a series of ink-scented paw prints on the snow-white Xuan paper.

The cat was very affectionate towards him. It was the first time Shen Rang had been so close to a living creature, so naturally, he started to keep it.

He fed and watered it every day, and watched it act cute with its belly exposed. At those times, Shen Rang was always smiling.

However, Shen Jun later discovered the existence of the cat. Enraged that he had been distracted by a beast, Shen Jun wanted to beat the cat to death.

Shen Rang pleaded with Shen Jun, repeatedly assuring him that he would not neglect his studies, and begged him to let Mao'er stay.

Later, he made concessions step by step, only asking Shen Jun to send the cat away, but it was all in vain.

The cat was delicate and was beaten to death right before his eyes.

Later, he got used to detaching himself from everything.

He even thought that it wouldn't be so bad if he just continued like this.

However, at this time, Shen Jun and Zheng Shi arranged a marriage for him.

Moreover, she didn't discuss it with him at the beginning. Instead, she happily told him that he was getting married only after everything was settled and they were about to go through the traditional six rites.

The concept of starting a family is extremely unfamiliar to Shen Rang, who has always been detached from everything since childhood. He can read and write it, but he simply doesn't know how to face it.

He did try to resist, but the die was cast, and he had no choice but to accept it.

He thought that getting married and starting a family would be the same as before, and he would get used to it. He never expected that he would meet Yunxi.

When he was exhausted by the social interactions he was not good at, Yunxi said that he could become a high-ranking official without relying on these things.

Later, it was Yunxi who enlightened him with the eight words "stay true to yourself and wait for the future," which finally made him let go of his resentment. He pretended to join the Crown Prince's tutelage and gained his current peaceful life.

If it weren't for Yunxi, this Marquis's mansion probably wouldn't be able to live in peace right now.

"Your Highness," Yunxi lifted her head from his embrace, her bright eyes filled with tears, "Don't let things get so tense with your family because of me..."

When he met her gaze, Shen Rang's eyes trembled slightly.

She was clearly terrified too.

She was always insightful and intelligent; how could she not know that if he let her go, all that awaited her was death?

Shen Rang took a deep breath and met Shen Jun's gaze again: "If Father has already made up his mind to take action against her, then he can step over my dead body."

After saying that, Shen Rang flipped his wrist and drew a hidden sword, which he held to his neck.

He showed no mercy when he attacked himself; with just this simple movement, he drew a bloody line across his neck.

"Wait!" Shen Jun shouted immediately.

He only has one son!

Shen Jun devoted everything to raising his son, and now his son has achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations, and his promising life has just begun!

"You'd give up everything for a woman?!"

However, Shen Rang's gaze was resolute, and Shen Jun finally gave in, waving his hand to dismiss the others.

Shen Rang did not give up: "Not only today, but if anything happens to her in the future, I will go with her at any time, so please, Father, show mercy."

After saying this, Shen Rang sheathed his sword and took Yun Xi's hand as they left.