Chapter 143 Fifty-three years old is the right age to make breakthroughs.

After a night of passion, he returned to Zhongzong, closed the door and studied hard, ignoring what was happening outside. When he couldn't help but go out, he found that the princess was three months pregnant. He was ecstatic for a moment, but then inferiority came over him.

There are so many talented people surrounding the princess, this child may not be his, and will never be his.

The princess had already heard about the saying "three husbands and four maids". Now his status was low, so even being a "concubine" was not enough for him.

The young Shen Yushan could only use the resources given to him by Zhongzong to study harder. Perhaps when he succeeded in becoming an imperial concubine, he would be qualified enough to stand in front of the princess.

In February of the following year, Shen Yushan was selected as the third place in the imperial examination, and Princess Mingyi was seven months pregnant, but he found that he was still not qualified.

On her left is the former number one scholar, who now holds a fourth-rank official position. He is the son of Princess Baofeng, her childhood sweetheart, and also a member of the imperial family. On the other side is a general who is famous in the capital. He was a comrade-in-arms of the princess when she led the army against the Huns, and they have a very close friendship.

Shen Yushan was a third place scholar in the imperial examination, a powerless and 18-year-old scholar. Looking at a group of seniors who had been working in the court for many years, he felt so powerless.

"Your Highness, how could I dare to argue at that time?"

Even if I wanted to say it, I wouldn't dare tell anyone else.

Xiao Yuluan hadn't expected this to be the reason. Now that she heard it, she was somewhat surprised. However—

"Since we didn't fight back then, there's no need to fight now."

She turned her back, and Shen Yushan thought she didn't want to say more, but he didn't know that Xiao Yuluan showed a little guilt on her face when she turned around. It was not that she didn't want to answer, but she really didn't know.

She was a playboy when she was young and had several lovers. During that half month... three of them slept with her.

Not to mention others, she was curious about who Zhen'er's father was, but a biological child is a biological child, and Zhen'er looks very similar to her, and there is no trace of her father's involvement at all.

"I don't know who Zhen'er's father is."

These words were spoken sincerely, but Shen Yushan thought that Xiao Yuluan was unwilling to say them.

"I can't answer you. Since you don't want to, then you can leave. Let me stay here with Zhen'er."

She hadn't decided whether to reveal her identity, so she didn't want to come to pay her respects on her daughter's death anniversary to avoid running into other people. Unexpectedly, she ran into Shen Yushan anyway.

Shen Yushan hesitated to speak: "I..."

He wanted to say that even if Zhen'er was not his daughter, he would still help her, as long as she said a few soft words, but her attitude was still so arrogant... It was really the same as before, so... this is good.

Shen Yushan wanted to stay, but after a moment's thought, he bowed and said goodbye, "Then I will take my leave."

Perhaps what she said just now was just a spur of the moment thought. If she had really considered helping the deposed prince to seize the throne, then she would definitely return to the palace, and then he could help with the planning.

Xiao Yuluan nodded, Shen Yushan retreated, and finally his figure disappeared in the green shade of midsummer.

Xiao Yuluan slowly sat back in front of the tombstone, picked up the unfinished wine and poured it for herself.

She said nothing, just looked at the tombstone and drank sip by sip.

What is there to say?

Even though it was her biological daughter, after nearly thirty years, the sadness she felt had faded because that child existed for too short a time.

What she thinks about more are the living people.

*

"Why did it stop?"

On the way back to Beijing, Shen Yushan frowned slightly and asked in a deep voice.

The driver quickly replied, "Sir, the carriage ahead is that of the Marquis of Zhenbei. His carriage is in the middle of the road, and it's difficult for our carriage to pass."

Shen Yushan's expression paused. How could he not know that Xue Chen was here? He had met Xue Chen several times over the years. Xue Chen was the young general who surrounded the prince back then, and of course he was also one of the people who claimed to be the princess's biological father.

Xue Chen must have also gone to pay his respects to the princess, so His Highness should still be there...

In a split second, Shen Yushan had an idea. He asked the coachman to move out of the middle of the road and step over the grass beside it. Just as the two carriages were about to meet, Shen Yushan suddenly lifted the curtain and said loudly to the carriage on the opposite side:

"Lord Xue, wait a minute. It rained heavily last night, and the mountain road in front of the mausoleum is muddy and difficult to travel. I almost got stuck in my carriage. Lord Xue, please go another day."

The black curtain of the carriage opposite was suddenly opened. Xue Chen was wearing a dark sable fur coat. Although he was over fifty years old, the murderous aura between his brows had not diminished in the slightest. He pierced Shen Yushan with a hawk-like gaze and sneered at him:

"When did Lord Shen become so enthusiastic? My horse is a warhorse, and it's not afraid of a muddy road."

His tone was really sarcastic, but Shen Yushan didn't seem angry at all. He said slowly, "My Lord, you misunderstood."

However, his next sentence revealed his true intentions. He paused meaningfully, "It's just that I've already paid my respects to the princess today. If you go again, I'm afraid you'll be... at a disadvantage."

Xue Chen's expression suddenly changed, and he clenched his fists: "Shen Yushan! You——"

"Why?" Shen Yushan raised his eyebrows slightly. "Hasn't the Marquis always claimed to be the princess's biological father? If you are so deeply in love with her, why don't you dare go on the princess's death anniversary? Why do you have to choose a date that's neither before nor after?"

"What are you afraid of?"

Xue Chen's forehead veins popped out, "What is there to be afraid of in this Marquis?"

"Sir Shen, why do you come here every year to pay tribute to Zhen'er? When I followed His Highness, you didn't even know where you were. Why are you pretending to be close to an old friend now?"

However, Xue Chen fell for the provocation and snorted coldly, "Turn around! Return to the capital!" He glared at Shen Yushan and said, "Then I will come back on the anniversary of her death and show the princess who truly cares about her!"

The corners of Shen Yushan's lips curved up almost imperceptibly, then disappeared again. He calmly lowered the curtains, listened to the sound of Xue Chen's carriage rumbling away, and then revealed a satisfied smile.

"Sir, let's..." the coachman asked cautiously.

"Go back home." Shen Yushan closed his eyes and leaned against the wall of the car, thinking in his mind how to help the princess gain an advantage as quickly as possible. He knew that if the princess was really determined to return to the throne, she would definitely find Xue Chen, and he didn't want Xue Chen to gain the upper hand over him.

He completely forgot that he had used the question as a condition before, and even though he didn't get an answer, he was still actively working for the princess.

As for the risks?

How many people who hold the position of Shangshu Ling can have a good ending? It is better to earn the merit of following the dragon and then retire after achieving success.

Fifty-three years old is the right age to make breakthroughs.