She had no doubts, leaning forward slightly, as if she completely trusted him.

Chi Yan held his breath, feeling a little guilty for a moment. However, when people do bad things, they always have inexhaustible energy. He wiped her face again and again, and her fair face instantly became dirty.

He nodded in satisfaction, admiring his masterpiece: "It's clean now."

Shen Tangning straightened up again: "You've worked hard, go wash your hands."

"I still have some things to finish." Chi Yan coughed lightly and made an excuse to leave.

When Xueqing arrived, she saw Shen Tangning's appearance and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Miss, why did you get yourself into this state?"

Shen Tangning couldn't help but feel suspicious. She went to the water vat and looked at her reflection. Chi Yan's strange expression flashed before her eyes. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth:

"Chi, Yan!"

*

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Shen Tangning returned to the Shen family to discuss her parents' divorce.

Shen Ci was also present, and upon seeing her, he winked and gestured excitedly.

Shen Tangning looked up and saw that the room was quiet. Shen Chang and Madam Shen sat on opposite sides, as if separated by a Chu River and Han border.

The whole family was finally together.

"The daughter has met her father and mother."

After bowing, Shen Tangning had just sat down when she heard Shen Chang's angry voice: "Since the children are all here, let's just lay everything out on the table. Are you still determined to get a divorce?"

She turned her head to look at Madam Shen, whose expression was calm: "That's right, if we continue living like this, neither of us will be happy. Why make ourselves a laughing stock?"

"A joke? Now I'm the joke!" A glint flashed in Shen Chang's eyes, and he sneered, "Divorce is out of the question, but a divorce is possible!"

Everyone's expression changed. Madam Shen's eyes were filled with shock and anger. He was the one who agreed to the divorce, but now he's the one who's going back on his word. Is he deliberately playing her for a fool?

Shen Chang did indeed intend to manipulate her. In fact, divorce would be more beneficial than harmful to him. The Xie family was no longer of any use, and keeping Xie Shi might displease His Majesty. Why didn't he marry another woman?

However, the timing is not right. Grand Tutor Xie has retired to his hometown, and His Majesty has even bestowed upon him a certificate of merit. It would be too hasty for him to divorce so soon after his retirement, and he might very well be branded as ungrateful.

Given Shen Chang's shrewdness, he would carefully consider any action that might damage his reputation.

Therefore, when he said he was divorcing his wife, he was actually just trying to scare Xie.

But the other party completely disregarded this, suddenly stood up with a sharp look in his eyes: "Fine! Divorce is not out of the question! Then I'd like to ask you, which of the seven grounds for divorce have I committed? If you, Shen Chang, are not afraid of being gossiped about, then go ahead and divorce me!"

She paused slightly, her eyes narrowing into a cold smile, "If you push me too far, I'll expose all the good deeds you've done over the years. At worst, none of us will have a good time! Shen Chang, get this straight, it's not me begging you for a divorce, it's you begging me!"

Shen Chang's face immediately turned extremely ugly, and even his breathing became heavy, filled with doubt and unease.

What does she know? Impossible, he always keeps things from her... But he can't guarantee that after so many years of marriage, Xie really knows nothing.

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Shen Tangning's eyes flickered, and she gently advised, "Father, Mother, we are all family. Why can't we sit down and talk things out?"

Having found a way out, Shen Chang said sarcastically, "Family? Your mother has been bewitched by someone; her heart is probably no longer with our Shen family!"

He really couldn't understand it. Apart from the matter of Aunt Fang, he had treated Madam Xie with respect. Why would she make such a fuss?