But Shen Yuan took a step back, her eyes full of defensiveness.
Looking at the expression on Shen Yuan's face, Shen Wei's tough face relaxed slightly, as if he had been weathered by time and aged several years in an instant.
But he did not blame Shen Yuan. Instead, he said apologetically, "It's my fault for being late. You've suffered a lot these past years while you were away from home."
Shen Yuan stood in the courtyard, silently observing Shen Wei and the group of servants following behind him.
Three carriages, sixteen servants, and thirty guards... completely blocked the alley outside the courtyard, attracting many neighbors to open their doors and peek out, but out of fear of the imposing official's presence, they dared not approach and only watched from afar.
The Shen family's grand display clearly showed that Shen Yuan was being given the respect she deserved.
"A general fell from the sky to be her father, this girl is so lucky!"
"Yes, yes! If it were me, I'd be laughing in my sleep!"
"Why hasn't she knelt down and acknowledged her father yet? If she won't, I'm thinking of acknowledging him myself!"
"Stop dreaming! The General's Mansion is a prestigious and wealthy family; the people there aren't fools. For them to publicly acknowledge a woman like this, they must have done their research beforehand. This girl must be a descendant of the General's family who was lost to the outside world!"
Shen Yuan remained unfazed as she listened to what her neighbors had to say.
She had been a herb gatherer for seventeen years when someone suddenly told her that she was the daughter of a general. It was indeed hard for her to accept.
But Shen Yuan knew that Shen Wei must have found strong evidence to come and acknowledge her after so many days.
She should probably kneel down immediately and cry out about all the hardships and grievances she's endured over the years, complaining about why Shen Wei only found her so late, and then go back to the General's Mansion with Shen Wei to become a pampered young lady.
Whether becoming the daughter of a general is a blessing or a curse, Shen Yuan felt it was hard to say.
Thinking of this, Shen Yuan asked, "General Shen already has a daughter, why do you feel that I am also your daughter, just because I look somewhat like Shen Yunjin?"
“You’ve just arrived in the capital and haven’t returned home yet, so you probably don’t know much about what’s going on at home. Actually… before your mother gave birth to Jin’er, she was pregnant with another child, and that child was you.”
Shen Wei pondered for a moment and said, "At first, we thought that child died after birth, but later I found out that it was Liu Yingjun, the midwife who delivered your mother, who took you away..."
"My grandma is definitely not that kind of person!"
Shen Yuan interrupted Shen Wei sternly, saying that her grandmother was kind-hearted and compassionate, and treated her like her own granddaughter. She would never do something like stealing a child!
She would never allow anyone to slander her grandmother!
Shen Yuan's gaze turned cold instantly as she looked at Shen Wei. "If General Shen wants to take me back to the manor, please reconsider why I was stranded outside."
Shen Wei didn't expect Shen Yuan to be so excited when she heard the name of the midwife Liu, but then he thought that Liu had raised Shen Yuan for more than ten years, so it was only natural that Shen Yuan had deep feelings for her.
The problem lies with this father who neglected his duties, only realizing seven days ago that he had a daughter in this world.
So Shen Wei quickly changed his words and said, "Yes... you were sickly when you were born, so your mother entrusted you to Granny Liu to raise you. Now you are seventeen years old and have grown up. It's time for you to return to the manor!"
After a pause, Shen Wei continued, "I have already sent someone to fetch Granny Liu to the capital. You and Granny Liu have suffered a lot these past years. When you return to the manor, I will make it up to you properly!"
Xiao Ling waited inside for a short while before Shen Yuan entered the room.
She walked up to him and said, "I've decided to join the General's Mansion."
Xiao Ling was not surprised to hear Shen Yuan's decision.
Because he knew that this was the result of Shen Yuan's careful consideration of the pros and cons.
"Entering the General's Mansion, firstly, I need to find out about my background; secondly, I need to find out who wants to harm me; and thirdly..." Shen Yuan paused here, looked up at Xiao Ling, "...to take advantage of the situation and accomplish what we should accomplish."
Xiao Ling nodded and said, "I will accompany you into the manor as your bodyguard."
The shady dealings within the inner quarters of wealthy and powerful families are no less elaborate than those in the imperial harem. Shen Yuan has never been involved in matters of the inner quarters before, and she will likely feel quite uncomfortable upon entering the General's mansion for the first time.
With him around, he can at least protect her a little.
Upon hearing Xiao Ling's words, Shen Yuan immediately agreed. With Xiao Ling secretly assisting her, she would undoubtedly have gained a powerful assistant.
On that day, Shen Yuan packed her bags and, with Xiao Ling now dressed in a different way, boarded the general's carriage.
The group came in a grand procession and left in a grand procession.
No sooner had they left than Chu Yuning, leaning on her crutch, limped in from the alley entrance and knocked on the gate of Lü Jimin's house.
The page opened the door for Chu Yuning and was shocked to see him covered in injuries: "Young Master Chu, what happened to you? How did you get yourself into this state?"
Instead of answering, Chu Yuning asked, "Is Brother Lü here?"
The page boy pursed his lips hesitantly, about to say that he wasn't there, when Lü Jimin heard the noise and came out of the house.
The page had no choice but to retreat behind Lü Jimin.
Upon seeing Lü Jimin, Chu Yuning quickly stepped forward and bowed to him, saying, "Brother Lü, I am here to bother you, but it is truly out of my own volition."
“If I hadn’t encountered some trouble and had no place to stay, I wouldn’t have had the nerve to come here.”
Lu Jimin raised his hand to stop Chu Yuning from bowing and asked, "How did you get injured?"
"I..." Recalling what happened a few days ago, Chu Yuning felt as if a million centipedes were crawling all over him, making him tremble uncontrollably. The anger and hatred in his heart were about to tear him apart.
If it weren't for the results of the imperial examination, which led Xiao Yunyan to recognize his talent and send people to bail him out of prison, he would still be in that dark and hopeless dungeon.
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