Chapter 96 Drunk
"Why do you ask like that? Shouldn't you know best how I treat her?"
Shen Changhe was silent for a moment before he said, "I know, but I don't know where An An's feelings lie."
Half a month ago, she was still deeply in love with the scholar, but the next moment, she said that she and the Fourth Prince were in love with each other. How could he believe it?
"Her love is for me, and only me." His tone suddenly became cold.
Shen Changhe raised his eyes and looked at him, his brows slowly knitted together, "Love between men and women should be mutual."
"So, are you and Miss Lin in love with each other?" He poured a glass of wine for both of them and spoke slowly.
Shen Changhe was silent. When this problem happened to him, he never thought about it too much.
He has always been rational in dealing with feelings. On that day in the Second Prince's Mansion, he also made the right choice in response to the current situation very quickly without any hesitation.
"Didn't she also tell you that she and I are in love with each other?" Those four words came out of his mouth with indescribable charm.
I even imagined what her expression was like when she said this, and whether it was the same soft and shy look as when she faced the scholar.
Shen Changhe stopped talking and drank one glass of wine after another. As more and more jars of wine appeared on the table, he still showed no intention of stopping.
Xiao Yuan waved at the waiter who came to serve wine, not intending to let him drink any more.
"Although wine can relieve sorrow, if you drink too much, I'm afraid you'll have to see her cold face."
He called Qing'an in and helped Shen Changhe into the carriage.
The two drank together at the Kelai Restaurant without avoiding others. Not long after, all the families knew that Master Shen was drunk and was personally sent back to the Shen Mansion by the Fourth Prince.
"How did you get so drunk?" Shen Anan rushed over after hearing the news. Shen Changhe was supported by Qingan and could hardly stand.
"He's been under a lot of pressure lately and in a bad mood. He accidentally drank a little too much. He wasn't having a good time, but I thought you'd be unhappy, so I sent him back."
Shen Anan glanced at Xiao Yuan and thought that this guy was pretending to be very good. Why didn't she realize that he had such talent before?
She ordered Mo Xiang to call a few servants to help the man back.
"Don't bother. I'll go with you."
? ?
Seeing Shen Anan frowning slightly, he immediately added, “I just happen to have a few words to say to you.”
"Yeah, okay." Shen Anan didn't think much about it, called Mo Xiang back, and told her to go to the kitchen to prepare sobering soup.
When they reached the door, it would be inappropriate not to let Xiao Yuan in, so they just put on a good show, "Thank you, Fourth Prince. Please come in."
Qing'an and Qingfeng supported Shen Changhe, and Mo Ran led the way to his own yard, with Shen An'an and Xiao Yuan following behind.
The servant in Shen Changhe's courtyard helped put the man on the bed, and asked a doctor to take his pulse. Only after confirming that the man was just drunk did they feel relieved.
The yard was very busy. Shen Changhe was dressed and washed, and fed with sobering soup. Only after the man fell asleep did Shen Anan have a rest.
"I didn't know you could be so considerate and thoughtful." Xiao Yuan had been watching her silently, and finally had a chance to talk to her.
“I always do that to my family.”
That means she will be so nice to him when they become a family in the future.
Shen Anan sensed his sudden good mood, frowned in confusion, invited him to the main hall of the courtyard, and told the servant to serve tea before she asked.
"What happened to my brother today?"
"I spoke a few words to Lord Lin during the morning court session, but I don't know the details." Xiao Yuan took a sip of tea, which was not the scented tea she was used to, so she put it down again.
Hearing this, Shen Anan lowered her head and didn't speak for a long time.
It is understandable that people are fickle and the world is as fickle as paper, but after spending these days together, I am afraid that my brother has already fallen in love with Miss Lin.
In another month, it would be the wedding date they had originally planned!
A look of worry appeared on her face.
"I'll pick you up to attend the birthday banquet for Princess Hua Sheng at the Yongning Marquis' Mansion in a few days."
"Hmm?" Shen Anan came back to her senses and said, "Everyone has been avoiding my Shen Mansion these days, and I rarely receive invitations to banquets. I'd better not go and cause trouble for the Yongning Marquis Mansion."
"That's why we should go in and out together, for everyone to see." Xiao Yuan stared at her, "The more it is at this time, the more the Shen family cannot retreat, otherwise it will only become more difficult."
Yes, her original intention was to make the emperor afraid. Let everyone know that the Shen family is the Fourth Prince’s faction!
"You are forming a clique for personal gain, aren't you afraid that the emperor will hold you accountable?"
Xiao Yuan didn't care much, with a sarcastic smile in his dark eyes, "The Second Prince and the private affairs of the Zhou and Zhang families have all appeared before him, so what do I have to be afraid of?"
Mutual benefit, Shen Anan thought, and agreed.
"Then I'll come pick you up in three days." Perhaps fearing that she would refuse, he immediately added, "We must let them know our relationship."
Her heart beat faster for some reason. She looked up at Xiao Yuan and felt that his last sentence was meaningful and seemed to be true.
"Alright..." She lowered her eyes and agreed, but her tone was somewhat difficult.
What she got easily now were all the things she had tried so hard to get in the past. She was a little dazed and didn't want to think about those things anymore.
After all, the Shen family is now in need of help.
"Girl, girl." Mo Xiang ran in excitedly, "Old Madam, the old madam is back."
"Grandma is back? Where is she back to?" Shen Anan stood up.
"He's back in the capital. The carriage has already reached the city gate. It was Uncle Yang who came back to report."
She walked out, but when she left the main hall she suddenly remembered that there was someone else inside, so she turned back.
"I have something else to do at home. I'll go back first."
Fortunately, Xiao Yuan was very tactful. Shen Anan nodded, told Mo Xiang to send Xiao Yuan out of the house, and left immediately.
…
She couldn't even wait for him to leave the house together.
"Fourth Prince, this way please."
When Xiao Yuan left the Shen Mansion, he only saw Shen Anan's back as she hurriedly got into the carriage and her voice urging the driver to go faster.
"Why did Madam Shen come back at this critical moment?" Qing'an muttered.
Xiao Yuan retracted his gaze and got on the carriage before asking, "How many years has it been since Old Madam Shen came back?"
“I heard that Miss Shen passed away when she was a few years old. Now Miss Shen is an adult, so it must have been at least ten years.”
ten years? Why did she come back suddenly? Judging from her expression, she probably didn't know about it beforehand.
Shen Anan stood at the city gate wrapped in a thick cloak. The cold wind blew straight into her face like a knife, and even the cracks in her bones were cold.
Uncle Zhong wanted her to wait in the carriage, but she couldn't wait.
Her grandmother didn't like the capital, but she suddenly came back without saying goodbye at this critical moment, which made her feel a little uneasy.
She missed her grandmother, but secretly, she didn't want her to come back.
She was in such a hurry to come out that she didn't even have a hand warmer with her, so her hands and feet were freezing cold. But fortunately, she didn't have to wait too long. After half an hour, several familiar carriages came into sight.
Her eyes immediately turned red and she quickly walked towards the carriage in the middle.
"grandmother."
After she screamed, she suddenly choked up and her nose felt sore.
"What happened? Who made my precious granddaughter suffer injustice?" The white-haired woman got off the carriage very nimbly and hugged the little girl with red eyes in her arms.
"Don't cry. Wait until you get back and I'll take care of it for you. Beat them till they're skinned."
Shen Anan suddenly laughed again, "Hurry back to the car, it's cold outside, let's go back."
Old Madam Shen held her cold little hand and got into the car, then stuffed all the warming items into her hands.
"You don't even bring a hand warmer when you go out. Have you forgotten what your grandmother taught you? Girls are most afraid of cold air entering their bodies. You will suffer when you get married."
"Yeah." She hugged the thing in her arms tightly and nestled in Madam Shen's arms.
"I've been traveling for more than half a month, and my body is smelly, but you don't mind the smell."
Shen Anan curled her lips, "Yes, a little, but I don't dislike you."
The grandparents snuggled up to each other, and Shen Anan chattered all the way. She didn't know why she had so much to say, but she just had a lot to tell her grandmother.
She talked about everything from food, clothing, housing and transportation. Old Madam Shen didn't say anything, but just hugged her and listened quietly. At the end, Shen Anan choked up as she spoke.
"grandmother."
"Okay, grandma is back. From now on, grandma will be with you." Old Madam Shen touched her head as she did when she was a child to coax her.
Shen Anan nestled in her arms very obediently.
Mrs. Shen had been waiting at the gate of the mansion long ago when she received the news. When she saw the carriage approaching, she hurried to greet it.
"Mother."
Madam Shen was helped down from the carriage by Shen Anan. Her face was full of energy, and one could see her extraordinary appearance when she was young. "Get up. You have worked hard to take care of the father and son over the years."
“It’s not hard, it’s what a daughter-in-law should do.” Madam Shen stood up and hurried forward to support the other side of the old lady.
"Shou'an Hall has been cleaned up. I'll help my mother go over there to rest. The master has gone to the palace. My son is not at home now, and my daughter-in-law has sent someone to call him."
"It's okay. Official business is more important." The yard was still the same as she remembered, but Mrs. Shen suddenly became much quieter. She didn't walk fast and would stop to look at any place she passed.
The maids and old women in Anshou Hall were busy coming and going. Old Madam Shen sat down in the main hall, stroking the carved pear wood armrest, looking a little dazed.
Everyone was very curious about why the old lady came back suddenly, but no one asked this question.
Madam Shen walked around the room and told the maid to fill in the missing pieces immediately.
"You don't have to rush, just keep it simple." said Mrs. Shen.
"Yes." Madam Shen bowed and sat down next to Madam Shen again.
Shen Anan personally poured a cup of tea for Old Lady Shen and put it in her hands to warm it. "I haven't been here for the past few months. Grandma, have you been obedient and eaten well? How is your health?"
"Very good. You keep nagging me here and there every day. It's really annoying."
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