Shen Zhixiu looked around at everyone and said, "Chen Zhao is the eldest grandson of the Shen family. I have my own arrangements for his future."
"After getting married, he will be sent to a prefecture or county, possibly to the southwest or northwest."
"It's to give him a few years of experience in the local area, so he can learn how to be an official and understand the hardships of the people."
In fact, Shen Zhixiu made this decision not entirely for Su Qingyu. This was his plan when Shen Zhao and Shen Hong entered the Hanlin Academy a year ago.
The original plan was to let them concentrate on studying for three years before sending them out, but now it is just being brought forward.
Shen Zhixiu subconsciously twisted the silver needle on his cuff and glanced at Su Qingyu.
She lowered her head, and her expression could not be seen clearly. However, one could vaguely see the corners of her lips slightly raised.
The one who reacted most strongly to Shen Zhixiu's words was Chen.
Shen Zhiheng was also surprised. He hadn't expected Shen Zhixiu to have such an idea in mind. He subconsciously glanced at the old lady and saw her sitting upright in the nanmu armchair, her expression normal. Shen Zhiheng knew that the old lady approved of this matter.
Chen was about to speak. She wanted to ask Shen Zhixiu why he was so strict with his own offspring.
But before he could open his mouth, Shen Zhiheng stopped him with a look. This was not the time for him to argue about this matter.
When Princess Yongjia heard that Shen Zhixiu planned to send Shen Zhao away, she immediately became anxious.
If it was the wealthy Jiangnan region, she could still consider it. But Shen Zhixiu said it was either the southwest or the northwest, so how could that work?
When an official was sent out to a distant land, if the wife of the head of the household did not accompany her, she would have to serve her mother-in-law at the old house. With the husband away from home for the entire year, it was natural that he would need concubines to care for him. Over time, it was not impossible for the concubine to be favored over the wife.
But if she followed him, the southwest would be a wild land, and the northwest would be windy and cold. How could she bear to let her daughter, whom she had pampered and raised, follow Shen Zhao to suffer?
"Master Shen, isn't this inappropriate? If you had told me earlier that you wanted to send your nephews away, my Li family might not have agreed to this marriage."
"Now that we're about to get married, you've made this decision again. Are you taking advantage of the fact that my Li family has no one?"
Shen Zhixiu bowed slightly, "I dare not. This is the Shen family's private matter. Isn't the princess meddling too much?"
"If it's because Shen Zhao was exiled that the princess doesn't want to marry the princess into the palace to suffer, then that's fine. I will follow the princess into the palace now. The Shen family is willing to share the crime of disobeying the emperor's order with the Li family, and we will also ask the emperor to revoke the imperial decree."
Even when talking to Princess Yongjia, Shen Zhixiu's tone remained cold.
Princess Yongjia's brows were furrowed so tightly that they could kill a fly. "Shen Zhixiu, you..."
If this reason got out, wouldn't Chao Yun be ridiculed by the entire capital? Who would cancel an engagement just because their husband was exiled?
Besides, Chaoyun has already consummated her marriage with Shen Zhao. If the marriage is called off, what good family can she marry into next?
Princess Yongjia's thoughts were mixed. She wanted to confront Shen Zhixiu head-on, but she lacked the confidence. But she was unwilling to give in.
Seeing that Princess Yongjia also disapproved of Shen Zhao's exile, Chen thought this was an opportunity.
Then he said, "The princess is worried. I have the same idea as you. How can the family be at ease if the children are sent away right after getting married?"
"In my opinion, we should find a position in the capital, so that the princess can see the princess from time to time."
The old lady glared at Chen, and Shen Zhiheng quickly coughed lightly to stop Chen from finishing her words.
Then he said, "I don't think so. A good man has ambitions and should prioritize his future."
Even though he didn't quite agree with what Shen Zhixiu said, he and his brothers had to stand together in front of outsiders.
He believed that Shen Zhixiu made this decision for Shen Zhao's own good, so he planned to discuss it with him privately after sending the Li family away.
But Chen's interruption made it clear that the Shen family's first and third branches were at odds. At this time, he had to speak up and unconditionally support Shen Zhixiu.
This is also the tacit understanding between them as brothers.
Although Chen's words were interrupted by Shen Zhiheng, it finally gave Princess Yongjia a way out.
She only snorted, “Chen Zhao is not only the eldest young master of the Shen family, but also the son-in-law of my Li family.”
"Lord Shen has not yet become the Prime Minister, second only to the emperor. The appointment and dismissal of officials in the Ministry of Personnel are not up to you."
"I just don't believe that I can't keep a son-in-law if I want to."
Princess Yongjia's words were equivalent to agreeing to keep the marriage with the Shen family as it was. However, she was determined to interfere in Shen Zhao's whereabouts.
Li Jingchuan knew that today's matter was over. He hurriedly tried to smooth things over, saying to Shen Zhixiu, "We can discuss this matter after the two children are married."
Shen Zhixiu would naturally give face to Prince Shan, and said with a smile: "Of course, it is indeed too early to discuss it now."
It was good that the Li family didn't cancel the engagement, as it saved them a lot of trouble. As for Shen Zhao's whereabouts, he had his own arrangements, and it was not the Li family's turn to interfere.
Chen started talking to Princess Yongjia about interesting things happening in the inner palace, and the relationship between the two families was completely eased.
After all, the Shen family also beat a concubine to death with a stick, so they had an explanation to save face.
Li Chaoyun, who had been sitting next to Princess Yongjia, knew that she could only marry Shen Zhao in this life.
In the past, she had always been attracted to Shen Zhixiu, and felt that marrying a man like him was a good destination for a woman.
But today, as she sat in the living room of the Shen family, she suddenly realized her place clearly.
Her position in the Shen family depends on Shen Zhao. Whatever Shen Zhao's status among men is, her status among women is the same.
Judging from Shen Zhixiu's current status in the Shen family, as long as Shen Zhixiu is in power, there will be no chance for Shen Zhao to come to the fore.
The innocent love she had in her youth collapsed when she faced reality. She didn't even want to look at him anymore. She just lowered her head and thought about her future in the Shen family, and her future with Shen Zhao.
She was feeling very upset, and seeing her mother still talking to Old Madam Shen in private, she spoke.
"Mother, I want to go out and get some fresh air."
Princess Yongjia turned to look at Li Yunzhou before she finished her greeting.
“Yunzhou, you go out with your sister and just walk around.”
Li Yunzhou bowed and replied, "Yes, mother."
If someone didn't know the inside story of the Li family, they would definitely think that the two were mother and son, and that the mother was loving and the son was filial.
Su Qingyu has always been puzzled as to why Princess Yongjia was willing to let this illegitimate son go to the northern border.
It now seems that Li Yunzhou's disguise was too good. Princess Yongjia thought he was just a pet cat or dog. But she didn't expect that when he arrived in the northern border, he turned into a wolf and turned around to bite the Li family.
Seeing that Li Chaoyun was about to go out for a walk, Old Lady Shen told Shen Zhao: "You accompany the princess and the fourth young master around the garden and be careful."
Shen Zhao hurriedly stood up and responded, strode to Li Chaoyun and made a gesture of invitation.
After what happened today, Shen Zhao was thinking about it over and over again.
Marrying Li Chaoyun was indeed a good match for him.
Not to mention anything else, just having a mother-in-law like Princess Yongjia, why would he worry about his career going wrong?
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