Chapter 137: Burning of the Ancestral Hall (4)
Luo Xueyan seemed to be getting sadder the more she thought about it. She continued, "I often wonder if Jiaojiao is truly safe in the capital. Without her parents by her side, is she truly happy? Every year when we meet her at the end of the year, she always treats us coldly, but the reason is that it's all our fault. So, no matter what she does, we can't blame her."
Shen Miao wasn't close to the Shen Xin couple, or even Shen Qiu, because these so-called relatives hadn't been with her since childhood. She was close to Ren Wanyun, Chen Ruoqiu, and even Old Madam Shen, because they were the ones she spent every day with, and they were the ones she considered "relatives." The Shen Xin couple treated their daughter with unwavering deference, and no matter how well-known Shen Miao's stupidity was in the capital, they never got angry with her, because it was all the karma they had sown.
Shen Xin patted Luo Xueyan's shoulder: "One day, Jiaojiao will understand our difficulties."
“Will she really understand?” Luo Xueyan smiled bitterly: “Sometimes, I even wonder who is responsible for Jiaojiao being so naughty now, the Shen Mansion…” She stopped talking suddenly and glanced at Shen Xin with some annoyance.
Shen Xin naturally understood her implication, and his expression changed slightly. After a moment, he sighed and held his beloved wife's hand: "Madam, you are worrying too much. Mother and my sister-in-law will teach Jiaojiao well. If it is not right, Jiaojiao will not be so close to them."
Shen Miao's attitude towards her two aunts was so good that it made people jealous. As a result, some of her thoughts seemed out of place.
"I'm overthinking it," Luo Xueyan said. She was the cherished daughter of the Luo family in the northwest, a family of military commanders. Although she was a third-rank military officer, her family was also full of tough men. Luo Xueyan was the youngest sister, with three older brothers. Since she was born, she had only her parents and brothers in her family, so she hadn't experienced many dirty things. She had seen little of the secrets of the wealthy and powerful, so she didn't know the dangers involved.
If he knew, he would definitely prefer to take Shen Miao by his side at risk rather than leave her alone in that horrible Shen Mansion.
As he was speaking, he heard someone behind him calling, "Dad, Mom."
Shen Xin’s face darkened, and he said angrily: “When there are people outside, call me….”
"General Shen!" the visitor said hurriedly.
“Ignore your father,” Luo Xueyan rolled her eyes at Shen Xin: “Just pretending.”
The man who came was a young man in his twenties, of respectable appearance, with tan skin and two dimples when he smiled, which added a rare childishness to him. This young man looked quite similar to Luo Xueyan, and was Shen Xin's legitimate son, Shen Qiu.
Shen Qiu is twenty-two years old this year. As early as the age of ten, he was taken to the battlefield by Shen Xin for training. It is said that a strict teacher produces a good student. Shen Qiu is also brave and has earned several merits over the years. He is now a fourth-rank general.
"Dad, Mom, your birthday gifts have been given, what should I give?" Chen Qiu scratched his head, a little confused.
"You bastard, what gift are you giving us? Why are you asking us? As a man, if you can't even make up your mind about such a small matter, how can you go to the battlefield!" Shen Xin seized the opportunity to scold his son.
"It's been a while since I last attended my grandmother's birthday." Chen Qiu said awkwardly, "I don't know what to give her. I can't just report how many enemy soldiers I killed. It's unlucky to have too many birthdays."
Luo Xueyan was amused by Chen Qiu's words: "It's nothing. His Majesty once gave you a piece of heavenly silk brocade. You should give it to the old lady. I heard that this kind of heavenly silk brocade is extremely scarce in Dingjing City now. Even the ladies in the palace may not have it. The old lady will be happy to get one."
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