"……yes."
Madam Shen's smile immediately vanished.
Her original intention was to get Shen Cang to praise her and see how useful she was to the family, but things didn't go as planned.
Xianglan stood to the side, thinking to herself, "Didn't you ask for this?"
Serves you right for being so cocky!
Shen Cang took the silver and was about to leave when a servant from Madam Shen's courtyard suddenly came to report that a distinguished guest had arrived at the mansion and asked him and Madam Shen to go and meet him.
Shen Cang went to Zhuijin Hall with a heart full of doubts.
When they arrived, they discovered that it wasn't just the couple who had gone; there were also younger members like Shen Qiyin.
Even Shen Yaozu, who had just been released from prison, was there.
Madam Shen couldn't bear to see her beloved grandson suffer, so she secretly took out her own savings and sent someone to the Jingzhao Prefecture to redeem him.
Shen Xiyin heard that it took the people from the manor two trips to bring the person back.
It is said that when the servant first went there, he forgot to bring clothes for Shen Yaozu.
He arrived at Zhuijintang at almost the same time as Shen Qiyin. The moment he saw her, his eyes were filled with undisguised hatred.
He felt that his current predicament was all the fault of the person in front of him!
If she hadn't blocked my way from taking Rendong as a concubine, I wouldn't have gone to the brothel in a fit of pique, and naturally, none of the messy things that followed would have happened.
So it's all her fault!
He was determined to settle this score with her!
Shen Yaozu's gaze was so intense it felt like he was piercing a hole through Shen Qiyin, and she naturally noticed it. Not only was she not afraid, she was even a little excited.
As everyone entered Zhuijin Hall, they saw Madam Shen talking to an elderly man.
The two were deeply moved, their eyes filled with tears, utterly overwhelmed with emotion.
If it's not Guo An, then who is it!
Sitting next to him was a young man in his early twenties, with a fat head and big ears, a bulbous nose with some pockmarks on both sides, and a dense cluster of small red boils on his forehead.
He is Guo An's grandson, named Guo Xiuran, and he has just come of age.
When Madam Shen introduced Shen Qiyin to the two families, Guo Xiuran was completely stunned, staring intently at Shen Qiyin, and didn't even hear Guo An calling him.
He stammered, "Sister Qiyin... must be a celestial maiden descended from the heavens. How could such a beauty be found in the mortal world..."
That's rather abrupt.
Shen Qiyin didn't show any embarrassment or fear, but before she could say anything, Shen Cang blocked her behind him.
He pretended to greet Guo An and his grandson, leading them to sit down again.
This was the first time Shen Cang had protected Shen Qiyin like this.
Of course, she wouldn't feel any emotion at all.
The reason Shen Cang protected her was not because he was a father who loved his daughter, but because he felt that with her looks and current connections, she could get a better social standing than the Guo family.
If it were Xiao Yan staring straight at her today, Shen Cang wouldn't just not stand in front of her; he'd probably want to shove her into Xiao Yan's arms so he could look at her to his heart's content.
After everyone was seated, Madam Shen was still unable to calm down for a long time, and said in reminiscence, "You young people don't know, but our family and your Grandpa Guo's family have a very close relationship."
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something and looked at Madam Shen, saying, "Back then, your marriage to Yanlin was arranged by your cousin Guo."
Yanlin is the courtesy name of Shen Cang.
This was the name Guo An gave him back then.
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen quickly rose and bowed to Guo An, expressing her gratitude profusely.
In contrast, Shen Cang's reaction was very indifferent.
How could it not be bland?
If Guo An had paid more attention to his marriage back then and had worked harder to build a better relationship with Jiang's father, he might have been able to marry Wan Niang as he wished, instead of ending up in this situation where he shares a bed with this middle-aged woman but dreams nothing of the same thing!
Coming to his senses, Shen Cang asked Guo An, "Is my cousin being transferred back to the capital this time, or...?"
Upon hearing this, Guo An's face stiffened, but he still tried to remain calm and said, "I'm already this old, and I'm too lazy to deal with the political intrigue anymore. It's better to leave the positions to the younger generation."
Shen Cangxin understood, realizing that he had been completely removed from his post.
Whether Madam Shen hadn't considered this aspect or had considered it but didn't care, she said, "Alas, it's time for you to enjoy your old age and stop working so hard."
"Yes, yes." Guo An smiled with satisfaction.
Shen Cang then asked, "Where is my cousin staying now that he has returned to the capital?"
Before Guo An could even reply, Old Madam Shen impatiently said, "Why ask such a question? Of course, you'll be staying at our house."
Upon hearing this, both Shen Cang and Madam Shen's expressions changed.
For a moment, neither of them responded to the conversation.
Shen Qiyin watched this scene with great interest, grabbed a handful of melon seeds from the fruit dish next to her, and slowly peeled and ate them while watching the show.
Guo An did indeed intend to stay at the Shen family's residence, but seeing that Shen Cang and Madam Shen made no response after Old Madam Shen finished speaking, he had no choice but to find a way out himself, saying, "Where can I stay at your residence? It would be too much of a disturbance."
Madam Shen disapproved, saying, "Why are you saying such formal things!"
"Back then, when I brought Yanlin and his sister to the capital, weren't you the one who arranged the house and furniture for them?"
"Not to mention the food and supplies we use every day, you always have to take care of everything."
"Even Yan Lin was able to get a job at the Imperial Hospital because you intervened."
“If we really want to be so calculating, we are just repaying a debt of gratitude. This is just a small act of filial piety from them. You should just accept it without worry.”
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