Shen Danru looked at Yu Yan. She hadn't seen him for three months. He seemed to have grown taller and more mature.
“Grandfather has gone to the palace. He will come to see us when he returns.”
After hearing this, Shen Cheng seemed even more nervous.
Shen Danru knew in her heart that, more than them, it was definitely her father who longed for her grandfather's return.
Not long after Shen Danru returned, a group of people entered the mansion.
After everyone came out, they saw Shen Yutang instructing people to unload the things.
The ten horse-drawn carriages were packed full of goods.
When Zhou saw that it was her second son who had returned, she rushed forward and hugged him, tears streaming down her face: "Tang'er, you've been gone for four years without even coming back to see us. Do you know how worried your mother was about you? Are you doing well in the army?"
Shen Yutang wiped away Zhou's tears and said with a smile, "Mother, your son is back safe and sound, isn't he?"
Zhou cried even harder this time.
She had been waiting and waiting, and finally her second son returned.
Shen Danru looked at the gold, silver, jade, silk, satin, calligraphy and paintings by famous people, books, and the Four Treasures of the Study on the carriages. These were all good things.
He couldn't help but ask, "Second Brother, how did you bring back so many good things?"
“These were all prepared by my grandfather.”
Shen Danru guessed it at this moment; it must all be his grandfather's good intentions.
At noon, Shen returned from the palace and went straight to the Shen residence.
The servants sent by Shen Tuo failed to receive Shen Shi, which puzzled them.
"Has the Duke revealed his whereabouts?"
The servant shook his head: "The Duke only told us to come back first, and he won't be returning to the mansion today. He also instructed the master to clean several main courtyards in preparation for others to move in."
Shen Tuo was startled. Why was his elder brother sweeping the yard?
Did they say who lives there?
"The Duke did not say so explicitly."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yingxue also became suspicious.
“Grandfather, I met Shen Danru at the city gate today. She is the adopted daughter of the Marquis of Xuanping’s family who was mistakenly identified. She seems to have returned with my great-uncle and is in the Zhenbei Army’s ranks.”
This made Shen Tuo even more confused.
How could that woman be in the Zhenbei Army's ranks?
The eldest brother is always strict; he forbids women from even getting close to anyone in the group, let alone having them.
Unless she is a relative of a military general, this is perhaps still a possibility.
Shen Tuo didn't think much of it and didn't believe that Shen Danru's presence in the Zhenbei Army would have any connection with his elder brother Shen Shi.
At this moment, Shen Yingxue's half-sister, Shen Chuyan, stepped forward and said:
“Grandfather, I overheard my friends talking about how Song Shiyue’s adoptive parents’ second brother joined the army and is in the Zhenbei Army. I’m sure the second brother Song Shiyue mentioned is Shen Danru’s biological brother.”
"Shen Danru was in the Zhenbei Army, perhaps because of his brother."
Shen Tuo nodded approvingly.
He instructed his servants: "Quickly find out where the Duke went after leaving the palace."
"yes."
The servants didn't dare delay for a moment and hurried off to inquire about the news.
At the same time, Shen Shi sped towards the Shen Mansion.
He didn't bother to change into casual clothes.
People on both sides of the street made way for them, their faces showing awe and curiosity.
If it were anyone else, they would have been cursing, but General Shen's galloping horse must have been in a hurry.
They were all worried about General Shen.
The main gate of the Shen Mansion was open, appearing solemn and majestic.
Xiao Wei led a group of guards, all dressed in neat uniforms, lined up in orderly rows, waiting for General Shen's return.
Seeing a group of people rushing towards them in the distance, they knew in their hearts that General Shen had returned.
One of them quickly ran to report it.
Shen Shi rode his horse straight to the gate of the Shen residence and dismounted.
The guards of the Shen family immediately came forward to lead their horses.
Shen Shi recognized Xiao Wei and nodded to him.
He had met Xiao Wei a few times at the border and asked him if he was willing to join the army.
However, to everyone's surprise, Xiao Wei politely declined, saying, "I appreciate General Shen's kindness, but my life belongs to Miss. I only want to protect her safety."
At the time, I felt a little regretful.
But what pleased him even more was the man's unwavering loyalty to his granddaughter.
With this person by his side, he felt more at ease about his granddaughter's safety.
"Please come in, General! Miss is already waiting inside."
Shen Shi nodded and signaled the accompanying generals to guard the gates of the mansion. Today, his family was reunited, and he would not see anyone else.
As soon as Shen Shi stepped through the main gate, he saw the Shen family members already gathered in the courtyard.
Seeing the expectant look in the eyes of the middle-aged man in front of him, who resembled him in his youth, he immediately recognized him as his son.
When Shen Cheng saw his father enter the door, he stepped forward and knelt down, saying, "Your son is unfilial and has caused you worry all these years."
Shen Shi hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, and couldn't help but hug Shen Cheng, saying, "Child, I'm sorry for you. I've made you suffer all these years. Do you hate your father?"
It's impossible for Shen Cheng to have no complaints.
He didn't know that his father was General Shen Shi. At that time, he thought that the woman who died on the mountain was his mother, and he did hate her.
At that time, his resentment towards his father stemmed from why his mother was left alone in a desperate situation, with nowhere else to turn but to seek help from passersby.
Later, when he learned that his father was General Shen Shi, he was also very surprised.
Thinking of his father's life dedicated to the country and its people, spending half his life on the battlefield and never living for himself, what right did he have to resent his father?
As for his mother's tragic death and his own disappearance, they must have been the work of his enemies; these were all accidents.
The fact that my father never married is enough to prove that he suffered more than I did, and that this suffering lasted for forty years.
He had no idea about his background before, and only half a year had passed.
"Father, I have no regrets."
A trace of guilt flashed in Shen Shi's eyes. He understood that the debt he had owed his son over the years could not be made up for with words.
"Cheng'er, I'm sorry, Father. Your mother, she was the love of my life, and I wished she were alive more than anyone else, but..."
His voice choked up several times, and he couldn't continue speaking.
Shen Cheng gently patted his father's back. He knew that his father's pain was no less than his own.
He said gently, “Father, I don’t resent you, nor do I hate you, because I am your son. I understand you, and I am proud of you.”
Shen Cheng's words made Shen Shi feel even more guilty.
"Yes, thank you, my son. Over the years, I have never given up looking for you, but I have never found a clue. I thought I would never see you again in this life, but I never thought that we would be reunited one day."
"Today, when I met the Emperor, I reported our father-son relationship to him. I didn't expect the Emperor to praise you so highly. You are also your father's pride."
Shen Shi glanced at the people in the courtyard and guessed that these young children must be his grandchildren.
"What makes me even happier is the wonderful grandchildren you gave me. My life has been truly worthwhile."
At this point, Shen Shi couldn't help but smile.
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