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Chapter 550

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Shen Zhu and Mu Weizhi died in a very tragic way. This should have been a very shocking thing, but it was like a wave on the water, which rolled up very high and then fell down all of a sudden. The water surface returned to calm, as if nothing had happened. Even if some people knew about this, they only discussed it secretly and did not make a big fuss about it.

Life seemed to have returned to normal and the weather had become a little cooler.

Shen Ziju came to the Marquis' Mansion and asked Shen Zian and Su Zhi to go and meet Shen Youfu.

"Fourth brother and sister-in-law, I know you have resentment towards father, but father is also kept in the dark. He is also very sad now. He has lost a lot of weight these days. He is preparing to leave the capital and return to Hebian Village. He wants to see you before he leaves. You can go and see him. I'm leaving you here!"

Shen Ziju performed a great ceremony. His mother had harmed Shen Zian's mother. The truth had come out. He felt inferior to Shen Zian. He felt that Shen Zian's attitude towards him seemed a little cold. He tried to stay away from Shen Zian and his friends as much as possible these days, thinking that he would make up for the relationship after the storm was over. After all, his fourth brother and his friends were reasonable and would not be angry with him because of his mother's sin. But now Shen Youfu asked him to invite Shen Zian and Su Zhi, so he had to come. He knew that his father would definitely ask his fourth brother and his friends to take care of themselves before he left, so he had to invite them.

Shen Zi'an's coldness towards Shen Ziju was of course due to Shen Zhang's reasons, but more importantly, it was because he knew Shen Ziju's feelings for Su Zhi. Although it was not known whether Shen Ziju's promise to Mu Weizi was true or false, and now that Mu Weizi was dead, he might not do it again, but it also made Shen Zi'an, who loved his wife, feel uncomfortable, so he would naturally be unhappy when he saw him.

"We'll go in the afternoon."

Shen Zian said that no matter how much he hated Shen Youfu for marrying such a vicious woman who came home to harm his mother and father, he could see him less often, but he still had to go to this farewell ceremony. Liangguo valued filial piety, and he would think about his wife, not just himself.

"Thank you, Fourth Brother. Please ask Fourth Sister-in-law to come with us. Dad wants to see her, too."

Shen Ziju was relieved, and he talked to Shen Zian for a few more words, and then he left. He felt a little sorry for not seeing Su Zhi, but he thought that he would see her in the afternoon. He felt a little happier. Mu Weizhi was dead, and he was in such a turbulent time. He was still tempted by Mu Weizhi's proposal, but he didn't have the courage. He just wanted to see her more, even if she was next to Shen Zian, he would be happy.

Shen Zian neither nodded nor shook his head.

After Shen Ziju left, Shen Zian told Su Zhi about this matter. Su Zhi didn't really want to go, but seeing Shen Zian's expression, she smiled.

"Although I don't really want to go, I'll go anyway. I guess I won't be in any trouble now, right? It's not a monster, so what's the harm in going?"

Su Zhi wanted to go with Shen Zian. Shen Zian didn't want to face that person even more than she did. She had to stay by his side to give him warmth and strength.

Shen Zian shook Su Zhi's hand. He also knew the purpose of his wife accompanying him, and his unhappiness about not wanting to see Shen Youfu also dissipated a lot.

The next day, the couple went to the Shen residence. When they saw Shen Youfu, they were all stunned because they hadn't seen him for such a long time. He looked like he had aged ten years. His hair had turned a lot whiter. Before, there was more black than white, but now there was more black than white. His face had no luster at all, and his eyes were dull. He would look at people and then lower his head. He had no energy at all. He looked like an old tree that was about to wither.

Shen Zi'an felt a little uncomfortable. It was indeed Shen Youfu's fault that his mother died so early, but he was his father after all. Seeing him become like this, he felt depressed. He didn't feel sympathy, sadness, or forgiveness, but just disgust, because he didn't see any guilt in Shen Youfu's eyes towards his son whom he had neglected for many years. So he was sure that Shen Youfu might be angry at Shen Zhang for deceiving him, but he didn't feel much guilt for the accidental death of his first wife.

Shen Zian thought so, and his face became a little gloomy.

Shen Ziju invited Shen Zian and Su Zhi to sit down, then had tea served and he sat down beside them.

"Dad, if you have anything to say to Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law, just say it."

Shen Zi'an whispered to Shen Youfu that Shen Youfu had already explained to him clearly the purpose of inviting Shen Zi'an and the others, so he already had an idea in his mind. He thought that his father was still very good to him, so he was naturally very respectful to Shen Youfu, thinking that even if Shen Youfu returned to Hebian Village, he would make sure he lived comfortably. He brought quite a few servants back with him, not to mention the money he had prepared.

Shen Youfu raised his eyelids and looked at Shen Zian, then glanced at Su Zhi, and saw that they both had rosy complexions and were dressed in loose clothes. Just sitting there, they were completely different from when they were in Hebian Village. They were like prominent figures who were high above everyone else. Even his youngest son, whom he loved and valued the most, looked inferior in comparison to them. He felt a little bitter in his heart.

What Shen Youfu wanted most in his life was to bring honor to his family, so he attached great importance to Shen Ziju, because he was smart and good-looking, and could pass the imperial examination and become an official. The other children in the family all depended on his future. And he was not wrong, Shen Ziju did not disappoint him, as expected, he became an official, and he also became an old lady. His dream came true, he should be proud and happy, but unfortunately, fate played tricks on him, his beloved wife turned out to be such a dishonorable identity, the family was constantly in trouble, and his son's future was worrying.

And Shen Zi'an, the man Shen Youfu looked down upon the most, was lucky enough to marry the daughter of the Marquis. Such an ugly and sickly woman, whom he regarded as a jinx, was not only of noble status but also extremely intelligent and blessed. He separated them from the family and gave them almost nothing, but they now live better than Shen Ziju himself. Shen Youfu felt like he had eaten sour grapes. If he had thought about how to get some benefits from Shen Zi'an in the past, he would not dare to do that now that the four houses not only have wealth but also power.

"Zi'an, Zi'an's wife, I asked you to come here today because I have to go back to the village. I have some things I want to talk to you about."

Shen Youfu spoke slowly, and his voice seemed to have aged all of a sudden, as if it had no moisture in it, and it was unpleasant to listen to.

Shen Zian said: "Please speak if you have anything to say."

Shen Youfu nodded, and first talked about Shen Zhang's affairs. He told him that Shen Zhang had harmed his original wife, and he had never known about it, and that he had been deceived. In the end, he shed a few tears. He changed the subject and said that Shen Zhang had received retribution, Shen Zhu was dead, and now that such a big setback had occurred at home, he could not bear it anymore, so he had to go back to Hebian Village to live. He was very worried about leaving Shen Ziju in the capital, and asked Shen Zian and others to take care of him for the sake of brothers.

Shen Zian did not nod. Shen Ziju had improper thoughts about Su Zhi, but he would keep an eye on him. As long as he did not do anything, he would not do anything to Shen Ziju, at most he would stay away from him. But his not doing anything to Shen Ziju did not mean that he would take care of him. Shen Ziju did not need his care in life now, unless it was for his career. But he would not help Shen Ziju to be successful in his career. Because Shen Ziju harmed the Niu family.

The Niu family had brought this upon themselves, but those were lives lost. The emperor valued talents, and Shen Ziju took the initiative to admit his guilt. The emperor gave him a chance to atone for his crime, and that was the emperor's business. However, Shen Zian was unwilling to help him get promoted. Shen Zian believed that even if Shen Ziju did not pay for the Niu family's lives, he should use the rest of his life to do good things, and even if he was promoted again, it should be based on his ability, not on the help of others.

"Why, Zi'an, you don't want to?"

Seeing that Shen Zian did not nod, but instead looked even gloomier, Shen Youfu asked. This was what concerned him most right now. If he could not get Shen Zian to nod, he would not feel at ease when leaving, and he would be worried about him even in Hebian Village.

Shen Zian said: "Fifth brother has no worries about food and clothing now, and he is also an official appointed by the court, so why does he still need my care?"

"I'm not talking about his life, I'm talking about his career."

Shen Youfu said it directly, staring at Shen Zian and said: "Zi Ju has already told you everything. You have to plead for Zi Ju on behalf of the emperor regarding the Niu family matter."

"The emperor has already decided on that matter. I, a commoner, cannot influence his will."

"You are Xiaori's adoptive father! You are the son-in-law of the Marquis of Loyalty! You are the sworn brother of the Prime Minister! You can help me as long as you are willing! I have become like this now. I have to go back to the village soon. I don't have many years left to live. I am thinking about Ziju. Can't you stop me from worrying even at my old age?!"

Shen Youfu said, and then he started coughing, as if he was going to die. Shen Ziju quickly went over to pat his back to calm him down, and brought him some tea. Shen Youfu finally got better, and glared at Shen Zian again. He seemed to be in better spirits, like the old man who used to glare at Shen Zian.

Su Zhi didn't let Shen Zian speak either. She just said that she would do her best when she could.

Shen Youfu then returned to his previous weak and angry look. He couldn't be warm and friendly to the fourth room couple. It was good enough if they didn't quarrel. He explained the matter of Shen Ziju and there was nothing else to say. He said a few more words and then had nothing to say.

"Fourth brother and sister-in-law, Dad has been hit hard. Please understand. He is old after all."

Shen Ziju escorted Shen Zian and the others out and apologized to them.

Shen Zian and Su Zhi spoke to him for a few words and then left.

Shen Ziju walked back after watching the carriage the two of them were riding in disappear. He thought to himself that although his father said so and his fourth sister-in-law agreed, he felt that this matter was not that easy and he could not force it. He just wanted to get through this. The Black Wood Kingdom was about to arrive, and he wanted to let the emperor see his abilities during this welcoming process. He could not wait to be demoted!

Shen Youfu quietly left the capital the next day, without visiting Shen Zhangshi. He left and never came back.