If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

Shen Jianglin talked incessantly for half an hour, and most of the time he was scolding Shen Sui'an for being cruel and ruthless and being unfilial.

Lu Yuan asked everyone else to leave. He listened quietly, his dark eyes becoming colder and sharper.

"Father-in-law." Lu Yuan slowly interrupted Shen Jianglin.

A beam of sunlight from the window fell right on his handsome face, which looked like a jade sculpture. His eyes were dim and his emotions could not be seen.

Shen Jianglin picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. His mouth was dry from talking.

"In order to plead for Cheng Zhong, you scolded Sui Sui to the point of being useless. I'm curious, is Sui Sui really your daughter?" Lu Yuan's voice was calm and cold.

"I also regret all the time why I gave birth to a daughter like her." Shen Jianglin didn't hear Lu Yuan's displeasure.

Lu Yuan recalled that when he returned home, Shen Jianglin protected the concubines and daughters-in-law and scolded Sui Sui in front of him. He did this even on such an important day, which showed how harshly he treated Sui Sui on other days.

But that day, when Shen Sui'an faced her father's indifference and favoritism, her dark eyes were so calm that it made people feel distressed.

It was as if...she had experienced this kind of thing countless times.

"So, my father-in-law has long known that Aunt Cheng's brother has occupied the fertile land of Suisui?" Lu Yuan asked in a low voice.

Shen Jianglin: "We are all relatives, how can you use the word 'occupy'? It's just borrowed for a few years. Since it's going to be returned every year, just let someone know. How can you send it directly to the Pacification Office?"

It is still unknown how much torture Cheng Zhong has suffered in the Zhenfu Division. If Aunt Cheng finds out, she will definitely have a fight with him.

"What kind of relatives are you to the Cheng family?" Lu Yuan asked.

"Of course..." Shen Jianglin paused, frowned and looked at Lu Yuan, "Are you unwilling to let Cheng Zhong go?"

Lu Yuan: "Cheng Zhong has occupied the fertile land and has already signed a confession. Father-in-law, the Zhenfu Division never handles unjust cases."

"Even though I've come to beg for mercy, you're still unwilling to show leniency?" Shen Jianglin's face darkened.

"I'm just afraid that if this man is released, my father-in-law will have a hard time explaining himself in front of the emperor tomorrow." Lu Yuan said in a slightly cold voice.

"The Censorate has been keeping an eye on the Pacification Office. I released Cheng Zhong today, and tomorrow, memorials will be falling on the emperor's desk like snowflakes. By then, this case must be presented to the emperor."

Lu Yuan's thin lips curled slightly, "Father-in-law, no official in the entire Shangjing would consider a concubine's family as relatives. Even Concubine Yao...she strictly abides by her duties and has never exceeded them in all these years."

"The Emperor is even more respectful and polite to the Empress. Once the Censorate accuses you of favoring a concubine over your wife, even you, the old master, will not be able to keep your position."

"..." The corners of Shen Jianglin's mouth twitched.

Of course he knew that he couldn't let the Censorate report him for favoring his concubine and neglecting his wife, but he thought that Lu Yuan was his son-in-law, so he could just release Cheng Zhong without anyone knowing.

"Lu Yuan, this is the first time I'm begging you for help today, and you won't even give me this face? You are my son-in-law." Shen Jianglin asked angrily.

"The one I married is Shen Sui'an, not your concubine's daughter. You have hurt Sui Sui again and again for the sake of your concubine, and you even want me to release the villain who occupied my wife's fertile land. Father-in-law, what is your position as the Zhenfusi?" Lu Yuan was like a sharp blade unsheathed, and his whole body exuded a sharp aura.

"Whether it's my late mother-in-law or the mother-in-law's family in the mansion, they are all my relatives. As for the Cheng family, father-in-law, you dare to recognize them as relatives, but I can't do it."

Shen Jianglin's face turned pale little by little, and then turned red.

Lu Yuan: "The Pacification Office is a place to serve the emperor, not your backyard."

Shen Jianglin was so angry that his chest hurt. He pointed at Lu Yuan and said, "You...you are arrogant."

Lu Yuan chuckled, "I don't mind going to the palace with my father-in-law. Your Majesty, please decide whether I am being unfilial to my father-in-law or he is forcing me to do something against my will."

"Okay, Lu Yuan, you're doing fine." Shen Jianglin walked away.

After Shen Jianglin left the Pacification Office in a rage, Lu Yuan's deputy Guan Jin walked in.

"Commander, Princess Guangning has entered the palace. As soon as she entered the palace, Concubine Yao sent someone to call her to Zhaoxi Palace." Guan Jin said.

Lu Yuan nodded calmly, "Let Shi Qing reveal this matter."

Guan Jin grinned, "Who should I tell this to? My sister-in-law?"

"Get out." Lu Yuan said coldly.

"Get out of here immediately." Guan Jin laughed.

……

……

Princess Guangning was going to the palace to complain to the emperor.

Yesterday Lu Yuan didn't give her any face at all. She had never been so embarrassed before.

"Mother, you must make the decision for me and ask father to dismiss Lu Yuan from his post and severely punish him. He thinks that he can act arrogantly in front of me just because he is the commander of the Pacification Bureau. How can a lowly bastard like him be so arrogant in front of me?"

Princess Guangning was so angry that her face turned hideous.

Concubine Yao was a gentle and beautiful woman. Although she is no longer young, her well-maintained face is still beautiful and charming.

She watched her daughter rage and curse without saying a word.

She was too indulgent to her daughter.

It is obvious that she was able to raise her three sons very well. They were smart, well-behaved, humble and polite. Only her daughter was willful and capricious.

She used to think that Guangning was a daughter, so she should be pampered more and the demands on her should not be so high. Now she really regrets it.

"And that Shen Sui'an... what a bitch. I only punished her by asking her to copy the female virtues, but she dared not to obey."

"Mother, you have to make the decision for me."

Concubine Yao looked at Princess Guangning calmly, "Have you finished speaking?"

Princess Guangning finally came to her senses. How could her mother remain so calm when she heard that she was wronged? Didn't she feel sorry for her?

"Do you think that forcing Shen Sui'an to kneel will make Lu Heng more devoted to you, and do you think you can protect his family?" Concubine Yao asked calmly.

“……”Princess Guangning indeed thought so.

What she wants now is that Lu Heng cannot leave her, and she can give Lu Heng everything he wants.

"Why did the Duke of Zhenguo punish Lu Yan? If Shen Sui'an was at fault, do you think he would wrong his own granddaughter? It's your turn to stand up for Lu Yan."

"I thought that although you were willful, you were smart enough. Now it seems that you are really stupid. You are used as a gun by a little girl, but you are still so dedicated and don't even care about the face of your father and brother." Concubine Yao said coldly.

Princess Guangning's face turned pale, "I didn't!"

"If Lu Yuan hadn't taken Shen Sui'an away yesterday, and you had really punished her, the spit of the Censorate would have drowned both you and me today."

"I didn't educate my daughter well, and I raised a daughter like you who is domineering and overbearing." Concubine Yao's voice was not sharp, but it hurt Princess Guangning's cheek like a knife.

Did she do something wrong?

Why didn't even her mother speak for her?

"Mother, why do you say that to me? What did I do wrong?" Tears rolled down Princess Guangning's eyes.

She was so wronged.