Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

"How do you know that I want Xiao Yuanlang to ascend the throne?" Shen Chuning's eyes widened with anger, and she loudly questioned Shen Qingyuan in front of her.

Her cheeks were flushed with anger and her chest was heaving violently with rage.

Shen Qingyuan was obviously startled by her sudden anger, and he couldn't help but stuttered as he asked, "Don't you want him to be the emperor? You don't want him to be an idle prince, do you? That wouldn't be bad either. That way, you two can be like a couple in heaven, living in harmony and loving each other deeply. After all, when you become emperor, you have to weigh all the pros and cons, and appoint concubines. You definitely can't focus on doting on you alone. However, I'm afraid it won't be easy for Grandmother to do this. I'll have to ask Grandfather for permission."

Hearing his words, Shen Chuning took a deep breath, trying hard to control her emotions that were about to explode, and said with gritted teeth: "Xiao Yuanlang and I have an irreconcilable feud!"

Shen Qingyuan's eyes widened upon hearing this, and he looked at her in disbelief, exclaiming, "Irreconcilable? Why did you help him open this Hengfu Bank even though you were sworn enemies? You might not know that because of this bank, he now has an incredibly good reputation among the people!"

After hearing this, Shen Chuning calmed down a bit and sneered, "Humph, as the saying goes, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Now that Hengfu Bank can give those people money, they naturally think Xiao Yuanlang is a good person. But if one day they can't even get their invested capital back, guess what, will these people eat Xiao Yuanlang alive?"

Seeing her like this and hearing what she said, Shen Qingyuan couldn't help but feel a chill all over his body, and a dense layer of goose bumps appeared on his body involuntarily.

He widened his eyes and muttered to himself, "So you actually have such a plan in mind."

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment, as if pondering something in his mind, and then he continued, "Does the Third Prince know that you are the real owner of this bank?"

Shen Chuning shook her head slightly in denial, and replied, "In the eyes of outsiders, the only person who works for Hengfu Bank is Cui Shi."

After Shen Qingyuan finished listening, his brows knitted together, his face full of confusion. He continued to ask, "So, this matter has nothing to do with the Third Prince. Then why didn't he come out and deny it?"

At this moment, Shen Chuning's face revealed a cold smile. "This bank was originally opened thanks to the connections of Wu Desheng, the eunuch who was close to him. And he's naturally happy to see this kind of good thing happen, which can earn him fame for free. If he doesn't deny it now, when he really wants to completely distance himself from it in the future, it will probably be too late."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyuan sighed inwardly and couldn't help but mutter again, "They say a woman's heart is the most vicious. The ancients were right."

Shen Chuning turned her head and glanced at him coldly, then asked, "Now that Fourth Uncle has clearly understood my overall plan, do you intend to have your men withdraw all the silver deposited in Hengfu Bank?"

Shen Qingyuan waved his hands anxiously and said loudly, "Those people are nothing! Little Aning, if you want the silver, Fourth Uncle will have them deliver it to you. But... what kind of deep hatred do you have with the Third Prince? It makes you so determined to kill him. You loved to pester him when you were little."

After hearing this, Shen Chuning couldn't help but fall into memories.

In her previous life, she lay quietly on the large carved bed in the main room of the Third Prince's Mansion. Shen Jingwan brought medicine and said that everything was Xiao Yuanlang's idea.

Even having someone defile her in the bridal chamber on the wedding night was Xiao Yuanlang's idea.

That man had always used her as a tool, constantly squeezing every last bit of value out of her.

Until the Shen family could no longer provide him with any help, he did not hesitate to end her life with several bowls of poison.

Thinking of this, Shen Chuning's eyes gradually became moist and tears welled up in her eyes.

Shen Qingyuan's heart tightened upon seeing this, and he quickly spoke to comfort her, "Fourth Uncle will not pursue this matter any further. Since little An Ning hates him so much, then Fourth Uncle will naturally not support that heartless and ungrateful person anymore."

"Those people under you can't help him anymore." Shen Chuning said coquettishly.

"Okay, not only will we not help him, but we will also speak ill of him in front of those ministers."

As soon as Shen Qingyuan finished speaking, Shen Chuning finally burst into laughter and a smile appeared on her face again.

Seeing that he had finally managed to cheer Shen Chuning up, Shen Qingyuan slowly stood up as if relieved and prepared to leave.

He said to Shen Chuning with a serious face, "I have to go back to the island to arrange the follow-up matters. I can't delay any longer."

After saying that, he repeatedly assured her that he would bring Zhou Lin back safely and unharmed, and only then did Shen Chuning let him go with peace of mind.

……

After the wedding banquet of the Wu and Wang families ended, the Shen family and their companions did not stay for long and boarded the carriage back to Jinan without stopping.

Along the way, the wheels rolled, raising clouds of dust.

Shen Chengliu was still curious. Zhou Lin came with them, so why was he nowhere to be seen when they left?

Shen Chuning evaded the question by saying that he had other things to deal with.

After a long journey, they finally arrived at the mansion safely.

However, as soon as Yun Shuxuan and Shen Chuning stepped into the main courtyard, Zhenzhu came up to them with a panicked look and hurried steps, holding a letter in her hand.

She walked quickly to Yun Shuxuan and handed him the letter, saying anxiously, "Madam, this letter from the capital specifically asks you to open it personally."

Yun Shuxuan was slightly stunned, reached out to take the letter, carefully opened the envelope, and took out the letter inside.

She read intently, her expression growing darker as the text unfolded.

In a short while, she had finished reading the entire letter, and then angrily slammed it on the table beside her.

Seeing her mother so angry, Shen Chuning beside her hurriedly asked, "Mom, who sent this from the capital?"

Yun Shuxuan glared fiercely at the letter on the table and replied unhappily, "Your grandmother!"