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

"Let's discuss this matter after your grandmother returns from Daxiangguo Temple." said Old Master Shen.

Shen Chuning bit her lip lightly and said in a troubled tone, "Everyone else in the family can wait, but I'm afraid grandpa can't."

Old Master Shen looked at Shen Chuning suspiciously.

Shen Chuning continued, "Housekeeper Shen should be aware of this. The other party in the conflict that day was Feng Yucai, the youngest son of the Minister of War, Master Feng. Feng Yucai has a follower whose father is a censor. He loves to impeach these aristocratic families all day long. Feng Yucai is so angry that he heard he has already ordered someone to write a memorial to impeach my grandfather."

When Butler Shen Zong saw Old Master Shen looking at him, he nodded quickly. The person he saw in Jingzhao Prefecture that day was indeed the youngest son of the Feng family.

Old Master Shen closed and opened the folding fan in his hand, opened and closed it again, lowered his head and remained silent.

"Grandfather, Aning has a way that might break this situation."

Old Master Shen stroked his beard and said, "Tell me about it."

Shen Chuning said slowly, "The censor's impeachment of you is nothing more than impeachment of your lax management of the family and abandonment of the Shen family bloodline. We have included my sister in the family tree, which proves that the Shen family has not abandoned her. After all, it is our Shen family's own rule that a man can only take a concubine after he is forty and has no children. There are many families outside who take concubines."

Old Master Shen laughed heartily. "She's worthy of being my granddaughter, Shen Huaizhong. It's just that the concubine can't be found now. If we open the ancestral hall and enter the family tree, I'm afraid the Shen family elders won't be able to accept it. Your method is good because it catches people off guard. Once the impeachment memorial is delivered to His Majesty tomorrow, it won't work."

Shen Chuning smiled knowingly, "Grandfather, you just need to open the ancestral hall, and let Aning take care of the rest."

……

When Shen Chuning returned to Ningfengzhai, Mrs. Shen San was already waiting in the room.

Seeing Shen Chuning come in, Mrs. Shen San quickly stood up, "A Ning, you are finally back."

Shen Chuning took Madam Shen San's hand and laughed, "Mother, have you thought it through?"

Mrs. Shen San shook hands with Shen Chuning and nodded firmly.

"Then what does mother want? Daddy's favor? A son? Or the status of Mrs. Shen San?" Shen Chuning asked.

Madam Shen San took a breath and said, "I don't think about your father's favor on me. I didn't even see it in the first few years of my marriage, and I dare not even think about it now. But can't I choose both son and status?"

Shen Chuning frowned.

Mrs. Shen San sensed Shen Chuning's displeasure and quickly explained, "Mother thinks this way for your sake. Although you have eight cousins, they are not your own brothers. If the Shen family splits up in the future and you are bullied by your husband's family, you won't even have anyone to support you in your family."

"That's why Mom has to endure all this hardship. If my mother had a brother from the same mother, or if my biological mother was the principal wife, when your father had this affair, my mother's family would have brought people to our house long ago. Why would she let others bully her in this backyard?"

"Of course, if you say that mother has no regard for me at all, that's definitely not true. My husband is unreliable, so naturally she wants to have a son to support her."

"And the status of the principal wife. Although I was born out of wedlock, I am still a daughter of the Duke's Mansion. When we got married, your father was just a scholar who had failed the imperial examination for several years. But because your father was born out of wedlock, and the Shen family had a rule that did not allow concubines, I married him without hesitation."

"That's why mother said that we should have both. If that's not possible, then choose the position of the principal wife. At least you should keep your title as the legitimate daughter of the Shen family. As for the son, let fate take its course."

After hearing what Third Madam Shen said, Shen Chuning was slightly moved. "Mom, we all know that according to my father's temper, even if this concubine is dealt with, there is no guarantee that there won't be another one. If another concubine really gives birth to a son before you, grandmother will probably let Dad marry her back as his equal wife."

"The most permanent solution is to give Dad a bowl of medicine so that he will never have children again. Then you, Mom, will be able to secure your position as the Third Lady of the Shen family."

Mrs. Shen's eyes widened in shock, "A Ning, that's your father."

Shen Chuning curled her lips, "So what if he's my father? When he allowed women and children outside to bully An Ning, he was as good as dead to me."

"Did that woman outside bully you?" Mrs. Shen asked sternly.

"No, no, I mean just in case." Shen Chuning tried to calm Mrs. Shen San's emotions.

Shen Chuning was thinking about her previous life. The fact that she lived such a miserable life was inseparable from her father's contribution.

Mrs. Shen San breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't be so aggressive, kid. If that day ever comes and your father lets other women and children bully you, I will be the first one to not forgive him."

"Mom." Shen Chuning leaned on Mrs. Shen San's shoulder, her voice choked with sobs. This was the first time she felt motherly love after coming back for so long.

Madam Shen San gently stroked Shen Chuning's hair. "Okay, you're a grown-up kid now. Stop crying. Tell me what you need from me."

Shen Chuning stood up straight. "The ancestral hall will be opened later today, and the child outside will be added to the family tree. If anyone says they want to register this child under my name, I will not agree."

"Mother already has An Ning, so why would she want a child who appears out of nowhere? Can't we just raise the child outside? Why do we have to bring him back to be an eyesore?" asked Mrs. Shen San.

"This matter has spread throughout the capital. If we keep the child outside, my grandfather's political enemies will seize on this mistake and impeach him for abandoning his child. So sooner or later, the child will be taken back."

"I've also told Mother that Grandmother's idea is to wait until the woman outside gives birth to a son, and then marry her back as a co-wife. Choosing the lesser of two evils is the best option. Now is the best time to open the ancestral hall and list the family tree. As long as the tree clearly states that she is a concubine and a daughter of a concubine, even the Emperor can't change anything."

Mrs. Shen nodded after hearing this and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

Shen Chuning continued, "Mom, how many medicines are you taking now?"

"There is a tonic medicine prescribed by the palace physician of Duke Qing's Mansion. The maid beside me prepares it every day. Your grandmother occasionally asks Madam Gui to send some tonics, saying that they are rewards from the palace. There is also a pill prepared by Master Ziyuan, who says that taking it can help you give birth to a son." Mrs. Shen San replied.

Shen Chuning felt a headache after hearing this, "Mom, please stop taking all the medicine."

Mrs. Shen was anxious. "Although my son's affairs are up to fate, it's always right to take care of your body."

Shen Chuning sighed, "Judging from the various things that the Duke of Qing's Mansion has done, it seems they can't bear to see Mother having a good life. The medicine they sent may not be harmful, but it probably won't have much effect."

"If it's true that my grandmother gave her a co-wife position after giving birth to a son, then one of the conditions was that my mother couldn't give birth to a son before the woman outside. So I think there must be something wrong with the medicine my grandmother sent. Do you have a prescription or some medicine residue? I'll ask someone to take a look."

"The medicine at the Duke of Qing's mansion was prepared by me according to the prescription. Your grandmother's medicine was always boiled and brought to me by Madam Gui. She watched me drink it before she left."

Shen Chuning nodded. "Then next time Nanny Gui comes, find an excuse to leave the medicine behind and don't drink it yet. As for Master Ziyuan, mother, who is Master Ziyuan? How did she get into the mansion?"