Good heavens! The Supreme God is being relentlessly harassed!

The group went directly to the main hall of the Shen family, which was used for receiving guests. Xie Liuyan, because of his high status, sat in the main seat.

Shen Wangchuan stood behind him as his personal bodyguard, while Xie Yi stood to his right.

Shen Qingcheng and his wife sat in the lower seats, but they did not appear uncomfortable.

After everyone was seated, Shen Qingcheng, as the host, spoke first:

"The Shen residence is simple and humble; I hope Your Highness will forgive me. May I ask what important matter Your Highness has come to discuss with me today?"

Shen Qingcheng couldn't understand why Xie Liu had come to the Shen residence for the banquet today. Even if his son was homesick, he could have let Shen Wangchuan come back alone.

Xie Liuyan's return was clearly not a simple act of companionship.

As a seasoned veteran of officialdom for over a decade, Shen Qingcheng's thinking was undoubtedly correct.

Xie Liuyan replied without hesitation:

"There is indeed an important matter. I wonder if Minister Shen could speak to me privately?"

After all, there are many people and eyes in the lobby now. If there are spies planted by others, it will backfire.

Shen Qingcheng believed him without a doubt.

He didn't think the dignified Regent Prince needed to come to the Shen residence to fool him or anything like that.

Once you're in that position, whatever you say or do carries significant weight.

He waved his hand, and the maids who were serving him left.

At the same time, he turned to his wife and said, "Wanrou, you and Xiaoyao haven't seen each other for a long time. You must have a lot to talk about. Go and catch up with him. I'll take care of things here."

Zhao Wanrou knew that her husband had important matters to discuss with the prince, so she did not disturb him further.

He said to Shen Wangchuan, who was standing behind Xie Liuyan:

"Wangchuan, come with your mother. It's been so many days since I last saw you. Let me see if you've lost weight."

Shen Wangchuan knew what they were going to say next, but he chose to avoid the topic at this moment, leaving the space to his father and Ayan.

After they all left, Shen Qingcheng's expression turned serious, and his tone was no longer calm:

"I wonder what Your Highness wishes to discuss with me? As long as it does not involve my son and wife, I will consider it carefully."

Seeing Shen Wangchuan leave, Xie Liuyan's demeanor suddenly changed.

"Oh? That may not be the case. I know that Minister Shen loves his family and is willing to protect them. However, being in the imperial court, a single misstep could lead to utter ruin."

"I think Minister Shen understands this even better than I do, doesn't he?"

These few words caused Shen Qingcheng's expression to change repeatedly.

Xie Liuyan was right, which is why he has been so cautious in the court all these years.

“Your Highness is right, but you haven’t told me the purpose of my visit to the Shen residence today.”

Shen Qingcheng composed himself and continued to inquire about the purpose of Xie Liuyan's visit to the Shen residence.

Xie Liuyan took a sip of tea, his tone unhurried:

"Minister Shen, do you think I have any ambitions to seize power?"

The question was so pointed that Shen Qingcheng didn't know how to respond for a moment.

After all, the ministers in the court believed that Xie Liuyan was a wolf in sheep's clothing and that if it weren't for his leg ailment, he would have ascended the throne long ago.

However, the ministers could only think this in private; they couldn't say it openly.

"This……"

"Minister Shen need not feel embarrassed. After all, everyone thinks that I have this idea, so it is not surprising that you think so."

Shen Qingcheng sighed inwardly at the fact that the Regent had given him a difficult problem, but he was greatly shocked when he heard Xie Liuyan's next words.

"What if I say there is indeed a traitor, but that person is not me?"

……

The air seemed to fall silent. Shen Qingcheng hadn't expected Xie Liuyan to deliver such a fatal blow right from the start.

"Who does Your Highness think it is?"

The two talked for a long time in the reception hall, and no one knew what they talked about.

All that is known is that the two chatted for a long time before Minister Shen hurriedly entered the palace.

Although Shen Wangchuan understood the general content, he knew nothing about how his father and Xie Liuyan would plan things.

By then, Xie Liuyan had already told his mother about his recent situation, but Xie Liuyan still hadn't come over.

Although he was bored, he sat upright, and his manners were no less than those of any noble young master.

Zhao Wanrou felt both heartache and emotion as she looked on; the youngest child is always the most beloved.

She and her husband watched Wang Chuan grow up, and because she loved the child dearly, she rarely allowed her husband to discipline him properly.

This fostered Shen Wangchuan's somewhat carefree and nonchalant personality, making him seem like he didn't care about anything.

Although Wang Chuan still occasionally displays lively behavior, he now appears much more mature and composed.

Thinking of the Regent, Zhao Wanrou sighed inwardly, but her tone remained gentle:

“Wangchuan, you’re not young anymore. Your older brothers have long since raised your nephews, but you still don’t have a place to go.”

Shen Wangchuan's face stiffened; he hadn't expected his mother to think of this when they were alone together. He quickly replied:

"Mother, it's just that I haven't seen anything suitable."

There is a suitable candidate, but firstly, they haven't officially established a relationship, and secondly, if he were to actually say it, even his gentle mother would probably get angry.

Zhao Wanrou wasn't completely unaware of everything. Shen Qingcheng had kept the foolish things his youngest son had done a secret from her for fear of upsetting her.

But eventually, the truth will come out.

When she actually found out, she remained calm.

If Shen Wangchuan truly likes her and can restrain his feelings for her, so that she and her father will have less to worry about in the future, she will be content.

"Is it because you haven't met the right person? Or are you pregnant but not telling your mother?"

Sure enough, his mother was very perceptive and noticed everything.

Shen Wangchuan couldn't hide it any longer, so he simply said:

"There is someone I like, but we're not even officially dating yet, so I'm too embarrassed to tell my mother."

"Is it the person who brought you here today?"

Shen Wangchuan's eyes widened. How could his mother know everything?

"mother??!"

Zhao Wanrou smiled gently, her eyes tender: "Did you really think your father and I just abandoned you in the Prince's Mansion and didn't care about you? Shen Yun has been coming back to the Shen Mansion quite often."

Tell us about your recent situation.

"That person knew about Shen Yun's return and tacitly approved of it."

Shen Yun? So he's on my parents' side?

He used to treat this guy as a capable assistant, and he never took it seriously whenever the guy wanted to quit.

So it turns out you have someone backing you up!

He remembered that since the kid had been following him around, his father had found it easier and easier for him to discover what the kid was doing, and the time he was confined to his quarters had been getting longer and longer. He had never suspected the kid.

Shen Wangchuan first brushed off his mother's side with a laugh, and would deal with Shen Yun later.

"Hehe, I still couldn't hide it from my parents. It's just that I used to be too carefree and irresponsible, which made me seem unreliable."

Even though I feel capable of handling things on my own now, he still seems...

Looking at her young son, who already had his own worries, Zhao Wanrou felt both relief and emotion.

“Wang Chuan, you can’t just look at things with your eyes; sometimes you have to feel them with your heart.”

“When you came to the Shen residence, I saw the tacit understanding between you two, and I believe he is not completely indifferent to you.”

"And you will have to experience these things gradually; you still have a long way to go."

Shen Wangchuan was prompted by his mother to start recalling his time with Xie Liuyan.

Just then, the voice of the person they had just spoken of rang out from the doorway:

"How's your conversation going? It's about time; we should head back to the Prince's residence."