You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Upon seeing Fu Rou appear, Shen Nian'an's crying gradually subsided. He wiped away his tears and stood up.

“Mother, I was wrong. I was too selfish before, only thinking about my own ideas, and I was confused for a moment because of my personal feelings for my children. I won’t do it again.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Madam Shen's eyes. Although she didn't understand the reason, she was satisfied to see that he was unwilling to even glance at Fu Rou now.

What mother would be happy to see her son bewitched by a woman?

Shen Yanzhi still looked bewildered. He didn't quite understand why his father had suddenly acted this way, nor did he know what his father meant by those words.

Fu Rou understood.

Shen Nian'an is taking all the blame for what happened before.

She wanted to protest her innocence, but she knew that even farting would be a sin at this moment. So she could only quietly walk to Shen Yanzhi's side, slip some silver into his hand, and promise that when she went out, she would take him out to play and let him apologize to Shen Nian'an.

Having received the benefits, Shen Yanzhi nodded in agreement.

"Father, I... I'll be obedient from now on and won't make you angry anymore," Shen Yanzhi said softly, his voice choked with emotion, his performance so convincing.

Shen Nian'an didn't speak. He was still disappointed in Shen Yanzhi. Only Old Madam Shen felt a warm current surge in her heart. She felt that after all this turmoil, her son and grandson had truly become obedient. She pulled Shen Yanzhi to her side and gently patted his shoulder.

Finally, she lovingly cupped Shen Yanzhi's face and said, "Yanzhi, we are sorry. Grandma didn't know you before and didn't teach you properly, which led you astray. From now on, Grandma will stay with you. If you don't like going to the academy, we'll invite a tutor to come to our home to teach you, okay?"

Shen Yanzhi was immediately displeased.

If he has to study at home, how will he be able to go out and play in the future?

He caught a glimpse of Fu Rou out of the corner of his eye. Fu Rou shook her head at him, signaling him not to argue.

"Ah."

Shen Yanzhi had no choice but to nod against his will. He had done this kind of thing many times since he was a child, so he was very familiar with it. Only then did this farce finally come to an end.

Shen Nian'an helped Old Madam Shen back to her room, and Fu Rou began to ask Shen Yanzhi what had just happened.

Shen Yanzhi composed himself and briefly recounted what had happened, omitting his frustration and dissatisfaction at being confined for so many days. He only said that he had acted impulsively and wanted to go out for some fresh air.

Upon hearing this, Fu Rou frowned slightly, secretly making plans in her mind.

She understood that although things seemed to have calmed down today, Shen Nian'an's change in attitude was by no means accidental. Xie Wanru's departure must have made him reflect on his past, and it had even affected Shen Nian'an's attitude towards her.

Women in the inner quarters who lose favor have nothing left.

"In other words, your father is acting this way because he cares about you and wants you to succeed as soon as possible so that he can relieve his worries. You need to be more careful in the future and not cause him any more trouble."

Fu Rou earnestly advised her that although she didn't have a broad vision, she was extremely good at winning people's hearts.

She continued, "Your grandmother loves you, so you have to please her, understand?"

Shen Yanzhi nodded perfunctorily, but in his heart he was plotting how to use the money provided by Fu Rou to sneak out and have fun.

He felt that as long as he behaved well enough, his father and grandmother would lower their guard as before, and he would have a chance.

Shen Yu'er, who had been hiding behind Fu Rou, had already burst into tears.

Fu Rou finally managed to calm Shen Yanzhi down. Seeing his tearful sister, Shen Yanzhi naturally stopped running away and took Shen Yu'er's hand and left.

But his ears were drooping when he left.

Fu Rou's heart felt as if it had been through a bloodbath.

She had always relied on Shen Nian'an's favoritism as leverage to win the opportunity to enter the Shen family, but now that her leverage was gone, how could she not panic?

As soon as Shen Nian'an returned to Plum Garden, he ordered his servants to bring up wine and began to drink it in large gulps.

He used to love drinking, but whenever he had the chance, he would visit Fu Rou and her son, who were living away from home. They would have a few drinks and spend time together, enjoying each other's company.

Now, however, he has no leisure or interest in such things, as if only being drunk can make him feel better.

He finally realized that he had lost his most precious asset—Xie Wanru and the support of the Xie family.

He had known about the Xie family's status before, but after this kidnapping incident, despite numerous indications that the Xie family had colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, the Xie family still managed to handle the situation in an orderly manner.

Moreover, the Emperor's attitude towards the Xie family has always been firm, which made him truly understand that the value of the Xie family name is immeasurable.

In the past, thanks to the influence of the Xie family through marriage, the business of their shops had improved significantly. The Shen family owned many shops, but their own expenses were also high, and their father had no status in the court, so the business gradually declined.

Now that they're divorced, his mother wants him to take over the management, and he's slowly realizing how serious things are.

Originally, the Shen family's shop was supposed to be revived thanks to the Xie family's prestige in a few days, but because of his divorce from Xie Wanru, both suppliers and customers encountered some problems.

Whether driven by self-interest or by Xie Wanru's current allure, Shen Nian'an is filled with regret.

Just as he was lost in thought, there was a soft knock on the door.

When I opened the door, it was Fu Rou.

"Why are you here so late?" Shen Nian'an asked, slightly surprised.

Fu Rou smiled slightly, holding a bowl of hot soup in her hands. "Second Master, you've had a hard day. I've specially prepared a calming soup for you, hoping you can have a good night's sleep. Too much alcohol is bad for your health."

Shen Nian'an took the soup bowl and looked at Fu Rou. This face, which had once captivated him, now seemed unfamiliar and calculating.

It is not pure.

"Have a heart."

Shen Nian'an said calmly, drank the soup in one gulp, and then gestured for Fu Rou to leave.

Fu Rou showed no intention of backing down.

She bit her lip lightly, as if she had something to say but hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. Her actions conveyed a sense of wanting to refuse yet welcoming, and a shy and timid demeanor.

"Second Master, I have a request."

Before entering the Shen family mansion, she never referred to herself as "this concubine"; she believed herself to be Shen Nian'an's beloved.

Now, she had no choice but to lower her head. Seeing that Shen Nian'an did not interrupt her, she continued, "Now, not only the Shen family, but the entire Xuancheng knows that I, Yanzhi, and Yu'er are now members of the Shen family. I do not seek any official title, but only wish to live a peaceful life in the future and to ensure that Yanzhi and Yu'er have a bright future."

Shen Nian'an's gaze was deep. How could he not want to secure a good future for Shen Yanzhi? He had done so much and lost so much, wasn't it all for his son?