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

Shen Zhan was somewhat displeased with Shen Cong'an's words, but he didn't say anything. The most urgent thing was to get the money and resolve the immediate crisis.

That very night, Shen Cong'an had people prepare to move. Only then did the Shen family realize that Shen Cong'an was determined to separate the family and had even prepared a new house.

However, as darkness fell, Shen Yanzhi's pageboy, Xiaozhuang, did not return. In recent days, he had been impersonating Shen Mo, going back and forth between the school and the Shen residence repeatedly, and no one had suspected anything.

Shen Cong'an was busy having people pack their things and didn't have time to think about this matter. It was only when a servant came to ask him if Shen Mo's horse was also to be taken away that Shen Cong'an remembered why Xiao Zhuang hadn't returned yet.

He frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

Shen Cong'an immediately sent his most trusted men to search for Xiao Zhuang. He had a premonition that Xiao Zhuang's disappearance was no accident, especially at this sensitive time.

He had long anticipated that such a day might come, which is why he sent Shen Mo to Void Mountain and had Xiao Zhuang impersonate Shen Mo. But Xiao Zhuang was also a human life, and he would not stand idly by because of it.

As the night deepened and all was quiet, the busy figures inside and outside the Shen residence gradually thinned out. Shen Cong'an paced back and forth in the courtyard, and it was only with great difficulty that someone returned to report.

"My lord! Xiao Zhuang and the others were originally going back to the manor along their usual route, but today there was a section of the road that was blocked by pork spilled on it, so the driver took a side road and turned into an alley. After that, no one came out."

"really!"

Shen Cong'an snorted angrily, "Have people investigate, keep investigating! They must think Xiao Zhuang is Mo'er, that's why they kidnapped him. Whether they want money or are targeting me, they will definitely contact me, yes! They will contact me on their own initiative!"

After a moment of panic, Shen Cong'an calmed down.

First, if you want to know if it was done by a member of the Shen family, you can ask someone else.

Aunt Liu.

Although she was only one of Shen Nian'an's concubines, she knew many things that Shen Cong'an did not.

Since Aunt Liu was pregnant and didn't leave the hospital, Shen Cong'an could only send someone to deliver a message to her and secretly go to see her. When Aunt Liu saw him, she had a look of doubt and unease on her face.

"Master, what brings you here so late? I heard you're severing ties with the Shen family, is that true?" Aunt Liu asked with some concern.

Shen Cong'an looked directly at Aunt Liu: "The severing of ties is true, but I came to see you not because of that. It's because Xiao Zhuang has gone missing, and I still don't know who he's involved in. Do you know anything about it?"

Aunt Liu's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. She shook her head slightly and said, "Master, you know that Shen Nian'an wouldn't easily tell me such things, but I can try to test Fu Rou."

Shen Cong'an was clearly not satisfied with Aunt Liu's answer, but he also understood that Aunt Liu was just a woman and there wasn't much she could find out in the inner quarters.

"Okay, ask when you have the chance. Just keep an eye out. If you hear anything, have someone notify me. If not, that's fine. If they're trying to threaten me, they'll contact me sooner or later. You should get some rest. Some chaotic things might happen later, but you're not involved and won't be implicated. Just focus on taking care of your pregnancy."

Shen Cong'an left after he finished speaking.

As the eldest brother and a man, if he were seen in his younger brother's concubine's quarters late at night, he would have no way to explain himself. Moreover, he genuinely wanted Aunt Liu to know about this matter and to keep a close eye on things. There was no need to say anything more.

Aunt Liu was not stupid. From Shen Cong'an's last few words, combined with the fact that the master wanted to establish his own household, she knew that someone was going to make a move against Marquis Yong'an.

"All I hope for now is that my child will be born safely."

Aunt Liu touched her round belly, feeling a moment of panic. She now knew that the eldest master was helping His Highness the Crown Prince and Xie Wanru, and all she could do was rely on them.

Because he couldn't protect himself if he followed Shen Nian'an.

She had no choice but to find a way to protect herself and her child.

There was no news from Aunt Liu. Shen Cong'an went to the Princess's residence again late at night. He knew that Xie Wanru should already be asleep, so he just told someone to tell Xie Wanru early in the morning that if it was really Shen Mo who had been kidnapped, they could wake Xie Wanru up to discuss it together.

Shen Cong'an also knew that he couldn't let the other party know Xiao Zhuang's identity. Once they did, Xiao Zhuang would be beyond saving. Now he could only wait for the kidnappers' reaction.

Shen Cong'an did not sleep well that night. Early in the morning, someone left a note at the gate of the Shen residence, telling him to go to a designated place in the evening.

Without being asked for a certain amount of money, Shen Cong'an knew that the other party was probably not from the Shen family, but rather Xiao Yan or Lou Li.

"I heard Shen Mo didn't come back last night. Brother, you only have one son. You're counting on him to take care of you in your old age. What will you do if he's gone? Hehe, should I send someone to help you look for him?"

Shen Nian'an was about to leave when the two met inside the door.

He said this with a face full of sarcasm, without a trace of concern.

Shen Mo always had a point of view against Shen Yan, just as Shen Cong'an always had a point of view against him. He hated Shen Cong'an, and he also hated Shen Mo.

Shen Cong'an silently put away the envelope, then calmly turned around. "Shen Nian'an, you should worry about yourself. If someone kidnaps Shen Yanzhi, you won't have the money to save him, just like Shen Nianqing is now, waiting for me to give her money to avoid jail. The entire Shen family is waiting for me to give them money. You'd better pray that my Mo'er is safe and sound, otherwise, if I'm unhappy, I won't even give you any money. At worst, we'll all lose face and watch the Yong'an Marquis's mansion's nameplate sink into the yellow earth together."

Shen Cong'an had never been so talkative. He was furious whenever he thought about how this fool had gone to see Xie Wanru again.

"You... I didn't order the kidnapping. Go find whoever kidnapped them. Why are you taking your anger out on me? It's ridiculous! Humph!"

Shen Nian'an turned around and left quickly.

If Shen Cong'an really changes his mind, all our efforts will be in vain.

He now deeply regrets not killing Shen Cong'an directly. If Shen Cong'an had died, the Meng family's dowry could have been collected gradually. But he was too soft-hearted and actually let Shen Cong'an come back to life.

However, when Shen Cong'an was in a coma, his father repeatedly warned him not to take his life, so even though he wanted to take his place, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

But how did Shen Cong'an wake up? That medicine kept him in a coma for two whole years; it couldn't have suddenly stopped working!

Shen Nian'an couldn't figure out the reason no matter how much he thought about it, so he left in a huff. But before he even reached the Shen family's shop, a man in white stopped him. This man was somewhat similar to the man next to Xiao Yan, but he was not as tall and imposing.