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

Old Madam Shen advised Shen Nian'an countless times, and Shen Nian'an finally gave up on the idea after being rebuffed by Xie Wanru.

But this time, Madam Shen took out something.

"Mother, will this medicine work?" Shen Nian'an opened her hand, revealing a small piece of paper wrapped around something.

“How could something I worked so hard to get not work? When she comes back, find a way to get her to take it. Women, once they have a husband, their mindset is different from when they were young.”

Madam Shen looked away, refusing to look at the thing.

She hadn't originally planned to do this, but after returning from the palace yesterday, she learned that Shen Nianqing had actually bought it.

So I put it away, and unexpectedly, it came in handy...

Shen Nian'an was a little hesitant. Would Xie Wanru beat him up after she woke up?

"Ha, what can you accomplish besides yelling at me? Are you scared already?"

Madam Shen snatched the items away.

"I will arrange everything when she returns. Now go and get rid of that woman outside the door. Tell all the servants in the manor who know about it. If you can't even handle this, don't blame me. From now on, Shen Cong'an will be my only son."

Old Madam Shen put the things away and turned away, no longer wanting to look at Shen Nian'an's pathetic appearance.

She was actually feeling guilty, but she knew that if she didn't win Xie Wanru over as soon as possible, Shen Cong'an would be the one to benefit, and Shen Nian'an would no longer have a place in the Shen family.

We can't afford to use any more underhanded tactics to kill Shen Cong'an.

"Yes, mother."

Shen Nian'an's anxious heart calmed down.

He panicked because he was afraid that his mother would favor his older brother as before and forget about him, her own son, once his older brother woke up.

During the two years that his elder brother was in a coma, his parents had become much more affectionate towards him. But then his elder brother woke up, before he had even taken control of the entire Shen family.

After leaving Madam Shen's courtyard, Shen Nian'an immediately went to see Fu Rou and her daughter, taking them to a secluded spot.

"Nianlang, you said you'd bring us, mother and daughter, into your home at the end of the year so we could be reunited as a family. But it's so cold today, how are we supposed to survive out here!"

Fu Rou looked at Shen Nian'an with her beautiful eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling with a hint of sobs.

Her youngest daughter, Shen Yu'er, nestled close to her, her eyes sparkling with longing for a warm home.

Shen Nian'an sighed. He knew he owed the mother and daughter too much, but the current situation left him no room for hesitation.

He comforted her, saying, "Rou'er, please be patient for a little longer. My elder brother has woken up, and I must find another way out. Once I've established myself, I will be able to persuade Father and Mother to let you enter the manor legitimately. Believe me, that day is not far off."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Fu Rou's eyes, but then she became worried again.

“Your elder brother has woken up, so…does that mean you won’t be able to inherit the title anymore, in other words…”

Shen Nian'an cannot inherit the Shen family estate. Even if Shen Yanzhi has no worries about food and clothing in the future, he will still be the child of the second wife. Once the family is divided, he will not get anything.

Shen Nian'an hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to be honest with Fu Rou. Their sincerity was evident, and heaven and earth were their witnesses.

"Yes, so I have to find a way to make Xie Wanru listen to me and use the Xie family behind her to find another way out for me. But Rou'er, don't worry, my heart will only be with you and our child. I will never have real feelings for Xie Wanru."

He would never like someone like Xie Wanru who doesn't know how to please men.

Fu Rou frowned, clearly not entirely at ease. She gently stroked her youngest daughter's head, forcing a smile and putting on a wronged expression.

“Nian’an, I believe in you. Besides, she is a lady from a prominent family, the eldest daughter of the Xie family. She is your equal in social standing, and you two are the most suitable match.”

Shen Nian'an frowned upon hearing the phrase "marrying someone of equal social standing," but he still gently grasped Fu Rou's hand, attempting to convey his firmness and determination.

"Rou'er, you know my heart best. I will only love you in this life. But I am weak and powerless, and I am not good at studying. This is the only way I can do. Don't worry, after I become Mingcheng, I will never let you and your daughter down. As for Xie Wanru, I will handle things properly. She will live in her Plum Garden from now on. I will not let her become an obstacle between us."

Looking into Shen Nian'an's resolute eyes, Fu Rou could only nod slightly for now, her eyes reddening slightly: "Nian'an, I believe in you. Let's wait for that day to come together."

Shen Yu'er seemed to understand but not quite. She held Shen Nian'an's hand and said in a childish voice, "Daddy, Yu'er will be a good girl and wait for you to take us home."

Shen Nian'an felt a warmth in his heart, squatted down, picked up Shen Yu'er, and kissed her on the cheek: "Yu'er is so good, Daddy will make sure you live a good life as soon as possible."

Fu Rou was still worried, so she waited for Shen Yanzhi to return from the academy, talked to him for a while, and then reluctantly left.

As soon as they left, Shen Nian'an had his men warn those who had seen Fu Rou and her daughter to keep quiet and not leak any information about them before he breathed a sigh of relief.

He genuinely didn't want to let Fu Rou down and was planning for their future; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to get Shen Yanzhi to acknowledge his ancestors.

"Father, is my sister also coming to the manor? When?"

Shen Yanzhi asked.

The father and son had returned to their own courtyard, which was filled with Shen Yanzhi's toys, including large items such as swings and seesaws. Xie Wanru would have them provided for him whenever he wanted them, fulfilling his every request.

"Hurry up, I'm trying to figure something out too."

Shen Nian'an had a headache. He pinched the spot between his eyebrows, trying to perk himself up.

"Aren't you afraid of your mother finding out? If she knows I'm your son with someone else, and that I have a younger sister, she definitely won't like me anymore. I don't want her to dislike me. Could you please not let my sister come into the mansion? At most, we can give them more money so they can live a better life outside."

For the first time, Shen Yanzhi felt that being Shen Nian'an's biological son was not a good thing.

"Say it!"

Shen Nian'an realized something was wrong.

"You are my child with your mother, Fu Rou, understand? You are not Xie Wanru's child. We approached her only because she could help us. Besides, she doesn't know your identity. If you don't tell, and I don't tell, who can prove it?"

Shen Nian'an pulled Shen Yanzhi closer.

"This is my last warning to you. Xie Wanru is only your mother in name, understand? You are the son of Shen Nian'an and Fu Rou. But now you must work with me to please Xie Wanru so that she will use her ridiculous tricks to our advantage and make your mother the legal wife."