Shen Lingsheng shook his head and looked at the Old Dowager, his cold face finally softened a bit.
"I made mother worry. I encountered some trivial matters on the road, which delayed me by a one or two-hour."
As he spoke, Shen Lingsheng supported Madam Shen and walked inside.
"In the end, itâs still your ignorant child to blame. If he were obedient, you wouldnât have to make this trip..."
Madam Shen felt sorry for Shen Lingsheng.
Rather than Shen Han becoming disabled, she felt it was more difficult for Shen Lingsheng to travel this extra journey.
"I havenât returned for more than two years. This time I came back to check on mother.
As for that unfilial son, Iâll settle the troubles heâs caused once Iâm back."
Madam Shen nodded; the Shen Family is currently in a crucial moment, and everything must not be disrupted by this arranged marriage.
The mother and son, surrounded by a group of attendants, headed towards the Shen Familyâs ancestral hall.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Shen Han knew it was Shen Lingsheng who had returned.
At the entrance of the hall, Madam Shen glanced inside and saw Shen Han still standing there.
Then she looked at Shen Lingsheng: "You father and son have a talk, the rest of us will leave for now."
"Yes, Old Dowager."
A group of people responded in unison and left with Madam Shen.
After everyone left, Shen Lingsheng entered the ancestral hall.
He picked up three sticks of incense, lit them, and bowed towards the Shen ancestorsâ tablet.
Aside from faint sounds, the hall was silent.
Shen Lingsheng thought his actions might put some pressure on Shen Han.
In the upcoming conversation, he believed his presence would gain strength.
Unfortunately, that was of no use.
Shen Lingsheng remained silent, and so did Shen Han.
After the incense burned out, Shen Han was still standing there, without saying a word.
As the sky completely darkened, the wind made the leaves rustle.
Instead, Shen Lingsheng couldnât help but speak first.
"According to Old Duke, you accused Madam Xie of having an affair with a family servant a while ago. Is this true?"
As soon as Shen Lingsheng arrived, he brought up that incident from the past.
His words were intriguing, implying he had falsely accused Madam Xie.
Without mentioning Madam Xieâs accusation of theft against him.
To know, if he hadnât turned the tables, the theft charge could have been real, resulting in Ink Punishment.
A "thief" mark on his face, carried for life.
"Tomorrow, go to the Government Office, clear up this matter, and restore Madam Xieâs innocence."
Shen Lingsheng ordered with authority.
"Will father seek justice for me regarding Second Madamâs accusation of theft against me?"
"They acted that way because you were uncooperative.
If you had cooperated to annul the marriage agreement early on, none of this would have happened."
Shen Lingshengâs gaze was piercing, with a trace of blame in his tone, releasing a hint of power.
He thought releasing his Martial Path pressure would make Shen Han nervous.
But this Martial Path pressure couldnât even touch the threshold of Celestial Dao Sword Momentum.
"I witnessed Second Madamâs sordid affairs with the servant myself; I canât lie against my conscience."
Shen Hanâs expression was calm, and his tone was steady.
She could falsely accuse me, but why canât I accuse her?
Looking up at Shen Lingsheng, Shen Han involuntarily felt a bit harsh.
Is this man worthy of being my father?
Parents love their child and should plan for their future.
The words in the letter seemed to push him into an abyss, leaving him disabled.
Seeing his refusal, Shen Lingsheng even came back personally to pressure him.
He couldnât help but chuckle softly in his heart; is such a person worth respecting as a father?
Feeling his mindset becoming harsher, Shen Han inadvertently recalled Madam Yunâs words, advising him not to fall into hatred, to avoid being consumed by it.
In the hall, Shen Lingsheng crushed a chair with his foot.
"Seems Old Duke was right, truly an ingrate.
The Shen Family has raised you for years, provided for you, and it appears all in vain."
Shen Lingshengâs tone grew colder, as if questioning Shen Hanâs lack of gratitude.
But upon hearing this, Shen Han almost couldnât help but laugh.
What does raising me for years mean?
Every bit of food and clothing was earned with my own hands.
Moreover, he could only do dirty, tiring work for a little food and clothing.
He lived worse than the servants and maidservants, who not only had board and lodging but also received monthly pay.
For better or worse, he did the dirtier, more tiring work, yet received no pay.
As for lodging, itâs not worth mentioning.
That shabby little room, if not for the Shen Family monitoring him and not allowing him to leave, he would have long departed.
As Shen Han was about to respond, Madam Yun and Cailing suddenly arrived at the hall entrance.
"Third Master returned to Shen Mansion, yet I, as Third Madam, was the last to know."
Madam Yun looked at Shen Lingsheng unhappily, while Shen Lingsheng merely glanced at her.
"Han, what did your father just say to you?"
Seeing Shen Lingsheng silent, Madam Yun asked Shen Han.
This time Shen Lingsheng replied: "What else? To have him cooperate with the Shen Family to annul the marriage agreement.
Sent word through Old Duke, he refused to listen, otherwise I wouldnât have come back."
Letter?
Madam Yun suddenly remembered: "So thatâs what the letter was about...
Han even told me you were reminding us of the cold weather, to dress warmly. I wondered why you suddenly cared for us."
Madam Yunâs face turned somewhat grim, disappointment piling up, piling up.
Finally converging into despair.
Clearly, Shen Lingsheng didnât want to say more on these matters.
"The letter naturally only covered important matters, no room for idle talk.
Currently, Shen Han cooperating with the Shen Family to annul the marriage agreement is the crucial matter."
Facing Shen Lingshengâs words, Madam Yun suddenly spoke sharply tonight.
"Cooperate with the Shen Family to annul the marriage? How should Han cooperate?
Break his legs to become crippled, face Ink Punishment, or throw away his entire life to cooperate?"
Madam Yunâs gaze seemed to hold a knife, staring at Shen Lingsheng.
"The Saint said, tigers and wolves hunt for their offspring, parents plan for their childâs future.
What future has this father planned for Han? Planning to send him to his death?"
The more she spoke, the angrier Madam Yun seemed, her tone even questioning.
Yet Shen Lingsheng was unmoved, his face still cold.
"As a father, am I not allowed to speak these things?"
"Even a tiger wonât eat its cub, but you are a hundred times more vicious than those forest beasts!"
By this point, Madam Yun was already cursing.
"A woman, what do you know?
This concerns the entire Shen Family; whatâs wrong with Shen Han sacrificing a little?
All these years, he has had no progress in the Martial Path and hasnât contributed to the Shen Family. Whatâs wrong with sacrificing a bit now?"
Shen Lingsheng seemed to think his words were absolutely reasonable, speaking them quite loudly.