In the ancestral hall, Madam He looked pleadingly at the Old Dowager.
"Old Dowager, Ye'Er is your favorite grandson, and you are also satisfied with Jinyu, his wife-in-law.
You must help your Ye'Er...
If you can ask the Patriarch to step in, the Imperial Family will surely agree to annul this marriage....."
Before Madam He could finish her sentence, the Old Dowager at the high seat slammed the tea table.
"Foolish!"
The Old Dowager glared at Madam He, annoyed at her ignorance of the court's situation.
"Use your brain and think carefully; if the Patriarch could step in, would it have dragged on until today?"
Madam He, scolded, was somewhat bewildered, but she truly was not well-versed in court matters.
The Second Mistress, Madam Xie, tugged at her sleeve, quietly explaining the stakes to her.
After all, as a lady of the Marquis Mansion, she could somewhat grasp the reasoning.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Imperial Family's bestowed marriage, having Shen Han marry Su Jinyu, was clearly a scheme.
The Imperial Family didn't want the Shen and Su families to get closer.
Having Shen Han, someone neglected by the Shen Family, marry Su Jinyu—if it happened, would Shen Han, treated as such by the Shen Family, help the Shen and Su families draw closer in the future?
No matter what Shen Han thought or planned to do,
in the eyes of many, Shen Han marrying Su Jinyu would only worsen the relationship between the two families.
Besides, the Old Dowager despised Shen Han so much; how could she allow him to marry someone as exceptional as Su Jinyu, leveraging the Shen Family's prestige?
The Imperial Family could surely foresee all this.
In the Imperial Palace, perhaps His Holiness was waiting for the Patriarch of either the Shen or Su family to come.
To have the Imperial Family retract the bestowed marriage, undoubtedly, both families would have to pay a price.
This is the shrewd manner of a ruler to balance and weaken subordinate powers.
"Then what should we do? Old Dowager, you must stand up for your grandson."
Madam He was at a loss and knew only to plead.
Supporting herself on her cane, the Old Dowager showed not a trace of panic.
The Old Dowager, having lived for over a century, could think of all sorts of underhanded schemes at the snap of a finger.
She had to be mindful of her position, for Shen Han was still a grandson of the Shen Family.
She could turn a blind eye, act as if she saw nothing.
But in any case, she shouldn't be plotting against her grandson.
Even if she despised Shen Han, she couldn't do so openly.
The Second Mistress beside her, more astute, knew the Old Dowager couldn't say certain things, so she spoke up.
"As of now, the best course of action is naturally to focus on Shen Han.
If any health issues arise for him, rendering him a cripple.
The Imperial Family surely wouldn't force Su's exceptional daughter to marry a cripple, right?"
After Shen Han's disability, it would be Shen Family who proposed the annulment.
By then, even with a marriage decree from the Royal, this marriage can be annulled.
"That's a good idea. I'll immediately find someone to take action. Or should we just let him perish from an illness?"
Upon hearing Madam He's words, the Old Dowager shook her head.
"In these turbulent times, who knows how many are secretly watching Shen Han.
How could you send someone to harm him and expect it not to be discovered?
If the Imperial Family caught evidence, the First Mistress of the Shen Family targeting her own descendant—have you considered the consequences?"
The Old Dowager looked at Madam He before her, wondering how she could have borne such a son as Shen Ye.
Even a ferocious tiger wouldn't eat its cubs; the Shen Family is, after all, a Family of Generals and Marquis.
If such a thing happened, merely for this one reason, the Imperial Family could severely suppress the Shen Family.
Loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness are the fundamental characters.
If the Shen Family has no compassion for its own descendants, how can it stand as a Family of Generals and Marquis?
"Whatever harms come to Shen Han must be out in the open while entirely extricating the Shen Family.
You need not worry, sister. Just the other day, we discussed with the Su family, and in a few days, someone from Xiaoyao Peak will come to deal with this."
Hearing Madam Xie's assurance, Madam He at last felt relieved.
Ever since Shen Ye went to the Capital City, he became more outstanding.
Not only excelling in the Martial Path, displaying the style of Old Marquis Shen in his youth, he also achieved a lot among scholars.
A true talent in both literature and martial arts, with such a descendant as Shen Ye, the future of the Shen Family could only be more prosperous.
And his mutual affection with Su Jinyu, whose Sword Heart was clear, wielding a long sword with the grace of a Sword Immortal.
The union of the two could guarantee the Shen and Su families' prosperity for a hundred years.
Cancelling this marriage would provide Shen Ye and Su Jinyu with future opportunities.
Thus, the Imperial Family would gain nothing but suffer no loss either.
The only one persecuted would be Shen Han.
But for those holding power in the Shen and Su families, who cared about the fate of Shen Han?
Let him be crippled, let him die.
It doesn't matter.
The courtyard of the third house.
Madam Yun held a needle, mending.
"Cailing is back, did Young Master Han accept the clothes?"
Upon hearing this, Cailing quickly ran over, taking over the needlework from Madam Yun.
Replying as she worked.
"He accepted them, and Young Master Han even wore them immediately, showing not the slightest disdain."
"That's good. After this, I hope Shen Han can grow up, best if he can leave the Shen Family..."
Hearing Madam Yun's words, Cailing hesitated for a good while before finally deciding to ask.
"Madam, why does the Old Dowager despise Young Master Han so much?
Clearly, Young Master Han is kind-hearted and conducts himself clearly.
In his daily greetings to the elders, he is very polite..."
Cailing couldn't understand, given that Shen Han is of Shen bloodline, there shouldn't be such discrimination.
With a teacup in her hand, Madam Yun slowly took a sip.
"Han's birth mother came from a humble background, reportedly the daughter of a vegetable farmer in a small town along the Hexi Corridor.
Back in the day, the Lord passed by during his military service, took a fancy to her, and insisted on marrying her.
A vegetable farmer's daughter, who was she to refuse, especially when marrying her was already considered an honor."
Pausing for a moment, Madam Yun continued.
"After marriage, how could a vegetable farmer's daughter adapt to life in the Shen Mansion, especially when the Old Dowager abhorred her?
Frequently scolded and belittled, thinking about it, day after day, she must have been heavy-hearted.
In the third year of marriage, Shen Han's birth mother fled."
"Fled?"
Cailing hadn't expected such an outcome.
"At the time, it caused quite a stir throughout Yun'an City. People said the Shen Family's household rules were lax, unable to keep the heart, even the first wife wanted to flee.
After this event, it took years to restore the Shen Family's reputation.
The Old Dowager already didn't like Shen Han; after this affair, she despised him even more.
Perhaps she never even considered Shen Han her grandson."
After hearing Madam Yun's tale, Cailing finally gained some insight into this hidden episode.
Momentarily, she recalled a rumor.
"Madam, why have I heard from other girls that Young Master Han is treated like this because of a fortune teller?
That it was said he would bring misfortune to his kin and family?"
Madam Yun snorted coldly.
"Shen Han is, after all, of Shen blood, and such differential treatment was bound to cause talk.
Madam He brought in some fortune teller from who knows where, claiming Shen Han's destiny was one of solitude and disaster, and anyone close to him would be affected.
But who couldn't see that it was just her way.
After that, no matter how Shen Han was mistreated, there was this reason to justify it.
Moreover, whenever the Shen Mansion faced any misfortune afterward, it was all pinned on Shen Han, said to be brought by him..."
Just hearing Madam Yun's recount, Cailing couldn't help but feel sorry for Shen Han.
As Marquis Shen's own grandson, yet this fate, how could it be worse off than hers, who was merely a maid.