"Since when did I ever ask you to betroth your daughter to my grandson?"
Shen Mingwen, seeing the murderous look on Gu Zheng's face, quickly defended himself.
Then both Shen Mingwen and Gu Zheng turned their gazes toward Song Yu.
Song Yu merely spread his hands and said, "This prince merely guessed."
Instantly, Shen Mingwen and Gu Zheng's expressions turned incredulous.
"Still," Song Yu clicked his tongue, "with General Gu's rough demeanor, who would invite him to a banquet without ulterior motives? Nine times out of ten, this was the intention. If you don’t believe me, ask Academician Shen."
"Qinghui, did you and Madam Lin truly set your sights on Eldest Miss Gu?"
Faced with Shen Mingwen's interrogation, Shen Qinghui, for once, didn’t stubbornly argue back. Instead, his eyes flickered uneasily.
Seeing this, Shen Mingwen realized Song Yu’s words were true.
"You... You pride yourself on being noble—how could you stoop to such scheming?" Shen Mingwen’s hand trembled as he pointed accusingly at Shen Qinghui.
"Father, today I merely wished to catch a glimpse of Eldest Miss Gu at the banquet. I wasn’t necessarily seeking to arrange a marriage for Zhikui."
"Outrageous!"
Gu Zheng could no longer restrain himself. He unsheathed the sword at his waist and charged at Shen Qinghui. "So you thought that if my Mingliu didn’t meet your standards, you could pretend this was just an ordinary banquet?"
"My Gu Family has served the empire with unyielding loyalty for generations! How dare you, a worthless brat, insult us like this?"
Shen Qinghui’s explanation only made things worse. Even Song Yu could only shrug helplessly—though, truth be told, even if he could help, he’d rather enjoy the spectacle.
As Gu Zheng’s sword nearly grazed Shen Qinghui’s robes, the latter bolted toward Shen Mingwen, crying, "Father! Father, save me!"
Seeing this, Gu Zheng redirected his blade toward Shen Zhikui instead.
"Look at you—you can’t even lift a weapon properly, yet you dare dream of marrying my Mingliu?" Gu Zheng roared. "If you had any achievements to your name, I might have respected you. But what do you have now? What could you possibly offer as a worthy match?"
"General Gu, blades have no eyes!" Madam Lin, despite her fear, stepped in front of Shen Zhikui. "Zhikui is the only male heir of the Shen Family’s younger generation, destined to inherit the family’s legacy. It was only because he admired Miss Gu that we arranged this meeting today."
"Mingzhu, go with Sister Gu to the Qin Prince’s Mansion."
Hearing Madam Lin’s words, Song Shihuan’s expression turned icy. She immediately ordered Yingchun to escort Gu Mingliu and Gu Mingzhu away from the Shen residence.
Admiration? What a shameless farce.
"Inherit the Shen Family’s legacy?" Gu Zheng didn’t even flinch, turning instead to Shen Qingping. "What? Is Young Master Shen planning to retire to the mountains?"
"I certainly have no such plans," Shen Qingping quickly clarified.
"Then how could this brat possibly be the heir?" Furious, Gu Zheng spared no courtesy. With a final lunge, he pierced Shen Zhikui’s sleeve before sheathing his sword.
Clang!
The sword clattered to the ground as Gu Zheng glared coldly.
"The Shen Family must give me an explanation for today’s disgrace. Otherwise, don’t blame the Gu Family for severing ties."
With that, Gu Zheng stormed off in a rage.
Left behind, Song Yu and Song Shihuan sighed in admiration. The way military men settled disputes was so straightforward—brutal, but satisfying to watch.
......
"Today’s incident has shamed us before His Highness and the Princess. Please forgive us." Shen Mingwen bowed deeply, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"No matter. This prince merely came for the banquet. When will the food be served? I’m starving." Song Yu exchanged a mischievous glance with Shen Qingping, both smirking.
Truly, when it came to mischief, time was never wasted.
By the end of the meal, only Song Yu, Song Shihuan, and Shen Qingping ate heartily.
Once satisfied, Song Yu waved a hand. "This prince just remembered urgent matters awaiting my attention. I shall take my leave."
Before departing, he made sure to drag Shen Qingping along with him.
The remaining members of the Shen Family could only stare at each other in stunned silence.
"Kneel."
Once the doors closed, Shen Mingwen’s long-suppressed fury erupted.
Shen Qinghui and Madam Lin dropped to their knees, while Shen Zhikui stood frozen in place.
"You too—kneel!"
Shen Mingwen bellowed, imitating Emperor Yuanyou by snatching a shoe and whacking Shen Qinghui. "You unfilial wretch! Today, you’ve dragged the Shen Family’s name through the mud!"
"Father, what crime is there in seeking a good match for Zhikui?"
Seeing Shen Qinghui’s refusal to repent, Shen Mingwen felt darkness cloud his vision.
"The Qin Prince and Princess must have been invited by Qingping. He couldn’t bear to see Zhikui secure a good marriage, so he deliberately ruined the banquet!"
Silence. Shen Mingwen fell quiet for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he ordered, "Bring the family discipline rod."
Today, he would beat this disgrace to death!
"No, Father! Please, not the rod!" Madam Lin, realizing the severity, wept and begged. "Mother, please reason with him!"
"The Shen and Gu Families both support the Qin Prince. If not for Qingping exposing this today in front of His Highness, do you think Gu Zheng would have let this go peacefully?" Shen Mingwen looked at Shen Qinghui in anguish. "Qingping saved your life."
"If he knew from the start, why didn’t he stop Father when the invitation was sent?"
Shen Qinghui shifted all blame onto Shen Qingping.
Shen Mingwen laughed bitterly at the absurdity.
The rod struck Shen Qinghui’s back, sending him sprawling. "Had he intervened earlier, your family would have resented him forever."
Ten strikes later, Shen Qinghui passed out.
"Inform the court that the eldest son is unwell and requires a month’s rest."
Shen Mingwen tossed the rod aside, then turned to Shen Zhikui. "Today, you had a chance to earn Gu Zheng’s respect. Yet you cowered the entire time—utterly spineless."
"You’ve lost any hope of marrying Gu Mingliu."
Had Shen Zhikui stood protectively before his father, Gu Zheng might have thought differently.
"Grandfather..."
But Shen Mingwen no longer wished to look at him. To Lady Shen, he said, "Find him a bride quickly—preferably one he can marry next month."
This was the only explanation that might appease Gu Zheng.
"Rest assured, my lord."
Lady Shen glanced at the unconscious Shen Qinghui and the sobbing Madam Lin, her heart in turmoil.
"My lord, will this affect Qingping?"
"No. Qingping was clever—he extricated himself from this mess and left the Shen Family a way out."
Shen Mingwen sighed heavily. The one he least expected had become their saving grace.
Heavens above!
At his age, couldn’t they spare him such torment?
