"Shen Zilan." Shen Xiabai's tone was slightly heavy, "No one is forcing you to marry, but you have no right to meddle in other people's family affairs and decisions."
"Born into an official household, the least important thing is whether you want to do something or not. You have worked in the Ministry of Personnel for so long, yet you can't even see this clearly? Did all that learning go to the dogs?"
Shen Xiabai's face was dark, his stern aura so intimidating that it made people's hearts tremble with fear.
"When you married my little aunt, you weren't like that," Shen Zilan retorted, "The situation back then didn't allow you to marry her, but you married her anyway."
"Uncle, everything you do is completely different from what you teach me. You want me to learn to be smooth and worldly, but you yourself have never been bound by those rules at all!!"
Shen Xiabai stared at Shen Zilan intently, and after a long moment he said, "You could do that too. Do you have the ability for it?"
"..."
He was right. Shen Zilan had long heard his uncle say that in the face of absolute power and influence, anyone and anything could be an exception.
His uncle had the right to marry whoever he wanted, to say no to whatever he disliked, but he did not.
He could not even control the path of his own life, so what right did he have to meddle in Chen Miaohe's matters?
Shen Zilan was hit hard by the realization.
Shen Xiabai slowly got up, paced over to him, and clapped his hand heavily on his shoulder. His voice was deep and heavy, "Rage and questioning can't solve anything. You were the one who said you didn't like her, that you didn't want her. You don't even have the qualification to bring her up anymore."
Shen Zilan's lips moved a few times as if he was trying to speak, "But... she said she doesn't want to get married."
"Is that so." Shen Xiabai lifted his gaze, looking at the dimming sunset glow in the courtyard, "Then go ask her again. Find out for yourself what she truly wants, whether she is willing or not."
Shen Zilan clenched his hands tightly, then turned around and walked out quickly.
The Shen family residence was not far from the Chen family's, and it took only about half an hour to get there.
Shen Zilan's mind was in a mess, and the only thought in his head was to see Chen Miaohe and ask her what she really felt.
"Young Master Shen?" The doorman of the Chen family was rather surprised, "What brings you here?"
"I have something important to see your young lady about," Shen Zilan said.
The doormen exchanged a look, and one of them quickly hurried into the mansion to pass the message.
Shen Zilan waited patiently, but the person who came out to meet him was not Chen Miaohe, but Chen Jiuhe, whose face was dark with anger.
"What are you doing at our Chen residence, Young Master Shen?"
"I'm looking for Miao... looking for Miss Chen. I have something to ask her."
"My sister is about to get married soon. It's inappropriate for her to meet guests. Please leave, Young Master Shen."
Shen Zilan was very stubborn, "Just let me see her. I only need to say one sentence to her."
"Sir," the young doorman standing beside Chen Jiuhe whispered, "Why don't you let him in first? The young lady is going to get married soon, and if people see this scene outside, it will ruin her reputation."
"Follow me," Chen Jiuhe turned and walked into the mansion, with Shen Zilan hurrying after him.
He followed Chen Jiuhe to a remote path, and Chen Jiuhe suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned around, his fist whistling through the air as it smashed straight towards Shen Zilan's face. Caught completely off guard, Shen Zilan was knocked to the ground with one punch.
Chen Jiuhe rushed forward in two quick steps, pinned Shen Zilan down, and grabbed his collar roughly, "Shen Zilan, how dare you come back here!!"
"Just because you are Young Master Shen, you think you can humiliate my sister like this, don't you?"
With that, he swung several more punches, each one so hard that Shen Zilan's body spasmed in pain.
"You called off the engagement just because you didn't want to marry her, and then after breaking it off, you kept pestering her. Now that my sister is about to get married, you still come to our door. What on earth do you want? Huh?"
Chen Jiuhe had wanted to beat Shen Zilan for a long time, but his father had stopped him every time.
Shen Zilan did not fight back. He gasped for breath, staring quietly at Chen Jiuhe in the fading sunset glow, "What happened back then was my fault. You can hit me, and I won't hold it against you."
"Do you think you can do whatever you want just because of your identity as Young Master Shen?"
Shen Zilan shook his head, "I never used that identity to bully Chen Miaohe. I really just wanted to ask her what her own will is."
"My sister's will has nothing to do with you!!" Chen Jiuhe pressed Shen Zilan hard against the ground.
"Big brother—" A clear, soft female voice suddenly rang out. Chen Miaohe was holding up the hem of her dress, rushing over quickly in the faint glow of the setting sun.
Shen Zilan immediately wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, straightened his robe, and stood up, looking at Chen Miaohe as she ran towards him.
Chen Miaohe's gaze swept between the two of them, and finally settled on Shen Zilan's bruised face. "Big brother, why did you hit him?"
Chen Jiuhe frowned unhappily, "I told you to stay in your room embroidering your wedding veil. Who let you come out?"
Chen Miaohe ignored him, quickly took out a handkerchief and handed it to Shen Zilan, "Are you alright?"
Shen Zilan shook his head.
Chen Jiuhe was fuming with anger at the side, "Go back to your courtyard right now."
Chen Miaohe refused to leave, "He came here to see me. Big brother, give me some time, let me talk to him myself. I'm begging you."
Chen Jiuhe would not budge, "He pestered you and refused to take responsibility. Why do you even bother talking to a person like that? Tell him to get out."
As Chen Jiuhe spoke, he raised his fist to hit Shen Zilan again, but Chen Miaohe immediately stepped in front of Shen Zilan to block him.
"Don't interfere in our business. He and I are just ordinary friends. It's not what you think. He never wronged me, nor did he ever toy with my feelings."
Chen Jiuhe was so angry he could barely breathe.
Chen Miaohe was on the verge of tears, "Big brother, I'm begging you. Just give me a quarter of an hour. After we finish talking, I'll send him away right away."
Chen Jiuhe was silent for a while, then finally turned and left the path.
Chen Miaohe let out a sigh of relief, then immediately turned back to Shen Zilan, "Are you really okay?"
Shen Zilan shook his head.
"I'm so sorry. My whole family misunderstands you, that's why they... Please, can you not tell your uncle about this? I'm afraid he will take revenge on my big brother."
"..."
Shen Zilan saw the obvious fear of his uncle in Chen Miaohe's eyes. He was silent for a long moment, then said, "I won't tell him."
Chen Miaohe let out another long breath of relief, "You are a really good person. Back then, whether it was at the Moon-Watching Tower or in the firewood room of your residence, you protected me, made sure I didn't have to do any hard work, and even gave all your food to me. I've always been really grateful to you for that."
