Shi Yuanping was rendered both amused and exasperated by this answer, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
He reached up and rubbed his temples, as though trying desperately to suppress the emotions roiling inside him.
“Brother, what the Marquis’s residence lacks isn’t money—it’s an heir.”
Shi Yuanzhi felt as if someone had struck him over the head with a club. His mind exploded with a loud buzz.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that his voice was caught in his throat.
He remembered how his fellow officials had looked at him all those years ago, before Huai'er was born, whenever they mentioned the Yongning Marquis’s residence. Their expressions had held pity beneath their courtesy and contempt beneath their respect.
They called him “the Marquis” to his face, but what they thought was, “This Marquis probably won’t be able to pass down his title.”
Shi Yuanzhi leaned back in his chair, bracing his forehead with both hands. His voice was muffled.
“You mean your sister-in-law is afraid Huai'er will take away what belongs to Lingyi and Youlan?”
Shi Yuanping walked back to the chair and sat down. He reached out to straighten the letter that had been blown askew, then pulled his hand back and rested it on his knee.
“Sister-in-law gave birth to two daughters but no son. That is the greatest torment of her life.”
“In the past, she could still comfort herself by saying that she was young and would eventually have a son. But she hasn’t had another child in all these years, and she can no longer get past that obstacle in her heart.”
“Huai'er’s appearance turned that obstacle into an abyss. She can’t cross it—and she doesn’t want anyone else to cross it either.”
As Shi Yuanzhi listened, countless thoughts he had never considered before suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Madam Liu’s hostility toward Shi Huai, all the ways she had made things difficult for him, and even that bowl of lotus-seed soup that had nearly cost Shi Huai his life...
In the past, he had always thought that harmony in the family brought prosperity. He had believed that it was better to avoid trouble whenever possible, and that anything that could be muddled through should simply be muddled through.
But Shi Yuanping’s words today were like a shovel digging his head out of the sand after more than a decade, forcing him to confront all the things he had pretended not to see.
“Then, regarding those three madams who came today to propose marriage and wanted Huai'er to marry into their families—was your sister-in-law involved after all?”
“Brother, why don’t you send someone to investigate?”
Shi Yuanzhi raised his head and looked at his younger brother, hesitation in his eyes.
“Investigate? How? They’re the wives of court officials. Am I supposed to search their homes?”
The corners of Shi Yuanping’s lips lifted slightly. His faint smile carried the helplessness of someone thinking, Big Brother, you’re still far too naïve.
“There’s no need to search their homes. All you have to do is have someone find out who those three madams have been spending time with lately, who passed them the message, and who encouraged them from behind the scenes.”
“There are no walls in this world that don’t let in air. Anything people do will leave traces. The only question is whether you want to investigate.”
Shi Yuanzhi was silent for a long while before finally speaking.
“All right. I’ll investigate.”
Shi Yuanping nodded and rose to his feet. He straightened his collar and looked at the face of his elder brother, who had finally made up his mind. He could not tell whether what he felt was relief or something else.
“Brother, there’s one more thing I want to say, though I don’t know whether I should.”
“Go ahead.”
Shi Yuanping took half a step forward, shortening the distance between them. He lowered his voice until only the two of them could hear.
“You know Sister-in-law better than anyone. If she finds out that she’s being investigated, she’ll certainly find a way to protect herself. What do you plan to do then?”
The question left Shi Yuanzhi stunned. Looking into his younger brother’s unfathomable eyes, he suddenly realized that he had never considered this problem.
What would he do if the investigation uncovered something? Divorce Madam Liu? Have her confined? Or continue as before—scold her a few times and let the matter pass?
He didn’t know.
Seeing the bewildered look on his elder brother’s face, Shi Yuanping sighed inwardly.
He knew that his elder brother was still the same as ever: indecisive, hesitant, and incapable of making a clean, decisive choice.
“Take your time to think about it, Brother. I’ll be going back now. Have someone send word if you learn anything.”
Shi Yuanping turned and walked toward the door. After taking two steps, he stopped and looked back at his elder brother, who was still sitting behind the desk in a daze.
“Brother, there’s something I forgot to tell you. That child Huai'er is smarter than you or me. Don’t try to treat him like a little child. He understands everything.”
Shi Yuanzhi raised his head and moved his lips, wanting to say something, but Shi Yuanping had already pushed open the door and left.
The study fell silent once more.
Shi Yuanzhi sat in his chair, staring blankly at the direction in which his younger brother had disappeared for a long time.
He remembered the things Shi Huai had said yesterday. Every word had been like a knife stabbing into his heart, deep and painful.
Yet although those words had been harsh, every one of them had been reasonable. He could not find anything to refute.
A father who had abandoned his newborn son in a secluded courtyard to await death truly did not deserve to be called a father.
The thought lodged in Shi Yuanzhi’s heart like a thorn. He could neither pull it out nor swallow it, and the pain kept him awake night after night.
Early the next morning, Shi Yuanzhi summoned the most capable steward in the residence to the study and instructed him to investigate something.
The steward’s surname was Zhao. He was in his forties and had worked at the Yongning Marquis’s residence for more than twenty years. He was experienced, capable, and known for keeping his mouth shut.
After hearing the Marquis’s instructions, Steward Zhao’s brows drew together slightly. He asked no questions, merely nodded and turned to leave.
Shi Yuanzhi remained seated in the study, watching Steward Zhao’s retreating figure. The unease in his heart grew heavier and heavier.
He could not explain what exactly he was worried about.
Was he afraid that the result of the investigation would be too ugly?
Or was he afraid that it would confirm the suspicion he least wanted to believe?
He did not know, and he did not dare think any further.
At the same time, a silent war was continuing at the Imperial College.
It had begun when Shen Jinghong deliberately “happened” to run into the Third Prince, Zhao Chengrui, outside the Imperial College gates.
Calling it a chance encounter was not quite accurate.
Shen Jinghong had calculated exactly what time the Third Prince left the Imperial College each day, which route he took, and which carriage he rode in. Then he had arrived early and waited there.
When the Third Prince stepped through the Imperial College gates, he immediately spotted Shen Jinghong leaning against a carriage.
He was dressed in a silver-red brocade robe, with a white jade belt fastened around his waist. His entire person resembled a peach blossom blooming in late autumn.
The Third Prince’s footsteps faltered, and his brows drew together slightly. He knew without thinking that Shen Jinghong had been waiting for him, and that it certainly wasn’t for anything good.
His voice was cool and distant, carrying the meaning, I know you didn’t just happen to be here, but I don’t feel like exposing you.
“Young Master Shen, what a coincidence.”
