bookcurios Chapter 1755 Everything in the Shen family will be yours in the future.
Chapter 1755 Everything in the Shen family will be yours in the future.
Shen Zhiqin and Shen Zhijian walked in one after the other.
The fifteen-year-old boy had grown tall and was dressed in a blue robe. His face bore a resemblance to Shen Maoxue. However, he had a timid demeanor and his eyes lacked brightness.
Thirteen-year-old Shen Zhijian followed behind his older brother, appearing even more shy.
The two bowed respectfully and greeted each other.
Shen Mao asked a few questions about today's lessons.
Shen Zhiqin's answer was standard and conventional; the text contained nothing new in its interpretation of classical texts, but there were no major errors either.
Shen Zhijian hesitated somewhat, and clearly got stuck when talking about math problems.
Xia Lingshu listened with a smile, offering gentle words of encouragement to ease their tension and embarrassment.
Shen Maoxue saw this and felt even more fond of Xia Shi.
She never treated her illegitimate son harshly, nor was she overly affectionate; she maintained a perfect balance. This preserved the dignity of the mistress of the house and also prevented future conflicts between the legitimate and illegitimate sons.
After sitting for a short while, Shen Maoxue dismissed his two illegitimate sons and sent them off to study.
He suddenly remembered something and said to Xia Lingshu, "...I met a colleague from the Ministry of Revenue after court today. During our chat, he mentioned that there seems to be some unsettling news in the capital lately."
Xia Lingshu's expression hardened slightly: "Is it because of those things in the Northern Border?"
"Ah."
Shen Maoxue nodded: "His Majesty's thorough investigation of internal spies has implicated a wide range of people. Countless officials have been imprisoned during this period."
"Some quick-witted people will inevitably try to take advantage of the situation."
"The Xia family's business spans the north and south, dealing with all sorts of people. How has it been lately? We need to be extra careful with those trade routes outside the Great Wall and along the border, lest someone use them against us."
Xia Lingshu said solemnly, "Don't worry, sir."
“My father wrote a letter a few days ago, saying that everything at home was normal and that business transactions were conducted in accordance with regulations. The accounts were clear and could withstand scrutiny.”
"Business outside the pass has shrunk considerably since His Majesty issued the decree to strictly control it. Now we only do ordinary trade in tea and silk, and there are absolutely no prohibited items."
Shen Maoxue breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
The Xia family are imperial merchants, and their great influence attracts unwanted attention. Given the current sensitive political climate, caution is paramount.
"Also, keep a close eye on the concubines of the children in the mansion, and those distant relatives. Don't let those short-sighted people cause trouble for petty gains."
"I understand."
Xia Lingshu agreed and then comforted him, "Master, you don't need to worry too much."
“Our Shen family is upright and honest. My husband is a trusted and capable minister of His Majesty, and we also have the Imperial Noble Consort in the palace. Even if those villains have designs on us, they might not dare to make a move.”
Mentioning Chinen, Shen Maoxue's brows relaxed.
Yes, he also has this daughter.
Thinking of Shen Zhinian's situation in the palace, Shen Maoxue felt a little worried.
The Imperial Noble Consort was pregnant with the Emperor's child and enjoyed the utmost favor. However, the higher one's position in the harem, the more treacherous it became.
Consort Zhuang, the Zhuang family... they are not easy to deal with...
We only hope that the Imperial Noble Consort is well and will give birth to a prince safely.
the other side.
Upon exiting the main courtyard, Shen Zhiqin and Shen Zhijian both slowed their pace.
Shen Zhijian hung his head, and after a long while, he mumbled, "Brother, is Father disappointed in us again?"
Shen Zhiqin did not answer immediately.
He was half a head taller than Shen Zhijian, and his figure had the slender outline of a young man.
He hadn't missed the sigh his father let out after a brief pause when he was testing his studies.
And the expectant look in the father's eyes when he looked at his young stepmother's belly...
The contrast is stark.
Shen Zhiqin twitched the corner of his mouth, his voice somewhat cold: "Did Father ever have any expectations for us?"
These words were spoken too harshly, and one could hear the barely suppressed resentment in the listener's ears.
Shen Zhijian was startled: "Big brother..."
He was also feeling upset and didn't know what to say.
The math problem he solved today was something the teacher had clearly explained before. But when his father asked him about it, his mind was completely blank, like it was covered in a layer of paste.
Although his father didn't scold him, his eyes clearly said "good-for-nothing"...
"Let's go back inside."
Shen Zhiqin took a deep breath, trying to exhale the stale air from his chest.
Shen Zhijian quickly followed.
The two lived not far apart, their courtyards were adjacent, and they were separated only by a low wall.
Shen Zhiqin didn't go back to his own courtyard. Instead, he walked to Shen Zhijian's courtyard, under an old locust tree.
There are stone tables and benches under the trees, where they often cool off in the summer.
Shen Zhijian understood, placed the book bag on the stone table, and sat down as well.
He lay face down on the cold stone table, his chin resting on his arm, his voice muffled: "Brother, tell me... why can't we learn it?"
"Father often praised the Imperial Noble Consort for her intelligence, saying she resembled him. Before my eldest sister was beheaded, Father also praised her for her cleverness. How come when it comes to us, we're... so stupid?"
Shen Zhiqin remained silent.
He remembered many things.
When he was young and innocent, his aunt hugged him and whispered in his ear again and again, "My son is the eldest son of the Shen family, the master's first son. Everything in the Shen family will be yours in the future!"
At that time, he didn't understand. He only felt proud to be held by his aunt and hear her soft words.
He's the eldest son!
As they grew older, they started school and began their formal education.
His classmates grasped what the teacher said immediately, but he had to ponder it repeatedly to understand seven or eight parts of it.
His father would occasionally check his homework, and he would stumble over his answers.
The father's face was expressionless; he simply told him to go back and study harder.
His aunt started to get anxious and secretly slipped him money, telling him to inquire about remedies for enlightenment or to pray to gods and Buddhas.
Occasionally, when my father came to my aunt's room, she would always have a big smile on her face and rack her brains to tell me how hard she had been studying lately and how much her teacher had praised her.
The father listened, but remained noncommittal.
Later, her stepmother came into the family.
The woman from the Xia family was about the same age as him, but she was shrewd and capable, managing the household like an ironclad fortress.
The concubines' expenses and allowances remained the same, but they were no longer as carefree as before. If they wanted to withdraw more money or arrange for a distant relative to work in the household, they had to follow the rules.
The concubine complained privately a few times, saying that the mistress was stingy and didn't respect them.
Shen Zhiqin watched coldly as his stepmother acted fairly and impartially, with clear rewards and punishments, and even his father could not find fault with her.
She treated her illegitimate sons with impeccable manners and provided them with all the necessary care, but that was about it.
Until her stepmother became pregnant.
The atmosphere in the mansion subtly changed.
The servants became more diligent in their work and ran to the main courtyard more often.
Father returned home earlier than usual, and he smiled more often.
And he, the eldest son of the Shen family, seemed to be becoming less and less important in his father's eyes...
Shen Zhiqin suddenly smiled bitterly and said, "The eldest son hasn't even been born yet, and I, the eldest son, am already nothing."
Shen Zhijian sat up straight in shock: "Big brother, please don't say that..."
Did I say something wrong?
Shen Zhiqin turned to look at Shen Zhijian: "Did Father ask you or me a single question today?"