Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 174 It's either me or him!

After watching Lu Jia enter the gate, Yin Liu immediately disappeared into the street.

Only after the Xie family's gate closed again did Shen Zhui, who was still speechless, emerge from behind the tree.

He was not wrong.

Shen Qingzhou is really with Miss Lu!
Why did he dress up like that?
And why did he suddenly leave after seeing himself in the afternoon?

What is he afraid of?
The moonlight was hazy before his eyes, and Shen Zhui's mind was also hazy.

……

Song En has been by Shen Qingzhou's side since she was ten years old, and she knows very well his uncompromising personality.

He received the order at noon to get Shen Zhui out of the capital, and in the afternoon he went to find General Wu.

The old general was a close confidant of the Grand Commandant and regarded Shen Qingzhou as his own grandson.

Song En argued that it would be a waste to keep a young and talented general like Shen Zhui in the capital, and asked General Wu to mediate.

The old general arrived at the Grand Commandant's residence before dinner.

Grand Commandant Shen invited him to stay for dinner.

Song Enzhi said that the matter was settled.

Who knew that after the Grand Commandant saw the old general off with a calm expression, he immediately called him over and questioned him about whose idea it was.

Song En answered reluctantly, and Grand Commandant Shen sat behind his desk with a livid face, remaining silent for half a day.

Only after Song En had considered all the possibilities in his mind did a voice come from behind the desk: "Summon Yu'er here."

Yu'er is his eldest son, Shen Yu.

Shen Yu is Shen Qingzhou's real name.

It is said that after Madam Shen gave birth to Shen Qingzhou, the young Grand Commandant was so fond of the child that he named him "Yu" (meaning "encounter") to express his gratitude for the father-son bond in this life.

Before the age of eight, Shen Qingzhou was also named Shen Yu.

However, after Madam Shen passed away when he was eight years old, Shen Qingzhou went through a nightmare. From then on, he stopped calling himself Shen Yu and took the nickname "Qingzhou" given to him by his mother.

Since returning a year ago, Grand Commandant Shen has remained as steady as Mount Tai, never once showing such a serious expression as he does tonight.

Song En reluctantly returned to deliver the message, and Shen Qingzhou also raised his head from behind his desk. His expression was even colder than that of the Grand Commandant.

"If you do not wish to go, I will inform the Grand Commandant that you are feeling unwell and have already gone to bed."

Although the Grand Commandant's act of bringing back an illegitimate child without a word was not very ethical, he still valued Shen Qingzhou's health.

"Need not."

Shen Qingzhou put down her pen, stood up briskly, and walked out the door.

The room was filled with the scent of aloeswood incense, and the dim lighting made him appear somewhat enigmatic as he sat behind his desk, deep in thought.

"My father is looking for me?"

Shen Qingzhou entered the room and bowed to him with proper etiquette.

Shen Bo raised his eyes and said slowly, "How have you been lately? Have you been working at the Ministry of Revenue for the past few days? Is the workload heavy? Are you able to handle it?"

"Thank you for your concern, Father. I am gradually recovering and the task is not heavy."

Shen Bo nodded. He gestured to the chair beside him for him to sit down. Then he said, "You should know that your Grandpa Wu came to see me this evening?"

Shen Qingzhou remained calm and composed. "It's a pity I had to go out and missed meeting Grandpa Wu, otherwise I would have come out to say hello." Shen Bo frowned. "He suggested that I send Zhui'er back to the border. Was that your idea?"

Shen Qingzhou remained calm: "He grew up on the frontier with his father and is very familiar with military operations. He should stay in the northwest to defend the border and serve the country. Staying in the capital is not suitable for him."

“The border has already made proper arrangements, and there is no need for him to make up the numbers. Besides, Father only has you and his two sons. Losing either of you would be a loss for me. He grew up at the border, and now it is time for him to come back and help you with the household affairs. He cannot go.”

Shen Bo spoke very slowly, but every word firmly expressed his stance.

Shen Qingzhou said, "Do you want him to share the burden, or do you want him to take the lead? Are you reluctant to part with me and him, or are you reluctant to part with him?"

Shen Bo frowned even more deeply. "You shouldn't talk like that, Yu'er. Father knows he has wronged you, but as for Zhui'er..."

“I don’t want to hear this,” Shen Qingzhou interrupted him. “I have no interest in what’s going on between you and your son.”

“If you consider me the eldest son of the Grand Commandant’s household, then my opinion is that he must leave. If you want me to accept him as a member of the Shen family, then he cannot stay in this house.”

"Yu'er!"

"In other words, it's either me or him, it's either me or him." Shen Qingzhou stood up. "I told you long ago that since you're bringing him back and keeping him here, please keep him in check and don't let him appear in my sight."

"Since you don't want to do that, I can only ask that you send him away."

Shen Bo also stood up: "He won't affect your interests at all. He's just a pure-hearted child. Why can't you tolerate him?"
"You shouldn't lack even this much magnanimity!"

"What kind of magnanimity should I have?" Shen Qingzhou chuckled. "Should I tolerate him taking my father away and occupying my home? He has had you for more than ten years. When he had you, what did I have?"
"Do you think he hasn't received enough? Am I being too harsh?"

Shen Bo gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury, and his fists clenched tightly at his sides, but he never let his anger run rampant.

Shen Qingzhou turned and walked to the door: "If you don't want him to leave, then I can leave too."

"Shut up!"

“Every time I see him in this house, I feel like my mother is cursing me for being incompetent from beyond the grave!”

Shen Zhuzhou, with his back to the house, showed no intention of shutting up. On the contrary, his voice was strong and clear, causing even the people behind the courtyard wall to fall silent.

Shen Zhui had just reached the door when these words reached his ears.

He stopped abruptly, then looked around: "What are they saying?"

Who dared to utter a sound? They all lowered their heads like ostriches.

"...If he doesn't leave within three days, then I'll leave!"

Shen Qingzhou's voice came out again.

Shen Zhui's expression changed: "He wants to kick me out?"

"Second Young Master, you've misheard!..."

Everyone quickly blocked him.

But Shen Zhui isn't deaf!
It's not like he didn't hear it!
"Why should he let me leave?!"

He tried to force his way in, but he couldn't get in!
These people all knew martial arts, so they didn't give him a chance to force his way in!

"Second Young Master, calm down!"

Song En also came over.

Shen Zhui glared at them, angrily pulling his arm away: "I know you can't tolerate me, I know you've never respected me! Let me tell you, I don't care!"

"Second son!"

Song En frowned, watching him turn around and rush out of the mansion again. He gritted his teeth and hurriedly told Shen Bo's guards, "Go and report to the Grand Commandant and the Eldest Young Master!"