Shen Yunfeng was still trying to plead his case when he met the cold gaze of Princess Jingning. He thought to himself that something was amiss. He had been too reckless today and had momentarily forgotten that the plan hadn't succeeded yet.
He immediately put on a smiling face, crouched down, and patiently coaxed Shen Baozhu. "It's Daddy's fault. Can Baozhu forgive Daddy?"
"Daddy was worried about Baozhu and Third Brother, and I neglected you for a moment. Daddy will definitely correct it next time. Didn't Baozhu like the writing brush in Daddy's study last time? Daddy will give it to Baozhu. How about that?"
Shen Yunfeng had been able to act in front of Shen Heqing for many years. Besides being supported by the little fatherly love he had for Shen Heqing, it was also due to his superb acting skills and his ability to quickly back down.
As long as Princess Jingning gave him a look, Shen Yunfeng would immediately back down and act like a qualified father.
This was also the reason why the Princess Mansion had been safe for all these years.
Shen Baozhu had long forgotten about the writing brush. It was not until Shen Heqing behind her poked her angrily that she remembered. That brush was a gift from Shen Heqing's master and was later taken away by Shen Yunfeng.
Shen Heqing didn't want to tell Princess Jingning about this, so he coaxed Shen Baozhu to get it back for him.
Upon being instructed by her elder brother, Shen Baozhu immediately nodded. "Okay!"
Shen Yunfeng looked at Princess Jingning, who was checking Shen Haiyan's injuries and didn't say a word.
Helplessly, Shen Yunfeng promised a few more things. Only then did Princess Jingning seem to have heard him finish. She said softly, "Since Daddy knows he's wrong, Mother won't cut off his pastries. How about that?"
Having gotten what she wanted, Shen Baozhu naturally agreed.
Shen Haiyan was a bit dissatisfied. He thought Shen Yunfeng was stingy and they should have asked for more. But since his hands and feet were not convenient at the moment, he didn't say anything.
After Princess Jingning ordered someone to carry Shen Haiyan to the main courtyard, Shen Yunfeng returned to the study in the front courtyard. Finally, he couldn't control his emotions and swept the things on the table to the ground.
This was a great humiliation today!
First, he was slapped three times by that damned eunuch, and then he was tricked into giving away a few things by Shen Baozhu. Shen Yunfeng's face was ashen. He called the butler and threw the token on his waist on the table. "Have you found the Taoist priest?"
The butler was still in shock and worriedly said, "I've found him. Do we really have to do this? If General Mu finds out..."
"That brute won't know. Besides, this is the truth."
In the dim candlelight, Shen Yunfeng's handsome face twisted a bit. He could have taken his time, but after enduring for so many years, he really couldn't bear it anymore.
He hated Princess Jingning's control, was jealous of Shen Heqing's natural talent, was dissatisfied with Concubine Yun's being so unreasonable as to give birth to a child, and disliked Shen Haiyan's being unruly...
He hated everyone and every place in this Princess Mansion.
So he chose an extreme way. Thinking of what was to come, Shen Yunfeng regained some composure. He instructed, "Start early tomorrow morning. Have you memorized the story?"
The butler's face was full of bitterness. He still wanted to persuade him. "My lord, do we really have to make it like this? The eldest young master is intelligent, the second young master is obedient, the third young master has entered the military camp at a young age and will have a great future. The little princess is cute and obedient. We can still turn back now..."
Shen Yunfeng interrupted the butler. "Do you still remember how I was tricked back? You wrote to me, saying that you were seriously ill and wanted to see me before you died. I didn't trust my parents, brothers, or friends, but only trusted you. But how did you treat me?"
Speaking of the past, the butler knew he was in the wrong. Back then, when Shen Yunfeng eloped with someone, it was indeed he who tricked him back with an excuse. Over the years, every time Shen Yunfeng mentioned this, the butler felt extremely guilty.
Seeing the butler bowing his head and not saying a word, Shen Yunfeng wrote down the birth dates of Princess Jingning and Shen Baozhu on paper. "Give this to the Taoist priest and ask him to make an issue out of it. Say that Princess Jingning is an ill - omened person who caused the death of all the Mu family relatives, and Shen Baozhu inherited her mother's ill - fated fate and is also an ill - omened person. Shen Haiyan's accident this time was caused by her."
These words were so audacious that even the butler didn't dare to listen.
The butler's legs were trembling, and he still wanted to persuade. "My lord, only the general and Princess Jingning are left in the Mu family. This is Princess Jingning's taboo. Since the eldest young master and the little princess weren't seriously injured, Princess Jingning won't pursue it too much. If we use the Mu family as an excuse, Princess Jingning may tear us to pieces."
Hearing the butler's words, Shen Yunfeng only thought he was too stupid.
Shen Yunfeng threw the token at the butler and sneered. "Judging from Jingning's personality, she must have been trying to deal with me for a long time. Maybe she didn't take action because of next year's imperial examination. Since Shen Haiyan didn't die this time, she will surely sow discord. In that case, it's better to strike first."
After more than a decade of marriage, Shen Yunfeng knew Princess Jingning very well. Since the incident of Bai Xinrou trying to drug Shen Baozhu with the Elixir of the Idiot was exposed, he knew that Princess Jingning wouldn't let him off.
Shen Yunfeng now only regretted that he had wanted Shen Haiyan to suffer more, so he didn't let someone kill him directly. If he had known that Shen Baozhu would go for help, he should have killed him right away.
As for whether the claim of the mother being an ill - omened person would have an impact on Shen Heqing's imperial examination, Shen Yunfeng no longer cared.
...
In the palace.
When Ping Hai returned to the palace, the emperor was admiring a golden dragon ornament.
Seeing Ping Hai come back, he called him forward. "Come and take a look. This is the magic treasure of the immortal. There's a golden dragon living inside. Just the head of the golden dragon can fill a room. It's really amazing."
Ping Hai told the emperor what had happened today. The emperor's expression remained unchanged, and there was even a bit more smile on his face.
The emperor just thought for a moment and guessed the general situation. "Judging from Shen Yunfeng's reaction, this matter should be related to him."
"Surely not. Shen Haiyan is his own son. Besides, what does Shen Yunfeng stand to gain?" Ping Hai was a eunuch who dreamed of having an heir to carry on the family line, so he couldn't understand Shen Yunfeng's thoughts at all.
The emperor just smiled without saying a word and pointed to the chief eunuch standing beside him. "You explain it to Ping Hai."
The chief eunuch had served the emperor since he was a child. He was older than Ping Hai and usually regarded him as his own son. Now he patiently explained. "Don't worry about what Shen Yunfeng stands to gain. You can guess just by looking at Shen Yunfeng's reaction."
"When he heard that Shen Haiyan was missing, instead of being anxious, he even wanted to drag you back, which means he knew what was going on."
"Think about the reactions of everyone when we returned to the Princess Mansion, and then combine it with Shen Yunfeng's performance."
"Most men are heartless. They don't have to carry a child for ten months like women. Instead of loving the child, it's better to say they love the woman who gave birth to the child."
Ping Hai understood. "Shen Yunfeng has fallen in love with someone else, and now he's in a bad relationship with Princess Jingning. He's taking it out on the child? That's too cruel."
The emperor shook his head. He wanted to have a good relationship with Shen Baozhu and was thinking of sending someone there to build a good relationship. Ping Hai had done a good job today and was a good candidate.
It was just that Ping Hai was good at beating people but a bit slow - witted.
The emperor hinted to Ping Hai. "It's enough to know that this matter is related to Shen Yunfeng. As for his purpose, it's not important."
"Early tomorrow morning, go to the storage room and take out that century - old ginseng. Then pick out a few things that little girls like and send them to the Princess Mansion."
"Oh, and go to the imperial kitchen and ask them to make some pastries overnight. You personally deliver them to Baozhu."