In front of the Shen Mansion.
"Y, Young Master Haiyan, you've come?" The servant at the gate was jolted when he saw Shen Haiyan, and his voice went up a few pitches.
Shen Haiyan was holding Shen Baozhu in his arms. He glanced at the servant and said, "What? Do I need the approval of a lowly servant like you to enter my own home?"
The servant was sweating profusely with anxiety. He quickly denied it and could only watch helplessly as Shen Haiyan entered the Shen Mansion.
"Brother Haiyan, wait for me. Slow down!" Yan Mingli couldn't keep up with Shen Haiyan's pace and was a step behind.
When visiting someone else's home, one should make one's identity clear. Yan Mingli was a man who knew the rules, so he tidied his clothes and said to the servant at the gate, "I..."
The servant cut him off and said, "Are you Young Master Haiyan's friend?"
Before Yan Mingli could nod, the servant pushed him into the Shen Mansion and emphasized, "You must make it clear to Young Master Haiyan that I didn't make things difficult for you."
Yan Mingli entered the Shen Mansion in a daze.
Along the way, he met many servants of the Shen Mansion. But as soon as Yan Mingli mentioned Shen Haiyan's name, those servants' expressions would change, and they would respectfully lead the way.
Just like that, Yan Mingli reached the study of Old Master Shen without any hindrance.
At this moment, the study door was wide open. Shen Haiyan was sitting with Shen Baozhu in his arms. Looking to the right, there was an amiable - looking old man.
The old man was wearing a bright red long gown, with his hands behind his back. He resembled Shen Yunfeng by about seventy percent.
"Grandfather, long time no see. I've brought Baozhu to visit you." Shen Haiyan sat steadily in his seat. While saying words of greeting, he actually came to cause trouble for Old Master Shen.
A son's debt should be repaid by his father. Since he couldn't vent his anger on Shen Yunfeng, it was reasonable for him to come to find Shen Yunfeng's father.
Old Master Shen not only resembled Shen Yunfeng in appearance but also in his preferences. He also didn't like his grandson Shen Haiyan, thinking that Shen Haiyan was too much like the Mu family. He didn't have Shen Heqing's talent for studying. Even Shen Danqing, the illegitimate son, had passed the imperial examination and become a juren, while Shen Haiyan didn't even have a single academic title.
Although he thought so in his heart, Old Master Shen didn't show it on his face. He nodded slightly and said with a smile, "It's rare that you have such filial piety. Very good, very good."
Then, he looked at Shen Baozhu beside Shen Haiyan and said, "Grandfather remembers that Baozhu loves pastries the most. Do you want to try the pastries in grandfather's study?"
Shen Baozhu was a bit afraid of Old Master Shen. She shook her head obediently and said, "Baozhu doesn't want pastries."
After a simple greeting, Shen Haiyan quickly got to the point. He raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Grandson has been missing you for a long time. I even took a special leave to come home. But on the way, I met a brute who led people to seriously injure me with knives. Grandfather, don't you think that brute is utterly heartless?"
On the day after Shen Haiyan was injured, there was a big event that Shen Yunfeng was struck by lightning, and the Shen family was implicated. This made Old Master Shen only know that Shen Haiyan was seriously injured, but he didn't know the specific situation.
So, under Shen Haiyan's guidance, Old Master Shen scolded Shen Yunfeng severely.
Old Master Shen scolded from the bottom of his heart. After all, Shen Haiyan had the Shen family's blood. Although Old Master Shen didn't like Shen Haiyan, he didn't wish for his death.
Lin Yu: [Third Brother Haiyan tricked grandfather into scolding the scumbag father?]
Dragon King: [Scolded well! Shen Haiyan came to cause trouble for the Shen family just a few days after he recovered from his injury. Not bad, not bad.]
Dragon King: [This king is very satisfied with those who always get even for their grudges.]
Dragon King: [Little cutie should learn more from Shen Haiyan.]
Shen Baozhu also thought that her third brother was amazing. She nodded vigorously.
After Old Master Shen finished scolding, Shen Haiyan got up and pulled in Yan Mingli, who was peeping outside the door.
He patted Yan Mingli on the shoulder and said, "Grandfather, this is my newly - recognized brother. His father is the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."
After learning Yan Mingli's identity, Old Master Shen's eyes turned cold for a moment. The Prime Minister Sima, who had replaced him, came from the Ministry of Revenue.
But it was only for a moment. Old Master Shen quickly adjusted his state of mind and said amiably, "Haiyan has high standards. If Haiyan can personally admit you as his brother, you must be quite capable. Do you have any academic titles?"
Dragon King: [Hahaha, right to the point. This fool is the worst at studying.]
Yan Mingli felt a bit blocked when he was asked this question. He didn't have much talent for studying, so he avoided answering directly and said, "Really? I thought Brother Haiyan didn't like me."
As he said that, Yan Mingli reached out to pat Shen Haiyan on the shoulder, but Shen Haiyan dodged.
Under Yan Mingli's confused gaze, Shen Haiyan took the initiative to mention the Xu family, "You're right. I really don't like you."
"I just asked you to help me find out some information about the Xu family. You were so reluctant. It was just a matter of going to your father's study, but you made it seem so difficult, as if I would harm you."
Yan Mingli was stunned. His hand was still hanging in the air.
As Shen Haiyan expected, Old Master Shen, like a fish smelling blood, started to try to get information.
Under the pretext of easing the relationship between the two of them, he pretended to ask about the Xu family.
Facing his own grandfather, Shen Haiyan stammered and said that he had heard that the emperor planned to reuse an official surnamed Xu. He wanted to build a good relationship with that official. Since he had heard that Yan Mingli's father was in favor recently, he might know the specific information about that official, so he asked Yan Mingli to help.
Yan Mingli finally understood what Shen Haiyan meant. He cooperated very well. Under Old Master Shen's expectant gaze, he told the information about Xu Yutang's grandfather.
Shen Baozhu listened with great interest. She was a bit worried and said, "Third brother only heard it from others. How about I take the time to ask Uncle Emperor? It will be safer that way."
Feelings are mutual. Shen Haiyan protected his younger sister, and Shen Baozhu also wanted to help her third brother.
The Dragon King saw Shen Haiyan acting seriously, Yan Mingli reacting half a beat slower, and Old Master Shen jumping into the trap. He felt like laughing. At this moment, when he heard Shen Baozhu's words, he couldn't help but show his dragon form and roll around, breaking a mountain peak.
There was no "others" at all!
It was clearly Shen Haiyan making up a story and leading Yan Mingli to deceive people!
After deceiving Old Master Shen, Shen Haiyan picked up Shen Baozhu, who was sitting on the chair, and led Yan Mingli towards the back yard.
Old Master Shen, who was still thinking about the authenticity of the information, twitched his eyelids and asked, "Where are you taking them?"
"Going to grandmother's place to get some food. Baozhu must be hungry." Shen Haiyan walked away without looking back.
After much thought, Old Master Shen didn't fully believe what Shen Haiyan and Yan Mingli said. He returned to his desk, picked up a pen, and wrote a letter, asking his student who was still in the Ministry of Personnel to investigate the background of this Prefect Xu.
...
On the small path, Yan Mingli asked nervously, "Do you think your grandfather will believe our words?"
"I don't know. It doesn't matter whether he believes it or not. The Xu family is going to be in trouble anyway." Shen Haiyan helped Shen Baozhu tidy her clothes and told her to pick the expensive ones later.
Shen Baozhu didn't quite understand, but she still nodded obediently. Anyway, her third brother wouldn't harm her. Just obeying obediently was enough.
Yan Mingli didn't understand what Shen Haiyan meant and asked, "Why?"
Dragon King: [Why?]
Shen Haiyan casually explained, "Whether he believes it or not, he will send someone to investigate the Xu family. He will also find out that Xu Yutang's great - grandfather and Prime Minister Sima were examinees in the same year and had a friendship."
"If he doesn't believe us, he will think that Prefect Xu is from Prime Minister Sima's faction and will make things difficult for him."
"If he believes us, he will try his best to win over Prefect Xu."
"The Shen family will surely fall into great trouble sooner or later, and Prefect Xu will be in trouble too."
Yan Mingli was stunned. He sighed again. As expected of Shen Heqing's younger brother, he was really amazing!