Engagement Canceled: I Can Extract Prefixes-Chapter 284 - 283: Back When He Was in the Residence, He Was So... Ordinary
Clang--
Madam Shen felt as if something inside her heart had shattered.
The news of Shen Han advancing to the Fifth Grade First Snow Realm was true...
Recalling when Shen Ye was nineteen, shining so brilliantly, he was only at the Sixth Grade Fruit Realm...
Today’s event seemed to speak of Shen Han’s talent.
Even surpassing Shen Ye.
The Shen Family’s investments over these years were completely misguided.
The hand that once clasped the prayer beads had already stopped.
She casually threw them aside.
The Immortal God did not grant Madam Shen her wish, so she naturally saw no point in praying.
By her side, Cai Xue, seeing Madam Shen’s lost expression, hurriedly tried to console her.
"Old Dowager, please don’t worry too much...
Now, the person in charge is Madam He.
If someone is to be blamed, the master should blame Madam He..."
Upon hearing Cai Xue’s words, Madam Shen responded with a bitter smile.
"It’s easy to say, but Shen Han’s matter is ultimately caused by me.
The root of everything is me...
Just wait and see. When the master returns, he will surely scold me..."
Hearing this, Cai Xue’s face also became rather dour.
"Why has Young Master Han now become so formidable...
When he was in the house before, he was clearly... quite ordinary..."
Cai Xue did not use any other words, only the term "ordinary."
In fact, in the eyes of these maids, Shen Han was previously seen as inadequate.
Madam Shen hesitated for quite a while but remained silent.
Actually, she had somewhat figured it out in her mind.
Back then, Shen Han knew he wasn’t favored and was despised, so he kept his talents hidden.
Because he knew, revealing his abilities might lead to more persecution.
This layer of suspicion already indicated that Shen Han and the Shen Family were not of one heart.
In Madam He’s courtyard, her face was extremely grim at this moment.
Others still didn’t know to what level Shen Han had grown, but she did.
Her son Shen Ye and Mr. Luo Zuchen personally tried to deal with Shen Han, yet he escaped.
It could be said that Shen Han and Madam He’s family were in a relationship of irreconcilable enmity.
Each side desires the other’s demise.
Madam He would never allow the Shen Family to change the clan’s direction, nor to even feign reconciliation.
With a serious expression, her mind was constantly devising.
To make Shen Han lose his life as swiftly as possible.
Deep into the night, at 9 p.m.,
They thought Shen Qingshan would return in two days, but he came back unexpectedly fast.
This time, there seemed to be no deputy general returning with him, just himself.
Upon dismounting, Shen Qingshan appeared indifferent, with no sign of joy or sorrow, no reaction at all.
The family servants ready to receive him had prepared themselves for punishment or scolding.
Unexpectedly, the master was so detached this time.
In the dead of night, Shen Qingshan went directly to his room to rest, not waking everyone to discuss matters.
At 7:00 AM the next day, after having his fill for breakfast, he entered the ancestral hall alone, pulled a chair, and sat down.
The rest of the household, perceptively, followed suit, standing on either side of him.
"You’ve all heard, haven’t you?"
Shen Qingshan said calmly, without elaborating further.
Standing below were Madam Shen, Madam He, Madam Xie, and the second elder Shen Lingyong.
They all nodded silently.
How could they not know what Shen Qingshan was referring to?
A nineteen-year-old reaching the Fifth Grade First Snow Realm, they understood well what it meant.
A more gifted offspring than Shen Ye from the clan.
Yet now at odds with the Shen Family, it was a matter that needed to be addressed.
"As the Old Dowager of the Shen Family, please speak first.
Previously, when I suggested easing relations with Shen Han, you were strongly opposed and for all these years, you led the way in shunning Shen Han.
Speak your mind; I want to hear what your thoughts are this time."
Shen Qingshan’s expression remained calm, quite different from usual.
In the past, he would rage, scold everyone, and even delight in breaking things.
No one could count how many teacups had been shattered in the mansion.
But today, there was not even a hint of scolding.
"I must confess, I indeed was wrong in this matter.
But that child, Shen Han, truly lacks character.
He feels no sense of belonging to the Shen Family. No matter how great his achievements, he wouldn’t contribute to our family.
I know that Shen Han’s talent is currently astonishing.
But for such a scion, no matter how much the Shen Family tries to appease him, it’s of little use..."
After Madam Shen finished speaking, Shen Qingshan seemed unmoved.
A thoughtful look passed over his face, then he even smiled a bit.
"Lack of character, no sense of belonging to the Shen Family~
Hmm, that reason does seem plausible.
Tell me why it is that Shen Han feels no sense of belonging to the Shen Family, while other offspring do?"
Shen Qingshan maintained his expression, looking at the Old Dowager, awaiting her reply.
"Don’t hold back, contemplate while standing until you come up with an answer."
This time, Shen Qingshan wouldn’t be as lenient as he had been before.
Having accompanied Shen Qingshan for so many years, the Old Dowager recognized that her master was already furious.
In extreme anger, he appeared calm.
The ancestral hall was filled with silence.
Shen Qingshan was steadfast in waiting for the Old Dowager’s response.
After two quarters of silence, the Old Dowager finally spoke.
"That unfilial Shen Han has been jealous of others and resentful of the clan since childhood..."
"That does make some sense, jealous of others, resentful of the Shen Family, hence feeling no sense of belonging."
Shen Qingshan paused, then questioned again: "If Shen Han were given a better environment and treatment, would he still be jealous of others?
Or why is Shen Han jealous of others and not the other way around?
There are so many younger family members, many of whom are just now at the Bone Tempering stage or Ninth Grade, right?"
This retort left the Old Dowager speechless.
After speaking, Shen Qingshan shifted his gaze to Shen Lingyong.
"Second Brother, what’s your view on Shen Han?"
Shen Lingyong already disliked Shen Han.
Moreover, in the Capital City, Shen Han had even directly accused him, causing him to lose his General’s position.
But Shen Lingyong was no fool; he could sense that Shen Qingshan was showing some bias today.
"Father, Shen Han has long harbored resentment towards our Shen Family and undoubtedly hates us to the core.
Last time in the Capital City, he accused me, which was evidence enough.
If we were to attempt reconciliation, even if he agreed to accept it, it could be insincere.
Besides, it makes Shen Ye uncomfortable."
While speaking, Shen Lingyong paused and glanced at Madam He beside him.
"Father, if there is contention over the succession within the clan, it would greatly impact the family.
The Shen Family has achieved its current glory because the three brothers harmonized without disputes, right?
Should Shen Han and Shen Ye fight for dominance, then..."
