Sunlight slanted through the carved wooden windows, leaving dappled shadows.

Mr. Shen was not obsequious outside, yet he was very good at lowering himself. However, at home, while he might change his mind over small matters, when it came to important ones, his word was law.

At this moment, he was very imposing.

"Where do you think this is? Who are you throwing a tantrum for?"

He increasingly found Shen Zhiyi an eyesore.

What has this daughter done over the years to truly satisfy him, apart from causing trouble?

"What is it? Speak!"

Mr. Shen warned, "If it happens again, you won’t be forgiven."

Separated by a desk, Shen Zhiyi sat with her makeup meticulously applied, looking down at Mr. Shen, who was sitting.

There was not the slightest hint of panic.

Her lips, painted a vibrant red, moved as she spoke coldly.

"I thought my father was muddle-headed and easily swayed. But at least he was passable."

Most men in this world are like that; few are truly good.

Some words had been bottled up inside her for a long time.

"You adore concubines and neglect my mother, often undermining her dignity as the primary wife. You love your illegitimate daughters and sons more than me, yet you still recognize the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate. You have not treated me harshly, except for forcing the marriage to Chu Liulang upon me, otherwise you still cared."

"But I was wrong."

"Some people are rotten to the core."

How could Mr. Shen be pleased after such a scolding?

He immediately darkened his expression.

Getting up, he slammed the table heavily.

The teacups on the table shook violently three times.

"Ungrateful!"

"Not as much as father!"

"In the past, I was willing to pretend to have a deep father-daughter bond with you, after all, we must continue living day by day under the same roof, no need to tear things apart."

Mr. Shen was furious.

He didn’t know what madness Shen Zhiyi was spouting.

He immediately raised his hand, about to slap her.

"No wonder Aunt is unwilling to have anything to do with you, unwilling to acknowledge you as her brother."

Mr. Shen’s hand froze in mid-air.

Seeing him like this, Shen Zhiyi laughed, "Feeling guilty?"

"You indeed should feel guilty."

She squeezed out each word through her teeth, "Back then, even if the Emperor had intentions, the Court couldn’t do without the Wei Family Army. No matter how powerful the late Emperor was, he had to rely on General Jing Yuan to guard the country. If he wanted to disgrace the Wei Family, he needed cooperation from the Shen Family. If you had sent word to the Duke Shun Mansion, allowing the Wei Family to be prepared, and released news that the Shen and Wei families had marriage intentions, for the sake of imperial reputation, he wouldn’t have acted to seize a subject’s wife, and things wouldn’t have turned out like this!"

"Even I understand this logic, yet father, you would not?"

But the Emperor is a master of scheming.

"He knows very well your nature, father."

"Grandfather had a moment of hesitation, but you, father, were afraid of being ostracized, for the sake of your career, and having gained benefits, for the sake of climbing up the ranks, refused to let Grandmother and Mother inform the Wei Family."

"If a man stands tall, he should rise by his own abilities, not rely on a woman’s favors."

Yet unfortunately, Mr. Shen was such a person.

He did such a thing, yet acted innocent.

Even gained benefits, but felt justified.

Looking at the man before her, Shen Zhiyi almost found it amusing, "How do you have the nerve to say every Mid-Autumn Festival that you miss Aunt in the palace?"

"Even blaming Aunt for being insensitive, not considering the sibling bond."

Hypocritical to the extreme.

Lacking ability, it was no wonder that after assuming the position at the Ministry of the Imperial Household, he hadn’t climbed any higher.

The current prestige of the Shen Family was built on trampling over Aunt.

The more Shen Zhiyi spoke, the angrier she became, unable to imagine how Shen Jin had endured all these years.

Characterized by a quick temper, she immediately brushed everything off the table, sending pens, ink, paper, and inkstone crashing to the floor.

"Do you deserve it?"

"If I were Aunt, I would find you disgusting too!"

What Mr. Shen couldn’t bear most was hearing this.

But would he blame himself? No.

Before passing, Mother had grievances against him, saying he had ruined her little sister’s life.

When Father died gravely ill, Little Sister didn’t even come back for a look.

The family ended up like this, as the culprit, he felt no fault.

He only thought Shen Jin was too petty.

What grudges could a family hold overnight?

The daughters raised with great difficulty by the Shen Family were supposed to support their maternal family, support him.

Not to mention his own sister, even his daughter Shen Zhiyi wasn’t spared. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know Chu Liulang was not a good match, yet he insisted on marrying Shen Zhiyi off to him back then.

As long as it benefited him, so what if sacrifices were made?

Besides, Shen Jin married the Emperor.

In the palace, she had it smooth, not lacking anything.

It was just her fault for not bearing a child.

Mr. Shen’s face was gloomy, as if a storm was brewing beneath the surface.

With a "slap".

A slap landed heavily.

Shen Zhiyi’s head was struck to the side, staggering back a step.

"Is this something a daughter should say to her father?"

"It’s because I’ve been too indulgent with you."

"How dare you defy me!"

Shen Zhiyi did not dodge, taking the slap without flinching, as if she didn’t feel pain.

She continued.

"Aunt does not wish to be involved with you, and her hands in the harem cannot reach far, so she has not acted against the Shen Family."

"Back then she had no one to protect her, but fortunately, I’ve been luckier, having a good Aunt. So, my temper has been somewhat spoiled."

"Father, would you like to hit a few more times? In the future, you may not have the chance."

As her words fell, outside, the sound of trusted confidants frightfully and cautiously stopping someone could be heard.

"You can’t enter, you can’t enter, although our lady is inside, Heir Xiao, you cannot..."

Xiao Huaian kicked the person aside and strode in.

When Shen Zhiyi’s maid came to find him, as it happened, he was conducting some business not far from the Shen Family.

Usually, Shen Zhiyi wouldn’t seek him out.

She avoided him whenever possible.

Hearing this, Xiao Huaian felt a jolt of unease, fearing something had happened. Without hesitation, he dropped everything and rushed over without a word. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"What’s the matter?"

Seeing Shen Zhiyi’s face bearing the mark of a slap, Xiao Huaian’s expression instantly darkened.

The study was in complete disarray.

Who barges into someone’s home without prior notice? Especially when the study is a place of work.

Mr. Shen was angry, but dared not show it.

As an official, he didn’t need to salute the unranked Xiao Huaian, but the disparity in status was clear, so he was respectful in demeanor.

He dared not provoke this young lord and approached with large steps.

"Heir Xiao, why have you come?"

Seeing Xiao Huaian’s displeasure directed at Shen Zhiyi’s face, Mr. Shen instinctively thought...

"Did my daughter offend you?"

Thinking about it, this was indeed something Shen Zhiyi could do.

Mr. Shen was furious and flustered!

He turned his head to scold and wanted to give an explanation to Xiao Huaian, who had specifically come to chase after her.

"You rebellious daughter! You’ve done it again..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Mr. Shen!"

Xiao Huaian’s eyes were filled with intense menace and anger.

How long has it been, and you’re laying hands on Shen Zhiyi again?

"Last time you hit the daughter, this time you hit her again. You..."

Before he could finish.

Shen Zhiyi looked at him.

Ah, power, truly everyone desires it.

"Xiao Huaian."

She heard herself ask, "Do you still mean to marry me?"