Shao Mingyuan maintained his kneeling posture. His birth mother’s harsh words didn’t change his expression. He kept his head half-lowered and said, “It is your son’s fault.”

Lady Shen couldn’t bear to see him act this way. She slammed her teacup heavily onto the side table and said coldly, “Hurry up and change your clothes before coming to see me again!”

“Yes.” Shao Mingyuan rose and left calmly.

Marquis Jing’an’s expression darkened slightly. In front of his eldest son and daughter-in-law, he didn’t want to embarrass Lady Shen, yet he felt sorry for his second son being treated this way. He coughed heavily and asked his eldest daughter-in-law Lady Wang, “Are the meals all prepared?”

Lady Wang hurriedly replied, “Father-in-law, please rest assured. Your daughter-in-law has already given the orders. Everything is prepared according to festival standards.”

Lady Shen snorted coldly, “It’s neither New Year nor festival – what festival standards? No matter how capable he is, he’s still just the second son of this household. Can he turn heaven upside down?”

Lady Wang couldn’t respond to this and remained silent.

Marquis Jing’an finally couldn’t help but speak out, “Lady Shen, enough! Second Son has finally returned home, must you speak this way?”

Lady Shen’s voice immediately rose, “What way am I speaking? Marquis, tell me exactly how I’m speaking! What, now that Second Son has been enfeoffed as marquis, this Marquis Jing’an residence can’t contain him anymore, and I can’t even speak?”

The Marquis wanted to get angry, but thinking of something, he suppressed his temper and glared at Heir Apparent Shao Jingyuan, “Why don’t you go see where your third brother has run off to? Doesn’t he know his second brother has returned?”

Shao Jingyuan lowered his eyes, “Your son will go immediately.”

Seeing this, Lady Wang felt both heartache and displeasure.

Father-in-law was always like this. Clearly it was mother-in-law who disliked Second Brother, but when father-in-law couldn’t handle mother-in-law, he would take out his anger on eldest son instead.

For a moment, the room fell completely quiet.

Shao Mingyuan’s return should have been a joyous occasion, but the masters of Marquis Jing’an’s residence each had their thoughts, creating a subtle atmosphere.

Footsteps sounded, and Shao Mingyuan, having changed into casual clothes, walked in.

He wore a white robe with no decoration except for a piece of black jade at his waist, making his features appear even more coldly handsome.

Lady Shen flew into a rage and hurled a teacup at Shao Mingyuan’s feet, shattering it into pieces.

“Unfilial son! Dressing like this – are you hoping for my early death?”

Shao Mingyuan looked at his angry mother, sighed inwardly, and explained, “Mother has forgotten that your son is observing mourning for his wife.”

At these words, the room fell silent.

In the early days of Great Liang’s founding, there had been a rule requiring husbands to mourn their deceased wives for one year, but over the years, this rule had become merely nominal. Very few men truly observed mourning for their wives. On the contrary, “promotion, wealth, and a dead wife” had become an unspoken golden rule for many men.

Suddenly, chaotic footsteps sounded, and a young man rushed in through the doorway.

The youth appeared to be fourteen or fifteen years old with rosy lips and white teeth, but his face was filled with anger. Upon seeing Shao Mingyuan standing in the center, he charged forward and threw a punch at him, cursing, “Bastard! You killed Second Sister-in-law, yet you still have the face to return home—”

The youth who had burst in was Shao Mingyuan’s youngest brother, Shao Xiyuan.

Shao Xiyuan’s attack seemed like a toddler learning to walk to Shao Mingyuan – completely non-threatening.

He reached out to grasp Shao Xiyuan’s wrist, his dark eyes revealing no emotion as he said flatly, “Whether I’m a bastard or not, it’s not your place to lecture me!”

He applied a bit of force and pushed Shao Xiyuan away. Shao Xiyuan staggered and steadied himself against a pillar. Lady Shen immediately changed color, “Shao Mingyuan, how dare you lay hands on your brother?”

She quickly rose to support Shao Xiyuan, looking him up and down with eyes full of concern, “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

“No!” Shao Xiyuan still glared at Shao Mingyuan with a stubborn expression.

Shao Mingyuan didn’t look at him but said to Marquis Jing’an, “Father, I had an audience with His Majesty today and have already requested a year’s leave.”

“A year’s leave?” Marquis Jing’an was somewhat surprised.

Heir Apparent Shao Jingyuan looked at Shao Mingyuan with even greater disbelief.

Everyone knew that Second Brother was currently highly favored. Taking advantage of his great victory’s momentum to appear before the Emperor a few more times would surely lead to further promotion.

Yet he had requested a year’s leave just to mourn his wife?

Looking at Shao Mingyuan, Shao Jingyuan found him increasingly incomprehensible.

“That’s good.” Marquis Jing’an quickly accepted this news.

“Lady Qiao…” Shao Mingyuan began, his usually calm expression showing change for the first time. “Lady Qiao’s coffin will arrive in the capital along with the coffins of the fallen soldiers in a few days. Tomorrow I will go out of the city to receive her… After her funeral and burial, I want to go to Jia Feng to beg forgiveness from my father-in-law and mother-in-law.”

“The person is already dead – what use is begging forgiveness? Do they dare kill you?” Shao Xiyuan retorted sarcastically, though his momentum weakened.

Second Sister-in-law was such a good person, yet Second Brother had the heart to kill her – it was truly unforgivable!

Yes, he couldn’t waver. He would not forgive him!

Shao Mingyuan glanced at Shao Xiyuan indifferently, his voice heavy, “If that’s what they want, I would not be stingy with it.”

After speaking, he bowed to Marquis Jing’an and Lady Shen, “Father, Mother, I wish to go rest first.”

Shao Mingyuan left the room. Two personal guards waiting outside approached him, “General—”

“Shao Zhi, tomorrow, go inquire when Marquis Guanjun’s residence will be ready for occupancy.” Shao Mingyuan addressed one of them.

Shao Zhi was startled but immediately replied, “Yes.”

“Shao Liang, quickly investigate and report back on that traitor’s situation.”

Shao Liang’s expression became serious. “Yes, sir!”

Facing subordinates who had fought alongside him through life and death, Shao Mingyuan’s expression softened considerably. He nodded slightly, “You two go drink. You don’t need to follow me.”

He turned and strode away.

Shao Zhi and Shao Liang watched Shao Mingyuan’s figure disappear among the trees and flowers before walking out together.

Both had grown up accompanying Shao Mingyuan and after years of campaigns could be addressed as “General” by others. Both were fifth-rank military officers.

After walking some distance, Shao Liang couldn’t help saying, “Why do you think the Marquis’s wife treats our General so poorly? I remember when we were young, it was the Heir Apparent who was naughty and made mistakes, yet the Marquis’s wife beat our General’s back black and blue. It was my mother who applied medicine to the General.”

“Who knows?” Shao Zhi shook his head and sighed, “Even ten fingers aren’t all the same length. It’s normal for parents to show favoritism. Doesn’t the Marquis treat the General best?”

“I still can’t understand it. Our General is the most outstanding in every aspect, yet the Marquis’s wife treats him that way, and he’s never shown a trace of resentment.” Shao Liang suddenly lowered his voice, “Cough, cough, the Marquis’s wife couldn’t be blind, could she?”

Shao Zhi punched him, “What nonsense are you talking about? If someone hears, it’ll make things difficult for the General.”

“You’re right. But it’s good that once Marquis Guanjun’s residence is renovated, we can move there, and the General won’t have to suffer such treatment.”

The two walked away together.

Shao Mingyuan returned to his quarters, pushed open the door, and stood in the courtyard looking around. Everything felt unfamiliar.

He used to live in the front courtyard, but later, due to constant campaigns, he rarely returned even to the marquis’s residence. This courtyard had been cleaned up for his wedding, and counting now, this was only the second time he had set foot in it.

The courtyard remained tidy, obviously maintained by someone, but lacking a master’s presence, it had no trace of life.

Shao Mingyuan walked to the corner of the wall and saw a patch of lush green mint.