This was the first conversation between Shen Yingruo and Shen Yueshan as father and daughter. She had imagined what it would be like to one day stand before Shen Yueshan – would he look at her with cold indifference, or would he view her with contemptuous disdain?

Neither of these came to pass. There was no coldness, no disgust. Instead, there was earnestness in his words – perhaps this was the first, and maybe the last, guidance he would give her as a father. It was cruel and direct, yet honest.

Though it was much better than she had imagined, why did her heart still feel shattered? She didn’t know how to respond, and could only weep tears like rain, crying harder and harder until finally, she let go completely, crying without restraint as if trying to exhaust a lifetime of grievances in one moment.

Shen Yueshan sat in the upper seat, silently watching her cry, neither speaking nor moving, neither comforting nor scolding, showing no anger.

Gradually, Shen Yingruo’s crying subsided. Feeling dizzy, she took quite a while to calm down. Shen Yueshan instructed the servants outside: “Prepare washing items for the Second Miss.”

The servants immediately went to make preparations. Shen Yueshan said nothing more. After Shen Yingruo tidied her appearance with the help of her maid, she stepped forward and gave Shen Yueshan a graceful curtsy: “It’s getting late, Ah Wo takes her leave.”

“Mm.” Shen Yueshan responded with a sound.

Shen Yingruo took one last lingering look at Shen Yueshan before turning to leave.

Shen Yueshan watched her figure disappear into the falling dusk. He sat alone in the room for a moment before rising to walk toward Shen Xihe’s courtyard. There he saw Shen Xihe playing with Duanming. He raised his finger to signal the servants at the door to stay quiet, then carefully peeked around the doorframe to check Shen Xihe’s expression. Seeing no sign of displeasure, he finally relaxed.

“Your Highness?” called out Ziyu, who was bringing tea.

This call made Shen Xihe look up, only to see Shen Yueshan straightening up and pretending to adjust his clothes. She couldn’t help but smile: “Ziyu, give the tea to Father.”

Shen Yueshan’s face lit up, and he looked at Shen Xihe, pointing to himself: “Prepared especially for me?”

“Sobering tea,” said Shen Xihe.

Shen Yueshan’s expression froze: “I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. I won’t drink it!”

Did he need to drink such a thing?

“Won’t drink?” Shen Xihe asked, drawing out the words.

Shen Yueshan stubbornly replied: “Won’t drink!”

“Biyu, send all the Pitong wine that Young Master Bu gave me to my brother in the Northwest, send it out early tomorrow morning,” Shen Xihe called out loudly.

Biyu came running in, but before she could even curtsy, she was stopped by Shen Yueshan’s loud shout: “Don’t you dare!”

He strode toward Shen Xihe: “You’re always closer to your brother than to your father!”

“Brother listens to everything I say. Whatever I tell him to eat, he eats without question, let alone refuse,” Shen Xihe snorted lightly.

Shen Yueshan’s eyes widened: “I am your father, I am your elder. How can it be the same?”

Hearing this, Shen Xihe stared him down: “Father means that as an elder, you shouldn’t listen to my words, as it would damage your dignity as an elder?”

With that, Shen Xihe stood up and gave Shen Yueshan a formal bow: “Father, please forgive me. I was presumptuous just now. In the future, I will keep the proper order between young and old, superior and inferior, in my heart and never overstep again…”

“No, no, no, I misspoke, I misspoke. I drank too much just now, I’m a bit tipsy. Youyou, don’t take it to heart.” How could Shen Yueshan bear his daughter being like this? Just thinking about having to follow proper etiquette for morning and evening greetings, every movement according to rules – wouldn’t that drive him mad?

“Since you’re drunk…” Shen Xihe’s eyes moved to the sobering tea Ziyu was holding.

Shen Yueshan took a deep breath, grabbed the cup, and threw it back like he was drinking poison. After finishing, his face scrunched up like a steamed bun: “Bitter.”

Shen Xihe was already standing in front of him, beckoning him with her hand. Shen Yueshan immediately bent down, and Shen Xihe fed him the preserved fruit in her hand: “I preserved it myself, with plum blossoms. Is it good? I made a jar for you. It keeps well, so you can eat it for a long time when you take it back to the Northwest. I’ll make more to send to the Northwest later.”

The subtle plum fragrance spread across his taste buds, completely masking the taste of the medicinal tea without being too sweet. Shen Yueshan’s expression softened: “Only for Father?”

“Only for Father.” Shen Xihe really couldn’t handle this father and son – every time she made something, she either had to make two different kinds each specifically for one person, or make the same thing, otherwise she’d have to endure the resentful looks and sarcastic complaints from both men.

Only then did Shen Yueshan beam with joy. But thinking of Shen Yingruo, his smile faded. He placed his hand on Shen Xihe’s head and said solemnly: “Youyou, you are Father’s only daughter.”

Shen Xihe suddenly felt her eyes sting: “Father, Youyou has grown up. I’m no longer the unknowing little girl from before.”

She was probably around six years old when she accidentally learned of Shen Yingruo’s existence. At the time, she was so angry she could barely breathe, almost losing her life, which frightened Shen Yueshan into developing a fear. After that, no one was allowed to mention Shen Yingruo in front of Shen Xihe.

Back then, she was young and ignorant, and having always believed she was Father’s only daughter, combined with hearing about the entanglements of the previous generation, she even developed hatred toward Shen Yueshan, not speaking to him for half a year.

Later, when her illness became severe and Shen Yueshan carried her to kneel and beg for treatment, she hazily saw Shen Yueshan – who was respected by thousands and never knelt – kneeling and begging others for her sake. Only then did she realize how much Father loved her. At the time, thinking she might not survive, she deeply regretted spending what might be the last period of her life being angry with Father.

Fortunately, she pulled through that time, and after that, she never again stayed angry with Shen Yueshan, while Shen Yueshan became even more careful with her.

“Father, Youyou has grown up,” Shen Xihe repeated, “I understand things now. She is an innocent child too.”

“You are both innocent children,” Shen Yueshan said softly. “Father cannot take Youyou’s understanding and magnanimity for granted. Father also doesn’t know how to treat her. Even for your upbringing as a young lady, we had to hire a female teacher. Father couldn’t raise you, and couldn’t raise her either. To go and show her affection that isn’t truly heartfelt, wouldn’t that be deception?”

“Father…” Shen Xihe, thinking of Shen Yueshan’s interests, suggested, “You’ll be in the capital for quite some time. Why not have her come over? Perhaps after spending time together, you’ll know how to treat her.”

It wasn’t that she was being generous, nor did she want to share her father’s love, but what else could be done? That was Father’s flesh and blood, an unchangeable fact.

She had to think of Shen Yueshan’s interests.

“What’s the point?” Shen Yueshan said. “Why make both of you unhappy? Father doesn’t need you to compromise yourself to maintain Father’s reputation. She doesn’t need Father’s insincere attention either, and since Father is rarely in the capital, perhaps this indifference is a form of protection for her.”

At least it meant fewer people harboring ill intentions toward her.