The atmosphere at the Tao residence made Shen Xihe feel extremely comfortable. Before coming, she had worried that Tao Zhuan Xian and Tao Yuan might treat Shen Yueshan poorly, but seeing them bicker so intensely proved there was no real barrier between them.

“I heard Huaiyang County Lady came to see you?” After the evening meal, Tao Zhuan Xian was brought up casually.

Huaiyang was Shen Yingrou’s title, given according to the princess title sequence, showing the emperor’s favor.

Shen Xihe’s brow twitched, and she quickly said: “Grandfather, it was Youyou who let her in.”

Tao Zhuan Xian gave Shen Xihe a subtle eye signal. Shen Yueshan grinned at his daughter’s defense: “Yes, we met once. From her birth until now, it was my first time seeing her. I hadn’t expected her to have grown so much.”

Tao Zhuan Xian and Tao Yuan both watched Shen Yueshan closely, not missing the slightest reaction. Seeing him speak of Shen Yingrou naturally, more like an ordinary elder’s sentiment, they finally relaxed.

Tao Zhuan Xian’s expression improved considerably: “You’ve always had your principles, and I am Youyou’s maternal grandfather – this is your family matter, I should avoid interfering. However, there are some things I must say upfront.”

“Please speak, Father-in-law,” Shen Yueshan also put aside his playful demeanor and spoke solemnly.

“I’ve observed that child from afar, she doesn’t seem bad. I’ve seen her a few times in the capital these years, and she’s always respectfully treated us as elders. Don’t be harsh on her,” Tao Zhuan Xian said earnestly. “However, her position is ultimately awkward. Youyou has a tolerant nature – she doesn’t want you to be the villain, that’s why she’s so accommodating.

How many noble families have discord between legitimate and illegitimate children? Moreover, there’s a life between her and Youyou. If not for Youyou’s abilities, it might have been two lives. That Youyou can treat her this way already shows consideration for you as a father, not wanting you to be troubled.”

At this point, Tao Zhuan Xian looked at Shen Yueshan, who nodded in agreement: “Youyou are magnanimous and understanding – it must be a virtue from my previous life.”

“Youyou understand you as a father, I hope you also understand her as a daughter,” Tao Zhuan Xian said tactfully. “Additionally, while I haven’t seen anything amiss with Huaiyang County Lady, she is after all the Emperor’s niece, even though the Kang Prince’s mansion is gone. Don’t forget how the Emperor used Lady Xiao back then, which resulted in Huaiyang County Lady.

All these years, the Emperor has shown her far more love than you as her father. If the Emperor could use Lady Xiao then, he might use Huaiyang County Lady in the future.”

After a pause, Tao Zhuan Xian continued with increased gravity: “In Ao Yin’s matter, none of us expected the Emperor to be so shameless as to have Lady Xiao use the imperial medicine. You fell for the trap, and we Tao family couldn’t blame you. We didn’t expect them to prepare two strategies – secretly harming you while having people infiltrate Ao Yin’s side early on to wait for opportunities. Ao Yin’s death can be considered our loss in the game between ruler and subject.

But while one such incident is understandable, if you fall for the same trick twice and drag Youyou and Bu Wei into it, the Tao and Shen families will no longer be in-laws, but enemies.”

Regarding Lady Tao’s matter, while the Tao family was certainly grieved, she actually could have been saved back then – it was her own choice to die.

Even if saved, she would have lived only two or three more years, bedridden with illness. This way, not only would Lady Xiao have entered the household and her husband remain in a difficult situation, but their children might also have faced the tragedy of being sent to the capital as hostages to prove loyalty.

She chose to use those two or three years of life to secretly harm Lady Xiao, turning the spy sent to induce early labor into her murderer. This became a powerful strike ensuring Lady Xiao would necessarily become a concubine, eased her husband’s dangerous situation, and paved a smoother path for their children.

After Lady Tao’s death, her maid brought her final letter to the capital, which was why the Tao family didn’t pursue the matter of her death.

The Emperor’s wariness of Shen Yueshan had only increased. If he used Lady Xiao back then, he would certainly have used Shen Yingrou today.

“Father-in-law, rest assured, Chong’e understands all this,” Shen Yueshan was only rough on the surface – without scheming ability, he couldn’t have become a thorn in Emperor Youning’s side. “Chong’e and that girl have no father-daughter fate in this life. This is the best outcome for me, the Shen family, Youyou and Bu Wei, and even for her.”

Shen Yingrou couldn’t bear Shen Yueshan’s care. She was Shen Yueshan’s daughter, but also Emperor Youning’s niece.

If Shen Yueshan showed her even the slightest care, she would be targeted by the Emperor, trapped in this chess game with no retreat. Whether she was used by Emperor Youning to hurt Shen Yueshan or Shen Yueshan used her to harm Emperor Youning, if she had any conscience, she would feel guilty.

Ignoring her was the greatest protection for her.

Shen Xihe hadn’t considered this point before.

“Youyou, are you angry with Father?” On the way home, seeing Shen Xihe silent, Shen Yueshan asked anxiously.

Shen Xihe gave her father a somewhat puzzled look: “Youyou are just reflecting on not having thought things through completely.”

Shen Yueshan carefully examined her expression and only relaxed after confirming she wasn’t hiding her feelings: “It’s not that Youyou didn’t think thoroughly enough, it’s that Father’s Youyou is kind and concerned about Father. Youyou is kind, so she understands she is also Father’s flesh and blood; Youyou cares for Father, so her first thought is not to make things difficult for Father.”

After a pause, Shen Yueshan carefully added: “Father… can only do this much for her.”

“Why doesn’t Father tell her this?” Shen Xihe asked.

“Silly Youyou.” Shen Yueshan sighed softly, looking at his daughter with worry and affection. “You grew up beside Father and your brother from childhood, whatever you wanted, Father and your brother could give you. You’ve never experienced wanting something you couldn’t have, which is why you developed such a magnanimous nature.

Therefore, you don’t understand how human desires are like bottomless pits. Father gives her no hope so she won’t have any extravagant desires. Once she gives up hope, she can move on. If Father showed her even a bit of care, even if to Father it’s just fulfilling a basic paternal duty, to her it would be hope.

She would never be able to let go and would want more and more. Once it exceeds what Father can give her, she would be disappointed, resentful, and bitter, and would think Father’s inability to satisfy her needs has other reasons.

For example, because of you.”

Human desires are endless. Among countless people, there might be one who knows contentment and happiness, but Shen Yueshan didn’t want to gamble on Shen Yingrou being such a virtuous person, and his feelings toward her wouldn’t give him the chance to make that bet.

Rather than becoming enemies later, better to keep their distance from the start.

“Father also doesn’t want me to be at odds with her, right?” Shen Xihe suddenly understood Shen Yueshan’s attitude toward Shen Yingrou might also stem from not wanting them to be like fire and water.

For Shen Xihe, being able to understand Shen Yingrou’s innocence and not resent her was already the limit. If not for Shen Yueshan telling his children from childhood that Shen Yingrou was someone who shouldn’t exist, perhaps neither Shen Xihe nor Shen Yun’an could have managed to ignore her presence.