Shen Qingrang had never been any kind of virtuous person. Song Chuyi had already understood this fact very clearly in her previous life—in the early period, he could be attentive and thoughtful, sending kites, mandarin duck ink sticks, and betrothal tokens. He could pledge himself to her forever under the moon, settling their lifelong bond. He could also bow and scrape, speaking sweet words and making any promise. But later, he could also turn ruthless without a backward glance, overturning all the previous good, kicking her viciously from the clouds down into hell, smashing her until she was bruised and battered beyond recognition. He could even personally strangle the child they shared together…

Song Chuyi didn’t want to provoke him again. She had also been at fault in the previous life, desperately clinging to him regardless of everything, completely losing herself, disregarding even her self-respect and family. She wasn’t a good person. In her previous life, she had been unscrupulous and domineering, without self-respect or dignity, unreasonably argumentative, spoiled and selfish, indeed offending many people she shouldn’t have offended. Therefore, after being reborn, she had originally only wanted to live a good life.

But although she didn’t go to provoke Shen Qingrang, she hadn’t expected that Shen Qingrang would still come to provoke her…

Lady He’s heart shook violently. She really couldn’t restrain herself and kicked the little maid in the chest again: “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

The little maid was kicked to the side, falling to the ground. She hurriedly crawled back up and hugged her legs, crying loudly: “No, no, even if this servant had ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare deceive Madam. It really was the heir grandson who told me to come…”

The evidence was ironclad. Even though Lady He wanted to favor her son however much, she didn’t know what else to say. Instead, no small amount of worry rose in her heart—if her husband found out, Shen Qingrang definitely couldn’t escape a good beating…

Madam Cui couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “Since your esteemed estate’s heir grandson so wishes to invite our Little Yi over, Xianyue Garden must certainly be an excellent place. Why don’t we follow his wishes and go see, see exactly what’s so special that would make the heir grandson do such a thing to try to trick someone over.”

Madam Cui’s status was extraordinary. In terms of relationship, she was even the Crown Prince’s paternal aunt. Lady He couldn’t afford to offend her. Smiling apologetically, she was just about to change the subject when she heard Great Aunt laugh coolly and chime in: “Indeed, I also want to go see what incredible reason there could be for your esteemed estate’s heir grandson to dare invoke the Crown Prince’s name.”

Lady He had no choice. Today she had been the one asking favors of others. If she continued to shirk responsibility and protect her son, not only would it be ineffective, but her husband Shen Xiaohai would probably turn around and beat their son to death.

Her heart was in utter chaos as she led Madam Cui, Great Aunt, and Song Chuyi toward Xianyue Garden. At one moment, she was wracking her brains wondering why her son would suddenly have this idea. At another moment, her heart worried so much it almost jumped out of her chest—Xianyue Garden was the residence of the illegitimate eldest son Shen Qingyun. This person had no scruples about anything, and sometimes he even kept young male servants and opera performers there…

Suddenly thinking that her son indeed harbored ill intentions, Lady He’s heart panicked even more. Just as she was preparing to think of an excuse to block these people, she saw Duke Yingguo’s heir Shen Xiaohai hurrying over from ahead.

“What’s going on?” He glanced toward Lady He, respectfully greeted Madam Cui, then said with a stern face: “How do I hear that Rang’er has caused some trouble again?!”

How did this news reach the front?! For a moment, Lady He didn’t know how to answer. Hesitating and stammering, she explained the matter. The further she got, the lower her voice became—she had always feared Shen Xiaohai. At this moment, with her son having committed a grave error that might ruin his affairs, she was even more frightened. By the end, even her voice was trembling beyond her control.

Shen Xiaohai’s expression grew darker and darker. By the end, his face was already black as the bottom of a pot. With a gloomy face, he glanced at Lady He, then cupped his hands toward Madam Cui and Great Aunt to apologize. Finally, he said concisely: “Regarding this matter, we will definitely give you an explanation.”

Madam Cui held Song Chuyi in her arms and didn’t soften in the slightest because of what he said. She nodded: “Then we await your explanation, Heir.”

Song Chuyi understood Shen Xiaohai’s temperament. If he said he would give an explanation, nine times out of ten he would truly beat Shen Qingrang half to death in front of them, absolutely not leaving any weakness before others.

It was also time to let Shen Qingrang learn a lesson, lest he still think she was the same as before—a puddle of mud he could knead however he wanted without any temper.

“There’s no need to go to Xianyue Garden.” After deliberating for a while, Shen Xiaohai said with a sincere expression to Madam Cui and Great Aunt: “It’s not that I want to hide something or cover up for that unfilial son. It’s really that Xianyue Garden is where my eldest son usually resides…”

With him saying this, Madam Cui and Great Aunt exchanged glances and naturally no longer mentioned going there.

Shen Xiaohai stroked his goatee and sternly shouted at the nanny beside Lady He: “Quickly go bring that stubborn, worthless thing to me!”

Lady He was shouted at like this and immediately felt her legs go weak. Shocked and frightened, she glanced at him. Her heart cried out in suffering, but on the surface, she still had to force a smile, not daring to reveal anything.

Before long, a nanny indeed led Shen Qingrang to the flower hall. With no one else around, Shen Xiaohai stepped forward and kicked him, making him stagger, angrily rebuking: “Rebellious son! What exactly did you do today?!”

Shen Qingrang hadn’t expected that after waiting so long, not only did he not wait for Song Chuyi, he instead waited for his father’s beating and scolding. He couldn’t help but look in shock at Song Chuyi beside him, who was looking at her nose with her eyes and her heart with her nose, as if she hadn’t seen anything. He turned his head away somewhat disgustedly.

He stubbornly snorted, huffing without speaking. The huge gold collar around his neck was now somewhat conspicuous.

Shen Xiaohai was extremely angry. He wasn’t someone like Lady He who indulged their son blindly. Moreover, at this moment with matters on his mind, he couldn’t help but be even more furious at Shen Qingrang for causing trouble at such a time. Seeing Shen Qingrang refusing to speak, he loudly ordered those outside to fetch the family punishment rod, while coldly laughing at Shen Qingrang: “If you don’t give everyone an explanation for today’s matter, I’ll beat you to death, you fool who brings shame to my family and defiles my family’s reputation!”

Only at this point did Shen Qingrang become frightened. After all, he was just a half-grown boy of twelve years old. Usually, he feared his father like a tiger, and his mother had always been submissive and lowly before his father with no status. He couldn’t help but shrink his neck and retreat backward.

What Shen Xiaohai couldn’t stand most was seeing him like this. Thinking that he had actually tried to lure someone to Xianyue Garden, his anger only intensified. Unable to wait for someone to bring the family punishment rod, he menacingly wanted to step forward.

Lady He finally mustered the courage to grip him tightly, while urgently saying to Shen Qingrang: “Why don’t you speak quickly! Who exactly instigated you!”

Her thoughts differed from Shen Xiaohai’s. She felt her son absolutely wouldn’t be so lacking in propriety as to do such a vicious thing. The content written on that paper slip wasn’t something her son could write either. There must be someone behind this instigating him!