Chapter 637: How Shameful

Chapter 637: How Shameful

"As long as Yuansong is alive, we can still rescue him eventually. Our top priority now is figuring out how to protect our family."

Shen Zhuyu closed her eyes, deep in thought.

"The Fifth Prince won’t help us anymore. Although the Houfu family has lost Ziyu, it can still be used against her."

"She killed Ziyu, so the Ding'an Marquisate will stop at nothing to destroy her."

Shen Yuanfeng suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

"Sister, we shouldn’t involve the Ding'an Marquisate."

"Why?" Shen Zhuyu was puzzled.

Shen Yuanfeng’s eyes were heavy with weariness, and the youthful recklessness he once had was completely gone.

"Sister, Shen Nan won’t act against us unless we provoke her. But if she does, she’ll turn everything upside down. Now she has the support of Princess Pingyang’s residence and the royal family. We’re no match for her."

At this critical moment for the survival of our family, Shen Yuanfeng was able to set aside all his personal emotions to assess the situation.

After going through so much.

He had no choice but to admit.

He was indeed no match for that woman.

If he kept confronting her head-on, he’d be insane.

"And Yuansong is definitely in her hands. If we provoke her, Yuansong will suffer for sure."

Hearing her usually arrogant brother speak like this, Shen Zhuyu felt a complex mix of emotions.

She refused to admit she’d been beaten by a nobody.

If she got the chance, she’d make that bitch who ruined everything pay with her life.

Shen Zhuyu was about to say more, but Shen Yuanfeng finally made a decision: "If we keep opposing her, we might end up provoking Princess Pingyang’s residence, Prince Bei, and Tuoba Xiao. The others are one thing, but Tuoba Xiao is a complete lunatic. Provoking him means a fight to the bitter end. Sister, we can't destroy everything for the sake of a woman of unknown origin."

Seeing that he seemed to have made up his mind, Shen Zhuyu swallowed her unspoken words and nodded: "Then let's do as you say. We should first find a way to save our family and Yuansong."

"Alright," Shen Yuanfeng responded gloomily.

The situation had reached this point, which was beyond his expectations.

But not only was he no match for that woman now, the entire Shen family was even less so.

Perhaps, that woman had never even considered the entire Shen family as an opponent.

As he pondered, he did not see the cold glint in Shen Zhuyu's eyes.

In another courtyard, Shen Yuanyang, who had finally found out what had happened at the Bai family's doorstep after he left, stood frozen in place.

The attendant called him twice, but seeing that he did not respond, fearing involvement, he quickly slipped away.

Leaving Shen Yuanyang alone in the room, lost in thought.

After a long time, he was both crying and laughing.

"So she wasn’t Shen Nan, after all…"

"So the real Shen Nan has died…"

"She’s dead…"

The guards outside were baffled, wondering if the fourth young master had lost his mind.

One of the guards sneaked a glance inside.

The once vibrant young man was now hunched over, his face buried in his hands, looking more like a frail old man in his seventies or eighties than a fourteen-year-old.

"She’s gone…"

He muttered it again, seemingly to no one in particular.

Then, the young man curled into a ball and sobbed like a child.

The real Shen Nan—she’s dead…

She died on her way to the arranged marriage.

They were the ones who caused her death.

Before she died, did she regret wanting to see her loved ones?

Shen Yuanyang finally understood empathy, realizing the depth of pain a person could endure.

But the most agonizing part is knowing that someone truly endured that suffering.

The young man wept bitterly, his sobs ragged, as if he were in torment.

The two guards outside exchanged glances, uncertain of what to do.

Of course, they couldn’t relate to the fourth young master; they simply found it odd.

Some stranger died young—big deal? People die every day.

After all, it was someone they’d never even met.

What was her name? What did she look like? How did she die? Who even cared?

In the entire household, only the fourth young master cared.

The sky was overcast.

Since some in the capital knew Xie Yuan’s face, he kept his mask on.

Su Youyue went with him to Princess Pingyang’s estate.

As they stepped into the courtyard of Princess Pingyang’s quarters, a man with a long sword blocked the entrance, his gaze icy and deadly.

The man instinctively stepped in front of her.

Recognizing him, Su Youyue calmly asked, "Second Young Master Helian, what’s this all about?"

The man glared at her as if she were already dead, ignoring her question and turning to Helian Lin.

"Do you know why I’m after her life today? Even so, will you still shield her?"

Helian Lin answered without hesitation, "Yes."

"Good! Then today I will kill you first, then her!"

The man bellowed in rage.

Seeing him ready to attack, about to charge forward, Su Youyue clenched her sleeves and sneered, "Well, Second Young Master Helian, what a dutiful son you are. Back then, you abandoned your younger brother and wife to save your own skin, and now you have the audacity to play the role of an elder brother?"

While he was furious, her anger burned even hotter.

"Do you even know him? Your own flesh and blood? Back then, you all abandoned him, leaving him to suffer and endure immense hardship. He thought you were all dead, tormented daily, wishing he could join you in death, yet he still sought to avenge you! He wasn’t even allowed the mercy of death!"

"When he thought you were all dead and was in complete despair, you didn’t even send him a single message. When those people humiliated and tortured him, you didn’t lift a finger to help. Now, he’s finally managed to stand on his own, had a few peaceful days, and here you come. As soon as you arrive, you kidnap him, poison him, threaten him, and shatter his peace!"

"Aren’t you ashamed? I thought that from the day you abandoned him and fled, you had already disowned him!"

Just bringing this up, Su Youyue’s heart ached with unbearable pain.

Clearly.

They could have had a good ending in their previous life.

Clearly, Xie Yuan had intended to marry her in their past life.

But because of these selfish people, he was forced to push her away, unable to love her as he wanted.

And now, in this life, they’re hurting him all over again!

Though these words remained unspoken, they burned fiercely in her eyes.

The anger in Helian Zhan’s eyes faded with Su Youyue’s words, replaced by a heavy guilt.

At that moment, another person walked up behind him.

"Back then... it was indeed our fault towards Ayuan."

"Put the knife down, second brother."

It was the eldest son of the princess’s residence, Helian Jin.

He let out a sigh.

"Mother has granted them permission to enter."