Chapter 148

Chapter 148

For every person who shows concern, there's always someone ready to kick a man when he's down.

Han Zhang had offended the royal family and suffered a demotion disguised as a promotion. Shen Qingshuang and Shen Qingbai, the two concubine-born sisters and brother who had always been at odds with Shen Qinglan, naturally seized the opportunity to mock and ridicule him.

It's not like there was any deep, irreconcilable hatred between them and Shen Qinglan.

As mentioned before, although Shen's mother didn't favor the concubines and their children, she simply kept them out of sight and out of mind, rarely bothering with them. As for mistreatment, there truly was none.

Compared to other households where concubine-born children were daily disciplined by the matriarch's strict rules, their lives were actually quite comfortable.

But there's a saying: "People don't fear scarcity; they fear unfairness."

Shen's mother indeed never shortchanged the concubines or their offspring—all their standard allowances and treatment were perfectly normal.

But the problem was that Shen's mother was loaded, secretly subsidizing her own biological children with her generous dowry, which raised their standard of living by a significant margin.

Given such a stark contrast, the second and third branches never thought it was perfectly natural for Shen's mother to use her own dowry to support her biological children. They only felt that Shen's mother was being unfair, that she was shortchanging them as concubine-born offspring!

Furthermore, although they had snatched the legitimate brother's fiancé, their married lives were far from happy. In contrast, Shen Qinglan, despite his ruined reputation, had still managed to find a good husband.

Their jealousy quickly turned into outright hatred!

After all, all bad people share one common trait—they never self-reflect, only blame others.

Now that they had the chance to see Shen Qinglan down and out again, the two naturally came running back eagerly to mock him.

"I heard Yunyang Prefecture in Yanzhou is notoriously harsh and cold. Second Brother was raised in the lap of luxury—I wonder if he can get used to such a godforsaken place?"

"I suppose he should manage, since for Second Brother, love can make even plain water taste sweet..."

This kind of smart-mouthed behavior wasn't particularly damaging, but it was extremely galling.

Even Shen's father couldn't control them, because in this era, a married daughter was like water thrown out—gone for good. Once daughters or sons married out, the natal family could no longer easily control them.

This was also why Shen Qingshuang and Shen Qingbai dared to return to the Shen household repeatedly to throw their weight around.

However.

The Shen family couldn't touch them, but they could go after their mothers!

So, the result of the two returning to kick someone when he was down was that Concubine Mei and Concubine Song were once again punished by Shen's mother to kneel in the ancestral hall and pick up prayer beads.

Moreover, Shen's mother snapped: "This is the last time. You've both married into other families—I can no longer control you. But the Shen family's affairs are none of the business of married-out daughters and sons."

"If you dare come back and run your mouth again, I'll show you what a truly vicious matriarch looks like! See if you can bear the reputation of dragging your own mothers down with you!"

She had made such threats before.

But Shen Qingshuang and Shen Qingbai hadn't taken them to heart, because deep down they knew Shen's mother was really just someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Now, seeing the fierce look in Shen's mother's eyes, they finally felt afraid.

"Fine, we won't say anything more. Why must you speak like that, Mother? We... we'll just leave!"

The two said this with a show of bravado masking their fear, then hurriedly slunk away.

Indeed, this time Second Brother was following his husband to that barren place in Yunyang Prefecture—who knew if he'd ever have the chance to return in this lifetime. Their mother doted on Second Brother most of all, so they had truly touched a nerve.

In the morning, the two had come to kick him when he was down.

By afternoon.

Shen Qingquan and his sister-in-law Lü Shurou also arrived at the Han residence for a visit.

Seeing these two, Shen Qinglan said grumpily: "What? You've come to kick me while I'm down and laugh at me too?"

Lü Shurou had also been spoiled in her natal family and was equally willful and quick-tempered. She retorted irritably:

"Look at your attitude! No wonder I never got along with you, my brother-in-law. I'd love to kick you while you're down and have a good laugh at your expense, but I am your own elder sister-in-law!"

"As the saying goes, blood is thicker than water. No matter how much we've butted heads, you're still your eldest brother's own younger brother. If we, as your elder brother and sister-in-law, didn't even make a gesture at a time like this, how could we hold our heads up in public?"

Shen Huairen and his wife were indeed selfish in daily life, always looking down on Shen Qinglan as a foolish younger brother with no value. Lü Shurou had frequent conflicts with Shen Qinglan, even once escalating to a physical fight between sister-in-law and brother-in-law.

But in the end, they were born of the same mother. Though there were conflicts and friction, it wasn't mortal enmity.

At a time like this, as his biological brother and sister-in-law, even just to protect their reputation, they had to come show concern—otherwise, what would outsiders think of them?

That's the way of the world.

Shen Qingquan felt the same way. He had already stolen his brother's marriage; if he now also kicked him while he was down and burned all bridges, who would ever want to associate with him in the future?

"Second Brother, I know I was wrong in the past. You can't forgive me, and I don't dare hope for your forgiveness. But no matter what, we're full brothers. Even if only for my own reputation, I couldn't possibly kick you while you're down like Third Sister and Fourth Brother did..."

"Now that you're about to leave for Yunyang Prefecture, who knows if we'll ever see each other again in this lifetime. I naturally had to come see you off on this final journey."

He had indeed wronged his brother by stealing his marriage, but even now, he didn't regret it.

Though the Jinyang Earl's household had been demoted in rank and their status had declined considerably, and his husband was a philanderer, having taken many concubines, even still carrying a torch for Second Brother...

It was still far better than marrying those ordinary official families' sons their father had initially selected!

At least his husband's family had a noble title and substantial wealth. He lived a stable, luxurious life.

As for the feelings he once had for his husband...

Can feelings feed you? Can feelings bring gold and silver jewelry, silk and satin clothing and fine food, and the respect of others when going out?

His mother was right—he and his eldest brother both took after their father. In their eyes, no emotion could compare to power and wealth.

Looking at Second Brother, who had enjoyed glory for only a few days before falling into obscurity again...

Shen Qingquan's feelings were now complicated—both triumphant at having bested his brother and sympathetic toward his brother's downfall. In short, his emotions were all over the place.

To put it in modern terms: he didn't want his brother to suffer, but he also didn't want his brother to be better off than him.

Facing the goodwill shown by his sister-in-law and fifth younger brother, Shen Qinglan, though not forgetting their past conflicts, softened his expression somewhat.

Thinking of his sister-in-law's natal family and his fifth brother's husband's powerful connections...

Shen Qinglan's eyes flickered with calculation, and he sighed: "Forget it, I won't bring up the past anymore. Our relationship can never be reconciled anyway—I know you're not interested in being close to me."

"Your show of concern now is merely for reputation's sake, and to curry favor with Mother through me—so she'll stop putting obstacles in your way, Sister-in-Law, and so she'll back you up, Fifth Brother, in your husband's household..."

"I don't like this behavior of yours, but my husband once said the world isn't simply black and white. You've shown courage by coming here despite the pressure from the Crown Prince's palace."

"Let's drop it for now. I won't hold a grudge against you. I only hope you'll properly honor Mother in the future. Otherwise, if I learn that Mother has suffered any mistreatment at your hands, I will come back and fight you tooth and nail!"

The past cannot simply be set aside—he is far too petty for that.

But for his mother's sake, he is willing to swallow this bitterness.

In the future, he will not be able to stay by his mother's side; only his eldest sister and second brother and sister-in-law will be there to care for her. What if they cannot manage alone?

Though his eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, and fifth brother are somewhat selfish and not of much use, at least they can help fill the ranks, right?

Most importantly, they are all children his mother labored to bring into this world—how could she truly stop caring about them just like that?

The bond between mother and child runs deep—that's no empty saying.

Today, Lv Shurou and Shen Qingquan came not only out of concern for their reputations but ultimately to win back Madam Shen's heart through Shen Qinglan.

So, despite Shen Qinglan's cold demeanor and threats,

they brushed it off and nodded eagerly at his words: "Lan Ge'er, rest assured, we will properly honor her!"

These days, Lv Shurou has experienced what a truly harsh mother-in-law is like, and Shen Qingquan has learned how difficult life is without a birth mother's care—they genuinely regret their past actions.

They do not expect to reconcile with Lan Ge'er; they only hope that through his softened attitude, their mother-in-law/mother will stop making things difficult for them. That would be enough.

"Mm, just remember what you said..." Shen Qinglan nodded, then unabashedly extended his hand for something: "Enough talk—did you come to ask a favor without bringing gifts?"

"You really won't budge without getting something in return!"

The two grumbled in frustration, but still handed over the prepared lists of connections.

Lv Shurou said: "These are my natal family's connections in Yanzhou."

Shen Qingquan said: "These are the Chai family's ties in Yanzhou."

Eldest sister-in-law Lv Shurou is the daughter of the Director of the Imperial Academy; though her father holds no high office, his network is vast, with several officials in Yanzhou being his former students.

As for Shen Qingquan's husband's family, the Chai clan, though their title has been reduced, their family foundation remains deep, and their connections are still considerable.

To beg Shen Qinglan to put in a good word before Madam Shen, the two have really paid a price.

But they have no choice—they can't avoid making this sacrifice.

Lv Shurou truly cannot endure being put through the wringer by her mother-in-law any longer; she now longs for the old days when her mother-in-law had a tough tongue but a soft heart!

Shen Qingquan, too, has had enough of life without his mother's care; only after marrying out did he realize how good his mother had been—his father is completely useless!

—

It's only because of these connections that Shen Qinglan finally goes to see his mother, feeling satisfied.

"Mother, though I cannot forgive them, if my husband ever rises in prominence, I will never let him advance their fortunes. Since my eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, and fifth brother now know their mistakes, you don't have to keep making things hard for them for my sake."

"Third sister and fourth brother harbor resentment against our main family line and might scheme against you at any time... Though eldest brother and fifth brother are selfish, we can't just push them away and let others win them over."

"Concubine Song and Concubine Mei are smooth talkers; if our main branch fights among ourselves, the second and third branches will benefit, and we'll lose big."

Since marrying Han Zhang, he has never stopped teaching him about the intrigues and schemes of the outside world.

Now, Shen Qinglan no longer acts purely on impulse or personal preference; he has started to consider human relationships and the tangled web of interests.

Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, and fifth brother may be selfish, but the power and connections behind them are real.

Since family ties can't be cut no matter what, he should use these relationships well instead of giving up benefits out of spite.

And Madam Shen, seeing that her son has learned to scheme, finally lets some of her earlier worries fade away.

"My son has grown up... When I'm no longer by your side, you must take good care of yourself."

Shen Qinglan nodded, his voice choked with emotion: "Mother, you must also take care of yourself. I will definitely push my husband to work hard and succeed, and one day come back to the capital to take care of you. Don't worry about me."

"Good, your mother will wait for you to come back, Lan Ge'er."

Madam Shen wiped her tears and smiled with deep satisfaction.

The eldest and fifth always say she favors Lan Ge'er, but do they ever consider whether they are as attentive to her as he is?