"Get up, child, get up," Old Madam Shen reached out to help Shen Yun Xuan up.
Shen Yun Xuan shook his head, refusing to rise.
"Brother Shen, please stand up, don't make Old Madam Shen difficult," Han Xi Chen's voice sounded from behind.
Shen Yun Xuan stood up. Han Xi Chen walked forward with a smile and bowed slightly, saying, "Greetings, Old Madam Shen!"
Old Madam Shen glanced at Han Xi Chen, snorted coldly, and said nothing further.
Han Xi Chen did not feel awkward and instead walked into the manor as if he owned it.
Shen Yun Xuan was about to stop him but was held back by Old Madam Shen, who shook her head at him.
At this moment, he felt a pang of guilt. He had returned, yet he was still unable to protect his family.
"Xuan'er, grandmother has made many of your favorite dishes for you," Old Madam Shen said, taking him into the manor.
Looking at the lavish spread on the table, Shen Yun Xuan had no appetite for any of it.
Han Xi Chen, on the other hand, was eating with great relish.
Standing by were the members of the Shen family: besides Old Madam Shen, there was Shen Yun Xuan's father, Shen Cong Wen, and the eldest son of the first branch, Shen Yun Lan. No one else was present.
Old Madam Shen suddenly spoke, "Since Xuan'er is back, everyone sit down and eat."
Han Xi Chen, in the middle of eating a dish, smiled and said, "Everyone, please sit down and eat!"
Old Madam Shen pulled Shen Yun Xuan down to sit.
Han Xi Chen looked up at Shen Cong Wen and Shen Yun Lan, who had not yet sat down, and a hint of coldness played on his lips. He said coldly, "Someone, please invite Prefect Shen to take a seat, and Prefect Shen's eldest son to take a seat."
Before Shen Cong Wen and Shen Yun Lan could react, guards appeared and forced Shen Cong Wen to sit.
"Han Xi Chen, don't touch my family," Shen Yun Xuan said, enraged.
His family was his bottom line.
Han Xi Chen shrugged, "I don't want to, but they are truly not giving me any face."
"Don't touch me, I'll sit," Shen Yun Lan pushed away the guard who was trying to force him to sit, flicked open his robe, and sat down.
Han Xi Chen smiled, "That's more like it, eat!"
"Han Xi Chen, don't push your luck," Shen Yun Xuan gritted out, word by word.
Han Xi Chen chuckled lowly, his smile laced with coldness, "Shen Yun Xuan, now that you are back in your Shen family, stop being so confrontational. Otherwise, if you displease me, I might just invite your sisters to accompany me for drinks."
"Han Xi Chen…" Shen Yun Xuan shot up, his movement so forceful that he even knocked over a nearby wine cup.
"Xuan'er, sit down and eat," Old Madam Shen said sternly.
Shen Yun Xuan clenched his fists tightly, his veins bulging on the back of his hands.
"It seems Lord Shen is not satisfied with me. Guards, go and invite a female member of the Shen family to drink with me," Han Xi Chen said, looking at Shen Yun Xuan with evident triumph.
"Han Xi Chen…"
"Xuan'er, sit down," Old Madam Shen spoke again.
"Grandmother…" Shen Yun Xuan looked at Old Madam Shen.
Han Xi Chen stood up and walked over to Shen Yun Xuan, sneering, "Shen Yun Xuan, although you are now an official in court, you are still not as insightful as Old Madam Shen. Confronting me will do you no good."
"Xuan'er, listen to your grandmother," Shen Cong Wen, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
Shen Yun Xuan could only sit down, his hands trembling, his body shaking.
Han Xi Chen patted his shoulder, "Lord Shen, that's right. Come, have some wine…"
"Your Highness, the person has been brought," a voice called from outside the door.
Han Xi Chen looked at Shen Yun Xuan's sullen face and said, "Let her in."
A young girl with a delicate appearance walked in. She was trembling all over, but she walked in resolutely.
Without looking at anyone inside, she curtsied and said, "This humble one, Yue Yue, greets Grandmother, Father, Eldest Brother, and Third Brother."
"Fifth Sister…" Shen Yun Xuan looked at Shen Yue Yue, his heart a mixture of emotions.
Shen Yue Yue looked up, her eyes smiling as she met Shen Yun Xuan's gaze, "Third Brother, it's been a long time."
Shen Yun Xuan turned away, "You are very good, very brave!"
Shen Yue Yue smiled, "Actually, Fourth Sister wanted to come, but I thought since I've been raised in Mother's chambers and am considered a legitimate daughter, I should contribute something to the family."
Shen Yun Xuan knew that Shen Yue Yue must have volunteered; no one would want to come here.
"Is this perhaps Shen Yun Xiu's sister?" Han Xi Chen suddenly asked.
Just as Shen Yun Xuan was about to speak, Shen Yue Yue had already bowed slightly towards Han Xi Chen and said, "This humble one is indeed Shen Yun Xiu's sister, Shen Yue Yue."
Han Xi Chen suddenly walked towards her. She trembled all over; this was the first time she had been so close to a man other than her father or brothers.
"Han Xi Chen, stay away from my sister," Shen Yun Xuan roared and stepped forward to grab Han Xi Chen's arm. Before he could get close, he was pushed away by Han Xi Chen's guard, who then stood by Han Xi Chen's side, preventing anyone from approaching.
Seeing this, Han Xi Chen laughed heartily and moved even closer to Shen Yue Yue.
Shen Yue Yue gritted her teeth and looked up at Han Xi Chen, saying, "Since Your Highness knows my second brother, where is my second brother now?"
Han Xi Chen paused for a moment, not expecting Shen Yue Yue to ask so directly. He smiled playfully, "Shen Yun Xuan, your sister is quite interesting. She's clearly terrified but neither humble nor overbearing."
"Han Xi Chen, if you have any grievances, take them out on the men of our Shen family. What kind of man bullies a woman?" Shen Yun Xuan was utterly enraged.
Upon hearing this, Han Xi Chen's gaze turned icy. A guard by his side stepped forward and kicked Shen Cong Wen, who was caught completely off guard. Shen Cong Wen was sent flying outwards.
Shen Yun Lan quickly went out to check on him but was blocked by the guards.
Shen Yun Xuan grabbed the guard who had kicked Shen Cong Wen and threw a fierce punch at him. The guard dodged and landed a punch to Shen Yun Xuan's abdomen.
Shen Yun Xuan cried out in pain, and the guard delivered another punch. Just as Shen Yun Lan was about to intervene, Old Madam Shen spoke, "Your Highness, have you come to our Shen family seeking revenge?"
Han Xi Chen, hearing this, said with a half-smile, "I came as a guest, but it seems the Shen family does not welcome me."
"Your Highness, if you are displeased, this old woman will have their father and son apologize to you," Old Madam Shen said as she stood up and bowed to Han Xi Chen.
Shen Yun Xuan, held under the guard's foot, his eyes reddening, choked out, "Grandmother…"
Han Xi Chen sighed and waved his hand, signaling the guards to withdraw. Shen Yun Lan quickly went out to help Shen Cong Wen inside.
Shen Yun Xuan got up from the ground, his teeth grinding audibly.
Han Xi Chen looked at Shen Yue Yue and said with a playful smile, "Miss Shen, will you accompany me for a drink?"
Shen Yue Yue looked at Shen Yun Xuan, about to speak, then quickly nodded her agreement, "I can, but could you please let my father go back first? Father is injured."
Han Xi Chen turned to glance at Shen Cong Wen and nodded, "You all may leave, except for Shen Yun Xuan."
"This old woman will also stay. Yun Lan, take your uncle back," Old Madam Shen said.
Shen Yun Lan nodded. This was not the time for reckless action; he had to obey his grandmother's arrangement.
"Grandmother, you should go back too!" Shen Yun Xuan said softly.
Old Madam Shen shook her head, "You are too impulsive, child. Grandmother must stay to watch over you."
"Grandmother…" Shen Yun Xuan felt utterly useless. He was this old and still caused his grandmother worry. He was truly unfilial.
"Miss Shen, everyone has left. Isn't it time for you to offer me a toast?" Han Xi Chen said, looking at Shen Yue Yue with a playful expression.