Engagement Canceled: I Can Extract Prefixes - Chapter 594 - 574: If Shen Han Is Insignificant, Why Bother Taking Action Against Him
Madam Shen smiled as she spoke.
Beside her, Madam He also wore a smile.
“Mr. Luo, that unfilial son Shen Han, grew up in the Shen Mansion from a young age.
The kind of person he is, how could Madam Shen not understand?
What this unfilial son used to eat, learn, and use, we know it all clearly.”
Mentioning these, both of them were very confident.
They believed they understood Shen Han well.
However, when Luo Zuchen heard their words, his expression remained serious and cold.
“Shen Han is cautious and careful in his actions; in fact, I find him very cunning.
This time, he dared to strike directly at the Earl’s descendant, even intending to kill.
It’s hard to say there’s no scheme behind this.”
The words of Luo Zuchen made the people around freeze for a moment.
After a moment, they all laughed.
Madam Shen was the most skeptical: “Mr. Luo, perhaps you are overthinking…
An unfilial son, even if he concocts plots and schemes, we should be able to see through it at a glance.”
Shen Ye hesitated for a moment, his brow also furrowing.
“Mr. Luo, perhaps you overestimate him a bit, being overly cautious…
This should just be an impulsive act of Shen Han…”
Seeing Shen Ye say so, Luo Zuchen felt a hint of anger.
“If you truly understood him, you wouldn’t have let it come to this, making it so difficult to handle.
If he weren’t cautious and cunning, then why have previous attempts to deal with him never succeeded?
Why was he able to hide his potential without us knowing?”
Luo Zuchen tried to be polite, but there was still a hint of questioning in his words.
Confronted, the members of the Shen family were indeed stumped.
“Ye’Er, I don’t want to say words that hurt your confidence.
But you need to have a scale in your heart, an assessment of Shen Han.
In the academy’s major competition, you competed against him, you should know his strength.
Don’t dwell in the past and deceive yourself with former prestige…”
Luo Zuchen sincerely wanted Shen Ye to improve; that’s why he said these words.
Although it sounded unpleasant, Shen Ye indeed needed such a confrontation with his temperament now.
After a round of talk, Shen Ye’s expression turned much worse.
He had always been the Shen family’s talented younger generation, even bestowed with the name of prodigy.
Once, throughout Great Wei, it was said that Shen Ye of the Shen family was the most versatile prodigy.
Dual cultivation of the Scholar’s Skill and Martial Arts Technique, and great intuition in both directions.
Back then, very few peers in Great Wei matched up to him.
In both Qi and Yan countries, only top talents could compare.
But now, Luo Zuchen’s words implied he should have self-awareness.
Beside him, Madam He’s expression also turned grim.
“Mr. Luo, it’s unnecessary to speak in such a manner…
Ye’Er merely made a momentary oversight; as long as he’s more vigilant, he’ll surely win against that unfilial son in future encounters.”
Luo Zuchen fixed his gaze on Shen Ye, not even glancing at Madam He.
He dismissed Madam He’s words like hot air.
“Madam Shen, Ye’Er.
To deal with Shen Han, we must take him seriously and not make hasty assumptions.
Today, though we can easily belittle him, what meaning does it serve?”
In speaking, Luo Zuchen became more solemn.
“If Shen Han truly didn’t matter, why should we bother to deal with him?
Isn’t it because, once enmity is sown, we worry he might grow and retaliate,
forcing us to act first?
If he were truly foolish, why would we be concerned?
If he weren’t worth mentioning, we could simply ignore him.”
Luo Zuchen’s words were spoken with seriousness.
Yet their undeniable truth awakened the Shen family members.
Madam Shen and Madam He, due to long-standing biases, habitually underestimated Shen Han.
Even though Shen Han had achieved his current success, their words were filled with disdain, mockery, and belittlement.
At this moment, Shen Ye’s expression was quite grim.
Receiving such criticism from Luo Zuchen was certainly uncomfortable.
However, Luo Zuchen felt some things must be said.
“Two years ago, I devoted my efforts to taking his life, even involving myself.
I believed I had made flawless preparations; even if he managed to escape initially, I had ambushes set along his escape route, waiting for him.
Yet, this Shen Han somehow discovered a hint.
After injuring Ye’Er, he completely changed course and fled south.
Logically, he should have headed straight for Anyang City to the east.
There, under the protection of the Yun Family, he could survive.
But somehow, he saw through my plan.”
Reflecting on these events, Luo Zuchen felt a sense of lament.
He never expected that even with such meticulous plans against a young successor, he would fail.
“Furthermore, while in the Capital City, I tried many methods to deal with him.
Yet he cautiously evaded every one.
Such cautiousness, such craftiness of character.
Yet in public, he struck directly at the Earl’s descendant.
Thinking about it now, does this incident still seem ordinary?”
Luo Zuchen’s words left several people in silence.
After a while, Luo Changping waved his hand.
“Zuchen can be overly cautious at times, so don’t be too anxious or worried.
If you can’t figure out what he’s up to, just respond normally.
In the current situation, as long as the Imperial Court can’t break through the Eastern Garrison, we remain invincible.”
Luo Changping’s words finally brought some comfort to the people of the Shen Family.
Just moments ago, Luo Zuchen’s excessive praise for Shen Han had made everyone uncomfortable.
However, after Luo Changping’s remarks, he still added a few words while looking at Shen Ye.
“Ye’er, even though Mr. Luo’s words were harsh, you indeed need to restrain your temperament.
The fact that Sikong Miaomiao can now defeat you is enough to show that you’ve been caught up by the newcomers.
Only by curbing your arrogance can you make further progress.”
As this was said by Luo Changping, a strong Immortal Realm Second Grade, what else could Shen Ye say but nod and accept it?
“Ye’er, although my words are stern, I still have confidence in you.
The path of cultivation is not something determined in just three or two years.
As long as you maintain your proper temperament, even if you’re slightly behind now, there’s still a chance to catch up.
But if your temperament changes, that will truly be a disaster for you.
Just as I once told you, before you enter the Immortal Realm, everything is still up in the air.
In my youth, I was not a top-notch prodigy either.
Yet, how many from my generation reached the Immortal Realm and achieved what I have?
Once you break into the Immortal Realm, all previous setbacks will no longer matter.
You, Shen Ye, are still one of the most promising talents in Great Wei.”
After criticism, encouragement is always needed to wrap things up.
Sure enough, after hearing these words, Shen Ye’s expression indeed improved a lot.
“Then, Mr. Luo, what do you think is the most appropriate way for us to handle this matter?”
Upon hearing the words of Madam Shen, Luo Zuchen pondered for a moment: “Let’s have my aunt negotiate with the Imperial Court. Since I, Luo Zuchen, was convicted back then, there’s no reason Shen Han should escape.
First, see how the Imperial Court reacts. As we can’t discern Shen Han’s intention now, we naturally shouldn’t act rashly.”
…
The news of Shen Han’s confrontation with the younger members of the Zuoqiu Family was not concealed for long.
Soon, all of Great Wei was aware of it.
Although a Count’s position doesn’t match that of the Shen’s Marquis title, it is still considered a prestigious family.
Their family’s elders, whether now or in the past, held significant positions in the court and contributed greatly.
This is what qualified them for nobility.
Capital City, Imperial Palace, rear garden.
Prince Qingyuan walked beside the Great Wei Emperor, a worried expression on his face.
“Eldest Imperial Brother, Old Mr. Zuoqiu has already set out…
Coming from Fushan City, he will arrive in at most three days.
Although Zuoqiu Shihong is a dandy, he is the only male descendant of Old Mr. Zuoqiu’s great-grandsons.
Though inept, he is still the sole heir…”
Prince Qingyuan looked up at the Great Wei Emperor, eager to hear his opinion.
But the Great Wei Emperor continued walking without saying much.
After a while, Prince Qingyuan couldn’t help but inquire, “Eldest Imperial Brother, concerning Shen Han, what should be done…”
At these words, the Great Wei Emperor paused:
“What do you mean, what should be done?
We’ll proceed according to the law. Does the Seventeenth Brother not understand this?”
The words left Prince Qingyuan at a loss for how to proceed.
Pleading further for Shen Han would make him seem like a law-breaking prince.
Seeing Prince Qingyuan’s troubled expression, the Great Wei Emperor smiled and, after a long look, finally spoke:
“Alright, alright, I’m just teasing you.
For such a talented young generation, of course, we have to hold them dearly and care for them.
However, the way we care has to be apt and reflect value.”
Hearing this, Prince Qingyuan looked up at the Great Wei Emperor.
“Please enlighten me, Eldest Imperial Brother…”
“The best way is, naturally, to wait for him to seek us out.
But when he does seek, Seventeenth Brother, you must not readily agree. You can’t simply fulfill his request outright.
You have to tell him about our difficulties.
How much effort it took for us to resolve this matter for him.
He must feel how much Seventeenth Brother and I have done for him.
The more difficult you make it sound, the greater the favor Shen Han owes us.”
Hearing this, Prince Qingyuan wasn’t surprised at all, as this was typically his Eldest Imperial Brother’s modus operandi.
After the advice, as they continued their walk, the Great Wei Emperor seemed to think of something else.
“I’ve considered that merely having him owe our Royal Family a favor doesn’t offer much.
So, Seventeenth Brother, you should propose a condition to him.
Offer him a princess for marriage, thus forming an alliance with the Royal Family.
This seems much more appropriate.”
Marriage alliances are a common approach, yet…
“Eldest Imperial Brother, there’s been talk recently about that boy Shen Han and Shi Yuezhu from Xiaoyao Peak…”
“Do you really believe such rumors, Seventeenth Brother?
Shi Yuezhu is Great Wei’s youngest Immortal Realm expert, do you think she’d lower herself for Shen Han?
Although Shen Han is outstanding among the younger generation, it’s still uncertain if he can reach the Immortal Realm in the future.
For now, Shen Han is simply someone we should value highly.”
