Chapter 175 - Incite Shi Baoyan (1/2)

Obviously, Zhou Ruyu suggested letting Shi Baoyan come back home in order to annoy the first master’s family, so nobody from the first master’s family replied her.

She didn’t feel frustrated but continued to advise Mo Shujun, “Last time I saw Baoyan, she was thinner. She is so pitiful. After all, she is a child in our family. Do you think we should let her return home?”

Mo Shujun picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. When Zhou Ruyu was anxious, Mo Shujun replied slowly at last, “Since she is Junhe’s child, he needs to decide how to deal with this matter.

“Junhe, what do you think?”

Shi Junhe was clear that he couldn’t stay out of it and was prepared, so he answered unhurriedly, “She was sent to the family temple to redeem herself as a punishment after making a mistake. Now she hasn’t stayed there for five years. If we let her come back easily, what’s the point of the punishment? How can we see the power of the family rules?”

He said sincerely and reasonably and explained to Mo Shujun, but in fact he retorted Zhou Ruyu.

Zhou Ruyu looked awkward but still argued, “You are right, but the family rule can be changed. Baoyan should be punished as she made a mistake, but she has taken the punishment and it is enough. After all, she is your daughter, Brother.”

Hearing that, Shi Baoning was affected and couldn’t help but plead in a low voice, “Aunt is reasonable. Anyway, Baoyan is…”

Before Shi Baoning finished her words, Shi Junhe glared at her coldly. She had tears in her eyes in an instant and lowered her head with grievance silently.

Shi Junhe was furious and cursed secretly that Shi Baoning was brainless. She was taught to be kind and lenient with others but didn’t know how to act according to different situations.

He finally managed to retort Zhou Ruyu, but Shi Baoning helped the outsider, which irritated him.

As expected, Zhou Ruyu continued Shi Baoning’s subject. “Brother, look. Even Baoning said that. If you go your own way, it will be not good.”

Mo Shujun suddenly put the cover on the teacup, with a clear sound.

She did it gently but made the people in the room quiet down.

Then she stated slowly but with dignity, “Theoretically, I shouldn’t get involved in this matter, but Junhe, I want to remind you. Even if you give all your love to Qingxue, Baoyan is still your daughter. Don’t be too partial.”

Shi Qingxue planned to keep silent in the beginning, but hearing that Mo Shujun put all the blame on Shi Junhe, she got unhappy.

She defended Shi Junhe by instinct. “Anybody who made a mistake should be punished. Father is impartial as he did according to the family rule.

“Or do you think Baoyan did nothing wrong but I was wrong, Grandma?”

Mo Shujun’s expression froze. “Of course, I didn’t mean that, but Baoyan is sixteen years old now. If she stays in the family temple for three or five years at the marriage age, it might be difficult for her to marry a good man in the future.

“And if others wrongly think that Junhe maltreats his concubine’s daughter, it might be harmful.”

Shi Qingxue sneered in secret and thought they really knew how to pretend innocent and found such excuses. They were thick-skinned and asserted that they were family, so even the one who committed a capital crime could be spared.

According to Shi Qingxue’s temper in the past, she didn’t care how outsiders commented. If she felt unhappy, even God couldn’t make her surrender.

But looking at Shi Junhe’s dignified side face, Qingxue felt that she had grown up. She could understand her father’s worry and would consider for him first.

Before Shi Junhe spoke, she explained, “Grandma, you misunderstand Father. Father always loves us and certainly hopes that we are fine. Even though Baoyan was wrong, he is always tolerant to his children and sincerely hopes that she can come back home earlier.”

Afterward, Shi Qingxue turned to Shi Junhe, with helplessness and compromise in her eyes, indicating, “Father, they made a fuss in order to take Baoyan back home to upset me. I don’t feel grieved or scared, so please let Shi Baoyan return home.”

Qingxue would rather feel grieved than hear somebody comment on Shi Junhe’s reputation.

Shi Junhe naturally understood Qingxue’s effort. Although he wanted to say that in fact he didn’t care at all, under her tearful eyes, he nodded and agreed silently.

Zhou Ruyu was more enthusiastic about taking Shi Baoyan back than the first master’s family. She arranged the carriage and servants to pick up Shi Baoyan and even specially welcomed her at the city gate that day.

When Shi Baoyan in the carriage saw Zhou Ruyu, there were tears in her eyes. She grabbed Zhou Ruyu’s hand and was moved. “Aunt, only you care about me.”

Zhou Ruyu wiped the tears under Shi Baoyan’s eyes and responded with love, “Kid, why are you crying? You are my niece. If I don’t care about you, who would I care about? Let me see if you suffered.”

She intentionally stayed away from Shi Baoyan and circled her casually to show that she checked on the girl, but on the surface, she pretended to feel sad for her and sighed. “My poor Baoyan. You have suffered a lot in the family temple. I was useless and begged your grandma and father for a long time before they finally agreed to let you come back. Alas…”

When Shi Baoyan started her life in the family temple, she hoped that Shi Junhe would take her back home after he won the battle, but she waited for a long time. Then her father didn’t come but sent a letter to rebuke her as she was cruel to Shi Qingxue and tell her to stay in the family temple to meditate and redeem herself, without mentioning when she could go back home.