Chapter 53: Desire to Adopt

"Old Fourth, what's the dowry, why can't you produce it?"

Shen Shen looked at his younger brother in surprise.

In his view, as elders of Shen Yunyao, whatever the dowry is, it reflects their goodwill; could they still worry about being rejected?

"Big brother, my dowry—if it were in the past, Third brother and Third sister‑in‑law probably wouldn't think much, but now, it's hard to say."

"Nevertheless, even so, I still have to speak up!"

Shen Si, the Fourth Lord, didn't beat around the bush and stated outright the dowry he prepared for Shen Yunyao.

Adoption!

In Shen Zhen's original plan, before Shen Yunyao got married, he would ask his own third brother and sister‑in‑law to let Shen Yunyao be adopted under his name, becoming his legitimate daughter.

The Shen Family has many daughters, but even the concubine‑born ones surpass Shen Yunyao in certain respects.

And all this is only because Shen San and the Lu clan dislike Shen Yunyao.

"Old Fourth!"

"You—"

Shen San, after hearing Shen Si's words, was angry.

However, he suddenly realized what right he had to be angry.

He indeed is Shen Yunyao's father, but has he fulfilled his duties as a father?

"Third brother, if you still haven't realized where you're wrong, then I think my dowry can still be given out!"

Shen Si was truly afraid that Shen San wasn't hurt enough, so he once again hurled a pinch of salt into his opponent's heart.

"Big brother, won't you do something about Fourth brother?"

Shen San looked at big brother Shen Shen.

Shen Shen remained silent.

He didn't want to get involved in this matter.

As the saying goes, both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh; both are his younger brothers, whom should he help?

Who is justified, and whom to help?

The problem is, in such a case, who is right?

Anyway, Shen Shen is too clueless to tell the difference.

"Third brother, you also don't get angry!"

"How about we have a match then?"

Shen Zhen smiled at his own third brother, "Since the upcoming imperial exam we both have to take part, why not compare our skills in the examination hall?"

"If I rank above Third brother, then Yao'er will be adopted under my name, becoming my legitimate eldest daughter, Shen Zhen's."

"If she suffers injustice in the Xie Family, I, Shen Zhen, will stand up for her!"

Shen San, upon hearing that, flared with anger and sprang up: "Don't even think about it!"

"Old Fourth, just abandon that intention!"

"Yao'er is the legitimate daughter of me and your third sister‑in‑law; her affairs are decided by me, her father!"

"From now on, keep your distance from Yao'er!"

"Otherwise, don't blame me for not valuing brotherly ties!"

Shen San left in a fury.

He didn't know why he was so angry, but he was angry nonetheless.

"Third brother, why such a big temper?"

Shen Si was calm and indifferent, "You and Third sister‑in‑law have always turned a blind eye to that girl Yao'er, haven't you? Now you're so angry, Third brother, do you think that's appropriate?"

"Shut up!"

"Shen Zhen, don't force me to lay a hand on you!"

"Fine, you're Third brother, you have a point!"

Shen Si spread his hands and called a halt.

Meanwhile, Shen San left in a huff.

Shen Shen and Second Lord Shen waited for a while after Shen San left, then together looked at their youngest brother, waiting for him to give an explanation.

Noticing his two elder brothers' gazes, Shen Si shrugged and said, "Big brother, second brother, when I left home before, I truly thought this way."

"That girl Yao'er is so wonderful!"

"She's good‑looking, sensible and obedient; I don't know if Third brother and Third sister‑in‑law are blind and heartless, how can they not see any of this!"

"And that little brat from the Xie Family, it's one thing to run amok all over the world, but why did he come to Liu Cheng?"

"If he came, let him come; why did he get to see Yao'er?"

"Now it's perfect; this Fourth Uncle says he wants to give the unique dowry he prepared, what am I supposed to do?"

Thinking of that, Shen Si felt a headache coming on.

He originally thought he could give Shen Yunyao a fatherly love she never had, so that after marriage she would have a supportive natal family, not living a cautious life after marriage.

Now it's a problem; that bastard Xie Zian has taken an interest in her.

Just thinking about it gives him a headache!

First Lord Shen and Second Lord Shen, listening to Shen Si's complaints, couldn't help but laugh.

This matter really does seem quite difficult to handle.

"Fourth brother, why don't you speak frankly with that girl Yunyao?"

"Second brother, are you just afraid of a world without chaos?"

Shen Si rolled his eyes at his second brother, who was giving him foolish ideas.

Shen Shen chuckles, saying, "Old Fourth, how about I give you an idea?"

"Eldest brother, you speak!"

Shen Fourth Lord looks toward his own elder brother, feeling an inexplicable anticipation.

This elder brother may sometimes seem truly immature, but his devilish schemes—well, occasionally—do have a hint of cleverness.

"How about you personally escort Shen Yunyao to Jingcheng to get married!"

"Eldest brother, what kind of dowry is this?"

Shen Fourth Lord's hopeful expectations turned into disappointment.

"Then I have no way!"

"Who let you handle things so unreliably?"

"If you had proposed the adoption earlier, perhaps things would already have been settled!"

Shen Shen chuckles.

"Eldest brother, don't say that!"

"It's destiny; I, Shen Zhen, shouldn't have such a… daughter!"

Shen Fourth Lord feels deep sorrow and anger.

…

However, compared with Shen Fourth Lord's sorrowful frustration at unfulfilled wishes, Shen Third Lord harbors an inexplicable anger.

He doesn't even understand why he is so angry!

Just as his fourth brother said, he has never cared about this daughter.

Even if the daughter marries well, Shen Fourth Lord thinks it's no big deal.

The son‑in‑law, even if he's merely the legitimate son of the Xie Family, or even a prince, what could he do to him?

Yet after hearing Shen Fourth Lord's words, he remains angry.

Returning to his study, Shen Third Lord thought for a long time, and suddenly a chilling thought arose in his heart.

His anger wasn't because Shen Fourth Lord wanted to snatch his daughter, but because his façade was torn, and his brother exposed that he was not a benevolent father.

Humiliated, he became enraged!

When that phrase surfaced from his heart, Shen Fourth Lord grew even more furious!

He began to contemplate!

He contemplated how he became like this.

When he heard the doctor say his wife was expecting, he was delighted.

He was full of anticipation for the forthcoming child.

When the child was born and turned out to be a daughter, he was not disappointed. Until one day, he noticed his wife seemed much colder toward him because he paid too much attention to the daughter, and he gradually changed, reducing his focus on the daughter.

Day after day, gradually, he often forgot that he actually still had a daughter.

"But, Wan Ning, is it really because I paid too much attention to my daughter that she became cold to me?"

Shen Zhen began recalling the bits and pieces of their time together.

Once a person starts reflecting, they discover many previously overlooked details.

Just as Shen Fourth Lord told him, a three‑foot thick ice does not form in a single day.

The change of a human heart actually leaves traces!

(End of chapter)