Lei Cong slowly turned around, glaring at Shen Lixue through gritted teeth: "It's her! That little bitch dared to kick his manhood! When Grandfather comes, he will definitely stand up for him and teach her a lesson!"
"Li Xue, it's one thing for you to cause trouble at the Prime Minister's residence, but now you're actually bullying the people from the Grand Commandant's residence. You've gone too far. Apologize to Cong'er right now." Shen Minghui spoke sharply and coldly, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Father, he bullied me, so I taught him a lesson!" Shen Lixue stared coldly at Shen Minghui. His daughter had been bullied, and instead of helping her get justice, he made her apologize to the villain. How could there be such a foolish father in the world?
“Cong’er is a good child, how could he bully you?” Shen Minghui didn’t believe Shen Lixue’s words at all.
"Father, it's understandable that you don't know me since we just met, but you've lived in the capital for so many years, you should know that Lei Cong is lecherous, womanizing, and a womanizer!" Shen Lixue's dark eyes narrowed with cold light. In this ancient society where social hierarchy was clearly defined, it was quite normal for a noble-born womanizer to abduct and bully a strange woman.
"Grandfather, I'm in so much pain! Am I going to be crippled?" Lei Cong cried out pitifully, clutching his abdomen, beads of sweat dripping from his trembling forehead.
Grand Marshal Lei patted Lei Cong on the shoulder and comforted him softly, "I have already sent someone to fetch a doctor. You will definitely be alright. If anything happens to you..." Grand Marshal Lei's cold gaze swept over Shen Lixue. Although he did not say the rest of his sentence, everyone understood what he meant.
"Li Xue, if Cong'er becomes disabled, you will marry him and serve him for the rest of your life." Shen Minghui reprimanded coldly, his gaze filled with disappointment: "This is your own doing, you can't blame anyone else!"
Shen Lixue smiled coldly and stared at Shen Minghui. When others bullied her, she punished them slightly to protect herself, but she was scolded and punished by her own father. Does this mean that when others force or humiliate her, she cannot resist at all and must cooperate obediently?
Shen Minghui is truly a rare and wonderful father!
"As the Prime Minister of Qingyan, do you know what your responsibilities are?" Shen Lixue didn't continue to explain, coldly uttering a question.
"Serve the country, be fair, just, and uphold justice!" Shen Minghui didn't know why Shen Lixue would ask such a question, but he answered coldly and arrogantly. As the prime minister, the head of all officials, he certainly knew his responsibilities.
Shen Lixue coldly looked at Shen Minghui: "From your perspective as Prime Minister, you didn't even ask about the cause and effect of my injury to Lei Cong before directly declaring the fault on my end. Is that fair and just?"
039 Turning Against Each Other into Enemies
Shen Minghui's face darkened instantly: "Are you blaming your father for scolding you?"
“No!” Shen Lixue shook her head, her gaze cold and devoid of warmth: “It is understandable that Father misunderstands me because Lei Cong was injured in front of me, but the truth is that I was walking on the street when Lei Cong came to humiliate me. I injured him in self-defense. Father, as the Prime Minister of Qingyan, you have excellent judgment. Please calm down and think carefully. Was I in the wrong?”
Shen Minghui didn't care about him at all. Making a fuss wouldn't get him anywhere and would only make him dislike him more, or even punish him more severely. Shen Minghui was an official, and what officials cared about most was their reputation. If Shen Minghui's status as prime minister was brought up, he would have to think twice and wouldn't be able to arbitrarily declare him a rebel.
Shen Minghui's steady gaze fell on Lei Cong, who was lying on the ground groaning. A hint of disgust flashed in his eyes. This nephew had been a womanizer since he was a child. His eyes would light up when he saw a beautiful woman. He had been having sex every night since he was just fifteen. He was still a minor and had twenty or thirty concubines at home. He would absolutely believe that he had harassed Li Xue.
However, Grand Commandant Lei is a high-ranking official of the first rank, highly valued by the Emperor, and is also his father-in-law. Lei Cong is his most beloved grandson. Offending Grand Commandant Lei for Li Xue's sake is not a wise choice, but if Lei Cong is not punished, Li Xue will keep making a fuss, and in the end, it will be Li Xue who loses face...
"Father has always been humble, and Grand Commandant Lei is your father-in-law. You cannot go against him. I was just angry for a moment, which is why I argued with you. Now, I am willing to negotiate with Lei Cong. What do you think, Father?"
Shen Lixue whispered to Shen Minghui, her eyes filled with a cold light. Shen Minghui's hesitation was enough to prove that his daughter meant nothing to him. He wanted to sacrifice himself to please Grand Commandant Lei, but she would make them turn against each other.
"Li Xue is so sensible." Shen Minghui rarely showed a smile to Shen Li Xue. As the Prime Minister of Qingyan, many people are watching his every move. Seemingly insignificant little things can reveal his character and ability, or they can destroy everything he has worked hard to achieve. Therefore, there can be no rumors that are detrimental to him. It would be best if Li Xue could understand, which would save him a lot of trouble.
Shen Lixue sneered. Of course she was 'sensible,' and she knew that Shen Minghui would do anything for face and official position, sacrificing his daughter was a trivial matter: "Lei Cong, I've discussed it with Father. You bullied me, and I hurt you. We're even..."
"Don't even think about it!" Shen Lixue's cold voice fueled Lei Cong's anger, and he roared at her viciously, "You bitch, you dared to kick me... Once I've recovered, I'll definitely teach you a lesson..."
Shen Lixue sneered. She dragged Shen Minghui into this to sow discord between them. Shen Minghui valued his reputation above all else, but Lei Cong didn't take him seriously at all. He was sure to be furious...
Shen Minghui's eyelids darkened, a flicker of anger rising in his eyes. Li Xue had made it very clear that it was his intention to mediate, yet Lei Cong had rejected his offer without even a second thought...
"Father-in-law!" Shen Minghui suppressed his anger and turned his gaze to Grand Commandant Lei. Lei Cong was a junior, impulsive and hot-tempered. He didn't want to argue with him too much. He thought it best for the two elders to handle this matter.
"Anyone who dares to hurt my grandson must not be let off lightly!" Grand Commandant Lei's cold gaze fell on Shen Lixue, but his words were directed at Shen Minghui.
Shen Minghui's face turned extremely ugly. Lei Cong was Lei Taiwei's grandson, and Li Xue was his daughter. He had already lowered his stance, but Lei Taiwei didn't give him any face at all. Where did he put him?
“Father-in-law, it’s just children having a fight. Let them shake hands and make up. As elders, we shouldn’t interfere!” Shen Minghui felt embarrassed after being directly reprimanded by Grand Marshal Lei. He tried his best to persuade Grand Marshal Lei to change his mind and to save face for himself.
“Minghui, when you came to the capital fifteen years ago, you were all alone!” Grand Commandant Lei glanced at Shen Minghui indifferently, his eyes full of coldness.
Shen Minghui's expression suddenly became complicated. After so many years, he actually brought up that matter again. He had received a small favor from him, but he became prime minister through his own abilities, and it had nothing to do with Grand Commandant Lei.
Judging from his condescending tone, he didn't take me seriously at all. Could it be that he thinks I've been given a second chance because of those small favors I received back then?
"Grand Commandant Lei, Li Xue has been frightened. I must take her back to my residence for treatment. I cannot accompany you." With a cold farewell, Shen Minghui pulled Shen Li Xue and strode forward.
Looking at Shen Minghui's gloomy face, Shen Lixue lowered her eyelids. Why did Shen Minghui's temper change so drastically when the topic of fifteen years ago was brought up? What exactly happened after he came to the capital from Qingzhou? And how did he and Grand Commandant Lei become father-in-law and son-in-law?
"Shen Minghui, what kind of attitude is this?" Commander Lei roared, his eyes burning with rage. Shen Minghui actually dared to defy him. Heh, he's really grown too big for his britches.
Shen Minghui didn't turn his head, his tone icy: "Grand Commandant Lei, your grandson has been injured in a vital area. You'd better take him to see a doctor as soon as possible. If you delay, his injuries will worsen and he will become a cripple, and the Grand Commandant's mansion will have no successor."
As the prime minister of a country and the head of all officials, he did not need to act according to Lei Taiwei's wishes, nor did he need to sacrifice his own family to please him. Even without Lei Taiwei's help, Shen Minghui would still be an excellent prime minister of Qingyan.
Looking out the window of the private room, Lin Yan's sharp eyes were filled with surprise: "Grand Commandant Lei and Prime Minister Shen have become enemies?" For more than ten years, Shen Minghui had always followed Grand Commandant Lei's lead. The two were also father-in-law and son-in-law, supporting each other and having a very solid relationship. He never expected that they would turn against each other so suddenly.
"It's all thanks to Shen Lixue!" Dongfang Heng said calmly, his obsidian-like eyes looking through the window at the blue figure that was about to disappear. He had always known that she was clever, quick-witted, and extraordinary.
“Li Xue is so smart, even smarter than Auntie!” When Lin Yan spoke of Lin Qingzhu, his smiling eyes dimmed: “I’ve never understood why Auntie, who is so talented, would marry the morally corrupt and good-for-nothing Shen Minghui back then?”
A dark glint flashed in Dongfang Heng's ink-black eyes: "Many things are not as they seem on the surface. Madam Qingzhu must have had her reasons for marrying Shen Minghui, just like..." He trailed off, the rest of his words barely audible to Lin Yan, a name silently carried away by the wind...
Back at the Prime Minister's residence, Shen Minghui's face remained gloomy, his eyes filled with frost, his gaze slightly lowered, as if he were deep in thought.
Shen Lixue frowned slightly. Had she really caused Shen Minghui and Grand Commandant Lei to become enemies? What exactly happened fifteen years ago that made Shen Minghui so wary?
"Li Xue, you don't need to go to the palace for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet in a few days. Just stay at home!"
040 The Foolish Second Miss
"Li Xue, you must be tired after walking for so long. Go back to the bamboo garden and rest!" Shen Minghui said in a low voice, his gaze fixed on a dark corner, a cold light flashing in his dark eyes, as if he were thinking about something.
"Your daughter takes her leave!" Shen Lixue slowly walked towards the door, her eyelids slightly lowered. Shen Minghui and Grand Commandant Lei were officials in the same court and were also father-in-law and son-in-law. They had always trusted each other and their relationship was very solid. She had only tried to sow discord between them to create a rift, but she did not expect them to break off their relationship.
It seems that what happened fifteen years ago is a thorn in Shen Minghui's side. But what exactly was that incident...?
"Young Miss, you're back!" As soon as Shen Lixue entered the bamboo garden, Qiu He quickly came forward and took the things from her hands.