The Vicious Female Supporting Character Just Wants to Cuddle with the Heroine - Chapter 40

“Then just have someone come get me if something comes up.”

“Okay.”

Shen Qingzhi rode her horse back to the imperial city by herself. Her speed was very fast now, and she returned to the capital before the emperor did. Her own residence wasn’t ready yet, so she could only stay at the Marquis of An Ding’s mansion for the time being.

It seemed as if Shen Jue was deliberately waiting for Shen Qingzhi. As soon as she returned, he called her to the ancestral hall.

Shen Qingzhi wasn’t afraid of anything, so she went with Shen Jue.

Upon arriving at the ancestral hall, Shen Jue said coldly, “Kneel!”

Shen Qingzhi knelt before the memorial tablet of the late Marquis of An Ding, kowtowed three times, and then stood up.

Shen Jue had been preparing to lecture her, but Shen Qingzhi didn’t give him the chance. He had just opened his mouth when she stood up. “Did I tell you to get up?!”

“Father, if you have something to say, just say it. There’s no need to play games with me.”

“You, do you still know I’m your father! How dare you speak to me in that tone?!”

“There’s nothing I’m afraid to do. Father, in front of me, there’s no need to put on airs. It’s just the two of us here. No one will see you putting on airs. If there were outsiders, I would definitely give you that respect.”

It wasn’t that Shen Qingzhi had no feelings for Shen Jue. After all, Shen Jue had been good to her in the past. She was just disappointed and knew that talking more with Shen Jue was pointless.

Shen Jue was naturally enraged at being disrespected. “Your wings have hardened, haven’t they! Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell the emperor and have you punished for being unfilial?!”

“So Father, what exactly do you want to talk to me about?”

Shen Jue saw that Shen Qingzhi wasn’t intimidated at all, which made him even angrier. But he still had to address the real matter. “The second prince privately asked me about your marriage.”

“Then Father, you don’t need to worry. I’ve already told the emperor that I will not marry in this lifetime, and the emperor has agreed.”

“What did you say?! You, you’re being audacious!!”

In a moment of agitation, Shen Jue tried to slap Shen Qingzhi.

Shen Qingzhi naturally wouldn’t stand there and take the slap. She grabbed Shen Jue’s wrist and pushed his hand back. “Father, the fight for the throne is not something you can get involved in. It’s even more impossible for you to try and bet on two people. You think that no matter who wins in the end, you’ll be the one to benefit. But the truth is, no matter who wins, they won’t tolerate an ambitious turncoat.”

“Shen Qingzhi! Do you still know who you’re talking to?”

“If you weren’t my father, I wouldn’t say so much to you. If you just honestly and properly remain as the Marquis of An Ding, no matter who comes to power in the future, they won’t do anything to you. But if you keep messing around, I may not even be able to protect you in the end. Do you understand?”

“Shen Qingzhi, who gave you the guts to lecture me?”

Shen Qingzhi said helplessly, “This isn’t a lecture, it’s a warning. Father, you’d best listen to me and be the Marquis of An Ding, honestly and comfortably. If you mess around with Zhang Ruyu and Shen Huizhi and something happens in the end, I won’t save you.”

Every one of Shen Qingzhi’s words precisely hit Shen Jue’s heart because he had indeed been planning exactly that. However, if he were to listen to Shen Qingzhi now, he would lose a lot of face. “My affairs don’t need you to meddle in them!”

“I don’t want to either. But Father, you’ve never been involved in factional disputes and have always been clear-headed on major issues. If you’re led by the nose by Zhang Ruyu and Shen Huizhi now, you’ll only become more and more passive. The third prince has always been unpredictable. Whatever promises Shen Huizhi is making you now are not to be trusted. She can’t even guarantee her own safety.”

This point actually made Shen Jue think. He did know a little about Huangfu Yi. “Alright, I’ve been the Marquis of An Ding for so many years. I don’t need you to teach me about these things!”

“It’s good that Father understands. I’m tired. I’ll go back and rest now.”

With that, Shen Qingzhi left the ancestral hall.

By the time Shen Jue reacted, Shen Qingzhi had already returned to her room. She had someone bring her something to eat and started making clothes in her room.

Shen Jue stayed in the ancestral hall for a while before leaving as well. After all, the person he wanted to lecture was already gone, so there was no point in him staying there.

When Zhang Ruyu saw Shen Jue, she hurried over. “My lord, what did Shen Qingzhi say? Did she agree?”

“No, she said she won’t marry.”

Hearing this, Zhang Ruyu breathed a sigh of relief. “Since that’s the case, then I’ll call Huizhi back to have a meal with her sister and mend their relationship.”

Zhang Ruyu was thinking that since Shen Qingzhi wasn’t getting married, they could try to win her over. As long as Shen Qingzhi sided with Huangfu Yi, their chances of winning would be much greater.

“You need to stop with this. Huizhi is a prince’s consort now. How can she just come home to her family whenever she wants? What would that look like?”

As confused as Shen Jue was, he knew that Shen Qingzhi and Shen Huizhi had always been at odds since they were little. Now that Zhang Ruyu was doing this, she was clearly trying to use Shen Qingzhi. Shen Qingzhi wouldn’t even listen to him, her own father, so how could she possibly listen to Shen Huizhi? “My lord, I just wanted Huizhi to come home for a meal. Is it that Qingzhi is unwilling? I can go talk to her. No matter what, they are still sisters and shouldn’t be so distant.”

“If you can talk to her, then go do it. Don’t bother me again!”

With that, Shen Jue left. He couldn’t control Shen Qingzhi now, but he could at least say a few words to Zhang Ruyu.

Zhang Ruyu knew that Shen Jue was becoming more and more impatient with her. There was nothing she could do. No matter how beautiful she was in her youth, she couldn’t fight the signs of age. Now, the young women in the back garden had captured Shen Jue’s attention, and getting angry was useless. What was more important now was to win over Shen Qingzhi. Shen Qingzhi held real power, unlike Shen Jue.

Just as Shen Qingzhi was about to start eating, she heard a servant announce that Zhang Ruyu had arrived. Shen Qingzhi looked at the delicate food in front of her and instantly lost her appetite. When you see someone who makes you lose your appetite, no matter how delicious the food, it tastes like chewing wax. With Ning Xin, even eating coarse food tasted exceptionally sweet.

“Oh, you’re just about to eat.”

It had been years since Zhang Ruyu had shown Shen Qingzhi a smile. Now, she was forcing a smile on her face as she looked at Shen Qingzhi, which was very awkward.

Shen Qingzhi, as usual, kept a cold face. “Speak your mind. There’s no need to play these games with me.”

Zhang Ruyu had prepared a whole list of things to say, but before she could even start, Shen Qingzhi had already choked her up. Her face turned a beet-red color. “Why be so distant? I’m your mother, after all.”

“My stepmother, in name only. If you’ve come to persuade me to mend my sisterly relationship with Shen Huizhi, then there’s no need. If I say you are the person I despise the most in this life, then the second would definitely be Shen Huizhi. I will not play any sisterly affection drama with her. You can give up.”

Her pretense broken, Zhang Ruyu decided to go all in. “Shen Qingzhi, don’t be ungrateful. Huizhi is a prince’s consort now. It’s your honor that she’s willing to mend your relationship.”

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