The Old Dowager of the Shen Family treated me in this manner, so I suppose Old Duke Shen's impression of me wouldn't be much better.

No wonder he and the Old Dowager are a married couple.

Criticizing Shen Han in front of so many people, it's likely he'll be even more ridiculed in the Shen Family from now on.

Moreover, Shen Qingshan's evaluation of Shen Han was extremely direct, just three words.

No capability.

These three words are deadly, and could possibly spread, becoming a label for Shen Han.

In the future, when he's mentioned, it would be "that incapable Fifth Young Master of the Shen Family, Shen Han..."

Shen Han remained composed, his expression still respectful, leaving no flaws for the Shen family to exploit.

Facing Old Duke Shen's criticism, he did not show any signs of embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Madam Yun, sitting not far away, couldn't help but interject.

"Old Duke, Shen Han works hard every day, reducing his time for cultivation, and he already reached the Ninth Grade recently..."

"Whether he has capability or not, I've been on the battlefield for decades, do you think I can't tell?"

Shen Qingshan interrupted Madam Yun before she could finish her defense.

"As the Third Madam of the Shen family's third branch, you share responsibility for Shen Han's current performance.

Lingsheng has been battling at the frontlines for many years, as his wife, you should share his burdens, instead of raising such an incompetent junior."

A barrage of accusations left Madam Yun speechless.

Shen Han lowered his head slightly, etching all of this into his heart.

These baseless accusations will be repaid in the future.

After a round of scolding, Shen Qingshan calmed his emotions and looked at Shen Han once again.

"The wedding scheduled by the Imperial Family is in mid-December. How do you view your engagement to Su Jinyu? Do you think you're a good match?"

As expected, this matter was bound to be brought up.

Shen Han cupped his hands towards Shen Qingshan: "Replying to the Old Duke, Su Family's youngest daughter is a one-of-a-kind talent, Shen Han naturally is unworthy of the Su Family's pride."

"It's good that you know, at least you have some self-awareness."

"I ask the Old Duke to decide, request the Imperial Family to annul this engagement, so as not to hinder the Su Family's pride."

The words were spoken with utmost sincerity; these exchanges, Shen Han had considered thoroughly in his heart.

"Annul the engagement? The Shen Family would lose our years of military foundation if we annul the engagement. Do you think I should?"

Shen Qingshan questioned Shen Han, trying to coax him into admitting to self-destructive behavior or ruining his reputation, giving the Shen Family a reason to annul the engagement.

But unfortunately, Shen Han had foreseen this and did not engage in whether he should or should not.

"But if the engagement isn't annulled, it would really be unjust to the Su Family's pride..."

Feigning ignorance, Shen Han continued along this line.

Hearing this, Shen Qingshan frowned, uncertain whether Shen Han truly didn't understand or was pretending not to understand.

He paused and took out a letter from his sleeve, handing it to Shen Han.

"This is a letter from your father to you. Take it and have a look."

After handing over the letter, Shen Qingshan waved for Shen Han to return to his seat.

"Old Duke, Shen Han hasn't yet demonstrated his ability..."

For some reason, Madam Yun was bent on speaking up for Shen Han today, even if it meant getting scolded.

"He doesn't need to, there's nothing surprising. Let's not waste anyone's time."

Shen Han nodded to Madam Yun, reassuring the Third Madam.

He returned to his seat, not striving for any so-called glory.

This Shen Family is not my Shen Family.

The banquet officially began, the full moon of the fifteenth shining bright and flawless.

Its light fell on Wutong Villa, filtering through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Shen Han looked at this beautiful scene, but found himself surrounded by people who made him sick.

This Mid-Autumn night was far from the one he spent with Madam Yun and Cailing.

Shen Han ate some food heartily; after all, these were things he earned through his own labor.

Soon, the Shen family's members started drinking and making toasts, everyone holding a wine cup to toast the Old Dowager and Old Duke.

Watching them leave, Shen Han took out a piece of cloth he had prepared earlier and packed some food in front of him.

After he was able to leave, he greeted Madam Yun and Cailing, then left.

On his way back, he left a bag of packed food in Madam Yun's courtyard.

This was for that little girl, Cailing.

Whenever there was a big family banquet, maids and servants would always go hungry.

Sometimes, when the banquet lasted longer, they could basically forget about that meal.

Returning to his courtyard, he could still hear the laughter coming from Wutong Villa from afar.

But those laughs had nothing to do with him, he was merely a person rejected by the Shen Family.

Sitting on the stone bench in his courtyard, he looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

Being with those Shen family members was not as good as being alone.

By the moonlight, Shen Han took out the letter given by Old Duke Shen.

It was supposedly written by his father for him.

To be honest, Shen Han often forgot he even had a father.

Over the years, occasionally during the New Year, Shen Lingsheng would return with Old Duke Shen.

After returning, he wouldn't have any interaction with him either.

Instead, it was as if he was Old Duke's Deputy General, simply following along.

To a large extent, it was because of this attitude that Shen Han's situation in the Shen Family became increasingly dire.

If even your own father doesn't care for you or stand up for you, it's no wonder others bully you.

With a father like this, what could he have written in the letter?

Shen Han tried to lower his expectations as much as possible and opened the letter.

"Follow everything arranged at home, obey the elders' orders, annul the engagement..."

Heh, so it really was these contents.

A sage once said, "Parents, in loving their children, plan long-term for them."

But this father of mine is quite something, not only has he not planned for me but wants to push me into the abyss instead.

Further down the letter, Shen Lingsheng even suggested some ideas.

For instance, letting Shen Han visit places of ill repute, where if caught with moral issues, both the Shen and Su Families would have grounds to annul the engagement.

Yet Shen Lingsheng seemed to have not considered his own son at all.

Liu Ruyan, Hua Sijin.

Usually, when aristocratic family members visited such places, they might receive some gossip, but nothing too severe.

However, now Shen Han bore the burden of an Imperial family-endorsed engagement.

In such situations, daring to frequent places of ill repute would be seen as disrespect to His Holiness, a severe crime!

Shen Han knew clearly that if he indeed went to such places.

The engagement might be annulled, but no good would come of it for him.

The outcome would be worse than losing his legs!

Shen Lingsheng, this father of mine is truly cold-blooded, seeking to push me into the abyss with just a few words.

When the Imperial Family first bestowed the marriage, they could never have imagined that the fifth young master of the Shen Family was so unwelcome.

After reading the letter, Shen Han expressionlessly tore it up and threw it into the fire to burn.

The Shen Family treated me so poorly, even my daily meals and plain clothing are things I earned myself.

Why should I sacrifice for them?

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