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Just as Shen Yan worried, closing the doors to guests was futile for the Shen Family.....

Even with all banquet preparations halted, the Shen Family..... was still swarming with visitors!

Those who forcefully followed Shen Yu included the established elite families such as the Fang and Li Families, followed by the Pang, Zhang, and Gu Families, who came one after another.

All the important figures from the Capital City’s top-ranking officials and the families of the Four Great Scholars sent representatives.

Du Kangnian, the Deputy Head of the Yin Yang Academy, even made a personal appearance.

As Madam Zheng looked at the pile of visiting cards handed to her, her eyes grew blurry. ...

The display was such that even an ancient noble family celebrating the birthday of an old patriarch might not match this scene.

For the Shen Family of their stature, especially hosting a celebration for a child’s achievement, it would already be considered good family relations to have women from a few slightly better families attend.

Seeing the rows of Elders present, both Shen Yan and the elderly Shen Qingfeng broke out in cold sweat.

"Mother..... could it be that something..... has happened to our family?"

Even upon returning home, Shen Yu felt something was amiss.

If the Fang Family’s interest in him could be attributed to his good fortune, and the Li Family’s attention could be chalked up to his ancestral tomb standing out, then this current scene would only seem normal to someone who had a problem with their head.

Watching her most outstanding son being overshadowed by unease the whole day, Madam Zheng finally couldn’t hold back her tears and began crying in her room, hugging her son.

"Mother..... what exactly has happened?" Shen Yu became even more anxious.

"Your good-for-nothing elder brother!" Madam Zheng gritted her teeth, "Did I owe him in my previous life or what? If he ruins your future, even as a ghost, your mother will not let him off!"

"Elder brother?"

Shen Yu was taken aback, an indescribable feeling of weirdness suddenly rising within him.

Ever since he was aware, his mother had been indifferent to his elder brother, and the people around them didn’t look highly upon him either.

As the most qualified member of the family’s third generation, naturally, he would not associate with such useless people.

After entering the academy, he had seldom seen this so-called elder brother.

After all, even during family festivals, he didn’t even have the status to sit at the same table as himself.

He heard that his brother participated in the imperial examinations later on. At that time, Shen Yu thought at least he had the brains to earn an official rank, rather than handle the affairs of illegitimate siblings and bring shame upon himself.

He never thought that this elder brother would have any intersection with his future. According to family rules, even at ancestral ceremonies, he would only be able to stand on the periphery, and might not even have the chance to face him.

How could someone he had almost forgotten cause such a huge disturbance?

"Mother..... what exactly is going on?"

"I’m not quite sure either...." Madam Zheng choked up, "I don’t understand the words spoken by your father and the Elders, something about secret transmissions, and drawing arrays and the like. Your heartless father only knows to blame me, even saying I’m not suitable to be the Family Mistress.

Are those even words a human would say?"

Looking at his endlessly chattering mother, Shen Yu felt a surge of irritation within him.

She was just an ordinary human after all, utterly unreliable when it mattered most, incapable of providing any useful information!

What was the difference between his mother and his elder brother? His elder brother lacked talent, almost relegated to managing the affairs of illegitimate siblings - a disgrace. Wasn’t this mortal mother much the same?

In the noble Sorcerer Families, which Family Mistress wasn’t from a Sorcerer Noble Family? Their day-to-day conversation topics were not the same as those of individuals like his mother, who thick-skinnedly ingratiated herself with others, most of whom wouldn’t bother with her.

After all, with such disparate backgrounds, what could they discuss with her? The trivial gossip of commoner women?

Unable to integrate into the noble circles, resulting in him at twenty not having any significant matrimonial prospects settled yet.

If only she had a bit of ambition, she could have sought to learn about magical knowledge and not be so clueless as to not understand what father and the Elders were discussing. How could such a person have been the Shen Family Mistress for over twenty years?

"Stop crying!!"

His irritation finally made Shen Yu raise his voice, startling Madam Zheng in her place.

When she looked up at her son, her heart skipped a beat!

Her son’s eyes were as cold as ice..... just like his father’s had been before!

"My son, what’s wrong? Don’t be angry with your mother....." This time, Madam Zheng was truly panicking.

Her greatest reliance was on this younger son. His superior talents had assured her position as the Family Mistress for over two decades. If he grew contemptuous of her too, then she..... would truly be finished!

"Alright, mother....." Shen Yu stepped back, dodging Madam Zheng’s attempt to hold onto him again, and frowned, "Have a good rest, and don’t worry about the affairs outside. You wouldn’t understand anyway."

His words might have seemed caring, but it only made Madam Zheng more panicked.

That tone devoid of warmth, coupled with those cold eyes, was this really her beloved son?

After Shen Yu left, she was still unable to grasp what had happened.

"Mother, Yu is so sleepy, can I continue reading tomorrow?"

"What time is it? You can’t even endure this much? Do you want to end up like your useless elder brother?"

"Mother..... why do you say that about elder brother? He..... works very hard."

"You think he’s good, do you? If you don’t strive for excellence and end up just like your good-for-nothing elder brother, then your mother won’t want you either!"

"Mother doesn’t want....." The child’s tender voice was pleading, "Yu will try hard, will strive and improve!!"

Huh?

Madam Zheng came back to her senses, touched her own face, and found tears continuously streaming down uncontrollably. She didn’t know why she suddenly remembered such distant memories.

But how good the child was back then, so obedient... so inseparable from her.

He had grown up just as she had hoped, but why... would he treat her this way?

The one who made mistakes wasn’t her...

------------------------------

"Oh, Official Gong has arrived too?" Shen Yan personally stepped forward to greet him, "Please come in, quickly come in."

At that moment, Shen Yan was incredibly busy, sweating profusely, but that was to be expected. Wasn’t everyone here someone he had to personally attend to?

"Oh, my congratulations, my congratulations..." The visitor was a middle-aged man in his forties, his face bearing a gentle smile, "Having your son make the list in his twenties really is the mark of a young hero, it makes one green with envy."

"Not at all, Official Gong, you are too kind. My son’s minor accomplishments are not worth mentioning, truly not worth mentioning!" Shen Yan smiled with great effort.

Such remarks, if they came from those second-rate families he usually dealt with, would be just fine. But in these top-tier families, which legitimate son wouldn’t make the list? It was an everyday occurrence, so what significance did his own son’s slight achievement hold in their eyes?

But today, each and every person was full of compliments, making him feel utterly ridiculous.

Yet he knew deep down that the more absurd it felt, the more dire the situation that lay ahead!

"Look, the guest of honor has arrived?"

Just as Shen Yan bustled around at his wits’ end, a teasing voice came from afar, immediately catching his and Official Gong’s attention.

They saw Shen Yu, dressed in white, arriving at the garden where the seating was arranged. Instantly, people around began to laugh and say, "Is our future son-in-law here?"

As soon as the words were spoken, the elders at the table burst into laughter, creating what seemed to be an extremely harmonious atmosphere. However, these words were extremely grating to Shen Yu.

He was very aware that none of these people were genuinely here to discuss a marriage match. What kind of trouble had that wastrel stirred up in Jiangnan to cause such a spectacle?

"Shen Yu!" Shen Yan frowned, "Have you not greeted your elders yet?"

Shen Yu snapped back to reality and hurriedly performed the appropriate greetings, "I have seen the elders. Please don’t make fun of me anymore. If I can’t find a wife in the future, I’ll have to blame all of you!"

"Hahahaha!"

The crowd burst into laughter once more, and while Shen Yan saw it all, his gaze was icy cold. His son might be quick-witted, but was it smart to show off that wit here, of all places? Shouldn’t he be trying to steer clear of the situation?

Just like his foolish mother, forever posing as a demure woman, always creating trouble!

As expected, someone at the table laughed and said, "The Shen Family certainly has a way with their children, making us all envious. The eldest son is so accomplished, and the second son is so clever, tsk tsk, it’s enough to make one jealous."

Here it comes!

A hint of helplessness flickered through Shen Yan’s eyes. Although he knew he couldn’t avoid it, he was truly helpless that his foolish son had so quickly brought the focus of conversation upon them.

Sure enough, as soon as the Shen Family’s eldest son was mentioned, the entire atmosphere of the gathering changed, and everyone turned their heads, staring intently at Shen Yan.

Shen Yu was startled; at that moment, he truly understood that none of these people really had any regard for him. They talked about how clever he was, but no one in attendance even spared him a glance!

Clearly... everyone had come for Shen Yuan!

What on earth had that guy done to cause such a stir?

Shen Yan offered a rueful smile and saluted, "What merits does my son have to deserve such esteem from everyone?"

"Eh, Minister Shen is being too modest!" Fourth Master Fang from the Fang Family stood up and sneered, "In this day and age, besides Heavenly Master Zhang from Yun City, it’s only your eldest son who can create arrays out of thin air. If that’s just a minor talent, then what does that make our children from prestigious families? Maggots?"

Shen Yan’s face bore an even deeper bitter smile, while Shen Yu was struck as if by lightning!

Had he misheard?

Creating arrays out of thin air?

Shen Yuan?

There’s no avoiding it...

Shen Yan sighed and was forced to stiffly say, "Everyone, let me explain, we really don’t know..."

"That’s just Fourth Master Fang being ignorant!"

Before Shen Yan could finish his explanation, a faint voice sounded from the entrance of the courtyard, cutting him off.

"That kind of basic skill, nearly every junior at Heavenly Institute can do it, it’s nothing remarkable..."

In an instant... everybody’s gaze shot past Shen Yan like sharp arrows!!!