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墨書 Inktalez
Shen Wanzhou took a deep breath, striving to ignore the fatigue in her body as she walked towards the direction etched in her memory. The setting sun cast its golden glow on the ancient stone-paved road, silently narrating the passage of time.
Once, she had joyfully married the Wuding Marquisate, eagerly anticipating a life of unity with her beloved. Little did she know, it was merely a carefully woven lie that pushed her into an endless abyss. Now, carrying a child within her, she dragged her weary body step by step back to this place that had once been her sanctuary.
The Shen Family, known for their martial prowess, had made significant contributions to the Qian Sheng Empire. Shen Wanzhou's father, Shen Zhentian, was renowned for his bravery and had once held the title of General of the Western Expedition, guarding the borders for ten years while instilling fear in the barbarian tribes and causing the demon race to retreat.
However, after Shen Zhentian laid down his armor and returned to farming, the Shen Family gradually fell into decline. The current Shen Residence was no longer the glorious estate it once was. The vermilion gate was weathered and peeling, and even the stone lions at the entrance had lost their former majesty, leaving only an overwhelming sense of desolation.
As Shen Wanzhou gazed at the familiar scene before her, a mix of emotions surged within her. She gently caressed her slightly rounded abdomen and silently vowed: "Child, your mother will protect you well and will not allow anyone to harm you again."
Taking a deep breath, she lifted her heavy feet and slowly stepped through the gates of Shen Residence. Upon entering, she was met with a desolate sight. The once bustling front courtyard was now overgrown with weeds and desolation reigned. The ornamental pond had long since dried up, leaving only a few withered leaves swirling in the wind.
A pang of sorrow struck Shen Wanzhou as a sense of nostalgia washed over her. A cold breeze swept through, stirring up several dry leaves that danced around the courtyard. She instinctively wrapped her cloak tighter around herself as her thoughts drifted back to days long past.
She still vividly remembered the day her father was stripped of his military power. The once spirited man seemed to age ten years in an instant on that day. In the court, Chen Yuantu grandly proclaimed that her father's position was too high and burdensome; he should retire to enjoy his twilight years. He casually mentioned that both her uncles lacked the capability to match him; only he could bear the responsibility of protecting their home and country.
At that time, Chen Yuantu was riding high on his success and enjoyed the emperor's trust. Her father had long been stationed at the borders, with little influence in court to counter such claims.
Thus, in the name of the country and its people, Chen Yuantu took all the military power that his father had worked so hard to build. His father, left with no choice, accepted this outcome, returning to the Shen Family with a body full of scars and a heart full of helplessness. From that day on, he became increasingly melancholic, his health deteriorating day by day.
Shen Wanzhou knew that deep within her father's heart, there remained an unquenchable flame—his love for the country and its people. However, this flame was ruthlessly extinguished by Chen Yuantu. She suppressed her sorrow and continued walking inside.
Passing through the front courtyard, she arrived at the back courtyard. Unlike the desolation of the front yard, the back courtyard was relatively tidy but lacked warmth, making it feel particularly cold and empty. Faintly, Shen Wanzhou heard a series of discussions coming from the main hall.
"Brother, relying solely on the savings in the family treasury won't be enough! Our cultivation is falling behind; we often go hungry. At this rate, our strength will only weaken further. With Chen Yuantu's oppression, all of Father’s hard-earned reputation might be ruined by us!" A rough voice echoed, filled with frustration.
"I know all that you’ve said," replied another steady voice. "But we have petitioned the court multiple times, and they refuse to employ us. Now that we are idle at home with limited salaries, let alone raising our children. We need to think of other ways to make money!"
Just then, a staggering figure stepped out, lightly coughing twice, his face looking extremely pale. He gripped a letter tightly in his trembling hand. "Chen Yuantu, that ungrateful wretch!"
"Father!" The two brothers of the Shen Family hurried forward to support Shen Zhentian.
"Father, what happened? Please don’t rush; take your time," Shen Yunting asked anxiously, his brow furrowed.
Taking a few deep breaths, Shen Zhentian shakily handed the letter to Shen Yunting. "You read it for yourselves! That ungrateful scoundrel Chen Yuantu has actually abandoned your Third Sister!"
"Hmph! The Wuding Marquisate is too arrogant! How dare they treat our Shen Family like this! I’ll take people to smash their residence right now!" Shen Yunlei's voice was filled with anger.
"Second Brother, calm down! We need to consider this matter carefully; we cannot act recklessly," Shen Yunting urged, though his fists clenched involuntarily.
Hearing this, Shen Wanzhou felt warmth in her heart. She knew that no matter what happened, her father and brothers would always stand behind her, supporting and protecting her.
She quickened her pace toward the main hall. "Father, Brother, Second Brother." Shen Wanzhou entered the main hall and bowed respectfully to the three seated at the head.
Seated at the head was Shen Zhentian. Despite being over fifty years old, he still exuded an imposing presence without needing to raise his voice; his brows carried a sharpness born from years of battle. Upon seeing Shen Wanzhou, a flicker of pain crossed his eyes but was quickly masked as he asked in a deep voice: "Shen Wanzhou, you’re back."
Sitting to the left of Shen Zhentian was Shen Wanzhou's elder brother, Shen Yunting. He had inherited their father's tall stature and upright posture, but his brows lacked a hint of harshness and instead bore a touch of elegance.
Upon seeing Shen Wanzhou, a flicker of concern crossed his eyes as he softly said, "Third Sister, you have suffered."
Next to Shen Zhentian was Shen Wanzhou's Second Brother, Shen Yunlei. His fiery temperament stood in stark contrast to his elder brother's calm demeanor. At that moment, he glared angrily in the direction behind Shen Wanzhou, wishing he could rush out immediately to settle accounts with those from the Wuding Marquisate.
"Third Sister, don't worry! Second Brother will definitely seek justice for you and won't let you suffer in vain!" Shen Yunlei gritted his teeth as he spoke, his fists cracking ominously.
Feeling the love and concern from her family, Shen Wanzhou's nose tinged slightly with emotion as she fought back tears. "I'm fine; I've made you all worry," she said.
She gently caressed her abdomen, thinking to herself: "Child, do you see? Your Grandfather and Uncles are here; Mother will surely seek justice for you."
Inside Shen Wanzhou's womb, Chen Li immediately sensed the emotional waves from his family. He could perceive everything that had just happened. Even though he had not yet been born, he could still feel the love from his Grandfather and Uncles.
A warm current flowed through his heart, filling him with comfort. However, he quickly noticed the state of his Grandfather and uncles. Although they were vigorous and full of energy, they felt hollow inside, clearly suffering from a lack of resources which slowed their cultivation progress.
Chen Li pondered silently: "This won't do! Grandfather and my uncles are too short on resources. If their cultivation continues to decline, they'll truly be bullied by the Wuding Marquisate!"
No way! I need to think of a way to help them earn more money so they can stockpile some resources!
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