Chapter 515: All Are Outsiders
Though she thought this way in her heart, Shen Xihe responded verbally, "Father, rest assured. Youyou will go and talk to him."
Being her own father, how could Shen Yueshan not understand her? She was clearly eager to go and coax someone. He didn’t expose her: "Go ahead, speak to him properly."
As Shen Xihe walked away, Shen Yueshan’s gaze lingered, filled with both relief and a touch of sorrow, mingled with a hint of joy.
In her childhood, Shen Xihe had lived in a world of her own. Unless she acknowledged someone and brought them into her world, no one else could get close to her at all.
Even those she allowed into her world, she would neither accommodate nor yield to, nor would she demand others to accommodate or yield to her. Over time, those who had once been close to her gradually drifted away. This had always been a source of great concern for Shen Yueshan and Shen Yungan.
Father and son had exhausted all methods, but the results were minimal.
Now, she was beginning to change, becoming more like the person they had hoped for. Naturally, they were pleased and delighted to see it. Yet this change was because of another man—one who had taken her away from them. Shen Yueshan couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness.
As for Xiao Huayong, Shen Yueshan was extremely satisfied with him. However, a father-in-law and son-in-law are natural adversaries. When it came to feeling displeased, it was only natural to feel displeased.
Unaware that her father had long seen through her concern for Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe went to another room. Shen Yueshan’s visit here was arranged by her. Though he might be dissatisfied with Xiao Huayong, having acknowledged him as his son-in-law, he wouldn’t deliberately assign the young couple two separate rooms.
In this rural cottage, though it was more prosperous, clean, and tidy than most villages, it couldn’t compare to the capital, nor even to the courtyards they had stayed in along the way. As soon as the door was pushed open, with just a turn, she could see the Crown Prince lying stiffly on the wooden plank bed, shoes still on, arms crossed, staring fixedly at one spot without blinking, clearly fuming.
Hearing the door open, then close, followed by the sound of footsteps gradually approaching, the familiar scent soon enveloped his senses. Shen Xihe’s shadow fell over him in the light. Xiao Huayong simply turned over, turning his back to her.
His reaction didn’t leave Shen Xihe at a loss; instead, it made her chuckle softly.
Hearing his wife’s laughter, Xiao Huayong grew even more irritated. He deliberately snorted through his nostrils to express his displeasure: "Hmph."
"Father’s words were meant to provoke you. Why take them to heart? Isn’t that exactly what he wanted?" Shen Xihe said softly.
She had thought this would surely ease Xiao Huayong’s frustration, but instead, he snorted twice more: "I am not angry with Father-in-law."
"Not angry with Father?" Shen Xihe was slightly taken aback and asked in confusion, "If not with Father, then why are you angry?"
Xiao Huayong grew even more incensed. So, from start to finish, she had assumed it was Shen Yueshan’s words that had angered him! Her gentle words to him were only out of concern that he might hold a grudge against Shen Yueshan?
If Xiao Huayong’s earlier anger had been somewhat childish and laughable, at this moment, his anger was no longer feigned. He was genuinely displeased, his jaw tight. Shen Xihe knew it was because she had failed to discern the true reason for his anger that he had become truly upset."I have said before, I dislike speculation. I was born with a cold nature, possessing little depth or intensity in matters of romantic affection. I have no desire to waste time pondering such things." Shen Xihe's voice remained gentle. "If you need me to do something, or if there is anything of great importance to you, you may tell me directly. I will do my best to accomplish it. I do not know why you are angry—you must speak plainly to me."
"Your father called me an outsider, and you did not defend me in the slightest. Clearly, you also regard me as an outsider." Xiao Huayong abruptly sat up, pouring out the resentment in his heart. "I know it would have been difficult for you to contradict your father in front of us, but had you simply said, 'He is my husband,' you could have preserved your father's dignity without wounding my heart. Was that so hard to say?"
So, he was angry because she hadn't spoken up for him when her father made that remark. His fury stemmed from her.
After this realization, Shen Xihe curved her lips into a faint smile. "But my father was not wrong. Between our father-daughter relationship, you are indeed an outsider."
Xiao Huayong's pupils dilated instantly as he stared at her in disbelief.
Shen Xihe gently rested her hand on his unconsciously clenched fist. "Between us as husband and wife, my father is also an outsider."
The trembling, wrenching pain in Xiao Huayong's chest vanished abruptly, replaced by shock that left him unsure how to react. The immense agony was suddenly overshadowed by overwhelming excitement and exhilaration. The former sensation had not yet faded, while the latter two crashed over him, mingling together until his expression became peculiarly strained—unable to decide whether to laugh, cry, or remain angry.
"I hope you will respect my father—this is part of your duty as a son-in-law. You are only his son-in-law, not my brother. There is no need to endure grievances for my sake. If he provokes you first, you may retort in my presence. I will not interfere, nor will I think less of you for it." Shen Xihe expressed her thoughts clearly.
"Similarly, my father is only your father-in-law. I will not demand that he treat you the same as he treats me or my brother for my sake. If you clash with him first, and he resorts to force, whether you can escape or prevail will depend entirely on your own abilities."
Whether between father and brother, or between husband and father, or husband and brother, Shen Xihe wished for them to work out their differences themselves. She did not want to be caught in the middle, nor did she wish to end up displeasing both sides.
Of course, Shen Xihe could remain so detached because she firmly believed both Shen Yueshan and Xiao Huayong were people of great discretion.
Hearing her words, Xiao Huayong suddenly felt he had been somewhat unreasonable earlier. It seemed he had not fully understood her.
"I understand." Xiao Huayong softened his grim expression and spoke gently.
"No longer angry?" Shen Xihe raised a brow.
Xiao Huayong felt uncharacteristically awkward. "No longer angry."
Satisfied, Shen Xihe smiled. To ease the atmosphere between them, she changed the subject. "Why is Father still staying here?"
She had already escaped danger safely, and her brother's wedding was only a month away. Shen Yueshan should have long been in communication with Xiao Huayong. Back when she rushed from Yunzhou, Shen Yueshan should have already prepared to depart. Yet, in reality, he had arranged accommodations for them.
Shen Xihe glanced around the room. Though seemingly simple, it did not appear to be a place where one would stay for just a day before leaving."Father-in-law has not informed me of anything," Xiao Huayong also became serious. "But if Father-in-law still insists on remaining here, there can only be one possibility: Father-in-law has discovered Your Majesty's agent within the Northwest Army, and this person holds an extremely high position and status."
(End of Chapter)
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