Chapter 5: The Unexpected Arrival of Father

Wasn’t his father the man who, after quarreling with his mother, had stormed off to the Northern Territories in a fit of anger? Did his mother have another man? Wouldn’t that man have gone mad? No... if his mother had brought a man back, then that man should be dead...

A mother knows her child best.

Dou Hongyan instantly realized her son had misunderstood. Calmly, she said, “You’re mistaken. Your mother didn’t expect your father to still be alive, and that he would have brought back younger siblings.”

His own biological father?

Hearing this, Shen Yuheng stopped his chaotic thoughts and looked toward the man not far away, respectfully bowing, “Your son, Heng, greets Father.”

Shen Yishu stared hard at this suddenly appearing son, his expression dark and forbidding.

He had rushed back after receiving the emperor’s approval for the Shen family to inherit the noble title, precisely to prevent anyone in the clan from coveting the Shen family’s rank and forcing an adoption. Yet, he still returned too late—the situation was already set in stone!

What on earth had Lady Dou been doing? Had she done nothing to stop this?

He had no idea which branch of the clan this convenient son had been adopted from, but he would never allow the merits his father had risked his life to earn to be passed on to an outsider.

If this boy dared to snatch that title... he would die.

Shen Yishu snorted coldly, his face utterly unfriendly.

Liu Xin’er was even more on edge.

This adopted bastard had suddenly appeared and even outshone his own son, Shunge’er. But on second thought, no matter how outstanding he was, he was not a biological son. Perhaps, like Lady Dou, he was just a pretty pillow—useless in the end.

Lin Xin’er’s eyes flickered with a trace of pity.

A woman who stoops as low as Lady Dou is truly pitiful: unloved by her husband, forced to fight for her son from someone else, and soon to be cast aside.

Dou Hongyan observed their reactions with a knowing smile, casually adjusting her finger guards, inwardly chuckling.

They must have all mistaken Hengge’er for an adopted son.

That made things interesting.

What would Shen Yishu’s reaction be when he learned that Hengge’er was his true biological son?

That man would never allow his son to call another man “father”...

“Madam, the warming soup has arrived,” a servant promptly presented the soup along with two bowls of bird’s nest, prepared according to Dou Hongyan’s preference—with milk, rock sugar, and nourishing ingredients like ginseng, goji berries, walnuts, and red dates.

The sweet aroma wafted throughout the main hall.

Shen Yishu couldn’t help but frown, casually remarking, “Such a precious delicacy as bird’s nest should be simmered slowly in clear broth. Overindulging is simply wasteful.”

Liu Xin’er sneered in disdain, “My husband speaks rightly. How could bird’s nest be treated so carelessly?”

Clearly, the merchant’s daughter was vulgar and shallow.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of someone swallowing hard. Looking down, she saw that Erya was actually sucking her fingers.

Liu Xin’er, furious, pinched her waist hard.

Useless child! You’ve eaten bird’s nest before; what’s there to crave?

Erya cried out in pain.

The noise caught Dou Hongyan’s attention. Before she could see what had happened, Liu Xin’er hurriedly bent down to shield Erya, anxiously asking, “Erya, is it another bout of stomach trouble from the unfamiliar environment? Hold on a little longer, when Grandmother returns, I’ll find a doctor for you.”

Erya didn’t dare say a word, wiping tears away in grievance.

Her little brother was also sucking his fingers.

Why did Mother only pinch her?

Besides, the scent of the bird’s nest was indeed sweet and enticing. Shen Yishu, inhaling the tantalizing aroma, suddenly felt his stomach rumble loudly.

Everyone turned to look at him in unison.

Shen Yishu’s face flushed deeply with embarrassment; he shifted uneasily in his seat.

Liu Xin’er quickly covered for him, “Sister, you don’t understand how to sympathize with a husband who has traveled wearily to the capital without eating. Shouldn’t we serve him a bowl as well?”