Engagement Canceled: I Can Extract Prefixes

Unlike the Yun Mansion, which lacked some of the festive atmosphere, the Shen Mansion was filled with joy this year at the end of the year.

Red lanterns were hanging outside the Marquis Mansion.

The end of the year had passed, yet they showed no intention of taking them down.

At 7:00 AM, Shen Qingshan was already up, stretching his body in the mansion.

In a few days, he would be returning to the Eastern Garrison.

He took advantage of these days to enjoy some peaceful rest.

After strolling around the mansion, Shen Qingshan found a place to sit in Wutong Villa.

He clapped his hands, and the servants brought some refreshments.

Gazing at the pond in front of him, Shen Qingshan casually threw some crumbs into it.

The fish in the pond wagged their tails and swarmed toward the crumbs.

Shen Qingshan enjoyed this feeling the most—what he casually gave was something others had to strive hard to obtain.

And if he didn’t give, others couldn’t seize it.

While resting, Madam Shen came over, supported by Cai Xue.

Standing behind Shen Qingshan, Madam Shen gently massaged her lord’s shoulders.

“It seems like the lord’s state of mind has been much more relaxed recently, not as troubled as before.”

Upon hearing Madam Shen’s words, Shen Qingshan also smiled.

“Indeed, these days have brought fewer worries.

Things in the military have been increasingly smooth, Luo Changping has helped a bit, and the issues with the Pill have been temporarily resolved.

Ye’Er’s broken leg has also recovered considerably.

Lately, it has all been good news.

When surrounded by good news, naturally, my mood improves as well.”

Hearing this, Madam Shen also smiled.

“Indeed, it seems everything has been going well over the past year.

Ye’Er’s leg has been replaced with a prosthetic made by a master from Yan Country.

According to the eldest household, Ye’Er’s strength has been restored to the Fifth Grade Realm.

At the age of twenty-seven, reaching the Fifth Grade at this age is considered top-notch in Great Wei.

Though his leg was injured, Ye’Er’s future accomplishments remain immeasurable.”

As Madam Shen spoke, her face also carried a hint of pride.

More than a year ago, rumors spread throughout Great Wei that the Shen Family was about to decline.

In one night, Shen Han disappeared, and Shen Ye was left disabled.

In the large Shen Family, only Shen Ao appeared to still have some capability.

Yet unexpectedly, within a year’s time, Shen Ye had made a comeback.

After installing the prosthetic leg, Shen Ye managed to grow again.

“In retrospect, this whole matter is our fault as the elders.”

Madam Shen’s face showed a trace of melancholy, with a hint of self-blame.

“If we had drowned Shen Han earlier, all the subsequent troubles wouldn’t have happened.

If he had died earlier, those troublesome and terrible events would never have occurred.

The Imperial Family’s betrothal, our Marquis Mansion’s title, the generalship of the second, Ye’Er’s leg…

None of these would have happened, and we wouldn’t have lived so miserably.”

She spoke softly, her heart thoughts filled with wondering why Shen Han didn’t die earlier.

Upon hearing her words, Shen Qingshan waved his hand: “Didn’t we agree not to mention him?

Why bring it up again? Aren’t you just causing trouble for yourself?”

In response, Madam Shen’s face still held a touch of anger.

“Tell me, am I wrong? If he had died earlier, there wouldn’t be so many troubles.

He insisted on taking away our Shen Family’s title before dying.

Couldn’t he have died earlier?”

This Marquis position, the qualification for succession had already been declared to the heavens and the earth.

No matter what Shen Han did, the title on Shen Qingshan could only be passed down to Shen Han.

If Shen Han were to perish, the Marquis position of the Shen Family would terminate at this point.

“What’s done is done, continuing to talk about it would only add to our troubles.

Why were you, the Old Dowager, so soft-hearted back then?

If you had been more ruthless, you would have dealt with him early on.

There were so many opportunities back in the mansion, you didn’t act, so why regret it now?”

Shen Qingshan’s words implied that Shen Han’s survival was due to Madam Shen’s soft heart.

In fact, was she soft-hearted?

She was not soft-hearted toward Shen Han at all.

In the beginning, Shen Han was extremely low-key, so low-key that others ignored him.

After the royal-family betrothal, Shen Han was taken care of by Madam Yun.

With Madam Yun’s presence, Madam Shen had to exercise some restraint.

Otherwise, if she harmed her own grandson, this infamy would have spread across Great Wei immediately.

In Great Wei, reputation is highly important.

Moreover, the Shen Family commanded troops, requiring virtue and reputation.

Therefore, what kept Shen Han alive were these factors.

It wasn’t due to Madam Shen’s soft heart.

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about the past anymore.

Today we are idle, let us go and see Ye’Er together, to see how well he has recovered.”

With that, the two of them walked together toward the courtyard where Shen Ye lived.

…

“Ye’Er, don’t you want to rest a bit? You’ve been practicing all through the night…”

At the entrance of the courtyard, Madam He earnestly advised.

Upon hearing these words, Shen Ye paused slightly.

“I am fine, as long as mother is at ease.”

His broken leg had now been replaced with a prosthetic.

From the training, Shen Ye was already very accustomed to it.

Beside him, several abnormal phenomena floated in the air.

Currently, his strength had recovered to the Half-Step Fifth Grade Realm.

The matter of his broken leg did not defeat him.

His previous violent temper had now disappeared.

In his conversations with others, Shen Ye had returned to his former self.

“The master said that before Ye’Er masters this mechanical leg proficiently, the daily training time should be controlled within four two-hour periods.

With the remaining time, Ye’Er can do some things you want to do.

Don’t be relentless in focusing solely on training.”

Upon hearing his mother’s words, Shen Ye hesitated for a moment.

“What I want most now is to have a proper match against Shen Han.

Now my strength has been restored to the Half-Step Fifth Grade Realm, and soon I will step into the Fifth Grade Fruit Realm.

If I go all out, I can unleash a Fourth Grade level of power.

Back then, he broke one of my legs, and now I want to try breaking one of his, to see how it feels.”

Hearing her son’s words, Madam He was somewhat helpless.

“Ye’Er, Shen Han is already dead.

Why compete with a dead man…”

“I must say, how I wish he was still alive.

If I were the one to end his life, perhaps my blocked feelings could finally clear up completely.”

Looking up at the tall tree in the courtyard, Shen Ye was thoughtful.

His heart thought about if Shen Han were still alive, what his strength would have been.

When Shen Ye lost a leg, Shen Han was also severely injured.

As he was now regaining strength and about to step into the Fifth Grade Fruit Realm.

If Shen Han were alive, would he have the ability to face him?

…

In the Land of the Far South, even though Shen Han had stepped into the Immortal Realm, he still walked cautiously in this place teeming with poisons.