Chapter 393: His Heart Is Thinking Only of Benefits
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Liu Shimei’s smile grew icier. She said, “Lord Grand Chancellor, there’s no need for you to put on this facade of a loving father. It’s too late for that, after I narrowly escaped death.”
“Liu Shimei!” Liu Fuyun was so infuriated that he raised his hand, ready to slap her.
However, Liu Shimei did not flinch. She raised her own face, pointing a finger at the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall. “Right in front of our ancestors, go ahead and strike me. In front of my mother, strike me. In front of my brother, strike me.”
Her smile became more audacious. “Lord Grand Chancellor, if you don’t kill me, you won’t live up to the ridiculous title of ‘Father.'”
Strangely, Liu Fuyun did want to strike her, but her words had an impact on him.
No matter how you looked at it, today was the anniversary of Liu Quan’s death, his son’s death!
Anyone could see how much Liu Quan cherished his little sister. He, as the elder brother, disregarded societal norms and insisted on living in the same courtyard as his sister, all to protect her from the nightmares that plagued her every night.
In front of his memorial tablet, Liu Fuyun could not bring himself to act.
He did have feelings for his eldest son.
Of course, the most important reason was that he still saw value in Liu Shimei, a reason to keep her around.
“Today, I won’t argue with you,” Liu Fuyun said, shaking off his own arm, hands behind his back. “But, Liu Shimei, filial piety is a fundamental principle in our society. Even if parents have countless faults, it’s all for the future of the Liu family. Do you think your brother’s death, your current situation, doesn’t pain your father’s heart?”
Liu Shimei’s lips curled, and she ran her tongue along her upper palate. His sudden change in strategy, an appeal to familial bonds, struck her as immensely amusing.
Indeed, he was the Lord Grand Chancellor, his management of his personal affairs might be in disarray, but he was far from a fool.
But was she buying into this?
No, she wasn’t.
She turned away, continuing their earlier conversation, “So, you suspect that my brother was killed by an external enemy and never considered it might be an internal issue?”
“Where would an internal issue come from?” Liu Fuyun was absolutely reluctant to entertain that thought.
But did he really have no thoughts about it?
Of course not!
Perhaps, in the past, he genuinely hadn’t considered it. But now…
Thinking about the matter of Liu Shimei’s chastity before her marriage, it was instigated by Madame Zhang, and if it hadn’t been for Liu Shimei breaking it off herself, she would have been doomed.
Considering the events surrounding Liu Quan back then, Madame Zhang might not be beyond suspicion!
However, regardless of this, the matter had already been settled. Liu Shimei’s chastity could not be restored, and she could not become the Crown Princess again. Even if Madame Zhang were to be eliminated, it would not bring Liu Quan back.
Rather than tearing their own people apart, letting outsiders mock the internal strife of the Liu family, and letting the Liu family’s reputation plummet, it was better to digest this matter themselves!
Currently, Liu Yan’er was still useful.
And Liu Yan’er was not particularly cunning. If she were to rise to a higher position in the future, her mother would undoubtedly support her from behind.
So, Madame Zhang was still useful!
Even though Liu Shimei understood that Liu Fuyun was an opportunistic person, she had no idea that his thoughts were solely centered on calculations of self-interest at this moment. She pursed her lips and said, “Since Father has never suspected, then I have nothing more to say.”
She had originally wanted to extract some clues from Liu Fuyun, but now, it was evident that he had none to offer.
She could only give up, walked over to a nearby high-backed chair, and sat down, then asked, “So, Father, are you staying here tonight to keep vigil with me?”