Chapter 595: Chapter 593: The Transmigrated Woman Who Self-Destructed 18 Times (Part 24)
Shen Zheng’an has been reinstated as a scholar, but as for the top scorer incident, because the cheating case caused a stir, his previous exam result was invalidated. Later, a re-exam was conducted, and everyone’s results, including his, were disregarded.
He can only wait for the next exam.
Shen Zheng’an doesn’t regret it, as it gives him some time to prepare. He is confident in himself and is already very pleased to have cleared his name so quickly.
Initially, this was a very egregious matter causing a sensation among scholars, and the Emperor showed no intention of covering up for the two princes, winning much praise from scholars.
In the planting space, everyone set a table to celebrate Shen Zheng’an’s exoneration.
"Congratulations." Everyone raised their glasses to toast Shen Zheng’an, all feeling happy about this matter.
Shen Zheng’an smiled as he picked up his glass and clinked it with everyone else’s, reflecting on how bizarre his recent experiences had been.
"I heard you were expelled from the Shen Family; do you plan to go back?" Jiang Zhi asked.
Shen Zheng’an shook his head, "No, at least I won’t return to the Marquis Mansion."
"Having a father like Shen Jun above me is not a good thing. Filial piety comes first; I don’t mind that. But if something were to happen, people outside would always criticize me for it."
He didn’t want to cause trouble for himself.
"Do you mean you’ll return to the Shen Family but not the Marquis Mansion?" Ah Chen deduced, "Are you planning to acknowledge a new father?"
That wouldn’t be bad, considering the Shen Family is a large clan with many branches. It’s actually not worth it to have a falling out with the whole Shen Family over those people in the Marquis Mansion.
Shen Zheng’an has decided to join Jiang Zhi’s camp, which is destined to be of high rank and authority in the future. The Shen Family can benefit, but the Marquis Mansion cannot, serving as a small form of revenge for him.
"Exactly. I plan to acknowledge a new father, preferably one who is already deceased." Shen Zheng’an laughed, knowing that if Shen Jun found out, he’d be furious. His biological father was very image-conscious. "Shortly after the incident, Shen Jun caused a fuss to have me expelled, and with so many people in the Marquis Mansion, no one else spoke up, just him being overly aggressive. I can’t deal with such a father; the Shen Family clan members should understand. With my abilities, they shouldn’t easily give up on me."
Even the old madam who didn’t like him didn’t immediately expel him due to this incident.
Shen Jun was still his father.
Shen Zheng’an couldn’t understand. Did the other party hate him so much? To the point of wishing he didn’t exist! From childhood to adulthood, Shen Jun never valued him as a son, always belittling and suppressing him.
He’s still alive and well, thanks to his tough fate.
They really have no father-son bond left.
"Someday, I’ll go with you to the Shen Family to find the clan leader," Jiang Zhi said. He and Shen Zheng’an no longer needed to avoid anything. Since returning from the deserted island together, they’ve been branded as part of the same camp. There’s no need to hide; it’s better to openly reveal themselves. Protecting one’s own is quite normal, isn’t it?
"Thank you, Your Highness." Shen Zheng’an cupped his hands.
Jiang Zhi was delighted to hear those words. From today, he has someone he can absolutely trust, someone favored by a fairy, potentially even an immortal come down to undergo tribulation. Despite his broad knowledge, he felt a little excited.
With such important matters, he could arrange for Shen Zheng’an to handle them.
Moreover, they both had access to the space, making it convenient to communicate about certain matters.
Miss Chu had once mentioned to him that within the Yang Dynasty, no matter where these people were, they could enter and exit the space.
Today, Shen Zheng’an drank a bit too much, his eyes already hazy.
But it seemed he hadn’t forgotten to water the flowers. He got up to fetch a watering can and started watering the flowers. Though his steps were a bit unsteady, he was meticulous while watering, not at all like someone who was drunk.
Jiang Zhi sent everyone else away, intending to have a private conversation with Ah Chen.
"Miss Chu shouldn’t mind if I have him help with some matters in the future, right?"
It’s still important to give her a heads-up.
After these days of getting along, Jiang Zhi had some understanding of her personality. As long as things are discussed properly, many matters can be negotiated.
Ah Chen laughed, "He should have his own matters to tend to. Isn’t that his choice?"
Even if the original storyline had deviated, Shen Zheng’an choosing Jiang Zhi was his voluntary choice.
How could she possibly stop him?
After all the experiences, truly making Shen Zheng’an live like a recluse would be rather daunting for him.
Even if he’s not very ambitious, he has kept a knot in his heart all these years.
Besides, Shen Zheng’an has his own matters of cause and effect to deal with.
For instance, those two reincarnators.
And also, why his biological father Shen Jun disregarded him so much, abandoning him at the first sign of trouble. These need clarification.
Perhaps, in nurturing forces secretly, Shen Zheng’an subconsciously wanted to uncover these issues?
The two reincarnators, Shen Zhengjia and the other, came back with the intent to kill Shen Zheng’an rather than cooperate, indicating some irreconcilable conflict between them.
All these are up to Shen Zheng’an to resolve.
"Then I’m relieved." Jiang Zhi felt a weight lifted off his shoulders, convinced that Shen Zheng’an’s background was extraordinary.
Ah Chen noticed Jiang Zhi’s expression but didn’t explain anything.
Shen Zheng’an indeed had an exceptional background, and his guesses weren’t wrong.
If this small fragment wasn’t allowed to resolve its cause and effect issues, even if forcibly taken back, it wouldn’t integrate well in the future.
"I heard you slapped my second brother twice?" Jiang Zhi asked with interest, unusually showing all his excitement.
Speaking of which, he felt the most relaxed here.
Maybe because Miss Chu is too powerful, it’s easy for her to harm anyone she wants, so he doesn’t have any worries.
Ah Chen laughed out loud, not surprised Jiang Zhi knew. Although the princes hoped to keep the matter quiet, Jiang Zhi surely had planted spies around them.
"It is indeed so."
"He was too rude that day. I said I didn’t want to go, yet he insisted on inviting me to the Second Prince Mansion, so I had to wake him up a bit."
She said it lightly, but Jiang Zhi knew about her threat to Jiang Heng and mentally laughed at Jiang Heng.
It’ll do him good to learn a lesson that not everyone can be bullied.
He hoped his second brother wouldn’t learn from it and provoke Miss Chu again, getting his head shaved by her.
Ah Chen looked at Jiang Zhi several times; he appeared rather mischievous.
Shen Zheng’an, who was watering flowers, sobered up a bit, seeing Ah Chen and Jiang Zhi chatting and laughing, waking up another three-fifths from the five-fifths of drunkenness.
His expression changed several times as he stood from a distance, watching Ah Chen and Jiang Zhi.
Now that his reputation has been restored, not only should he work hard for his official career, but he should also show off in front of Miss Chu.
Despite joining Jiang Zhi’s camp, he was still unwilling!
Fair competition.
Jiang Zhi cleared his throat, "Miss Chu, I’ll take my leave first then."
He wanted fair competition but never had the opportunity. Someone like him, with so much in mind, couldn’t possibly put his partner first, so it was impossible for someone like Miss Chu to fancy him.
As for Shen Zheng’an, if Miss Chu suggested leaving everything behind and going into seclusion with her, there’s no doubt he would agree.
Except, Miss Chu wouldn’t do that.
Another day envying Shen Zheng’an.
Better meet with Father Emperor early tomorrow! His breakfast is always quite good.
A bouquet of flowers suddenly appeared before Ah Chen, and as she looked up, she met Shen Zheng’an’s complex gaze before accepting the bouquet.
"Today’s flowers are beautiful."
Shen Zheng’an’s eyes lit up with joy, "As long as you like them."
It seems Miss Chu hasn’t chosen the Sixth Prince either.
"I’ll come again tomorrow." He said.
Ah Chen nodded, "Okay."
