Chapter 23: I Cannot Hide Shilang’s Situation from Father

Wei Jianlang wiped his face and said, “I brought some good wine today, thinking we could drink and chat. But I’m afraid that won’t be possible tonight.”

Shen Shilang paused, guessing Wei Jianlang’s intentions, and smiled, “You’ve just returned, there’s no need to rush about. We can still drink and talk tonight.”

Wei Jianlang shook his head silently, “It’s not possible.”

After speaking, Wei Jianlang turned and strode out of the small courtyard.

Su Jinshi thought to herself, what kind of riddles are these two playing?

Suddenly, a long-unseen system notification popped up on her phone screen.

[System: Madam Wei’s mistreatment of Shen Shilang exposed, XP +100,000]

[System: Congratulations on reaching Level 6, Level reward: 600 gold coins]

Su Jinshi’s mouth gaped in surprise, “It’s either no experience at all, or suddenly 100,000 experience points at once!”

She had jumped from Level 3 to Level 6 in an instant.

What surprised Su Jinshi even more was that the system notifications continued.

[System: Wei Jianming’s whipping of Shen Shilang exposed, XP+200,000]

[System: Congratulations on reaching Level 8, Level reward: 800 gold coins]

[System: Wei Ruyan’s assistance in whipping Shen Shilang exposed, XP +150,000]

[System: Congratulations on reaching Level 10, Level reward: 1,000 gold coins]

Su Jinshi’s mouth remained open, her heart pounding with excitement.

After a while, no more system notifications appeared.

“Seems the rewards are over,” Su Jinshi muttered, rubbing her chin. “Could it be that exposing mistreatment of Shen Shilang increases experience and rewards? I wonder if there’d be additional rewards if these people were punished.”

“But I didn’t do anything to expose these actions,” Su Jinshi frowned, analyzing the situation. “Is it that I get rewards as long as it’s exposed, regardless of my involvement, or do I need to be involved?”

“To be accurate, I was involved, in a way,” Su Jinshi mused. “Because Madam Wei invited a Taoist priest to exorcise ghosts, which Wei Jianlang discovered upon his return home, triggering this series of events. And Madam Wei invited the priest because of what I did in the Wei mansion, making them think it was haunted.”

“Shen Shilang fought in the mansion, risking exposing his martial arts skills, because he was worried I might be hurt by the priest’s exorcism,” Su Jinshi rested her chin on her hand, tapping her nose with her index finger. “So the development of events to this point is essentially because of me.”

Su Jinshi continued analyzing as she returned to her bedroom, taking out her pajamas from the wardrobe. As she changed, she said, “Looking at it this way, it’s likely that my involvement is necessary to increase experience.”

After changing, Su Jinshi opened her personal center and saw she now had 361,000 experience points.

Level 11 required 450,000 experience points.

As for gold coins, the system’s level-up rewards totaled 1,800.

“At least I can save some money for a few days,” Su Jinshi muttered. Previously, she had spent all the system-gifted coins on improving Shen Shilang’s meals and buying a communication box daily.

Fortunately, her scriptwriting fees were quite high, otherwise she couldn’t have afforded to support Shen Shilang.

“I can upgrade the shop now!” Su Jinshi excitedly tapped into the shop.

She saw an upgrade icon next to the shop level.

Su Jinshi tapped it.

[System: Shop upgraded to Level 2]

Su Jinshi noticed little change in the shop’s items, with no new products added.

However, the prices of previous items had changed, now at 80% of their original price.

The intermediate communication box would be available when the shop reached Level 3.

Su Jinshi tapped the grayed-out upgrade icon.

[Shop Level 3 requires: User Level 20, Shen Shilang’s Favor 20 to unlock]

“Great, now my experience level is enough, but Shen Shilang’s favor is insufficient,” Su Jinshi sighed, deciding to go wash up.

However, she still carried her phone while washing up, keeping Shen Shilang company.

To prevent him from worrying if he couldn’t find her.

Meanwhile, Wei Jianlang didn’t immediately leave the Wei mansion. Upon leaving Shen Shilang’s courtyard, he encountered Mama Liu.

“Young Master, the Madam requests your presence,” Mama Liu trembled nervously before Wei Jianlang, who seemed eerily calm in his anger.

Wei Jianlang wordlessly headed towards Madam Wei’s courtyard. Before Mama Liu could breathe a sigh of relief, she heard Wei Jianlang say, “Mama Liu, you came with my mother from my maternal grandfather’s home. All these years, have you ever advised my mother to stop mistreating Shilang?”

Mama Liu trembled even more, kneeling behind Wei Jianlang, “It… it’s this old servant’s fault for failing to persuade the Madam.”

“If you don’t want me to ask my grandmother to recall you and send someone else,” Wei Jianlang said, “then stop indulging my mother’s temperament, and especially stop fanning the flames!”

“This… this old servant understands!” Mama Liu bowed her head, shaking.

Wei Jianlang continued walking without another word. Without his permission, Mama Liu dared not rise, remaining kneeling on the cold stone path in the night.

Madam Wei was pacing back and forth in her room, unconsciously clutching a handkerchief, too anxious to be at ease.

“Where’s Jianlang? Hasn’t he left Shen Shilang’s place yet?” This was the fifth time Madam Wei had asked.

Jinxiu, Madam Wei’s top maid, said, “Mama Liu is waiting outside Shen Shilang’s courtyard. Even if the Eldest Young Master didn’t intend to come, Mama Liu would stop him. Besides, the Eldest Young Master is most filial, he would surely come to see you, Madam, no matter what.”

“Go send someone to check if Mama Liu has stopped Jianlang,” Madam Wei urged.

“Yes,” Jinxiu hurriedly sent someone.

Soon after, Jinxiu returned hastily.

Madam Wei wondered how she returned so quickly, wondering if the person sent had such swift legs.

Then she heard Jinxiu say, “Madam, the Eldest Young Master has arrived.”

Madam Wei froze, and Jinxiu added, “Mama Liu isn’t with him.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Wei saw Wei Jianlang walking in the courtyard.

Wei Jianlang strode into the room, “Mother.”

Madam Wei looked behind him and asked, “Where’s Mama Liu?”

“Mother is so concerned about a servant, yet doesn’t ask how Shilang is?” Wei Jianlang questioned.

Madam Wei dropped her pretense and said, “If he were unwell, you would have called for a doctor already, and wouldn’t have left him to come here yourself.”

“Mother, I’m returning to the army tonight,” Wei Jianlang said softly, his expression neutral, only his eyes revealing disappointment.

Madam Wei’s lips trembled, steadied by Jinxiu.

“You’ve just returned, why go back?” Madam Wei felt a sense of foreboding.

“Regarding matters in the mansion, I cannot hide Shen Shilang’s situation from Father,” Wei Jianlang said solemnly.

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