Shen Feng took a look and saw that they were indeed seven silver notes worth a thousand taels each. A big smile spread across his face. Just as he was about to put the silver notes into his bosom, he was stopped by Shen Shi.
Shen Shi pressed her hand on the box containing the silver notes and said to Shen Feng, "The seven thousand taels this time, plus the eight thousand taels I gave you last time, make up a total of fifteen thousand taels. With this money, we can repair most of the burned - down courtyard in the Shen Mansion. In this way, I've apologized to our father and mother. And from then on, this matter has nothing to do with me!"
Shen Feng tightened his grip on the box. He smiled and said to Shen Shi, "Sister, mother only has the two of us as children. You know your brother is good - for - nothing. Mother must rely on you more now. We're all family. Why should we be so clear - cut?"
Shen Shi was quite dissatisfied with Shen Feng's evasive words. "What do you mean by that? Even brothers should settle accounts clearly. After you take this fifteen thousand taels, the matter from last time will be settled. If you come to me for more silver in the future, I won't have any."
"Sister! Let's talk about this later! Later!" Shen Feng exerted force with his hand and snatched the box from Shen Shi.
"You..." Shen Shi was not as strong as him and naturally couldn't snatch it back.
"I still have some urgent matters at home, sister. I'll take my leave now!" Shen Feng picked up the box and got up to bid farewell.
Looking at Shen Feng's smug smile, Shen Shi knew that her younger brother was not that easy to deal with. She couldn't indulge his greed and let him blackmail her in the future. She must be on guard from now on. But before Shen Shi could say a word, she heard a familiar voice from behind.
"Uncle, please wait!" The one who spoke was Shen Miao. She was walking out of Shen Shi's inner chamber at this moment.
Hearing the voice, Shen Feng stopped in his tracks. He turned around and looked at Shen Miao. "Oh, it's Miao'er!"
"I pay my respects to Uncle!" Shen Miao smiled and curtsied to Shen Feng. "Uncle, you're leaving so early. Why don't you stay at home for a while and have a chat with mother?"
"Well, I suddenly remembered that there are some urgent matters waiting for me to deal with at home. I have to go back now! I'll catch up with your mother next time!"
Shen Miao pretended not to notice Shen Feng's eagerness to leave. She still said with a smile on her face, "Miao'er actually has something to ask Uncle. It won't take much of Uncle's time. Uncle might as well sit down and listen."
Before Shen Feng could refuse further, a servant presented a box. Shen Miao opened the box and said, "It's not a big deal. I've also heard that mother has given Uncle fifteen thousand taels of silver in total these days. So I thought Uncle should write a receipt!"
Hearing this, Shen Feng's face suddenly turned ugly. "Sister, Miao'er, what do you mean? With our relationship, do we still need a receipt?"
Only after hearing Shen Miao's words did Shen Shi react. She smiled and negotiated, "Brother, doing this is just to avoid unnecessary troubles in the future."
"Humph! Unnecessary troubles? I think you're afraid that I'll rely on you in the future, right?" Shen Feng hugged the box and stood at the hall door, sneering.
"Brother, don't misunderstand! We don't mean that. Just sign this receipt. We won't use it for anything in the future!" Shen Shi continued to persuade.
"So our deep sister - brother affection is only worth this amount of silver! Moreover, this silver is to clean up the mess left by you two. Today, I've really seen your heartless faces!"
Shen Feng was so angry that his face turned blue. He hugged the box of silver notes in his hand and walked up to the box with the receipt held by the maid. He took out the receipt and took a look. His anger grew even stronger.
"Humph! A good 'from now on, we're clear and owe each other nothing'! I really didn't come in vain today! If I don't sign this document, will you not let me leave the mansion?"
Hearing Shen Feng's words, Shen Shi also looked at the receipt. Seeing that it was indeed written like that, she couldn't help frowning. "This... This, brother, I don't mean that!"
"Alright, stop talking! I'll sign it. Otherwise, you'll always be on guard against me as if I'm a troublesome burden." As Shen Feng said, he picked up the writing brush beside him and quickly signed his name on it.
Seeing that he had signed, Shen Miao showed a satisfied look on her face. Shen Feng directly threw the brush away and left with a flick of his sleeve.
"Brother!" Shen Shi watched Shen Feng leave like this. She couldn't help taking a few steps forward to try to stop him, but was grabbed by the sleeve by Shen Miao and forced to stop.
"Mother!" Shen Miao looked at Shen Shi with disapproval on her face. "Uncle has signed the document. We don't have to worry about anything from now on!"
Shen Shi looked at Shen Feng's departing back and Shen Miao beside her in a dilemma. "Alas! Miao'er! This time we've really offended your uncle! He'll surely bear a grudge against us in the future!"
Shen Miao sat down carelessly on the chair beside her. She picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. Then she said, "Mother, you've seen clearly Uncle's attitude in these two visits. How could fifteen thousand taels be enough to deal with him? If you keep hesitating and can't make a decision, you'll have to spend tens of thousands more taels of silver."
"Today, I made him sign this receipt. In the future, if he wants to come to our house for money again, he won't have any way. The fifteen thousand taels have already fulfilled our family affection."
Shen Shi sat down beside Shen Miao with a worried look on her face. "Miao'er, you're being stupid! By offending your uncle this time, you've offended your grandfather. Now your grandfather is in power. In the future, we'll still need his help. We can't afford to offend him."
"Didn't I know what your uncle was thinking before? Why did I still pretend to get along with him? It was just because I didn't want to go against your grandfather! Although I'm reluctant to part with tens of thousands of taels of silver, it's worth it for your future!"
After hearing this, Shen Miao put down the teacup in her hand and said disapprovingly, "Mother, you've seen that once I marry into the Fourth Prince's Mansion, I'll have both power and status! Moreover, grandfather is old, and uncle is unreliable. Even if we give him tens of thousands of taels of silver, it won't satisfy him. We'll just be throwing the money away for nothing."
"Alas!" Shen Shi let out a long sigh. "Miao'er, you should have discussed this matter with me in advance!"
Shen Miao smiled and held Shen Shi's hand. She persuaded, "Mother, I was afraid that you wouldn't be able to make up your mind, so I didn't tell you. Besides, grandfather is just a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue. In terms of power and favor in front of the emperor, he's not that important in the capital."
"Right in front of us, there's someone who's in favor with the emperor and has great power. Why should we try so hard to curry favor with grandfather?"
Shen Shi didn't understand Shen Miao's words for a moment. She looked at Shen Miao in confusion. "Miao'er, what do you mean? I don't understand."
"Mother! I'm talking about the Night Shadow Division!" At this point, Shen Miao lowered her voice. "In the court, is there anyone more valued by the emperor and more powerful than the leader of the Night Shadow Division?"