High-class maid

Chapter 277 Should I See Him?

"Look at me, I was so happy to see you that I forgot to introduce myself," the purchasing manager said with an embarrassed smile.

Then, he straightened his expression and continued.

“My surname is Cai, and I am the steward of the Marquis’s mansion. Today, I have come to see you on the orders of my master, and I wish to tell you the truth that has been buried for many years.”

"What truth? Is it that Master Hou is my maternal grandfather?" Shen Kun asked, staring intently at him.

"Exactly. You! How did you know?!" The procurement manager's eyes widened in surprise.

As far as he knew, Shen Kun's adoptive mother treated him like a cash cow and hadn't told him about his true parentage. Similarly, the people of Shenjia Village wouldn't be such a villain, so how did Shen Kun find out?

"Ha, what mother would bear to let her son do manual labor at such a young age? What mother would bear to mistreat her daughter-in-law? What mother would bear to let her son be a servant?" Shen Kun said with a wry smile.

The procurement manager's eyes welled up with tears. He wiped away the tears that were about to spill, and said in a choked voice, "..."

"May I call you young master?"

After saying that, without waiting for Shen Kun to go home, he continued...

“My grandfather was known for his stubbornness when he was young, and my daughter just happened to be just like him. Back then, my grandfather wanted my daughter to marry the son of his old friend. Although the family wasn’t wealthy, they were someone he knew well. But my daughter already had someone she liked.”

"The two became pregnant out of wedlock. The master felt ashamed and said a few words to the young lady. As a pregnant woman, the young lady was naturally thoughtful, so she couldn't help but argue with the master. Neither of them would give in, and they ended up breaking off their engagement."

"Later, the young lady died. The messenger was stopped by the master's cousin. By the time we learned of the young lady's death, your father had already remarried. We wanted to bring you home, but we were stopped by Madam Pang, who said that you were not his son and that our young lady had died along with her unborn child."

"The master was heartbroken and fainted upon returning home. He lay in the courtyard for most of the night before the servants found him. It was from then on that the master developed this asthma. We were all deceived by that wicked woman!"

The housekeeper became more and more excited as she spoke, and in the end, she looked at Shen Kun with pleading eyes, trying to move him.

Shen Kun's eyes also reddened, but his years of resilience wouldn't allow him to show it. He painfully raised his head, his eyes blazing, and asked the housekeeper...

"Then how did you find out the truth? Could it be that he has been ill for a long time and needs someone to take care of him at his bedside, which is why he sought me out? Why should I believe him?"

“Young Master, I know you have grievances in your heart, but my master has grievances too. He was so heartbroken back then that he missed out on you by some twist of fate.”

"Ha, I have no right to complain. I heard he already has an adopted son, and I don't covet your Marquis's estate. I'll just pretend you didn't come looking for me today." After saying this, Shen Kun stood up and was about to leave.

"Young Master! Please let me finish speaking before you leave, okay?" Butler Cai strode forward and blocked Shen Kun's path, looking at him pleadingly.

Shen Kun initially wanted to refuse, but softened when he saw the man's white hair. If a steward was like this, how well did his grandfather live in the Marquis's mansion?

Shen Kun sat down with a cold face, staring at him without saying a word.

The purchasing manager breathed a sigh of relief and sat down opposite him to continue speaking.

“Last year, the old man’s cousin passed away unexpectedly. Before he died, he told me about how he stopped your father from announcing the death. That’s when my father found out that he had a grandson.”

"Why did he stop the messenger who brought the news of his death? And why did he reveal the truth before he died?" Shen Kun asked.

"Back then, when Miss married into Shenjia Village, it was no secret in the clan that Master had severed ties with her. Master's cousins ​​all coveted the vast family fortune. His cousin had four sons, while Master had none. So he wanted to have his son adopted by Master. If Master knew he had a grandson, he would definitely take you back to the Marquis's mansion. There would be no place for his son then."

"So, he stopped the person? What right did he have?"

"He said he was the steward and threatened your father, saying that the two families had long since severed ties and that his life or death had nothing to do with the Marquis's mansion. Your father was so angered that he left," Steward Cai said regretfully.

"Later, he contracted a strange illness and needed to be kept alive by eating snow lotus from Tianshan Mountain every day. The master was not stingy and did not accept his money. Perhaps he was moved and told the truth before he died."

"Mother Nature plays tricks on people."

After a long silence, Shen Kun said something.

"Yes, fate is cruel. Ever since the master learned the truth, he has lost his appetite and his condition has worsened. Later, he found out that his adopted son had poisoned him, and their relationship became increasingly tense. Knowing that his days were numbered, the master ordered me to tell you the truth."

"Poisoning? Why haven't I heard of this in the capital?" Shen Kun asked in surprise, disregarding his grief.

“Bai Mo is too cautious. Master is unwell and can only rest in his room most of the time. My servant and I searched for a long time before we found some evidence, but it was not enough to do anything to him for the time being. Reporting to the authorities might alert him,” said Steward Cai.

Although he remained tight-lipped about the matter, Shen Kun still keenly sensed their predicament.

"Then what is the purpose of your visit to me? Is it just to tell me a story?" Shen Kun asked.

"My master wishes to see you. Would you be willing, young master?" Butler Cai asked cautiously.

"I'm afraid I'm not available. Let's talk about it another day when I'm free," Shen Kun politely declined.

He wasn't mentally prepared. How could he accept that someone he had hated for so long suddenly told him he had hated the wrong person?

“It’s alright, time is not an issue. Would you like to see the old man?” the housekeeper asked.

Shen Kun, who was usually decisive, hesitated for a moment.

Do I want to?

He wanted to ask Master Hou if he had visited his mother's grave all these years.

Did he really not inquire? Can he really ignore everything from the past just because he's too heartbroken?

But can't you see him? He's my mother's only family left. My mother must regret it too, right?

Should I fulfill my filial duties to my mother? But doesn't he already have an adopted son? What am I then?

Shen Kun was conflicted, and his expression kept changing. The housekeeper did not urge him, but carefully observed his expression.

"Yes. The housekeeper will make the arrangements," Shen Kun said.

"It can be done today." This was exactly what the steward had been waiting for, so as soon as he finished speaking, the steward eagerly replied.

"Today? He can leave the manor?" Shen Kun asked in surprise.

“Sir, let me push you out.” The steward said to the room behind him.

Shen Kun felt as if time had stood still. He stared intently at the room, as if trying to see a flower bloom within it.

The heavy door blocked his view; he couldn't see anything except the door.