Stop pretending, the fake heiress is actually a master of metaphysics.

The three followed the ball of light and bumped into two servants who were carrying a wooden box together.

The ball of light landed on the wooden box.

"Mr. Gu, young master, what's wrong?"

The two servants looked at each other in bewilderment.

Gu Qiwen tapped the box: "What's inside?"

The maid replied, "They are some old items from the old house, which the housekeeper asked us to throw away."

Shen Nian said, "Please open this box; I want to see what's inside."

The maid didn't understand, but she did as she was told.

When the box was pried open, a handmade oil-paper umbrella came into view.

The umbrella handle is jet black and glossy, clearly made of high-quality material, and must be quite expensive.

The maid explained, "This is a handicraft that the old lady bought casually a few years ago. It's an antique imitation, not a real antique. Not long ago, the housekeeper found that the umbrella was broken while tidying up, so she asked us to pack it up and throw it away."

Gu Yuncheng glanced at it and said, "I vaguely remember this umbrella. I think it was bought by my grandma and me in an antique shop when we went to Suzhou that year. We used it for taking pictures. It wasn't worth much, maybe around 20,000 yuan? But I brought it back because it has some sentimental value."

A craft item costing 20,000 yuan is something only Gu Yuncheng would consider expensive.

However, if the place where the wordless book is hidden is full of antiques, then this umbrella obviously cannot be considered an antique.

Shen Nian took out the umbrella, opened it, and looked up at it: "It really has nothing to do with the Heavenly Book."

Only when she got closer could she perceive the subtle difference in their auras.

"However, although it's not a celestial book, this umbrella is no ordinary umbrella either. It's also a magical artifact."

It even shares some similarities with the celestial book.

That's why the fragment of the Heavenly Book in her hand reacted.

Gu Yuncheng asked curiously, "Is this also a magical artifact? But isn't it a modern craft product?"

Shen Nian shook her head: "Its original form was indeed not a product of this era. I guess someone got hold of the broken umbrella by chance and repaired and painted it with modern techniques, which is why it looks like this."

So if it's not repaired, this umbrella is indeed an antique—although it only has a broken frame, so it's probably just a piece of junk among antiques.

However, in this case, the umbrella would not be circulated in the market as a work of art, and thus would not end up in the Gu family's possession.

"So what's the use of this umbrella?"

"It can conceal one's own aura."

Shen Nian said, "It should also be able to withstand some magical attacks."

Gu Yuncheng: !

That's amazing!

Although it's not a divine book, finding a magical artifact of this caliber isn't a complete loss.

Gu Qi said, "If Uncle Mo asks, just say we've already taken the umbrella."

The maid nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Mr. Gu. It was going to be thrown away anyway, so you can do whatever you want with it."

After finishing her business, Shen Nian returned to Tiannan Mountain.

As for Gu Qiwen and Gu Yuncheng, although the old lady is now in good health, she still needs to accompany them as grandchildren.

Moreover, they also needed to put on a show to conceal the fact that the old lady was alright, and secretly find the person who had harmed her.

The Shen family was still in Tiannan Mountain, and since Shen Nian had no reason to stay with the Gu family, she naturally left first.

When the driver took Shen Nian back to Tiannan Mountain, the three members of the Shen family had been waiting for a long time.

Before finding Shen Nian, Shen Zhaozhang and Song Daiqing probably never imagined that they would be waiting for their own daughter to come home like guests.

They wanted to see where Shen Nian lived, but the butler stopped them several times, only allowing them to sit and wait in the banquet hall.

After several such incidents, Shen Zhaozhang's expression became somewhat unpleasant.

He wasn't Song Daiqing; he didn't have deep feelings for the children in his family. He only saw them as successors to his business or heirs to the Shen family's wealth. The reason he came to see Shen Nian today was largely because the old man had unusually lost his temper and scolded them for not being fit to be parents.

In order to maintain the eldest son's position in the old man's heart, Shen Zhaozhang came with Song Daiqing.

Shen Yingwei gently persuaded, "Dad, don't be angry. I don't think the housekeeper did it on purpose. He was just following my sister's orders. Maybe it's because my sister didn't want us to come that she gave the servants such instructions..."

His words were clearly meant to sow discord between Shen Nian and others.

As luck would have it, Shen Nian entered the banquet hall and happened to hear this sentence.

She glanced at Shen Yingwei with a half-smile and said, "What, even after leaving the Shen family, you're still going to make things difficult for me?"

She then looked at Shen Yingchuan: "Why is she here too?"

Didn't Shen Yingchuan say that only he and the original owner's biological parents were there?

Shen Yingchuan quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Yingwei was in the wrong yesterday. She specifically asked Mom and Dad to come along so she could apologize to you in person."

Shen Nian nodded knowingly; "Oh, but isn't it a coincidence? I didn't hear the apology, but I did hear this person trying to sow discord between me and others in my house."

"You can't wander around while the master isn't back. Doesn't the Shen family even know this most basic manners?"

Shen Yingchuan:......

He glanced at Shen Yingwei and snapped, "Apologize to your sister right now!"

Shen Nian said, "No, I can't take that responsibility. Don't keep apologizing and then you'll end up putting all the blame on me."

"I heard you trying to sow discord between me as soon as I arrived, and who knows what you said while I was away."

Shen Yingwei's face stiffened.

Song Daiqing said, "Niannian, Mom was wrong yesterday, and Mom apologizes to you. But Yingwei was just too scared, which is why she did such foolish things. Can you forgive us?"

Shen Nian scoffed, "Has Shen Yingwei lost her tongue? Wasn't she so eloquent just now? How come you have to apologize for her now?"

"In the end, you're not afraid of making me angry, nor do you think you've done anything wrong. You're just afraid that Shen Yingwei will drive me away, and that Old Master Shen will hold you accountable and kick Shen Yingwei out as well. You say that both sides are flesh and blood, but the flesh on the palm will always be softer than the flesh on the back of the hand, won't it?"

"As for you."

Shen Nian looked at Shen Yingchuan and Shen Zhaozhang: "Mr. Shen, you don't value Shen Yingwei as much as Mrs. Shen. You probably came here because of the pressure from the old man. After all, the old man still holds the financial power of the Shen family, right?"

Shen Nian scanned them all: "None of you think you've really done anything wrong, nor do you think I've been truly wronged or anything. You're just under different pressures, so you've come up to me to 'apologize' in a perfunctory manner. Do you think such an apology has any meaning?"

"I went back to the Shen family with you, and then what? Shen Yingwei continued to feign insecurity, framing me and pinning the blame on me; Madam Shen continued to show favoritism; and Mr. Shen continued to act as if it were none of his business. Has anything changed?"

Song Daiqing said in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry, Niannian, but I promise I won't distrust you anymore. If Yingwei does something wrong, I will teach her properly."

Shen Nian raised her hand to interrupt her: "Forget it, I don't believe it, and I'm too lazy to play this utterly boring apology game with you."

"Please leave now. I'll say it again: I'll spend two days each month staying at the Shen family's house. Otherwise, it's best if we keep to ourselves and don't bother each other."

"Butler, please see the guest out."