RWNEFE -Chapter 16 The Wei Army Families Arrive!

If one were to be strict, the Shen family wasn’t entirely innocent. Over the years, they had relied on two powerful patrons in the palace and reaped countless benefits. The gold and silver Shen Lanxi had confiscated from their treasury—if placed in the modern era—would be enough to start a fortune for fifty years.

The Shen family deserved a lesson!

Shen Lanxi herself slept a dreamless night. The stables in the back yard were noisy until late at night before finally quieting down. In the morning, when Nanny Li brought breakfast, she also relayed a message from Shen Yuanjing.

“Miss, Young Master Yuanjing says that all the silver you gave last night was taken by the matriarch! He wants you to send more.”

Shen Lanxi was eating breakfast as dawn broke. The exiled prisoners were about to set out.

Nanny Li thought for a moment, then took a fifty-tael silver note from her pocket and placed it on the table.

“Miss, with the hundred taels you gave me before, I bought grain and a cart. This is what I’ve managed to save over the years. Take this to buy food for the miss!”

Shen Lanxi looked at Nanny Li, returned the silver note to her hand, and had Chunxue bring another pouch of silver.

“You’re traveling with the whole family; I can’t take your money. I’ll handle money matters myself. Take this pouch to my father and tell him to use it sparingly!”

Chunxue frowned. “Miss, we don’t have much silver left.”

Shen Lanxi said: “Use it for now, we’ll figure out the rest on the road.”

Chunxue wanted to complain a bit—given the Shen family’s situation, even if they wanted to show filial respect, giving half would suffice. Why give it all? But in the end, because of Shen Lanxi’s authority, she didn’t dare speak.

“Get ready to depart!” The prisoners were already being driven out of the post station.

By the next day, the prisoners’ spirits were noticeably lower than the first day. Grandfather Shen and Grandmother Shen could barely walk shortly after starting and had to take turns being carried by their sons and grandsons.

The Shen men, having lived comfortably for years, were all unaccustomed to hardship. Each could only carry someone for a short while before needing to switch.

Fortunately, there were many men in the Shen family, so during rotations, there was a decent break period. Still, by the end of the morning, complaints were widespread.

“Mother, why don’t we have Lanxi speak with the officers, and you, Father, and the little ones ride on the carts?” Shen Congyi suggested. His feet were blistered from walking all morning; he wanted to settle this now so he wouldn’t have to carry anyone in the afternoon.

Grandmother Shen had actually been considering this, but yesterday, the eldest son Shen Congwen had, in front of the whole family, analyzed the pros and cons and insisted they keep a distance from Shen Lanxi, so as not to expose her or the Shen family’s identity.

If they got too close, what if someone got suspicious?

“Go ask your eldest brother!”

When Shen Congyi returned, Shen Congwen was behind him.

“Father, Mother, I think this is unwise. We’ve barely left the capital. Even if we want to ride, we should wait until we’re farther away. The other exiled prisoners have already been displeased with us since yesterday. On my way here, I saw people speaking ill of our family!”

The Shen family were immediately furious.

“What did they say about us?”

Shen Congwen: “They said our family committed heinous crimes, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and we don’t deserve such treatment!”

Grandmother Shen roared: “Nonsense! Our family has been wronged. Once the Emperor investigates, we will be recalled to the capital. Then they will be the true criminals, deserving death!”

Shen Congwen lowered his head, eyes void. Investigate? Not so easy.

“Mother, we know we are innocent, but others don’t believe us!”

Grandmother Shen: “That doesn’t mean we let them slander us. If you hear it, why not clarify things with the officers?”

Shen Congwen silently sighed. His mother had forgotten how the officers had looked at them before Shen Lanxi had arranged things.

“Mother, let’s wait. Once we’ve walked farther, and if our strength fails, then the officers will worry we’ll slow them down. At that time, it will be easier to handle than now.”

Grandfather Shen spoke: “Listen to eldest son. Walking from the capital to Dongchuan will take eight months. If the other exiled prisoners see us too comfortable, they will cause trouble. If we anger the officers, they may not let Lanxi bring us food. What then?”

Grandmother Shen scowled but said nothing further.

Grandfather Shen: “If the children can’t walk, have the adults carry them. If the women can’t walk, have their men help them. We are still lighter than those wearing shackles—don’t forget your blessings!”

The second, third, and fourth sons looked at the prisoners ahead, staggering in shackles, and said nothing.

At midday, a group suddenly appeared in the distance.

“They’ve caught up! Over there, it must be them!” someone in the crowd shouted.

Shen Lanxi quickly sent Chunxue and Qiushuang to scout!

When the group approached, the officers immediately drew their sabers.

“Are there any Shen family members here who harmed the Wei Army in the Northwest?” shouted a man holding a three-pronged wooden fork.

The officers initially thought it was an attempt to rescue the prisoners, but these people were dressed as poor farmers. Bandits don’t attack while carrying farming tools.

Liu the head officer frowned: “You are relatives of the Wei Army?”

The man with the wooden fork: “Yes! The Shen family destroyed our household. All three of my elder brothers were in the Wei Army. We are all family of dead Wei soldiers. Even if it costs our lives, today we will kill the Shen family!”

Liu shouted: “We are headed northwest. There are no Shen family members here—you’ve got the wrong people!”

Before he could finish, the sons from the four Shen family branches went weak at the knees, collapsing to the ground and crying in terror.

“I don’t want to die! Father, stepmother, grandfather, grandmother, I don’t want to die!”

The Wei Army relatives immediately shouted: “It’s them! Don’t be fooled—it’s them!”

If the timing had been right, Liu the officer wanted to drag the crying boys out and beat them.

“It’s a misunderstanding! It’s all a misunderstanding!”

After speaking to the Wei families, Liu turned and glared at all the exiled prisoners.

“If I hear anyone crying again, I’ll cut out their tongue!”

Chunxue reported back, while Qiushuang continued watching.

“Miss, the Wei Army families have come to take revenge on the Shen family!”

Shen Lanxi had expected attacks along the road, but she hadn’t expected the first strike to be so direct!

“See if any of them know martial arts. If they do, pull them out and hand them to Liu the officer.”

“Yes, Miss!”

When Chunxue went forward, the fight had already begun.

Twenty or so officers faced forty or so villagers, with fleeing, screaming exiled prisoners scattered through the chaos—a complete mess!

“Damn it! Keep moving and I won’t hold back!” Liu shouted, drawing his saber in frustration.

“Anyone who dares interfere will be treated as a bandit and killed on sight!” Liu shouted. Many froze.

“All exiled prisoners, lie down on the ground! If you run, you will be killed, and your entire clan will be punished!”

Even more stopped in their tracks.

“Don’t listen to him! They’re not killing their own family!”