RWNEFE -Chapter 18 Shen Congwen’s Awakening

Shen Lanxi put away her smile, her gaze icy as she looked at the so-called relatives of the Wei Army.

“If the Wei Army has no flag, then who sent you here to kill and silence people?”

Panic immediately flashed across the faces of the Wei Army relatives. They scrambled to deny it: “We’re just ordinary people! How would we know the Wei Army flag? You tricked us! What’s your connection to the Shen family? Why are you speaking for them?”

“Stop listening to her nonsense! She’s here to help the Shen family. Kill the Shen family quickly!”

Shen Lanxi shouted: “You don’t even recognize the character ‘Zhou’ on the Great Zhou army flag. You’re imposters posing as Wei Army relatives! The Shen family had nothing to do with the stolen Wei Army rations—they were framed. The ones who sent you to kill are the real culprits behind the theft!”

“You’re lying! We are the Wei Army’s relatives!”

“Kill her! She’s also a Shen family member!”

Shen Lanxi’s voice was firm: “You’re afraid, you’re panicking, because there aren’t any Wei Army relatives behind you. What you’re doing is tantamount to rebellion. Who would willingly be ordinary civilians and follow you to die?”

Chunxue immediately shouted to support her: “You’re fake Wei Army relatives, the real culprits stole the Wei Army’s rations. I’m taking you to the authorities now!”

Liu the officer looked at the panicking imposters and realized Shen Lanxi was telling the truth—they had no backup.

“Seize them and take them to the magistrate. There will definitely be a hefty reward!”

Hearing “hefty reward,” the constables raised their blades and moved to strike!

The fake Wei Army relatives, seeing their plan exposed, dropped their tools and ran into the mountains.

After a few dozen meters, Liu called the constables to stop.

“Do not chase poor fugitives. Keep moving immediately!”

This situation was clearly not simple. Liu glanced at the Shen family—they were like a hot potato: impossible to discard yet impossible to handle. He cursed loudly and whipped some of the exiled prisoners to vent his frustration.

Shen Lanxi glanced toward Shen Yuanzhan. They’d still consider pushing her father to take the blame?

Once they resumed the journey, the constables’ pace noticeably quickened. Anyone who lagged behind received the whip without warning.

The cries of children calling for their parents continued along the way. Luckily, after the fake Wei Army incident, the Shen family moved obediently, and no one was whipped.

“Sir, what should we do with this person?” One tied-up fake relative hadn’t been dealt with yet.

Shen Lanxi: “Tie him to the back of the carriage. Don’t let him escape.”

“Yes!”

Under the blazing sun, after more than two hours, one prisoner became extremely thirsty and asked the constables for water. He received over ten lashes as punishment, and the others dared not test their luck—they obediently paid for their water.

“Father, I’m so thirsty!” Shen Yuanqing, seeing some uncles drinking, could not help but tell his father.

Shen Congwen noticed too, thinking about how his third brother’s household had pushed him to take the blame earlier, a flash of disappointment in his eyes.

“The money is with your grandmother. I’ll ask her for some.”

The children quickly nodded—they were all thirsty.

Shen Congwen returned shortly after, looking completely dejected.

“Father, did you get the money?” Shen Yuanqing asked anxiously.

Shen Congwen lowered his head, saying nothing.

“Father…” The younger children of the main household called again.

Suddenly, Shen Yuanjing shouted.

“Mother, what’s wrong?”

Zhou Xinrou felt her vision darken, her legs weaken, and nearly fell. Shen Yuanjing reacted swiftly and caught her.

“Father, mother feels so hot!”

Shen Congwen panicked and felt his wife’s forehead.

“She has a fever!”

The children were all alarmed.

“Father, what should we do? Can we get a doctor here?”

“Father, should we plead with the constables? Our eldest sister will know what to do!”

Shen Congwen looked at his wife with deep worry, frustrated at his own helplessness, pounding his legs in despair.

“Today’s events have already put your eldest sister in a difficult position. At noon, the constables nearly didn’t let her deliver our meal. We cannot let her be troubled further!”

He finally understood why his daughter had concealed her identity, even secretly delivering meat to them.

“Wait here!”

Shen Congwen stood again, resolute, and strode toward Grandmother Shen.

When he returned, he carried a water jug, a fever-reducing medicine, and half a bag of silver!

“Drink this. If it’s not enough, ask the constables for more!”

“Father, give mother some first. I’ll carry her after!” Shen Yuanjing said quickly.

“We’ll take turns carrying mother!” the other children agreed.

Shen Congwen’s eyes were red, tears threatening to fall.

No matter how good he had been to his parents and brothers before, when trouble came, only his children unconditionally helped him.

He vowed never to be as confused and helpless as before.

That evening, there was no post station. After the sun began to set, the constables found a flat place to camp for the night.

The exiled prisoners, ordered to rest, collapsed on the ground in disarray.

Usually, the constables would not travel this fast. Even the older ones were exhausted.

“Brother Liu, why are we walking so fast?” a constable asked after sitting down.

Liu the officer, deep in thought, glanced around without answering.

“Brother Liu, was what that man said true or false? If someone really wanted to kill us, the Shen family would be innocent, right?”

Hearing this, Liu kicked the speaking constable, scolding: “If you don’t want to die, don’t talk nonsense!”

The kicked constable trembled in fear and dared not speak again.

“Tonight, keep alert. Take turns keeping watch!” Liu assigned several constables.

The officers immediately sensed danger and were on high alert.

Nanny Li carried a bamboo basket delivering food—two roasted chickens, two slabs of braised beef, and a large bag of buns!

Normally, the constables would have eaten greedily and praised her. Today, none dared take anything.

Liu looked at the fragrant beef, snorted, and was the first to reach for it.

“Eat freely! We hardly ever get treats like this!” After a few good meals, Liu didn’t want hard biscuits anymore.

Nanny Li returned later with another basket of food.

“Sir, I’m delivering food to the lord and lady!”

Since the constables were eating what she brought, they wouldn’t stop her from delivering to the Shen family.

“Chunxue, take some medicine along with Nanny Li!”

Chunxue hurried to fetch it.

Shen Lanxi pulled a stick from the carriage, placed it upright on the carriage shaft, and jumped down to stretch her muscles.

Tonight, there would be a tough battle—time to warm up!