RWNEFE -Chapter 189 The Food Was Poisoned!

The saying about the wise old being refers to Old Madam Shen. This time’s situation was far from as simple as her daughters-in-law claimed. Ever since her eldest son married the princess, she had noticed how the official wives in the capital fawned over her, and she had learned quite a bit.

The generals fighting in the field had their wives and children settled in the capital. Outwardly, it seemed like a favor from the throne, but in reality, it was to prevent the generals from becoming too independent in the field.

Even a housewife like her knew this was basically taking hostages. Yet her daughters-in-law, while in the capital, enjoyed themselves blindly, learning nothing.

Truly, whether children and grandchildren succeed or fail, a grandmother frets either way!

Old Madam Shen, fearing accidents, personally kept watch over her daughters-in-law in the household every day.

As the saying goes, even tigers take naps. After days of tension, she could not endure any longer and went to rest early at noon.

“Second Sister-in-law, I’m going to check on Yuanpeng. Are you coming?” Madam Miao hesitated to go alone and dragged Madam Liu along. That way, if they were caught and punished, at least someone would be with them—maybe the old madam would go easy on them for caring about their sons.

Unable to resist Madam Miao’s coaxing, Madam Liu relented and happily went to see her son, leaving Madam Tian alone.

Madam Tian, fuming, poured herself a cup of hot tea, drank it, and then went to find Old Madam Shen.

Madam Liu and Madam Miao didn’t dare go elsewhere. Hearing that Shen Lanxi was working at the government office, they inquired along the way and headed straight there.

“Lanxi is at the office, Yuanxu and the others must be there too!” After all, she would watch over her own family first.

If Lanxi were promoting her own brothers, she would naturally keep them nearby.

“Danger? Where’s the danger? The streets are full of small merchants!” Madam Miao complained.

Madam Liu could not stand Madam Miao’s sarcasm. Companionship is one thing, but she wouldn’t tolerate insults.

“Lanxi is just making sure we’re safe. Don’t be ungrateful—if the old madam finds out, she’ll tear your mouth apart!” Madam Liu warned sternly.

Madam Miao didn’t like that.

“Second Sister-in-law, you call her Lanxi all the time. She gives you leftovers, and you treat them like treasures, like a beggar receiving scraps! Who gave you anything, and you get weak in the knees?” Madam Miao pulled her hand free and teased.

Madam Liu glared but then laughed.

“You’re jealous that our Yuanxu and Yuankun got better rewards than your Yuanpeng and Yuanhao, so you look down on what’s left. If you can’t handle it, don’t take it!” No wonder her son always told her not to let others provoke her. Those provocateurs were jealous and wanted her to clash with Lanxi, letting Lanxi punish her.

What was that trick called again?

“Using a borrowed knife to kill.” She remembered—it’s exactly that. Those who tried to drive a wedge between her family and Lanxi were too cruel, too detestable!

Madam Miao’s face turned pale. Afraid Madam Liu would blab, she glared at her and turned away.

“Fine, go ahead—but don’t ask me to go with you next time!” Madam Liu, who often suffered under Madam Miao and Madam Tian, finally felt triumphant.

She had barely walked two steps when someone called her.

“Isn’t this Madam Liu of the Shen family?” Wu Tong, anxious to find Madam Liu, was surprised she came to him.

Madam Liu found Wu Tong familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

“Aunt, I’m Wu Tong, nephew of Left Chancellor Wu Yanzhi. I’m the one who accompanied my sister when she married into your family.”

Madam Liu suddenly remembered why Wu Tong seemed familiar.

It turned out he was from the Wu family—a family her household had a feud with.

Madam Liu immediately turned to leave.

Wu Tong hurried after her, fearing she’d snub him: “Aunt, I have some things to send for your grandson. I was planning to send some back to the capital anyway—why not take them together?”

Madam Liu had been about to curse, but Wu Tong’s words made her pause.

“Grandson?”

“Aunt, surely you don’t know? Yuanxu really should’ve told you about this big matter!” Wu Tong deliberately raised his voice.

He observed Madam Liu’s reaction; apparently, she really didn’t know.

The more Madam Liu heard, the more curious she became.

“What does this mean? Explain clearly!” This time Madam Liu pressed Wu Tong.

Wu Tong breathed a silent sigh of relief and deliberately dangled the suspense, then repeated the excuses he had given Shen Yuanxu to Madam Liu.

Madam Liu fell silent for a long time after hearing it.

Seeing her reaction, Wu Tong smiled: “When I visited them, the child looked healthy and strong—just like Yuanxu when he was young!”

Thinking of her own son’s childhood, Madam Liu’s heart softened.

…

Shen Lanxi began handling local affairs. It was the season for collecting annual taxes. Due to the chaos in the court, everyone was waiting and some even tried to evade taxes.

“Everyone’s hesitating, but we can’t let them all get away!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes gleamed: “Pick the first to act from the wooden granary. The loudest, most troublesome one—pull it out and make an example!”

Liu Yanhui reported: “It’s the Lu family of Gaoyang. They are gentry with high local prestige; they own over half the land in Gaoyang.”

Shen Lanxi: “Within three days, investigate and confirm their crimes. I want the whole family exterminated!”

After saying this, she went to inspect the area.

Liu Yanhui and the others began speculating on her intentions.

“What if the Lu family’s crime isn’t enough to wipe out the whole clan?”

“Didn’t you hear the last part? She only said to investigate within three days, didn’t specify the Lu family. If the Lu family’s crime isn’t enough, we can move to the Wang or Liu families instead!”

At noon, Shen Lanxi let Ban Sicao eat first.

One of his daily tasks when selling his life to her was testing the food for poison.

“Are you being too cautious? Who would poison your food?” Ban Sicao said—but his face suddenly changed.

His damn mouth! Just speaking it, and it happened.

The poison he had just doubted was now in his mouth.

“Hundred-Day Soul Severing Powder!” He spat out the food.

Shen Lanxi watched Ban Sicao rinse his mouth while checking the dishes.

She had kept him there precisely to catch whoever tried to poison her. Unexpectedly, it happened now.

“Bring them here!” Shen Lanxi shouted.

Chunxue and Qiushuang opened the door and entered.

“General.”

Shen Lanxi: “Bring everyone who cooked or delivered the food—all of them—here under guard!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang’s face changed; he quickly went to gather them.

Soon, over a dozen people were brought before her.

“General, spare us!”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze pierced the kneeling dozen: “What do you want me to spare you for?”

The cooks and guards didn’t know—did a general need a reason to execute people?