RWNEFE -Chapter 193 Old Madam Shen Wants to Temper Shen Lanxi’s Sharp Edge

“Still won’t come?” Wu Tong shouted.

“Did you make it clear to her that I personally came to summon her back to the army?” Wu Tong demanded.

Guard: “Yes, we told her.”

Wu Tong’s head seemed ready to smoke with anger. Ungrateful! Some people just don’t appreciate it.

A woman was still a woman—stubborn and narrow-minded. She couldn’t see the bigger picture. A man would have been thrilled at the chance to achieve glory, yet she only cared about sewing and embroidery in the inner quarters. If it weren’t for His Majesty’s edict stating that the one Peng Rong previously presented was fake, he wouldn’t have made so many trips.

“You show the edict to General Shen and tell her: the rebel armies of Prince Cheng and Eastern Liao King have arrived at Liucheng. Soon they will take the city; next is Yonglin Prefecture. When that happens, countless innocents will suffer—it will all be her fault!” Wu Tong had originally planned to confront Shen Lanxi in person before revealing the edict, to assert his deputy commander authority and press her. But he hadn’t expected he wouldn’t even get to see her.

Cursing inwardly, he hurried back to make preparations.

The court had sent another supervising commander, reportedly an elderly minister, who would arrive in a few days. He needed to be prepared in advance.

He didn’t even know when his transfer orders would arrive. In this cursed place, one lived in constant fear; he didn’t want to stay another day.

He hoped his uncle would expedite matters so he could escape the fire sooner.

Shen Lanxi hadn’t looked at the edict—she already knew its contents.

“See for yourselves!”

Before, Cheng Zheng and the others had been curious about edicts, seeing them as honorable. Now, after several viewings, the sense of reverence was gone.

They unfurled it like any ordinary scroll.

Cheng Zheng read aloud: “It only states that the entire Peng Rong family was executed—there’s not a word about the General.”

Sang Guo asked: “Who’s this new supervising commander?”

Shen Lanxi replied: “You can ask Qian Feng. It’s an elderly man from the former Southwestern Army, named Che Mingyuan.”

They all wrote down Che Mingyuan’s name.

Just as Shen Lanxi was about to mention the second edict, a voice called from outside.

“Lanxi, your grandmother is going to the temple to offer incense. She asked me to call you!” Madam Liu’s voice echoed through the courtyard.

Ever since her military authority was revoked, scenes like this happened daily.

“Hurry! We’re going to pray at the temple for the Shen family men, to keep them safe on the battlefield. Your grandmother said all the women must go!” Madam Liu shouted again before leaving.

Ban Sicao crossed his arms and asked irritably: “Should I prepare some medicine for them, make sure it doesn’t shorten their lives, and they won’t be too weak to mind their own business?”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly: “No need—they won’t be here for long.”

“Chunxue, have a few guards watch the doors and stop anyone from coming in!”

“Yes!”

Shen Lanxi spoke of the second edict and simultaneously arranged the subsequent orders.

“Paying taxes is a duty; distributing military rations and supplies is also a duty!”

Cheng Zheng wrote it down, to later deliver to Liu Yanhui.

Liu Yanhui had already registered the names of Wei Dongzhu and the others in the army. They had left under the “fake edict” and could not leave without orders from a superior.

As for Cheng Zheng and the others, they were neither registered nor restricted—if they left, no one could stop them.

After all, in Wu Tong and the Imperial Guards’ eyes, Cheng Zheng and the others were useless!

“Although the examinations are suspended, the academy cannot stop. Create more positions so the students have another means to earn a living!”

The students at Qinglan Academy quickly took notes.

Shen Lanxi also issued several agrarian and industrial orders: expanding farmland, developing livestock, and fully exploiting all local mineral resources.

One decree after another was executed with precision.

Though she was officially stripped of her military authority, she never rested. Wherever she was, that was her office.

The Shen family grew impatient.

“Second Sister-in-law, why hasn’t Lanxi arrived yet? Didn’t you notify her?” Madam Miao leaned in to peek.

Madam Liu rolled her eyes: “Don’t trust me? Go call her yourself!”

Old Madam Shen held her prayer beads, turning them continuously. She was reciting sutras, but the daughters-in-law interrupted her, fueling her anger.

“You two be quiet! The war could start at any moment, and you contribute nothing to the family, only quarrel amongst yourselves. I think it’s time you join the army yourselves!”

After she spoke, the two daughters-in-law were too scared to make a sound.

With Prince Cheng and Eastern Liao King approaching, they weren’t about to go to such dangerous places.

“Mother, I already called her in the courtyard,” Madam Liu said, feeling aggrieved.

Old Madam Shen had anticipated that Shen Lanxi would be stripped of her command—she just hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

Still, her grandchildren had performed well; now they held important positions in the army, their family was cleared of charges, and her eldest son had been reinstated. This outcome was perfect.

All the days she had spent fasting and praying had paid off. The Shen family’s safety and success were gifts from the Buddha. If the Buddha could protect her descendants on the battlefield, even without military merit, she would continue to dedicate offerings.

“Go again, and when offering prayers, be sincere. Every member of the Shen family must go!” Old Madam Shen deliberately said with a stern face, wanting to temper Shen Lanxi’s sharpness.

When a general steps down, another must step up. Her grandchildren—whether Yuan Jing, Yuan Xu, or Yuan Peng—any of them could replace Shen Lanxi and command respect.

This time, Madam Liu sat firmly. “I already called once; it’s their turn to go now.” The same applied to Madam Miao and Madam Tian!

Neither Madam Miao nor Madam Tian budged an inch.

Did they think she was a fool?

Even though Shen Lanxi had been dismissed, she still had guards and attendants nearby. Even without them, her martial skill was so high and her penchant for violence so notorious, they couldn’t resist her, let alone block her iron staff.

If they were struck by it, would they survive?

Old Madam Shen, seeing none of her daughters-in-law move, immediately flew into a rage.

“Fine! You’ve grown defiant! I’ve tolerated you all through exile, yet you start disobeying your elders, putting on airs.”

She slammed the table twice, and the three daughters-in-law trembled all over.

“Mother, you’ve seen how ruthless Lanxi is. If we go over there and anger her, she could beat us all!”

Old Madam Shen glared: “She dares!”

“You are elders. She wouldn’t dare strike you!”

Madam Liu muttered: “Elders? She had bury Big Brother in the dirt before!”

Old Madam Shen’s fury flared. Previously she had held back for the greater good. Now that the situation was settled, even if Shen Lanxi was highly skilled, could she rebel against the heavens?

According to Da Zhou law, disrespecting elders could result in corporal punishment, severe beatings, or even death. Being expelled from the family was considered mild.

She wanted to see what arrogance Shen Lanxi had left!

Old Madam Shen dismounted her carriage and charged straight toward Shen Lanxi.