RWNEFE -Chapter 203 Step Down from Military Duty, Stay Home and Study for the Imperial Exams!

The Renxiao Emperor thought more and more that this plan was feasible!

After Zhou Ruyuan left, the emperor asked Shen Lanxi some questions about her journey during exile, casually mentioning her joining the military.

When an emperor asks, it may seem casual, but to take it lightly would be foolish. Shen Lanxi smoothly recounted the sequence of events regarding her military service, of course carefully packaged to her advantage.

The emperor was deeply moved when she mentioned that in Dongchuan’s winter, they could collect several cartloads of dead bodies each day.

“Lanxi, you’ve really worked hard. With everything that happened in the Shen family, your uncle had no choice but to cut through the chaos quickly and send you away to save your lives!”

Shen Lanxi nodded knowingly. “Uncle, I understand. If it weren’t for your careful handling, our Shen family might not even exist today!”

Seeing her sincerity, the emperor was convinced she wasn’t pretending. Grateful for her endurance, he rewarded her generously and allowed her to rest. Once the Ministry of Rites prepared the welcome banquet, she would return to the palace to speak with him.

Shen Lanxi thanked him and left the palace.

The emperor watched her retreating figure, lost in thought.

He also made arrangements for the soldiers outside the city. Since she would soon be heading to the northwest, the troops should camp ten miles out to avoid disturbing the citizens, with provisions delivered daily.

Shen Lanxi returned to the Shen family with a pile of gifts. The lively scene of the household suddenly froze.

“Big sister, you’re back!” Shen Yuantang and the others hurriedly called out.

Shen Lanxi nodded lightly and, accompanied by Chunxue and Qiushuang, headed straight to her own courtyard.

Wei Rulan suddenly exclaimed, “Has the young lady’s courtyard been prepared?”

Everyone’s faces changed.

Shen Yuanjing looked at his father. “Father, you’ve been back so long—surely you wouldn’t have left even a few rooms unprepared?”

Shen Congwen’s face darkened at his son’s questioning.

“After I returned, I naturally focused on tidying my and your mother’s residence first, then the others. Afterwards, your grandparents—also, there was the Empress’s anniversary recently, and your mother and I were invited to the palace banquet. Who had time to oversee everything else?”

Shen Yuanjing’s eyes sharpened. “So, you didn’t prepare big sister’s courtyard?”

Exposed by his son, Shen Congwen was furious and ashamed.

“Who knew she would come back so soon? She’s so capable—who knows if she’d even want to stay in our little place?”

Shen Yuanjing stared at his father in disbelief, unable to believe these words came from his mouth.

“Father, what about our rooms—were they prepared?”

Shen Congwen couldn’t believe his son had pushed him this far.

He had deliberately left Shen Lanxi’s courtyard unprepared, intending to assert authority. What’s wrong with a father teaching a lesson to his juniors?

Spending so much time with that rebellious girl, Yuanjing had also changed.

Shen Congwen looked at his son in pain. His son should have been a scholar, following the imperial exams to become a top scholar, not a reckless young man running wild like now.

“Yuanjing, how far have you gotten with your studies? Have you forgotten filial piety? Who allowed you to speak to your father like this?” Shen Congwen glared angrily.

Shen Yuanjing opened his mouth to argue but couldn’t speak under the weight of filial duty.

“I have resumed my post at the Ministry of Revenue a few days ago. Tomorrow, you will step down from your military duties and focus on studying at home for the imperial exams!”

Yuanjing felt like he had been struck by a thunderbolt—a complete shock.

Was his father joking?

“Father, a son who is a military officer will always be a military officer. I can read, but I won’t take the exams. Yuanqing is still young; if he wants to study, let him do it!”

Shen Yuanqing, hearing this, protested immediately. He hated studying.

“Big brother, I want to be a military officer too! I don’t like reading!”

Shen Congwen’s anger made his vision darken.

“Fine! Now that all of you have grown, you’ve learned to cause trouble!”

Shen Yuanxu said, “Eldest uncle, now is not the time to discuss who studies. The courtyard hasn’t been prepared—let me help with that.”

Shen Yuankun: “Me too!”

They rushed off so quickly that Madam Liu couldn’t stop them.

Shen Yuanpeng and Shen Yuanhao also couldn’t stand by. Their eldest sister had returned home after so long, only to encounter such chaos.

As the men of the Shen family, they had to support their eldest sister.

Even the family matriarch’s calls couldn’t stop them.

Inside, Shen Congwen and the matriarch had dark faces; no one dared speak. The lively household atmosphere had turned gloomier than a mourning hall.

Only Old Master Shen intervened, telling everyone to return to their rooms. Only then did the household disperse.

…

Shen Lanxi returned to her courtyard, feeling very unfamiliar. Even a brick or a piece of wood seemed as if she had never truly looked at it before.

“Just tidy it a bit. We won’t be staying here long.”

Chunxue and Qiushuang, though displeased, dared not show it, and hurried to busy themselves.

When Shen Yuanjing arrived, she was already organizing the emperor’s gifts.

They were flashy but impractical items, marked for imperial use, and couldn’t even be exchanged for money!

“General!”

Shen Lanxi: “This is home, call me big sister!” She opened each box in turn.

“These are Your Majesty’s gifts—pick one!”

Shen Yuanjing didn’t even glance at them, refusing outright.

“Big sister, these are gifts from the emperor. I can’t take them!”

Shen Lanxi: “Pick first, or Yuanjun and Yuanxu will take all the good ones!”

Hesitating slightly, Yuanjing knew big sister never spoke politely—if she gave something, it was given.

He glanced at each item and chose a ruby headpiece.

“This one for mother—she’ll love it!”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly. “Have you seen mother since returning?”

Shen Yuanjing: “Yes. When I went, she had just taken medicine and looked exhausted. I said a few words and left.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes gleamed. “Later I’ll find some rare medicinal herbs to make tonics for her!”

Yuanjing knew his eldest sister would never ignore their mother and breathed a sigh of relief, feeling lighter.

“Big sister, won’t Xiao Fang and the others enter the city?”

Shen Lanxi: “No. You don’t need to look for them. The court will send someone to deliver their provisions.”

Yuanjing nodded thoughtfully.

Shen Yuanxu and the others arrived.

“Big sister, we’ll help you tidy up!”

Shen Lanxi didn’t hesitate to let them pick a gift each, then set them to work.

By midnight, a shadow slipped into Shen Lanxi’s room.

“Have you found the person chasing you?”

Ban Sicao: “No, but I suspect they’re in the palace!”

Shen Lanxi: “The day after tomorrow, at the palace welcome banquet, you’ll disguise yourself as my maid and enter with me.”

Ban Sicao stiffened. “Why not as a guard?”

“Maid’s the only way in. Guards can’t enter, unless they’re eunuchs.”