RWNEFE -Chapter 298 Shen Congwen Panics!

Old Madam Shen cast a sharp glance at Wei Dongzhu beside Shen Lanxi. Seeing that the second son’s family was still causing a commotion, she immediately, with a dark face, called a halt.

“Family disgrace should not be made public. The Shen family’s honor has been completely tarnished by you!”

Her angry words left her face pale as iron.

“Mother, please calm down. Sister-in-law, quickly have someone lock Madam Wu in her room. After the family banquet is over, we can discuss Madam Wu’s fate within the family ourselves,” Shen Congwen emphasized the words within the family.

Even though Old Madam Shen’s mood had been ruined, she still had to maintain appearances in front of outsiders.

Lanxi was really something—today, during their family banquet, bringing an outsider!

Could it be that she and Wei Dongzhu… had something going on?

Old Madam Shen glanced at the two of them again, her heart sinking. The emperor’s intentions were already clear. Lanxi openly bringing an outside man in and out of the Shen residence—how would the emperor perceive that?

Shen Yuanxu tugged at his mother’s sleeve, signaling her to deal with Madam Wu.

Madam Liu, frightened by her son’s earlier outburst, dared not say more and hurriedly went to handle it.

When everyone took their seats, Wei Dongzhu was placed to one side by Shen Lanxi, an act that instantly made the rest of the banquet unbearably silent.

Shen Congwen tried several times to lose his temper but restrained himself for various reasons.

The banquet ended hastily, and the younger generation scrambled to find excuses to leave.

“Lanxi, we still need to discuss Madam Wu’s fate. Stay and listen,” Old Madam Shen said sternly.

Shen Lanxi began to rise: “Grandmother, you are all elders. It isn’t appropriate for a junior like me to remain here, is it?”

Old Madam Shen: “Yuanxu is also here. We are family.”

Lanxi understood. Only Wei Dongzhu wasn’t part of the family; the elder was letting him step aside.

“They are all my personal guards, like my left and right arms. If there’s family business, they can hear it too,” Shen Lanxi said calmly.

A flash of amusement passed through Wei Dongzhu’s eyes. He had planned to leave, but since she asked him to stay, he would stay.

Having traveled all the way from Dongchuan together, the Shen family’s eyes kept darting between Shen Lanxi and Wei Dongzhu.

If not for the imperial engagement, the two would be considered a perfect match.

Now, it was a difficult situation.

“Lanxi, now that you’ve entered the court, you should know that every step there is like walking on thin ice. Every action must be measured and careful!” Shen Congwen, having thought about this a lot recently, spoke to deliberately smooth relations with his daughter.

After all, a single stroke of misfortune could affect the entire Shen family.

“Father, I understand!” Shen Lanxi looked calmly at her family.

“Grandmother, I know my limits!”

Old Madam Shen’s heart was filled with worry. She didn’t want to repeat the mistakes in Dongchuan. For anyone who could harm the Shen family, no matter who, she could act ruthlessly.

“Lanxi, family disgrace should not be made public. Only let us, the family, stay. Everyone else, step out!”

Wei Dongzhu’s lips tightened.

Shen Lanxi refused to yield: “I am still young. When elders are discussing family matters, juniors should not participate. I will leave immediately!”

Old Madam Shen’s temper flared. This impudent child! Letting her stay was already giving her face, yet she didn’t recognize it. She had thought her rebellious daughter had changed, but she remained untamable.

“Stop right there, Shen Lanxi! How dare you speak to your grandmother like that! The emperor should see what kind of person you are at home,” Shen Congwen said without holding back.

Shen Conglian frowned immediately: “Brother, this isn’t the time. General Wei is still here; if the family quarrels, how will the troops view us when we return?”

Shen Lanxi’s heart went cold.

“Father, instead of worrying about others, worry about our Shen family. Worry about yourself.”

Old Madam Shen’s gaze flickered as she slowly eased herself into her chair.

“When I investigated the Wei family’s army supplies case in the Northwest, it was not without results. To my knowledge, two separate parties went to the silver store to collect supplies. The documents they carried bore your personal signature, Father.”

After Shen Lanxi finished speaking, Wei Dongzhu retrieved the documents he had kept close at hand.

All eyes in the Shen household turned to Shen Congwen. The man who had earlier been so bold in criticizing his daughter now fumbled to take the documents and inspect them.

The handwriting was unmistakably familiar, and Shen Congwen’s heart sank; sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

“This… this really is my handwriting,” he stammered.

Shen Lanxi: “I suppose Father has already noticed something is wrong.”

Over the years, although Shen Congwen had achieved nothing, he had always been meticulous. Every document he signed, he read carefully multiple times before stamping.

The timestamp was off. He would have noticed it the first time he looked. Normally, he wouldn’t have remembered so clearly, but ever since the emperor ordered a retrial of the Wei family army case, he, as a direct victim, had examined it multiple times.

The time was already etched into his memory.

“Just one document cannot prove anything,” Shen Congwen said, panicking like never before.

Shen Lanxi’s face was cold: “If this document reaches the Censorate or Ministry of Justice, they will have every means to verify it.”

Shen Congwen shivered. Anyone who entered those offices never came out unscathed.

“I am innocent! The signature and seal on this document—did not come from me. I never wrote anything on this paper!”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze fixed quietly on her anxious father: “Father, do you have evidence to prove the seal is not yours?”

Shen Congwen panicked even more. Compared to his exile to Dongchuan, this was far worse. Back then, he was innocent with no proof, yet he could stand tall with his pride intact.

Now it was different. Where had this document come from?

“Lanxi, you must believe me. This signature and seal are absolutely not mine. I swear to heaven, if this seal is mine, may I die a horrible death!”

Old Madam Shen stared at her eldest son, her palm clenched tightly.

“Brother, what exactly is happening?”

“Lanxi, our family has surely been wronged. Do not hand over this document!” Others also sensed something was wrong with the papers. Their lives and fortunes were at stake; who cared about that Wu woman now?

Wei Dongzhu went to take the document from Shen Congwen. The first time, Shen Congwen held too tightly; the second time, he finally let go.

Shen Congwen suddenly felt afraid of Wei Dongzhu.

“General Wei, I truly didn’t write it. The one I wrote is at the Censorate. I even checked it before,” Shen Congwen blurted out, desperate to defend himself.

Shen Congli whispered quietly: “Brother, weren’t you against Lanxi reopening the Wei family army case?”

Old Madam Shen and Shen Congwen both shot him a sharp glare. Now is not the time for that!