RWNEFE -Chapter 305 Shen Lanxi Delivers the Betrothal Gifts on Shen Yuanxu’s Behalf

One person spoke in anger, the other insisted on following through to the end. Emperor Renxiao felt that he could only play the role of the peacemaker.

“Yuanxu, marriage is not a child’s game. You must not act rashly.”

“Prime Minister, you must not act impulsively either.”

“I will give you two more days to negotiate privately. After two days, whatever decision you reach, I will approve it.”

The court officials responded in unison, “Your Majesty is wise and benevolent.”

Only then did Emperor Renxiao finally smile.

The welcoming banquet was neither lively nor dull, but Shen Yuanxu and Wu Yanzhi completely stole the spotlight.

After court was dismissed, Zhou Ruyuan, looking somewhat dejected, was summoned by Emperor Renxiao and given a reprimand.

…

Shen Lanxi and Shen Yuanxu returned together to the Shen residence, accompanied by Wei Dongzhu.

“Lanxi, do you think His Majesty has let down his guard against us?” Shen Yuanxu asked in a low voice.

Shen Lanxi was not completely certain and did not answer definitively.

“Suspicion cannot disappear overnight. What matters most now is the upcoming spring imperial examinations for the sons of the Shen family.”

Shen Yuanxu glanced at the person walking ahead, wanting to speak but hesitating. If they were truly worried about the emperor’s suspicion, why not have Yuanjing and Yuanqing lay down their arms and return to study as well?

At present, the Shen family had two major matters.

The first, already being addressed, was Shen Yuanxu’s marriage. The second was the spring examinations.

When Shen Congwen heard that Shen Yuanxu intended to study and take the imperial examinations, he was extremely pleased. What did it matter if he had once been a military man? In the end, he had still returned to the scholarly path.

In his view, those Shen family members who had joined the army were merely forced by circumstances; sooner or later they would all come back to take the examinations.

Shen Lanxi, however, had delayed Yuanjing and the others. If they had remained in the capital to study instead of going to the northwest, they would surely have made the list in this special examination.

What a pity, what a pity.

When Shen Congwen saw Shen Yuanxu return, he first frowned, but thinking that it was not too late for him to begin studying, he still offered a piece of advice.

“Since you intend to take the examinations in the future, go out less and study more.”

Shen Congwen had not been invited to the welcoming banquet that day, so he still did not know what had happened.

Shen Yuanxu answered vaguely. Only that evening, when the entire family had gathered, did he recount in detail everything that had occurred in court.

Old Madam Shen felt a headache splitting her skull. Their family had truly made an enemy of the Prime Minister’s household.

Madam Liu did not dare to say a single word, keeping her head lowered the whole time. Unfortunately, no matter how much she tried to fade into the background, Old Madam Shen still vented her anger on her.

“Madam Liu, you are confined to your quarters for one month. Every day you will copy scriptures in the ancestral hall for one hour.”

Madam Liu’s face changed at once. Since childhood she had hardly held a writing brush.

No matter how much Madam Liu tugged at Shen Conglian under the table, he would not plead for her.

Yuanxu’s marriage was as good as ruined.

“Lanxi, you’re clever. Think of something quickly. We can’t have Yuanxu really waiting for a little baby to grow up before he marries, can we?” Although he did not lack sons or future grandsons, doing this would be too unfair to his son.

Shen Lanxi looked toward Shen Yuanxu. The latter said calmly, “Men of the Shen family are not allowed to take concubines. We’ll talk about this later.”

Hearing this, Madam Liu felt utterly despairing and began to sob.

Old Madam Shen, already advanced in years, disliked seeing people cry—especially Madam Liu’s wailing, which sounded like mourning.

“Be quiet! If you don’t know what to do, go kneel in the ancestral hall. Kneel until you understand, then get up!” Wailing like that would only drive away the family’s good fortune.

Madam Liu truly could not stop crying and truly did not want to kneel in the ancestral hall, so she quickly turned and ran off, covering her face.

Two days later, no one from the Wu family came, and the Shen family did not go to the Wu residence either.

On the third day, Emperor Renxiao issued a decree granting Shen Yuanxu a marriage, setting the wedding date in great haste—at the end of the month, only ten days away.

After Madam Liu received the imperial edict, she spent her days weeping.

Old Madam Shen, thinking that at her age she still had to arrange such a marriage for her grandson, grew colder day by day, the corners of her mouth drooping almost to her chin.

After receiving the decree, Shen Yuanxu openly declared that although time was short, none of the formalities owed to the Wu family’s legitimate daughter would be omitted.

From matching the birth charts, to the betrothal letter, the gift list, and the wedding letter—everything would be done in full.

The entire Shen family mobilized. Even Shen Lanxi was assigned to deliver the betrothal gifts.

Of course, everyone understood that going to the Wu residence for such an ill-omened task was not something ordinary people could handle. If it were someone else, sarcastic remarks would be the least of it; being scolded or even beaten would not be surprising.

Old Madam Shen cherished the men of the family and feared they would be humiliated or mistreated if they went, so she had no choice but to send her granddaughter, who could uphold the family’s honor.

Shen Lanxi set out with Wei Dongzhu. Both wore festive ceremonial clothing. With music playing and drums beating, they deliberately took a longer route before arriving at the Wu residence.

By the time they arrived, a long trail of onlookers had gathered behind the betrothal procession.

Shen Lanxi dismounted, smiling brightly, and cupped her hands in greeting.

“Today, I, Shen Lanxi, have come on behalf of Shen Yuanxu of the Shen family’s second branch to present the betrothal gifts.”

“Shen Yuanxu is young and accomplished, skilled in both civil and martial pursuits, and handsome in appearance. It is his good fortune to marry the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Wu. The two are a match made in heaven and will surely create a fine story in the future!”

Wei Dongzhu and the others listened with smiles, occasionally tossing celebratory coins for the common people to scramble for.

The crowd had never in their lives seen a woman preside over a betrothal ceremony, and hearing such astonishing declarations, they did not know how to react for a moment.

Only after Shen Lanxi entered the gates of the Wu residence did the people outside begin to murmur.

“Why do those words sound so strange?”

“Can a woman even say things like that?”

“Lower your voice. Have you forgotten her reputation?” Though they had never personally seen Shen Lanxi kill, just hearing her speak like this was enough to conjure the image of the so-called ‘female butcher of the northwest.’

Because the imperial decree had been issued personally by Emperor Renxiao, no matter how unwilling Wu Yanzhi was, he had to remain at home to preside over his daughter’s marriage.

When Madam Liang learned that the daughter being betrothed was her own, her tears had not stopped flowing.

Two days earlier she had been confined, and if not for the impropriety of her absence on the day of the betrothal, Wu Yanzhi would not have allowed her to be released.

“Crying, crying—always crying. If you cry again, go back to your room and never step outside again!”

In the past, such a threat would have frightened Madam Liang immediately. But today, knowing she could not be absent, she continued to weep from the moment she woke.

“Master, how can you be so heartless? Our daughter is only three months old—how can she be married?” It was all her fault for hesitating too long, allowing Wu Tingtan, that little wretch, to seize the opportunity.

“My poor daughter…”

Wu Yanzhi’s temples throbbed, his nerves stretched to the breaking point.

“Master, people from the Shen family have arrived!”

Wu Yanzhi said darkly, “Open the gates and receive the guests.”

“Yes, sir.”

When he learned that it was Shen Lanxi who had come, Wu Yanzhi’s expression grew even darker.

“Master, the Shen family clearly has no respect for you. For such an important matter, they sent an unmarried girl. They are plainly bullying our Wu family. We shouldn’t marry our legitimate daughter to Shen Yuanxu—if anyone must marry, let it be a concubine-born daughter!” Madam Liang blurted out, as if clutching at her last straw.