RWNEFE -Chapter 306 Why Can’t They Just Leave Her a Way to Live?

“Enough!” Wu Yanzhi rebuked coldly, his face dark.

“She was able to command the Northern Suppression Army single-handedly and make so many capable young men obey her. What do you think she is—some harmless person?” The ferocity in Wu Yanzhi’s eyes was no longer concealed.

Startled by his expression, Madam Liang quickly shut her mouth, though her tears would not stop.

When Shen Lanxi entered, she saw Madam Liang sobbing into a handkerchief. The scene looked very much like Madam Liu’s weeping; no wonder the two families had become in-laws.

“Greetings to Prime Minister Wu,” Shen Lanxi said, performing an official salute. Before Wu Yanzhi could respond, she had already straightened up.

Wu Yanzhi snorted coldly, as if ignoring her entirely, and turned his head aside.

Shen Lanxi had not expected a response anyway. Both sides knew clearly why she had come.

“Today I have come by His Majesty’s order to deliver the betrothal gifts. Previously the ceremonial geese were already presented, so this time there are none. The various gifts and the betrothal silver are all listed here; please have a look, Prime Minister. I won’t read them out one by one.”

She handed two copies of the gift list to a maid. The maid was about to give them to Wu Yanzhi, but he waved his hand and told her to give them to Madam Liang instead.

Madam Liang had no heart to look at any list, thinking only that her daughter would be married off in a few days.

“My poor daughter—she’s only three months old. Your Shen family are simply inhuman!” Madam Liang cursed through tears, covering her face.

Shen Lanxi pretended not to hear. A mere Madam Liang could not obstruct the larger course of events.

“Is the Wu family’s legitimate daughter present?” Shen Lanxi opened a brocade box and took out an imperial decree.

Wu Yanzhi’s expression changed at once. He hurriedly pulled Madam Liang to her knees.

“Your servant receives the decree.”

Before reading it, Shen Lanxi first recited a verbal message from Emperor Renxiao.

“His Majesty says: Shen Yuanxu is kind-hearted, a good child who values loyalty and affection.”

Wu Yanzhi was so angry he nearly coughed up blood on the spot, and Madam Liang looked ready to faint.

Only then did Shen Lanxi unfold the decree and read:

“By the Mandate of Heaven… the legitimate daughter of the Wu family is hereby granted the title of County Lady of Qinghe, with a fief of five hundred households. After she comes of age, she shall further be granted the rank of First-Class Lady. By this decree.”

Madam Liang wanted to cry even more.

Wu Yanzhi’s face turned alternately green and pale as he silently accepted the decree.

“Your servant thanks Your Majesty for his grace.”

Shen Lanxi’s task was now complete. After the betrothal gifts were inspected and formally handed over, she left the Wu residence smiling, returning to the Shen household with music and drums once again sounding.

In the palace, Emperor Renxiao received the news at once. He snorted with amusement.

“Sending Shen Lanxi to deliver the betrothal gifts—what an idea the Shen family came up with.”

Wang Bao said softly, “They weren’t afraid the Wu family might beat her out of the gate?”

Hearing this, Emperor Renxiao laughed.

“Not a single man in the Shen family has any courage. Whenever something happens, they like to push the women to the front.”

In the past they had let Zhou Xinrou take the lead; now that she no longer interfered, they pushed Shen Lanxi forward instead.

Wang Bao’s eyes flickered as he joked deliberately, “Your Majesty, that entire family are scholars now. They still intend to take the imperial examinations.”

Emperor Renxiao laughed even more.

“Last time you mentioned—whom did Shen Congwen find as teachers for the Shen family?”

Wang Bao chuckled disdainfully. “At first it was Grand Tutor Mei, then a Grand Academician of the Wen Yuan Pavilion, later Sun Daoxue of Bailu Academy, and now they’ve even submitted a request to Liufang Academy. I heard they once tried to enter the Imperial Academy, but the headmaster rejected them outright.”

Emperor Renxiao asked curiously, “Why were they rejected?”

Wang Bao laughed as if at a joke. “The sons of the Shen family are all too old. The Imperial Academy doesn’t admit anyone over thirteen.”

Emperor Renxiao was taken aback, then laughed so hard his beard seemed to lift.

“This Shen Congwen really has it hard.”

Wang Bao smiled. “Indeed. He’s practically become a laughingstock among scholars.”

After smoothing his beard, Emperor Renxiao said, still smiling, “I can see his sincerity in wanting the Shen family’s sons to study and take the examinations. Very well—quietly spread the word and have Bailu Academy accept them.”

Wang Bao replied, “Your Majesty’s love for talent is truly admirable. The Shen family must certainly repay Your Majesty well.”

None of the well-known academies in the capital would accept them—what did that imply?

Emperor Renxiao’s gaze turned deep, but he only smiled without speaking.

After days of bustle, the Shen family finally welcomed the day of Shen Yuanxu’s wedding.

On the day of the bride-escort, Wei Dongzhu’s position once again puzzled people.

“Why is he helping the Shen family organize things?”

“Why use an outsider when there are family members?”

“Isn’t it usually the son-in-law who goes with the bride’s brothers to escort the bride? What exactly is going on between Wei Dongzhu and Shen Lanxi?”

“The two of them have been together since Dongchuan, and later both went to the northwest. They say Shen Lanxi was able to pacify the northwest so quickly largely because of Wei Dongzhu.”

“What would Shen Lanxi, a woman, understand? It was Wei Dongzhu behind the scenes making all the plans. Everything she has today is because of him…”

Amid the murmurs, Shen Yuanxu brought the Wu family’s legitimate daughter into the Shen household.

No sooner had the girl entered than she was handed over to Madam Liu to be raised.

The crackling of firecrackers drowned out the heart-rending cries of Madam Liu and the Wu family’s legitimate daughter.

The front courtyard of the Shen residence was festive, filled with guests.

The Wu residence, though draped everywhere in red, felt like a funeral.

That night, at the Prince of Zhennan’s residence, Bai Qingling suffered a second attempt on her life by poison.

Her face dark, Bai Qingling threw the dead carrier pigeon out the door.

She dared not call anyone, nor did she dare tell Zhou Ruyuan. Quietly, she disposed of the pastries on the table, then took out another packet of snacks from a cabinet, ate two bites in silence, and suddenly smashed them to the ground in anger.

She neither fought nor competed—could they still not spare her?

Why couldn’t they just leave her a way to live?

It was all Shen Lanxi’s fault. If not for her, those people would not be treating her this way.

Why was Shen Lanxi so hard to kill?

“Madam, the Prince has returned,” a maid reported from outside.

Bai Qingling quickly moved away the cabinet blocking the door, reset the mechanism on the window, and after ensuring nothing in the room looked unusual, hastily tidied herself and opened the door.

“Has the Prince brought the young master back?” Bai Qingling asked eagerly as she stepped outside.

The maid shook her head nervously, and Bai Qingling’s eyes instantly turned sinister.

Why wouldn’t that old wretch let her see the child? That was her only child!

That day, Zhou Ruyuan had originally intended to attend Shen Yuanxu’s wedding banquet. Shen Yuanxu had recently been in the limelight and had received an imperial marriage decree; moreover, the Shen family was related to the imperial house by marriage. As a prince, he should have attended.

He had finally persuaded himself to go, but from a distance he saw Shen Lanxi and Wei Dongzhu standing together, chatting and laughing in close familiarity. He watched them for a while, as if possessed, and then turned back.

When Bai Qingling came over, Zhou Ruyuan was already drinking.

“My Prince.”

Seeing that his mood was poor, Bai Qingling patiently comforted him for a few moments, then could not wait to ask about the child.

“My Prince, has our little Yu’er been brought back?” Her eyes were full of hope.

Zhou Ruyuan felt a surge of bitterness in his heart. He was about to lose his temper, but seeing Bai Qingling looking at him so earnestly, his heart softened.

“Mother says little Yu’er hasn’t been well these past two days and mustn’t be exposed to the wind. When he’s better in a few days, she’ll send him back so we can be reunited.”