RWNEFE -Chapter 318 Compared to Your Future, Your Concubine Mother Isn’t So Important After All!

When Shen Lanxi returned home, she learned that her younger sister Shen Yuantang had already met with Xue Songyun, the youngest son of the Marquis of Jining, and that their engagement would be finalized the next day.

Chunxue said, “It was arranged personally by the Empress, and Madam is also very satisfied.”

The “Madam” she referred to was Zhou Xinrou.

“Mother went to the palace?” Shen Lanxi asked.

Chunxue nodded. “The Empress sent an invitation, asking Madam to enter the palace for tea.”

Shen Lanxi’s expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

“What does the family say about it?”

Chunxue replied, “The Old Madam and Master are both very satisfied. No one in the family opposes it.”

Shen Lanxi said quietly, “Since Yuantang and Mother returned from the temple, we haven’t really had a proper talk.”

Chunxue, a bit indignant, added, “Miss Yuantang goes out with the daughters of officials every day, leaving early and returning late—she’s even busier than you.”

Shen Lanxi let out a faint laugh. “When I left, wasn’t Mother also arranging matches for Yuanxin and Yuanruan? Have they taken a liking to anyone?”

Chunxue answered, “Madam has selected quite a few candidates, all young masters from noble families. One of them is Wang Xiangrong, the son of the Third Princess.”

A cold glint flashed in Shen Lanxi’s eyes.

“You mean all their marriages are being arranged by Mother?”

Chunxue explained, “The Old Madam instructed Madam to handle it. The young ladies in the family are all of marriageable age, so Madam is probably anxious for them.”

Shen Lanxi’s face turned cold. “Even if she’s anxious, shouldn’t she at least filter out people who have grudges against our family?”

Chunxue was puzzled about that as well. “Wang Xiangrong is only one of the options. Perhaps Madam didn’t want to offend the Third Princess.”

“Where is Mother now?” Shen Lanxi asked.

Chunxue replied, “She’s busy preparing for the engagement and purchasing dowry items.”

Previously, the Shen family’s property had been confiscated. The spoils they brought back this time were limited, and after being returned, most had been sent to the communal treasury.

There were many girls of marriageable age in the household. If each of them were to be married off in grand style, those spoils alone would not be enough.

“It seems Mother still has considerable savings,” Shen Lanxi remarked.

Chunxue explained, “She also received many rewards from the palace during her visits.”

After washing and changing, Shen Lanxi went to the main hall.

About half the family was gathered there.

“Greetings, Grandmother.”

Seeing Shen Lanxi return, Old Madam Shen asked a few perfunctory questions.

“Was this assignment successful?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Thanks to His Majesty’s and Grandmother’s blessings, everything went smoothly.”

Old Madam Shen gave a forced smile. “That’s good. We are discussing your sister Yuantang’s engagement arrangements. You may listen as well.”

Zhou Xinrou said calmly, “Lanxi has just returned and must be tired. She should go and rest.”

Old Madam Shen naturally did not want Shen Lanxi involved. It was considered inauspicious for a divorced woman to handle matters related to unmarried girls’ marriages.

Moreover, Shen Lanxi relied on the Emperor’s favor to act arrogantly and didn’t even show proper respect to her grandmother. Since Zhou Xinrou had spoken, Old Madam Shen was glad not to be the bad person herself.

She just didn’t know whether her eldest daughter-in-law was genuinely concerned about her daughter’s health or thinking the same way she was.

Madam Liu, on the other hand, wasn’t thinking that much. These past few days, she had been worn out by a certain troublesome child crying incessantly, leaving her eyes red with exhaustion.

“Elder Sister-in-law, the girls in the family all have their marriages being arranged. Please also take some care regarding Yuanxu and Yuankun. You’ve seen my situation—I truly lack the strength.”

Moreover, Shen Yuanxu’s marriage had been decreed by imperial order. Apart from Zhou Xinrou, who would dare handle it?

Zhou Xinrou nodded. “A mother’s concern for her sons—I understand. I will keep it in mind.”

Because Shen Yuantang was to be engaged the next day, Shen Yuanjing had specifically taken a few days’ leave and returned from the military camp outside the city with his wife and daughter.

“Grandmother, Mother…” Shen Yuanjing greeted the family with Kang Zhu.

Seeing her grandson looking so imposing, Old Madam Shen was very pleased.

“You’ve finally come back. Next time you quarrel with your father, you mustn’t run off without a word.”

Shen Yuanjing scratched his head awkwardly. “Grandmother, you know Father—he forces me to study all day. Am I really cut out for studying?”

Old Madam Shen felt a headache at the memory of the farce that had once resulted from forcing Shen Yuanjing to study.

“Let’s not talk about that. When your father returns, you must speak with him properly.”

Shen Yuanjing gave an embarrassed smile but didn’t respond.

“Where is Yuantang? She’s getting engaged tomorrow, yet she’s not at home—where has she gone?” Shen Yuanjing asked after looking around and not seeing his elder younger sister.

Zhou Xinrou answered, “She went out to buy things. Several of her sisters went with her.”

Since it was his mother’s arrangement, Shen Yuanjing didn’t ask further.

“Elder Sister, the court is holding a military examination. I want to go and test my skills,” Shen Yuanjing suddenly said.

The room fell silent instantly. More than a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward him.

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Do as you like—first get past Father’s approval.”

At the mention of their father, Shen Yuanjing’s shoulders drooped again.

“Elder Sister, can’t you help me plead with Father?”

Shen Lanxi tilted her chin toward their mother. “You’re asking the wrong person.”

Shen Yuanjing immediately turned to plead with Zhou Xinrou.

Unable to withstand his persistent begging, Zhou Xinrou said, “I will speak to your father. Whether it succeeds or not, I can’t promise.”

Shen Yuanjing was very confident. “As long as Mother asks, Father will definitely agree!”

When Shen Lanxi returned to her room to rest, several of Zhang Zifen’s children suddenly ran out from the side and knelt in front of her.

“Elder Sister, please spare our mother! Although she made mistakes, her crimes don’t deserve death!”

“Please, for the sake of our journey together from Dongchuan, spare her this once!”

Zhang Zifen’s three older children pleaded one after another, while the three younger ones only knew how to kneel and cry.

Shen Lanxi asked expressionlessly, “How has the household dealt with her?”

Shen Yuanhe cried, “Mother has been sent back to her hometown.”

“That’s too light. If it were me, I would have made sure she died without a complete corpse.”

The three older children stiffened instantly.

“Elder Sister, our younger brothers and sisters are still so young. Can you really bear to see them separated from their mother?” Shen Yuanhe cried in accusation.

Shen Lanxi replied coldly, “If you don’t want to be separated from her, you can go back to your hometown with her.”

The three of them froze, staring at Shen Lanxi in disbelief.

“Elder Sister, we are blood relatives. We’ve been through so much together. Can’t you, for the sake of past ties, spare Mother this once?”

Shen Lanxi looked at her coldly. “Do you know that the crime your mother committed was enough to have the Shen family exiled again?”

Tears welled in Shen Yuanhe’s eyes as she stared blankly at Shen Lanxi.

“Seeing you like this, I almost feel soft-hearted,” Shen Lanxi said.

Hope immediately appeared in the eyes of the three of them, and they raised their heads eagerly.

“The family is currently discussing your marriages. If you are willing to give up good matches, I will speak up and plead for your mother.”

The three of them immediately looked troubled.

“I will give you a quarter of an hour to consider. After that, even if you beg me, it will be useless.”

Shen Yuanhe, Shen Yuanrui, and Shen Yuanxin all remained silent.

Shen Lanxi let out a cold laugh. “It seems that, compared to your futures, your concubine mother isn’t so important after all.”