RWNEFE -Chapter 325 Mourning for Elder Sister for Three Years!

At the same time, at the Shen residence, people from the Jining Marquis’s household arrived to break off the engagement.

Shen Yuantang had cried until she was nearly fainting.

“Grandmother, I don’t believe it. How could the Jining Marquis’s family possibly cancel the engagement? Please send someone to ask clearly!”

After suffering repeated blows, Old Madam Shen was already mentally and physically exhausted.

“Go invite the Princess,” Old Madam Shen said. She had already sent someone once to invite Zhou Xinrou, but Zhou Xinrou had delayed coming. Seeing that the Marquis’s household was determined to withdraw from the engagement, Old Madam Shen had no choice but to urge them again.

The people who came from the Jining Marquis’s residence were still the same ones who had arranged the engagement before—the steward and a few collateral relatives.

The steward spoke politely, yet his tone carried disdain and finality.

“The birth charts and the betrothal tokens from the engagement are all here. The young lady of your residence and our young master are not compatible in their horoscopes and are not a good match. If the marriage were forced, it would bring misfortune to both families and unrest to the household. This time, not only have we returned the engagement items, but the Marchioness has personally selected some gifts as compensation for your young lady.”

This manner made it clear there was no room left to salvage the engagement.

Old Madam Shen sighed deeply, only hoping her eldest daughter-in-law would arrive soon to help pressure the Marquis’s people with her presence.

Shen Yuantang cried even louder.

“I don’t believe it! Before, you all said I was well matched with Young Master Xue, and now you say our horoscopes are incompatible. Let Young Master Xue come see me—I want to hear it from him personally!”

The steward looked at Shen Yuantang, weeping uncontrollably, and felt even more contempt in his heart.

He had long heard that the daughters of the Shen family lacked proper upbringing. Seeing it today, it seemed true.

No wonder their young master had preferred to run away secretly rather than marry into the Shen family.

Though inwardly disdainful, the steward wore a perfunctory smile.

“That is not something a servant like me can decide. I simply follow the orders of my masters. Whatever they instruct, we servants carry out.”

Seeing even a servant dare to talk back to her like this, Shen Yuantang’s tears flowed even harder.

She understood in her heart that her elder sister had implicated her engagement. But her elder sister was her elder sister, and she was herself—she was not the same!

“I won’t break off this marriage!” Shen Yuantang said through clenched teeth, wiping her tears.

Seeing her words becoming more and more inappropriate, Old Madam Shen hurriedly ordered someone to take her away.

Two maids tried to pull Shen Yuantang, but she shook them off.

“I won’t go! I’m going to the Jining Marquis’s residence to demand an explanation!”

The steward could barely conceal the scorn in his eyes. Marriage had always been arranged by parents and elders. For a young lady of the Shen family to behave so boldly must surely be the influence of Shen Lanxi.

Their Marquis’s household could never accept such a headstrong woman.

“Old Madam, we have delivered everything. We must return to report, so we will take our leave,” the steward said, turning to go.

Old Madam Shen had still been waiting for Zhou Xinrou to arrive. Seeing the steward already leaving, she hurriedly tried to stop him.

Before she could speak, her arm was grabbed by Shen Yuantang.

“Grandmother, I’m going to the Jining Marquis’s residence to ask for the truth.”

Old Madam Shen was a moment too late; the people from the Marquis’s residence had already exited the gate.

Furious, Old Madam Shen shook off Shen Yuantang’s grip.

“You foolish girl! All of you, drag her back to her room. Without my permission, she is not to step outside even one step. If she runs out of the house, every one of you will be beaten and sold!”

Old Madam Shen had truly lost her temper. Maids and servants rushed forward together, restraining Shen Yuantang and dragging her into the inner courtyard.

Zhou Xinrou arrived belatedly. Seeing Old Madam Shen’s grim expression, she said, “His Majesty never wanted us to form a marriage alliance with the Jining Marquis’s household anyway. Taking this opportunity to withdraw isn’t a bad thing.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Shen felt a surge of anger lodge in her chest, neither rising nor falling, and she fell ill from it.

In the palace, just as Shen Yuanjing had been summoned and received an imperial order, news arrived that doctors had been called to both the Shen residence and the Zhenbei Marquis’s residence. In less than an hour, a request from the Zhenbei Marquis’s residence was sent directly to the palace asking for imperial physicians.

Shen Yuanjing had thought he would never return to the northwest in this lifetime, yet in less than three months, he saw hope again.

He had just received the imperial decree when Emperor Renxiao received a secret report: Shen Lanxi had been poisoned and fallen unconscious.

After a moment’s thought, the emperor knew the matter could not be concealed. Even if he tried, everyone would learn of it once court was dismissed.

“I have just received news from outside the palace: Shen Lanxi has been poisoned and is unconscious in the Zhenbei Marquis’s residence. I have already sent the best imperial physicians to treat her.”

For no clear reason, Emperor Renxiao felt uneasy. The Shen family had suffered successive misfortunes, and although he had secretly fanned the flames behind the scenes, he had not ordered anyone to poison Shen Lanxi.

Even if he wanted her dead, now was not the time.

Especially with trouble arising again in the northwest—if Shen Lanxi’s life or death was uncertain, could Shen Yuanjing still go suppress the unrest with peace of mind?

“Your Majesty, if anything happens to my elder sister, I, Shen Yuanjing, will remain in the capital to mourn for her for three years!”

Hearing this, Emperor Renxiao was so angry he nearly coughed up blood.

The officials all stared at Shen Yuanjing in disbelief.

Mourning for an elder relative was reasonable—but who ever mourned three years for someone of the same generation?

Shen Yuanjing was already weeping bitterly, tears and mucus streaming down his face.

“When our whole family was exiled to Dongchuan, if not for my elder sister, we would have died on the road.”

“Without my elder sister, there would be no us.”

“If anything happens to her, not only will I mourn for her—we will all mourn for her and eat only vegetarian food for three years!”

The officials all turned to look at Shen Congwen, whose beard practically bristled with fury.

What a fine son he had indeed!

Emperor Renxiao scolded darkly, “Do not speak nonsense. Lanxi will certainly be fine!”

Shen Yuanjing continued sobbing uncontrollably.

“Your Majesty, I wish to return at once to see my elder sister. I beg Your Majesty to grant permission!”

Seeing his state, the emperor knew he had no mind left to discuss the war in the northwest, so he waved him away with a dark expression.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Liang Shao stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I once served alongside General Shen. I would also like to go and show my concern.”

The emperor’s face darkened even further, but he waved his hand and allowed it.

“Ruyuan, take several imperial physicians with you, along with nourishing tonics and medicines, and visit Lanxi on my behalf.”

Zhou Ruyuan stood in a daze, scarcely able to believe that the bold, radiant woman he knew could suddenly be poisoned.

“I will go at once, Father Emperor.”

Zhenbei Marquis’s Residence

“Imperial Physician, how is our mistress?” Chunxue asked anxiously.

The physician frowned as he took Shen Lanxi’s pulse. “She has indeed been poisoned, but what kind of poison it is—I must consider further.”

On the canopy bed, Shen Lanxi’s face was pale, her eyes tightly closed. Her lips had turned dark bluish-black, and even her fingernails were blackened.

It was obvious the poison had already penetrated deeply.

“Imperial Physician, please hurry and save our mistress!” the people in the room pleaded one after another.

The physician taking her pulse was deeply troubled; he could not determine what poison it was.

“Physician Li, come and take a look!”

Another imperial physician stepped forward to examine Shen Lanxi.

“She has indeed been poisoned. But this poison is unlike any I have ever seen. I must study it further.”