RWNEFE -Chapter 333 Choosing Husbands for the Daughters of the Shen Family

The scholar who was meeting Shen Yuanruan for marriage talks came from a remote northern place called Donglin. Among the scholars Shen Congwen favored, his home was the farthest away.

On the day Shen Yuanruan became formally engaged, Shen Lanxi went over briefly to make an appearance.

Because this was the first major happy occasion in the Shen residence, even though the bride was from the third branch of the family, many people still came to show support, and the event was fairly lively.

Taking advantage of the engagement, Shen Yuanruan privately said a few words to Shen Lanxi.

“Elder Sister, Uncle has already examined this scholar. He’s extremely learned, and I’m very satisfied. Uncle’s plan is to arrange our marriage after the imperial examinations are over. At that time, I’ll go with him to Donglin.”

Shen Lanxi replied, “As long as you’ve thought it through yourself, that’s fine.”

But Shen Yuanruan had another purpose in seeking out her elder sister.

“Elder Sister, could you speak to Uncle and let my future husband come to the house to study together with the other brothers?”

Seeing the calculating look on her face, Shen Lanxi refused decisively.

“I can’t help you. You should speak to my father yourself.”

The smile on Shen Yuanruan’s lips froze, and she said bitterly, “Elder Sister, no one in the family likes me. If I speak to Uncle, he certainly won’t pay attention to me.”

Shen Lanxi said, “Then you can have your father speak to my father. Every day when my father sees me, he only criticizes me. He dislikes me greatly. I can’t help you.”

Hearing such a firm refusal, Shen Yuanruan grew anxious and blurted out, “Elder Sister, could you at least help my future husband?”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly. “Yuanruan, you’ve only known that scholar for a few days and met him only a handful of times, yet you’ve come to me on his behalf. Do you really think you hold that much weight with me?”

Shen Yuanruan could no longer smile.

“I’ve already preserved a portion of the Shen family’s dignity for you. You should cherish it, understand?” Shen Lanxi said coldly.

A chill ran through Shen Yuanruan’s whole body. She suddenly remembered how this person could kill without blinking. It was only because Shen Lanxi had previously said she would protect the family and let them live comfortably that she had forgotten Shen Lanxi’s cold and ruthless nature.

“Elder Sister, I was wrong. I won’t make this mistake again.”

Shen Lanxi responded with a low hum. “Choosing to marry far away is the right decision. I hope you continue to make the right choices in the future.”

Watching Shen Lanxi’s departing figure, Shen Yuanruan’s gaze gradually turned colder.

…

On the day of Shen Yuanruan’s engagement, the Jining Marquis’ residence also sent congratulatory gifts. This time the gifts were sent very publicly, clearly signaling an intention to repair relations.

Old Madam Shen directly refused them, though Zhou Xinrou said a few words: “The Jining Marquis’ residence is a distinguished noble family. For something as important as a marriage alliance, they must weigh many considerations. Given how chaotic our household was before, it’s not strange that they withdrew from the engagement.”

For the first time, Old Madam Shen openly opposed her eldest daughter-in-law, who held the title of commandery princess.

“Marriage is no trifling matter. Even when they first arranged the engagement, their attitude was poor. Later, when they broke it off, their behavior was even worse. Our family doesn’t need to cling to the powerful. I cannot watch my granddaughter suffer such humiliation before she even enters their household.”

Her meaning was simple: before, they had looked down on the Shen family; later, seeing that the Shen family had regained imperial favor, they tried to come back and make connections. But the Shen family also had its pride.

Moreover, after experiencing such events, she had seen things clearly. Once trouble arises, the powerful flee faster than rabbits and are the quickest to distance themselves—sometimes they are worse than ordinary commoners.

Because of this insistence on dignity, Old Madam Shen ordered the gifts from the Jining Marquis’ residence to be returned.

Soon it was Shen Yuanxin’s turn for marriage arrangements. Shen Congwen likewise selected a promising scholar and settled the engagement before the imperial examinations.

Shen Lanxi made only a token visit, sending over a set of hairpins.

“Elder Sister, Father intends to have my future husband come study at home with Mr. Ruohua.”

Shen Lanxi understood at once why she said this, but did not expose it.

“Earlier, Shen Yuanruan’s future husband wasn’t arranged to study here. Father is afraid the third branch might have objections.”

Shen Lanxi replied ambiguously, “Father will arrange things as he sees fit. You don’t need to worry.”

Shen Yuanxin lowered her head and hesitated. “Elder Sister, I don’t want to marry far away. I want to stay in the capital, to remain at home in the future.”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. “So you’re not satisfied with this future husband?”

Shen Yuanxin quickly shook her head. “No, that’s not what I mean.” She wondered inwardly whether her elder sister intended to sabotage the match.

“Elder Sister, I’m very satisfied with my future husband. I have no other meaning.”

Shen Lanxi said, “That’s good. Remember this: the daughters of our family are not used for political marriages.”

Shen Yuanxin didn’t feel it was a political marriage at all; she only felt that her elder sister’s words were somewhat disrespectful. If she was unwilling to help speak to their father, she could have said so plainly—why speak in such roundabout ways and frighten her?

After that, the marriages of the other concubine-born daughters were also placed on the agenda. All the candidates were scholars personally selected by Shen Congwen.

In recent days, Shen Congwen felt extremely accomplished.

His own children did not obey him, but those from the other branches allowed him to arrange everything.

He had personally tested all those scholars; in the future, they would surely become pillars of Great Zhou, with limitless prospects. In this way, they had also, in effect, entered his circle and become his students.

Just imagining a future with three thousand disciples—if not a great Confucian master, then something very close to one—made Shen Congwen laugh even in his sleep.

While Shen Congwen was busily arranging marriages for the daughters of the household, Zhou Ruan quietly returned to the capital.

Originally, as a meritorious general who had helped recover the northwest, the court had intended to welcome him with great ceremony. But because of the scandal involving him and Zhou Qiwou’s children—a disgrace that had only recently been suppressed by the imperial examinations—he had to keep as low a profile as possible.

Zhou Ruan secretly entered the palace, and when he came out, the handprint on his face was clearly visible.

Within a day, the scandal between Zhou Ruan and Zhou Qiwou’s children once again spread among commoners.

Emperor Renxiao frowned as he looked at the list Wang Bao had presented.

“Is Shen Congwen trying to gather all the pillars of Great Zhou into his own Shen family?”

Wang Bao snorted coldly. “Shen Congwen has quite the nerve, daring to compete with Your Majesty for talent.”

The emperor stared at the names on the list, his expression shifting.

Wang Bao said, “Your Majesty, this old servant has a plan…”

After hearing it, the emperor immediately smiled.

“Do it as you suggested.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Then the emperor asked, “Do you think what Shen Congwen is doing is under Shen Lanxi’s instructions?”

Wang Bao chuckled. “This old servant heard earlier that Shen Lanxi killed one of Shen Congwen’s concubines. The husband and wife are like fire and water at home. That old Master Shen is the type who only drags Shen Lanxi down.”

The emperor raised an eyebrow, then soon laughed softly.

…

“My lady, the Shen residence has sent their steward to ask for help. A concubine-born young master of the third branch, drunk, molested a civilian woman and has been detained by the Court of Judicial Review.”

Shen Lanxi frowned. “Verify whether it’s true. Who sent the request?”

“The Old Madam.”

Shen Lanxi set off for the Shen residence with a dark expression. The few days of peace she had finally gained were all being spent dealing with family affairs again.

“Lanxi, you’re finally back! You must save Yuanzhan!”

As soon as Shen Lanxi entered, Shen Congli hurried forward, pleading on behalf of his concubine-born son.

T/N: I am not liking this FL anymore. I don’t know why is she submitting to this emperor or keeping her family. She has such a good opportunity to overthrow but she wasted it. It feels unnecessary.