RWNEFE -Chapter 334 The Punishment of Shen Yuanzhan

Madam Miao rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, “If it weren’t for fear of affecting my Yuanpeng and Yuanhao’s futures, who would care about that concubine-born son?”

Shen Congli immediately rebuked her unhappily, “No matter what, Yuanzhan is still my son. If something happens to him, I can’t just ignore it.”

Shen Lanxi looked around and asked, “Why isn’t my father here?”

The entire room fell silent.

Old Madam Shen said awkwardly, “Your father is still at court and hasn’t returned.” In truth, she knew that even if her eldest son were called back, it would be useless.

Everyone else in the room had already realized this as well.

“Lanxi, the daughters of the family are about to be betrothed, and the young men are preparing for the imperial examinations. At such a critical time, we absolutely cannot have an incident like this,” Old Madam Shen urged earnestly.

Shen Lanxi said, “At this hour, shouldn’t he have been studying? How did he end up going out drinking and frequenting pleasure houses?”

Shen Congli explained in a low voice, “He wasn’t visiting pleasure houses—he just had a few drinks in a restaurant with some scholars.”

Shen Lanxi asked expressionlessly, “Who allowed him to go out? I remember Father saying that sons who are studying are not permitted to leave the house during the day.”

Shen Congli grew flustered. “Lanxi, now isn’t the time to argue about that. We should first think of a way to get Yuanzhan out. The Court of Judicial Review is no place to stay.”

Shen Lanxi’s face turned cold. “He refused to walk the road to success and insisted on charging through the gates of hell. One who brings disaster upon himself cannot be saved.”

Hearing this, Shen Congli was terrified and was about to continue pleading when a servant rushed in, panic-stricken.

“Old Madam, Master, something terrible has happened! That woman just dashed her head against a pillar in court and killed herself!”

Shen Lanxi let out a silent, cold laugh.

Shen Congli had originally intended to minimize the matter and settle it with money, turning a major issue into a minor one. He had never expected the woman to commit suicide in the Court of Judicial Review—this was no small matter.

“Lanxi, you must think of a way to save Yuanzhan!” Shen Congli now regretted listening to his concubine’s instigation.

Shen Lanxi knew the matter was far from over. She said calmly, “Just wait.”

Wait for what?

The members of the Shen family looked at each other in confusion.

Before long, officers from the Court of Judicial Review arrived to summon them.

When the Shen family reached the court, many scholars and commoners were already gathered outside, shouting that the culprit must be severely punished and that Shen Lanxi was unfit to serve as chief examiner for scholars across the realm.

At that moment, the Shen family began to understand what Shen Lanxi had meant earlier.

Wasn’t it just drunkenly harassing a civilian woman? How had it escalated to a matter of state?

Those who had initially felt confident now trembled with fear.

Why was it that every time something happened, it felt as though exile was not far away?

“Minister Shen…”

“Minister Wei…”

After the officials exchanged greetings, Wei Jie was the first to speak about the seriousness of the matter.

“If this had happened in another family, it wouldn’t be such a problem. But since it happened in the household of the chief examiner, it’s difficult to handle.”

Shen Lanxi nodded, thanking him for the reminder.

“Grandmother, Minister Wei has told me this matter will be difficult to resolve.”

Old Madam Shen was already anxious; now she was completely at a loss, clutching Shen Lanxi’s hand and repeatedly asking for advice.

“Lanxi, what should we do?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “The matter is too serious. I cannot decide alone. We must wait for Father to arrive and discuss it.”

But Shen Congwen could not come—he had already been impeached.

The news that Shen Yuanzhan had harassed a civilian woman, driving her to suicide by dashing her head against a pillar, was delivered to Emperor Renxiao’s desk immediately.

Soon afterward, the entire court of scholars rose to attack the Shen family.

Sharp tongues became like blades stabbing at Shen Congwen.

“Your Majesty, as head of the Shen household, Shen Congwen has failed to discipline his nephew.”

“The Shen family, relying on Shen Lanxi’s position as chief examiner, forms factions and commits abuses of power!”

“They bully men and women alike—unworthy of being court officials!”

“They must be severely punished, or we will kneel here until death…”

Emperor Renxiao put on a troubled expression, frowned, and reproachfully looked at Shen Congwen, even throwing memorials at him.

“Shen Congwen, if you cannot even manage your own household, how can you manage the Ministry of Revenue?”

Shen Congwen’s face was ashen. He knelt trembling, terrified. At that moment, what he regretted most was that his health was too good—he could not even faint to escape the humiliation.

After angrily rebuking him and calming the scholar-officials, the emperor ordered that Shen Congwen be carried to the Court of Judicial Review. Then he deliberately mentioned the Grand Preceptor in open court.

“Your Majesty, the Grand Preceptor has worked tirelessly for the imperial examinations and has already fainted twice from exhaustion.”

The emperor immediately sent imperial physicians and bestowed precious medicines and tonics.

The scholar-officials’ thoughts became active again. If the Shen family failed to handle this matter properly, the position of chief examiner would likely change hands.

Shen Congwen was carried to the Court of Judicial Review by imperial guards; the emperor’s attitude was unmistakable.

“Father, what should be done about Yuanzhan?” Shen Lanxi asked.

Shen Congwen still felt chills in his bones and could barely sit upright.

“Lanxi, handle it as you see fit.”

As long as his daughter handled it, even if the emperor was dissatisfied, he likely would not say much.

Shen Lanxi said, “If I handle it, you certainly won’t be satisfied with the result.”

Shen Congwen was too exhausted to care. Closing his eyes, he waved his hand, leaving everything to her.

When Wei Jie saw Shen Lanxi approach, he knew they had reached a decision.

“Minister Shen, this matter must give the scholars of the realm an explanation.”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze was cold. “The one at fault is Shen Yuanzhan. However, the woman was not killed directly by his hand—does anyone dispute this?”

The hall shook their heads. No one objected.

They had all seen the woman dash her head against the pillar. Shen Yuanzhan had not acted violently, nor had he threatened revenge.

“Although she was not killed directly by Shen Yuanzhan, he indirectly caused her death. Does anyone dispute this?”

Again, no one objected.

“The Shen family failed to discipline its sons, allowing them to commit wrongdoing. Does the Shen family acknowledge this?”

Old Madam Shen looked at her eldest son, who had his eyes closed, unclear whether he was awake or unconscious. Then she looked at her third son, who was so frightened he could only tremble.

The emperor already knew—who would dare plead for a light sentence? Not only could it not be light, it had to be severe.

Shen Lanxi raised her voice. “In the Zhenbei Army, what is the punishment for anyone who dares to molest a woman?”

Che Mingyuan replied loudly, “Castration, which may be carried out personally by the woman.”

Shen Lanxi nodded in satisfaction.

The Shen family was horrified; everyone else was stunned.

How had it come to castration?

“Lanxi, no, you can’t! If he’s castrated, it’s worse than killing him!” Shen Congli screamed in terror.

Shen Lanxi turned to look at Wei Jie.

Wei Jie struck the gavel and said solemnly, “What Minister Shen mentioned is the military law of the Zhenbei Army. Shen Yuanzhan is not a member of that army, so sentencing must follow the statutes of the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice.”

Hearing this, Shen Congli collapsed to his knees, wailing.

“My lord, I beg the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice to pass judgment—not according to military law. My son is not a soldier; he’s just a commoner.”

Wei Jie looked at the sobbing Shen Congli, then at Shen Lanxi, whose expression remained unchanged.

“Molesting a civilian woman and driving her to suicide in shame—this crime shall be punished by exile and thirty heavy strokes of the rod.”