RWNEFE -Chapter 346 Two Imperial Marriage Decrees!

Even if he knew his son was innocent, what could be done?

“You fool! So easily schemed against…” Emperor Renxiao, furious, lifted his foot and kicked Zhou Ruyuan twice.

“Your Majesty, be careful not to injure the imperial body…” Wang Bao hurried to steady and protect the emperor.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger!”

Shen Lanxi continued, “Your servant has investigated. Before noon, all the people from the Jining Marquis’ residence had already left. We also sent someone to verify at the Marquis’ residence—there was no such maidservant as the one mentioned.”

“In the afternoon, I had all the maids who attended the Yongwen Banquet brought in batches for Shen Yuantang to identify. She did not find the maid she described.”

“Furthermore, the Prince of Zhennan only encountered trouble after drinking a cup of tea. Following this lead, I investigated and discovered that the attendant responsible for serving him tea had taken poison. Whether he committed suicide or was silenced is unknown.”

The person behind all this had acted extremely cleanly. In short—there was no evidence, no witnesses.

Emperor Renxiao was even more enraged. If the culprit could bypass such strict security to attack them, then what about him? Did that mean they could strike at him at any time as well?

Shen Lanxi stepped forward and advised, “Your Majesty, I believe this matter is highly suspicious. It may be connected to the remnants of the Li Prince. For the sake of the realm and Your Majesty’s safety, I request that you return to the palace at once.”

Hearing this, Emperor Renxiao’s heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, Lanxi had reminded him—he had nearly forgotten that tomorrow was the day of execution for the descendants of the Li Prince.

If all these events were linked together, it was quite possible that the Li Prince’s remaining followers were trying to create confusion.

“The descendants of the Li Prince must be strictly guarded. Prepare to return to the palace!”

“Yes!”

Shen Lanxi was personally ordered by Emperor Renxiao to accompany him back to the palace.

Everyone else remained in place. The execution of the Li Prince’s descendants would proceed as scheduled the next day.

Originally, Emperor Renxiao had not intended to make a decision so quickly, but this incident had angered him. The descendants of the Li Prince were a lingering disaster; eliminating them sooner would also extinguish the hopes of those lurking in the shadows.

After returning to the capital, Emperor Renxiao kept the Shen family, Zhou Ruyuan, and the Minister of Personnel in the palace.

The relationships among the three families had now become tangled and complicated. Matters had to be settled quickly, before others could react.

After careful consideration, Emperor Renxiao issued two decrees:

First, Shen Yuantang was to enter the Prince of Zhennan’s residence as a secondary consort.

Second, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Personnel’s family was to marry Shen Yuanxu as an equal wife.

The Shen family, Zhou Ruyuan, and the Hu family (the Minister’s family) had waited anxiously in the palace until midnight. When they finally received the imperial decrees, each of them looked as if their parents had just died.

Only one person was overjoyed—Madam Liu of the second branch.

She had thought she would only ever live to raise a daughter-in-law, never to see grandchildren, but unexpectedly such a fine marriage had fallen into their lap.

In the past, even with Zhou Xinrou’s connections, her son Yuanxu could never have married the daughter of an official ranked above sixth grade.

The Hu family of the Ministry of Personnel was a third-rank household, deeply rooted in the court for many years and holding real power.

Madam Liu was nearly beside herself with joy.

Meanwhile, Shen Yuantang was taken back home in a daze. First she was punished, then beaten, and then struck by the blow of the imperial marriage decree. After wailing and crying for more than an hour, she fell ill the next day.

When Old Madam Shen heard the news, she immediately ordered a physician to be summoned.

It was not so much that she feared something might happen to Shen Yuantang—but rather that Emperor Renxiao might blame them if she could not be carried into the Prince of Zhennan’s residence on schedule.

There was another person who could not accept this outcome: Bai Qingling.

In her wildest dreams, she had never imagined that Shen Lanxi’s younger sister would enter the prince’s residence—and by imperial decree at that.

What did that make her? What was she now?

The descendants of the Li Prince were executed as scheduled.

On the day of the execution, Emperor Renxiao had been waiting anxiously.

Only when Wei Dongzhu returned carrying a severed head to report did the emperor finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Was there any disturbance at the execution ground?”

Wei Dongzhu replied, “There were no abnormalities. Only the scholars were somewhat agitated—they wished they could personally kill the descendants of the Li Prince.”

A great weight finally lifted from Emperor Renxiao’s heart, and even his tone became lighter.

“I intend to build a memorial shrine on East Mountain for the Wei Family Army, to comfort their spirits. In the future, people will have a place to pay their respects.”

Wei Dongzhu knelt excitedly. “Your servant wishes to personally supervise the construction of the shrine. I beg Your Majesty’s permission!”

Emperor Renxiao nodded. “You are a filial and devoted child.”

Wei Dongzhu continued, “Your Majesty, I also wish to observe three years of mourning for my family, and to invite eminent monks from the temples to chant scriptures for the Wei Family Army, so that their souls may find peace.”

Emperor Renxiao agreed.

Wei Dongzhu added, “Your Majesty, I have one more request. I hope to have the monks chant for the Wei Family Army for three years, and I will chant along with them. They died tragically—I fear that if the chanting is too short, their souls will not rest.”

Emperor Renxiao raised an eyebrow. So that was the matter.

But it seemed somewhat excessive. If misunderstood by others, it might even create discord between ruler and minister.

“Your Majesty, I am the only survivor of the Wei Family Army. When I wake from dreams at midnight, I often dream of them coming to me, unwilling to rest. I cannot sleep, and my mind finds no peace. I always think—if the one who died back then had been me, perhaps my father, mother, elder brother, and younger brother would still be alive…” Wei Dongzhu clutched his head in anguish.

Seeing him like this, Emperor Renxiao felt a trace of pity.

“Very well. I grant your request.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your compassion…”

“Sir, they have switched the descendants of the Li Prince,” Ban Sicao said.

Shen Lanxi gave a bitter smile. “My mother had someone rescue them?”

Ban Sicao looked at her with concern. “Perhaps there is some hidden reason.”

Shen Lanxi’s smile faded, her gaze gradually turning cold.

“No matter the reason, keep a close watch on them.”

“Yes!”

After Ban Sicao left, Shen Lanxi also departed from the Duke Jüding’s residence.

“Fifth Brother, is the person alright?”

Feng Wu lifted his chin. “Alive. Still breathing.”

Shen Lanxi crouched down, lifted the descendant of the Li Prince’s chin, and looked him in the eye.

“What value could a person like this possibly still have?”

Feng Wu said, “I’ve already sent for Xiao Shi. He’s skilled in detoxification. Let him examine this man.”

Suddenly, Shen Lanxi struck, her fingers darting toward the man’s eyes.

Feng Wu raised an eyebrow.

Seeing the man remain completely motionless in her grasp, Shen Lanxi withdrew her hand and lightly tapped her forehead.

“Let it be. They went to great lengths to rescue him—there must be some purpose.”

Feng Wu nodded. “We’ll hear news soon enough.”

After returning home, Shen Lanxi had just awakened from a nap when the Shen residence sent word that she was to go to the Hu family to deliver betrothal gifts.

The matter of the Yongwen Banquet had not yet been fully resolved, yet the Shen family was already in such a hurry.

“Lanxi, last time you were the one who delivered the betrothal gifts to the Wu family. The Hu family marriage is for an equal wife, the same status as a principal wife, so naturally you must go deliver the gifts again, lest people find fault,” Madam Liu said excitedly.

Shen Yuanxu looked somewhat embarrassed. “Mother, Yuantang’s matter has not yet been settled. My marriage is not urgent.”

Madam Liu was displeased and began lecturing sternly, “There is an order of seniority. Yuantang is still young, and you are the male heir of the family. Naturally, you marry first, and only afterward will it be Yuantang’s turn to marry.”