RWNEFE -Chapter 347 Shen Lanxi Is Someone Who Can Sit Among Men and Be Ranked Among Them!

Shen Lanxi glanced around and asked, “Where is Mother?”

Madam Liu secretly glanced at the old madam and said in a low voice, “She’s gone to the temple again. Who knows what’s so good there that it’s more important than her children’s marriages?”

“Ahem…” Old Madam Shen shot Madam Liu a sharp look.

Madam Liu immediately shrank her neck.

“Lanxi, Yuanxu is the first proper male of our family to marry in the capital. We mustn’t be careless!”

Shen Yuanxu couldn’t bear to listen any longer.

“Mother, I was already married once before. Have you forgotten?”

It would have been better if he hadn’t mentioned it. The moment he did, Madam Liu exploded and chased after him to hit him.

“And just what kind of wife did you marry before? She had to be fed even to eat or drink—does that count as a marriage? What sins did I commit in my previous life to give birth to such an unfilial son…”

Shen Lanxi quickly stepped aside and gave Madam Liu space to strike.

But once Madam Liu really had the chance, she couldn’t bring herself to hit him.

“Lanxi, what exactly does His Majesty mean by all this?”

Before Shen Lanxi could answer, Shen Yuanxu warned, “Mother, do not speak recklessly about the imperial family.”

Frightened, Madam Liu hurriedly covered her mouth.

Not long after, someone from the palace arrived to deliver a message to Shen Lanxi: the Yongwen Banquet incident had been taken over by the Court of Judicial Review, and she no longer needed to handle it.

That very afternoon, two palace servants were thrown into the Court’s prison, and word was released that the case had been closed.

The Yongwen Banquet had been proposed by Empress Qi Yingqun. Now that something had gone wrong, palace servants were pushed out to take the blame. Emperor Renxiao might not know exactly who was responsible, but he certainly knew it was someone from the palace, which was why the case was hastily closed.

Sometimes, the imperial family was no different from ordinary people—they too wished to keep family scandals from becoming public.

Only one day later, the Shen and Hu families had already begun the formal betrothal process.

When Shen Lanxi arrived that day, although the Hu family conducted the rites without error, it was clear they were perfunctory.

After all, their daughter had originally been a suitable candidate for a prince’s principal consort. If Zhou Ruyuan were to ascend the throne, the principal consort would become empress. Marrying Shen Yuanxu instead—even at best he might someday enter official service—was clearly a far lesser prospect.

After hastily completing the betrothal rites, they began discussing the wedding date. Emperor Renxiao’s intentions were obvious: one word—fast.

Ashamed that their legitimate daughter was being married to an unknown man, and as an equal wife at that, the Hu family quickly chose the nearest auspicious date—just seven days later—and then sent their guests away.

The next day, a maid from the Hu family delivered an invitation to Shen Yuanxu through a side gate, asking him to meet.

The invitation passed through Shen Lanxi’s hands before reaching Shen Yuanxu.

“Lanxi, do you think Miss Hu wants to break off the engagement?” Shen Yuanxu asked, holding the card as he sought her out.

Shen Lanxi replied calmly, “Tell her that although you haven’t yet earned scholarly honors, you have one advantage.”

Shen Yuanxu had no idea what advantage he possessed. He was merely a commoner now. Although the emperor had praised him a few times, those were empty words.

What advantage could that be?

Shen Lanxi said, “Tell her the men of our family are not permitted to take concubines. Anyone who dares to do so will die without a whole corpse.”

Shen Yuanxu: “…”

He glanced at Shen Lanxi, then silently went to keep the appointment.

When he returned the next day, there was much more joy on his face. He even asked Shen Lanxi to help him select gifts that women liked, to present to Miss Hu.

After some thought, Shen Lanxi gave Shen Yuanxu a precious box.

“What’s inside is something I’m giving you as a family heirloom.”

Seeing her so mysterious, Shen Yuanxu grew curious and tried to open it, but Shen Lanxi stopped him.

“I haven’t even given something like this to His Majesty.”

Only then did Shen Yuanxu realize how valuable it must be. Hugging the box like a treasure, he boarded his carriage. When he finally opened it, the sight of the thick-limbed, sprawling wild ginseng inside shocked him so much he nearly forgot to breathe. When he came to his senses, he hastily shut the box again.

This medicinal treasure was indeed precious—far finer than anything he knew had ever been presented to the emperor.

If he truly gave it to the Hu family, he almost felt reluctant to part with it.

In the blink of an eye, the wedding day arrived.

The Wu family of the Left Chancellor sent Wu Tong with gifts to attend as their representative. Aside from that, most officials of the court came.

Emperor Renxiao and the inner palace also sent rewards, so many that they flowed into the Shen residence like a stream.

Shen Lanxi personally arranged three banquet tables: one for Wei Dongzhu and his companions, one for the capital guards, and one for the Ministry of Rites examiners.

As Duke of Zhenbei, she had a seat reserved at all three tables.

The women ate while whispering quietly among themselves.

At one table sat imperial relatives and several women who had once been on friendly terms with Shen Lanxi, all attending with their husbands.

A few of them, seeing Shen Lanxi seated among the men, began to sneer.

“Men and women should not sit together after the age of seven. A woman mingling among men—what kind of behavior is that?”

“She’s always showing her face in public, disgracing us women.”

“No wonder she never reconciled with the Prince of Zhennan. If a woman like this entered the imperial family…”

Suddenly, Zhou Yunxue spoke sharply.

“Lanxi is someone who can sit among men and be ranked among them. What are you, that you dare criticize her?”

Zhou Yunyu froze, glancing quickly around. Seeing everyone at the table looking at her, her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she became furious.

“Zhou Yunxue, who do you think you are, speaking to me in such a loud voice?”

Zhou Yunxue’s gaze wavered for a moment, then she lifted her head and met Zhou Yunyu’s eyes.

“I am the legitimate daughter of the Prince Ji’s residence. You are the concubine-born daughter of Prince Ping. Between legitimate and illegitimate, there is rank and distinction. Even if this matter reached His Majesty, I wouldn’t fear you!”

Zhou Yunyu hated most of all when others brought up her illegitimate birth. Hearing this, she glared viciously.

“My husband is an examiner of the imperial examinations. If you offend me, aren’t you afraid of implicating your husband? Didn’t you used to love following Shen Lanxi around and imitating her? Now she’s just a discarded woman—are you going to imitate her again and be cast aside by your husband too?” Zhou Yunyu sneered arrogantly.

“A discarded woman? I never realized that, among the ladies of the capital, my reputation amounted to nothing more than that.”

Shen Lanxi’s voice suddenly rang out.

Zhou Yunyu trembled violently and turned around—Shen Lanxi was standing right behind her.

Smiling faintly, Shen Lanxi said, “I once heard that when I had just returned to the capital, someone gave me a nickname—‘the Butcheress of the Northwest.’ I rather liked that name, and thought I should thank those people, so I specially had someone investigate.”

Zhou Yunyu’s eyes slowly widened in disbelief. Impossible. They had only said it casually back then. Besides, so many people had said it—Shen Lanxi couldn’t possibly find proof to accuse her in particular.

Shen Lanxi continued, “As it happens, today there are two witnesses present at this wedding banquet who personally saw the people spreading those rumors.”

Liu Yanhui and Ban Sicao stood and saluted Shen Lanxi.

It had been so long that Zhou Yunyu had nearly forgotten. But seeing Liu Yanhui dressed in fine robes, she vaguely remembered something.

Back when the Zhenbei Army had entered the capital, she and several sisters had indeed run into a splendidly dressed man while gossiping.

Zhou Yunyu stared at Shen Lanxi without blinking.

After so many years, she was still digging up old accounts.

How could she hold grudges so fiercely?