RWNEFE -Chapter 354 Shen Yuantang Comes Seeking Help

Shen Yuantang’s face was ashen, almost iron-colored.

“Big Sister, what do you mean by that?”

Shen Lanxi said coldly, “What do you think I mean?”

Shen Yuantang’s tone grew urgent: “His Majesty has already arranged the marriage between me and the prince. Big Sister, are you really going to compete with your younger sister for the prince?”

Shen Lanxi laughed: “Zhou Ruyuan spent our wedding night in the servant’s quarters. What kind of man is he? Do you really think he’s worth me competing with you over?”

“If I wanted to compete, I wouldn’t have divorced him back then!”

Shen Yuantang shrank back slightly at her gaze, then, recalling what Big Sister had just said, thought perhaps she was deceiving her.

“Big Sister, you can’t always hold onto other people’s past mistakes. Back then, the prince was young and reckless, easily misled by those vile people. Who hasn’t made mistakes when young? Can you guarantee you didn’t make a single mistake when you were young?”

Shen Lanxi stared at her steadily: “Are you here to get revenge on me for Zhou Ruyuan?”

Shen Yuantang angrily tugged at her handkerchief. How could Big Sister be so thick-headed, not understanding her meaning?

“Big Sister, what I mean is that the past is the past. I am now married to the prince; from now on, I am his wife. You are my blood-related big sister; we are family now. There’s no need to keep bringing up the past. Surely, Big Sister wants me to have a happy life going forward, right?”

Shen Lanxi: “This is the first time I’ve noticed you are so glib!”

Shen Yuantang was secretly proud. She still had many tricks up her sleeve—she was not inferior to Big Sister at all.

“Big Sister, if you want me to live well in the prince’s mansion, then reconcile with the prince. I am your younger sister; from now on, we will definitely need to support each other.”

Shen Lanxi: “Did you come up with this yourself, or did Zhou Ruyuan tell you to say it to me?”

Shen Yuantang didn’t want to mention the prince at this point.

“It’s my own idea. Once I become the Zhen’nan Princess, no one will be able to threaten our Shen family. Big Sister, you won’t have to struggle so much either.”

So she came to win her over. If it had been anyone else, they would have assumed Shen Yuantang was there to flaunt her position. But choosing Shen Yuantang was truly the right move.

“I understand your meaning. You may leave.”

Shen Yuantang froze. She hadn’t finished speaking yet.

“Big Sister, I have something to discuss with you.”

Shen Lanxi: “Haven’t you already discussed it with me?”

Shen Yuantang’s eyes widened: “No, I haven’t said it yet.”

Shen Lanxi feigned realization: “So you didn’t come just to visit me or to make me forgive Zhou Ruyuan. You came because you have something to ask?”

Shen Yuantang’s anger flared. How could Big Sister be so indifferent? She was the future Zhen’nan Princess. With the prince so favored by His Majesty, she would surely one day rise to prominence—perhaps even become empress. How could Big Sister treat her so rudely?

“If it’s a difficult matter, don’t tell me. If it’s troublesome, don’t mention it, or I’ll report it to His Majesty exactly as it is!”

Shen Yuantang didn’t expect that after saying so much, Big Sister was still obstinate.

“Big Sister, I am your own younger sister. Shouldn’t you help me?”

Shen Lanxi: “Help you divorce? That I can do!”

Shen Yuantang’s face burned with anger: “Big Sister, I am your blood sister! How can you curse me like this?”

“I just got married, and you already want to curse me to divorce? I want to ask—why do you hate me so much?”

Shen Lanxi looked at her furious sister: “I have never hated you. But you… why would you say such things? Have you been holding a grudge against me all along?”

Saying this was tantamount to tearing the relationship apart.

Shen Yuantang was tugged by a maid and slowly calmed down.

“Big Sister, I didn’t mean that. I am devoted to the prince and have no intention of divorcing him. Don’t let your resentment toward him extend to me, your sister.”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow: “Who told you I hate him?”

Doesn’t hate him? Shen Yuantang didn’t believe it. Anyone would hold a grudge for life after such a thing on their wedding night.

“I don’t hold a grudge. If I did, I would have reported him to His Majesty already.”

Shen Yuantang lowered her gaze in silence.

Shen Lanxi: “Believe it or not, that’s how I feel in my heart.”

Shen Yuantang’s heart was anxious and frustrated. She didn’t know what to say, and instinctively glanced at the maid behind her.

“Big Sister, can’t you pity me and help me?”

“Do you want to see your younger sister relegated to being a secondary consort, bullied by the new principal consort?”

“Big Sister, please help me. I really can’t find anyone else.” Shen Yuantang began to plead.

“Big Sister, don’t you remember the pastries I made for you back in Dongchuan? …”

Shen Lanxi’s mind flashed through countless memories, both past life and present.

“What is it?” Shen Lanxi’s voice was icy.

Shen Yuantang’s heart leapt with hope. She knew this tactic would work—she should have cried and pleaded the moment she arrived.

“Big Sister, I want you to tell His Majesty to let the prince go to Nanning to suppress the bandits.” Excitement crept into her voice.

Shen Lanxi looked at her sister quietly, her pupils deep and endless like the ocean.

“Yuantang… Yuantang… I don’t know whether to praise your cleverness or call you foolish.”

Shen Yuantang’s mouth stiffened, instinctively wanting to retort.

“Big Sister, why are you belittling me so?”

Shen Lanxi’s tone was stern: “You’ve seen the battlefield on the way to Dongchuan. I guess I protected you too well. Not a single arm or leg lost, yet you think anyone can handle a battlefield.”

Shen Yuantang was indignant: “The prince is the God of War of Great Zhou! How could anyone compare?”

Shen Lanxi: “Should I remind you that the God of War suffered repeated defeats in the Northwest and Dongchuan?”

Shen Yuantang’s face went pale. She had no defense.

“He’s always fought on land. When have you seen him fight at sea? I suppose before you came here, you hadn’t discussed this with him. Today, I’ll act as if you never came, so no news leaks from my residence and doesn’t harm your marital harmony.”

Shen Yuantang asked, confused: “Big Sister, what do you mean by that?”

Shen Lanxi sneered coldly: “Zhou Ruyuan is not good with water, much less naval warfare. Do you want to send him to his death?”

“I really wonder… which of us actually has a grudge against Zhou Ruyuan?”

Shen Yuantang had wondered this before. She immediately objected loudly: “Big Sister, you’re talking nonsense! The court is sending the prince only to supervise the army. Supervising doesn’t require fighting on the front lines; he just needs to command from the headquarters. Besides, the Nanning bandits are just a small group of petty thieves. A little troop is enough to defeat them. You don’t want the prince to go because you want someone else to take the credit!”