RWNEFE -Chapter 360 The Favoritism of a Father

Shen Yuantang said pitifully, “Big Sister, haven’t you forgiven me yet?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “I have already forgiven you.”

Shen Yuantang’s voice grew urgent: “Then why won’t you speak up for me?”

Shen Lanxi glanced around. A maid so proper and disciplined—she must be from the palace!

“You’re here begging me. It would be better to go to Consort Shu in the palace. She’s the mother of the Duke of Zhen Nan; her words carry more weight than anyone else’s.”

Shen Yuantang moved her lips several times, trying to speak, but her pride would not allow her to bow to Shen Lanxi and plead.

She was also a princess’s daughter—why didn’t the Empress Dowager and His Majesty love her as much as they loved Big Sister?

She and the Duke still hadn’t consummated their marriage, and Consort Shu had already sent people to urge her several times. She couldn’t even see the Duke; how could the marriage happen?

The servants in the mansion all said the Duke still had lingering feelings for Big Sister. So in the future, the title of Duchess of Zhen Nan would belong to Big Sister.

She and Big Sister were legitimate sisters. Big Sister hadn’t even entered the mansion—should she monopolize the Duke and prevent him from being close to her?

Had Big Sister ever considered her situation? Did she not want her own sister?

The maid, seeing Shen Lanxi walk away, finally stiffened her face and approached Shen Yuantang.

“Secondary Consort, don’t forget Her Ladyship’s instructions.”

Shen Yuantang instinctively rubbed her knees, which seemed to ache again.

Today was unlike any other day. Since Shen Lanxi had successfully overseen the imperial exams and was then granted the title of Duke of Juding, those accustomed to flattering and maneuvering had already sensed the new power.

For now, the Shen family was safe.

More people attended Old Madam Shen’s birthday banquet than ever before.

Shen Lanxi had also invited Wei Dongzhu, and together they stood to the left and right, helping the Shen household receive guests.

The guests all noticed and clearly understood what was happening.

Today, a few unmarried princesses from the palace also came to pay respects. Shen Lanxi quietly glanced at her mother and whispered a few instructions to the person beside her.

The Shen sons could pursue a princess, but not by lowly or unscrupulous means.

“Sir, Master wants to see you,” a servant reported.

Shen Lanxi frowned. “What’s the matter?”

“The Master didn’t say, only that you should come.”

Madam Liu said, “Lanxi, go. Your father wants to see you—surely it’s important.”

Old Madam Shen smiled: “Go ahead, go ahead.”

Shen Lanxi rose and left her seat. When she arrived, Shen Yuantang was holding Shen Congwen’s hand, pleading, while he looked exasperated.

“Lanxi, your sister knows she was wrong. You are sisters; resolve your disagreements at home. Outside, you must remain united.”

Shen Yuantang pitifully wiped her tears: “Big Sister, I know I was wrong. Please, for the sake of my youth and ignorance, forgive me this time!”

Shen Lanxi’s face remained calm as she looked at her.

“I’ve already said I forgive you. Why are you coming to Father?”

Shen Congwen turned to Shen Yuantang: “You already went to your sister?”

Shen Yuantang, feeling awkward, said, “Big Sister spoke so coldly just now. I could only come to Father to plead.”

Shen Congwen’s face darkened immediately. “Lanxi, how can a sister hold a grudge overnight? Yuantang is your sister. No matter how great the grudge, shouldn’t you yield? And it’s not even a serious matter!”

Shen Lanxi let out a cold laugh: “I said I’ve forgiven her. What more does Father want me to do? Does he want me—someone who hasn’t done anything wrong—to kneel to someone who did?”

Hearing her forceful tone, Shen Congwen instinctively scowled and scolded: “She is your sister, not an enemy. If you cling to grudges and ignore sibling feelings, what are you trying to do?”

Shen Lanxi’s voice dripped with irony: “From beginning to end, isn’t the one clinging to grudges her?”

“Father, you didn’t even understand why she came to me, yet you make me forgive her and then lecture me. Father, your favoritism—ignoring father-daughter feelings—is unfair!”

Here it comes again. Shen Congwen glared at Shen Lanxi, his anger rising with each passing moment.

Which daughter would talk back to her father like this? Which daughter is as ruthless? Which daughter dares to appear so publicly?

He felt utterly shamed.

“Big Sister, how can you speak to Father like this?” Shen Yuantang, standing by Shen Congwen, angrily protested.

Shen Lanxi sneered: “Just a moment ago, you were pitiful, and now you act commanding. Are you here to seek forgiveness—or to drag Father into criticizing me?”

Shen Congwen, furious, pointed at Shen Lanxi: “You are the elder sister! How can you speak so harshly to your sister? Don’t you have any love or care for her?”

Shen Lanxi coldly looked at the two of them: “Since I arrived here, I’ve never spoken harshly to anyone. Yet Father and sister have taken turns raising their voices at me. I just want to ask Father: do you dislike me that much?”

Shen Congwen was stumped. How could he answer whether he “liked” her or not?

“I only disapprove of your cold and ruthless attitude toward the family,” he said.

Shen Lanxi retorted: “Where is it cold? Where is it ruthless? Please explain, Father.”

Shen Congwen began listing complaints: “How dare you speak back to your elders? You confined Yuantang in the Duke’s mansion—that’s cruel to your sister. Lanxi, how can you be so heartless to your family?”

Shen Lanxi looked at the father-daughter pair, their expressions and tones so similar, and smiled coldly.

“Every month, I send a thousand taels to the household for expenses. The grandmother and elders of each branch get herbal supplements, more than half of which I provide. Every imperial gift, I send half to the family. The silks Father wears, the jade belt, the jade hairpiece, the shoes—all come from my Juding Duke estate. If all this is heartless, then I admit it!”

Shen Congwen subconsciously touched the warm jade at his waist, feeling uneasy.

“If I’m not mistaken, the purple jade hairpins Yuantang wears, the eight-treasure gold bracelet on her wrist, even the Yanxia brocade she’s wearing today, were all my gifts. Father, sister, am I heartless?”

Shen Yuantang clenched the bracelet under her sleeve.

Had she known Big Sister cared so much, she wouldn’t have worn these gifts.

“Big Sister, we’re talking about my confinement. Why are you bringing up these things?”

“When we returned from Dongchuan, I also used my private funds to help the household. Many items I brought from Dongchuan were stored in the warehouse. This is just a small show of filial duty as a Shen child. Not just me—Father, Mother, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, everyone contributed from their own funds. We may have fewer possessions than Big Sister, but we gave what was most valuable to us.”

Shen Lanxi said coldly: “Is this something we do every month?”