RWNEFE -Chapter 363 Zhou Xinrou Protects Her Daughter

“Shen Lanxi, you’re causing such a commotion—do you want everyone in the capital to know that Sister Yun Sui got into trouble?”

“You’re so cruel-hearted, trying to ruin her reputation just to help your Shen family achieve your goals.”

“Shen Lanxi, I originally thought you were just spoiled and arrogant, but I never expected your heart to be this wicked.”

“We’re both women—why can’t you show a little understanding? Life is already hard for women. If a woman loses her reputation, she can be abandoned by her family, not only endangering the family’s honor but even her life. And even after death, she would carry shame. Shen Lanxi, your heart is truly cruel!”

Shen Lanxi remained calm, perfectly composed. Those around her refused to let her be insulted in this way.

“Don’t think just because you’re princesses, you can recklessly throw mud at someone,” Che Mingyuan’s anger surged.

“You don’t even know what really happened, yet you come to accuse our lady. You have no sense of right and wrong, and you’re only capable of joining forces to attack her. What exactly are your intentions?”

“You claim that women shouldn’t make things hard for other women—then what are you doing now?”

“Clearly, you two joined forces to verbally frame our lady, yet our lady has never said a harsh word to you. Don’t take advantage of her!”

Zhou Yunlang and Zhou Yunjia felt a hint of fear toward Shen Lanxi but had no respect for Che Mingyuan.

“How dare you speak to royal princesses like this! Guards, drag him out and beat him to death!” Zhou Yunlang shouted, covering her face and glaring at Che Mingyuan.

Unable to handle Shen Lanxi, they couldn’t even handle an ordinary soldier.

More and more people gathered, yet not a single royal guard stepped forward. Zhou Yunlang’s face darkened completely.

Shen Congwen arrived before Old Madam Shen and the others.

On the road, his guards had already explained the situation. Now his face was extremely grim.

Something happened to the princess at the Shen estate. Whether the Shen family was involved or not, in the end, the Shen family would still bear the blame for negligent protection.

Shen Congwen felt his head splitting. Not a single thing today had gone to his satisfaction.

“Lanxi…”

Shen Lanxi glanced at him, as if the earlier unpleasantness had never happened, and said calmly, “Father, you are the head of the Shen family. You should speak to the two princesses yourself.”

Zhou Yunlang and Zhou Yunjia could do nothing but glare at Shen Lanxi.

The incident happened at the Shen estate. Shen Lanxi had already made it clear she no longer resided there. With her words now, she was essentially telling the world that the Shen family had nothing to do with the matter, and it was unreasonable for the princesses to hold her responsible.

Shen Lanxi was expertly shirking responsibility. No matter where she lived, as long as she was a Shen family member, she could not escape the collective accountability.

“Princesses, please calm down. Once I investigate the matter, I will provide you with a proper explanation.”

Zhou Yunlang’s face remained cold. “It had better be so.”

Old Madam Shen had not arrived yet. When she heard about the incident at the Shen estate, her vision went black, and she fainted on the spot.

The Liu family mother and daughter stayed behind to care for her, while the remaining Shen family members were present.

Shen Congwen felt completely helpless, his mind blank. He hadn’t yet digested the accountant’s report—how could it be that the enormous Shen estate relied entirely on Shen Lanxi for support?

Now, with a princess involved, how could he, as her father, maintain any face?
Bowing to beg his own daughter? That was absolutely impossible.

A scholar values integrity over life; he could not expect anything from this “unfilial” child.

However—

Zhou Yunlang lifted her head: “Since such an incident has occurred, we must minimize its impact.”

Shen Congwen hurriedly nodded, humbled and eager to smooth things over.

Zhou Yunlang’s vanity was greatly satisfied. Shen Lanxi dared to be disrespectful to her, yet because the emperor favored her, her father still kowtowed to her.

As Shen Lanxi’s father, Shen Congwen naturally represented her.

“Master Shen, just now Shen Lanxi was disrespectful to me. Does your Shen family intend to take the blame for her?”

Shen Congwen glanced at the imperious, unyielding princesses, then at Shen Lanxi.

In just a moment, he made his decision.

“Lanxi, hurry and apologize to the princess!”

Shen Lanxi remained standing, utterly indifferent.

“Shen Lanxi, do you want to destroy the whole family?” Shen Congwen roared.

Che Mingyuan was furious.

“Master Shen hasn’t even clarified the facts yet, and you’re asking young Mistress Shen to apologize. To outsiders, wouldn’t that imply that whatever happened to the princess at your estate was indeed the Shen family’s doing?”

Shen Congwen paused, realizing this, but unwilling to lose face, he pressed on.

“This matter is certainly not the Shen family’s fault. Lanxi’s argument with the princess, while inappropriate, does not define our estate’s responsibility.” The emperor’s dignity cannot be defamed. By upholding the royal family, he earns the emperor’s respect.

“Lanxi, apologize to the princess for your recklessness!”

Everyone following Shen Lanxi wore angry expressions. What kind of father was Shen Congwen?

His daughter was wronged, yet he did not defend her. Instead, he repeatedly pressured her to apologize to the aggressors—was he trying to break her spirit, forcing her to kneel and submit with no dignity?

No wonder people referred to him constantly as “Shen Congwen.” With such a father, it would have been better to have none at all.

“What are you trying to do?” a voice suddenly called from the crowd.

Shen Lanxi looked at Zhou Xinrou, her expression inscrutable, lips pressed tight.

Zhou Xinrou stepped forward to Shen Congwen, expression cold and eyes sharp.

“What are you trying to do?”

Shen Congwen’s eyes flickered, and a pang of fear rose in his heart.

“Princess, Lanxi was disrespectful to the princess; I was merely instructing her.”

In everyone’s eyes, Zhou Xinrou had always been like a molded Bodhisattva—quiet, unassuming, not standing out, not competing. Yet no one underestimated her.

When she gave birth to Shen Lanxi, the child immediately gained the Empress Dowager’s favor and was taken to the palace. The emperor’s love for Shen Lanxi was unparalleled.

Ask yourself: without Zhou Xinrou as her mother, where would Shen Lanxi be?

If the Empress Dowager and the emperor hadn’t taken a special liking to her, how could Shen Lanxi have been treated so favorably?

It was love extended to all associated with her.

Zhou Xinrou coldly looked at Zhou Yunlang and Zhou Yunjia. Her voice was sharp: “My daughter is not for you to instruct!”

Shen Congwen’s face twisted. Even though he and his wife had maintained only a superficial harmony over the years, Zhou Xinrou could not publicly humiliate him in this way.

At this moment, she had to challenge him?

Zhou Xinrou looked at Zhou Yunlang and Zhou Yunjia with icy eyes: “Shen Lanxi is my daughter. You accuse her of disobedience and defiance, hoping I will kneel before you and plead on her behalf?”

Zhou Yunlang and Zhou Yunjia never expected the situation to escalate like this.