RWNEFE -Chapter 364 Why Is No One Guarding the Door?

They had only wanted Shen Lanxi to bow her head—they didn’t intend to make such a huge scene.

“Aunt, we didn’t mean it that way. Master Shen misunderstood,” Zhou Yunjia said fearfully, quickly lowering her tone.

Zhou Xinrou looked at Zhou Yunlang.

The latter looked embarrassed. Though she felt deeply humiliated and furious, she had no choice but to humble herself and smooth things over.

“Aunt, I didn’t mean it either. My sister and I were anxious when we saw Sister Yun Sui in trouble, and our words may have been improper. Please forgive us,” Zhou Yunlang said.

Zhou Xinrou didn’t even glance at her daughters and stepped aside.

Shen Lanxi felt a few questions flash through her mind again.

If they wanted to poison her, why were they openly speaking on her behalf?

They could have easily used illness as an excuse to avoid her, just like before.

Previously, she had resisted admitting a certain truth—but now, it felt like a massive weight had dropped.

She could no longer refuse to face it.

The Wei family army case must have an inextricable connection to her—it might even have been her leading it.

Who else could have obtained her father’s seal and imitated his handwriting besides someone so close to him?

What she had done would hardly stop at simply exiling the Shen family.

Considering these questions and her recent display of decisiveness, Shen Lanxi had some strong suspicions in her mind.

Shen Lanxi said aloud, “Since no one has further doubts, then let’s settle down and wait for the imperial edict!”

These words made many people’s hearts race.

The first thing Old Madam Shen did upon waking was to summon Shen Lanxi for questioning.

“Grandmother.”

Old Madam Shen’s face bore undeniable signs of illness and fatigue. She never imagined her birthday banquet could cause so much trouble. If she had known, she might not have held it at all!

“Lanxi, you’ve come!” Madam Liu quickly moved aside from the bedside.

Shen Lanxi stepped forward a few paces.

“Yuanxin?”

Shen Lanxi: “To ensure his safety, I’ve had the capital guards detain him.”

Old Madam Shen forced a nod: “How will His Majesty handle this?”

After dismissing those unrelated to the matter, Shen Lanxi said, “We still can’t allow certain people to feel secure in the Shen household.”

Madam Liu shifted uneasily, afraid of saying too much, hesitant to stay yet reluctant to leave.

“Lanxi, no matter what happens, you must protect the family—everything else is secondary!”

Shen Lanxi nodded: “Father and mother will make proper arrangements. Grandmother need not worry!”

Old Madam Shen muttered anxiously: “This still requires the emperor’s intervention. With your mother watching over things, you should go to the palace to plead.”

“If this were the past, having a princess granddaughter-in-law at home would be delightful.” Having suffered exile and returned to the capital unsettled, Old Madam Shen always felt unease, fearing that trouble might arise.

Shen Lanxi glanced at her grandmother and reassured her: “There are only a few possible solutions. One, summon Yuanxin to be a prince consort. Two, have the princess marry into our Shen family. Three, publicly die suddenly but secretly be sent away.”

It all depended on what the royal family wanted to achieve and how ruthless they were.

She spoke casually, yet everyone listening felt a chill run through them.

Madam Liu, part worried, part frightened, asked, “Would the princess marrying into our Shen family be good or bad?”

Nearby, Hu Jinyu hesitated, several times about to speak but swallowing her words. She knew it wasn’t the right time with the palace’s decision still pending.

There was a knock on the door.

“Master, someone from the palace is here!”

Shen Lanxi: “Grandmother, I’ll go.”

Old Madam Shen looked at Shen Lanxi with hopeful eyes: “Go quickly, go quickly!”

Wang Bao came personally, without bringing an edict. Everyone guessed it must be a verbal imperial decree.

“By the emperor’s verbal order, today is Old Madam Shen’s birthday banquet. Everyone should return home happily!”

Those quick to think immediately understood.

“I drank a bit too much today, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. I’ll go rest now!”

“Nothing happened today. Everyone may disperse…”

The guests quickly departed, remaining silent even once in their carriages.

A verbal order from the emperor, spoken directly, carried the same authority as a written edict.

If today’s events were to spread, confiscating the household or exterminating the family would be minor in comparison.

Wang Bao looked at the two princesses: “It’s late. Princesses, you should return to the palace.”

Zhou Yunlang wanted to ask him a couple of questions but saw his stern, icy expression and dared not approach, leaving in resentment.

The courtyard soon became empty.

“Master Shen, Princesses, His Majesty requests you both come to the palace.”

Shen Congwen’s heart sank. He regretted being lenient after handling Zhang Zifen, lifting restrictions on her children.

Zhou Xinrou did not bother dressing elaborately; she went to the palace with Shen Congwen as she was.

When Wang Bao was leaving, Shen Lanxi ran after him.

“Eunuch Wang, is His Majesty enraged?”

Wang Bao lowered his voice so only they could hear: “His Majesty did not summon the princesses to the palace for the birthday celebration.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered: “Thank you for the reminder!”

Wang Bao strode off, leaving Shen Lanxi behind, climbing into his carriage without looking back.

She didn’t return to the Shen estate—she wanted to check on Wei Dongzhu.

By the time she arrived at the Juding Gong Mansion, it was already dark.

“How is Wei Dongzhu?”

Chunxue’s expression was a little awkward: “The doctor has seen him; he’s taken the medicine and is resting in the guest room.”

Shen Lanxi turned on her heel and went to the guest room.

Wei Dongzhu had a private guest room at Juding Gong Mansion. Seeing the door open, Shen Lanxi pushed it straight in.

Clang! Half of a water scoop rolled to her feet.

Wei Dongzhu splashed into the water with a rush, hurriedly turning around.

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow, recalling the scene she had just witnessed, feeling a warm rush in her chest.

“Why is no one guarding the door?” a dry voice asked.

Shen Lanxi awkwardly touched her nose, hesitated, and stepped toward the doorway.

“I’ll have the kitchen make some nourishing soup.”

Wei Dongzhu blushed uncontrollably, sinking further into the water.

Though it was cold water, he felt as if he were in a boiling pot, burning all the more.

Shen Lanxi stepped out, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

Seeing the guards outside carrying water, she left silently, a quiet laugh in her eyes as she noticed their strange expressions.

…

“Lanxi,” Wei Dongzhu’s voice was hoarse as he spoke, quickly clearing his throat.

“All right?” Shen Lanxi’s voice carried a teasing tone without realizing it.

Regret flashed across Wei Dongzhu’s face.

How could he fall for it so easily?

“Lanxi, I’ve thought about it. We should set up a secret code between us. That way, the next time you send someone to find me, I’ll know if it’s really you.”

Shen Lanxi: “Sending someone under false pretenses was clever—using a female guard to deliver the message.”

Wei Dongzhu: “What do you think about the code?”

A code known only to the two of them—a secret just between them.

“I think it’s no good!” a spoilsport voice suddenly rang out.

Ban Sicao had arrived.

Wei Dongzhu’s eyes shot daggers at him.

Ban Sicao immediately chided: “How can you glare at your lifesaver like that?”