RWNEFE -Chapter 37 Master, You Can’t Be Biased!

Shen Yuanjing and the other three didn’t dare stay too long. After chatting for a while, they took the pastries and left.

After talking with her father just now, Shen Lanxi suddenly remembered something important. On the road, this whole family couldn’t go without a proper doctor!

They were heading to a harsh, frigid region. Even well-paid doctors wouldn’t necessarily be willing to go.

This needed to be resolved before reaching the next town.

While Shen Lanxi enjoyed a relaxing bath and sleep, the Shen family’s main house was in an uproar.

“Master, Yuanqing and Yuanzhao are also your sons! You can’t only care for the legitimate children and ignore Yuanqing and Yuanzhao!” Wei Rulan exclaimed. She had seen Shen Yuanqing secretly eating pastries and couldn’t sit still.

Shen Congwen had just been scolded by his parents and now hearing Wei Rulan, his face darkened.

“Wei, stop talking nonsense!”

Wei Rulan immediately threw a tantrum: “Master, you say I talk nonsense, but why do Yuanqing and Yuanzhao have no pastries while Yuanying has some?”

Zhang Zifen didn’t speak but stared straight at Shen Congwen.

Shen Congwen turned to his son Shen Yuanying, frowning: “Yuanying, what’s going on?”

Shen Yuanjing answered for his younger brother: “He was training in martial arts with big brother; it’s a reward from him!”

Shen Congwen shot a cold look at Wei Rulan: “Did you hear that?”

Unexpectedly, Wei Rulan seized another issue: “Master, why only let the second young master and the others train in martial arts? Why not Yuanqing and Yuanzhao?”

Shen Congwen was momentarily stunned, then angrily said: “Did I order that? The children earned it themselves. Even the privileges the constables gave them were earned by their own efforts. Tell me, when the four of them went to Heifeng Fort to fight bandits, why didn’t Yuanqing and Yuanzhao go?”

Wei Rulan’s eyes immediately began to avoid his gaze.

“That’s because… because I worried about their safety.”

Shen Congwen, recalling the earlier scolding from his parents, immediately raised his voice: “You stopped your sons from going, and now that others benefit, you blame them? Utterly foolish!”

He deliberately spoke loudly so the three brothers could hear.

“Foolish woman! You should never have softened and agreed to personally teach a few children. Look at what you’ve done to the three kids!”

Wei Rulan’s face went pale; she dared not retort.

Shen Congwen continued: “Yuanqing, Yuanzhao, Yuanxin, starting tomorrow, follow your second older brother and train with your eldest brother!”

Wei Rulan’s face, which had been grim just a moment ago, instantly brightened as if she had found a treasure. Her sons would get closer to the eldest sister—benefits were sure to follow!

Before dawn, the exile convoy was ready. Women and children were sent away from Heifeng Fort, the fort set on fire, and the group continued their journey.

Ten strong horses pulled carts loaded with supplies or prisoners, forming a grand procession.

Shen Lanxi maintained a balanced distance from them, but now the cart included Liu Yanhui!

“Our group is missing a doctor!” Shen Lanxi said, looking at the map hanging in the carriage.

Liu Yanhui’s eyes lit up: “If I remember correctly, over the next two mountains, fifty miles west, there’s a place called An Town. It’s the largest supplier of medicinal herbs in the Great Zhou. Every year during the Apothecary King’s birthday, merchants and doctors flock there to stock up!”

She had heard of this place before but never had the chance to visit.

Shen Lanxi considered: “Aside from the Apothecary King’s birthday, is An Town well-stocked with herbs?”

Liu Yanhui: “We’re lucky this time. In half a month, it’ll be the Apothecary King’s birthday. All the herb merchants must have prepared ample supplies by now!”

Shen Lanxi nodded: “Find a way to make Liu Laohu pass through An Town.”

Liu Yanhui immediately went to make arrangements.

As the journey continued, the prisoners’ rations were reduced. Those who helped the constables attack Heifeng Fort received the same provisions as the constables; those who didn’t help still ate hard, barely edible cornbread.

At noon, Shen Yuanjing and his siblings brought the illegitimate brothers to Shen Lanxi, heads bowed, reporting the previous night’s events.

Shen Yuanying apologized guiltily: “Big brother, sorry. It’s my fault for being greedy that they saw me!”

Shen Lanxi patted his head and softly comforted him: “When someone wants to watch you, hiding won’t help!”

Yuanying was still upset; the pastries had been given to him by his eldest sister! And his father scolded him for it last night, even making them share them with others.

Shen Lanxi then called the three illegitimate boys over: “Do you want to learn martial arts?”

Yuanqing nodded firmly: “I want to be like big brother, able to kill a wolf with one stick. When I master martial arts, no one will bully us again!”

Her gaze fell on Yuanzhao: “And you?”

Yuanzhao nodded: “I also want to protect my family!”

Her gaze finally fell on Yuanxin: “Yuanxin, you?”

Yuanxin thought for two seconds: “Big brother, we’re prisoners. Can we even take the imperial exams?”

Shen Lanxi: “The exile order was only for the Shen family, it doesn’t say you can’t take the exams!”

Yuanxin’s eyes lit up: “Then I’ll learn martial arts with big brother first, and after we reach Dongchuan, I’ll study!”

Shen Lanxi smiled: “Fine!”

She gave each of them two pastries and asked Chunxue and Qiushuang to teach them.

Just as she sent them off, the prisoners began to quarrel.

The dispute started when a constable threw Song Niangzi’s hidden blankets and quilted clothes off the cart. Song Niangzi had secretly put items taken from Heifeng Fort onto the supply cart, and the constable feared overworking the horses.

After much shouting, the constables failed to argue with Song Niangzi. Somehow, the issue ended up with Shen Lanxi.

“Master, you have to make a ruling!” Song Niangzi plopped to the ground, wailing dramatically.

Shen Lanxi glanced at Liu Laohu approaching calmly and asked: “What ruling do you want me to make?”

Song Niangzi immediately raised her voice: “You said it that day: whoever takes something, it’s theirs! How can you go back on your word?” She gestured and flailed dramatically.

Shen Lanxi asked Liu Laohu: “Did I say that?”

Liu Laohu raised his whip but was stopped by Shen Lanxi.

“He’s a hero of Heifeng Fort; after sharing hardships, no need for the whip!”

Liu Laohu was only pretending to scare; hearing this, he holstered it.

“Who gave you the guts to harass Master Lan? Get back there this instant!”

Song Niangzi: “No! I won’t go! You won’t let me take these things, so I’m staying here!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes sparkled, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Song Niangzi, were you a contributor at Heifeng Fort?”

Song Niangzi froze and said nothing.

Shen Lanxi turned to Liu Laohu: he didn’t deny it.