RWNEFE -Chapter 374 Shen Yuanxin Becomes the Legitimate Son

“Today is an important day—there must be no mistakes!” Shen Lanxi reminded firmly.

Most of the younger male members of the family didn’t want to attend; the matter was too embarrassing.

Whether Shen Yuanxin had acted intentionally or not, the incident had already caused outsiders to look at them differently whenever they went out.

“Big sister, did Shen Yuanxin do this on purpose?” Shen Yuanzhao asked, still frustrated. He couldn’t easily enter the Juding Mansion, so he could only voice his small complaints when he met his eldest sister.

Shen Lanxi replied with a pointed tone: “Whether intentional or not, it’s already settled. Don’t discuss it further. Once the princess enters the household, be careful with your words.”

Shen Yuanxu felt increasingly uneasy. He couldn’t shake the sense that once the princess entered the household, endless trouble would follow.

“Can’t we stop the princess from entering?” he asked.

Shen Lanxi’s voice turned serious: “No. Allowing the princess in is only the first step. If the princess can’t even enter the Shen family’s main gate, outsiders will suspect the Shen household is too deep and secretive.”

Shen Yuanjun grumbled in indignation: “We quelled the Dongchuan Rebellion and reclaimed the northwest. We’ve done so much for Great Zhou—how can they not see it?”

“If it weren’t for us, Great Zhou would’ve changed its dynasty long ago.”

Shen Yuanxu patted Shen Yuanjun’s shoulder: “Watch your words and actions!”

Shen Yuanjun huffed angrily but glanced toward the door.

“General Wei is here!”

Compared to them, Wei Dongzhu probably felt even more wronged.

“General Wei looks particularly handsome today!” Shen Yuanxu joked.

Wei Dongzhu adjusted his robes awkwardly, then quickly folded his hands behind his back to avoid looking too deliberate.

“You look very good in that outfit!” Shen Lanxi complimented sincerely.

Wei Dongzhu felt a warmth in his chest and quietly said, “As long as you like it~.”

Since morning, Shen Congwen had worn a dark expression, and no one dared approach him to tempt bad luck.

Shen Lanxi gave a gentle warning: “If my father shows a cold face toward you later, ignore it. If he says anything unpleasant, I’ll handle it.”

Wei Dongzhu raised an eyebrow; he had seen her mediate father-daughter conflicts more than once. She was always biased toward her father, but in the end, she would protect him when needed.

“Behave yourself—it’s the capital! Words spread fast here, reputations are ruined in an instant.”

Shen Lanxi smiled: “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t do anything rash in a formal occasion like this.”

Wei Dongzhu secretly worried that she might dig a trap to embarrass his father, but Shen Congwen, after all, wouldn’t want to lose face. Returning to the capital, he had only heard the nickname “Northern Butcher,” without any mention of how she treated her family.

Once reminded, the Shen brothers also remembered the situation.

Actually, the difference between legitimate and illegitimate sons in their family wasn’t too big. They couldn’t take the imperial exams, had no noble titles to inherit, and mostly stayed home idle.

“Lanxi, Madam Hu arranged for her father and brothers at the Ministry of Personnel to find me a document-sorting position. I refused it.” Shen Yuanxu had been thinking about this for several days and finally decided to tell her.

Shen Lanxi had already made arrangements on her side, waiting for the right timing. She simply hadn’t had a chance to tell him.

“But what did Madam Hu say?”

Shen Yuanxu quickly denied: “Nothing. She didn’t say anything. She just casually mentioned it and left it up to me whether I wanted to go or not.”

After a moment of silence, Shen Lanxi said: “Come see me tonight.”

Shen Yuanxu’s eyes brightened, and he hurriedly agreed.

Just as Shen Lanxi expected, Shen Congwen’s face grew darker when he saw her standing next to Wei Dongzhu.

“Father!”

“Uncle!”

Shen Congwen said, “Today is a major family event. Everyone at home is busy organizing it.”

Wei Dongzhu, being a high-ranking military officer, couldn’t be offended by Shen Congwen.

“I know, and I see that the family preparations are going very well,” Shen Lanxi responded calmly.

Shen Congwen felt a sting in his ears. The family was busy, yet she contributed neither money nor effort and even brought an outsider, speaking so calmly—it was disrespectful for a junior!

He, as an elder, hadn’t said anything!

“I don’t know if Yuanxin’s health is fully recovered. If not, after today, mother will have to send a note to the palace to call the imperial physician!”

Since illegitimate sons couldn’t be treated by laboring doctors, only imperial physicians could help—but after today, Shen Yuanxin would officially be legitimate.

Shen Congwen knew she would be unwilling, but the emperor’s decree was unchangeable. Today, she would inevitably cause trouble.

He immediately admonished: “No matter what, Yuanxin will be the future prince consort. Even if you don’t respect him, you should at least respect the princess.”

Shen Lanxi replied: “I don’t even give face to the princess. You must have heard about the flower-viewing banquet incident.”

Even if the main branch kept quiet, aunts Liu, Miao, and Tian were not ones to let things slide.

“Shen Lanxi, this is not the palace, nor your Juding Mansion! You cannot be so reckless!” Shen Congwen scolded, face dark.

Shen Lanxi shot back: “Father, are you trying to chase me out?”

The father and daughter stood off, neither yielding an inch.

Shen Yuanqing sensed trouble and hurried to fetch their mother.

“Mother, father and big sister are about to fight again.” With no outsiders around, Shen Yuanqing didn’t sugarcoat the situation.

Zhou Xinrou quietly watched the two adversaries, saying nothing.

Shen Congwen was the first to break.

“I’ll go check if everything is ready.”

He left with a swish of his sleeve.

Shen Lanxi bowed: “Mother.”

Zhou Xinrou leaned slightly toward the attendant: “It’s not your father’s fault. Don’t make it hard for him.”

Shen Lanxi said, “I don’t blame him, but if he keeps being difficult, I won’t stand by silently. I will respond.”

Zhou Xinrou sighed: “Why bother? He is your father, after all.”

Shen Lanxi thought, maybe not. She had already arranged for someone to check who helped deliver her at birth. She trusted news would come soon.

“He is my father, but in my heart, I care more for mother,” Shen Lanxi said, lowering her gaze.

Zhou Xinrou remained silent, and after a while, sighed: “Just don’t leave a reputation of defying elders. That’s enough.”

Shen Lanxi: “I know my reputation is already bad; a few more rumors won’t matter.”

Zhou Xinrou: “Fine, I can’t argue with you. Help me to rest.”

Shen Lanxi watched her turn, then added: “If you don’t want to participate, don’t force yourself. It’s just a formality. Either way, the princess will be entering the household.”

Zhou Xinrou shook her head while walking: “It’s not as simple as you think. You’re too young to understand.”

Shen Lanxi respectfully watched her leave, and only then resumed speaking to her brothers.

Shen Yuanxin was carried in. During the kneeling ceremony, two strong attendants supported him. Zhou Xinrou, barely managing her health, drank the tea offered to the legitimate son and was then helped back to rest.

The ceremony was then presided over by Shen Congwen.

Today, Shen Yuantang also attended, chatting with her sisters. Once Zhou Xinrou returned to her room, she immediately left her sisters behind and followed her.