RWNEFE -Chapter 390 Shen Yuantang Exposes Shen Lanxi’s True Nature

The day after Shen Lanxi closed her doors to visitors, Zhou Rulin personally came to the mansion with a lavish gift. In the end, the gift was left behind, but he did not see her.

The staff of the Juding Gong Mansion explained that Shen Lanxi was unwell and, in her current state, it was inappropriate to receive guests.

By now, everyone in the capital knew that Shen Lanxi had a falling out with the Shen family and had been driven out.

She must be overwhelmed with grief. Unlike men, women, when wronged or saddened, only cry.

So right now, Shen Lanxi was crying and could not be seen by anyone.

Zhou Rulin, facing the awkwardness at the mansion gates, understood and left.

Soon, other colleagues began arriving one after another.

Some quietly inquired about Wei Dongzhu. Yesterday, Wei Dongzhu had left with Shen Lanxi.

Rumor had it that once Wei Dongzhu entered Shen Lanxi’s residence, he never came out.

As this rumor spread, the younger members of the Shen family began coming to the mansion.

No matter how they tried to persuade her outside, Shen Lanxi refused to see anyone.

…

Zhen Nan Prince’s Mansion

Shen Yuantang decided not to leave home for the time being. She wanted to spend time with the Prince at home.

“Your Highness, I personally brewed this ginseng tea for you.” The ginseng had been brought from the Shen family.

Zhou Ruyuan frowned at Shen Yuantang’s appearance. After everything that happened with the Shen family, how could she still have the heart to dress up and groom herself?

“Leave it here.”

He had little affection for the woman who had accidentally become his wife. Of course, he didn’t exactly dislike her either.

It was just awkward. Whenever he saw her, he thought of Shen Lanxi.

Every time he thought of Shen Lanxi, a pang of guilt rose in his heart, mixed with regret.

“Your Highness, it’s more effective to drink it while hot. The ginseng I used is two hundred years old—very nourishing. It would be a pity if it cools.”

It had taken her a long time to get her grandmother to include this old ginseng in her dowry.

Feeling guilty, Zhou Ruyuan unconsciously reached out his hand.

“After what happened with the Shen family, I imagine many matters at home are unattended. If you have nothing else to do, you should go help the Shen family.”

Shen Yuantang’s lips stiffened. She was barely managing to avoid going back, and now he wanted her to return?

Wasn’t it better for her to spend more time with him in the Prince’s Mansion?

She gazed at Zhou Ruyuan’s profile with admiration. She had never dreamed that the War God of the Great Zhou would become her husband.

“Your Highness, things at home aren’t stable. I don’t want to return and become a punching bag for the elders. I’ll wait until they calm down before going back.” Recently, she had taken many things from home; she wasn’t greedy, so she could retrieve the rest later.

Zhou Ruyuan frowned. After thinking for a moment, he said: “When you go back, try to help mediate between the Shen family and… your eldest sister. A woman should not be abandoned by her family. You should petition on Shen Lanxi’s behalf, so the Shen family stops making things difficult for her.”

Shen Yuantang’s gentle expression nearly faltered.

Why, after so much time, and with him now her husband, could he still not forget Shen Lanxi?

They were right. Eldest Sister was deliberately teasing the Prince—she would not allow him to marry, and she would not marry him herself.

Eldest Sister was taking revenge on the Prince.

“Who dares make things difficult for my eldest sister?” Shen Yuantang’s tone sharpened.

Zhou Ruyuan looked up at her. Shen Yuantang and Shen Lanxi were full sisters; there could be no ill intent toward her. He must have misheard.

“Even if Shen Lanxi is skilled in martial arts, she is still a woman. A woman must rely on her clan. She has openly fallen out with the family; of course the Shen family will not tolerate her.”

Shen Yuantang scoffed inwardly. Shen Lanxi was now the Juding Gong, holding a title. Her status was far above the Shen family’s. Was she afraid of the family’s disapproval?

“Your Highness, don’t worry about my eldest sister. When we were exiled to Dongchuan, she may have shown some care to our family members, but she was especially harsh toward them…”

Shen Yuantang went on to recount how Shen Lanxi had buried their father, watched their family suffer at the hands of officials, and all the other grievances they had silently held against her.

“If my eldest sister could bury our father alive, what makes you think she would fear being disowned by her clan?”

“All of us in the Shen family together couldn’t bully her alone.”

On the exile journey, they had to watch Shen Lanxi ride in the carriage while they starved and thirsted, gnawing on black cornbread. Shen Lanxi, meanwhile, enjoyed fine food and servants attending to her.

Why should the descendants of the same family suffer while she lived comfortably?

Why?

Shen Yuantang had wanted to say this for a long time but dared not before. Now, as the Prince’s secondary consort, she no longer feared Shen Lanxi.

Zhou Ruyuan fell into thought.

While being tough was necessary in such circumstances, Shen Lanxi’s cruelty seemed extreme.

“Perhaps it was for show. On the exile route, if she didn’t act harshly, she would have been bullied.”

Shen Yuantang snorted. She had already decided to reveal Shen Lanxi’s true nature to Zhou Ruyuan. She not only didn’t hold back, she exaggerated.

“She’s not just cruel—she’s merciless. You can ask those exiled with her. When Shen Lanxi strikes at her own relatives, she is even harsher than when dealing with outsiders.”

“In Dongchuan, there was a widely spread rumor.”

“Whenever troops were sent, Shen Lanxi would always use her companions as sacrifices to inspire fear.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes deepened. He had heard this rumor before.

But at the time, he thought it was merely for show, to intimidate opponents. Could it really be true?

“Our Shen family believes in collective honor and disgrace. After returning to the capital, we never mentioned a word of what my eldest sister did in Dongchuan.”

“Others thought the Shen family was hiding a secret, but in reality, we were covering for Shen Lanxi.”

“No one expected Shen Lanxi to be a merciless, kinless executioner—a female butcher!”

Seeing Shen Yuantang exaggerate further, Zhou Ruyuan roared to stop her:

“That’s enough! Don’t say any more!”

Shen Yuantang had already said everything she wanted. Even being yelled at, she felt triumphant.

She refused to believe the Prince would still be attracted to such a woman.

Zhou Ruyuan’s mind was in turmoil—one side was the political situation in the capital, the other was Shen Lanxi.

These two matters consumed all his attention.

“Leave now. I need some time to think.”

Sensing Zhou Ruyuan’s irritation, Shen Yuantang politely took her leave.

How had Shen Lanxi become so ruthless?

She hadn’t been like this before. Could it have been triggered by the combination of her wedding night and the family’s exile?

Alongside regret, Zhou Ruyuan felt a twinge of sympathy.

If Shen Yuantang knew, her words wouldn’t drive him away from Shen Lanxi—they would make him feel pity. She would be furious.

…

With Princess Yunxue’s body returned and the case resolved, the Renxiao Emperor summoned Prince Ji into the palace.