RWNEFE -Chapter 396 Mistress Liang Xinyi Shows Up at the Door

The Shen family sons’ faces changed dramatically.

Elder Sister’s tone—could it be that she was going to completely disown them?

“Elder Sister, calm down, calm down!” Shen Yuankun hurriedly tried to soothe her.

The other brothers also realized the gravity of the situation and silently cursed their father and eldest uncle.

The family had a princess and concubines—if he liked them, why not just bring them into the household? Why secretly keep a mistress outside and have children with her?

If you were going to do it, at least hide it better so no one would find out.

Now, it was too late. At worst, it was treason against the Emperor; at best, it was an official secretly maintaining a mistress and fathering illegitimate children. This was no longer a matter of losing office—the Shen family’s reputation was utterly ruined because of this.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes were icy, her words sharp as shards of ice.

“If you dare to do it, you must dare to face the consequences. If you have the nerve to keep a mistress, you better have the courage to bear the outcomes.”

The Shen family sons’ hearts skipped a beat. If their suspicions were correct, Elder Sister wouldn’t help at all—she might even make things worse.

Just like when they were exiled to Dongchuan, this time it wasn’t just about burying someone in the ground.

“Elder Sister, even if Father is at fault, we, as his children, can’t just stand by and do nothing, can we?” Shen Yuangjun had calmed down somewhat.

Shen Yuanqing, still fuming, remained silent. On the way here, he had been resentful toward Father, but after Elder Sister spoke, he felt unable to act rashly.

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow at them. “You came here asking me to go to the Shen residence and beat them up? In the end, Father will bring the mistress and her children into the household anyway. What meaning would there be for me to go except to play the villain?”

The Shen sons fell silent.

They realized that the final outcome would indeed be as Shen Lanxi had said.

“Elder Sister, are we just going to watch Father bring them inside?”

Shen Lanxi sighed. “Don’t you understand yet? This isn’t something you should bring to me—it should be brought to Mother.”

“She is the matriarch of the main branch. If she blocks those people from entering, it is entirely reasonable and proper. Me stopping them? What authority do I have?”

Wei Dongzhu understood and reached over to serve Shen Lanxi two more chopsticks of food.

“You all don’t need to worry. The key to this matter lies with the senior members of the main branch. Your anxiety won’t change anything.”

Shen Yuankun and the others slowly sat at the dining table. Seeing others start eating, Shen Yuangjun and Shen Yuanqing reluctantly followed suit.

After the meal, the Shen sons returned to the Shen residence. The three illegitimate children were still kneeling at the gate.

Shen Yuangjun and Shen Yuanqing ignored them and went straight to their mother’s courtyard.

Shen Yuantang had been scolding for over an hour, her throat hoarse, while trying to persuade Zhou Xinrou to eat.

“Mother, don’t harm your own health over those little brats.”

“Father has already been reprimanded by His Majesty, and Grandmother has him kneeling with the thorned stick outside.”

“Mother, you should eat. Seeing you like this pains my heart.”

Shen Yuantang noticed her two younger brothers arriving and glanced around, not seeing Shen Lanxi. Her expression immediately darkened.

“Where is Elder Sister? Why hasn’t she come?” Her tone was sharp.

Shen Yuangjun and Shen Yuanqing instinctively frowned.

“Elder Sister will come later,” came Shen Yuangjun’s voice—but he didn’t specify when.

Shen Yuantang frowned, complaining: “The household is in chaos—what could be more important than family matters?”

Shen Yuangjun’s mouth twitched: “Matters of His Majesty, state affairs, naturally outweigh household matters.”

Shen Yuantang was stumped, glaring unhappily.

“I’m concerned about the household too! Why is Second Brother being so impatient with me?”

Shen Yuangjun moved his lips. “I’m not—I’m just speaking the truth.”

Shen Yuanqing said: “Mother, Elder Sister said Father was committing treason against the Emperor.”

Shen Yuantang paused, her eyes widening. Then she quickly said, “How can this be treason? That’s an enormous crime! How can Elder Sister speak recklessly?”

Shen Yuanqing explained: “When the Shen family was exiled, that mistress had no status, but the children she bore were still Shen blood. If Father acknowledges the mistress and her children, isn’t that treason?”

Shen Yuantang was dumbfounded, slumping onto the bed.

She had thought it was just an internal household matter, and that a stern lesson to the mistress and her illegitimate children would suffice. How had it become such a grave crime?

Then she realized that, now married to the Zhen Nan Wang, even if the Emperor punished her father, it wouldn’t affect her as a married daughter.

But in that case, how could she still be the Princess Consort?

“Mother, you must act quickly. We can’t let the Shen family be charged with treason.”

“Mother, I’m also your daughter. Do you really want to see me suffer in the Zhen Nan Wang’s residence?”

“Mother, we absolutely cannot let Father acknowledge them…”

Shen Yuantang clutched Zhou Xinrou’s hand, crying continuously.

Shen Yuangjun and Shen Yuanqing exchanged a glance: if Father didn’t acknowledge them, that would work too.

Meanwhile, Shen Congwen had been kneeling at Zhou Xinrou’s door for over an hour, panic and regret consuming him.

Because of Shen Yuanxin’s wedding, he had been tied up for over a month and hadn’t gone there, and now they had come knocking!

Shen Congwen regretted it deeply. He shouldn’t have made those mistakes—now it was too late.

He only hoped she wouldn’t come to the Shen residence.

In the afternoon, the Renxiao Emperor sent eunuchs to rebuke Shen Congwen, stating that until the matter of the mistress was resolved, he need not attend court.

No sooner had the eunuchs left than Shen Congwen fainted again.

The Shen household descended into another chaotic scramble for doctors.

Things did not go as Shen Congwen had hoped. The three illegitimate children outside remained unresolved, and now a veiled woman arrived.

“Grandmother, there’s a woman claiming to be Liang Xinyi outside. She has the Master’s jade pendant and requests an audience.”

Old Madam Shen went pale, nearly fainting again.

“Bring her in through the back gate.”

“Go fetch the Master quietly—don’t let the Princess hear.”

“Yes!”

Who could possibly be showing up at this time? It had to be the eldest son’s mistress.

Shen Congwen, thinking his mother was unwell, rushed over in a panic. When he heard the name Liang Xinyi, his legs went weak, his vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Heaven above, are you really out to get me, Shen Congwen?

Old Madam Shen took a sip of ginseng tea, glaring fiercely: “The eldest son—he must not acknowledge them!”

Shen Congwen’s heart sank.

“Mother, it’s my fault, but those three children—they really are my flesh and blood!”

Old Madam Shen glared at her son: “Do you intend to commit treason against the Emperor?”

Shen Congwen was utterly flustered. He never expected things to turn out this way.

“Call the mistress in and make the charges clear to her. If she doesn’t take her illegitimate children and leave, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Shen Congwen sat in despair, dazed.

If only they could simply be sent away, and he could quietly give them extra gold and silver as compensation, it would at least make up for them as mother and children.