RWNEFE -Chapter 397 The Mistress Resembles Zhou Xinrou

Unexpectedly, once Liang Xinyi entered and removed her veil, Old Madam Shen immediately regretted it.

This woman absolutely could not be kept!

News of the woman entering the residence quickly spread.

Some people reported it to the Juding Gong Mansion, others to Zhou Xinrou.

At first, the other three branches privately felt some schadenfreude, but when they heard the words “treason against the Emperor,” they angrily scolded Shen Congwen. Soon after came their worry.

“Last time, Big Brother’s actions got our three branches exiled—now are we going to be implicated again?”

“Should we ask the princess to intervene in the palace?”

“Not yet, let’s ask Lanxi first.”

Hu Jinyu saw the elders frowning and arguing endlessly without resolution, so she quietly stepped aside and sent a message to Shen Yuanxu.

Shen Yuanxu, overwhelmed by his studies every day, initially excused himself from his teacher upon seeing visitors.

On the way, when Xiao Si explained the situation, he immediately changed his route.

“First, go to the Juding Gong Mansion!”

Shen Lanxi calculated the timing and asked Wei Dongzhu, “The news from the Northwest should have arrived by now, right?”

Wei Dongzhu replied, “The news arrived in the capital today. By now, it’s probably already on His Majesty’s desk.”

Shen Lanxi nodded in satisfaction. The timing was perfect.

In the imperial study, shards of porcelain were scattered on the floor.

“Your Majesty, please stay calm and take care of Your health!” Wang Bao knelt, full of concern.

The Renxiao Emperor instinctively reached for the ginseng tea, but after taking a sip, he realized it was just ordinary tea leaves and frowned.

He remembered that the ginseng Shen Lanxi had sent had already been used up a couple of days ago.

Shen Yuanjing was resisting enemies in the Northwest. Right now, all that could be done regarding the Shen family was reassurance.

The Shen family had suffered such a scandal. As Shen Congwen’s son, Shen Yuanjing would naturally need to atone for it.

“Shen Congwen privately keeping a mistress is a family matter of the Shen household. Once the Shen family resolves it themselves, I will decide what action to take.”

Wang Bao understood: the officials who planned to impeach Shen Congwen tomorrow could still do so, but in a reduced number. The private affairs of an official should not interfere with state matters.

When Old Madam Shen saw Liang Xinyi’s face, she immediately ordered her to be quietly escorted out.

Unfortunately, Liang Xinyi was ambitious. No sooner was she sent out than she returned with her children, kneeling at the Shen residence gate.

Hearing this, Old Madam Shen could no longer bear it; her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Shen Yuantang, furious, rushed to the gate. Seeing the mother and her three children kneeling, her anger flared, and she was ready to take action.

In the struggle, Liang Xinyi’s veil was pulled away. When Shen Yuantang saw her face, she was shocked—and then enraged.

“Where is Father?”

Shen Yuantang rushed into the residence, frantically searching for Shen Congwen.

Shen Yuangjun noticed something was wrong and stopped her to ask why.

Shen Yuantang, hysterical, shouted, “That mistress—she looks too much like Mother! I need to ask Father why he would bring someone who resembles Mother so closely!”

Shen Yuangjun was also shocked. One moment of distraction allowed Shen Yuantang to storm off.

No matter the reason, if this got out, their mother would be the one blamed.

How could Father do such a thing?

Shen Congwen hurried to the gate in a panic.

“Liang Xinyi, what are you trying to do?” he demanded angrily.

Liang Xinyi, upon seeing Shen Congwen, had tears in her eyes.

“Master, if we can’t see you, we won’t survive!”

Shen Congwen didn’t believe her. At this moment, not a single word from Liang Xinyi held any credibility.

“Liang Xinyi, take them away immediately! Do you know that by coming here, the entire Shen household could be accused of treason? If His Majesty becomes furious, neither you nor the children will escape!”

Liang Xinyi didn’t believe it. She had nothing to lose; today she was determined to enter the Shen residence.

“Children, call for Father quickly. If Father lets us go back, we will truly have no chance of survival!” she cried.

Normally, Shen Congwen would have softened at the sight of these tearful eyes.

Now—

“You’re crazy! Do you want the entire Shen household to die with you?” Shen Congwen roared.

Liang Xinyi sobbed, “Master, our children have reached the proper age. Because of their status, no one has proposed for them. They cannot take civil exams, and our previous money has long run out. You haven’t sent any silver for over a month. If we don’t come now, the four of us will starve at home!”

“Father, we haven’t eaten for two days, and the shops won’t give us credit.”

“Father, outsiders think we grew up without a father—they all try to bully us.”

“Father, some lecherous man saw daughter in the street and insisted on taking her to his mansion as a maid-servant. She refuses, please help her!”

Shen Congwen didn’t believe it. Gritting his teeth, he asked, “Before the Shen family was exiled, I sent a hundred taels of silver back every month. That money was enough for your daily needs with plenty left over. How could you possibly have no money?”

Liang Xinyi’s eyes flickered; she sobbed quietly.

“Thieves broke into the house, stealing all our silver and valuables, even our clothes, shoes, and bedding. Now the house is empty. Shen Lang, I have no other choice!”

“I can’t just watch the children starve!”

Seeing the mother and children crying, and hearing her explanation, Shen Congwen gradually softened.

“I’ll give you some silver. Take it and leave the capital!”

At this point, he had no better solution.

Liang Xinyi refused.

“Shen Lang, now everyone in the mansion knows about us. Could we stay, even as maids or servants? It’s better than being bullied outside.”

“The four of us have no means to survive. Outside the capital, we know no one. Shen Lang, for the sake of the past, give our children a chance to live.”

Shen Congwen began to hesitate.

Liang Xinyi continued: “If Shen Lang doesn’t want me in the residence, I can leave. Just let our children stay. Even if something happens to me later, knowing the children are under their father’s protection, I can pass away in peace.”

“Mother…”

The four of them cried together again.

Shen Congwen glanced at the family gate, seeing Shen Yuangjun and Shen Yuanqing standing there.

His wavering heart was suddenly resolute again.

“Go back. I will send the silver later. If anyone asks, do not mention me. Tell them they have the wrong people.”

Shen Congwen only wanted to send them away quickly.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple.

When Shen Yuanxu returned home, he saw Liang Xinyi faint.

Her three children cried, pleading with their father to save their mother.

They entered the house through the side gate.

Hu Jinyu had been waiting for a long time.

“Did the children disturb you?” Shen Yuanxu carefully helped support Hu Jinyu.

“No. The child will grow up calm and steady. Despite all the commotion outside, he wasn’t startled at all.”

Shen Yuanxu hinted: “Just wait—there will be more trouble ahead.”