RWNEFE -Chapter 417 Go Look for Your Elder Sister!

And it wasn’t just this once—right from the beginning, Zhou Ruyuan had been used by Emperor Renxiao as a shield and a pawn.

“Our emperor has really gone to great lengths to keep Zhou Ruyuan from gaining a foothold in the Ministry of War.”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

“That woman has stayed by Zhou Ruyuan’s side all this time; you could say she’s finally seen the clouds part and the moon appear.”

“Let’s just hope it’s not a blazing sun instead—one scorching ray and she’ll wither.”

Soft laughter rippled through the room.

Shen Yuantang pleaded and coaxed at Zhou Xinrou’s place, but gained no help at all. In the end, Zhou Xinrou even drove her out of the room on the excuse of being physically and mentally exhausted.

Yuantang cried for a while at the entrance to the main house. Seeing that her mother showed no sign of softening, she wiped away her tears and went to find the Old Madam instead.

Old Madam Shen sighed. “The imperial edict has already been issued. It’s useless to look for anyone now.”

Though she wasn’t particularly fond of this granddaughter, if the position of Princess Consort of the Prince of Zhennan were to fall to a daughter of the Shen family, their family’s status would rise considerably.

“Grandmother, is there really no way at all?” Shen Yuantang asked tearfully.

Old Madam Shen asked, “What did your mother say?”

Yuantang wiped her tears. “Mother said that since His Majesty arranged it this way, there must be a reason.”

Old Madam Shen couldn’t think of any such reason. Since Zhou Xinrou couldn’t be persuaded, there was only one person who might help.

“Go find your elder sister. The person His Majesty relies on most right now is her.” And within the Shen family, the one they relied on most was also Shen Lanxi.

Shen Yuantang’s expression stiffened. The last person she wanted to beg was Shen Lanxi.

“Grandmother, I’ve already offended Elder Sister before. She definitely won’t help me.”

Old Madam Shen sighed even more than she had on the road to exile. “Yuantang, aside from your elder sister, no one can help you now.”

“Think about it yourself. That woman made your sister the laughingstock of others and ruined her reputation. Your sister must hate her to the bone.”

If she still couldn’t understand even after such a hint, then this granddaughter needn’t come to her again.

Shen Yuantang pondered. If that wretch became the Princess Consort while she, the younger sister of the same mother, remained merely a secondary consort, it would be a slap in Shen Lanxi’s face.

At that time, both sisters—and the Shen family—would become the subject of ridicule.

“Grandmother, I understand. But what if Elder Sister refuses to see me?” She still cared greatly about saving face. If she had to humble herself and beg, she was unwilling.

Old Madam Shen saw through her thoughts at a glance and didn’t try to persuade her further. Saying she was tired, she waved her away.

This granddaughter only remembered her whenever trouble arose. She didn’t even bring gifts when coming to pay her respects. Compared with the eldest granddaughter, the difference was obvious.

She would have to be foolish to offend Shen Lanxi for her sake.

Shen Yuantang left in frustration.

“She says she’s unwell again. I’m in such a state, yet she always claims she’s unwell. All excuses!”

She left angrily.

“Secondary Consort, shall we return to the prince’s residence now?” a maid asked.

Shen Yuantang didn’t want to go back, nor did she want to beg Shen Lanxi.

While she hesitated, the maid said, “I heard His Majesty has assigned Shen Lanxi to leave the capital on official business. If we wait too long, we might not find her.”

Yuantang’s expression tightened. Right—there was no time to delay.

For the position of Princess Consort, she would stake everything.

“I want to see my elder sister. Let me in!” Shen Yuantang was stopped by guards at the gate of the Duke Protector’s residence.

“The Duke Protector is not at home,” the guards replied.

“I don’t believe you. Let me go in and see!” Yuantang tried to force her way in.

The guards immediately drew their weapons.

“How dare you! I am Shen Lanxi’s own younger sister of the same mother. If she learns you treated me like this, she’ll surely have your heads cut off!”

The guards remained unmoved; the bright white tips of their blades did not waver.

“You’re being insolent… Elder Sister, it’s me, Yuantang! I want to see you…”

And so Shen Yuantang began shouting at the gate.

Shen Lanxi indeed was not at home, but someone from the residence delivered the news to her.

“If she wants to wait at the gate, let her wait.”

“If you come to beg someone, you should at least show the proper attitude.”

“Yes.”

Before returning to report, the servant handed her another letter.

“It was sent from Nanning.”

After reading it, Shen Lanxi broke into an unrestrained smile.

“It’s from Zhou Ruan. He claims he wants to join forces with me and promises that once he succeeds, he’ll grant me higher rank and title.”

After Che Mingyuan and the others read it, they burned the letter.

“He’s nothing to look at, yet his ambitions are enormous.”

“We could pretend to cooperate with him,” someone suggested.

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow and looked at Che Mingyuan with a smiling gaze.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Che Mingyuan had long wanted to meet the disciple of Guiguzi; now he finally had a legitimate reason.

“The disciple of Guiguzi will arrive in the capital tomorrow. The city will surely be lively.”

Shen Lanxi clicked her tongue. “What a pity—I’ll miss the most exciting part.”

By the time she returned home, it was already dark.

A small sedan chair was blocking the entrance to the Duke Protector’s residence. Hearing the maid announce her arrival, Shen Yuantang immediately stepped out.

“Elder Sister…”

Shen Lanxi dismounted and handed the reins to a guard.

“What are you doing here?”

Under the cover of night, Yuantang felt less ashamed and gained some courage.

“Elder Sister, the Prince of Zhennan is going to take a Princess Consort.”

“I know.”

With a trembling voice full of grievance, Yuantang said, “The one he’s marrying is the woman who made people laugh at you before. How could such a wretch deserve the position of Princess Consort? She’s not even fit to carry the prince’s shoes.”

Shen Lanxi looked at her sister’s furious, almost shrewish expression without any emotion.

She said nothing, and the silent gaze made Shen Yuantang uneasy.

“Elder Sister, if that woman becomes the principal consort, who knows how the people of the capital will gossip about you—and about me? By then, ignorant women will surely belittle us sisters.”

Shen Lanxi said coldly, “I told you before.”

Yuantang’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes flickering.

Did she mean divorce?

Why should she divorce? She had no intention of leaving; a man like the prince—why did her elder sister keep forcing her to leave? Did her elder sister truly think she was so unworthy of the Prince of Zhennan?

Shen Lanxi continued, “His Majesty’s words are law. What makes you think I could persuade him to change his mind?”

Hearing the reproach in Shen Lanxi’s tone, Shen Yuantang grew angry.

She knew she shouldn’t have come. How could Shen Lanxi, so cold and unfeeling, ever help her?

“Elder Sister, aren’t you afraid of being mocked by the people of the capital?”

Shen Lanxi narrowed her eyes, her bearing domineering. “Who would dare?”

Yuantang’s heart trembled, but she pressed on recklessly. “They may not dare openly—but what about in private?”

“Right now, who knows how many people are gossiping about you behind your back!”

Shen Lanxi looked at her without saying a word, while Shen Yuantang’s anxiety reached its peak.

“Elder Sister, are you really going to let that wretch run rampant—let her insult you like this?”