RWNEFE -Chapter 418 Does Elder Sister Want One More Enemy?

Shen Lanxi let out a mocking laugh. “I don’t even care. Why do you care?”

Shen Yuantang shouted hoarsely, “Because we’re sisters of the same mother!”

Shen Lanxi chuckled softly—so she did remember that they were sisters.

“I understand this matter now. Unfortunately, you’ve come to the wrong person. I’m leaving the capital tomorrow. Instead of looking for me, you should go to Consort Shu.”

Shen Yuantang felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. At the mention of Consort Shu, her body instinctively trembled.

“How could she help? She definitely wouldn’t help.”

If she didn’t want to help, she might as well just say so—why make excuses?

“Consort Shu hates Bai Qingling to the core. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have refused to let her enter the prince’s residence even after the child grew so big.”

“To her, Bai Qingling is a stain on her son. She’s probably wanted to get rid of her for a long time.”

Shen Yuantang knew Consort Shu disliked that wretch, but asking her for help was absolutely impossible.

“Elder Sister, can’t you help your younger sister just this once?” Shen Yuantang’s voice unconsciously took on a pleading tone.

“Help you with what?” Shen Lanxi asked.

“Help me become the principal consort.”

Shen Lanxi sneered. “So all that talk about being afraid I’d be ridiculed, afraid the Shen family would be ridiculed—when you get to the root of it, it’s all for yourself.”

Anger gradually appeared on Shen Yuantang’s face.

“Since you want to be the principal consort, why don’t you strive for it yourself?”

“Have you rendered meritorious service to Great Zhou? Are you a model of womanly virtue? Or do you have heirs who could uphold the prestige of the prince’s household?”

“Not a single one. How do you expect me to plead your case before His Majesty?”

With every sentence Shen Lanxi spoke, Shen Yuantang’s face grew paler.

Why did Elder Sister demand so much of her? She was only a weak woman. They were sisters of the same mother—wasn’t that reason enough to help her?

“Elder Sister, if I become the Princess Consort of the Prince of Zhennan, it will greatly benefit our Shen family. But if Bai Qingling becomes the principal consort, she will certainly target our family. She’ll surely keep sowing discord between the Shen family and the prince’s household in front of the prince.”

“Elder Sister, do you really want one more enemy?”

Shen Lanxi looked at her cold, hostile expression.

“You’re finally clever for once.”

Shen Yuantang froze. What did she mean?

“Go back to your residence and stay there quietly,” Shen Lanxi continued. “There are many people who dislike Bai Qingling. If you don’t have the ability, don’t bare your claws. Just wait patiently and pick up the spoils when others fight each other to mutual ruin.”

Shen Yuantang was speechless.

What did that mean?

Shen Lanxi turned and went into the residence.

“Was she calling me stupid?” Shen Yuantang muttered.

“Secondary Consort, Shen Lanxi is truly heartless toward you,” a maid said. “Even if you weren’t real sisters, no one would say such harsh things to humiliate their own sister.”

Hearing this, a trace of viciousness slowly gathered in Shen Yuantang’s eyes.

Bai Qingling held the imperial edict in disbelief.

“My lord… I’m not dreaming, am I?”

“You’re not,” Zhou Ruyuan replied. “After the wedding, you’ll be able to enter the palace to see the child at my mother’s place.”

Bai Qingling was so overjoyed that she burst into tears. At last, she had waited for the clouds to part and the moon to appear.

Looking at her weeping uncontrollably, Zhou Ruyuan silently sighed.

The day he learned his father had bestowed the title of princess upon Shen Lanxi, he had already known there was no hope between them.

Since his marriage had not gone as he wished, he could only hope that once his greater ambitions were fulfilled, there might still be a sliver of opportunity.

After calming down, the first thing Bai Qingling wanted to do was take the edict to Shen Lanxi and flaunt it.

No matter how capable Shen Lanxi was, in the end the position of Princess Consort of Zhennan still belonged to her.

After all their twists and turns, her fate with the prince was ordained by heaven—no one could separate them.

She carefully applied heavy makeup and put on splendid garments, preparing to “happen” to meet Shen Lanxi, only to learn that Shen Lanxi had already left the capital.

Her good mood instantly diminished by half.

“Princess Consort, shall we still go to Wangjiang Tower?” a maid asked.

After thinking for a moment, Bai Qingling said, “No. Let’s return to the residence.”

In a few days, after she married the prince, she would appear openly and honorably in public. For now, she still felt somewhat insecure.

“Princess Consort, our carriage is blocked.”

“Just move slowly and get out,” Bai Qingling said irritably.

Before the maid could respond, the carriage was suddenly struck hard, followed by a foul stench.

“Princess Consort, this is bad! The one who hit us was a night-soil cart. Its wheel broke, and all the filth spilled onto our carriage…”

Bai Qingling felt her throat tighten and began vomiting uncontrollably.

Wei Dongzhu continued to command the Imperial Guards in defending the palace. Before Shen Lanxi departed, the two met briefly.

“Zhou Ruyuan is going to marry that woman,” Wei Dongzhu said.

He looked at Shen Lanxi intently, unwilling to look away even for a moment.

Shen Lanxi understood what he meant but could not give him any promise.

“Are you envious?” she asked.

Wei Dongzhu snorted. “People like them? I’m not envious at all.”

“They’ve finally gotten their wish,” Shen Lanxi said. “It’s a pity I won’t have the chance to personally present my congratulations.”

Wei Dongzhu’s heart stirred. “How about I attend in our stead and deliver a gift on behalf of both of us?”

A slow smile appeared on Shen Lanxi’s lips. “Exactly what I had in mind.”

Wei Dongzhu’s gloom vanished, replaced by a delighted smile.

Because of the imperial marriage decree, Zhou Ruyuan could not depart with Shen Lanxi.

Emperor Renxiao’s intention was that once the Fifth Prince’s body was brought back, all weddings and celebrations in the capital would have to pause for mourning, so Zhou Ruyuan was specifically ordered to complete his marriage before that.

“My lord, His Majesty has shown bias,” Jiang Wuya, the hermit known as Master Caolu, said gravely, fanning himself with a feather fan.

Zhou Ruyuan came back to himself, unsure how to explain matters to him.

“His Majesty truly played a masterful game,” Jiang Wuya continued. “He relied on Your Highness’s maternal family to gain the empire, yet remained devoted to the former empress. If not for his declining health, he likely wouldn’t have revealed his hand so early.”

Zhou Ruyuan looked at him. Master Caolu truly deserved his reputation as a reclusive sage; such secrets, never spoken aloud, he could deduce from the situation alone.

If not for the Crown Prince being exposed and recalled to the capital, who could have imagined it? That prince had once been the one their father was most proud of.

“Sir, I know Qingling saved you,” Zhou Ruyuan said. “But my marriage to Qingling truly won’t help me in the slightest.”

Jiang Wuya shook his head. “On the contrary. Your marriage will reduce suspicion.”

Zhou Ruyuan frowned. Even his cautious meetings with the daughter of the Minister of War had still been noticed.

“In your view, sir, what should I do next?”

“Reclaim military authority,” Jiang Wuya replied calmly.

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes flickered. “Sir, you’ve hit the nail on the head.”

Two days later, the Prince of Zhennan’s wedding was held.

Wei Dongzhu attended the banquet and presented two precious swords along with a painting titled A Hundred Sons and a Thousand Grandsons.

He was already a figure of public interest, and because of his relationship with Shen Lanxi, everyone knew he could represent her.

With such complicated ties, not only did he attend, but he also brought two gifts rich in implication.

It was an obvious provocation.

“Two swords,” when spoken aloud, sounded like “two wretches”—a clear jab at the Prince of Zhennan and Bai Qingling as a pair of despicable people.

And that painting pushed the mockery to its peak.

He hadn’t come to offer congratulations.

He had come to vent Shen Lanxi’s anger on her behalf.