RWNEFE -Chapter 423 Shen Congwen’s Condition Worsens!

After Zhou Ruyuan returned to the capital, the imperial edict of betrothal had already been issued; everything was settled.

To appease Zhou Ruyuan and the court officials, Emperor Renxiao pushed the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and Song Daoxi forward as scapegoats.

“The Astronomical Bureau has calculated that after the former empress passed away, she was still concerned about the Eldest Prince. Now the Eldest Prince is alone, and I am uneasy, unable to sleep at night. The State Preceptor has divined that the daughter of the Vice Minister of War greatly pleased the late empress. By arranging this marriage, I am merely comforting the spirit of the former empress.”

What could the court officials say?

Not a single capable prince remained in the capital—what use was opposition?

The emperor’s intentions were as obvious as Sima Zhao’s ambitions, known to all!

When Zhou Ruyuan returned to the capital, the edict had already been proclaimed. He had no right to object and could only grit his teeth and accept it.

Why couldn’t it be someone else? Why did it have to be the Vice Minister of War’s legitimate daughter?

Did Father Emperor not know that he had previously had dealings with this woman?

Father Emperor… your favoritism now isn’t even concealed anymore?

Shen Lanxi paid no attention to Zhou Ruyuan’s inner complaints. She stood beside him and reported back to Emperor Renxiao.

“Your Majesty, I have returned with the troops. They are all soldiers devoted to protecting Great Zhou, obeying orders passed down from above.”

She did not mention a single word about the Fifth Prince’s treason, yet the meaning was perfectly clear.

Emperor Renxiao looked at the military tally that had been handed over and was very satisfied.

With this tally in his hands, this force would henceforth obey only his command.

“Lanxi, before these men are incorporated into the Imperial Guards, they must be issued new soldier tokens and undergo retraining. Leave this matter to the Ministry of War. Once their training is complete, they will be formally incorporated into the Imperial Guards.”

Shen Lanxi had already guessed that these troops would not easily be handed over to her.

“Your Majesty is wise.”

Lanxi was obedient, unlike certain people who openly contradicted him and made moves in secret.

A cold glint flashed in Emperor Renxiao’s eyes. His throat began to itch again, and he quickly drank some tea to suppress it.

Afterward came the funeral arrangements for the Fifth Prince. With the emperor’s approval, Shen Lanxi helped to manage the preparations.

There was no hurry; they still had to wait for the Fifth Prince’s descendants to arrive from Xihuazhou.

…

By now, Shen Lanxi was no longer the person she once was.

When the titled ladies entering the palace saw Shen Lanxi approaching boldly with a saber at her waist, they instinctively bowed in greeting.

Shen Lanxi held a first-rank official title. Though they possessed honorary titles, what did those count for?

Their ranks were earned by their husbands. Among men, their husbands ranked where they ranked; among women, they were the same.

Someone had once remarked that Shen Lanxi did not belong at their table.

She was someone who competed for rank at the men’s table. How could their honorary titles—earned through their husbands—compare with the first rank she had earned herself?

How could stone compare with gold?

“Lord Shen!”

As Shen Lanxi approached, they bent in greeting.

Shen Lanxi merely nodded lightly in acknowledgment and did not even pause as she walked past.

That was the difference.

After she had gone far away, the youngest among them protested indignantly.

“Old Madam, you’re an elder. Why did you bow to her?”

“Fool! Never say such foolish things in front of others again. Shen Lanxi’s official rank is higher than your grandfather’s, higher than my husband’s. If I don’t bow, should I wait to be accused of disregarding proper hierarchy?”

The young girl shrank back in fright and dared not speak again.

She was about the same age as Shen Lanxi. Shen Lanxi could stride through the palace carrying a saber, while she could only bow and be reprimanded by her grandmother.

~

No sooner had Shen Lanxi returned home than someone from the Shen family arrived.

“My Lady, the Old Madam asks you to come over. She says Master Shen’s leg injury has worsened.”

Shen Lanxi frowned. “If it’s serious, go find an imperial physician. Why come to me?”

“Then… it must not be that serious yet.”

Shen Lanxi curled her lips into a faint smile. “That makes sense.”

~

When she arrived, all the younger members of the main branch who were at home were attending to the sickbed.

“Elder Sister, the imperial physician from the palace has already come. He says Father’s leg injury shows signs of worsening.”

Shen Lanxi said, “Wasn’t it almost healed? How did it worsen again?”

Shen Yuanqing cast a subtle glance at Shen Yuanxin.

“Yuanxin, you speak,” Shen Lanxi said coldly.

Zhou Yunsui spoke first. “Elder Sister, don’t blame Yuanxin. If you must blame someone, blame me. I had one of my maids attend to Father, thinking she could take better care of him. Who would have thought…”

Seeing Zhou Yunsui’s affected manner, Shen Lanxi already understood what had happened without needing to ask.

Zhou Yunsui continued, “Elder Sister, our family has grown, and the house is far too crowded now. It’s not conducive to Father’s recovery.”

Shen Yuanxin added, “Elder Sister, why not let Father temporarily stay at your residence? Once his injury heals, he can move back.”

Shen Lanxi laughed in anger. So that was their real intention.

“Shen Yuanxin, did you come up with this idea yourself, or did someone in your household think of it?” Shen Lanxi did not bother to conceal her meaning, practically naming Zhou Yunsui outright.

“Elder Sister, what do you mean by that? My husband only wants Father to recover quickly. How can you doubt our intentions?” Zhou Yunsui said, sounding aggrieved yet reproachful.

A cold frost gathered in Shen Lanxi’s eyes. “I am talking about you.”

Zhou Yunsui’s eyes widened in disbelief. Shen Lanxi dared to speak to her so bluntly, ignoring her status as a princess.

“Elder Sister, no matter what, I am a princess of the imperial family. By accusing me like this in public, you are showing disrespect to the imperial house!”

Shen Lanxi sneered. “Who here isn’t a princess?”

Zhou Yunsui froze. Only then did she remember that Shen Lanxi had already been granted the title of First-Rank Princess. Though she herself was also a princess, she was only of the third rank.

Jealousy nearly twisted her expression.

“Elder Sister, we are talking about Father now. Father clearly cannot recuperate peacefully at home. You live alone in such a large ducal residence—can’t you let Father stay there to recover?”

“If outsiders hear of this, they will surely say Elder Sister is unfilial.”

Shen Lanxi said coldly, “Slap her.”

Before Zhou Yunsui could react, a slap had already landed across her face.

“You are now a member of the Shen family. When the Shen family prospers, all prosper; when it declines, all decline. By calling me unfilial, you are saying the Shen family’s descendants are unfilial. Today I will, on behalf of the Shen family’s ancestors, properly teach you what the etiquette of a great clan means!”

Zhou Yunsui’s eyes widened, anger and shock turning into tears that filled her eyes.

“Elder Sister, I am a princess! If you dare strike me, you are striking the face of the imperial family. Aren’t you afraid I’ll go to the palace and lodge a complaint with His Majesty?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Go ahead. The moment you step out of the Shen family gates today, you will no longer be a member of the Shen family.”

“The eldest brother is like a father, the eldest sister like a mother. Today I will, in place of our mother, write a letter of repudiation for you. Go complain to whomever you like.”

Shen Yuanxin had just stepped forward to argue when the two brothers, Shen Yuanpeng and Shen Yuanhao, seized him from both sides, preventing him from moving.