RWNEFE -Chapter 426 No One Informed Shen Yuantang About the Move!

Although the emperor said nothing openly about the Fifth Prince’s matter, no one wanted to provoke bad luck at such a time.

Various banquets were tacitly canceled, and the Shen family’s house-moving celebration was reduced to a simple family banquet.

Except for those away on official business, Shen Congwen, who was still recuperating in his room, and the couple Shen Yuanxin and Zhou Yunsui, everyone else was present.

“I never expected Lanxi to have prepared our courtyards so properly in advance. Her arrangements are truly thorough,” Shen Conglian sighed in admiration.

Shen Lanxi replied, “This is what I should do; I dare not take credit. Before, the future of our Shen family was uncertain. Now it’s different. From now on, if anyone dares to give any member of our family a cold face when we go out, just strike back directly!”

Shen Conglian widened his eyes and laughed. “No one dares to look down on us anymore. When we first returned to the capital, they looked at us like we were pests. But a few days ago, when I was walking in the street, they actually came forward to curry favor with me.”

The Shen family had truly risen in status and could finally hold their heads high.

Shen Congli also laughed. “That’s right. Things are different for our Shen family now. Those who once cut off ties with us are now scrambling to restore relations.”

As he spoke, the corner of his eye glanced at the Old Madam.

Among those who had severed ties before were even their own younger sister, as well as relatives from the Old Madam’s natal family and from their wives’ families.

Shen Congwen sneered coldly. “They watched and waited for so long, expecting our Shen family to be convicted. Instead, we’ve risen step by step. Such snobbish relatives—we don’t need them.”

Old Madam Shen’s good mood was dampened by her sons’ words.

“Why talk about that? From now on, all the marriages of the young men and women in our family will be held in the Ducal residence. How glorious that will be for the Shen family!”

That was indeed true.

Madam Liu smiled. “Most of the sons and daughters in the family have already had their affairs arranged. Only a few who are not yet betrothed remain. Just wait and see—the threshold of our Protectorate Duke’s residence will be worn down by people coming to propose.”

Shen Lanxi said, “The reputation of the Shen family is supported by all of us together. If anyone in the future causes trouble and you uncles or aunts don’t want to offend others, just tell me. I’ll be the villain.”

“Good, Lanxi, we’ll remember that,” they agreed.

Shen Lanxi then looked toward the table where the concubine-born members were seated.

“Since you’ve entered the Shen family, prosperity and decline are shared together. To speak bluntly, when something happened to the Shen family before, no matter who made a mistake, the whole family would have been exiled.”

“If any of you commit wrongdoing, it won’t only implicate us—it will also ruin yourselves.”

Everyone nodded.

“I’ll stop the unpleasant talk here. Today is a happy day, moving to a new residence. If not for the need to keep a low profile, we would certainly have held a grand banquet to celebrate.”

Everyone nodded again.

“Later, I will transfer part of the spoils into the family treasury. As long as you are members of the Shen family, I, Shen Lanxi, will not treat you unfairly.”

Hearing this, the various branches of the family were secretly delighted.

Others might not know, but they did. Shen Lanxi had seized countless treasures on the battlefield. Even a small portion slipping through her fingers would be enough to support the entire Shen family.

After the family banquet, each branch departed happily.

Shen Lanxi carried some things to visit her mother.

“Mother, this is bird’s-nest porridge I had the kitchen prepare. I heard from the maids that your appetite hasn’t been good today, so I brought it specially for you.”

That day Zhou Xinrou was lying in bed with gauze curtains drawn, and Shen Lanxi could only see her silhouette.

“My Lady, the Princess has caught a chill and is afraid of passing the illness to you, so she won’t see you,” an old servant said, taking the food box.

Shen Lanxi glanced inside, then respectfully said, “Mother, please rest well. Lanxi will take her leave.”

After Shen Lanxi left, a woman with a figure similar to Zhou Xinrou’s rose from the bed.

…

Shen Yuantang had not expected that after being away from home for a few days, she would return to find the gates tightly shut, locked, and completely deserted.

“Where is everyone?”

“Where have they all gone?”

With nowhere to vent her anger, Shen Yuantang could only keep questioning her maid.

“Side Consort, perhaps we should go to the Protectorate Duke’s residence and ask?” the maid suggested cautiously.

After the humiliation she had suffered at the gates of the Ducal residence before, Shen Yuantang was extremely unwilling to go there again.

“You go and take a look. I’ll wait here.”

“Yes.”

A short while later, the maid returned.

“Side Consort, everyone from the Shen family has moved to the Protectorate Duke’s residence.”

Shen Yuantang was so furious she felt smoke rising from all seven orifices. “They all moved, and no one even told me!”

Did the Shen family still care about her as a daughter at all?

Did they still consider that they even had such a daughter?

“Side Consort, shall we go there?” the maid asked carefully.

Shen Yuantang twisted her handkerchief until it nearly tore. Now that Bai Qingling had entered the household, she had not only taken over the management authority but also imposed restrictions on going out.

As a mere side consort, she had to request permission even to leave the residence. She had finally lowered her head to ask for leave to go out—how could she just go back like this without doing anything?

“Yes, of course we’re going. Father and Mother are there. I’m returning to my parents’ home, not going to see Shen Lanxi!”

“Let’s go!”

With the Shen family now living there, the Protectorate Duke’s residence looked far livelier. People bustled everywhere—some sweeping, some carrying furniture, some scrubbing and cleaning. Even at the main gate, servants were carefully wiping the plaque with cloths.

When Shen Yuantang tried to enter, she was, as usual, stopped and questioned.

“I am Miss Shen Yuantang of the Shen family. I want to see my father and mother. Let me in at once!” Having been rebuffed several times before, she had grown smarter.

If she simply said she wanted to enter and was stopped, she would lose face. But if she said she was going to see her parents, the guards could hardly refuse. And if they dared, she could report Shen Lanxi to the prince and have him impeach her.

She only hoped Shen Lanxi would leave some handle for her to seize.

After the guards reported inside, she was allowed to pass.

Shen Yuantang snorted coldly and strode in arrogantly.

She had visited this place a few times before her marriage, but never again afterward.

“So-so. It’s not even as big as the garden in the prince’s residence,” she said disdainfully.

On the way to the Old Madam and the main branch’s quarters, she passed by Shen Lanxi’s courtyard.

She glanced at it and curled her lip.

Guards stood at the gate, and even outside her courtyard there were guards. Anyone who didn’t know better might think something shameful was hidden there.

Behind her, two maids secretly observed everything, memorizing what they saw under the cover of Shen Yuantang’s figure.

“Grandmother, how could you all move here without telling me?” Shen Yuantang finally saw her relatives and immediately complained in a wronged tone.

Old Madam Shen hadn’t forgotten—she simply hadn’t thought of it.

“Didn’t your mother tell you?”

Shen Yuantang stiffened, then pouted. “You know what Mother is like. Every day she chants scriptures and worships Buddha—she’s practically gone mad. In her heart, even a statue of the Bodhisattva is probably more important than me!”

Old Madam Shen’s face darkened. “You child, how can you speak like that? How can you discuss your elders this way?”

Shen Yuantang apologized reluctantly. “Grandmother, I misspoke. I was just upset. You have no idea how I felt when I returned home and saw the gates locked…”