RWNEFE -Chapter 433 Zhou Xinrou’s Startling Words at the Family Banquet!

After Zhou Rulin’s wedding, he was immediately dispatched to the Han River to manage flood control and resettle disaster victims.

He left without even waiting to attend Emperor Renxiao’s birthday, such an important occasion.

Shen Lanxi began arranging matters for the emperor’s birthday banquet.

Recently, Wei Dongzhu had been training troops, while she was busy with preparations for the banquet. They had not seen each other for quite some time.

Today was Wei Dongzhu’s day off, and he had specially set aside a day to visit her. He had been in high spirits, but a single letter ruined his mood.

“General, has something changed in the fighting in the northwest?” The old soldiers of the Wei family army, no matter what rank Wei Dongzhu held, still addressed him as “General.”

“No. The northwest is fine.”

If it wasn’t news of the war, then it must be a letter from home.

As his personal guards, they naturally knew the inside story.

“General, has something happened there?”

Wei Dongzhu shook his head, his expression heavy.

Besides the letter, there was also a portrait.

Looking at the person in the portrait, Wei Dongzhu felt as though a mountain were pressing on his chest.

“I’ll write a letter. Deliver it back personally.”

“Yes,” the guard replied quietly. Even if it cost him his life, he would not let outsiders see this letter.

Wei Dongzhu picked up his brush and wrote only a few words:

The child shall be named Wei Yan—Yan, meaning to continue the bloodline.

After writing those five characters, he set down the brush, waited for the ink to dry, and carefully placed the letter into an envelope.

“Keep it safe.”

“I will carry it on my person at all times and never let it out of my sight.”

Wei Dongzhu felt a trace of fear in his heart. He understood Shen Lanxi’s temperament very well.

The fact that he could now hold her hand and laugh and talk with her—it was all something stolen.

He only hoped that time would continue like this, that he could spend his whole life holding her hand and smiling beside her.

…

“My lady, General Wei has arrived!”

Even Shen Lanxi’s personal attendants were used to calling Wei Dongzhu “General Wei.”

“Let him in.”

Shen Lanxi was rarely dressed in women’s clothing today. She wore makeup, and her robes were elegant and splendid.

When Wei Dongzhu entered, a flash of admiration appeared in his eyes.

“Why are you dressed like this today?”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Just treat today as my birthday.”

Wei Dongzhu was surprised; he remembered that her birthday was not today.

Today was her memorial birthday.

Shen Lanxi picked up several hairpins from her dressing table.

“Choose one that looks nice and put it on for me.”

Wei Dongzhu smiled. Though he didn’t know the reason, he assumed she was simply in a very good mood today.

“Wear this golden hairpin. In the sunlight, it will shine brilliantly,” he said—just like her.

“All right.”

That day, Shen Lanxi went nowhere. She remained at the Duke Protector’s residence, eating, drinking, and chatting with her family.

“Come, let’s go see my family.”

Wei Dongzhu’s eyes lit up when he saw the hand she offered, and he smiled as he took it.

“Greetings, Grandfather and Grandmother.”

Wei Dongzhu followed somewhat awkwardly in offering his respects.

“Greetings, Old Master, Old Madam.”

Old Madam Shen looked at her granddaughter in puzzlement. Why did she have time to come over today?

“Lanxi, aren’t you busy?”

“I am busy. Starting tomorrow I’ll be receiving envoys from all directions, so I may not be able to come and pay my respects to Grandfather and Grandmother for quite some time.”

So that was the reason.

Old Madam Shen smiled. “Our family doesn’t stand on so much ceremony. If you’re busy, just go about your work.”

“I’ve reserved several banquet tables at Wangjiang Tower. They’ll be delivered at noon. At that time, our whole family can sit together and have a good meal.”

Banquets from Wangjiang Tower were not cheap, but if there was nothing else to do, Old Madam Shen was quite willing to enjoy it.

“Good.”

Afterward, Shen Lanxi took Wei Dongzhu to greet her father and mother.

“Father, your health has improved, hasn’t it?”

Shen Congwen looked at his richly dressed daughter with a gloomy expression and turned his head aside irritably.

His room was filled with young maids attending to him as if he were heaven itself; he had no desire to see Shen Lanxi.

“If there’s nothing else, you may leave.”

Shen Lanxi took her leave.

“Greetings, Mother.”

She mentioned the banquet. “Mother, I hope you will honor us with your presence. Lanxi would be deeply grateful.”

Zhou Xinruo’s eyes swept over Wei Dongzhu, and she waved her hand casually.

“I know. Go on and attend to your business.”

After the two left, Wei Dongzhu unconsciously let out a breath.

“Have your father and mother always been like this?”

“Like what? Living in separate courtyards? Or my father being aloof while my mother stays bedridden?”

Wei Dongzhu only felt that something was strange, but in front of Shen Lanxi, he found it hard to say more.

“It’s nothing. Every family has its own way of living. I’m making a fuss over nothing.”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Just save your mouth for eating.”

Wei Dongzhu thought: What an honor…

Afterward, Shen Lanxi invited the other three branches of the family as well. Before noon, the entire Shen family was seated together neatly.

Among them was Shen Yuantang.

No one had invited her; she had come on her own.

“Elder Sister, you’re dressed so splendidly today,” Shen Yuantang said with envy.

“I’ve only put on a bit of makeup and changed my clothes. Don’t you dress like this every day?”

Shen Yuantang pursed her lips resentfully.

Naturally, no one said the discouraging truth—that even if others dressed the same way, they would not possess even half of Shen Lanxi’s elegance.

“Elder Sister, is today some special day?” Shen Yuantang probed.

“Today is my day off. Tomorrow I go to the battlefield.”

The entire Shen family cried out in alarm.

“Lanxi, we haven’t heard of any war breaking out. Where are you going to fight? How have we heard nothing?” Old Madam Shen asked anxiously.

Shen Lanxi smiled in explanation. “Tomorrow I’ll be receiving envoys from all directions. That’s no easier than going to war.”

“Oh, so that’s it.”

“You frightened your grandmother,” Old Madam Shen said, patting her chest in relief.

Shen Lanxi joked, “It seems family banquets like this should be held more often; otherwise everyone will think something has happened to me.”

The Shen family laughed in relief.

“Lanxi, tomorrow the envoys sent by the two rebels will appear in court. When they make trouble, how will you respond?” Zhou Xinrou suddenly asked.

Surprise flashed in everyone’s eyes. She was someone who rarely concerned herself with worldly matters, yet when she spoke, her words were astonishing.

“Soldiers come, generals block them; water comes, earth covers it,” Shen Lanxi replied.

“What if they mention the death of the former Crown Prince?” Zhou Xinrou continued.

Silence fell instantly.

Was such a thing even fit to be spoken aloud?

That was treason!

If envoys sent by rebels dared to speak of it, they would certainly lose their heads.

Even those who merely heard it might be silenced.

“Princess, mind your words,” Shen Congwen reminded sternly.

Zhou Xinrou looked calmly at Shen Lanxi, who suddenly let out a laugh.

“Then they must be mad. The rule of not executing envoys would have to be broken. Perhaps I really would have to go to the battlefield.”

Zhou Xinrou returned to her frail, sickly demeanor, as if the shocking words had never come from her mouth.

After the family banquet, some people left with troubled thoughts; others became thoroughly drunk, muttering nonsense.

Remembering something her mother had said, Shen Lanxi asked Wei Dongzhu to wait in the study while she went to see her mother.