RWNEFE -Chapter 449 Shen Shuniang and Shen Huiniang Are Driven Out of the Duke Protector’s Residence

Shen Shuniang immediately retorted, “Lanxi, your grandmother and father, the elders of the family, haven’t said anything. How can you be so overbearing?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Because the Duke Protector’s residence was bestowed on me by His Majesty. Even Grandmother and Father don’t have the final say here!”

Shen Shuniang said angrily, “Lanxi, we are blood relatives. Aren’t you afraid people will call you cold and heartless for being so calculating?”

Shen Lanxi looked at her with amusement. “When the Shen family fell into trouble, who was the first to send a letter severing ties? Grandmother may be old and forgetful, but I remember. Since you insist on talking about blood ties, then let’s settle it properly.”

“Chunxue, take that document of severance to the Court of Judicial Review and ask whether it is legally valid.”

Old Madam Shen stopped listening and looked at Chunxue in panic.

Wasn’t that document lost during the exile?

How had it ended up in Shen Lanxi’s hands?

Shen Shuniang and Shen Huiniang felt as if they had been slapped twice—both angry and embarrassed.

“That was only a temporary measure to preserve the family bloodline,” Shen Shuniang argued. “Didn’t your father also identify his concubine back then and send her into exile together?”

She tried to drag Liang Xinyi and her child into the matter as well.

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “They are them; you are you.”

“We didn’t even know of their existence before. When the Shen family fell, they never sent a letter severing ties.”

“You are different. You’ve always eaten and lived off the Shen family, enjoying a comfortable life because of us. But the moment the Shen family met with disaster, you turned your backs. You even had time to send a severance letter, yet not enough time to prepare silver, clothes, or provisions for the family. When you first arrived, I didn’t have you thrown out only out of respect for Grandmother and Father.”

“Now you’re pushing your luck. Don’t blame me if I tear off your mask and let the younger generation see whether you are human beings—or parasites clinging to the Shen family, trying to keep feeding off it!”

Shen Shuniang shouted, “We are your aunts!”

Shen Lanxi sneered. “Then ask everyone in this household—who here truly regards you as an aunt? Do you even deserve it?”

Although the words were directed at Shen Shuniang, Shen Huiniang knew they applied to her as well.

Back then, the severance letter had been a last resort. Now everything was fine again—
Why was Shen Lanxi still holding onto it?

“Shen Lanxi, how have you become like this? What about the palace etiquette you learned?” Shen Shuniang had completely forgotten her mother’s earlier warnings and only wanted to regain face in front of the younger generation.

Shen Lanxi mocked, “Those who know understand that you are aunts who have already severed ties. Those who don’t might think you’ve come here to occupy someone else’s nest.”

“Lanxi…” Old Madam Shen finally couldn’t bear to listen any longer. “If outsiders hear our family arguing like this, who knows what they’ll say about us?”

Old Madam Shen had always cared deeply about face; otherwise, she wouldn’t have endured silently until now.

“Mother, if outsiders learn that Lanxi treats her elders like this, let’s see whether she can still stand firm in the court!” Shen Shuniang said with a cold smile, thinking she had seized Shen Lanxi’s weakness.

Shen Lanxi sighed, speaking earnestly. “Grandmother, it’s not that I refuse to give Aunt face. The problem is that she shows none of the behavior of an aunt. She comes as a guest yet has no sense of being one, even trying to arrange matters for the host family. Next, will she start interfering in household affairs over the heads of the family?”

“Lanxi, no—your aunts just feel too at home here,” Old Madam Shen hurriedly explained.

Shen Lanxi replied, “Grandmother, say no more. I’m already walking on thin ice at court. I don’t want anyone at home dragging me down.”

Old Madam Shen’s face changed. Did this mean there was no room for compromise at all?

“Lanxi, just this once. Grandmother promises they won’t cause any more trouble.”

Shen Lanxi raised her voice. “Men!”

“Escort the two guests of this residence out of the Duke Protector’s mansion!”

Shen Huiniang hurriedly stood up. “Lanxi, it’s your Fifth Aunt who’s been causing trouble—it has nothing to do with me!”

Shen Shuniang glared at her sixth sister. They had clearly agreed beforehand that one would play the good cop and the other the bad cop. Now that Shen Lanxi was angry, was she to bear all the blame alone?

“Lanxi—”

“Shen Lanxi! If you dare throw us out today, tomorrow court officials will impeach you for disrespecting your elders. The present emperor rules the realm through filial piety. If you commit such unfilial acts, even with His Majesty’s favor, you won’t be spared lightly!”

Shen Lanxi sat quietly where she was.

The mansion guards, hearing no order to stop, firmly carried out her command—
to have the two guests move out.

“Shen Lanxi, how dare you!”

“Who dares touch our belongings—”

When Shen Shuniang saw the guards throwing their things outside, she panicked and screamed, rushing forward.

Old Madam Shen’s face turned ashen, as if she were about to faint.

“If I can’t deal with you, I’ll go find your father and mother…” Shen Shuniang shouted loudly outside.

With the guards blocking the way, no one could get near Shen Lanxi.

Having resolved the two hidden troubles in the household, Shen Lanxi had no interest in staying any longer.

After returning to her room, someone immediately reported the root of the farce to her.

“Shen Shuniang’s son was probably advised by Zhou Yunsui.”

Shen Lanxi said, “I always thought women shouldn’t make things difficult for other women. Now it seems I was naïve.”

“Since Zhou Yunsui is so active, find something for her to do.”

After receiving Shen Lanxi’s instructions, the shadow guard thought he had misheard and asked again before finally believing his ears.

Meanwhile, there was great commotion in Old Madam Shen’s courtyard—shouting, crying, angry curses, and the clatter of things being moved all blended together.

No matter how Shen Shuniang and Shen Huiniang protested, all their belongings were thrown out in front of the Duke Protector’s residence. Soon after, they and their children were also driven out.

Old Madam Shen beat her legs and wailed about her misfortune. The three daughters-in-law wanted to comfort her but didn’t dare speak loudly, afraid their voices might reach Shen Lanxi and bring trouble upon themselves.

In recent days, they had all heard about the storms in the capital. Shen Lanxi was both at the height of her influence and standing on the edge of danger.

One wrong step could lead them down the same road as before—they had no wish to court disaster.

Shen Congwen stormed off in anger to confront Shen Lanxi, but before he could see her, he was stopped by the guards at the gate.

“My lord is discussing official matters. Unauthorized persons must leave at once.”

Shen Congwen was nearly furious enough to faint. He was a high-ranking official himself—what could he possibly be forbidden to hear?

In his mind, Shen Lanxi was just wielding borrowed authority. Back when he worked in the Ministry of Revenue and was extremely busy, he had never brought official work home.

She was only showing off her current power, letting the entire Shen family know that they now depended on her.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he began shouting loudly at the gate.

“My lord, shall we deal with him?” someone asked.

A flash passed through Shen Lanxi’s eyes. “No need. Let him shout.”

Not long after, an old servant woman from the main branch arrived.

“My lord, the Princess wishes to see you.”

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over Shen Congwen—he immediately sobered up.