RWNEFE -Chapter 503 Che Mingyuan, the Overworked Workhorse

“How dare you! Do you know who I am?” Shen Yuantang shouted angrily.

The residence guards replied, “We obey only the Regent’s orders. Anyone who tries to force entry will be treated as an assassin!”

Furious, Shen Yuantang raised her hand to slap them, but a long blade was instantly drawn to block her.

“You dare raise a hand against me?” Shen Yuantang was so startled that she quickly withdrew her hand.

Someone from the residence hurried back to report.

“The Old Madam has ordered that Miss Yuantang be allowed inside,” the steward came to announce.

Why provoke the guards? Even the masters of the residence did not lightly offend these soldiers stationed outside.

Shen Yuantang snorted coldly, glared fiercely at the guards, and strode inside.

“Grandmother, what is the meaning of those guards outside? They even tried to stop me from returning home!”

“Grandmother, tell Elder Sister to replace all of them with obedient ones.”

Old Madam Shen was playing with her great-grandson, and Shen Yuantang’s complaints immediately displeased her.

“The guards are here to protect everyone in the residence. The more capable they are, the better—it prevents petty thieves from sneaking in.”

Shen Yuantang’s face instantly darkened. Seeing that her grandmother’s attention was entirely on the child only made her angrier.

Her own son, Ze’er, had been about the same age. Why couldn’t her Ze’er be alive like this child?

The child ate so sweetly, with such a good appetite—if only that could have been her Ze’er…

Old Madam Shen looked up and saw the sinister look in Shen Yuantang’s eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately called out: “The young master must be sleepy. Take him back to his mother.”

A servant woman hurried over to carry the child away.

“Old Madam, the young master will come see you again after he wakes.”

Old Madam Shen was coaxed into a kindly smile, which Shen Yuantang found especially irritating.

“Grandmother, your great-grandson… is gone,” Shen Yuantang said, withdrawing her gaze and sitting down dejectedly.

Seeing her sorrowful expression, Old Madam Shen assumed she had been reminded of her own child by seeing the boy.

“You’re still young. You’ll have more children.”

Remembering the purpose of her visit, Shen Yuantang immediately said, “Someone in the prince’s residence poisoned my son, yet the prince covered it up hastily. It must have been that wretch Bai Qingling.”

Old Madam Shen grew angry upon hearing this.

“That wretch should never have been released. Curse that Prince of Zhen’nan—using military merit to exchange for her freedom. How did I never see before what a scoundrel he was?”

“Grandmother, it’s the prince who wronged me. You can’t just watch your granddaughter be bullied like this without justice!” Shen Yuantang’s tears fell in streams.

After a moment of silence, Old Madam Shen said, “This concerns the reputation of our Shen family. I will send someone to the palace to deliver a message to your elder sister.”

Shen Yuantang continued crying. “The prince must be afraid I’ll discover Bai Qingling is responsible. When he went to the Southwest, he even took that wretch with him!”

Old Madam Shen felt even more indignant on her granddaughter’s behalf.

“You should never have married Zhou Ruyuan in the first place. When he married your elder sister, he caused such an ugly scene over that woman, and now he still protects her. No matter how good a man like that may seem, he is not worth marrying.”

Clutching her grandmother’s hand, Shen Yuantang sobbed, “I already know I was wrong, but it’s too late to regret it. I’m not as capable as Elder Sister—she could divorce whenever she wished. She’s not afraid of gossip, but I am. I’m afraid of disgracing the Shen family.”

Old Madam Shen’s eyes turned cold, her expression hardening. “When you are outside, you represent the Shen family. How can you allow that wretch to bully you like this?”

Shen Yuantang cried, “That wretch forced Elder Sister out of her marriage back then, and now she’s killed my son. Grandmother, my suffering is unbearable!”

Seeing her granddaughter weeping uncontrollably, Old Madam Shen’s heart softened.

“After such an incident, the imperial family must give an explanation. At the very least, they should make you the principal wife.”

Shen Yuantang’s eyes lit up. She hastily wiped her tears.

“Grandmother, I will never disgrace the Shen family. When that wretch returns, I will surely avenge both Elder Sister and myself!”

—

When Shen Lanxi received the handwritten message from the residence, she let out a cold laugh and tossed it aside.

Recently, Che Mingyuan had been reviewing the handsome men recommended by various academies to the point of nausea. In court he was surrounded by officials; on his way home he constantly “happened” to run into handsome young men. Even when he went to the restroom at a tavern, several of them rushed forward to hand him paper.

If this went on, he would collapse before the candidates were even selected.

All of this was the Regent’s “excellent assignment.” With nowhere else to go, he came to her to hide and catch a breath.

“These are the portraits of handsome candidates submitted from below,” Che Mingyuan said, carrying a pile and setting it aside casually. Then he picked up the note Shen Lanxi had thrown to the floor.

“Wants to become the principal wife? That could be an opportunity,” he said, tossing the note back down.

Shen Lanxi lifted her eyes from the memorials and began unrolling the scrolls one by one.

“They all look about the same.”

“Didn’t I already tell you? You can decide.”

After looking at a few, Shen Lanxi tossed them aside, losing interest.

Che Mingyuan listed them as if reciting a catalogue: “Some were recommended by academies, some by officials, and others by clan families. None of them are easy to refuse.”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. “How many can’t be refused?”

Che Mingyuan thought for a moment. “At least thirty.”

“So many useless idlers?” Shen Lanxi asked.

Che Mingyuan chuckled. “They can’t pass the civil examinations, nor the military ones, and they don’t want to teach in academies. They’re hoping to use this mission to gain the title of envoy and pave the way for their future.”

Shen Lanxi frowned. “Can’t we just send them all?”

“There are too many,” Che Mingyuan replied helplessly.

After thinking for a moment, Shen Lanxi said, “Then pick the best among the worst—choose those who are clever, willing to humble themselves, good at pleasing women, and who have some talents.”

Che Mingyuan looked at her with a strange expression. The more he listened, the more it sounded like selecting contestants for a beauty pageant.

“Why are you looking at me? Just go and do it. Choose whoever you like. If their families try to bribe you, I permit you to accept it.”

Che Mingyuan: “…”

“Your servant will go handle it at once. I guarantee the delegation will be selected within two days!”

Shen Lanxi firmly believed that if you want a horse to run, you must feed it well. And if the horse drags its feet, it simply means the fodder isn’t enough.

After sending Che Mingyuan away, she bent down and picked up the note.

“The imperial family must give Shen Yuantang an explanation…”

An hour later, news that Shen Yuantang had gone to see Shen Lanxi reached Chaoyun Palace.

“Your Highness, Shen Yuantang may take the position of principal wife.”

Consort Shu was furious. “In her dreams! A woman whose engagement was once broken and who lost her chastity before marriage dares to covet the position of my son’s principal wife? She is of no help to my son. Granting her the rank of secondary wife was already an extraordinary favor.”

“Your Highness, her elder sister is the Regent. Could she bypass you and issue an imperial decree directly?”

Consort Shu snapped, “She wouldn’t dare. Dress me—I’m going to see His Majesty!”