RWNEFE -Chapter 535 Only Three People of the Shen Family Were Left Out!

Compared with the position of Grand Scholar of the Inner Cabinet—which ranked just below the Chancellor—Liu Mingxin cared far more about compiling the Complete Treasury of the Prefecture.

Once the compilation was completed, it would be a meritorious deed that benefited generations to come. At that time, everyone would know his name. Liu Mingxin would leave his reputation to history.

“This old minister thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace!”

Shen Lanxi then conferred titles upon many other officials. After reviewing the imposing Imperial Guards and the city defense army, the enthronement ceremony gradually came to an end.

Quite a few people felt that something was missing. Their gazes fell upon the Shen family’s sons, clad in armor and looking imposing, and suddenly they realized what it was.

Shen Lanxi had not conferred titles upon her parents, nor had the Old Madam Shen been mentioned.

All the civil and military officials had been granted titles—how could such three important people in her own family be forgotten?

Surely they were being saved for last, to show special solemnity.

They waited and waited, but even when Wang Bao loudly announced that the enthronement ceremony was over, nothing came.

Could it be that an imperial decree would be read at the Shen residence instead?

That would also be acceptable. Though not as grand as proclaiming it during the ceremony, there would be nothing improper about delivering the decree directly to the Shen family.

Those who were paying close attention waited again and again. Even at court the next day, no news came.

What exactly was Shen Lanxi thinking?

…

The Shen family themselves also wanted to know what she was thinking.

“Eldest son, could Lanxi be so busy that she forgot about us?”

Since the late emperor’s death, Shen Lanxi had not returned to the residence.

For a time, the Old Madam Shen did not dare speculate recklessly and had a servant quietly summon her eldest son.

What could Shen Congwen possibly say?

His daughter had rebelled and become emperor. Just thinking about it made him too ashamed to face anyone.

Even if someone begged him to attend court now, he would have no face to go.

What could be more humiliating than having one’s own daughter branded a calamity-bringing usurper?

Shen Congwen felt not only shaken but also believed Shen Lanxi had gone mad.

“Mother, it’s actually a good thing that Shen Lanxi didn’t summon us. I heard that before the enthronement ceremony began, they were still washing the ground at the palace gates. They killed people all night—blood flowed like rivers. Just cleaning the ground took several hours. Shen Lanxi has gone mad; we mustn’t get implicated,” Shen Congwen said in a low, cautious voice.

In the past, the Old Madam Shen had many reservations. But now her granddaughter was emperor—what did she still have to fear?

She did not want to keep hiding and staying shut indoors, letting the noblewomen of the capital laugh at her.

“That must be false. Such an important ceremony—how could there be bloodshed?” She refused to believe it.

Shen Congwen cautiously glanced around. “Mother, it’s true. The men I sent to gather information returned with updates every hour. Last night Shen Lanxi killed Prince Ping, Prince Ji, Prince Jin, and Prince Gong. Not a single one of their families was spared—not even infants still crying for milk!”

Just recalling the scene made a chill seep into his bones.

Shen Lanxi would show no mercy even to him, her own father—let alone unrelated people.

The Old Madam Shen’s heart began pounding in fear.

“She… she could really bring herself to do that?”

Shen Congwen nodded fearfully. “If you don’t believe it, go see in a few days. The four princely residences will surely be completely empty.”

She had no intention of going. At her age, she dared not witness such ominous sights.

“If Lanxi doesn’t make her position clear about us, outsiders will certainly mock us,” the Old Madam Shen said. Now that they were part of the imperial family, she still wanted to go out more often and socialize.

Seeing that he could not persuade her, Shen Congwen said no more. Soon the Shen family’s younger men would be returning.

After the grand investitures, Shen Lanxi once again immersed herself in state affairs.

Shen Yuanjing had finally managed to return to the capital under the pretext of the enthronement ceremony and naturally wanted to hurry home to see his family.

The other sons of the Shen family felt the same.

After bidding farewell to Wei Dongzhu, they hurried back.

Wei Dongzhu, returning from the palace gates, passed by two Imperial Guards whispering to each other.

“Everyone has been granted titles—only General Wei was left out. What is His Majesty thinking?”

“Could it be that His Majesty plans to follow the example of emperors of old and marry General Wei?”

A muffled burst of laughter followed. Wei Dongzhu did not grow angry; he simply stood aside and quietly listened to the whispers.

“It wouldn’t be bad if she married General Wei—just a bit of a pity.”

“What’s there to pity? That position is second only to the emperor. Others couldn’t even dream of it.”

“I pity the Wei family army. There would be no successor.”

The smile on Wei Dongzhu’s face gradually faded, and he walked away with heavy steps.

The citizens of the capital waited one day, two days, three days… ten days—and still no investiture for the Shen family came.

Many gossips began whispering.

“Even if His Majesty is busy, could she forget something like this?”

“I don’t think so. There must be some reason.”

“Didn’t His Majesty already grant titles to the Shen family’s sons? That means she didn’t forget the Shen family—she deliberately chose not to confer titles on some of them.”

“What reason could make His Majesty treat the Shen family this way?”

“Our emperor is someone who clearly distinguishes gratitude and grudges. The Shen family must have done something she disliked.”

Shen Lanxi no longer lived at the Shen residence. The plaque of the former Regent Prince’s Mansion had already been replaced with one reading Shen Residence. This was proposed by the Directorate of Ceremonial, whose original reasoning was to avoid any possible offense.

The status of the Son of Heaven was paramount. The Astronomical Bureau immediately calculated an auspicious date and, after consulting the National Preceptor, quickly selected a suitable time to replace the plaque.

The mansion guards were withdrawn, and many items that exceeded proper regulations were also put away. Of course, they were stored in the Shen family’s warehouses—after all, Shen Lanxi was still a member of the Shen family, and confiscating them outright would have been too disrespectful.

But even stored in the Shen family’s warehouses, those items could not be used. From now on, they had only one purpose: to sit there and gather dust.

With the guards gone, the gates of the residence were opened wide. Within a few days, the place was bustling with visitors.

The Shen family’s sons had all received titles; hosting banquets for guests at home was not excessive.

Among the brothers of the Cong generation, only Shen Congwen was unhappy.

By rights, with his status, he should at least have been the Retired Emperor. Yet now he could not even set foot in the court.

His mother should have been the Grand Empress Dowager, yet she too was so apprehensive that she hardly dared step outside.

Several of his brothers held military posts; not a single one of the younger generation had taken the imperial examinations—they had all become rough soldiers heading to the battlefield.

Did they not realize that once an era of peace arrived, the birds would be gone and the good bows put away? What future would generals have then?

Only through the civil examinations could one go far in officialdom.

“Elder Brother, on such a joyous day, why are you frowning?” Shen Conglian staggered over, drunk.

Shen Congwen was already tired of dealing with them. They had been drinking for days.

Since the enthronement ceremony, they had been drinking for more than ten days and still had not had enough.

“Elder Brother, His Majesty just sent many fine things again. Come take a look and divide them up!” Shen Congli was also thoroughly drunk.

Shen Congwen shot the two brothers an annoyed glance. In the entire Shen family, only he cared about the family’s future.

“Elder Brother…”

Another drunkard came over.

“I’m not drinking. You go ahead. The whole house reeks of wine—it’s like a vat of liquor has been smashed, the air full of fermented mash.”

Irritated, Shen Congwen turned and went into the inner courtyard.