RWNEFE -Chapter 577 The Zhang Family Files a Complaint Before the Emperor!

Shen Yuanhao was filled with shock. He had always believed that he and his wife loved each other deeply, that their marriage was harmonious, and that she got along with his family as if they were one household. He had never expected the reality to be like this.

The wife he had once chosen at a glance—innocent, kind, gentle, and lovely—had changed.

“Mother, I will go and investigate the truth,” he said.

As soon as he finished speaking, Madam Miao, afraid her son might delay, hurriedly urged, “Son, go now. Your mother would never lie to you.”

“I’m afraid that if you go too late, all the valuable things will have been sold off. You know, ChuChu is gone now, and no one is supporting the Zhang family anymore. Ever since Zhang ChuChu married into our family, they’ve been clinging to us, doing no work, living every day on ChuChu’s support.” She feared that if he delayed even a little, he would see nothing.

Shen Yuanhao was persuaded and immediately got up to go to the Zhang family.

“This is a matter of the Shen family. We can’t let Yuanhao handle it alone—we should all go together!” Shen Congyi said, and the family immediately agreed.

A group of them hurried off to the Zhang residence.

Three handwritten letters: one to die, one to remarry, one for the entire family to die.

Some members of the Shen family were very curious to see how Shen Yuanhao would choose. Judging from his current demeanor, it seemed he had already made up his mind.

But until the very last moment, no one could be certain.

A day later, Shen Yuanhao entered the palace to have an audience.

“Your Majesty, I have driven the Zhang family out of the capital,” Shen Yuanhao said, kneeling on the ground, looking as though he were waiting to be punished.

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Yuanhao is soft-hearted.”

Her words made Shen Yuanhao feel somewhat embarrassed.

“Your Majesty, I plan to depart in two days.” If he had not been a member of the Shen family, any other garrison commander wouldn’t have been able to return to the capital without imperial permission—not even if a spouse or both parents had died.

Shen Lanxi said, “Rise. I will not punish you. I already said those three handwritten letters were not imperial edicts—at most, they were merely suggestions.”

Shen Yuanhao felt even more ashamed. It was the first time he had not followed his elder sister’s advice and had acted on his own. He felt uneasy inside.

“Go back these two days and spend time with your child. When you leave, I will personally see you off.”

Shen Yuanhao hardly dared trouble her, yet he could not bring himself to refuse. This was a privilege granted only to members of the Shen family.

“I understand,” he said.

He hesitated, wanting to bring up the matter of adoption. His mother had repeatedly urged him on the way here, but he simply could not bring himself to say it.

“Elder Sister…”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. “We are siblings now. Say whatever you want.”

Shen Yuanhao clenched his teeth and said, “While I’m not in the capital, I trouble Elder Sister to look after the child.”

After saying this, he felt his face grow hot. His elder sister was the ruler of a nation, burdened daily with state affairs—how could she possibly have time to look after a child?

“All right.”

Shen Yuanhao’s eyes widened in disbelief, emotions surging in his heart, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.

“Elder Sister, the child hasn’t had a name since birth. Please give him one.”

Among the Shen family, it had become customary for the next generation’s children to be named by Shen Lanxi. Whenever a child was born, the news would be reported to her so she could bestow a name.

A name given by the ruler of a nation carried far more prestige and meaning than one given by family elders.

“Then call him Shen An,” Shen Lanxi said. “May he live his whole life in peace, free of calamity and illness.”

Joy spread across Shen Yuanhao’s face. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing the name!”

The joy of receiving the name eased much of Shen Yuanhao’s sorrow.

The past was like drifting clouds, gone in the blink of an eye. Life still had to go on, and everything had to move forward.

But unlike Shen Yuanhao, who had come to terms with things, the Zhang family fell into daily quarrels after being driven out of the capital.

“Shen Yuanhao is utterly heartless! Not only did he ruin my daughter’s reputation, he even drove us out of the capital!” Madam Zhang cried, covering her face.

Zhang Churan had never imagined that after successfully seducing him and with the Shen family already showing some response, things would end like this.

She had not eaten or drunk for two days, her mind constantly turning over the matter.

“No, we can’t just slink back to our hometown like this. My grandson is to be adopted as the Emperor’s prince. I am the prince’s maternal grandmother—who would dare touch me?”

“Mother, can you stop making trouble?” Zhang Churan’s sister-in-law looked haggard. In just two days, she seemed to have aged ten years.

“You ungrateful wretch, how dare you speak to me like that! I’ll have my son divorce you at once!” Madam Zhang pointed at her in grief and anger.

The sister-in-law recalled the day the Shen family had kicked in their door; even now she still felt lingering fear.

“The Shen family is determined to send us away. At least they didn’t take back what they had previously given us, and they even allowed us to sell the house and belongings before returning home. If you keep making trouble, Mother, I’m afraid we’ll suffer worse consequences.”

Instead of persuading Madam Zhang, her words only brought a torrent of abuse.

“You traitor, siding with outsiders!”

“What benefits did the Shen family give you to make you defend them like this? Get out! From now on, you’re no longer part of this family!”

“Son, hitch up the carriage. We’re going to the palace gates to file a complaint before the Emperor.”

The rest of the Zhang family stared wide-eyed; none of them dared go.

Seeing no one move, Madam Zhang began throwing a tantrum.

“I only have Churan left now. If she gains a good future, she’ll naturally help all of you.”

“Have you forgotten how your good life came about? Without my daughter, you’d still be farming in the northwest!”

“Eldest son, you wretched thing—you’ve taken all the benefits in this family. If you don’t go hitch the carriage, I’ll report you to the authorities for unfilial conduct!”

The Zhang family could neither outargue Madam Zhang nor entirely resist her persuasion. In the end, they prepared the carriage, laid out quilts, and brought Zhang Churan along.

“Eldest daughter-in-law, why aren’t you getting on the carriage?”

Zhang Churan’s sister-in-law’s eyes flickered. “I’ll stay and watch the children and the valuables, in case someone steals them.”

Madam Zhang snorted. “Just as well. If you went, you’d only make things worse.”

The sister-in-law lowered her head meekly, looking humiliated.

But as soon as the carriage left, she immediately shut the main gate tightly.

When the Shen family had come kicking in the door that day, could His Majesty really have been unaware? With the sudden change in attitude before and after, she did not believe there was no hidden scheme behind it.

While the Shen family was packing Shen Yuanhao’s luggage, someone from the palace arrived.

“General Shen, come quickly with me. Your in-laws are kneeling at the palace gates, filing a complaint before the Emperor.”

For a moment, the Shen family could hardly react.

“You mean the Zhang family?”

The imperial guard replied, “Yes—the in-laws of General Shen Yuanhao.”

After the shock, the Shen family burst into angry curses.

“We spared their lives and they’re still not satisfied—they even dare to accuse us?”

“We shouldn’t have been soft-hearted and let them go in the first place.”

“Son, remember this. If you ever encounter such a situation again, don’t be soft-hearted. Spare them, and they’ll turn around and bite you.”

Everyone in the Shen family wanted to go and see what was happening, but there were only three carriages at home.

Old Madam Shen volunteered not to go, and Zhou Xinrou also declined, citing the need to manage household affairs.

“Eldest, second, third, fourth—you’re no longer young. If something like this happens again in the future, you should handle it yourselves.”