RWNEFE -Chapter 579 The Zhang Family and Shen Yuanhao Confront Each Other Face to Face

“I’ll finish your sentence for you,” Shen Lanxi said calmly.

“It cannot be that just because he bears the surname Shen, I would shield him!”

Madam Zhang trembled at the sarcasm, unease rising in her heart.

With so many civil and military officials watching, if Shen Lanxi openly helped her own brother, she would certainly be criticized.

She wouldn’t dare!

Even for the sake of appearances, she would have to make Shen Yuanhao marry her daughter.

So there was nothing to fear!

“Your Majesty is wise. That is not what this humble woman meant. I came today only to ask Your Majesty to uphold justice for my family—and for my daughter.”

After all, the child to be adopted by the Emperor’s prince would carry half of the Zhang family’s blood. She did not believe the Emperor would truly act against them.

Shen Lanxi ignored Madam Zhang and said, “Dali Temple, Ministry of Justice—continue.”

The Ministry of Justice official spoke: “Zhang Churan, explain in detail how the events of that day occurred.”

Zhang Churan felt mortified.

She was an unmarried young woman—how could she possibly describe such things aloud? Once others heard it, what would become of her reputation?

“Zhang Churan, do not think that if you remain silent we have no way to proceed,” the official said coldly. “If you will not speak, we will question the Shen family instead. The incident happened in the Shen residence; surely many people there saw something.”

Madam Zhang immediately objected.

“Daughter, speak. What if their own people help their own side?” she urged, pushing her.

Zhang Churan felt even more humiliated. Having eaten nothing for two days, she lacked even the strength to resist.

“The incident happened on the day after my sister’s funeral. That day my brother-in-law drank a great deal of wine.”

Shen Yuanhao immediately refuted, “I was grieving and took a bottle of wine, but I only drank a few mouthfuls.”

The Ministry of Justice official said, “General Shen, I have not yet questioned you. Please wait to answer.”

Seeing the official interrupt Shen Yuanhao, the Zhang family secretly rejoiced.

It seemed the Ministry was on their side.

Zhang Churan began to sob.

“I saw my brother-in-law grieving and drinking so much wine. I was afraid he would harm himself, so I went forward to persuade him. I never expected…” Her sobbing grew louder.

The presiding official frowned. “Speak properly. You may cry after you finish. If you cannot speak, we will question the Shen family instead.”

Zhang Churan’s face changed, and the Zhang family’s hearts sank.

With no other choice, Zhang Churan steeled herself.

“My brother-in-law mistook me for my sister. My sister and I look somewhat alike; many people have said not only our faces but even our figures are similar. Perhaps that is why he made the mistake.”

“My brother-in-law is a military man. I am a weak woman—how could I possibly resist him?”

An official from the Dali Temple said, “You could have cried for help.”

Zhang Churan fell silent.

The Zhang family also fell silent.

The official continued, “You yourself said this occurred the day after the funeral. Presumably everyone in the Shen household was present. If you had cried out, many would have heard. Why did you not call for help?”

Zhang Churan quickly responded, hesitating as she spoke, “My lord, I am a woman. My reputation is more important than life itself. If I had cried out, how would people have looked at me afterward?”

The Ministry of Justice official replied, “If that is so, you should have concealed the matter afterward. Yet you did not.”

The Zhang family looked uncomfortable.

“That was because… because at first I saw my brother-in-law grieving for my elder sister and felt sorry for him,” Zhang Churan said weakly. “My lords all know that women are soft-hearted by nature.”

Several officials twitched at the corners of their mouths. If you have no shame yourself, why drag everyone else into it?

Besides, not all women were soft-hearted. There was no need to explain—Zhang Churan would soon experience that herself.

The Dali Temple official asked, “Then why did you later make the matter public?”

Zhang Churan lowered her head, hurriedly thinking of an explanation.

Madam Zhang spoke instead, her tone aggressive.

“Of course it was because I learned my daughter had been wronged. Such a great loss cannot simply be endured.”

“There is no mother in the world who can watch her daughter be bullied and do nothing.”

“My lords, consider this—if your own daughters were wronged, would you swallow your anger or seek justice?”

The Dali Temple official said evenly, “So your family went to the Shen household.”

“Yes,” Madam Zhang answered.

The Ministry of Justice asked, “What compensation did you want from the Shen family?”

Madam Zhang blurted out, “Naturally, for him to marry my daughter.” Only after speaking did she realize she had answered too quickly, and she hurriedly lowered her head.

The Dali Temple official said, “Do you know that His Majesty previously issued an edict requiring the men of the Shen family to observe three years of mourning after the death of a wife?”

Before Madam Zhang could answer, the Ministry of Justice official spoke first:

“I have heard that when Zhang Chuchu died, His Majesty was present at the Shen residence. As relatives, you must have been there as well. His Majesty’s words are law—you could not possibly have failed to hear them.”

What could the Zhang family say?

If they claimed they had not heard, it would be defying an imperial edict.

If they admitted they had heard, then demanding that Shen Yuanhao remarry would also be defying the edict.

Cold sweat streamed down their backs.

Only now did they understand why the Shen family had driven them out of the capital—but it was already too late.

All the Zhang family members shrank together, wishing they could disappear into the ground.

Liu Yanhui said lightly, “It seems the matter is already quite clear.”

The Dali Temple official replied, “Some details still need clarification.” The Shen family had not yet been fully questioned, and everything needed to be examined thoroughly—so no one could later seize the opportunity to tarnish the Emperor’s reputation.

“General Shen,” he continued, “how did you determine that the Zhang family drugged you?”

Shen Yuanhao had long considered this question and answered smoothly:

“That day I did take some wine, but only two mouthfuls. Military regulations forbid drinking, and over time I have formed the habit of not drinking much—even in grief.”

After saying this, he added firmly, “After this incident, I swear never to drink again in my life!”

A murmur spread among the officials.

For a man to abstain from alcohol required considerable willpower.

The Ministry of Justice asked, “Was the wine examined to confirm that it had been drugged?”

Shen Yuanhao froze, then explained awkwardly, “No examination was made. I was somewhat flustered at the time and did not think of it.”

The Dali Temple official asked, “Describe in detail the symptoms you experienced after drinking.”

Shen Yuanhao thought carefully. “I felt dizzy, somewhat nauseated, and a little sleepy.”

The Dali Temple official: “…”

The Ministry of Justice official asked, “And then?”

“Then I remember nothing,” Shen Yuanhao replied.

A court physician who had already been summoned stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, from General Shen’s description, this does not sound like the effects of a drug. It sounds more like… intoxication.”

The officials fell silent.

The way they looked at Shen Yuanhao changed.

No wonder he had sworn never to drink again—with such tolerance, he might as well give up alcohol entirely!

Shen Yuanhao himself was stunned.

He?

A grown man, drunk after only two sips?

He would rather believe he had been drugged!

Soft laughter sounded.

“If we wish to know Shen Yuanhao’s drinking capacity, what could be easier?”

The officials: “…”

Surely not…

Oh yes.

Shen Lanxi smiled and said, “Bring wine. Let him drink it here, in front of Zhang Churan.”