RWNEFE -Chapter 603 Interrogating Shen Yuantang

“Did she force you?”

“Although your father no longer holds official rank, I will never let my daughter go to her death!”

“Yuantang, come with me to the palace right now. Even if I must risk my life, I won’t let her send you off for a marriage alliance!”

The more Shen Congwen thought about it, the angrier he became. He had tolerated his eldest daughter for long enough.

No matter what she did outside, no one was allowed to touch the people of this household.

He walked a few steps, then turned back when he saw his daughter standing still.

“Yuantang, come!”

Shen Yuantang did not move.

“Father, there’s no need to go to the palace. I volunteered to go for the marriage alliance.”

The couple from the second branch looked stunned. Wasn’t the marriage alliance just an excuse for the Princess to release her? How had it suddenly become real?

“Yuantang, this isn’t something to joke about. This is a serious matter!” Shen Conglian warned.

“I’m not joking,” Shen Yuantang replied. “Since Elder Sister has become emperor, the daughters of our family are all imperial relatives. If we enjoy this honor, we must also bear the weight that comes with it.”

The words sounded noble, but—

“Have you lost your mind?” Shen Congwen roared.

“The Turks are barbaric—raw flesh and blood, killing without blinking. Do you think you’ll live well there?”

His fury surged; he wished he could shout her into her senses.

“My mind is made up.”

Shen Conglian said, “Yuantang, do you know we are about to go to war with the Turks?”

Of course she knew. But she did not believe war would truly break out.

“Jinmen is watching like a tiger. If war starts, they’ll definitely take advantage of the chaos.”

That was precisely why her role as marriage-alliance princess was crucial.

As long as she went to the Turks, war could be avoided. Then both the people of Great Zhou and the Turks would sing her praises.

“You know this, and you still want to go?” Shen Congwen wished he could pry open her skull to see what was inside.

“Father, my mind is made up. Please stop trying to persuade me.”

“You chose this path yourself. No one will stop you.”

Shen Lanxi’s voice rang out, and she stepped into view before the Shen family.

“Your Majesty, why are you here?”

“Why wasn’t anyone informed so we could receive you properly?”

Shen Lanxi removed her cloak and casually tossed it to an attendant.

“I came in plain clothes this time. I didn’t want outsiders to know.”

The Shen family exchanged confused looks. What did she mean?

“I came today to eliminate a hidden threat in this household. If word got out, it would damage the Shen family’s reputation.”

Eliminate a threat?

They couldn’t understand.

Imperial guards placed several lotus pods on the table.

The moment Shen Yuantang saw them, her face turned deathly pale.

“All irrelevant people, leave.”

Maids, servants, and the guards who had accompanied Shen Lanxi all withdrew.

The solemn atmosphere made everyone in the Shen family nervous.

“Your Majesty, what’s going on?”

They had been behaving impeccably lately—daring not to do anything wrong.

Even buying candied hawthorn from a street vendor, they paid in full. Drinking at a tavern, they didn’t dare take even a small dish or jug of wine on credit.

They looked at one another suspiciously.

“Why are you looking at me? I’ve been staying home and going nowhere!” Shen Congyi explained guiltily.

“Don’t look at me. I’ve only gone out to meet friends, nothing else.”

Madam Liu was terrified.

“I’ve been busy purchasing supplies and seeing my daughter-in-law off. I always pay immediately, never put anything on account.”

“I haven’t shown off outside either. You can ask my maids—they can testify!”

They truly didn’t dare misbehave.

“It’s not you,” Shen Lanxi said coldly.

They all let out a breath.

“If not us, then who?”

“We’ve been honest and law-abiding,” Madam Liu insisted.

Shen Lanxi’s gaze settled on Shen Yuantang.

“Will you speak, or shall I have the household guards speak?”

Several pairs of eyes turned toward Shen Yuantang.

“Yuantang, what have you done?”

“You can’t harm the family!”

“Yuantang, speak!”

Madam Liu and Madam Miao urged her repeatedly. Shen Yuantang was growing impatient.

“I’ve done nothing wrong. There’s nothing to say.”

Shen Lanxi looked at her pale yet stubborn face, her patience gone.

“Why did you sprinkle lead powder onto the lotus pods?”

The elders of the Shen family looked bewildered.

“What’s lead powder?”

“Isn’t lead powder something used to whiten the face?”

“If His Majesty says so, then it must not be good.”

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “Too much lead powder will kill. Even small amounts entering the body continuously will cause gradual weakness, and in the end—death.”

The family’s expressions changed instantly. A moment ago they had been worried for Shen Yuantang; now they looked at her with suspicion.

“Yuantang… you wouldn’t, would you?”

“We’re your family. You wouldn’t harm us, right?”

“Yuantang, say something!”

Her face was white as paper. She absolutely could not bear the charge of harming her own family. Given Shen Lanxi’s temperament, it would cost her life.

“Elder Sister, you are now the supreme ruler. Naturally your words carry absolute authority—no one dares contradict you.”

“But I cannot accept the charge of harming my family. If you must accuse me, then please give me another crime.”

The Shen family was confused. Had she poisoned them or not?

Two plates of lotus-seed cakes were brought in and set on the table.

Shen Lanxi did not immediately condemn her.

“Since you didn’t do it, then eat these two plates.”

Shen Yuantang’s expression shifted, her eyes flickering.

“Your Majesty, I know I have made many mistakes before. If you wish to punish me, I won’t protest.”

“I only ask that, for the sake of our sisterhood, you do not doubt my intentions toward our family again.”

With that, she walked straight to the table and gave her family a long, aggrieved look.

The sweet lotus-seed cake entered her mouth. A faint smile curved her lips.

Even if she ate both plates, nothing would happen.

She chewed twice—then her face suddenly changed.

She lowered her head to look at the cake in her hand.

Why was it black inside?

The amount of lead powder she had sprinkled, even if dissolved in water, would only have tinted the lotus pods a dark green—not this ink-black color.

“Eat. Why have you stopped?” Shen Lanxi’s cold voice rang out.

Shen Yuantang’s hand froze. She immediately understood—these cakes had not been made by the household cook.

“Why is it black inside? Has it spoiled?”

The cook, waiting nearby, answered, “No, these two plates were freshly made.”

Shen Yuantang’s lips stiffened, her eyes turning venomous.

“Why aren’t you eating? Do you know there’s poison in the lotus-seed cakes, and that they can’t be eaten?” Shen Lanxi watched to see how she would struggle.

“No… I’ve simply never seen lotus-seed cakes like this before.”