RWNEFE -Chapter 649 Xiao Fang Seeks to Marry Liu Xian!

“Your Majesty, over the past few days the Shen family has sent out twenty-five carrier pigeons and six messenger hawks. They were all complaints from the children to their families.”

The pale-faced eunuch bent respectfully as he reported to Shen Lanxi.

“What are they saying about me?”

She was rarely this free and was quite willing to listen to the little brats’ grievances.

The eunuch took out a copied transcript and began reading them one by one.

“Shen Emei complains to Shen Yuanjing that no one at home is managing them. Grandfather drinks every day, Grandmother burns incense daily, Grandfather’s concubine keeps her courtyard gates shut and sees no one. The younger siblings only know how to cry and make noise. Shen Chengfeng contradicts her every day and behaves nothing like a younger brother.”

“In the last few examinations, Shen Chengfeng cheated, and the teacher favored him…”

“Shen Chengfeng complains to Shen Yuanxu that Shen Emei constantly makes things difficult for him. He says he beats Shen Emei in every exam.”

“Shen Peng didn’t complain. He only mentioned the matter of transferring from the Imperial Academy to a civilian academy.”

“Shen Ying…”

“Shen Ting…”

Shen Lanxi listened patiently to the end and offered no comment.

It was merely adjustment. At their age, apart from a bit of jealousy, they had not yet thought of harming anyone. That already meant they had been well educated.

“You’ve done well. Keep it up.”

The pale-faced eunuch immediately smiled and withdrew to the side.

This pale-faced eunuch was a descendant of Prince Li. After being cured, he had been sent to Shen Lanxi’s side to replace Wang Bao.

He considered himself nameless and had given himself the name “Nu’er,” but after two or three years in the palace, no one called him by it. Everyone simply called him “Gonggong.”

He understood his position clearly—he was His Majesty’s hound and hawk.

Every emperor had a eunuch who functioned like their right and left hand. He was that hand.

---

The heads of the Shen family had already selected schools for the children, naturally favoring their own kin with the better academies.

Unfortunately, all arrangements were overturned by a single imperial decree.

“His Majesty has entrusted the Ministry of Rites with assigning the academies. The arrangements are as follows.”

“Shen Emei and Shen Chengfeng—to enter Bailu Academy.”

“Shen Ying and Shen Peng—to enter Liufang Academy.”

“Shen…”

After the full list was read, the Shen family was stunned.

“Shouldn’t girls attend girls’ academies? How can they enter schools filled with boys?”

The pale-faced eunuch stared gloomily at Madam Liu.

“In one month’s time, there will no longer be girls’ academies in the capital. From now on, boys and girls will study together.”

“Do you have objections to His Majesty’s arrangement?”

Madam Liu looked terrified.

Objections?

How would she dare?

Boys and girls in the same academy? How could that work?

Wouldn’t that lead to chaos?

Seeing Madam Liu about to lose control of her tongue again, Shen Conglian quickly scolded her in a low voice.

“Say less. Even an imperial edict can’t seal your mouth?”

After the eunuch left, Shen Conglian reprimanded her again.

“If you can’t control yourself, you’ll spend an hour a day in the ancestral hall.”

Madam Liu looked as if the sky had collapsed.

The ancestral hall was filled with ancestral tablets. She would rather die than go there.

She still had nightmares every night about the Old Madam and the fourth branch of the family.

Especially the children of the fourth branch—all staring at her pitifully, reaching out, crying for her to save them.

She woke in fright every night. Without sleep at night, she had no energy by day. In recent days, she looked more haggard than when the Old Madam had died.

Her tears began flowing again.

“Cry, cry, cry—you do nothing but cry every day. Bad luck!”

Shen Conglian stormed off angrily.

Madam Miao was no better than Madam Liu. But unlike Madam Liu, who panicked and spoke recklessly, Miao was frightened into near muteness.

Whenever decisions had to be made, she became like a mute. She wanted to speak, but her mouth refused to cooperate.

“Second Brother, are we really letting the children go?” Shen Congli looked full of worry.

Shen Conglian sighed.

“What else can we do? Do you dare object?”

Who would dare? If anyone went, it should be him.

Wait—

“The eldest brother can’t be relied on. Let the Commandery Princess go.”

Shen Conglian curled his lip. “She’s no help either.”

Shen Congli began complaining again.

“It’s all the fourth brother’s fault. He insisted on courting death. We told him not to cause trouble, but he wouldn’t listen. Now we’re all implicated and no longer trusted.”

Shen Conglian tried to think positively.

“Not necessarily. His Majesty hasn’t punished the rest of the Shen family. She only dealt with those who sought their own ruin. As long as we behave ourselves, she won’t touch us.”

Shen Congli lowered his head, eyes flickering.

Who could predict the future?

---

The capital soon received urgent reports from Jinmen. Shen Lanxi ordered them read aloud in court.

“The remaining followers of Zhou Ruyuan have all been captured. Twenty-six diehards were executed. Six hundred surrendered. One thousand voluntarily surrendered. All have been dispersed to the northwest and southwest.”

“Since assuming office, the Governor of Jinmen has resettled refugees, persuaded pirates to become civilians, inspected islands, organized merchant ships, distributed land to the people, and arranged employment. A total of twenty-six thousand refugees and pirates have been fully resettled and registered.”

“The merchant fleet is nearing completion and will be operational within two months.”

“Governor Yuan Lang has established academies and medical clinics in Jinmen and is actively learning from neighboring cities. The garrison commander Xiao Fang has assisted him. One civil, one military—they cooperate seamlessly.”

“Commander Xiao Fang eliminated remaining pirate forces. Twenty-seven pirates who refused to surrender were executed; the rest submitted under pressure and did so willingly.”

“Xiao Fang has cleared fifty-seven islands of varying sizes, stationing troops on fifteen. He trains troops regularly and has begun mastering naval forces.”

“Xiao Fang proposes that in two months he will arrange a naval exercise, planning to hold such exercises at least twice yearly.”

“And furthermore—”

At this point, the pale-faced eunuch glanced at Liu Mingxin.

Liu Mingxin remained unaware.

“Read it,” Shen Lanxi ordered.

“Xiao Fang petitions to marry Liu Xian, daughter of Liu Mingxin. He kneels in supplication.”

Shen Lanxi: “…”

The officials: “…”

Liu Mingxin: “…” Furious.

What kind of thing was Xiao Fang, daring to seek his daughter’s hand?

His daughter possessed the talent of a top scholar. Even His Majesty had praised her as having the bearing of a future Grand Secretary. Xiao Fang, at best, was a rough military man.

Shen Lanxi watched as Liu Mingxin’s expression shifted from stunned to enraged and twisted.

“This… this Xiao Fang truly lacks sense!” Shen Lanxi scolded stiffly.

“How can such family matters be brought before the court? And included in official dispatches? This is simply nonsense!”

She had intended to ease the atmosphere and lower Liu Mingxin’s anger, but she had underestimated the fury of a father who cherished his daughter.

“Damn that Xiao Fang—he dares to coerce this old man!”

Shen Lanxi was dumbfounded. How had it become coercion?

“He can forget it! A toad lusting after a swan! I will never agree!” Liu Mingxin shouted, face flushed red, nearly jumping with rage.