RWNEFE -Chapter 676 Shen Emei Requests an Imperial Marriage

The other members of the Shen family were equally worried. Even though relations on the surface were merely polite, they still gathered to discuss going to the palace to visit Cheng Zheng.

While they were talking, Shen Conglian suddenly said, “If Cheng Zheng recovers this time, we should quickly arrange the family’s pending happy events, so that no further mishaps occur.”

Shen Yuanjing agreed with this, but Shen Yuanxu merely glanced at his father with an indifferent expression.

After the discussion ended, Madam Miao returned to her room and began to gloat.

“It hasn’t been long since Madam Liu and Madam Hu passed away, yet the second branch already can’t wait.”

Shen Congli’s hearing had grown worse and worse. Two months ago he could still hear a little; now, even if someone beat a gong beside his ear, he could not hear it.

Seeing Madam Miao’s gloating expression, he felt no interest in responding. With a cold face, he left the room.

Madam Miao immediately flew into a rage, smashing things in the room while cursing.

“There isn’t a single good man. The men of the Shen family—each one more ruthless than the last…”

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The next day, the Shen family submitted a memorial to the palace, listing those who wished to enter and visit Cheng Zheng.

Since they were visiting him, when the memorial was presented, Shen Lanxi directly had it sent to Cheng Zheng for his decision.

“Summon Ban Sicao to examine Attendant Cheng.”

Soon, a messenger hawk flew out of the imperial city.

Cheng Zheng understood the Emperor’s intention and did not go personally to seek her. Instead, he simply wrote the word “Approved.”

The Emperor clearly wanted him to decide such small matters himself; there was no need to take up her time.

After receiving the reply, the Shen family immediately began preparing gifts for the visit. Shen Yuanxu and Shen Yuanjing even requested leave from morning court to make arrangements.

At present, Shen Lanxi had only one consort—Cheng Zheng. If the Emperor had been male, Cheng Zheng would have been the Empress.

Unfortunately, the Emperor was a woman and had never granted Cheng Zheng a formal title beyond “Attendant.”

“Attendant Cheng, may you be well!”

The younger members of the Shen family had spent time around Cheng Zheng before. Especially the older youths—they regarded him almost as an uncle by marriage.

Cheng Zheng could not speak and lacked the strength to write. He simply raised his hand slightly in a gesture of acknowledgment.

The attendant beside him understood and conveyed his meaning: “Attendant Cheng asks you to rise.”

Since Shen Emei was a woman, there were more proprieties to observe. The men, such as Shen Chengfeng, had fewer restrictions.

They stepped forward one by one, holding Cheng Zheng’s hand, crowding around him and asking about his health with concern.

Seeing the fatigue deepen in Cheng Zheng’s expression, Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanxu sent the younger ones aside.

“Cheng Zheng, focus on recovering. You’ll get better soon,” Shen Yuanxu said, though his heart sank at Cheng Zheng’s unnatural complexion.

They had all endured exile together, and he had never imagined that among them, Cheng Zheng might be the first to depart.

Memories of their past days together surfaced in Shen Yuanxu’s mind as he looked at him.

“Cheng Zheng, His Majesty has already sent for Ban Sicao. The physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau are of little use—but Ban Sicao surely will help.”

“He is now unmatched in both medicine and poison. He will certainly cure you.”

Cheng Zheng nodded, still carrying a desire to live in his eyes.

He gripped Shen Yuanjing’s hand tightly, using what strength he had to show that he truly wished to keep living.

When an attendant brought medicine, the two brothers waited until Cheng Zheng finished drinking it and gradually fell asleep. Then, exchanging a silent signal, they led the family away.

Outside, Shen Yuanjing asked in a low voice, “Brother, will Cheng Zheng recover like this?”

Shen Yuanxu replied gravely, “Hard to say.”

Though unspoken, both of them already understood the answer.

Even if Cheng Zheng recovered this time, how long he could live afterward was uncertain.

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When others learned that the Shen family had gone to visit, memorials requesting permission to visit were submitted one after another.

Shen Lanxi had them all delivered to Cheng Zheng to decide—whether to see them or not was entirely up to him.

Those who submitted memorials were either his former colleagues, friends, or students.

To refuse them might leave regrets.

Fortunately, within a few days, Ban Sicao arrived, traveling day and night.

He did not wish to see Cheng Zheng’s gaunt face. He examined him while he slept, left behind a prescription, spoke briefly with Shen Lanxi, and then departed.

Every day he had to inspect and supervise the medical academies throughout Aolai, overseeing teaching and recruitment. He was so busy he wished he had eight hands and eight mouths to manage everything.

He had only managed to spare time to come because of his old comradeship with Cheng Zheng.

He cherished that comradeship—but he did not like treating his comrades as patients.

He did not want to become the one who saw them off on their final journey.

After taking Ban Sicao’s prescription, Cheng Zheng improved day by day.

One day, Shen Lanxi received a letter from Dongchuan. It contained only a few words:

Sang Guo has passed away.

She pressed the letter to the bottom of her desk and said nothing.

Cheng Zheng’s improvement delighted the Shen family the most.

One day, Shen Yuanjing saw Cheng Zheng in the palace personally bringing tea to the Emperor in the imperial study. The next day, he sought an audience to discuss Shen Emei’s marriage.

“Your Majesty, Emei has already reached marriageable age, yet no one has come to propose. I ask Your Majesty to select a suitable young talent in the capital and grant her a marriage.”

Shen Lanxi said, “Emei is nineteen now, isn’t she?”

Shen Yuanjing quickly nodded. “Your Majesty remembers exactly. Emei has grown into a fine young woman.”

In ordinary households, a girl of that age might already have two or three children.

Shen Lanxi asked, “Does Emei have someone in mind?”

“None,” Shen Yuanjing replied. “She has no thoughts of romance. She only wishes to pass the imperial examinations and serve Your Majesty.”

Unfortunately, no one in the Shen family excelled in scholarship, and their martial skills were insufficient to pass the military examinations.

After thinking for a moment, Shen Lanxi said, “Make a list of the unmarried young talents in the capital and let Emei choose. Whoever she selects, I will grant the marriage.”

But Shen Yuanjing had hoped that the Emperor herself would choose.

“Your Majesty, I have spent many years away from the capital and do not know its people or affairs. Emei is a young woman and would not inquire about men. As for our household—you know there is no mistress capable of managing such matters.”

Shen Lanxi looked at him. “You want me to make the choice personally?”

Shen Yuanjing nodded, as if steeling himself. “The person chosen by Your Majesty cannot be wrong. I beg Your Majesty to grant Emei a marriage.”

Shen Lanxi said, “What if the person I choose does not suit Emei’s wishes?”

“It will not be so,” Shen Yuanjing replied quickly. “Anyone chosen by Your Majesty must be outstanding.”

“Very well. You may go. Once I have selected someone, I will send word to the Shen family.”

Shen Yuanjing left the palace with his heart pounding and hurried home.

The Emperor’s authority grew greater by the day. Sometimes merely speaking with her felt like having a mountain pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Soon, a message arrived from the palace.

“The third son of the Vice Minister of Rites has just passed the provincial examination and has been appointed magistrate in Shan Province. He is handsome and of clean reputation.”

After speaking, the pale-faced eunuch glanced at Shen Emei, who frowned slightly, then continued: “Most importantly, he is three years younger than Shen Emei—at the very prime of youthful promise.”