RWNEFE -Chapter 685 The Shen Family Splits!

“You must be disappointed. I am Shen Lanxi. And you are…?” Shen Lanxi deliberately asked.

Shen Yuantang stared in disbelief at the woman before her, who looked barely in her thirties. The face was Shen Lanxi’s—and so was the voice.

She… she really was Shen Lanxi.

“Big sister, I’m Yuantang, Shen Yuantang. I’m your biological younger sister!”

Shen Lanxi said coldly, “How dare you impersonate my sister.”

Shen Yuantang trembled at the scolding. What did this mean? She wasn’t going to acknowledge her?

“I am Shen Yuantang. If my brothers find out you tried to kill me, they would never let you live!”

Wei Dongzhuo said, “Impudent! Even at the brink of death, you still speak arrogantly. You, a Xiongnu, dare to impersonate Her Majesty’s sister for your life—deserving of death.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, kill her.”

“The Xiongnu are cunning and treacherous; they must not be spared.”

“Your Majesty, I have confirmed it—this person is the Xiongnu Empress Dowager. She incited the Xiongnu to betray our Aolai Kingdom.”

Hearing so many voices calling for her death, Shen Yuantang panicked.

“I am Shen Yuantang, a member of the Shen family. Dare touch me and see what happens! I am a princess married for alliance. I married the Xiongnu to secure peace for Dazhou. I am a merit-worthy person!”

“Shen Lanxi, if you dare kill me, the Shen family will never forgive you.”

Wei Dongzhuo said, “Take her away and deal with her along with the rebellious foreigners.”

The soldiers, seeing that Her Majesty did not intervene, immediately obeyed.

After a while, Shen Lanxi spoke: “In the future, if any traitor dares impersonate my family, they shall be executed without mercy, just like today!”

“Yes!”

Ten days later, all remaining Xiongnu were annihilated.

“Your Majesty, what shall we do with the Xiongnu civilians who did not participate in the rebellion?”

Shen Lanxi glanced at the speaker. “Xiongnu civilians? There are none. There are only subjects of our Aolai Kingdom.”

The speaker understood: under another emperor, this would have been used as an excuse to wipe out the Xiongnu entirely.

Her Majesty, though firm, was a wise and benevolent ruler.

…

News of Her Majesty’s victory in person quickly reached the capital. Along with it came accounts of her bravery and battle record.

“If Her Majesty had not already ascended the throne, the world would surely have crowned her as a War God.”

“This is what a true War God looks like. The previous one was a false War God.”

It had been a long time since anyone remembered Zhou Ruyuan. The title of War God reminded everyone of the one who mistook fool’s pearls for real ones.

In the end, people would sigh, saying, “Zhou Ruyuan has eyes but sees nothing. Zhou Ruyuan was foolish.”

The Northwest was again garrisoned with generals. Wei Dongzhuo and his son returned to the capital with the expeditionary army.

But just before reaching the capital, Wei Dongzhuo and his son went to the imperial tomb, while the main expeditionary army proceeded straight to the imperial city.

The capital remained unchanged. Upon her return, Shen Lanxi, as always, appointed the regent ministers to manage state affairs. Each subordinate had a clear duty; none neglected their responsibilities.

On the day of the imperial welcome, the Shen family gathered: daughters who had married, engaged daughters-in-law, and even young children.

Not long after Shen Lanxi’s return, Shen Congli passed away.

Soon after, Shen Conglian and Madam Miao also died.

A few days later, Shen Lanxi officially abolished the period of mourning system in court. Officials only offered mild objections; privately, they were pleased.

Previously, when a senior family member died, one had to stay home in mourning for a year. With officials constantly changing posts, would they even have a position upon return?

With this system gone, the Shen family quietly rejoiced.

With elders dying one after another, if each required mourning, they would spend three years at home. Even without accumulation, a year at home was required.

Although they had firmly established themselves in the capital, they could not compete with the relentless efforts of others.

Just days ago, a twenty-something prodigy in case-solving was promoted to the position of Dali Temple officer.

After the emperor’s personal expedition, many young officers who went to the Northwest were appointed to posts. Ministers of the Ministries of War, Justice, and Civil Affairs were becoming increasingly young.

If they did not work hard now, they would be replaced in later years.

The Shen sons gradually emerged. The most outstanding were Shen Yuanzhong’s son, Shen Qingshan, followed by Shen Yuankun’s son, Shen Zhongshan.

Previously, Shen Chengfeng had always topped the list among brothers, but he fell behind. His marriages faced setbacks; even after joining the military, he achieved little. He remained in his fourth-rank position.

In a few years, as younger sons matured, if a few more succeeded, he might be pushed out of the top three entirely.

As for the daughters, Shen Emei, after giving birth, though she sought office, soon had another child. Barely six months after returning to court work, she became pregnant again.

From then on, she gradually withdrew from court, caring for children and managing the inner household, remaining involved to this day.

Shen Yuanjing was disappointed in this daughter and focused on the sons instead.

His eldest was mediocre, the second dull, the third sickly, the fourth clever but lazy, caring more about play than study or martial arts. He gave up supporting the daughters-in-law, realizing that daughters like those of Her Majesty were rare; he focused on the younger children.

Also, after his remarried wife suffered postpartum hemorrhage, he married a sixth-rank official’s daughter.

Though of lesser status than the Shen family, she was educated and proper, young and vigorous. Such a wife could teach the children well, and their offspring would be intelligent.

Shen Yuanxu also remarried a daughter of a minor capital official, younger than even Shen Chengfeng’s new wife.

Soon after Shen Yuanxu’s remarriage, the Shen family began discussing splitting the household.

The Shen family had grown too large; even the old residence plus Shen Lanxi’s former palace could not accommodate them all.

Moreover, the new wives of the elders were younger than some children, causing friction and disputes over time.

If Shen Yuanxu and Shen Yuanjing had not sternly warned that any conflict reaching Her Majesty would be punished without mercy, they would have escalated the quarrels to Shen Lanxi long ago.

Exasperated, Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanxu decided to send a family letter:

The elders had passed, they were aging, and it was time to divide the household.

One month later, after court adjourned at the Golden Throne Hall, Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanxu approached Shen Lanxi.

“Your Majesty, the Shen family has now grown sprawling. Your former palace can no longer accommodate us all. After discussion, we have decided to split the family.”