RWNEFE -Chapter 84 Treat the Shen Family as Honored Guests!

A wave of panic surged through Zhou Qiwu’s heart. She immediately grabbed Zhou Lang’s hand and asked, “Zhou Lang, what should we do? Should we send them away?”

Zhou Lang’s brows relaxed. He affectionately helped Zhou Qiwu sit down in a chair.

The guards tactfully withdrew.

Zhou Lang walked over to the chair, and Zhou Qiwu leaned naturally into his embrace.

“If what they said is true, then it’s already too late to send them away now!”

A cold glint flashed through Zhou Qiwu’s eyes. Just as well—she had no intention of letting Zhou Xinrou and the Shen family off so cheaply.

“Then we’ll secretly execute them!”

Zhou Lang shook his head, his gaze deep and heavy. “Ever since Shen Lanxi left the capital, no one knows where she’s gone. I suspect she’s secretly following the Shen family. Didn’t the Princess want to wipe out their entire family in one sweep? Now is the perfect time!”

Zhou Qiwu didn’t quite understand. “Zhou Lang, if you have a good plan, just say it.”

Zhou Lang tightened his arm around her waist and shifted positions. He sat in the chair, pulling Zhou Qiwu onto his lap.

Feeling the domineering strength of the man, she smiled coyly like a young girl and shyly nestled closer.

“We won’t just release the Shen family—we’ll treat them as honored guests!”

Just as Zhou Qiwu was about to speak, Zhou Lang’s hand slid up beneath the hem of her skirt.

“The Shen family was exiled to Dongchuan. By rights, they should have gone north, yet they came southeast to us, without any escorting officials. That can be considered a private escape!”

“Your birthday is coming up. You can openly invite them to your birthday banquet. Even if news reaches the capital, we can explain it away by saying that Tianjin is cut off from information and we didn’t know the Shen family had been convicted!”

“Shen Lanxi is just a woman. Once she hears that her parents and family are being treated as honored guests in the Princess’s residence, enjoying fine clothes and rich food, she’ll surely come to seek refuge. Then we can capture the entire Shen family in one fell swoop and pin the charge of private escape on them. Their crimes will pile up, and the whole family will be exterminated!”

Under Zhou Lang’s teasing, Zhou Qiwu’s body had already melted into a puddle of spring softness, yet she still retained a bit of clarity.

It was a brilliant plan—she could clear the Princess’s residence of suspicion while ensuring that the mother and daughter died without burial. Truly killing two birds with one stone. As expected of Zhou Lang!

“Zhou Lang, not here… let’s go to the inner chamber…”

The Shen family waited in terror again and again, not knowing how much time had passed. They only knew they were starving—no food had been sent. Unknowingly, they fell asleep.

Suddenly, chaotic footsteps sounded. Then a group of guards rushed in, unlocked the shackles on them, and escorted them upward.

What was the Third Princess going to do? Was she going to kill them?

Fear gripped the hearts of every member of the Shen family like a giant hand. Their breathing grew tight, and just as they were about to suffocate, a richly adorned woman rushed up to Zhou Xinrou and grabbed her hand.

“Xinrou, my dear sister, how could they treat you like this?”

“This is outrageous! Steward, tie them up and beat them with the boards! Don’t stop until my sister Xinrou is satisfied!”

“Yes, Princess!”

This jeweled, extravagant woman was none other than the Third Princess.

The Shen family stared at her without blinking.

“You children—when you see your aunt, why aren’t you greeting her?”

Zhou Xinrou’s body slid weakly toward the ground. Zhou Qiwu’s expression changed instantly as she grabbed her hand and screamed,

“Xinrou, what’s wrong? Someone come quickly! The physician—summon the physician at once!”

That wretch—she could die anywhere, just not in the Princess’s residence!

After a flurry of chaos, the Shen family was led away by maids and servants to be settled, and Zhou Xinrou was arranged to be examined by the residence physician.

“Princess, this person must have endured suffering for a long time before. Her mind and body are severely depleted, her vital energy greatly damaged. She needs careful nourishment to recover!”

Looking at the unconscious figure on the bed—gaunt, haggard, looking like a beggar—Zhou Qiwu felt indescribably pleased. The schadenfreude almost spilled from her smile.

“No matter what medicines are needed, make sure you cure her!”

“Yes!”

After hearing from the guards how her mother had arranged things, Wang Xiangyi immediately came to find her.

“Mother.”

Zhou Qiwu’s face turned cold. She shot her daughter a look and walked outside.

“Mother, why did you release the Shen family from the dungeon?”

Zhou Qiwu hated being questioned most of all. Her gaze turned icy as she looked over.

Wang Xiangyi was startled and quickly explained, “Mother, I know you must have your reasons for doing this. You also know my temper is a bit hasty. I just wanted to ask—do you need me to cooperate in any way?”

Zhou Qiwu’s expression didn’t soften much. She warned sternly, “Xiangyi, you’re already a married woman. If you continue to be so rash, it will damage the dignity of the Princess’s residence. If there’s a next time, I’ll assign you two disciplinarian matrons to properly teach you etiquette!”

At the thought of the disciplinarian matrons by her mother’s side, Wang Xiangyi shuddered.

“I understand, Mother!”

Seeing her daughter behave obediently, Zhou Qiwu’s expression finally eased.

“Have you gone to see your brother?”

Wang Xiangyi replied, “I have. When I went, my brother had already taken his medicine and fallen asleep, so I didn’t go in to disturb him.”

Zhou Qiwu gave a satisfied hum and then explained her plan of killing two birds with one stone.

“Didn’t you want to help me? Then help me spread the news that the Shen family has come to visit.”

“Yes!”

“Later, go to the accounts office and draw more silver. Take the Shen family’s daughters out to stroll around the streets. Buy them plenty of expensive things so everyone knows how well our Princess’s residence treats them!”

Wang Xiangyi understood. She bowed respectfully. “Your daughter will go at once!”

When Zhou Qiwu returned again, Zhou Xinrou had already awakened, and the Shen family had washed up and returned.

“It’s all my husband’s fault. When he heard someone was impersonating you, he worried someone would tarnish your reputation, so he had you thrown into the dungeon. Thankfully, when he told me, I asked an extra question—otherwise…” Zhou Qiwu said tearfully, her face full of lingering fear.

Zhou Xinrou leaned weakly against the bed and said faintly, “It’s nothing.”

“Sister, don’t talk anymore. Save your strength and focus on recuperating!”

Zhou Xinrou nodded lightly.

“In a few days, it will be my birthday. Stay in the residence and recover well. If you need anything, go to the steward. Whatever matters there are, we’ll talk about them after my birthday banquet!”

Shen Congwen looked at Zhou Qiwu with deep wariness and remained silent. Shen Yuanjing smoothed things over, saying, “Thank you, Aunt.”

Zhou Qiwu smiled. “You’ve all suffered on the journey. I’ve had the kitchen prepare some food and wine.”

Shen Yuanjing said, “Aunt, with your birthday approaching, there must be many matters to attend to in the residence. There’s no need for you to stay here with us. After we eat, we’d like to rest for a while.”

Zhou Qiwu cursed inwardly—who would want to stay with you?

“That’s only right. You should rest well. I’ll go urge the kitchen along. You rest here for a bit first!”

“Alright, Aunt!”