Chapter 611 Incense!

Now it's good enough that we're not implicated.

It seems that finding a high-ranking in-law is not very safe.

Each branch of the Shen family had its own agenda.

Shen Congwen took the letter to Zhou Xinrou.

"This is Lanxi's message!"

Zhou Xinrou glanced at it twice. She didn't care about the life or death of the Shen family, so she only chose what was beneficial to herself.

“Choose the first one. Let the second wife pick a date and marry that Wu family boy into the family.”

"Although there is a difference in age, people in the capital will not say anything; they will only say that the Shen family is loyal and righteous."

Shen Congwen actually preferred the second option, as doing nothing would not affect their reputation.

"Can't we choose the second option?"

Zhou Xinrou decisively rejected it.

"No, the second option will only make people think that the Shen family is heartless and ungrateful, or indecisive and unfit for great responsibility."

Shen Congwen was troubled because he couldn't explain himself to the second wife.

"Can't there be a third option?"

Zhou Xinrou gave a sarcastic smile: "How do we choose? To pardon the Wu family?"

Why should we let go of the corrupt officials we finally managed to bring down, the parasites that plagued the court?

"The Wu family's crimes have already been made public. If we pardon them now, have you considered the consequences?"

Shen Congwen came up with another idea.

"We can execute them openly, and then secretly send them to Dongchuan or the Northwest." That way, the Wu family's daughter won't bother the second branch of the family, and he can say that he has given the second branch some closure.

If it weren't for the fact that Shen Congwen was still needed, Zhou Xinrou would have called him an idiot.

"Have you considered Lan Xi's motives for bringing down Wu Yanzhi?"

Shen Congwen naturally knew this, but he didn't expect her to be so decisive and show no mercy whatsoever.

"It's good to release Wu's daughter; she doesn't necessarily have to marry Chengfeng!"

That way he can have something to say about himself.

Zhou Xinrou looked coldly at Shen Congwen: "What benefits has the second wife given you that you always speak up for them?"

There was no benefit to it, yet Shen Congwen dared not refute Zhou Xinrou.

"Princess, what are you saying? Of course I'm on the side of our main branch."

Zhou Xinrou snorted coldly: "I didn't see that coming. I didn't say anything when you were very filial to the old lady. I also understood that you treated the children in the other rooms better than our children, so I didn't say anything either."

"Our main branch is clearly in power now, so what do you have to be afraid of!"

These words struck a nerve with Shen Congwen, revealing his deep-seated insecurity.

He felt like something was wrong, but he just couldn't remember what it was.

“Princess, we are family after all. Family members don’t distinguish between you and me; we should support each other.”

Zhou Xinrou smiled mockingly, unwilling to say anything more.

There's no point in talking to him anymore.

"Granny, there's something off about the smell in the room. Light some incense."

"yes!"

Shen Congwen asked with concern, "Has the princess's headache flared up again?"

Zhou Xinrou closed her eyes and softly hummed in agreement.

Soon, wisps of incense filled the room, and Zhou Xinrou's soft voice entered Shen Congwen's mind.

"Go ahead and tell them my choice. Whether they listen or not is their business!"

Shen Congwen got up somewhat dazedly and walked outside.

~

"Princess, the incense has already been used on Shen Yuantang," the nanny said respectfully.

Zhou Xinrou said coldly, "Fool, you only ever ruin my plans. After the war with the Xiongnu is over, we can't let her live."

If she hadn't run up to Shen Congwen and said some nonsense, would she have been able to use such methods against him so quickly?

The old woman extinguished the incense and opened the window to let the fragrance dissipate.

"Princess, please drink some tea to neutralize the effects of the medicine!"

Zhou Xinrou coldly accepted the tea mixed with the antidote and drank it all in one gulp.

Shen Congwen cannot be allowed to get into trouble now, and the rest of the Shen family members cannot be allowed to get into trouble under her watch.

...

A gust of wind roused Shen Congwen from his reverie, and he strode into the main hall.

"The princess means to choose the first option."

The teacup in Liu's hand crashed to the ground and shattered into several pieces.

"Big brother, Chengfeng is still so young, how can he get married?"

Shen Congwen: "The princess said that you can listen if you want, or choose the second option if you don't want to. She is just giving you a suggestion, not forcing you to do it."

Shen Conglian looked worried.

"Brother, are we really going to welcome the Wu family's daughter into our family?"

Shen Congwen: "After the Wu family girl enters the family, she won't have any impact on your second branch. She's still young. As she grows older, people will forget about this matter. At that time, you can either get a divorce, abandon her, or marry her off like a daughter, it doesn't matter!"

The second wife remained silent, deep in thought.

Miao thought to herself, "It doesn't necessarily have to be a marriage; she could also adopt a daughter!"

She only thought these words to herself and wouldn't actually tell them.

"That's a good idea!" Miao carefully advised.

Shen Congli nodded: "Anyway, the Wu family girl has already been engaged twice, so no one will say anything if she marries again in the future."

The second wife has figured it out.

"We need to tell Yuanxu and his wife about this!" After all, Chengfeng is their son, and it wouldn't be right for them not to inform their parents about their son's marriage.

Shen Congwen: "I'm afraid it will be too late. Given how quickly the Wu family has been convicted, their punishment will be announced soon."

Shen Conglian immediately stood up: "I'll go write a letter to Yuan Xu right away."

Shen Congwen: "Also inform the palace."

"good!"

The marriage to the Wu family's daughter has been finalized, and the family is moving quickly.

Soon after, Shen Lanxi received a letter from the Shen family informing her that Shen Chengfeng would be marrying a woman from the Wu family soon.

The letter was undated and was merely a notification, implying that she should not issue an imperial decree so quickly.

Shen Yuanxu definitely needs to be notified.

...

News of another great victory has arrived from the Northwest.

"Wei Dongzhu, the Grand General of the Northwest, led his army straight into the Turkic court. The Turks suffered a crushing defeat and fled in panic towards Qinglan Mountain..."

"General Shen Yuanjing swept through the nine tribes of the Turks, capturing 562 people, killing 410 enemies, gathering 1,500 herders, acquiring six pastures, and seizing thousands of cattle, sheep, and horses. The exact figures are still being tallied..."

"Grand Commander Wei Dongzhu has presented His Majesty with a precious sword of the Turkic Khan, a crown of the Turkic Khan, and twenty cartloads of treasures, which are already on their way to the capital!"

"General Shen Yuanjing presents His Majesty with a robe of the Turkic Khan, two sets of gold robes and jade belts, and a Khan's seal, which will be sent to the capital along with the gifts!"

Shen Lanxi was overjoyed.

"Good! Our soldiers in the Northwest are brave and invincible, and will soon unify the Northwest!"

"Our people on the border will no longer suffer from harassment!"

"From this day forward, peace will reign over our northwestern border region!"

Her words were full of ambition, and even ministers who privately looked down on Shen Lanxi's female identity had to admit that such an outcome was something that even men might not be able to achieve.

Shen Lanxi: "Send my decree to the Northwest. The Northwest Army has rendered meritorious service. After the war ends, I will give them a satisfactory reward and will not let them down!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Since the failed sneak attack, Tianjin has retreated like a frightened cat.

"Strategist, wasn't it said that half of Dongchuan's troops were transferred to support the Northwest?"

Yuan Lang was also puzzled, and there was only one explanation.

"Your Majesty, we may have fallen into a trap!"