Chapter 294 Shen Lanxi presents another treasure: a glass bead!

Miao's anger was instantly ignited.

"You still blame me? Was it me who stopped you from going? Go ahead, and next time Shen Lanxi goes out to fight, you'll go with her. Anyone who tries to stop you is a son of a bitch!"

Just as Shen Congli was about to speak, he suddenly remembered that his two sons had also returned.

Miao remembered this too, and stubbornly grabbed a handkerchief from the table and pressed it to the corner of her mouth.

She was so angry that she forgot about her two sons.

Feeling a pang of annoyance, she quickly smiled and asked her two sons to sit down.

"Yuanpeng, Yuanhao, quickly tell your father and mother about your experiences in the army. Have you been injured? Has anyone bullied you?"

~

Four rooms

Shen Congyi returned to his room and started smashing things, scaring Tian Shi so much that she didn't dare to breathe.

"Why do they get all the benefits? Why do they always think of the eldest son's family when there are good things? Why don't they even think of me when it comes to getting a house? Father and Mother, you are biased. Just because my eldest brother married a princess, does that make him superior to us brothers?"

Seeing that Shen Congyi was going too far, Tian was frightened and quickly tried to stop him in a low voice.

"Sir, please keep your voice down. We mustn't let anyone hear us."

Shen Congyi started smashing things again.

...

Shen Lanxi slept very comfortably. Although there were no major changes in her room, all the wooden furniture, doors, and windows were replaced with new ones, and the pillows and blankets were made of the finest silk. She also used a light, sleep-inducing fragrance, which showed that she had put a lot of thought into it.

When she woke up in the morning, before it was fully light, she was already full of energy.

Today she was to go to the palace to express her gratitude, so she needed to prepare the gifts for the palace well in advance. During yesterday's celebration banquet, she had subtly mentioned the matter of attending the morning court session, and Emperor Renxiao had agreed to allow her to attend the morning court session today.

As her military rank was promoted, she could no longer wear her old court robes. The new court robes would take some time to be completed, and the same applied to her wearing the court robes of the Marquis of Zhenbei.

Shen Lanxi attached great importance to her first court appearance, as it represented a precedent for women's participation in politics. Regardless of what others thought, she felt a bright and gratifying sense of accomplishment in making history.

When the Shen family members got up, Shen Lanxi had already arranged the gifts for each household and sent them to Old Madam Shen for her to distribute.

"Grandparents, your granddaughter needs to go to the palace early to present gifts to His Majesty, so she won't be having dinner at home."

In fact, she had already eaten at the Zhenbei Marquis's residence.

Seeing that her granddaughter valued her, Old Madam Shen's previous dissatisfaction with her had already diminished by half.

"Hurry up and go, don't be late!"

Shen Lanxi added, “Among the gifts for my grandfather, there is a medicinal bead that I specially purchased at a high price from Medicine King Valley. It can improve my grandfather’s dementia.”

Mr. Shen suffered a stroke more than a year ago. Although he received timely treatment, he was left with a problem where his mind would sometimes be clear and sometimes not. Sometimes he would recognize people and sometimes he wouldn't. However, his legs and feet were not affected and it did not hinder his eating and drinking.

When Madam Shen heard that the medicine was bought from Medicine King Valley, she felt a mix of emotions. Her granddaughter was fighting in the Northwest and still cared about her grandfather, but none of her sons and daughters-in-law in the capital had thought of going to Medicine King Valley to ask for medicine.

When she's being hateful, you really want to grind your teeth in anger. But when she's caring, she's also incredibly considerate.

If her granddaughter continues to be so filial and understanding, she will treat her better.

"It seems you still care about your grandfather. I will make sure he wears the medicine beads. You should go to the palace soon!" Old Madam Shen's words carried a hint of sincerity.

As soon as Shen Lanxi left the Shen residence, her smile vanished.

"What's the situation with my mother?"

Chunxue said with an unnatural expression, "Since we left the capital last time, the princess has been praying for blessings at the royal temple outside the city and has not returned yet."

Shen Lanxi's eyes darkened: "Never come back even once?"

Chunxue gave a muffled "hmm".

Shen Lanxi boarded the carriage in a few steps, and halfway there, she said, "Have someone keep an eye on the royal temple."

"good!"

Six years ago, Shen Lanxi treated the palace as her home. As soon as she appeared, the guards at the palace gate immediately recognized her and ran up to her to flatter her.

"General, you're back! I went to the city gate to greet you yesterday. You were so impressive, so very impressive!"

Shen Lanxi casually took a bead from her purse and handed it over: "To share some good luck."

The city guards were all smiles, their eyes practically glued to the beads.

"I couldn't possibly accept that."

Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "These are glass beads that Persia paid to our Great Zhou as compensation. There's a whole cartload of them. Take them back for the children to play with!"

"Oh, if you put it that way, I'd love to share in the good fortune!" The nobleman said it so casually, but these glass beads were tribute items, and could be passed down as family heirlooms.

Everything sent to the palace had to be inspected beforehand. The inspectors had received favors from Shen Lanxi, so they only did a cursory inspection before letting it pass.

Before the morning court session, Shen Lanxi had already sent a message to Wang Bao.

"Your Majesty, General Shen has arrived, bringing three large carts of goods. One cart is filled with spices, another with jewels, and the third with furs, which he says are specialties he brought for you from the Northwest!" Wang Bao smiled and brushed non-existent dust off Emperor Renxiao's sleeve.

Emperor Renxiao had anticipated Shen Lanxi's arrival. Previously, the Northwest would send special products every two months, and this time she would definitely bring even more special products back to the capital.

"This child is so filial!"

Wang Bao chuckled and said, "Who says otherwise? The warehouse is overflowing!"

When Emperor Renxiao heard Wang Bao say this, he laughed even more heartily.

"I like such a filial child. When the opportunity arises, I will definitely reward her handsomely!"

Wang Bao exaggeratedly made a delicate gesture with his fingers: "Oh my, General Shen must be overjoyed!"

Emperor Renxiao laughed heartily as he summoned Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi, carrying the treasure box, began to present it to Emperor Renxiao.

“Uncle, this is a national treasure that I specially obtained from Persia, a glass bead.” As she spoke, she opened the box, revealing six round beads the size of bowls.

“Uncle, these six beads are called Glazed Gold Beads because they emit a golden light at night. You can see for yourself.” She covered them with a black cloth, and the golden light inside the originally transparent beads flickered as she turned her hand.

The treasures in Emperor Renxiao's treasury were countless, but they paled in comparison to these six precious pearls.

He was surprised to receive it. Without the black cloth, the bead was a transparent glass bead. Even without the gold thread, it was a rare treasure.

"Wonderful! These beads are truly incomparably wondrous!" Emperor Renxiao was so enamored with them that he picked them up one by one to examine them.

Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Uncle, there's a story behind these six beads. It's said that one day, a golden light suddenly streaked across the northwestern night sky, and the place where that golden light fell was where these six precious beads were. The people of Persia call these six beads the Celestial Pearls. It's said that if you place these six beads on your bed, you can prolong your life and regain your youth."