Chapter 372 Zhou Cheng'an, the illegitimate son of the Prince Ji's Mansion!

"Princess, we've arrived!"

Shen Yuanhe and Shen Yuanrui bowed in greeting.

"This is a gift from me to my two younger sisters. Please don't find it offensive."

Shen Yuanhe and Shen Yuanrui hesitated, their eyes flickering, before accepting the gifts.

Since the princess summoned the Shen family, even if it was to bring gifts, each of the sisters should have received one. Why give them gifts separately? What does this mean?

The two dared not reveal their thoughts and retreated to the side, holding the box.

"I will soon be marrying into the Shen family, and from then on we will all be one family."

Apart from Shen Lanxi, everyone in the Shen family wore forced smiles.

Shen Lanxi said, "I noticed the princess doesn't look well. Since we'll be family from now on, there's plenty of time for us to get to each other. We won't disturb you any longer!" She then stood up.

Zhou Yunhui turned to look at the eldest princess; she hadn't finished speaking yet.

"I would like to learn more about the Shen family!"

Zhou Yunshang loudly stopped her, saying, "Sister Yunsui caught a cold yesterday and came here today despite her illness. Lanxi is right, there's plenty of time. We can talk about it after she marries into the Shen family!"

Zhou Yunhui glanced to the side, then immediately pretended to cough and waved her hand.

"I am not feeling well, so I will not send any more gifts."

...

Apart from Shen Lanxi, all the women of the Shen family were running around as if they were fleeing a disaster.

"Lanxi, this tenth princess seems difficult to get along with!"

Hu Jinyu glanced at her mother-in-law and asked in confusion, "The Tenth Princess's mother is only a concubine, not favored, and doesn't stand out in the palace. I really don't know why she was allowed to come to Grandmother's birthday banquet last time."

The management of the inner palace was strict. Even the empress was not allowed to leave the palace without the emperor's permission.

Shen Lanxi sneered and reminded her, "Yun Sui's intentions are already very clear."

Hu Jinyu's eyes flashed, and she blurted out, "She wants to win over her two younger sisters, Yuanhe and Yuanrui, and make them quarrel with the family."

Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Shen Yuanxu, you're so lucky!"

Hu Jinyu suddenly realized, and then shyly covered her face with her handkerchief.

...

The bandits in Xishan have been eliminated, and Zhou Ruyuan has requested permission to return to the capital. His memorial has been sitting in the Imperial Study for two days.

"Father, I, Cao, would like to stay a few more days."

Emperor Renxiao frowned and reprimanded his son, "What use is that fool to you?"

Zhou Rulin's eyes gleamed: "She completely offended Shen Lanxi at the flower viewing banquet. I think it would be better to escalate the conflict between the two of them, and then I would step in to deal with Cao Shi, leaving Shen Lanxi with the impression that I am courteous to the virtuous and righteous and not siding with relatives. Then, when I recruit her, it will definitely be a natural process."

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Renxiao nodded in satisfaction.

"Rulin, I'm so sorry to have put you through this!"

Zhou Rulin's eyes reddened, then he said resolutely, "As long as Father Emperor thinks of his son, his son will not feel wronged!"

Emperor Renxiao patted his son on the shoulder and said calmly, "Go. You are still recovering, so don't let anyone see you. If anything happens next, just have your personal attendant send a message to me!"

Zhou Rulin left through the secret passage, led by Wang Bao.

Emperor Renxiao's gaze fell on the memorial, stared at it for a while, then picked up his pen and ink and began to reply.

~

"My lord, someone from the Prince Ji's residence requests an audience!"

Shen Lanxi: "Who?"

The guard said, "The person who came wouldn't speak, and he was dressed plainly, but he kept calling everyone 'sister'." That's why he came to report. Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can see their lord.

"Bring him in!"

"yes!"

Shen Lanxi recognized the person immediately upon seeing him.

"Are you Xiaolang?" Zhou Yunxue, a concubine's son of the Prince Ji's mansion, often took him out for trips before she got married. Their relationship was even better than that of their own siblings.

"Sister Lanxi." Zhou Chengan lowered his head awkwardly and tugged at his clothes uncomfortably.

How could he be so thin that his clothes could barely stay on? If it weren't for the fact that his facial features were still visible, she might not have recognized him at all.

"Come up here, lift your head, I'm not going to eat you!" Shen Lanxi joked, pointing to the seat next to her.

When Zhou Chengan saw his old friend, his eyes reddened, and he felt even more ashamed of himself when he saw her aura.

“Sister Lanxi, ever since my grandfather passed away, I have been sent to the northern estate.”

Shen Lanxi recalled the timeline, which was during the worst period of the drought.

It's truly remarkable that this child has survived until now.

When did you return to Beijing?

Zhou Chengan: "It's been more than ten days. I heard from people that Sister Yunxue had an accident."

"I guessed you came for this, it's really kind of you to still remember her!" Shen Lanxi sighed.

Zhou Cheng'an knelt down with a thud, pleading, "Sister Lanxi, I've come today to ask you to seek justice for Sister Yunxue. Sister Yunxue has been betrothed to the Marquis of Yong'an since childhood. Even if she fell into the water, she would never marry anyone else. Sister Yunxue was framed by them!"

Shen Lanxi had been scrutinizing Zhou Cheng'an ever since he entered the room, but she stopped scrutinizing him after hearing his words.

"After Yunxue's accident, you were the only one from the Ji Prince's Mansion to come to my door!" Perhaps the Ji Prince's Mansion had other ways to reach him, so Zhou Cheng'an could only come to her.

Concealing the deep thought in her eyes, she asked, "Young man, do you know that the Fang family of Xishan has been wiped out by bandits?"

This matter caused a great uproar, and Emperor Renxiao even sent the Prince of Zhennan to suppress it, so naturally everyone knew about it.

"I know, they all say that Sister Yunxue was..." Zhou Chengan was both angry and resentful, and before he could finish his sentence, he was already sobbing uncontrollably.

"It was clearly those bandits who were harming people, so why are they talking about my sister? Is it because the victims weren't their own family members?" Zhou Cheng'an revealed his sharp edge at this moment, his eyes filled with hatred.

Shen Lanxi saw this and agreed with this explanation.

“Young man, you are right, but the current social norms are very strict. Even if a woman is harmed, she will be considered unchaste. The reason why Yunxue married into Xishan back then was because of the word ‘reputation’.”

Zhou Cheng'an felt both helpless and bitter. It was because of the series of misfortunes that happened in his mansion that those who could protect him either died or left, which is why they dared to lay a hand on him.

"Sister Lanxi, I don't want those people to keep gossiping about my sister. I have no other choice. I finally managed to sneak out today. Please, for the sake of your long-standing friendship with Sister Yunxue, help my sister!"

If Shen Lanxi wasn't moved by the young man who stood up for her sister without being humble or arrogant, then he was lying.

"I will give Yunxue an explanation!"

Upon hearing her words, Zhou Chengan was immediately moved to tears and repeatedly kowtowed in gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Sister Lanxi!"

Shen Lanxi: "You just said you snuck out of your house, what happened?"

Zhou Chengan hastily wiped away his tears, feeling embarrassed once again.

“My family arranged a marriage for me, which is why they sent someone to bring me back to the capital.”

"Whose daughter is she?" How could she possibly be betrothed to the already dilapidated Prince Ji's mansion?