Chapter 96 When Young Master Shen gets ruthless, he won't even spare himself.

Hongxiu looked terrified. "Young master, aren't you afraid that the Chen family will really arrange a marriage for you?"

Shen Chu chuckled, "She won't. If the other party's social status is too low, the Marquis won't agree; if it's too high, she won't be content. So you can rest assured and make the arrangements."

Hongxiu went there with some doubt.

The following day, many more ladies came to visit, and some of them mentioned Shen Chu's marriage, wanting to find her a suitable match.

Chen's smile froze. She inquired about the family background of the woman the other party was planning to mention and couldn't help but sneer in her heart: Why should her Yan'er marry that impoverished Zhao Yufang, while Shen Chu marries a noblewoman?

She sighed regretfully, "I am naturally grateful for the kindness shown to my eldest son by the ladies, but..."

Sigh, this is a bit embarrassing to talk about, but since things have come to this point, I can't hide it anymore.

As you may not know, after my eldest son was born, I consulted a fortune teller to predict his fate. The fortune teller said he was born with a solitary destiny, destined to bring misfortune to his father, mother, and relatives, and was destined for a life of loneliness and hardship.

The wives of the officials present were greatly surprised.

Madam Chen looked troubled. “You all don’t know this, but after our eldest son was born, strange things kept happening in our family. It was because of this that we reluctantly sent him to the Taoist temple in our hometown to be raised.”

This is a private matter for my family, and I shouldn't say too much about it, but I really can't bear to deceive you all. You all meant well in arranging a marriage for A-Chu, but I really can't let my own selfish reasons ruin the good girl you've chosen."

The ladies looked at each other, and one by one they made an excuse to leave.

Soon, news that Shen Chu was a cursed loner who would bring misfortune to his father, mother, and relatives spread like wildfire in the upper echelons of the capital.

No one dared to mention Shen Chu's marriage again.

Holding the list of gifts she had received, Madam Chen checked each gift against the list. After hearing her trusted maid's report, she couldn't help but feel smug.

"A cursed lone star, haha, with this reputation, Shen Chu will never be able to marry a wife from a high-ranking family in his lifetime."

The trusted maid flattered, "Madam's move was truly brilliant."

Chen looked at the warehouse full of gifts, her face beaming with pride.

These gifts not only recouped the money she had donated for the grain and house, but actually made her quite wealthy.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is about to go to provide disaster relief. Before that, I want to hold a disaster relief banquet to call on the wives of these officials to donate money and goods."

In this way, when His Highness the Crown Prince returns from disaster relief, His Majesty will take this into consideration when appointing Yan'er to an official position, and the official rank given to Yan'er will certainly not be too low.

Ideally, he should be a fifth-rank official, at least not inferior to that bastard Shen Chu.

The more Chen thought about it, the more excited she became, as if she could already see her son returning home in the attire of a fifth-rank official, beaming with joy.

She excitedly instructed people to prepare a disaster relief banquet, and many noble families in the capital received her invitations.

The date was set for three days later, which was also the day the Crown Prince would lead his army to depart.

News of the Changning Marquis's plan to hold a disaster relief banquet quickly reached the palace, and both the Empress Dowager and the Empress sent people to praise Lady Chen.

The Empress Dowager also personally wrote a calligraphy scroll as a reward, which read "A Benevolent and Kind Family" and instructed the nanny to tell Chen that once Shen Yan returned from the disaster relief mission, he would be immediately placed in one of the Six Ministries.

The Empress Dowager and the Empress's gifts were undoubtedly the best form of publicity. Many noble families and top clans sent people to see Chen, expressing their willingness to contribute to the disaster relief efforts.

Chen was so happy to receive the gifts from the Empress Dowager and the Empress that she walked with a swagger, her mouth practically stretched to her ears.

While instructing people to hastily write invitations, she carefully planned to choose a suitable person from these prominent families to marry her son.

Chen sent out the invitations, and Shen Chu found out almost immediately.

"Young master, what should we do?" Hongxiu asked indignantly. "These days, rumors are flying around the city. Almost everyone is talking about you, saying you are a cursed star."

Are we just going to let this go unchecked?

Shen Chu raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Who said I'm neglecting my duties?"

She picked up the gift list that she had copied over the past few days from the table and handed it to Hongxiu, saying, "Send this letter and the gift list to the Flying Eagle Guard."

When the Flying Eagle Guards received the letter and gift list from Hongxiu, they couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.

Is Lord Shen reporting himself?

Is it really that ruthless?

What should they do? Should they go and arrest them?

One of them cautiously suggested, "Why don't we ask His Highness what he thinks? After all, last time His Highness interrogated the participants in the dragon boat race, only Lord Shen came out completely unharmed."

"Look, whether it's the young master's son or the Qinghe Princess's son, weren't they all thrown out by His Highness?"

The proposal was unanimously approved, and soon Shen Chu's letter and gift list were placed on Shen Chu's desk.

Sun Yan peeked over and couldn't help but gasp, "Young Master Shen is really ruthless when he gets going; he actually reported himself for accepting bribes."

Pei Yuan scoffed at this.

Knowing Shen Chu as he did, how could he possibly put himself in such a dangerous situation?

I wonder who he's targeting this time?

They've even set their sights on the Flying Eagle Guards; Shen Chu really has some nerve.

"Your Highness, why don't I take a few brothers and go search the area?"

Pei Yuan smiled with narrowed eyes, then stood up with his hands behind his back. "No need, I, the prince, will personally lead the team to take a look."

The Changning Marquis's residence was bustling with activity today, filled with guests and adorned with flowers.

Lady Chen and Marquis Changning strolled among them, both wearing smug smiles.

Especially the Chen family, who regained all the face they lost in the last dragon boat race.

Especially when the wives of officials praised her kindness and righteousness, and also praised Shen Yan for his promising future, Madam Chen couldn't stop smiling.

It was at this moment that Pei Yuan brought his men in.

The entire garden fell silent as rows of men clad in the silver armor of the Flying Eagle Guards stormed in.

Madam Chen's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly followed behind Marquis Changning to greet him.

"Is Your Highness here today for the disaster relief banquet? Please come in."

Pei Yuan slightly curled his lips, "This prince is not here to attend the disaster relief banquet. Someone has reported that Lord Shen is embezzling and accepting bribes. Quickly summon Shen Chu. This prince wants to ask him about it in person."

These words immediately caused chaos at the scene.

"What? Shen Chu actually embezzled and accepted bribes?"

"It's true that you can know a person's face but not their heart."

The ladies of the officials who had come to the Marquis's residence to present gifts looked at each other, feeling uneasy.

Chen's heart skipped a beat. A report? Who reported Shen Chu?

Shen Chu arrived late. "I was unaware of Your Highness's arrival. Please forgive me for not greeting you properly."

Pei Yuan tossed out a stack of papers. "Someone has reported you for suspected bribery. How do you explain this?"

Shen Chu took the paper and calmly explained, "Someone did send me the items on the gift list, but I resolutely refused to accept them, and the other party never came to see me again."

"If Your Highness does not believe me, you may send someone to search my courtyard, or even the entire Marquis's residence."

Chen's expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously looked at Pei Yuan.

A smile appeared in Pei Yuan's eyes, and he instantly understood Shen Chu's thoughts.

Is this an attempt to use the Flying Eagle Guards to eliminate the Chen family?

Haha, this guy is really bold, daring to use the Flying Eagle Guard.

He wanted to see what Shen Chu would do if the Flying Eagle Guards didn't cooperate today.