Chapter 205 Father, why do you think you were able to return to the capital?
Liu Shao told Shen Lanxi a lot about the relationship between the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and the former empress. When it got a little late, he quickly got up and left.
“You’re a big target now. If you disappear for too long, it might arouse suspicion!” Liu Shao said worriedly.
Shen Lanxi handed over a bead the size of a longan.
"If you encounter any problems that you can't solve, take the bead to the Grand Eunuch Wang Bao. He will definitely help you!"
Liu Shao stuffed the beads into his pocket and quietly left.
Shen Lanxi went downstairs to the lobby, found a corner, and ordered a table full of dishes.
In the hall, seven out of ten people were talking about her, two were talking about Zhou Ruyuan, and one was talking about the Shen family.
Even though more than two years have passed, no one dares to mention Wei Jiajun!
"Did you see them meet at the city gate that day?"
"Did you see that again?"
“I saw it, I saw it clearly. Two people rode side by side, right in front of me.”
"You know what, they're quite a handsome couple, it's a pity..."
As for what's regrettable, that's up to your imagination. I'm afraid of saying too much and offending someone, ending up in jail.
But saying these things is enough for the people to imagine.
"My third maternal aunt's younger brother's older sister's nephew works at the Prince of Zhennan's mansion. Wow~ Prince of Zhennan, your family is thriving! Even the children can call you 'Daddy' now!"
gasps of surprise rose and fell.
"No need to ask, the child must be that person's..."
Someone tacitly gestured three, and everyone else understood—they'd called for water three times that night!
Everyone in the capital knows!
Those who speak dare not speak openly, and those who listen dare not ask openly.
The key information was conveyed entirely through eye contact or finger gestures. After talking for a long time, he didn't get anything wrong, and everyone understood everything he said and heard.
"What a pity, a war god and a female general, if only these two could have been a perfect match..."
Upon hearing this, Shen Lanxi stood up and left.
No sooner had she left than a few people quietly followed her.
After strolling through the bustling streets, it was already dark when I returned home.
He glanced at the main hall from which the child's cries were coming, then turned and went back to his own courtyard.
The welcome banquet was nominally prepared for her and Zhou Ruyuan.
The Grand General who quelled the rebellion had no official rank, but the Earl did. Yesterday, she had already ordered Chunxue and Qiushuang to take the imperial edict to the Imperial Household Department to collect the court robes; they went in the morning and returned in the evening.
Because she is tall, no alterations were made. She tried it on in the evening, and it fit perfectly. She scented it with avocado oil and wore it first thing in the morning!
"Miss, what should I do with your hair?" Chunxue asked, perplexed.
Shen Lanxi: "Do whatever you do to the other earls."
Chunxue understood; he was still dressed as a man!
When it was almost time, someone from the front yard came to urge them.
They didn't care where Shen Lanxi went before, but this time she's going to the palace, so the whole family has to go together.
We must not let His Majesty think that the Shen family is at odds.
As Shen Lanxi walked out in her count's court robes, some members of the Shen family looked grim, some were jealous, and some seemed lost in thought.
"We're going to the palace, why are you dressed like this?" Shen Congwen frowned deeply as he looked at Shen Lanxi's clothes.
Shen Lanxi: "My father is an official of the imperial court, and he wears court robes when he enters the palace. I am also an official of the imperial court, so naturally I must wear court robes too!"
Shen Congwen felt as if a fire was burning in his heart. He felt that Shen Lanxi's men's clothing was extremely irritating.
"You are a woman, so you should dress like a woman!"
"Hasn't His Majesty restored your status as a princess? Why aren't you wearing the princess's court robes?"
Shen Lanxi: "His Majesty has allowed me to use two titles simultaneously. Father, this is His Majesty's decree. Do you have any objections?"
Shen Congwen never expected Shen Lanxi to bestow such a high compliment upon him; how could he dare to disagree with His Majesty?
"Stop talking nonsense. I just think that on important occasions, one should dress appropriately. Look at yourself now, neither male nor female. Doesn't that make people laugh at the Shen family for failing in its parenting?"
Shen Congwen finally found a way to refute Shen Lanxi's words: the Great Zhou Dynasty had laws specifically targeting strange and unusual clothing.
On important occasions, like today's welcoming banquet, being improperly dressed can be a serious offense.
"Shen Lanxi, it's one thing for you to be willful, but don't drag the entire Shen family into being punished with you!"
Shen Lanxi: "The court robe I am wearing was bestowed by His Majesty himself. Do you dare to say that the court robe drafted and made by the Ministry of Rites is inappropriate?"
Shen Congwen was furious; how could she be so unreasonable?
Was he referring to court attire? He was referring to her androgynous appearance.
“A woman should act like a woman. Are you trying to make the world think that our entire Shen family are heretics by dressing like this?”
"Several of your younger sisters are of marriageable age. After this welcoming banquet, they will all start discussing marriage arrangements. If you go to the palace dressed like this today, what will people think of the ladies of the Shen family?"
Shen Congwen finally found a reason to control Shen Lanxi.
"Don't worry about your reputation, or you'll drag your sisters down with you!"
Shen Lanxi coldly stared at the person in front of her who thought he had found fault with her and was relentlessly pursuing the matter.
Shen Yuanjing and the other men didn't expect that while they were out arranging the carriages, another argument would break out at home.
"Father, you can't say that about my eldest sister!" Shen Yuanjing stepped forward to defend her.
Shen Congwen glared at his son: "You unfilial brats! If you ruin the marriages of the women of the Shen family, let's see if you can live with yourselves for the rest of your lives!"
Shen Yuanjing quickly inquired with Chunxue and Qiushuang about what had happened.
"Stop right there! Who told you to leave!" Shen Congwen almost jumped up and shouted when he saw Shen Lanxi about to leave.
Shen Lanxi's gaze swept coldly over him: "Father, why do you think you were able to return to the capital?"
Shen Congwen froze, glaring angrily.
"Don't say it's because His Majesty is showing mercy. Don't forget, the Wei family army still hasn't found their food and supplies."
Shen Congwen and other members of the Shen family felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this.
"Congwen, since His Majesty has given his permission, I'm sure His Majesty won't blame us!"
"Don't waste any more time! If we miss the appointed time, no one can bear the consequences!" Old Madam Shen was a wise and experienced woman. She had been on tenterhooks since returning to the capital. Now that she hadn't received the imperial edict to execute her entire family, she had already made up her mind and was reassessing Shen Lanxi's value to the Shen family.
She was happy to seize this opportunity to mend the relationship between her son and granddaughter, acting as the one who gave both sides a way out!
"Lanxi, your father is just concerned about you. Although his words may be harsh, it's all for the safety of the entire Shen family!"
“Congwen, you too. Since you came back, you've become more timid. You think twice before doing anything. Even things His Majesty has clearly approved, you still hesitate. I know you're afraid, and being cautious is not wrong!”
"Listen to me, let's leave it at that this time!" After saying this, Madam Shen immediately urged her family to get into the carriage.
Shen Congwen glared angrily at Shen Lanxi and said, "From now on, you'll have to deal with your own mistakes. Don't expect the Shen family to stand up for you!"
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