Chapter 345 An incident occurred at the banquet for reciting literature!
Upon hearing the report from her subordinate, Shen Lanxi's expression changed, and she subconsciously glanced at her mother.
The latter remained calm and undisturbed, as if nothing could stir his mind.
"Call Sun Feng."
"yes."
She had intended to invite Wei Dongzhu as well, but Wei Dongzhu was already walking towards her.
Wei Dongzhu had already noticed when Shen Lanxi sent people out. Now, seeing her heavy aura and bad complexion, he knew something must have happened.
Shen Lanxi glanced at her family, then got up and walked towards where Emperor Renxiao was resting.
A major incident occurred during lunch: Prince Zhou Ruyuan of Zhennan and Miss Shen Yuantang of the Shen family were found lying in a side room, their clothes disheveled.
Zhou Ruyuan had just been betrothed to the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Shen Yuantang had only just broken off his engagement with the son of the Marquis of Jining. On such an important day, these two were openly having an affair, and it was even reported to Emperor Renxiao. The emperor was furious and was now looking down on them with a dark expression, ready to punish them.
When Shen Lanxi rushed over, Zhou Ruyuan was explaining incessantly, Shen Yuantang was kneeling on the ground sobbing uncontrollably, and there were several ministers and their families in the room, making the scene extremely chaotic.
A cold glint flashed in Shen Lanxi's eyes as she went inside.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
Emperor Renxiao was furious at the moment, and when he saw her arrive, he didn't give her a good look. He angrily rebuked her with a dark face: "I entrusted the safety of the Yongwen Banquet to you, and this is how you take responsibility?"
From the clearly accusatory tone, Shen Lanxi had already discerned Emperor Renxiao's attitude. She immediately knelt on the ground and sincerely said, "It is my dereliction of duty. I bear an inescapable responsibility. I beg Your Majesty to punish me severely; I have no complaints!"
When people are angry, the more you oppose them, the more you add fuel to the fire. On the contrary, Shen Lanxi's sincere attitude moved Emperor Renxiao.
He's better than that son who keeps explaining. What's the use of explaining after something like this happened? Explaining is just shirking responsibility. It's better to take responsibility like Lanxi did.
"Lanxi, get up. This has nothing to do with you. I have already asked. You and Wei Dongzhu are responsible for security outside the banquet, while the Prince of Zhennan is responsible for security inside the banquet."
Ironically, the Prince of Zhennan was outmaneuvered within his own jurisdiction. That child was someone he had raised with his own blood and sweat, and now he was so easily outmaneuvered. Who is he mocking?
“Uncle, this matter is suspicious. My sister has no personal relationship with the Prince of Zhennan!” Shen Lanxi spoke impartially.
Emperor Renxiao was naturally aware of this.
It is precisely because they know this that they are so despicable!
They actually managed to scheme right under his nose.
"Lanxi, I'm entrusting this matter to you. Make sure you find the culprit for me." Emperor Renxiao's tone was icy. Once the person is found, he will make sure that person suffers a fate worse than death.
Shen Lanxi: "Your subject accepts the decree!"
After holding people accountable, the aftermath was dealt with.
Quite a few people already know about what happened today. I estimate that even more people will find out when the literary banquet begins later.
Marrying Shen Yuantang to Zhou Ruyuan would have been a good choice for the Shen family's daughter. But it just so happens that it was Shen Yuantang. Zhou Xinrou had even gone to the palace to ask him to intervene because of the incident where Shen Yuantang stormed the Marquis of Jining's residence.
How could someone like that marry into his son's backyard?
After much deliberation, Emperor Renxiao could only accept that Shen Yuantang would marry his son as a concubine, as a way of giving face to the Shen family.
Given the disgraceful things Shen Yuantang did before, I believe the Shen family can understand his good intentions.
Just as he was about to announce the results, a palace attendant rushed in to report.
They didn't dare to announce it aloud, but first whispered it to Wang Bao, who then reported it to Emperor Renxiao.
Upon hearing what had happened, Emperor Renxiao slammed his fist on the table several times in anger, nearly smashing it to pieces.
"You bastards, you're all utterly lawless!"
"Empress, please go and see for me."
Qi Yingqun rose gracefully and was led away by a palace attendant.
A short while later, a palace attendant came to report to Emperor Renxiao.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. After listening, Emperor Renxiao's breathing became disordered, and he appeared to be in a fit of rage.
Zhou Ruyuan and Shen Yuantang, kneeling on the ground, didn't dare to breathe.
Emperor Renxiao got up and paced back and forth in the room a few times in a fit of anger. The literary banquet was about to begin, but no one dared to urge him to start.
In the end, it was Emperor Renxiao who insisted on attending the banquet for reciting literature, arguing that such trivial matters of the inner quarters should not interfere with important state affairs.
"Lanxi, stay!"
Shen Lanxi lowered her eyes and waited respectfully beside Emperor Renxiao.
"Lanxi, go and investigate. Once you find out who it is, no matter who it is, I will show no leniency!"
Shen Lanxi took the imperial edict to carry out her duties, and the afternoon's literary banquet was not affected at all, remaining as popular as ever.
No one could tell that on the high platform, the dignified and composed Emperor Renxiao was actually harboring a storm of emotions.
After the banquet for reciting literature ended, Shen Lanxi had already found out the details of what Emperor Renxiao had asked her to do.
"After lunch, the eldest daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was on her way to change when she was pushed into the water. Shen Yuanxu happened to be passing by and, seeing someone fall into the water, jumped in and rescued the eldest daughter."
"This scene was then witnessed by those who came to the banquet to recite literature. I questioned them one by one, and they said they were guided by someone who said someone had fallen into the water and asked them to come and save him. I have also found the person who asked for help. He was a palace servant who was in charge of rough work. When I found him, he had already hanged himself."
Emperor Renxiao's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Fine, there's no way to prove it now that they're dead!"
Shen Lanxi: "This person is from the palace, and I have no right to investigate. I ask Your Majesty to make the decision."
Emperor Renxiao: "Wang Bao, go and investigate!"
Wang Bao: "Yes!"
Shen Lanxi summarized the case: "I suspect that the mastermind deliberately ruined the reputation of the Vice Minister's eldest daughter or drowned her. At the same time, I also asked Shen Yuanxu. He was looking for my sister at the time and happened to pass by there. His page can testify, as can the students and servants he questioned along the way. He kept asking along the way until he reached the place where the Vice Minister's eldest daughter had an accident."
What she said, Emperor Renxiao would naturally verify.
Shen Lanxi's opening sentence reminded him of something.
Some people did not want the eldest daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel to marry Zhou Ruyuan.
Shen Lanxi continued her report: "I asked Shen Yuantang, and before lunch, a maid claiming to be from the Marquis of Jining's residence invited her to the pavilion to talk. After she went there as instructed, she was drugged and knocked unconscious. When she woke up, she was like this."
"I have also verified with the Prince of Zhennan. He drank a cup of tea during lunch, felt unwell, and wanted to rest in his room for a while. When he woke up, he was already like this."
The last sentence saved face for the two of them; when they woke up, they were caught in bed together by everyone.
"I suspect that all three of them, including the eldest daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, have been framed!"
Emperor Renxiao was well aware that such methods were clearly a frame-up, an attempt to make a final decision.
When Zhou Ruyuan heard Shen Lanxi speak up for him, he felt bitter.
"Father, I am innocent! Please, Father, do justice for me!"
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