Chapter 414 First Rank, Princess Lanxi!
Emperor Renxiao was taken aback. What did she mean?
Shen Lanxi: "When the Shen family was exiled, Lanxi couldn't bear the blow and her hair turned white overnight. At that time, Lanxi had to support her family and couldn't let outsiders see it, so she found ink and dyed her hair black to hide it for a while."
Emperor Renxiao felt a mix of emotions upon hearing this. He appreciated the hardships the younger man had endured, but also felt a sense of sympathy for the two of them.
She continued, "Then Lanxi discovered that while ink could indeed dye hair black, it would smudge and stain her face black whenever it came into contact with water or sweat. Later, on her way to exile, Lanxi met a merchant who sold hair powder. This merchant came from a century-old family, but the members of the family would turn gray very early. So they specially developed a hair dye that wouldn't fade when it came into contact with water. Over time, you could simply reapply the hair dye to the gray hairs that had grown back."
Emperor Renxiao was somewhat skeptical that such a magical thing existed, and stared curiously at Shen Lanxi's hair.
Shen Lanxi opened her hair in front of Emperor Renxiao.
“Uncle, in order to remember the hardships I endured during my exile, when I dyed my hair, I specifically asked that a strand be left in the middle as a memento.”
Emperor Renxiao saw it; there was indeed a strand of white hair mixed in with Shen Lanxi's black hair on the top of her head.
No wonder she often wore men's hairstyles; it was to cover up the middle strand.
Wang Bao took the hair dye to the imperial physician for examination. After confirming it was free of poison, he nodded to Emperor Renxiao.
"How do you dye it? Lanxi, hurry up and dye your uncle's hair." Emperor Renxiao was overjoyed, and he didn't even care about the news of his son's death that he had received yesterday.
He has many princes, but there is only one throne.
He's just a rebellious son; he can't shake his throne.
After demonstrating, Shen Lanxi began to teach the palace maids step by step.
Two hours later, Emperor Renxiao looked at his dried black hair in the mirror and was somewhat dazed.
Was his hair always this black?
"Your Majesty's black hair makes you look more than ten years younger," Wang Bao exclaimed in amazement.
Emperor Renxiao felt a different sensation as he stood before the bronze mirror.
He had just tested it, and the black dye really wouldn't fade.
Lanxi is truly his savior!
Emperor Renxiao had figured out how to reward Shen Lanxi.
Lanxi's character is comparable to that of a princess.
No sooner had Shen Lanxi returned to her residence than the imperial edict arrived.
"By the grace of Heaven... Shen Lanxi is hereby granted the title of Princess Lanxi, of the first rank, and is granted a princess's residence and a fief of one thousand households..."
Wang Bao smiled and handed the imperial edict to Shen Lanxi.
"Congratulations, Princess Lanxi! Princess Lanxi is the first princess of a different surname in our Great Zhou Dynasty. Congratulations!"
Shen Lanxi personally handed over a heavy sum of money for tea, and each of the people who came to deliver the imperial decree received a portion.
"His Majesty said that such a big event should definitely be celebrated. However, since the Fifth Prince had an accident in Yanghe, we should still keep a low profile."
Shen Lanxi: "Thank you for the reminder, Father-in-law. Lanxi understands."
After seeing Wang Bao off, Shen Lanxi opened the note, read it, and casually tossed it into the tea stove.
"His Majesty does not intend to pursue the Fifth Prince openly, but the court will send someone to take over the 200,000 troops he brought!"
Che Mingyuan: "Will His Majesty send an official to take over?"
Shen Lanxi: "Logically, this matter should be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War. Most of Zhou Ruyuan's troops have been sent to the southwest, so he certainly won't let this opportunity pass him by."
Che Mingyuan laughed and said, "After the incident with the Fifth Prince, His Majesty is clearly wary of princes taking command of the army. We should remain inactive at this time."
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Not bad!"
She does have a holiday.
How are my father and grandmother's health?
Che Mingyuan: "My lord has been busy with official duties and has not visited you for a long time. If the court officials had any free time, they would surely accuse him of being unfilial."
Shen Lanxi: "Then I will go and fulfill my filial duties."
...
The news that Shen Lanxi had been made a princess did not cause much of a stir.
His Majesty had already appointed Shen Lanxi as a regent minister. How could a mere princess compare to a powerful regent minister?
Even if the title sounds good and the fief is large, it's just a nice-sounding name; you can't actually get it.
The fact that the imperial court was short of money and the national treasury was empty was common knowledge throughout the court.
The Ministry of Revenue receives three memorials a day requesting money; if all the memorials were piled up, they would be as high as a roof.
"The Duke of Protectorate has returned to his residence!" The gatekeeper ran in from a distance to announce.
The Shen family was shrouded in gloom for a time, especially after Shen Lanxi left the capital to rescue the eldest prince. Under the guise of protection, Emperor Renxiao placed the Shen family under partial confinement.
The Shen family's gate has not been opened for a long time.
Several guards followed behind Shen Lanxi, carrying gifts, most of which were royal items bearing imperial insignia.
"Is Grandmother feeling any better?"
Shen Lanxi had someone put the things in the yard.
"These are all His Majesty's appreciations. Grandmother, please decide how to distribute them!"
After seeing the item, Old Madam Shen's anger dissipated considerably.
"My grandson has worked so hard, he's gotten thin and dark." What's the point of dividing things up? Do those traitors deserve her good things?
Soon she had everyone move all the items to her storeroom.
"His Majesty sent me on a mission, so I haven't had time to attend to things at home."
Madam Shen: "National affairs are of utmost importance. Grandmother is here to look after things at home."
Seeing that there were still festive items in the house that hadn't been removed, Shen Lanxi chatted with Old Madam Shen for a bit.
“With Yuan Xin and Yuan Ruan getting married one after another, and several other young ladies having their weddings scheduled, we won’t remove these decorations from the mansion; let’s just add to the festive atmosphere.”
Shen Lanxi reminded her, "Grandmother, it's going to be demolished." She then told her the news of the Fifth Prince's death.
"Although everyone in the capital knows that the Fifth Prince is plotting a rebellion, who dares to say anything if His Majesty doesn't give the order?"
Old Madam Shen was shocked, but said with relief, "Fortunately, this news did not spread, and the people did not know about it."
Shen Lanxi: "The marriages of my younger sisters still need to be considered. If His Majesty announces a funeral, we must not clash with the date."
Madam Shen wrote it down, and then hurriedly ordered the servants to take down all the red cloth and red lanterns in the courtyard.
"Put it in the warehouse first. If there's no reaction, then take it out and use it."
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "With Grandmother as the pillar of the Shen family, I feel much more at ease when I'm out and about."
Old Madam Shen glanced at Shen Lanxi secretly, and seeing that she was smiling without any qualms, she slowly looked away.
After leaving the old lady's courtyard, I went to my mother's courtyard.
"Mother, Lanxi is back." Shen Lanxi ordered someone to put the things she brought aside.
Zhou Xinrou glanced at it casually and then looked away.
"It's good to be back. Get some rest."
"I apologize for causing my mother worry. His Majesty has granted me a few days' leave."
Zhou Xinrou looked up at her; she could see this daughter less and less clearly.
"Go back, Yuan Tang should be here soon." The two bumped into each other, and they were about to start arguing again, which was very annoying.
"I won't disturb Mother's rest."
After she left, she ran into Liu.
The three sisters-in-law, surnamed Liu, Miao, and Tian, have been busy with the weddings of their younger relatives lately, and they're so busy they're practically dizzy.
The wedding dates of the sons and daughters in the family were almost all scheduled together, and the three sisters-in-law had to handle all the arrangements.
Among these matters was her second son Shen Yuankun's marriage, and she was worried about not finding someone to handle the matter.
"Lanxi, that's wonderful! I've finally run into you." Liu said with a happy expression.
Shen Lanxi: "Second Aunt, is something the matter?"
Liu slowly wiped the smile off her face, her expression full of embarrassment.
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