Chapter 423 Shen Congwen's condition worsens!
After Zhou Ruyuan returned to the capital, the imperial decree for the marriage had already been issued, and everything was settled.
In order to appease Zhou Ruyuan and the court officials, Emperor Renxiao used the Imperial Observatory and Song Daoxi as scapegoats.
"The Imperial Observatory calculated that the late Empress still missed the First Prince after her passing. The First Prince is now all alone, and I am uneasy and cannot sleep at night. The Imperial Advisor calculated that the daughter of the Vice Minister of War is very pleasing to the late Empress. My actions are to appease the spirit of the late Empress."
What could the court officials say?
There isn't a single capable prince in the capital; what good would their opposition do?
His Majesty's intentions are as clear as day!
After Zhou Ruyuan returned to the capital, the imperial edict had already been issued, and he had no right to object, so he could only grit his teeth and accept it.
Why can't it be someone else? Why does it have to be the legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of War?
Does Father not know that he had contact with this woman before?
Father, oh Father, are you not even willing to cover up your favoritism now?
Regardless of Zhou Ruyuan's complaints, Shen Lanxi stood side by side with him and reported back to Emperor Renxiao.
"Your Majesty, I have returned with my troops. They are all soldiers who are wholeheartedly dedicated to protecting the Great Zhou. They are assigned by their superiors and subordinates and will obey orders!"
The Fifth Prince did not utter a single word about plotting rebellion, but his meaning was already very clear.
Emperor Renxiao was very satisfied when he saw the military tally handed over.
With this military tally in his hands, they can only obey his commands from now on.
"Lanxi, these people need to get new soldier tags and undergo retraining before they are incorporated into the Imperial Guard. Let the Ministry of War handle this matter. They can be incorporated into the Imperial Guard after they have completed their training."
Shen Lanxi had already guessed that these men and their forces would not be easily handed over to her.
"Your Majesty is wise."
Lanxi is very obedient, unlike some people who openly defy others and constantly make moves behind their backs.
Emperor Renxiao's eyes were cold and brooding, and he felt a tickle in his throat again, so he quickly drank some tea to suppress it.
Next came the funeral of the Fifth Prince. With Emperor Renxiao's approval, Shen Lanxi helped with the arrangements.
This matter is not urgent; we still need to wait for the descendants of the Fifth Prince to arrive from Xihua Continent.
...
The current Shen Lanxi is no longer the same as before.
The noblewomen entering the palace, seeing Shen Lanxi walking towards them with a sword at her waist, instinctively bowed in greeting.
Shen Lanxi holds the rank of a first-grade official. Although they have imperial titles, what does an imperial title mean?
Their titles were earned by their own men. Just as their men were ranked among men, they were ranked among women.
Someone had previously spread a rumor that Shen Lanxi wasn't sitting at the same table as them.
She was someone who could compete with men for rank. How could those women who earned their titles through men compare to her, who earned her first rank through her own efforts?
How can you compare a stone to gold?
"Lord Shen!"
When Shen Lanxi approached, they curtsied.
Shen Lanxi nodded slightly and walked over without even pausing.
That's the difference!
After Shen Lanxi walked away, the younger one immediately spoke up in protest.
"Madam, you are an elder, why are you bowing to her?"
"Fool, don't say such stupid things in front of outsiders. Shen Lanxi has a higher official rank than your grandfather and my husband. If I'm no longer in power, am I just going to wait to be accused of not knowing the proper order of rank?"
The child, though young, shrank back in fear and dared not utter another word.
She was about the same age as Shen Lanxi. Shen Lanxi could roam freely in the palace with a sword, while she could only bow and be reprimanded by her grandmother.
~
No sooner had Shen Lanxi returned home than people from the Shen family arrived.
"Sir, the old lady requests your presence. She says that Lord Shen's leg injury has worsened."
Shen Lanxi frowned: "If your injuries are serious, go see the imperial physician. Why are you looking for me?"
"That means the injury isn't that serious!"
Shen Lanxi raised the corners of her mouth and smiled: "That makes sense."
~
When she arrived, all the members of the eldest and youngest branches of the family were at home taking care of her.
"Elder sister, the imperial physician has come to see us and said that Father's leg injury is showing signs of worsening."
Shen Lanxi: "Wasn't it almost better? How did it get worse again?"
Shen Yuanqing glanced at Shen Yuanxin without making a sound.
"Yuan Xin, you speak," Shen Lanxi asked coldly.
Zhou Yunhui: "Elder sister, please don't blame Yuanxin. Blame me. I sent my maid to serve Father, thinking it would take better care of him, but who would have thought..."
Shen Lanxi saw Zhou Yunhui's affected manner and knew what had happened without even asking.
Zhou Yunhui continued, "Elder sister, with the addition of new members to the family, the current house is too crowded, which is not good for Father's recovery."
Shen Yuanxin: "Elder sister, why don't we let Father stay at your residence temporarily, and then move him back after he recovers!"
Shen Lanxi was so angry she laughed. So that was what he was planning.
"Shen Yuanxin, did you come up with this idea, or did someone in your room come up with it?" Shen Lanxi made no attempt to hide her intentions, almost directly pointing out Zhou Yunhui's name.
"Big sister, what do you mean by that? My husband just wants Father's injury to heal faster. How can you doubt our good intentions?" Zhou Yunhui said, her voice tinged with grievance and reproach.
Shen Lanxi's eyes turned icy cold: "I'm talking about you!"
Zhou Yunhui's eyes widened in disbelief that Shen Lanxi would speak so bluntly about her, disregarding her status as a princess.
"Big sister, no matter what, I am still a princess of the royal family. Your public criticism of me is disrespectful to the royal family!"
Shen Lanxi retorted sarcastically, "Who isn't a princess?"
Zhou Yunhui was taken aback, only then remembering that Shen Lanxi had already been granted the title of First-Rank Princess. Although she was also a princess, she was only a Third-Rank Princess.
Jealousy nearly contorted her face.
"Elder sister, we're talking about Father right now. He's clearly not able to rest and recover peacefully at home. You live alone in such a large mansion, can't you let Father stay there to recuperate?"
"If outsiders find out, they will definitely say that the eldest sister is unfilial."
Shen Lanxi: "Slap him!"
Before Zhou Yunhui could react, a slap had already landed on her face.
"You are now a member of the Shen family. The Shen family's prosperity and decline are intertwined. If you say I am unfilial, then you are saying that the descendants of the Shen family are unfilial. Today, on behalf of the ancestors of the Shen family, I will teach you what the etiquette of a great family is!"
Zhou Yunhui's eyes widened, her anger and shock turning into tears that filled her eyes.
"Big sister, I am a princess. If you dare to hit me, you are slapping the face of the royal family. Aren't you afraid I'll go to the palace and complain to His Majesty?"
Shen Lanxi: "Go ahead, but today, once you leave the Shen family's gates, you are no longer a member of the Shen family."
“My eldest brother is like a father, and my eldest sister is like a mother. Today, I will write you a letter of divorce on behalf of my mother. Go ahead and complain to whomever you want!”
Just as Shen Yuanxin was about to step forward to argue, he was caught between the Shen brothers, Shen Yuanpeng and Shen Yuanhao, and was unable to move.
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