Chapter 77 The eldest branch of the Shen family has been arrested!
After hearing this, Madam Shen stepped forward and kicked Zhang Zifen.
"Useless thing, eldest son. Mother wanted her to replace you. Who would have thought that this spineless thing would act high and mighty when she wasn't needed, but when she was needed, she was as rotten as a lump of mud, utterly useless. If I had known this would happen, I would never have let you bring her into the family!"
The more Madam Shen spoke, the more regretful she became. This Zhang Zifen was her cousin from her maternal side. She had seemed filial and respectful, always trying to please her, but who would have thought it was all an act? She was actually so selfish and self-serving, unable to even share hardships with her son. She had truly been blind before.
Madam Shen was furious and slapped Zhang Zifen's face ten times in a row. She only stopped when her hand hurt from hitting her!
Zhang Zifen's face was about to be smashed because her mouth was gagged. She gritted her teeth and was willing to be disfigured as long as she was not sent to her death!
Seeing his mother stagger and about to fall, Shen Congwen quickly reached out to steady her.
"Mother, don't get too upset. It's fine if we go and act as bait, so that most of the Shen family can stay safe!"
That was Madam Shen's plan, but Shen Congwen was, after all, her own flesh and blood. Watching her son die was like a knife to her heart.
Especially in such a critical moment, she thought more and more about her eldest son. Old Madam Shen held her son's hand tightly.
"Boss, do we really have to go and be bait? Can't we split up?"
Shen Congwen shook his head with a wry smile: "If we didn't stand in their way, those people would have arrested all the members of the Shen family!"
Madam Shen moved her lips, but said nothing, and could only keep pounding her chest.
"If your mother could go in your place, your mother would go in your place..."
Hearing his mother defend him so fiercely, Shen Congwen was deeply moved.
"Sacrificing a few of us to keep our father and mother safe is worth it!"
Liu Yanhui didn't believe that Shen Lanxi was completely unprepared.
"Hurry up, Tiger Liu is about to rush us!"
Wei Rulan stepped forward: "I am willing to be the bait, I only ask that my two sons and one daughter leave with the old lady!"
Madam Shen looked at Wei Rulan with emotion: "You are a good person. If you can come back safely, I will make the decision to promote you to a concubine."
Wei Rulan smiled bitterly to herself. At this point, who still cares about social status?
But she said words of gratitude: "Thank you, Madam!"
Old Madam Shen looked touched and said, "From now on, call me Mother!" After she finished speaking, she immediately glared at Zhang Zifen.
"You filthy woman, you are never allowed to call me mother again. As long as I am alive, you will always be the lowest of concubines."
Shen Yuanjing and his siblings said, "Father and grandmother, we are also willing to be bait."
The three siblings, Shen Yuanxin, Shen Yuanzhao, and Shen Yuanqing, said: "Father, Grandmother, we are willing too!"
When Wei Rulan heard her children say this, she was extremely anxious.
She was willing to sacrifice herself to protect her children, but why couldn't they understand her good intentions? Why were they blindly joining in the fun?
Liu Laohu rushed over: "Have you made up your mind yet?"
Liu Yan replied: "Alright, alright!"
"Hurry up and split up, or it will be too late!" The other prisoners had all been arranged, leaving only the Shen family.
The Shen family members quickly ran towards the direction of the yamen runners.
Zhang Zifen's two daughters quickly ran over to untie her and helped her away. Her son had already abandoned her and run over ahead of her.
Shen Yuanjing glanced in Shen Yuanxin's direction and snorted coldly, "Pathetic!"
The other younger members knew who he was talking about, and they all kept their faces expressionless and remained silent.
Liu Laohu left them a horse-drawn carriage, some food and water, and after making the arrangements, he left with his men without stopping.
Shen Lanxi let Wang's mother and her family leave with Liu Laohu, leaving Chunxue and Qiushuang by her side.
Seeing that Liu Yanhui was still not leaving, she urged, "Aren't you leaving?"
Liu Yan replied, "Young Master will always need someone to purchase goods and watch over the carriages."
Shen Lanxi: "Does Liu Laohu agree?"
Liu Yan replied, "I'll temporarily entrust half of the money I have to him for safekeeping!"
Shen Lanxi still didn't agree: "I'm giving you a task..."
Liu Yanhui's eyes lit up after hearing this.
"Rest assured, young master, I will definitely wipe out the troops before you return!"
Shen Lanxi personally escorted Liu Yan back to the team!
The Shen family's main branch had already set off ahead, and they had only gone a short distance when a troop of soldiers came to meet them!
In the blink of an eye, the soldiers surrounded the carriage!
"Yes or no?"
One of them unfolds the portrait.
Yes, it's them!
"Why are there only a few people? Where are the others?"
Shen Yuanjing used the story they had discussed earlier, feigning panic, and said, "Sir, we encountered refugees on our way here, and we got separated while running away!"
The officials did not believe it.
"Look around!"
The Shen family members in the car immediately felt their hearts pounding!
The searchers dismounted at the fork in the road to examine the tracks: "There are cart tracks, hoofprints, and footprints in several directions. They must have run in different directions!"
"Split into two teams, and chase in two different directions!"
"yes!"
"Put them in the prison van and send them to Tianjin!"
"yes!"
The Third Princess was looking for them, so they decided to surprise her by going to her doorstep!
"Young master, they've left. Let's follow them!"
After confirming that her family members were not in immediate danger, Shen Lanxi was in no hurry to chase after them.
"If we chase after them now, we'll only be ambushed!"
Chunxue was at a loss and asked, "Then what should we do?"
Shen Lanxi: "Let's find a place to switch from horse-drawn carriages to mule carts first, then go into the city to rest for the night and replenish our supplies."
The carriage was too conspicuous.
Wei Jiajun couldn't understand this Young Master Lan anymore.
She taught the Shen family martial arts to protect themselves, provided them with money, food, and medicine, and made so many other arrangements, clearly showing that she was protecting the Shen family.
But today, with the bait and the promise of resting in the city, it seems like they don't care about the Shen family's life or death.
What is this person thinking?
Upon entering the city again, people were much more relaxed. Although some people were still comparing their portraits, they just glanced at them perfunctorily, probably without even getting a clear look at their faces.
They found an inn to stay in, and Chunxue and Qiushuang went to replenish their supplies. All the supplies they brought were taken away by Liu Laohu and Li Mama.
Shen Lanxi drank a cup of tea and then went out.
~
"Brother, Young Master Lan went to the pharmacy and bought a lot of medicine, then went to the dried goods store and bought a lot of dried goods, then went to the clothing store, the grain store... He bought a lot of things and has already made six trips to deliver them to the inn, and he's still buying!"
"He really does seem to be resupplying!"
Wei Dongzhu instructed intently, "You two quietly follow behind the Shen family members, and don't let anyone notice!"
"Brother, those people are going to harm the Shen family. Should we save them?"
After a moment of silence, Wei Dongzhu said, "Save them, but don't let them get you hurt. You are more important than them!"
"yes!"
"Have the people keeping watch withdraw and go procure supplies."
"yes!"
Zhang Niu brought over a bowl of dark, sticky ointment.
"It's time to apply the medicine. Your injuries are healing very well. I reckon that before winter, your scars will be completely healed!"
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