Chapter 376 Old Madam Shen's Plans!
Hu Jinyu felt shy again, and at the same time, she was even more annoyed. Why did Shen Lanxi always speak to her in such a tone, like an elder speaking to a younger generation? And all the young men in the family listened attentively without uttering a single objection.
“Yuanxu has already told me that it’s all thanks to your help in arranging things. Studying at Bailu Academy may seem like a lowly position, but it’s actually much better than the job my father and brothers got for him. Without any official rank, even if he went to the Ministry of Rites, he wouldn’t be able to advance in the end.”
Shen Lanxi looked at her seriously: "You almost became the Princess of Zhennan. Now you've married into our Shen family, especially Yuan Xu. It's a great honor for our Shen family and for Yuan Xu as well."
Hu Jinyu's eyes deepened, and she had already made up her mind. She spoke sincerely, "Actually, I've thought about it. Marrying into the Shen family and marrying Yuan Xu is much better than marrying the Prince of Zhennan."
Shen Lanxi listened quietly.
“I’ve heard people say that the men of the Shen family are not allowed to take concubines. As a woman, I don’t have such lofty ambitions. I just want my husband and I to have a harmonious marriage, my children to be smart and sensible, and my family to live in peace and harmony. Before I even married the Prince of Zhennan, his harem was already like that. It was completely contrary to what I had hoped for.”
Shen Lanxi nodded: "You're a very perceptive person. Follow Yuan Xu closely, and I won't treat you unfairly."
After Hu Jinyu opened up to him, her smile became more genuine, and she spoke more naturally.
"When does Your Excellency plan to arrange for Yuanxu to go there?"
Shen Lanxi thought for a moment and said, "Yuanxu genuinely loves reading. We can have him visit Mr. Ruohua at the academy under the guise of a formality, and hear his plans."
Hu Jinyu: "Is that Mr. Ruohua who taught the family before?" I only heard that my uncle invited him, I didn't hear that he was also familiar with Shen Lanxi.
"Yes, once you see Mr. Ruohua, just follow his instructions!"
Having made up her mind, Hu Jinyu immediately began thinking about what kind of generous gift she should prepare for the trip.
After the two parted, Shen Lanxi saw Shen Yuantang again. Judging from the direction she was coming from, she must have just come from her mother's place.
"Big sister~" Shen Yuantang's tone unconsciously carried an air of arrogance.
Shen Lanxi glanced at the things carried by the two maids behind Shen Yuantang and immediately understood. She had gone to her mother to ask for things, and must have gotten quite a few good ones, which explained her late arrival.
"Were you also summoned by your grandmother?" Shen Lanxi asked casually.
Shen Yuantang froze. Her grandmother had previously told her to help out at home. She was fine with helping out at home, but helping that illegitimate son? No way!
She would never forget how that bitch Zhang Zifen treated them on the road to exile, and the few stupid and despicable children she gave birth to were no better.
"I've already spoken to my grandmother. I'm here specifically to wait for my eldest sister." Recalling what happened in the Golden Palace today, her good mood was overtaken by anger.
"Big sister, even if the prince offended you in the past, so much time has passed, you can't keep holding onto it!" Shen Yuantang found Shen Lanxi, his older sister, increasingly displeasing.
Why doesn't she mention Xiangxiang, her younger sister, at all?
Shen Lanxi's face darkened, and she said coldly, "I have long since severed all ties with him. It's just that there are always some people who are resentful and jealous of me, who always dig up past events to use them to belittle and criticize me!"
Shen Yuantang's heart skipped a beat. Was her older sister criticizing her?
Isn't what she said true? Is there anything wrong with it?
"Big sister, I'm your own sister. You won't help me, but why are you making things difficult for me at every turn?" Shen Yuantang's knees started to ache at the thought of going to the palace to see Consort Shu tomorrow.
"I don't know when I made things difficult for you. Why don't you tell me one by one so I can refute you?" Since Madam Shen hadn't shown up yet, she was happy to teach her own sister a lesson.
Shen Yuantang's face twisted slightly. She had already said so much, and her older sister still wouldn't admit it?
What kind of older sister is she!
"Today in the main hall, the Prince was about to return, but if it weren't for my elder sister mentioning Princess Yuxue, how could the Prince have continued to stay in Xishan?"
Shen Lanxi: "You yourself said that the order for the Prince of Zhennan to stay in Xishan was given in the main hall, so it must have been His Majesty who issued it. Are you dissatisfied with His Majesty's imperial edict?"
Shen Yuantang's face immediately turned pale. She was talking about Shen Lanxi. Why was she bringing up His Majesty?
In a few days, her mother agreed to take her to the palace. Once she became familiar with her uncle, the Emperor, she would be the one he favored. Let's see if she would still dare to be so arrogant then.
"Elder sister, don't always use His Majesty as an excuse to intimidate others. I am also my mother's daughter, and His Majesty is also my uncle. How could I be dissatisfied with him?" Shen Yuantang's tone unconsciously became provocative.
Upon hearing her so-called title, Shen Lanxi sneered.
"Since you are so close to His Majesty, I suppose if you were to ask him to rescind his decree, he would agree."
Shen Yuantang's smile froze, and his eyes flickered with confusion.
"Big sister, I am your own sister. I hope that you will consider the bond of blood before making any decisions in the future."
“I just got married to the prince, and he was sent to Xishan and had to stay there for so long. Do you know what the noble ladies in the capital are saying about me?” Shen Yuantang said, her anger rising uncontrollably.
Shen Lanxi looked at her coldly: "When His Majesty sent Zhou Ru'an to suppress the bandits, didn't you tell me to plead with His Majesty to give him the task instead?"
Shen Yuantang clenched his handkerchief, his eyes darting away.
Shen Lanxi: "Last time His Majesty spoke the truth, and you came to make trouble for me. This time it's His Majesty speaking the truth again, and you still come to make trouble for me. Shen Yuantang, we've only had a few good days at home, and you want to cause trouble for the family already?"
Shen Yuantang wanted to retort, but couldn't find the words.
Fortunately, at that moment, a maid came to call them, and Old Madam Shen, despite her illness, got up.
"You've all come!"
The entire Shen family was present, including even the elderly Mr. Shen, who no longer recognized people and whose legs were starting to malfunction; he was carried along.
"Mother, why are you bringing up Father too?" Shen Congwen asked, frowning.
Madam Shen glared at her eldest son: "Of course, it's because my words carry no weight."
Shen Lanxi sat there calmly, her eyes downcast.
"The engagement ceremony for the princess and Yuanxin is about to begin, but there isn't a single tael of silver in the family account. If the wedding goes badly, His Majesty will punish Yuanxin, not just the princess."
"Our Shen family prospers together, and suffers together. If the younger generation's wedding is not splendid, it is because the elders in the family have failed in their duty, and you will be the ones who lose face." Old Madam Shen said this and took three sips of water.
"I called you all here today because I wanted you to chip in. You uncles all have to lend a hand!"
After speaking, Madam Shen glanced at Hu Jinyu, who obediently stood behind Shen Yuanxu, her hands still busy unraveling the embroidery thread.
Shen Lanxi twitched her lips and looked away.
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