Chapter 367 Marquis of Yong'an, Zhao Zheng!
Shen Congwen usually couldn't be bothered with such mundane matters, but he realized this only after hearing Liu say that.
"Second sister-in-law, you can arrange it!"
Madam Miao: "Shang Princess also requires betrothal gifts and engagement, so these need to be prepared." Not only should they be prepared, but they should also be prepared in a respectable manner.
Madam Tian: "There isn't much money left in the mansion."
Shen Lanxi stood up: "Since everything is alright, I'll go back to my duty. The Imperial Guard still needs to close the case regarding the princess's incident at the Shen family."
Ignoring Shen Congwen's face, which was as black as iron, Shen Lanxi turned and left.
...
"My lord, Wu Tong did not go to the Left Prime Minister's residence after waking up," a guard reported.
Shen Lanxi: "There's no need to keep an eye on that side anymore. With something like this happening to the Shen family, he definitely doesn't want to get involved."
"yes!"
Unexpectedly, the grand gift she had carefully planned was intercepted by Shen Yuanxin.
You really underestimated him.
However, one person unexpectedly benefited from this incident, and the eldest princess was released from confinement.
"Have someone remove the people from Xishan."
"yes!"
~
After the eldest princess was released from confinement, she immediately held a flower-viewing banquet, inviting many women from the capital. The Shen family also received an invitation, and even sent a separate one to the Duke of Juding's mansion.
"Sir, isn't this supposed to be a flower viewing banquet? Why does it say 'mourning old friends' on the invitation?" Che Mingyuan immediately suspected something was amiss with the invitation.
Shen Lanxi: "She wants to use Zhou Yunxue to get me to the princess's residence."
Che Mingyuan: "Are you going?"
Shen Lanxi: "Let's put it on hold for now and decide on it later that day."
"yes!"
The following day, rumors about Princess Yuxue began to circulate among the young ladies of noble families.
"I heard that Princess Yuxue's reputation was ruined when she died."
"Even the autopsies couldn't bear to look at the bodies..."
"I heard it's been completely ruined, and the Prince Ji's mansion is now closed."
"Anyone would be ashamed to face others after such a disgraceful incident."
"Stop talking! The Zhao family is here!"
Shen Lanxi looked at the person walking towards her, a look of doubt flashing in her eyes.
Since the Marquis of Yong'an relinquished his military power, he has lived a secluded life, and his only bloodline member, due to a physical defect, never appears in public.
If she hadn't seen him before when the Zhenbei Army returned to the capital, she might not have recognized him.
They had never crossed paths; the only connection they had was with Zhao Zheng's ex-fiancée, Zhou Yunxue.
"Lord Shen!" Zhao Zheng called out to her as she passed by.
Shen Lanxi naturally didn't think that seeing Zhao Zheng here was a coincidence. Even if it wasn't a coincidence, she would make it seem like a coincidence on the surface.
"Who are you?"
Zhao Zheng: "Marquis of Yong'an, Zhao Zheng."
Shen Lanxi frowned, thought for a moment and said, "Although I have been back in the capital for some time, I am not very familiar with the scions of aristocratic families."
Zhao Zheng: "My father is Zhao Qinggeng. I inherited the title three years ago."
Shen Lanxi raised the corners of her mouth: "Now that you say so, I know."
Zhao Zheng's legs were born one longer than the other, causing him to walk with a wobbly gait.
He walked a few steps to Shen Lanxi, his tone seemingly calm, but carrying a hint of questioning.
"You are on good terms with Princess Yuxue, and I thought you were very good friends."
Shen Lanxi: "It wasn't very good. When the Shen family was exiled, the Ji Prince's Mansion did not plead for them."
Zhao Zheng was taken aback, but quickly suppressed his emotions.
"It was my rashness."
Shen Lanxi replied with a smile, "It's not your fault, it has nothing to do with you!"
Zhao Zheng didn't know how to continue after saying that.
"I know why you've come. You just want to say that we're such good friends, and now I've heard people talking badly about her, defiling her reputation, yet I stood by and did nothing to stop them, making you think I'm heartless and ungrateful."
If Shen Lanxi hadn't initially mentioned pleading for the Shen family's exile, Zhao Zheng would still be so confident now.
Now, it would be rather rude of him to speak again.
"I'm sorry, just pretend I didn't say that." Knowing he was in the wrong, Zhao Zheng tried to leave.
Shen Lanxi's smile vanished, her eyes turned cold, and she began to question him.
"If you really love Zhou Yunxue so much and want to protect her, why didn't you stand up for her and marry her when she fell into the water? You two were already engaged, weren't you?"
Zhao Zheng's expression tightened, and he stared blankly into thought.
Shen Lanxi: "I hate people who say they have no choice but to do something, but then start blaming others when time has passed."
Zhao Zheng felt a little embarrassed and immediately retorted, "You're not in my position, how could you know my difficulties?"
“You’re a woman, you don’t have to shoulder the burden of the family. I’m a man, I have to support the Yong’an Marquis’s mansion… Never mind, why should I tell you all this? You wouldn’t understand anyway.” Zhao Zheng left with a wry smile.
Shen Lanxi said sarcastically, "It's laughable how people always make excuses for themselves. If students get up late, they tell the teachers at the academy that they studied too late last night. If merchants don't want to pay so much tax, they tell the government that business is bad and they haven't opened as many shops. If a couple is growing distant, they'll use the excuse of marital discord, saying that they can't reason with me and that I'm a woman and can't understand."
"I am a woman, but apart from that, how am I different from men?"
"Is it that I am incapable of fighting on the battlefield? Or that I am incapable of offering advice and discussing national affairs in the court?"
“I don’t know how difficult it is for you to support a small family like the Marquis’s mansion, but I do know that our Shen family now has two mansions, and our weddings and funerals are becoming increasingly prosperous. Our house is always bustling with visitors, so it’s not that difficult to support us!”
Zhao Zheng's face had turned ashen; he never expected to be lectured so thoroughly by a woman.
"Shen Lanxi, I have already apologized to you, why are you being so aggressive?"
What does a woman like her know? Does she even know how much His Majesty fears the Marquis of Yong'an's mansion?
She doesn't understand anything!
Shen Lanxi snorted coldly: "I advise you to continue to stay in the manor and live a secluded life. Otherwise, if someone with ulterior motives finds out that you are speaking up for Zhou Yunxue, they will definitely spread rumors that you still have feelings for her!"
Zhao Zheng glared angrily: "Yun Xue has already suffered enough. Why do you want to tarnish her reputation after she's dead?"
Shen Lanxi: "From beginning to end, I haven't mentioned Zhou Yunxue once. It's you who have been constantly speaking out for Zhou Yunxue. I am a woman, I don't need to care about my career, and I'm not afraid of being slandered. If you have any harsh words, Marquis Yong'an, please say them. I'll have my attendants record them so I can report to His Majesty tomorrow. At that time, all the civil and military officials will surely praise Marquis Zhao for his deep affection!"
Zhao Zheng was so angry that his face turned ashen. Shen Lanxi was only relying on Wei Dongzhu by her side. If she were on her own, she would probably have died in Dongchuan long ago.
"Hmph!" Zhao Zheng snorted coldly and left with a flick of his sleeve.
She only received the invitation yesterday, and today Zhou Yunxue's story has spread like this, and Zhao Zheng has also come to see her. It is no coincidence.
"Go and find out who has been in contact with Zhao Zheng recently."
"yes!"
The fact that they made such a big fuss clearly shows they wanted her to attend the flower viewing party.
She had just returned to the manor when the guards brought her something else.
"My lord, this was sent from the Grand Princess's residence. She said it was something that Princess Yuxue had left with her years ago."
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