Who is this man, and what is his relationship with Grand Commandant Lei, Lei Hong, and Lei Yarong?
---Aside---
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Chapter 118: Extorting Gold, Enraging the Scumbag Father
After the morning court session, Shen Minghui, dressed in his official robes, left the palace with a gloomy expression. Just as he was about to take a carriage back to the Prime Minister's residence, Lei Hong approached him and said with a smile, "Prime Minister Shen, Yingxue has been talking about you. If you have time, why don't you go and visit her at the Grand Commandant's residence!"
Shen Minghui glanced at Lei Hong and sneered, "Yingxue is the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family. It was you who forcibly confined her to the Grand Commandant's mansion. If you really cared, you should let Yingxue return to the Prime Minister's mansion for a visit and stay for a few days, instead of making me go to the Grand Commandant's mansion to see her!"
Shen Caixuan died in the Grand Commandant's mansion, and Shen Yingxue was imprisoned there in a disguised form. Shen Minghui had been suppressing a lot of anger. When Lei Hong took the initiative to approach him, he could no longer hold back and vented his anger in a barrage of words, each one sarcastic and heartless.
He thought Lei Hong would be furious and argue with him, but to his surprise, Lei Hong chuckled and said, "Prime Minister Shen is right. It was my oversight. After returning to the manor, I will let Ya Rong and Ying Xue stay at the Prime Minister's residence for a while, so that you and your husband, father and daughter can have a reunion!"
"Is this true?" Shen Minghui raised an eyebrow at Lei Hong. There's no smoke without fire when it comes to offering help. Lei Hong has never gotten along with him, so his offer to let Yingxue stay at his residence today must have some ulterior motive.
"Of course it's true! How could I go back on my word?" Lei Hong said solemnly, without a trace of joking.
Shen Minghui looked at him for a while, but didn't notice anything amiss, and said casually, "Minister Lei is very thoughtful!"
"Prime Minister Shen, you're too kind!" Lei Hong smiled slightly, took a few quick steps, approached Shen Minghui, and after glancing around to make sure no one was watching, quickly poured the medicinal powder onto Shen Minghui: "Minghui, Yingxue isn't in a good mood. Ya Rong is with her, but she's still unhappy. When you get back to the manor, try to persuade her to be more cheerful; it'll be better for both the adults and the children..."
Shen Minghui was taken aback, then sneered. Lei Hong put aside his aristocratic arrogance and took the initiative to talk to him. Sure enough, he had encountered a problem and needed his help: "Don't worry, Yingxue is my daughter. I will comfort her!"
"Thank you for your trouble, Prime Minister Shen!" Lei Hong said politely, lowering his eyes slightly, a barely perceptible sneer appearing on his lips.
"I'll take my leave first!" Shen Minghui turned around, flicked his sleeves, and was about to get into the carriage when a sudden wave of dizziness hit him. His vision went black, and his tall body staggered a few steps before collapsing to the ground.
"Prime Minister Shen, Prime Minister Shen!" Lei Hong feigned surprise and squatted down, half-helping Shen Minghui up.
Seeing that he had his eyes tightly closed and was not reacting at all, Lei Hong's eyes flashed with a strange sneer, but his face showed a look of extreme anxiety. He ordered the servant who ran forward, "Quickly go and fetch the imperial physician!"
Shen Minghui collapsed at the palace gate. Soon, the imperial physician was summoned. The physician held his wrist, carefully took his pulse, gave him a pill, and sighed heavily.
"Imperial Physician Wang, am I seriously ill?" Shen Minghui took the pills and gradually woke up. Seeing Imperial Physician Wang shaking his head and sighing, he had an ominous premonition.
The imperial physician looked at Shen Minghui, his eyes filled with emotion: "Prime Minister Shen suffers from a heart ailment!"
Shen Minghui was taken aback: "A mental illness?"
"Yes!" Physician Wang nodded, then sighed softly, "Prime Minister Shen has been experiencing a series of misfortunes lately, causing him great distress, which has eventually developed into a mental illness!"
Shen Minghui was startled: "Is there a way to treat this?"
"Yes, there is, but..." Physician Wang lowered his eyelids, hesitating to speak.
"Please speak freely, Physician Wang!" Shen Minghui was eager to know his condition and had prepared for the worst.
Physician Wang stroked his beard and said slowly, "Prime Minister Shen's mental illness is very stubborn. In order to cure it completely, in addition to a large amount of medicinal materials, we also need a special medicinal guide!"
"What kind of medicinal ingredient?" Shen Minghui vaguely sensed that the matter was getting complicated.
"The blood of a loved one!" Physician Wang said, each word deliberate and his gaze grave. "To completely cure this heart ailment, this medicinal ingredient is indispensable!"
Shen Minghui breathed a sigh of relief, his heart instantly calming down. He smiled and said, "I have sons and daughters. It's not difficult for me to get their blood as a medicinal ingredient!"
Prime Minister Wang shook his head, his eyes growing increasingly unfathomable: "Prime Minister, you have four daughters and one son; the blood of all five must be present!"
"What? You need the blood of all five people?" Shen Minghui was taken aback. Shen Lixue had severed ties with him and would no longer provide him with the medicinal ingredients. As for Shen Caixuan, she had already passed away, so where could he find her blood? "Is there no other way?"
Physician Wang shook his head and sighed, "That's all!"
Shen Minghui's heart sank to the bottom, his eyes filled with desolation: How could this be?
"Imperial Physician Wang, the children of Prime Minister Shen all have his blood in them. They are all quite similar. Could we use someone else's blood to replace Shen Caixuan's?" Lei Hong, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up, offering his advice.
"This..." Physician Wang frowned and pondered for a moment: "There is a certain risk involved, and the replacement person must shed twice as much blood!"
Lei Hong pondered for a moment, then looked at Physician Wang: "Prepare more blood-generating pills. After the blood is dripped, immediately administer them. It shouldn't cause too much harm to their bodies, right?"
After a moment's thought, Physician Wang nodded slightly: "Minister Lei's method is feasible. Prepare plenty of the best medicines to minimize the harm to their bodies!"
Lei Hong looked at Shen Minghui with pity in his eyes and sighed softly, "Minghui, once we get back, I will immediately order someone to send Yingxue back to the Prime Minister's residence!"
"Thank you!" Shen Minghui was suffering from an incurable mental illness, and Lei Hong not only did not mock him, but also helped him from time to time, which made him somewhat stunned.
“We’re relatives, no need for thanks!” Lei Hong patted Shen Minghui on the shoulder and asked with concern, “Your heart ailment needs to be treated as soon as possible. When do you plan to take the medicine?”
“This…” Shen Minghui’s gaze dimmed again: “It depends on whether Shen Lixue is willing to donate blood…”
Lei Hong frowned: "Even if Li Xue sever ties with you, she is still your daughter, and your blood flows in her veins. No one can change that. The War King is a man of great principle and should not stop Li Xue from returning to the Prime Minister's residence to offer the medicinal ingredients..."
Shen Minghui sighed softly: "If the War King doesn't stop her, Li Xue might not be willing to return to the manor!" This is what he is most worried about. His daughter hates him so much, will she donate blood to cure his heart disease?
“Li Xue is indeed very stubborn. Why don’t I go with you to the War King’s Mansion to persuade her?” Lei Hong suggested softly.
"Thank you for your trouble!" Shen Minghui's eyes dimmed, and he sighed inwardly. He had no confidence whatsoever in persuading his stubborn daughter.
Lei Hong looked at Physician Wang: "Physician Wang, why don't you come along too? With you explaining things from the side, there's a better chance of persuading Princess Lixue!"
"Alright!" Doctor Wang stroked his beard and nodded in agreement.
Shen Minghui felt a little relieved. Shen Yingxue was emotionally unstable and needed his help to comfort her. Lei Hong was doing everything he could to help him for the sake of his unborn grandson's health, which was also a kind gesture, and he remembered it.
Shen Minghui, Lei Hong, and Imperial Physician Wang arrived at the War King's Mansion to request an audience, but were told that Shen Lixue was at the Holy King's Mansion. The three of them then took a carriage and rushed to the Holy King's Mansion.
Shen Minghui looked at a guard at the door and said softly, "Please inform the Prime Minister Shen, Vice Minister Lei, and Imperial Physician Wang that they have important matters to discuss with Princess Lixue!"