Lei Taiwei sneered disdainfully: "Shen Lixue and Cong'er have a grudge, so it's not surprising that she framed Cong'er. As for Shen Caiyun, how credible are her words when she dared to forge a marriage certificate and was convicted and imprisoned?"
Shen Minghui's face instantly turned as black as ink, and his large hand quietly clenched into a fist. Was he taking the opportunity to mock him for letting Caiyun take the blame?
"Shen Minghui, as the head of the family, you have a responsibility to uphold the reputation of the Prime Minister's residence. But look at the state of this residence!" Grand Commandant Lei stared coldly at Shen Minghui, looking utterly disappointed. "Beggars are a bunch of lowly, vulgar people. Even if you wanted a good reputation, you could have simply sent your servants to serve them porridge. But what did you do? You actually sent Ya Rong and Ying Xue to fawn over those beggars. And what was the result? They were lustful and tried to take advantage of Ya Rong and Ying Xue..."
“They are just two vulnerable women, one is your wife, and the other is your daughter. If you were a real man, you would have stood up to protect them, instead of yelling at them after they have been wronged for your sake…”
"Enough!" Shen Minghui roared, his voice piercing the clouds and echoing throughout the heavens, shocking most of the Prime Minister's residence. "If they hadn't ruined my reputation first, would I have needed to resort to such methods?" These two are always scheming against others, but they always make mistakes at crucial moments. Even something as simple as serving porridge—they managed to mess it up. Not only did they fail to restore their own reputation, but they also tarnished the entire Prime Minister's residence's name...
Lei Yarong is the daughter of Lei Taiwei. Yingxue has been corrupted by them, which is why she is in such a sorry state when things happen. He has failed to educate his daughter properly, and Lei Taiwei is not much better!
"Shen Minghui!" Grand Commandant Lei glared at Shen Minghui, his eyes blazing with anger. He was a junior, yet Shen Minghui dared to openly lecture him...
"Father, Master, you..."
"Shut up!" Lei Taiwei and Shen Minghui interrupted Lei Shi in unison, neither giving an inch. They stared coldly at each other, their powerful auras making it difficult for everyone to breathe. An overwhelming chill quickly spread outwards, and the air in the courtyard instantly froze…
The servants were shocked and at a loss. Lei Shi and Shen Yingxue exchanged anxious glances. Shen Minghui and Grand Commandant Lei were their relatives. If the two of them had a falling out and broke off relations, they really didn't know what to do.
"Why is Xueyuan so lively today?" A clear, cool female voice rang out, breaking the icy air. Everyone turned to look, and at the courtyard gate, a woman in a light green dress walked gracefully in. Her bright eyes and warm smile were none other than Shen Lixue.
Her beautiful eyes were clear and bright, and the shimmering light in her dark pupils finally settled on Shen Minghui and Lei Taiwei. A slight smile appeared on her lips: She had really come back at the right time, to see the two of them arguing.
Shen Minghui's face was pale, and his eyes were very tired. Even his usually straight posture was slightly slack. He looked very haggard, and it seemed that what happened in the morning had dealt him a great blow.
"Shen Lixue, you dare to come back!" Shen Yingxue was the first to come to her senses and was about to pounce on Shen Lixue in a fit of anger, but was held back tightly by Lei Shi: it was all because of her that she was bullied by so many beggars and lost all face.
"The Prime Minister's residence is my home, why can't I come back?" Shen Lixue walked steadily forward, not taking Shen Yingxue's words to heart at all. The Prime Minister's residence was really chaotic, but she didn't mind making Xueyuan even more chaotic.
"Shen Lixue, you'll be of marriageable age in a few months!" Lei Taiwei abandoned Shen Minghui and stared coldly at Shen Lixue, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
"Grand Commandant Lei wouldn't want me to marry into the Grand Commandant's household and become your granddaughter-in-law, would he?" Looking at Grand Commandant Lei's gaze, Shen Lixue vaguely guessed his purpose.
"So what if it is? You hurt Cong'er, shouldn't you admit your mistake and atone for it?" When he arrived at the Prime Minister's residence, Ya Rong quietly made this suggestion to him. He had felt it was inappropriate at first, but now that he thought about it, it was common knowledge that Cong'er was a womanizer and promiscuous. Probably no noble lady would be willing to marry him. Although Shen Lixue grew up in the countryside, she was still the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's residence and had a relatively noble status. Marrying Cong'er would not be an insult to him.
Shen Yingxue's eyes lit up, her joy beyond words. Her grandfather was so clever. By marrying Lei Cong, Shen Lixue had broken off the engagement, and she could marry Prince An without any worries!
"As everyone knows, I am Prince An's fiancée. How can I marry Lei Cong again?" Shen Lixue looked at Grand Commandant Lei with a half-smile. Her seemingly calm words were full of sarcasm and irony: "It is understandable that you are old and have a bad memory, but next time, please do not say such rebellious words. Otherwise, if the people of the Holy Prince's Mansion hear this, they will think that you are provoking them!"
Lei Taiwei's eyes narrowed instantly, and a dangerous aura quickly spread: "Are you looking down on Cong'er?" His grandson, whom Lei Taiwei cherished, was actually being looked down upon by a country bumpkin?
"I wouldn't dare, I'm just stating the facts!" Shen Lixue said indifferently, her casual tone clearly a perfunctory response.
Grand Commandant Lei looked at Shen Lixue and sneered, "Marriage is a major event, and it has always been decided by parents and arranged by matchmakers. As long as Prime Minister Shen and his wife agree, you must marry him!" Shen Lixue is still too green to fight him!
Instantly, everyone's eyes were focused on Shen Minghui, filled with anticipation, surprise, and joy. Shen Yingxue, in particular, was so happy she was almost at a loss for words. "Speak up! Speak up! Marry Shen Lixue off so I can get closer to Prince An!"
“Li Xue is engaged and cannot marry into the Grand Commandant’s household!” Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Shen Minghui did not nod in agreement as expected, but instead righteously and sternly rejected Grand Commandant Lei’s proposal.
"Master!" Upon hearing the answer, Madam Lei was startled, but did not make any significant movements.
"Father!" Shen Yingxue was extremely anxious, looking pitifully at Shen Minghui. Didn't he really want her to marry Prince An? Why would he give up such a perfect solution?
Shen Lixue raised her eyebrows. When did Shen Minghui become so responsible and know how to protect himself? Or was he doing this to anger Grand Commandant Lei?
"Shen Minghui, do you know what you're saying?" Grand Commandant Lei stared coldly at Shen Minghui. Yingxue was his granddaughter and Shen Minghui's daughter. Her marriage to the Holy King's Mansion would surely bring the greatest benefits to the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Grand Commandant's Mansion.
Shen Lixue grew up in Qingzhou and had no father-daughter relationship with Shen Minghui, nor did she have any connection with him. She could not expect to gain any benefits from marrying into the Holy King's Mansion, the Prime Minister's Mansion, or the Grand Commandant's Mansion. The position of Princess Consort was a complete waste.
"Of course I know what I'm doing!" Shen Minghui replied indifferently. He and Lei Taiwei had a conflict, and neither of them could do anything to the other. However, Shen Lixue's arrival had greatly angered Lei Taiwei, which suited his wishes perfectly.
Moreover, Grand Commandant Lei didn't even consult me before deciding to marry Li Xue as his granddaughter-in-law. He clearly didn't respect me. Why should I give him face? "Li Xue is the daughter of the Prime Minister's family. I will arrange her life's important matters myself. There's no need for Grand Commandant Lei to worry about it!"
"Very well, very well!" Grand Commandant Lei was furious. He pointed at Shen Minghui and said "very well" three times in a row: "You've become quite something, you've become opinionated, and you're unwilling to listen to advice. From now on, I, Lei, will no longer concern myself with the affairs of the Prime Minister's residence. Farewell!"
Commander Lei flicked his sleeves and strode out of the Snow Garden in a huff.
Shen Lixue raised her lips. She was so easily angered and left. She really had no patience. With such a big enemy gone, Shen Minghui had nothing to do. Next, he should come and settle accounts with her for what happened when she was distributing porridge.
Shen Yingxue glared fiercely at Shen Lixue, her beautiful eyes burning with anger: You bitch, what despicable tricks did you use to make even Father side with you?
"Father!" Madam Lei glanced at Shen Minghui, sighed heavily, and hurried after Grand Commandant Lei.
Just as he reached the courtyard gate, a nanny rushed over in a panic: "Prime Minister, Madam, Eunuch Sun from the Empress Dowager's side has arrived!"
Lei was taken aback, then said urgently, "Please come in quickly!"
Lei Taiwei, who had just left Xueyuan, also stopped and frowned slightly: What is Eunuch Sun doing at the Prime Minister's residence?
"Prime Minister Shen, Madam Shen!" Eunuch Sun was about fifty years old, with a fair complexion, holding a whisk, and his manners were impeccable.
"May I ask what brings you to the Prime Minister's residence, Eunuch?" Lei Shi, Shen Minghui greeted her politely. The Empress Dowager was in poor health and had been recuperating in the inner palace. Eunuch Sun and the other maids took good care of her and rarely left the palace. It could be said that Eunuch Sun was the Empress Dowager's capable assistant. The purpose of his visit to the Prime Minister's residence was hard to guess.
"This old servant has come to summon Miss Lixue to the palace to treat the Empress Dowager's old ailment!" Eunuch Sun smiled slightly, his gentle gaze falling on Shen Lixue: "Miss Lixue, please come with this old servant to the palace!"
"Please wait a moment, Your Excellency. I will go back to my room to change my clothes and come right away!" Changing clothes before going to the palace to see the Empress Dowager is a sign of respect, so Eunuch Sun naturally wouldn't object.
Shen Lixue quickly returned to the bamboo garden, where she only saw Qiuhe; the other third-class maids had disappeared.
Shen Lixue went back to her room to change her clothes. Qiu Chaihe followed her in, helped her fasten her clothes, and said softly, "Miss is going out again!"
Shen Lixue gave a curt reply, a cold glint in her dark eyes: "Qiuhe, in two hours, gather all the servants of the Bamboo Garden together. I have something to announce!" The servants often slack off and don't respect their master. This Bamboo Garden needs a good overhaul!
After changing her clothes, Shen Lixue came to the living room. Grandpa Sun was drinking tea, and Shen Minghui and Madam Lei were also sitting in the seats of honor, their eyes dark and unpredictable.
Shen Yingxue looked around in astonishment, scrutinizing Shen Lixue from head to toe. This country bumpkin, how could she know medicine? And had even treated the Empress Dowager? How could that be? It must be a lie!
The fact that Shen Lixue had saved the Empress Dowager was not known to outsiders. Apart from Su Yuting and the Empress Dowager, very few people knew about it. Naturally, the people in the Prime Minister's residence were also unaware of it. When Eunuch Sun explained the matter, Shen Minghui and the other two were all taken aback.