"Infatuated?" Qi Jingrong let out a small laugh. "Then what about my eighth brother?"
Shen Wanyin’s body immediately shook like a sieve.
"Second Master Shen, do you think we’re all fools, or what?" Qi Jingrong’s face darkened.
Shen Wanyin could only kowtow to admit his fault, his forehead bleeding from it.
"Second Master Shen, please stand up..." Qi Jingrong played with the tea cup lid in his hand, his tone indifferent, but his intent was indisputable.
Shen Wanyin hastily ceased his kowtowing, expressed his gratitude, and then stood up with the butler’s support.
"Shouldn’t the Shen Family also give this prince an explanation?" Qi Jingrong’s eyebrows slightly raised, addressing the Shen Family rather than Shen Wanyin.
Actually, he was rather thankful for those two fools. If they hadn’t taken the initiative to drug him, he would have been in a passive position, needing to find a way to have them throw themselves into his arms. However, he really didn’t understand the personality of the two women, so, the chances of success would have been about half. But now... the fate of the Shen Family was firmly in his grasp.
Dosing a prince with drugs could, at the least, result in a loss of honor, and in the most severe cases, could be seen as plotting murder or showing contempt for the Imperial Family, which might warrant the execution of one’s entire extended family.
"Shen Wanyin will follow the prince’s orders," Shen Wanyin said as he hurriedly knelt down again. "Those two wicked daughters are also at the prince’s disposal, their lives and deaths completely at the mercy of His Highness..."
Qi Jingrong lifted his eyes, the corners of his mouth revealing a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Can Second Master Shen make decisions for the Shen Family? What I want is an explanation from the Shen Family, not from you, Shen Wanyin."
"..." Shen Wanyin was suddenly at a loss for words, hurriedly forcing a smile more pained than crying, "This humble one is merely trying to demonstrate his loyalty. As for the Shen Family..." he truly had no say in the matter.
"Heh," Qi Jingrong chuckled softly. "Let me make it clear to you: I will not let this matter rest easily. Therefore, I suggest that Second Master Shen goes and consults with the Family Head or Minister of Revenue before we continue this discussion." As he spoke, he rose to his feet. His third brother had his sights not on this fool, but Qi Jingrong wasn’t overly optimistic, not expecting that just this incident alone would be enough to make Shen Wanxing comply, especially when Shen Wanxing had reached the position of Minister of Revenue and was highly esteemed by their father emperor – this alone told Qi Jingrong that Shen Wanxing was certainly not a simple character.
However, if this matter was handled well, it could make Shen Wanxing owe him a favor.
The Ministry of Revenue controlled the entire Great Xuan Dynasty’s purse strings, its position of utmost importance.
This matter still needed to be reported to his third brother.
Shen Wanyin didn’t dare to stop him and could only watch helplessly as Qi Jingrong left the hall.
Inside the family’s private quarters, upon entering, Shen Wanyin immediately struck both Ge Yunfang and Hun Ling a slap each, then instructed the butler: "Give these two shameless women ten beatings each, then lock them in the ancestral hall. Without my orders, they are not allowed to come out. If they dare to cry or make trouble, just kill them or sell them off."
The butler promptly called for staff to drag the two aunts away.
Ge Yunfang and Hun Ling didn’t dare make a sound and could only be led away in terror.
The two young misses who were originally crying were now frightened into silence.
"Lock these two disgraceful things in their own yards as well, they’re not to come out without my order either..."
Madam Shen Jiashi sat there unabashed, unaffected by Shen Wanyin’s handling of affairs, but the disdain in her eyes gave away her thoughts.
After dealing with the aunts and his daughters, Shen Wanyin turned to glare at Shen Jiashi: "As the legitimate mother, how did you educate the children? Just let them act in such a disgraceful manner? Are you even fit to be the Family Head’s wife?"