Chapter 171: The Shen family is desperate! Shen Wansan is full of regret!

Master."

"It's not good!"

The Shen family's housekeeper, panicked, his steps stumbling as he ran toward the inner hall, looking urgent and helpless.

"What happened again?"

Looking at the housekeeper who broke into the inner hall without looking at the road, Shen Wansan frowned, his old face full of displeasure.

For some time now, for the Shen family, bad news has been like a tide, one wave after another, almost every few days, he could receive bad news from everywhere, especially from the north, which made Shen Wansan, who was no longer young, unable to bear the burden.

Working hard every day, personally handling various things.

"Just now an imperial edict arrived at the Zhu mansion, the Marquis of Champion Zhu Ying made contributions in the Northern Expedition, and the Emperor specifically promoted Zhu Ying's wife Shen Yuer to Third Rank Noble Lady."

The housekeeper's voice trembled slightly, carrying irrepressible panic: "And... and from the news spread in the court, not yet officially announced, Zhu Ying seems to be promoted to Marquis title, enfeoffed as Marquis of Champion."

Marquis of Champion!

These three words, like a clap of thunder, exploded in Shen Wansan's ears.

Shen Wansan, sitting in the main seat, his face instantly turned pale, and the tea he was holding steadily in his hand loosened subconsciously.

Crack.

With a crisp sound, the teacup shattered on the ground, tea splashed everywhere, spilling all over the floor.

"How could this be?"

Shen Wansan whispered to himself, his voice full of disbelief: "Marquis of Champion! He is only seventeen years old."

"How could he be enfeoffed as Marquis of Champion? A seventeen-year-old Marquis title!"

Shen Wansan's eyes were full of fear.

That wrinkled old face was now completely occupied by fear, as if foreseeing an unavoidable disaster in the future.

Or rather!

Even today, Shen Wansan still felt like a dream, unable to understand how that unknown yellow-haired boy in the past grew to the point of being awe-inspiring today, enfeoffed as a Marquis at only seventeen years old.

Of course.

In the eyes of the outside world, Zhu Ying is already nineteen years old, after all, to harm Zhu Ying, Shen Wansan did not hesitate to spend a lot of money to bribe the recruitment officer and tamper with Zhu Ying's age and household registration.

But Shen Wansan knew better than anyone that Zhu Ying was actually just over seventeen years old.

At this moment!

In Shen Wansan's heart, besides the constant fear, there was also a strong emotion surging in his heart, which was regret, a bone-eroding regret.

He had the opportunity to become in-laws with Zhu Ying, and Zhu Ying was very likely to become his Shen family's son-in-law.

But it was because of his own shortsightedness, because of his own contempt, that he destroyed this great opportunity with his own hands.

Today's Zhu Ying has already stood on the opposite side of the Shen family, and between the two sides, it is life and death.

This, can no longer be changed.

"Is this news certain?"

Shen Wansan tried to calm down, came back to his senses, his gaze staring tightly at the housekeeper, and asked.

"Master."

The housekeeper smiled bitterly, very helpless and bitter: "The news is certain."

"Just now, the Emperor's personal eunuch manager went to the Zhu mansion to announce the edict, enfeoffing Shen Yuer as Third Rank Noble Lady."

"Master ordered us to pay close attention to the Zhu mansion, so our family's servants also went to watch the excitement."

But before he finished speaking.

"I am not asking about this Noble Lady."

Shen Wansan frowned again, his tone deepened a few points, and asked in a deep voice: "I am asking about Zhu Ying being enfeoffed as Marquis, is it true or false?"

Third Rank Noble Lady is noble, but compared to a Marquis, it is naturally a completely different concept.

"Although not yet officially announced, the news is already certain."

The housekeeper's expression was solemn, his voice low: "This great victory in the Northern Expedition is all because Zhu Ying led the Great Ming cavalry to head-on defeat the Northern Yuan Mongol iron cavalry."

"So the Crown Prince personally reported, requesting to promote Zhu Ying to Marquis title, the title is still Champion."

"Now, he is already the Marquis of Champion in name and reality."

And hearing this.

"Head-on defeat the Northern Yuan Mongol iron cavalry!"

Shen Wansan's face suddenly sank.

As a merchant who has been active since the Yuan court period, he has a bone-deep understanding of the strength of the Northern Yuan iron cavalry.

In the past, he even witnessed those rebel armies being slaughtered wantonly like ants under the iron hooves of the Northern Yuan iron cavalry.

The powerful combat power of the Northern Yuan iron cavalry left an indelible shadow in his heart.

He knew deeply that it was not something that ordinary Han cavalry could easily contend with. Now hearing that Zhu Ying could lead the Ming army cavalry to head-on defeat the Mongol iron cavalry, his first reaction was not to believe it!

"Fake."

A glimmer of light flashed in Shen Wansan's eyes, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw: "This military contribution must be fake."

"How powerful is the Mongol iron cavalry?"

"You also saw it with your own eyes back then, how powerful are they? This Zhu Ying, in order to be promoted, simply does not care about the means, and actually dares to report false military information."

"This is a capital crime."

However.

The housekeeper on the side shook his head with a bitter smile, his expression full of helplessness.

"Master."

The housekeeper said softly: "This victory report is absolutely true."

"According to the old slave's investigation, this news was reported by the Northern Expedition Grand General Guo Ying himself, and there is no half-truth."

"It is said that this time the great victory in the Northern Expedition, the Emperor will also use an imperial edict to announce it to the world, letting the people of the world know the military virtue of our Great Ming, and know that our army head-on defeated the Northern Yuan iron cavalry."

"And Zhu Ying's name will also appear in this announcement."

"This is the supreme honor bestowed upon Zhu Ying by the Emperor and the Crown Prince."

"And, the court below is now also discussing it, after this battle, Zhu Ying's prestige and the prestige of the Marquis of Champion will definitely resound throughout the world."

"Now, many people in the court have moved their minds, wanting to make friends with Zhu Ying, including heavy ministers of the six ministries."

"This Zhu Ying has completely soared."

"My Shen family has really established an invincible enemy."

"Even... even after this announcement to the world, perhaps even that group of people in Huaixi will not be able to do anything to him."

The housekeeper's voice was full of worry and despair.

Initially!

They also tried to rely on the power of Huaixi, relying on Shen Yuer's status, to threaten Zhu Ying, forcing Zhu Ying to give up his revenge on the Shen family.

But now it seems that all this is just their wishful thinking, simply stupid to the extreme.

Listening to the housekeeper's words, Shen Wansan's face became increasingly gloomy.

Facing the current situation.

Facing the increasingly powerful Zhu Ying.

Even though he possessed vast wealth that could rival a nation, in the face of a Marquis with heaven-shaking power, this wealth seemed to instantly become worthless.

Just thinking about the future, thinking about the revenge Zhu Ying might launch against the Shen family, Shen Wansan felt a deep regret and lingering fear, his back cold.

He spent countless efforts, experienced many years of hard work, to create this huge family business for the Shen family, making the Shen family the number one merchant family in Great Ming.

He is already old, but just like all people with power and influence, he has high expectations of being able to pass all this on to his son steadily.

But now thinking that the Shen family has established such a terrible enemy as Zhu Ying, Shen Wansan even felt that he could not rest in peace after closing his eyes, he was afraid that once he closed his eyes, the Shen family would be completely exterminated in Zhu Ying's anger.

"Sigh."

Shen Wansan sighed for a long time, this sigh seemed to contain all the vicissitudes and helplessness of his life.

He slowly cast his gaze toward the housekeeper and asked: "You say now, what else can my Shen family do?"

"Zhu Ying, only three years! He actually grew to this point."

"The old man was wrong after all, shouldn't have treated him like this."

"If I hadn't targeted him like that back then, but promoted his marriage with Yan'er, and then let Shen Yuer marry over as a concubine, what kind of glory would my Shen family have?"

Speaking of this.

Shen Wansan's eyes were full of regret, wishing time could flow back, returning to three years ago, and making the choice that changed the Shen family's destiny again.

From the Yuan court period to now, Shen Wansan made countless choices for the family's prosperity, but only this time he chose wrong!

Wrong to the extreme!

"Master."

The housekeeper's expression was solemn, his expression revealing deep worry: "The wood is already a boat, now we must think carefully about how to face Zhu Ying's revenge."

"Although there is no solid evidence, now it seems that the Shen family's merchant team in Beiping Prefecture has had accidents one after another, mostly Zhu Ying's doing."

"And, with Zhu Ying's current style of doing things and development trend, his revenge against our Shen family in the future will definitely not stop easily, I am afraid it is not just Beiping Prefecture, other places will also be difficult to escape."

"This son is truly vengeful."

Hearing the sound.

"Sigh!"

Shen Wansan sighed again, helplessly saying: "Now we can only wait for Shen Cong to come back and see what Zhu Ying's attitude is."

"As long as he doesn't target my Shen family, even if he pays a huge price, it is acceptable."

Shen Wansan at this moment no longer had the initial toughness and confidence, and no longer dared to mention the word "threat."

Before, they were full of hope that they could handle Zhu Ying by relying on Shen Yuer's status, but now it seems that this is simply a huge joke.

With Zhu Ying promoted to Marquis, still the most respected among military generals, although there are many Huaixi brave generals in the court, if you really want to talk about it, who has the full confidence to suppress Zhu Ying?

Now, officials with a little insight in the court can see that the current Emperor and Crown Prince value Zhu Ying so much, on one hand because of Zhu Ying's solid battle contributions, on the other hand, it may not be that they want to use Zhu Ying's power to suppress the increasingly expanding Huaixi power.

As long as Zhu Ying can continue to make great contributions to the country, now he is a Marquis, and in the future, there is a possibility of being enfeoffed as a Duke.

Shen housekeeper lowered his head slightly and did not speak.

He knew in his heart that he was just a servant, and some words were really inconvenient to say more.

Even if Shen Wansan was wrong, he couldn't say more.

Just at this time!

"Father."

"It's not good."

Shen Rong's urgent voice came from outside the hall, accompanied by a burst of hurried footsteps.

Hearing this voice, Shen Wansan's expression was a bit more steady.

In his thought, Shen Rong must have heard about Shen Yuer being promoted to Third Rank Noble Lady, and the news that Zhu Ying was about to be enfeoffed as Marquis.

"I already know about Zhu Ying and Shen Yuer."

Shen Wansan looked at Shen Rong who ran in hurriedly, and said calmly: "No need to be so panicked."

"Father, what are you talking about?" Shen Rong looked blank, his eyes full of confusion, feeling very puzzled by his father's sudden words.

"You don't know about Shen Yuer being promoted to Third Rank Noble Lady?" Shen Wansan frowned, a hidden sense of unease rising in his heart.

"Father." Shen Rong hesitated for a moment, a struggle flashing in his eyes, and irrepressible anger: "Shen Cong is back from the north, but..."

Shen Rong said, paused for a moment, seemingly difficult to speak: "Forget it, Father, look for yourself."

Shen Rong said, turned around and shouted loudly toward the outside of the hall: "Bring Shen Cong in."

In response.

Only to see two servants carefully supporting Shen Cong into the inner hall.

Shen Cong's face was as pale as paper, without any blood color, his steps floating, as if a gust of wind could blow him down, very weak.

When Shen Wansan looked over, his face instantly turned iron-blue, his old eyes suddenly condensed.

Under his gaze, Shen Cong's hands were tightly wrapped in layers of white cloth, bright red blood seeped through the white cloth, and even drops of blood dripped on the ground, shocking.

"You... you this..." Shen Wansan raised his trembling hand, pointing at Shen Cong, his throat seemed to be choked by something, unable to speak for a while, his face extremely ugly.

"Master." Shen Cong was filled with grief and indignation, tears swirling in his eyes, his voice carrying a cry: "That Zhu Ying is a beast."

"He... he cut off my hands."

"And... and he also said, saying he would be life and death with my Shen family."

Shen Cong said, while wailing sadly, the crying filled with grievances and anger.

Regarding Zhu Ying, he seemed to want to swallow him alive.

And the Shen housekeeper on the side, seeing his son's miserable state, his face instantly turned pale, his eyes instantly turned red, tears streaming down, shouting: "Cong'er."

"Father."

Shen Rong was full of anger, his eyes seemed to be spraying fire: "This Zhu Ying is simply shameless."

"My Shen family has already made such a big concession, even preparing to take out tens of thousands of gold as compensation for him, but he not only did not accept it, but also dared to treat Shen Cong so cruelly, he is clearly looking for death."

"Since so, then make Shen Yuer's identity public."

"Believe that after that group of people in Huaixi know, they will definitely deal with Zhu Ying."

Shen Rong's breathing became rapid because of anger, his chest rising and falling violently.

This Shen Cong is his confidant, he sent him, now suffering such a disaster, how can he not be angry.

Plus the humiliating experience of being beaten away by Shen Yuer's people when he went to the Zhu mansion before, he hated Zhu Ying even more.

From his performance, obviously he didn't know the big event that Zhu Ying was about to be enfeoffed as Marquis outside.

"Enough." Shen Wansan's face was terribly gloomy, coldly scolding.

"Father." Shen Rong was full of unwillingness, urgently saying: "It has reached this point, is it still necessary to retreat blindly?"

"This Zhu Ying clearly wants to be against my Shen family to the end."

"Just now I received a letter from my second brother, even if he spent a lot of money to hire a security agency to escort, our merchant team still suffered heavy losses, those mountain bandits were like ghosts, simply impossible to guard against."

"Going on like this, my Shen family's business in Beiping Prefecture simply cannot be done..."

Before Shen Rong finished speaking.

"Go and inquire outside now." Shen Wansan's voice was cold and heavy: "Zhu Ying, he is going to be enfeoffed as Marquis."

"Shen Yuer, that girl, was also enfeoffed as Third Rank Noble Lady."

"Huaixi? Now they might have no way to deal with Zhu Ying."

This remark, like a heavy hammer, hit Shen Rong's heart hard.

Shen Rong's face instantly turned pale, he looked up in shock, his voice trembling: "En... enfeoffed as Marquis?"

"Young Master."

Shen housekeeper sighed helplessly on the side, explaining: "It has already spread outside, the imperial edict enfeoffing Shen Yuer as Noble Lady has already arrived at the Zhu mansion."

"This time, Zhu Ying made great contributions in the Northern Expedition."

"Now he has power and influence, and is still the youngest noble in the court."

"Not to mention my Shen family, even Huaixi, I am afraid they have no way to deal with Zhu Ying."

Hearing this, Shen Rong was completely stunned, as if he had been cast a immobilization spell, unable to move.

Even Shen Cong, who was full of anger and grievances because his hands were cut off, and was shouting for Shen Wansan to take revenge, was completely stunned at this moment.

Marquis?

Marquis title?

Their Shen family is rich enough to rival a country, but in this Hongwu dynasty, the current Emperor hates merchants extremely.

Wanting to deal with a Marquis by relying on money is undoubtedly looking for death!

Deal with a Marquis?

Looking for death!

Donggong, inside the hall!

Lv Ben stood straight, standing respectfully in the center of the hall, holding the announcement imperial edict that had already been stamped with the big seal.

"Crown Prince." Lv Ben bowed slightly, his voice steady and respectful: "Is this imperial edict announced by urgent report, or issued step by step by each prefecture according to the system?"

At this moment.

Zhu Biao, as usual, was sitting in front of the desk, reviewing the memorials.

After hearing Lv Ben's voice, his gaze fell on Lv Ben.

"The Northern Expedition has not ended yet..." Zhu Biao thought for a moment, then spoke slowly, his voice peaceful but carrying unquestionable majesty: "It is enough to issue the announcement step by step according to the system."

"After the Northern Expedition is successful, then carry out the urgent report announcement."

"The old subject understands." Lv Ben replied respectfully immediately.

"Nothing here, you go down and prepare for the announcement." Zhu Biao's expression was calm, continuing: "Tomorrow, announce it in Ying Tian City first, then gradually expand to Ying Tian Prefecture, and even the surrounding prefectures, the action must be fast."

"The old subject understands." Lv Ben bowed and took the order again.

However, before taking leave, Lv Ben hesitated, and said respectfully again: "Your Highness, the old subject has not seen his daughter for a long time, I wonder if I can stay in the Donggong for a while?"

Hearing this!

Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment, then a gentle smile appeared on his face: "Go ahead!"

In the Donggong, although it is not as strictly regulated as the Imperial Palace harem, all the etiquette norms are the same as the Imperial Palace.

Even if Lv Ben is Lv's father, wanting to stay in the Donggong for a while must be agreed by Zhu Biao.

"Thank you, Crown Prince."

Getting Zhu Biao's permission, Lv Ben revealed a happy smile on his face, thanked him, and then quickly withdrew.

"Luo Yang." After Lv Ben withdrew, Zhu Biao shouted loudly toward the outside of the hall.

Luo Yang, the Commander of the Jin Wuwei, dressed in battle armor and wearing a bright red cloak, heard the summons and walked into the hall quickly.

Upon entering the hall.

He walked to Zhu Biao and bowed.

"Please give your orders, Your Highness." Luo Yang said respectfully.

"Go to the Zhu mansion to pass the edict." Zhu Biao's expression was calm, his tone peaceful: "Tomorrow, let Zhu Ying's wife Shen Yuer bring her son to the Donggong for an audience."

"She has been in Ying Tian for more than ten days, it is time for me to summon her."

As his voice fell.

"Your subject obeys the edict." Luo Yang took the order immediately.

Stood up and withdrew with big strides.

It was indeed vigorous and resolute.

After the edict was explained, Zhu Biao turned his gaze back to the memorials piled up like a mountain on the table.

Night was approaching, and his figure also appeared a bit tired, but it revealed diligence.

The daily memorials and government affairs like a mountain had never stopped, and tomorrow, it was finally time for him to find time to arrange the summoning.

And in the Donggong, in the palace where Lv lived!

"Daughter pays respects to Father."

When Lv Ben stepped into the palace, Lv immediately stood up and saluted respectfully.

Lv Ben raised his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping over the palace maids waiting in the hall.

Lv immediately understood, and said softly: "You all go outside the hall and guard."

"This servant obeys the edict."

The palace maids bowed one after another, then filed out, retreating outside the hall, guarding quietly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 172 =====

(End of chapter)