I was just playing tricks, how come I became Bai Yueguang

Chapter 685 The Power of the Patriarch

Xiangying.

Life in the old house is still peaceful.

Shen Lanxi came out of the inner room and just turned around when he saw a group of people wandering in the outer courtyard. He closed the door gently with an indifferent expression and slowly walked towards the corridor.

"Lan Xi..."

Because Grandma Wu suddenly fell into a coma the night before, Shen Lanxi took the initiative to refuse all visits for safety reasons.

A group of uncles and aunts in the old house did not dare to break the rules. They walked back and forth outside the yard under the scorching sun in the hot summer. After finally waiting for Shen Lanxi, they immediately swarmed over.

"Lan Xi..." Shen Jun slowly approached with the help of the others. He glanced towards the inner courtyard with a hint of worry, "Mrs. Wu, what about her..."

Shen Lanxi said, "The old lady is old and her energy is running out. It's just normal."

Shen Jun was slightly stunned, and looked at Shen Lanxi's eyebrows carefully, feeling a little surprised.

When Shen Lanxi returned from the army, he did not go back to Shen Garden first, but came to visit Grandma Wu, which shows that he has feelings for Grandma Wu.

But when it comes to life and death, he is indifferent like an outsider, making it impossible to tell whether he is affectionate or heartless.

Shen Jun sighed softly and nodded, his eyes fixed slightly and his expression darkened. "Lan Xi, you should know about Zhizhi's situation, right?"

Shen Lanxi raised her eyes and looked at everyone.

He had already known the news that Shen Mianzhi was kidnapped before Shen Yuan passed on the message. He originally planned to set off back to Jinggang, but the old man ordered him to stay in Xiangying.

Shen Lanxi was silent for a moment and then nodded.

This reaction immediately stunned everyone. The Shen family had such a big thing happen to them. As the heir of the Shen family, was this his reaction correct?

Shen Hang is Shen Jun's eldest son. Shen Jun is old, and he usually helps to take care of all the affairs of the old house. Seeing Shen Jun frozen in place, he took the initiative to speak:

"Lan Xi, those rumors out there are so disgusting that they concern the reputation of our Shen family. Does the old man have any instructions?"

Shen Lanxi said, "Don't worry, uncles. They are just scoundrels. Grandpa can handle them."

He obviously didn't want to say more, so he nodded lightly and turned to walk towards the attic.

"This……"

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Shen Hang, unwilling to accept this, took the initiative to step forward and ask, "Lan Xi, this matter has become so serious. Has the old man said how to deal with the aftermath after the person is found? We can't let our Shen family's century-long reputation be ruined by this?"

Shen Lanxi paused, looking up at the man in front of him, "What do you mean, uncle?"

Shen Hang was stunned. Shen Lanxi was a head taller than him, and just a look from her was enough to frighten him.

Seeing this, Shen Jun quickly explained, "Lan Xi, don't misunderstand me. Zhizhi is our Shen family's child, and of course I hope for her well. But now that things have developed to this point, whether for the overall situation or for Zhizhi, we must make careful plans."

"From what Uncle said, you have already figured out how to plan?"

Shen Jun remained silent. Shen Hang cleared his throat and said, "I've discussed this with your uncles. Zhizhi is still young, and she might not be able to withstand such rumors. Jinggang is a place of controversy, and there's no guarantee that someone with ulterior motives won't use this incident to harm the Shen family. If Zhizhi returns safely, it would be better for her to stay in the Xiangying old house and spend the rest of her life in peace."

Shen Lanxi frowned slightly, looking dignified without being angry. "Shen Mianzhi is my Shen family's daughter, so please don't worry about her, uncle."

Deliberately adding the word "cousin" at this time is obviously meant to draw a clear line between the two.

Shen Hang didn't expect Shen Lanxi to be so adamant. He was a little confused. "Lanxi, what are you talking about? We are all descendants of the Shen family. We rise and fall together. Now that things have come to this, Zhizhi will definitely not marry into a wealthy family. It's better to keep her by our side. We are doing this for the sake of the Shen family's century-old reputation."

Shen Lanxi's expression was indifferent. "The Shen family's century-long reputation was not earned by imprisoning a woman for her entire life. If you uncles don't even have this awareness, you should unload the family burden as soon as possible to avoid bringing disaster to future generations."

"This……"

Everyone present was old enough to be Shen Lanxi's father, and they felt ashamed to be lectured by the younger generation. However, Shen Lanxi's status as the eldest son of the family was there, so even if everyone was dissatisfied, there was no reason to reprimand him.

Shen Lanxi pretended not to notice the expressions on everyone's faces, as cold as an ice sculpture. "Considering that all of you uncles are first-time offenders, I will not tell Grandpa about what happened today. Please go to the ancestral temple and reflect on your mistakes. Come out when you have thought it through."

what?

Still need to face the wall and reflect on your mistakes?

These members of the Shen family are all well-known figures in Xiangying. They are the first to offer incense when worshipping their ancestors. Now they are asked to go to the ancestral hall and reflect on their mistakes.

The group of people were in a daze, and by the time they reacted, Shen Lanxi had already walked away.

Shen Hang's face was full of uncertainty. He turned to look at Shen Jun beside him, "Father? Lan Xi is going too far."

Shen Jun's face was gloomy. He stared at Shen Lanxi's back for a long time and shook his head. "Forget it. Xiaozhi's life or death is unknown at the moment. It's really not right to discuss this matter."

Everyone looked disappointed.

"But... we are his elders after all. If we are really punished, how can we face people in the future?"

Shen Jun scolded coldly, "What elders? Lan Xi is the future head of the family. Not to mention you, even if it's me, I have to obey the punishment. This is the rule of the Shen family!"

*

The path through the old house is covered with years of moss in the cracks of the stones, and the ink color brewed by rainwater seeps through the velvety green. Every step feels like stepping on soaked old rice paper.

"Master."

Gao Zhi cautiously followed Shen Lanxi. Seeing the coldness still between his brows, he raised his neck and cursed behind him, "A bunch of old, rotten wood, actually wanting to use feudal tricks to besiege Miss Mianzhi? Don't you see who the future head of the Shen family is? That is my wise, powerful, and omnipotent... Young Master!"

Shen Lanxi stopped and looked up at Gao Zhi, "Has the news been passed back?"

Gao Zhi immediately calmed down and nodded, "Yes. But... now that Miss Mianzhi is in trouble, I'm afraid Miss Yao may not let her go."

Shen Lanxi said nothing, turned around and continued walking.

If those absurd things were true, then she... would definitely come.

……