Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 476

Shen Wei was so angry he was panting: "I should have advised the Emperor to take a tough stance back then, regardless of how these fools were incited, and just wipe out that Western Qi delegation. This winter, Jingyang and I would have led our army into Western Qi in one fell swoop, and there wouldn't have been so much trouble!"

Shen Lingjun smiled wryly: "The Emperor has taken two princesses from Western Qi as concubines, so his attitude is probably even less firm now. We can only find a way ourselves. If all else fails, we'll leave the capital to prepare for war."

As the two were talking, a gatekeeper from the Shen residence rushed over, looking panicked.

"Master, Third Miss, something terrible has happened! A large number of people have surrounded the main gate of the Shen residence!"

Shen Wei and Shen Lingjun rushed to the gate of the Shen residence. Before they even went out, they heard a great commotion outside.

Looking out from behind the door, one could indeed see that outside the Shen residence, the people were packed in layers, completely blocking the way, and everyone was filled with righteous indignation.

"Is your Shen family unwilling to send your daughter for a political marriage because you're planning to break the treaty and start a war later?"

"Definitely! The Shen family is a military family, a whole family of military officers. If Bei Yi remains peaceful and prosperous and there is no need to fight, wouldn't these military officers have no chance to make merit and gain fame? Of course they are unwilling to cease hostilities!"

"Bah! I thought the Shen family was full of loyal martyrs, protecting the country and its people. Turns out they are just selfish and disregard the suffering of the people under the scorching sun!"

The crowd cursed incessantly, throwing all sorts of random stones, mud, and rotten vegetable leaves at the gate of the Shen residence.

The area in front of the Shen residence had become like a garbage dump, a mess everywhere, reeking of foul odors. The main gate was also smashed and battered.

The servants of the Shen family stood at the entrance, their heads covered in filth flying everywhere, trying their best to explain.

"Everyone, calm down! You've all been deceived by the Western Qi people! They don't want a truce at all; they're just afraid of being wiped out by us because they can't defeat us right now, so they've come to sue for peace! ... Western Qi wants to marry Madam Shen to them as a hostage to control the Shen family; they have malicious intentions!..."

But no one listened.

When the first wave of public opinion arose, the imperial court issued a proclamation saying that the Western Qi's request for peace was merely a delaying tactic, but the people did not believe it at all, and the public opinion did not subside in the slightest.

If even the imperial court doesn't believe them, then it's even less likely that they'll believe the words of a few servants in the Shen household.

The crowd remained in uproar.

"Don't listen to them! They made all this up. The Shen family just doesn't want peace talks; they're warlike and greedy for glory! If they don't fight, how can they receive rewards and enjoy this immense wealth and honor!"

Shen Wei was so angry he felt like his lungs were about to explode, and he finally couldn't take it anymore and came out.

"We, the Shen family, fight to protect the land and peace of Bei Yi, not to gain merit, rewards, or fame! I actually hope that there will be no more war in Bei Yi, so that the Shen family can retire and enjoy a peaceful life without having to go to the battlefield and risk their lives again!"

Shen Wei said in a deep voice, word by word: "The Shen family has been generals for generations. My grandfather, my father, my uncles, and my two elder brothers all died on the battlefield! Do you think going to the battlefield is something profitable? Do you think the Shen family likes fighting? If you were to exchange the death of your entire family for this military merit, would you be willing to do so?"

The crowd remained silent for a few seconds.

The sacrifices made by the Shen family to protect the border between Beiyi and Taiwan are evident to all.

But immediately, someone below shouted a retort.

"It's easy for you to spout empty rhetoric here. Why should we believe you? We won't be sure you really don't want to fight unless you marry your third daughter to the Western Qi as a peace offering!"

The people around them also joined in the commotion.

"Yes! It only counts if she actually marries him!"

"Otherwise, who knows when the Shen family might break the treaty and start fighting again!"

Shen Wei was furious and was about to refute the statement when suddenly a loud shout, like the sound of a great bell, came from somewhere.

"Shut up, everyone!!!"

The enormous sound shook the heavens and resounded through the streets and alleys. The echoes came like ripples on water, making everyone dizzy and their ears ring.

Everyone was stunned, and for a moment no one dared to utter a sound; the scene fell into complete silence.

Shen Lingjun also covered her ears and looked in the direction from which the sound came. She saw an old man standing far away with his hands behind his back, exuding a majestic aura, like Mount Tai standing tall.

She remembered this person; he seemed to be a master of internal martial arts from the Eastern Depot.

The powerful inner strength is infused into the voice, which is why it is so awe-inspiring.

Have the people from the Eastern Depot arrived?

Shen Lingjun's gaze continued to sweep across the crowd, and soon he saw a crimson figure stride in from outside the crowd amidst the frozen silence.

Wherever it went, the crowd fell silent, automatically parting and retreating, like the sea receding to both sides, creating a clear path.

Mo Chonggui arrived at the entrance of the Shen residence.

He ascended the steps of the Shen residence, scanned the crowd, and everyone involuntarily lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

Mo Chonggui coldly replied, "Madam Shen is already engaged, so it's impossible for her to marry into Western Qi. Are you going to force a woman to marry two husbands for the sake of a marriage alliance, thus disrupting the moral order of the world?"

Everyone at the scene was in an uproar.

Madam Shen is already engaged?

Immediately someone else exclaimed, "When did they get engaged? We've never heard of it!"

"That's right! Who was chosen? Tell us so we can know!"

"You're not lying to us, are you? Just saying you're engaged without any real commitment, trying to shirk your responsibility for this marriage alliance?"

Mo Chonggui sneered, "Madam Shen's fiancé is none other than myself. What business is it of yours, you bunch of petty scoundrels? You dare to even listen to my affairs?"