Engagement Canceled: I Can Extract Prefixes-Chapter 376 - 375: Can’t Even the Shen Family Decide Our Own Title?

Chapter 376: Chapter 375: Can’t Even the Shen Family Decide Our Own Title?

The atmosphere in Taiji Hall was somewhat solemn.

Even though the princes were born into the royal family and had teachers from a young age,

when it came to certain matters, nothing was as direct as hearing from the Great Wei Emperor himself.

"The sage books usually teach you to be benevolent and kind as rulers.

But the premise is to rid this throne of all its thorns and smooth them out!"

The Great Wei Emperor pointedly addressed the core issue.

"Over the years, the Shen Family seems to have many strange schemes.

The troops stationed to the east may not recognize me as the Emperor a few years from now.

In such circumstances, do you think I should remain benevolent?

If benevolence continues, one day troops will besiege the city, and rebellions will rise everywhere.

Once a rebellion cannot be suppressed, numerous aristocratic families and forces will follow suit.

If I cannot suppress the Shen Family, next there will be the Zheng Family, Shao Family, Sima Family, Beitang Family..."

The princes seem to have come to some understanding with these words.

The seat of high power doesn’t seem to be that easy to sit on after all.

Seeing the serious expressions on the princes’ faces, the Great Wei Emperor said no more.

"What I said today was rather shallow.

You still have much to learn; sometimes what I teach may not always be applicable.

In the future, you should contemplate more on your own."

After speaking, the Great Wei Emperor asked everyone to take another look at that throne.

Then he returned to the back garden the same way, to draft an edict.

On the first day of next month, sacrifices to heaven will be held, and Shen Han will be bestowed the title of Marquis, inheritor for a hundred generations undiminished. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Prince Qingyuan also nodded in agreement.

Only when the title of the Shen Family falls onto Shen Han does the real handling of the Shen Family begin.

Shen Qingshan has three sons.

The second son, Shen Lingyong, and the third son, Shen Lingsheng, occasionally return to Yun’an City.

But the eldest son seems not to have returned home for many years.

Previously, Shen Lingyong was stripped of his general’s title for speaking nonsense; the person sent was killed again.

The message sent back said an assassin from Yan Country carried out the attack, killing him on the spot.

For years, Shen Family people stood against Yan Country, but the direct descendants nurtured by the Shen Family have not died.

If anyone was from the court sent over, they didn’t meet good ends.

This opportunity with Shen Han must be used to thoroughly investigate the Shen Family.

More than two days later, the edict arrived at Shen Mansion in Yun’an City.

Though he knew it would come sooner or later, Shen Qingshan couldn’t help but feel a twinge in his heart when he saw the edict.

After receiving the edict, he sat alone in the great hall of Shen Mansion.

Until noon, when no one saw Shen Qingshan, they went to find him for lunch.

But all they saw was the once-fierce General Shen, now looking dejected.

"Master... it’s noon..."

Madam Shen walked up to Shen Qingshan cautiously speaking.

In the past, Madam Shen had always had some cover, her exceptional grandson, Shen Ye.

Previously, when Shen Qingshan was angry, he would think that Madam Shen managed to groom such a grandson as Shen Ye.

At most, he would scold her, after which his anger would dissipate.

But now it seems, the foolish things done by Madam Shen affect far more...

"Master, last night you ate only a little, you should have some lunch..."

Seeing Shen Qingshan not respond, Madam Shen pressed again.

This time, Shen Qingshan raised his head slightly, looked at her for a while before finally speaking.

"Don’t eat lunch yet, go call everyone, I have something to say."

Upon hearing this, Madam Shen nodded and walked out of the hall.

Originally, she could have had the maids inform everyone, but she didn’t want to be alone with Shen Qingshan, unsure of what more she would hear.

About two quarters of an hour later, the hall was finally full of people.

Except for the eldest Shen Lingwei and Shen Ye, everyone else was present.

Shen Ye seemed to have left with Luo Zuchen the previous day.

Shen Qingshan glanced at everyone; they all seemed gloomy.

Even the younger generation of the Shen Family looked worried.

In the past, when Shen Han was still in Shen Mansion, none of these younger Shen Family members were on good terms with him.

Simply ignoring Shen Han without kicking him when he’s down was rare.

With Shen Han inheriting the Shen Family, these Shen descendants didn’t know if they would still have their present lives.

The previous prophecy of "disaster" seemed to have come true.

To the Shen Family members present, Shen Han was a disaster that shattered their good lives.

But upon thinking carefully, it seems they were to blame for Shen Han’s rise as a disaster.

Had it not been for the prophecy, perhaps things wouldn’t have ended up like this.

"Several hours ago, I received an edict from the capital city.

On the first day of next month, at the heavenly sacrifice ceremony, our Shen Family’s marquis title will be passed to Shen Han’s line."

Shen Qingshan’s tone was indifferent, no one knew what he truly felt inside.

After speaking, he looked at the people present, seemingly wanting to hear their opinions.

A silence enveloped the hall.

After a while, Madam Shen seemed unable to hold back and spoke.

"Master, is it certain we have to pass the title to Shen Han if we lose the competition.....

Can we find a reason to refuse, after all, the title is our Shen Family’s..."

Upon hearing Madam Shen’s words, Shen Qingshan couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Find a reason to refuse? What reason?

I accepted this competition in front of all officials, basing judgment on competition results.

Furthermore, Shen Han made remarkable achievements in the Ten Nations Grand Competition, and with his current ability.

You, as Madam Shen Shen, tell me, what kind of reason would be valid to decline this?"

Shen Qingshan’s words immediately made Madam Shen Shen’s face look dejected.

"Our Shen Family’s title, is it not decided by us Shen Family members..."

"Shen Family’s title?

The title in Great Wei is granted by heaven, bestowed by His Holiness.

Titles are heavenly bestowed, according to logic, there isn’t a single thing amiss."

Shen Qingshan waved his hand, signaling Madam Shen Shen to be quiet.

Her words were fundamentally pointless.

After a moment, Madam He stood up slightly, her gaze fierce, not bothering to pretend.

"Patriarch, if he were dead, surely the title wouldn’t be passed to him?"

Shen Qingshan glanced at Madam He, these words carried no criticism.

"There are about seven days until the first of next month; if by the heavenly sacrifice Shen Han still remains unharmed and survives until the ceremony completes,

then the marquis title is settled for Shen Han’s line.

I don’t agree with harming your own family, it isn’t right."

Shen Qingshan spoke indifferently, with a tone of disapproval, yet he laid out the timeframe for everyone.

Among the many present, they didn’t particularly like the title falling upon Shen Han.

But...