RWNEFE -Chapter 10 The Imperial Decree Arrives!

After receiving Zhou Ruyuan’s definitive reply, Bai Qingling led her people and barged into the main courtyard with the bearing of a victor.

“The prince has given orders: from today onward, the princess consort is not to step out of the rear courtyard even a single step!”

Shen Lanxi had already received the news from Nu Bai and had arrived in the courtyard ahead of time to wait.

“Some people really are born shameless—so fond of slapping the word ‘cheap’ onto themselves!”

Seeing Shen Lanxi sitting calmly in the courtyard, leisurely drinking tea, Bai Qingling’s eyes flashed with venom, which was quickly replaced by smug satisfaction.

Be arrogant all you want—let’s see how many more days you can keep it up!

“History is always written by the victors. The more insolent you are, Shen, the more the prince will detest you. No matter what you say, I won’t get angry, because the more you act like this, the more the prince will despise you!” And the sooner you’ll die!

With a look of revenge-filled delight on her face, Bai Qingling cast Shen Lanxi a contemptuous glance and issued orders to the servants in the courtyard.

“From now on, you few will be solely responsible for this courtyard. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be beaten to death on the spot!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes were cold as ice. “The imperial decree hasn’t even been issued yet, and Zhou Ruyuan dares to imprison me without His Majesty’s consent? Could it be that Zhou Ruyuan’s power now truly covers the sky with one hand?”

Bai Qingling’s face immediately showed panic. If such words spread, it would amount to treason.

“You’re talking nonsense! Your Shen family has committed the grave crime of having your property confiscated and your clan exterminated. The prince anticipated that you’d bite back, so he had people confine you!”

Unhurried, Shen Lanxi spoke like a cat teasing a mouse. “This morning Zhou Ruyuan openly defied an imperial order for your sake. What do you even count as? You have no title or status, yet you’ve already dragged the prince into the grave crime of defying an edict. And you still dare say I’m slandering him? Even as a woman of the inner quarters, I know that punishment should not extend to married daughters. Yet the prince—who leads troops into battle—doesn’t even understand such a basic principle. I really wonder how he won all those battles!”

How could Bai Qingling tolerate Zhou Ruyuan being smeared like this? She rushed forward.

A single icy, blade-sharp glance from Shen Lanxi froze her in place.

“As long as the imperial decree hasn’t been issued, I am still the Princess Consort of Zhen’nan. No matter how great his power is, it’s still not greater than my imperial-uncle emperor’s. My imperial uncle hasn’t done anything to me yet, and you dare come here to shout at me? Could it be that in your heart, you think you’re even greater than His Majesty?”

Bai Qingling’s face turned pale. She hurriedly glanced around and immediately tried to pin a charge on Shen Lanxi. “You’re crazy! Something’s happened to your Shen family, and you still want to drag the entire prince’s residence down with you. How vicious!”

Shen Lanxi laughed, looking at Bai Qingling with disdain.

“I never argue lengths and merits with cheap people. You’ve broken my rule.” She stood and walked toward Bai Qingling.

Shocked by the sudden surge of Shen Lanxi’s presence, Bai Qingling instinctively stepped back twice.

Shen Lanxi appeared unhurried, yet pressed forward step by step, until she forced Bai Qingling to retreat all the way out of the rear courtyard.

“See? I said you’re only capable of impotent rage, and you still won’t admit it. I’m standing right here offering myself up for you to hit, and you don’t even dare raise your hand. I scold you, and you don’t even dare talk back. With that kind of courage, you still dare come in front of me to strut and show off? Were you born loving abuse?”

Bai Qingling’s expression instantly changed. With so many servants watching, this vile woman Shen Lanxi was humiliating her again!

“Go back and tell Zhou Ruyuan to provide me with the best food and drink these next few days. Otherwise, when His Majesty or the Empress Dowager summons me, don’t blame me for lodging a complaint against him!”

Bai Qingling gritted her teeth, stiffening her body as she glared at Shen Lanxi viciously.

“Yes, yes—that expression. I just love it when people look at me with hatred, yet can’t do a thing about it!”

Bai Qingling nearly ground her teeth to dust. “Shen Lanxi, just you wait!”

“Some people just love to say the fiercest words while doing the most cowardly things—and they even deliver themselves to be humiliated!” Shen Lanxi turned and walked back, her tone light.

“I’m soft-hearted and love helping others. Cheap woman, whenever you feel like acting cheap again, you can come find me anytime. I especially enjoy dealing with cheap people!”

Bai Qingling was so furious her lungs felt like they were about to explode, but she also suddenly realized that, given the palace’s favor toward Shen Lanxi, she might really be summoned to the palace.

Annoyed, she stomped her foot and turned to leave.

His Majesty was always deeply suspicious. With the imperial decree still not issued, who knew what he was planning.

At dinner, the quality of the food hadn’t dropped, which meant her warning had worked. At the very least, she would still have to stay in the prince’s residence for eight or nine more days, and she had no intention of wronging herself.

“Nu Bai, scan it—any poison?”

“Master, no poison. You can eat without worry!”

Shen Lanxi didn’t eat it. She directly stored it into her space. Those people might not dare poison her, but deliberately disgusting her—like spitting into the food—was something they’d still dare to do!

She had plenty of food in her space; there was no need to fuss over a few meals.

That night—

“Master, there are a total of seventy-six people watching in secret nearby!”

“It’s fine. Those seventy-six people are both watchers and guards protecting me. Rest easy!” The person who had poisoned her before still hadn’t appeared. A one-off job like that definitely wasn’t done by someone from the prince’s residence.

With these guards around, she couldn’t get out—and those who wanted to harm her wouldn’t be able to get in either!

In the blink of an eye, six days passed. The verdict for the Shen family came down: the entire family was to be exiled to Dongchuan, departing in two days!

Another day passed, and Wang Bao arrived at the prince’s residence to proclaim the imperial decree!

Bai Qingling couldn’t hide her delight. It must be the decree disposing of that vile woman Shen Lanxi!

She hurriedly brought her servants to receive the decree, but as soon as she stepped forward, she was pushed aside by the guards Wang Bao had brought.

Wang Bao held his head high, raised the imperial decree, and snorted coldly, not sparing Bai Qingling even a glance as he strode arrogantly into the prince’s residence.

Bai Qingling’s face twisted with rage as she cursed inwardly: damn eunuch, dog eunuch!

“The imperial decree has arrived! Princess Consort of Zhen’nan, receive the decree!”

Bai Qingling’s expression changed. She immediately sent someone to summon Shen Lanxi.

“Where are the rites? Where’s the incense table? Am I supposed to proclaim the decree just like this?” Wang Bao’s oppressive gaze swept over everyone in the residence.

“Who’s in charge here? If this gets spread around, won’t the Zhen’nan Prince’s residence become a laughingstock?”

Bai Qingling had never received an imperial decree before and had no idea there were so many formalities. She hurriedly looked to the steward to step forward.

The steward quickly ordered people to make arrangements, and at the same time withdrew five thousand taels of silver from the residence’s accounts.

“Eunuch, this is a small token of our prince’s appreciation—please buy yourself some tea and moisten your throat.”

Wang Bao glanced down and didn’t accept it.

The steward understood—too little. He hurriedly withdrew another five thousand taels.

This time, when it was offered again, Wang Bao accepted it.

“I still have to return to the palace to attend His Majesty’s brush and ink. I don’t have time to wait for the princess consort. Where is her courtyard? Lead me there at once!”

The steward hurriedly led the way.

Bai Qingling had already been displeased when she saw the steward bribing Wang Bao, and she never expected that damn eunuch to think it wasn’t enough. Such thick silver notes—there had to be several thousand taels. She was already planning to severely punish the steward after Wang Bao left.

But upon hearing that Wang Bao attended His Majesty personally, she instantly lost all such thoughts—and even felt faintly that the steward hadn’t given enough.