RWNEFE -Chapter 314 Punishing Zhang Zifen!

Emperor Renxiao narrowed his eyes slightly. “The matter of the secret passage—apart from successive emperors, only the crown prince who will inherit the throne knows about it.”

“The former crown prince back then—who was also my elder brother—certainly knew about the secret passage as well.”

A flicker passed through Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes. He raised his head to look at his father, just about to speak, when the emperor continued: “In those days, the Prince Li rebelled and forced his way into the palace. He drove the former crown prince to his death and slaughtered all of his bloodline. I suspect that Prince Li may very well have used the former crown prince’s family to coerce him into revealing the location of the secret passage.”

Shen Lanxi spoke, “Your Majesty, does Prince Li still have any descendants?”

Emperor Renxiao sighed. “When I had just ascended the throne, I could not bear to create further slaughter, yet I also feared failing to deter those with rebellious intentions. So I ordered that all of Prince Li’s adult male descendants be executed by beheading, while the women were exiled. The underage boys were sent to guard the ancestral imperial mausoleum, and the underage girls were sent to the Music Bureau.”

Shen Lanxi bowed her head. “Your Majesty is benevolent and virtuous. Heaven surely recognizes your kindness.”

In that instant, Emperor Renxiao seemed to age greatly. He let out a long sigh and pressed a hand to his forehead in exhaustion.

“You two go and investigate. If it truly is Prince Li’s descendants causing trouble, there is no need to report back to me about how to deal with them.”

Shen Lanxi bowed. “I will personally go to the imperial mausoleum to investigate at once.”

After Shen Lanxi left the palace, Zhou Ruyuan was summoned again by Emperor Renxiao from Consort Shu’s quarters.

“Father Emperor.”

The emperor asked expressionlessly, “Just now, it seemed you had something to say.”

Zhou Ruyuan quickly replied, “Father Emperor, the doubt I had just now has already been answered by you. Those surviving descendants of Prince Li are ungrateful—they deserve their deaths!”

Emperor Renxiao looked coldly at his son. “You were about to ask whether any of the former crown prince’s descendants are still alive.”

Zhou Ruyuan was startled and hurriedly explained, “Father Emperor, that was not my intention.”

The emperor snorted coldly. “When you fought those two traitors in Dongchuan, did they say anything they shouldn’t have?”

Naturally, they had. Remembering those treasonous words, Zhou Ruyuan’s heartbeat quickened.

“Father Emperor, how can the words of those rebellious traitors be trusted?”

Emperor Renxiao continued, “Are your men keeping watch on Prince Cheng’s movements?”

Zhou Ruyuan’s heart sank. He quickly answered, “Yes. I was worried they might make a comeback, so I had people monitor both Prince Cheng and the King of Eastern Liao.”

“Have your men investigate whom Prince Cheng has been in contact with.”

Prince Cheng and the former crown prince had been born of the same mother. With the emperor saying this much, what was left to misunderstand?

“I will see to it immediately!” Zhou Ruyuan said.

After dismissing his son, Emperor Renxiao also dispatched his personal guards to Prince Cheng’s fief.

Wang Bao, somewhat worried, reminded in a low voice, “Your Majesty, we do not have many people left to use.”

The emperor pondered for a moment and said, “Recently, the court has been debating the selection of examiners for the imperial examinations, yet no agreement has been reached. If this stalemate continues, it won’t do.”

“Why not hold a military examination first, to stir things up a bit?”

Wang Bao immediately flattered him. “Your Majesty is wise—truly thinking of what no one before has thought of.”

Emperor Renxiao nodded in satisfaction. This way, not only could capable officials be selected, but the vacancies among military officers could also be filled.

At the next morning court, the proposal for a military examination was put forward by the retired General Wen and immediately approved by the emperor. The special imperial examination was postponed as a matter of course.

Some were pleased, others worried. Those most pleased were the scholars who had not yet finished preparing.

Among them was Shen Congwen.

“I refuse to believe I can’t find a good academy willing to take you in,” Shen Congwen said irritably. Over the past few days, several tutors at home had resigned one after another, leaving him furious. When he suddenly heard that the special examination had been postponed, it felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head—but then he regained his spirits.

“Master, I heard that the highly respected Master Ruohua from Jiangnan will be coming to the capital in the next few days to visit a friend. I’m not sure if it’s true,” the steward reported the news he had heard on the street.

The moment Shen Congwen heard the name Master Ruohua, he leapt to his feet in excitement.

“Who did you just say?”

The steward was nearly frightened out of his wits.

“Did you just say Master Ruohua?”

Shen Congwen grabbed the steward by the collar.

“Yes, yes, Master—it’s Master Ruohua. I heard the scholars in the teahouse talking about it. I definitely didn’t hear wrong!”

Shen Congwen was so excited that tears almost came to his eyes. Master Ruohua—that was a great Confucian scholar famous throughout Jiangnan! Countless scholars and talented men waited day and night outside his door just to receive a single piece of guidance from him.

Unfortunately, the master was a low-key person who had always stayed in Jiangnan and was unwilling to enter official life, so his reputation ranked last among the great scholars.

But in terms of learning, if Master Ruohua claimed second place, no one in the entire Great Zhou would dare claim first.

“When will Master Ruohua arrive in the capital? Did anyone say where he will stay? Who is the friend he is visiting?”

The three questions in a row left the steward bewildered.

“Master, this humble servant hasn’t gone to inquire yet!”

“Then what are you waiting for? Hurry and find out.”

“Yes, sir!”

Since Shen Lanxi had agreed to go to the imperial mausoleum, she naturally had to make the trip. After settling some urgent matters, she went to the Shen residence a day in advance to inform them.

“Hmph, you still know to come back,” Shen Congwen said, showing his daughter no pleasant expression despite the good news about Master Ruohua.

Shen Lanxi lowered her gaze. “Father, tomorrow I will leave the capital to investigate the case of the Wei Family Army. My return date is uncertain. I came to bid you farewell.”

At the mention of the Wei Family Army case, Shen Congwen’s expression worsened, but he said nothing further.

Shen Lanxi then went to bid farewell to her grandmother. By coincidence, the rest of the family was also present.

“Grandmother—”

Old Madam Shen was discussing the marriage arrangements of two young ladies in the family. Seeing Shen Lanxi arrive, she wanted to hear her opinion as well.

“You’ve come at just the right time. We’re discussing Yuanxin and Yuanruan’s marriages. Sit and listen.”

Shen Lanxi sat down calmly, her eyes casually sweeping over Zhang Zifen, who sat beside Old Madam Shen.

“Grandmother, since when are concubines allowed to discuss matters together with the masters?”

Zhang Zifen stiffened, then forced a smile and said ingratiatingly, “Eldest Miss, the master asked me to come in his place.”

Shen Lanxi’s face turned cold. “Did you ask my mother?”

Zhang Zifen’s smile froze.

“Eldest Miss, you may not know—our household has always been like this. The madam does not manage the affairs of the main branch; everything is handled by the master.”

The warmth in Shen Lanxi’s eyes gradually disappeared.

“Slap her.”

Everyone was shocked.

Without a word, Chunxue and Qiushuang stepped forward, dragged Zhang Zifen away from the old madam, and immediately began striking her, the sound of slaps ringing out one after another.

“Old Madam, save me…” Zhang Zifen had not expected that after returning to the capital, Shen Lanxi would still dare to act so ruthlessly, beating and killing people in the family at will. She was terrified out of her wits.

“Old Madam, save me…” Zhang Zifen struggled toward Old Madam Shen, crawling desperately.

Old Madam Shen’s face turned livid, her chest heaving—clearly furious.

Shen Lanxi narrowed her eyes, her voice as cold as frost.

“As long as I am here, the Shen family will not tolerate those who scheme against their own kin.”

Old Madam Shen had intended to flare up, but upon hearing this, she sat back down in her chair.

Shen Lanxi continued, “That trick may work on my father, but it doesn’t work on me! Today you have broken my rules, so you must accept punishment as a warning to others!”