RWNEFE -Chapter 407 Zhou Yunshang Forces the Palace

Wei Dongzhu shouted loudly, “His Majesty has already issued an imperial decree to rest quietly during this time. You blatantly ignore His Majesty’s orders and repeatedly cause a disturbance outside the palace gates—what are your intentions?”

The officials naturally had ulterior motives. The shifting of royal power was common, and they knew that the efforts they were putting in now would later be counted as merit for loyalty and service, helping them climb higher in rank.

But the dust had not yet settled, so they could not openly voice those ambitions.

“His Majesty has dismissed court for fifteen consecutive days, leaving no arrangements in place. Memorials piled up in the Imperial Study go unprocessed. Floods ravage Jiangdong, and the people suffer. We need His Majesty’s approval for countermeasures!”

“Banditry along the Liao River brings unbearable suffering; troops must be urgently deployed to quell the brigands.”

“Floods and disasters strike Linhe, Shaanxi, and Gansu—these matters concern the very foundation of Great Zhou. Do you think we’re idle, gathered here for nothing?”

“We can wait, but the people cannot!”

Zhou Yunshang sneered, “Shen Lanxi cares only for her power, indifferent to the lives of the people. And she is a woman too—how utterly despicable!”

“Yes! Shen Lanxi is unworthy of the people of Great Zhou. She values power more than the lives of our subjects!”

“Shen Lanxi’s heart is cruel; she is not fit to be human!”

Wei Dongzhu could no longer stand it. He refused to listen to the officials’ abuse of her.

“Do not hide behind righteous-sounding excuses to cover up your palace coup!” he barked.

“Lord Shen guards the palace on imperial orders, and yet you use her family as leverage—you are forcing the palace and committing treason!”

“Stop spouting nonsense! If Shen Lanxi had opened the gates to let us see His Majesty, would we have resorted to such measures?”

“Yes! Do not try to defend Shen Lanxi. The whole capital knows of your and her secret dealings. Who doesn’t know, Wei Dongzhu, that you have long been her consort under the curtain, her subordinate beneath the skirts?”

“Bah! You disgrace the Wei name! You are a disgrace to the Wei army!”

Wei Dongzhu’s face flushed red with anger, only to glance up and see Shen Lanxi watching with evident amusement.

She isn’t worried at all about her family?

“I will send men to rush out and bring the Shen family into the palace,” he said.

Shen Lanxi remained calm. “No need. Not the right time yet.”

With the commotion already at this point, it still isn’t the right time?

Zhou Yunshang saw the officials denouncing her and felt a thrill of impatience.

“Open the gates immediately, or don’t blame me for acting mercilessly!”

The Shen family women cried out in fear.

“Lanxi—”

Shen Lanxi: “If you so much as touch a single hair on them, I’ll cut off a finger!”

Zhou Yunshang’s face darkened like iron. “It’s come to this, and you still dare to resist?”

Shen Lanxi: “I do what I say.”

Zhou Yunshang’s eyes burned with malice. She said coldly, “Shen Lanxi, you forced my hand. For the sake of Great Zhou, I will remove you as a calamity.”

The Shen family realized that Shen Lanxi would not compromise. One by one, they screamed her name hoarsely.

“Lanxi, save us…”

“Big sister, help…”

Hearing the Shen family’s cries, Zhou Yunshang’s heart swelled with satisfaction.

Finally, they would see how Shen Lanxi would kneel and beg her.

Previously, Shen Lanxi had escaped death by luck. Now the opportunity had finally arrived, and Zhou Yunshang intended to strip her to relieve her own hatred.

Shen Lanxi said firmly, “I guard the palace under His Majesty’s orders. You all act like thieves, coveting royal power. As long as I, Shen Lanxi, stand here, you will not find any loopholes.”

Zhou Yunshang thought, It’s best if Shen Lanxi continues to ignore her family; then I can seize the chance to strike.

Unexpectedly, Shen Lanxi truly ignored the Shen family, perfectly playing into her hands!

“Absolutely no chance to bring reinforcements for Shen Lanxi!” Zhou Yunshang shouted.

“For every fifteen minutes Shen Lanxi does not open the gates, we will kill one Shen family member!”

A soldier grabbed a Shen family man and held a blade above his head.

The Shen family cried out in terror.

“Cong…yi…”

Old Madam Shen stumbled toward the palace gate.

“Lanxi, open the gates! Grandmother begs you…”

Shen Lanxi looked into the distance and said solemnly, “Zhou Yunshang, this is your final chance. Withdraw to your princess mansion, and I will consider nothing has happened.”

Zhou Yunshang sneered, “Shen Lanxi, even facing death you still bluff!”

Shen Lanxi shouted, “Grand Princess Zhou Yunshang, you conspired with the Fifth Prince to assassinate the Crown Prince, and the Fifth Prince left his fief without permission under the pretext of attending to illness!”

Zhou Yunshang’s face changed drastically.

“Assassinate the Crown Prince? Conspire with the Fifth Prince? I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Shen Lanxi: “It matters not if you don’t know. These will all be reported truthfully to His Majesty.”

Zhou Yunshang’s patience ran out. Feeling anxious from Shen Lanxi’s words, she impatiently gave the order:

“Kill the Shen family! Let’s see if you dare resist now!”

“Kill!”

Zhou Yunshang gave the ruthless command. The Shen family could only cry helplessly.

“Who dares to kill!” The voice of the Renzhao Emperor suddenly rang out, and he appeared atop the city walls.

Zhou Yunshang’s eyes widened in disbelief. Impossible—wasn’t he supposed to be gravely ill? How could he be standing there unharmed?

“Long live the Emperor!”

The civil and military officials’ faces changed, and they knelt in unison.

The Renzhao Emperor coldly looked at the Grand Princess: “Let’s see who dares force the palace.”

Zhou Yunshang’s face went pale as she collapsed to the ground. It really was her father—the Renzhao Emperor.

The news had been false. Someone had deliberately lured her into a trap.

Shen Lanxi: “Your Majesty, my family is still outside.”

The Renzhao Emperor immediately ordered, “Open the gates and bring the Shen family into the palace.”

Zhou Yunshang’s expression shifted, her face showing a grim resolve.

“Bring the Shen family down!”

“This is Shen Lanxi’s trickery; the people on the gates are her impostors. I have confirmed—His Majesty is gravely ill. Shen Lanxi wants to manipulate the government and control the emperor to command the princes!” Zhou Yunshang struggled to rise, realizing her plan had failed. Today, it was either death or survival.

The Renzhao Emperor frowned, glaring at his eldest daughter in anger.

“Yunshang, what are you trying to do?”

Countless soldiers emerged behind Zhou Yunshang, surrounding the Shen family.

“You traitor, you dare to impersonate my father! After I cleanse the court, I will have you torn limb from limb!”

The Renzhao Emperor, seeing the soldiers appear from nowhere, was furious.

“How dare you maintain a private army!”

Zhou Yunshang laughed arrogantly. “My father has been secretly harmed by Shen Lanxi. Soon the Fifth Prince will return with thousands of troops to eliminate the traitors. Those who surrender now may still live!”

“Anyone who opens the palace gates will, after the court is restored, be promoted to Grand General!”