RWNEFE -Chapter 453 Who in the Realm Does Not Know Shen Lanxi!

In the imperial harem, some quick-witted people seized the opportunity created by the grain-storage policy. They pulled up the ornamental plants in their courtyards and planted vegetables and grain instead.

When palace servants discussed this in private, Emperor Renxiao overheard them. People assumed the emperor would be furious, but not only was he not angry—he saw that some of the consorts had done quite a good job planting, so he even promoted their ranks and favored them for several days in succession.

The harem was full of people who followed the wind. In an instant, all the concubines began to imitate them.

Even Consort Shu had no choice but to grit her teeth. While cursing inwardly, she ordered her favorite begonias and peonies uprooted and replaced with what she considered coarse, vulgar crops.

Everyone knew that this time the emperor wanted to use the situation with the Yue Kingdom to restore his pride. No one dared spoil his mood at such a time.

The clearing of barren mountains went smoothly, but the abandoned burial grounds were another matter.

When the first wave of public resentment arose, Shen Lanxi personally led troops there.

“Whoever is causing trouble—step forward!”

Dressed in her official robes, Shen Lanxi radiated authority without anger.

Dozens of commoners who had gathered in protest were immediately too frightened to speak.

“Instead of living peacefully under the Son of Heaven’s rule, you may as well go to the north,” she said calmly.

“The north recently suffered drought, and vast tracts of land lie idle. You can move there—each person will be allocated twenty mu of farmland. That way, you won’t have to fight over this tiny patch of burial ground.”

Was that relocation? That was exile.

“We won’t go! Our relatives are buried in that burial ground. What right does the court have to flatten their graves?”

“My family’s graves have been here for generations. This isn’t a random burial ground—it’s our ancestral cemetery! Even if the court lacks grain, it shouldn’t behave like this. You’re forcing us commoners—aren’t you afraid of chilling the people’s hearts?”

Shen Lanxi looked at the speaker. “You’re dressed like a farmer, yet you speak with such polished rhetoric, repeatedly trying to sow discord between the court and the people. Could it be that you’re a spy sent from somewhere?”

“Investigate him thoroughly. If he truly is a spy seeking to harm Great Zhou, show no mercy.”

“If confirmed, all nine clans will be implicated!”

“Yes!”

The man who had just spoken so righteously was stunned. How had he suddenly become a spy? How had it escalated to implicating nine clans?

“The court is unjust! The court is unreasonable—”

Liu Yanhui raised his voice, drowning him out. “Congratulations—the first group of relocated households has been decided. All nine clans related to this man, prepare yourselves. Within three days, you will depart for the north to settle.”

The dozens of protesters were all related to one another. Hearing that their future had been decided so abruptly, they turned red with anger and fear.

“Have mercy, my lord! We were only protecting our ancestors’ remains—what did we do wrong?”

“Let me ask you, my lord—if your own family graves were flattened, how would you feel?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “The court already issued notices allowing families to relocate graves with compensation. Time was given to you, yet you ignored it. Now that the deadline has arrived, you come here to make trouble. Do you think the authority of court officials counts for nothing?”

Liu Yanhui added, “Don’t just stand there. If you want to collect the remains, do it now. If not, go home and pack. In three days, officials will personally escort you to the north.”

The troublemakers were dumbfounded.

Wasn’t it said that the law does not punish the multitude? There were so many of them—would the court really deal with all of them?

They were given no chance to shout again. The soldiers moved in directly.

Shen Lanxi swept her gaze across the crowd. “Who else wants to stop us?”

“Step forward.”

“There are plenty of forests in the north—what’s lacking is people to reclaim the land.”

With heavily armed troops suppressing the scene, who would dare continue making trouble?

For a time, Shen Lanxi’s reputation as domineering and ruthless spread throughout Great Zhou.

Yet along with the curses came the series of land-reclamation policies issued by the Ministry of Revenue.

These regulations once again spread Shen Lanxi’s name across the country. Even in the poorest and most remote corners, people had heard of her.

But unlike the capital, the common people in those places spoke of her with gratitude.

Seed grain was distributed to them free of charge. For land they reclaimed, they only had to submit a small amount of grain—almost as if the land were given to them outright.

Previously, the land assigned by the court came with yearly taxes that already made life difficult. In recent years, with taxes increasing, their suffering had become unbearable. Now, if these new policies remained unchanged, diligence might mean they would no longer go hungry.

Perhaps they might even have surplus grain.

They heard that the person who issued these policies was a woman named Shen Lanxi.

What did it matter if she was a woman? To the common people, it made no difference. All they cared about was filling their stomachs. Who sat in high office had little to do with them.

…

“Shen Lanxi has cleared the mountains and dug up the burial grounds. Everyone is watching now—let’s see how she produces grain seeds!”

The court officials held back, waiting for this moment.

It had been Shen Lanxi herself who promised to provide free grain seeds to the people. If she failed, she would not only have to answer to the officials but also to the people.

And the people were not as easy to placate as the emperor. If public anger erupted, even imperial favor would not save her.

“We don’t need to do anything. Let’s just wait for Shen Lanxi to trap herself in her own cocoon.”

While Zhou Ruyuan was busy dealing with envoys from two rebellious princes, he found time to meet Shen Lanxi once.

“Stop this at once,” he urged. “Admit your mistake to Father Emperor and make peace with the Yue Kingdom. If you continue like this, you’re only trapping yourself!”

Zhou Ruyuan could not understand how someone as intelligent as Shen Lanxi could take such a disaster upon herself.

She was courting her own destruction.

Shen Lanxi looked at him, amused at how anxious he was, like an ant on a hot pan.

“This is my affair. Why is the Prince of Zhen’nan so anxious?”

Zhou Ruyuan said urgently, “Only those who truly care about you would step forward to dissuade you at a time like this.”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly. “Is it possible that they trust I can accomplish it?”

Zhou Ruyuan froze, then thought—impossible.

With the scale of Shen Lanxi’s plan, how much grain would be needed to cover such a vast territory? The amount of seed required was beyond calculation. Even with extraordinary abilities, she could not achieve it.

“Don’t be stubborn. Even if you stop now, this matter won’t easily settle. I will speak for you before Father Emperor and the officials. You only need to admit your mistake sincerely.”

“Perhaps, seeing your good attitude, they won’t pursue the matter.”

Shen Lanxi almost laughed aloud.

“Then I truly thank the Prince of Zhen’nan.”

Zhou Ruyuan failed to hear the sarcasm and thought she had softened. His expression relaxed, and his tone grew gentle.

“You are a woman. They are too harsh on you, which is hardly in keeping with a gentleman’s conduct.”

Shen Lanxi was so exasperated she laughed. At a time like this, he was actually thankful she was a woman. If Zhou Ruyuan had so much water in his brain, he might as well pour some of it into the north—the people there would surely be grateful.

As for her safety?

“My affairs are none of the Prince of Zhen’nan’s concern. Though we serve in the same court, the little collegial goodwill between us is not enough for you to speak to me in such a tone.”