RWNEFE -Chapter 457 Granted an Imperial Sword and Once Again Presiding Over the Military Examinations

Ignoring the clamor of the officials, Emperor Renxiao was worried about another matter. The issue of grain seeds had been resolved—but what about the deaths of the Third Prince of Yue and his envoys?

“Lanxi, what do you say?” Emperor Renxiao asked. In truth, he was somewhat displeased with Shen Lanxi’s exchange. After all, silk was an important export of Great Zhou, and until now the technology had been tightly guarded. Silk produced in Great Zhou could sell for a hundred taels a bolt in foreign lands.

Shen Lanxi replied, “I thought first of overcoming the immediate crisis. After all, it will take the Yue envoys more than half a year to return to Yue. As for these grain seeds, I only learned by chance that Yue intended to provide them to the two rebels. I merely intercepted them halfway.”

The emperor’s eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh in approval.

All his daughters combined were not equal to one Shen Lanxi.

Previously, he had secretly ordered Shen Lanxi to give the rebels a warning. He had thought she had forgotten amid her busy affairs, but instead she had given him such a pleasant surprise.

The officials who had just submitted memorials attacking her all looked bitter. Once again, Shen Lanxi had resolved the situation with ease.

How could Shen Lanxi always be so fortunate?

Emperor Renxiao was in high spirits. Thinking that it would take half a year or even a year for the Yue envoys to reach their homeland—and that there was still plenty of room for maneuver in the meantime—he was no longer anxious.

Smiling warmly, he asked, “How did you persuade the Yue envoys regarding the deaths of their Third Prince and companions?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “At first, I threatened them. If they refused to cooperate, I said we would unite with other nations to attack Yue. After they were frightened, I told them we could sign a treaty of friendship, promising that if other nations attacked them, Great Zhou would be the first to send troops to rescue them.”

Emperor Renxiao thought about the implications and smiled even more deeply.

“Lanxi, you handled this matter well. I can hardly think of anything worthy to reward you with.”

Shen Lanxi immediately bowed respectfully. “This is my duty as a subject. I dare not ask for rewards.”

After a moment’s thought, the emperor came up with an idea.

“I shall grant you an imperial sword. With this sword, you may execute rebellious traitors at your discretion.”

Shen Lanxi knelt. “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this great grace!”

After court was dismissed, the first thing Shen Lanxi did was receive the imperial sword and then place it at home for veneration.

Since briefly returning home during the princess’s funeral, this was the first time she had seen her family.

When the Shen family saw what she had brought back, they were all extremely excited.

“I’ve never even heard of such a sword!” Shen Conglian said, practically pressing his face against the dragon-scale scabbard.

The arrival of the imperial sword dispelled a little of the gloom hanging over the Shen family.

Old Madam Shen said, “Your Sixth Aunt will take people back to Jiangnan tomorrow. Let’s have a family dinner together tonight.”

Shen Lanxi nodded in agreement.

What had happened to Shen Shuniang’s son had frightened Shen Huiniang badly. Not only had they gained no benefit, but their entire household had been ruined.

She now deeply felt the dangers of the capital—and of the Shen family itself.

She regretted coming to the capital. If they had never come, they could at least have maintained the appearance of severed ties with the Duke Protector’s residence. Now that they were here, if the residence got into trouble, they would inevitably be implicated.

The Shen family’s ship was not sailing steadily.

After hastily finishing the family banquet, Shen Huiniang urged her children to leave before dawn. By the time Old Madam Shen sent people with money at daybreak, Shen Huiniang’s family had already left the capital.

The court officials had strong objections to Shen Lanxi’s use of textile technology to exchange for grain seeds. In private, many said she would bring chaos to the foundations of the state.

But among the common people, attitudes toward Shen Lanxi gradually began to change as shipments of grain seeds arrived one after another.

“So what if she’s a woman? You’re a man—can you get us grain seeds? If not, then shut up.”

“When we’re about to starve to death, who cares if she’s a man or a woman? I’d worship her as an ancestor if it meant survival!”

The people happily carried their allotted seeds and farm tools home.

In the blink of an eye, another year passed, and several children were born into the Shen family.

Meanwhile, the agents sent by the two rebel princes had reached the final stage of their standoff with Zhou Ruyuan.

Unable to endure any longer, the two envoys secretly met to discuss matters.

“Emperor Renxiao will never agree to divide the land. If we remain here, our lives are in danger.”

“Why don’t we disguise ourselves and secretly leave the capital before dawn?”

“You take the south gate, I’ll take the north gate.”

“Agreed.”

Zhou Ruyuan had never relaxed his surveillance. The moment they moved, he received word. He personally watched them leave the capital, and after they had gone three li, he gave the order to execute them.

After such a long stalemate, he had finally completed his duty of receiving the envoys.

Zhou Ruyuan let out a long breath. He had never expected Shen Lanxi to truly solve the grain-seed problem. And what he had thought would be an easy task—receiving envoys—had dragged on for so long.

Whether this turn of events was good or bad, he could not yet tell.

News arrived from the long-absent Eldest Prince: the river-control project was proceeding smoothly, and he had won the people’s support.

Emperor Renxiao sighed in satisfaction. Sending the Eldest Prince out had been the right move.

“Let my son continue to temper himself for two more months, then summon him back.”

Seeing the emperor in high spirits, Wang Bao presented further good news at just the right moment.

“Your Majesty, news has come from Consort Xiang and Consort Liu that they are carrying imperial heirs. Noble Lady Rou, Noble Lady Liang, and Lady Xin have also been diagnosed as pregnant. Congratulations, Your Majesty! Great Zhou is blessed with continuous joyous events!”

The emperor was even more invigorated. In the past, pregnancies among the concubines had been occasional, but never so many at once. Many sons meant many blessings—what emperor at his age could still be so vigorous?

Thinking of the elixirs presented by Song Daoxi, Emperor Renxiao rewarded the pregnant consorts and also sent many gifts to him.

Before long, the special imperial examinations approached. Just before the exams, a major incident occurred in the capital: the entire family of a Vice Minister of Rites was slaughtered. Neighbors separated by only a single wall had heard nothing at all.

More than twenty members of the household were killed. The shocking case quickly reached the emperor.

Emperor Renxiao personally ordered Zhou Ruyuan to investigate thoroughly, with the Ministries of Personnel, Justice, and War assisting.

The capital was filled with fear and unease. Wu Yanzhi stepped forward with a proposal.

“Your Majesty, the special examinations are a grand occasion. I suggest reopening the military examinations first. Let the military exams precede them and build momentum for the civil examinations.”

Emperor Renxiao immediately thought of the grand spectacle of the previous year.

Letting the people watch warriors compete in thrilling combat would indeed help divert attention.

“Very well. We will follow the Left Chancellor’s suggestion—hold the military examinations first, then the civil examinations.”

The Grand Preceptor added, “Your Majesty, the chief examiner for this year’s examinations must still be appointed by imperial decree.”

After some thought, Emperor Renxiao said, “Shen Lanxi will preside over the military examinations. As for the rest, I will rely on the Grand Preceptor.”

“We receive the decree with gratitude!” they replied.

The officials withdrew from court.

Shen Lanxi’s position was now beyond question. Wherever she went, officials clasped their hands in respect to see her off. Women bowed deeply when they saw her, not daring to raise their eyes.

The younger generation of the Shen family once again threw themselves into the grueling studies supervised by Shen Congwen, striving to earn scholarly honors.

At this time, Shen Yuanxu once again stepped forward publicly and passionately declared that he was willing to devote himself entirely to teaching and nurturing students, and that in this lifetime he would never sit for the examinations or occupy places meant for scholars.

Although his last statement was somewhat questionable, his spirit deeply moved the teachers and students of Bailu Academy. For a time, Shen Yuanxu’s reputation there soared to its peak, even surpassing that of the academy’s headmaster.