RWNEFE -Chapter 469 Zhou Ruyuan Reluctantly Compromises

When Zhou Ruyuan arrived, he saw that the Deputy Minister of Justice and an official from the Ministry of Personnel had come together. Immediately, a bad feeling rose in his chest.

“Your Highness, we have already obtained critical evidence. The assassination attempt on the Regent Prince was ordered by the Princess Consort. We request your cooperation,” the Deputy Minister of Justice stepped forward to negotiate with Zhou Ruyuan.

Bai Qingling, upon seeing Zhou Ruyuan, reacted as if seeing a savior. She cried out in heart-wrenching sobs, her grief piercing and desperate.

Zhou Ruyuan’s face darkened as he confronted the Deputy Minister of Justice: “Gu Huaizhi, how dare you! The Princess Consort is a woman whose name is recorded on the Imperial Jade Tablet. Without an imperial edict, how dare you seize her at will?”

Gu Huaizhi was a young official recently promoted from the lower ranks. He was known for being strict and impartial, caring nothing for anyone’s personal favor, and ruthless in his methods—earning him high praise from the Minister of Justice and a promising future.

“Your Highness, we are merely following orders. Now that we have solid evidence, if you obstruct us, it would be interfering with the investigation,” Gu Huaizhi met Zhou Ruyuan’s gaze steadily.

Zhou Ruyuan’s anger surged: “Whose orders are you following? Show me that order!”

Gu Huaizhi remained calm: “We are following the orders of the Regent Prince. If Your Highness refuses to cooperate, do not make things difficult for us. The Regent Prince is appointed by His Majesty himself. We dare not disobey!”

Dare not disobey? No, this was clearly Shen Lanxi using her authority to threaten him!

Zhou Ruyuan’s fury boiled over: “Fine! I’ll go see Shen Lanxi myself!”

At that time, Shen Lanxi was handling the aftermath of Zhou Ruan’s attempted rebellion.

“All officials connected to Zhou Ruan, those closely associated, will be investigated by the Court of Justice. If they were involved in the rebellion, their entire families will be executed or punished according to the severity of their crimes.”

“The maternal relatives of the Second Prince will also be investigated. This matter will be handled by the Ministry of Justice. I have only one requirement: severe punishment!”

“Yes!”

And then there was the Empress’s maternal family.

Qi Yingqun had already been placed under house arrest in the palace. The Qi family learned of the situation and petitioned Shen Lanxi for a way to survive.

Shen Lanxi considered the Qi family’s control of the Cavalry Regiment and summoned Qi Wei.

“Long live the Regent Prince!” Qi Wei, head of the Qi family, immediately submitted to Shen Lanxi upon entering.

Shen Lanxi lifted the corners of her mouth: “General Qi, please rise.”

Qi Wei was the father of Empress Qi Yingqun, a veteran of the Dragon Service with a lifetime of contributions. He had always claimed to be senile and stayed out of public affairs.

“What brings you here today, General Qi?” Shen Lanxi asked knowingly.

Qi Wei’s hair was graying, his back stooped, and he had coughed a few times upon standing. A faint medicinal scent clung to him.

“I wish to petition for mercy on behalf of the Empress.”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly: “General Qi, you overstate it. I am merely a minor princess of another clan, hardly qualified to interfere with imperial family matters.”

Though old, Qi Wei was not as senile as the outside world believed. To protect his family, he had feigned ignorance behind closed doors.

“If the Regent Prince can spare the Empress’s life, I am willing to hand over control of the Cavalry Regiment to you, and I beg the Regent Prince to petition His Majesty on our behalf.”

Shen Lanxi recognized Qi Wei’s sincerity. By not pretending to be foolish and choosing to meet her directly, she saw a father’s genuine determination to protect his daughter.

“General Qi, attempting to harm His Majesty is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations!” Shen Lanxi’s gaze fell coldly.

Qi Wei said, “I am willing to surrender all my family’s wealth and retire with my clan to the countryside.”

Shen Lanxi raised her lips in satisfaction. Such a major crime could not be traded for just one Cavalry Regiment.

The Qi family had centuries of wealth and countless disciples. If they were to be stripped of power, it had to be thorough.

“Dongchuan still needs an officer to oversee agricultural settlements.”

Qi Wei understood immediately: “I am willing to atone with my family’s efforts, dedicating ourselves to farming for the great Zhou.”

Shen Lanxi smiled: “Before this news spreads, quickly pack your things and leave!”

Once the matter was public, the Qi family would never leave unscathed.

Qi Wei understood. After leaving the palace, he hurried home and immediately gathered his clan to pack their belongings.

In less than half a day, the Qi family quietly left the city before the gates were closed.

“Your Highness, the Qi family has left the capital with minimal possessions. They left a note surrendering all family wealth to the court.”

Shen Lanxi replied indifferently: “Send it to the Ministry of Revenue to process.”

“Yes~”

…

Zhou Ruyuan, furious, wanted to confront Shen Lanxi. But before he could see her, he was stopped at the palace gates.

“I want to see Shen Lanxi!” Zhou Ruyuan glared at the Imperial Guards, growing more alarmed.

None of the guards were familiar faces.

“You’ve come at the right time, Your Highness. The Regent Prince has ordered that if you come to see her, she will not meet you,” the guards replied truthfully.

Zhou Ruyuan stared in anger. It took him a while to realize: the order to take Bai Qingling had come from Shen Lanxi herself.

Shen Lanxi must have long harbored resentment toward Qingling. Now that she had the opportunity, she would strike back, showing no mercy.

“Go back and tell them again: today I must see Shen Lanxi!” Zhou Ruyuan’s fury surged, suffocating him with frustration and uncertainty over whom to vent it on.

“Your Highness, the Regent Prince has ordered that if you persist, you will be treated as committing a palace intrusion.”

Palace intrusion sounded polite; rebellion sounded deadly.

It was a question of whether Zhou Ruyuan would sacrifice himself for Bai Qingling.

Clearly, he would not.

Zhou Ruyuan stormed back to the mansion.

The officials from the Court of Justice and the Ministry of Justice were still waiting for him.

“Your Highness, did you get any clarification?” Gu Huaizhi asked.

Zhou Ruyuan’s face was dark, his anger boiling.

Jiang Wuyai arrived.

“Your Highness, let’s speak privately.”

Zhou Ruyuan, scowling, walked aside with Jiang Wuyai.

“Your Highness, it’s obvious. Shen Lanxi wants to use this opportunity to pin a crime on you and eliminate rivals. We cannot give her a handle, or she will accuse you of rebellion, and the Zhen’nan Prince Mansion will be finished!” Jiang Wuyai analyzed the situation rapidly.

“Should I just watch them take the Princess Consort away?” Zhou Ruyuan clenched his fists in rage.

Jiang Wuyai was equally helpless: “Your Highness, since they came openly to seize her, the Court of Justice and the Ministry of Justice must have solid evidence. At this point, the only way is to cut losses to survive.”

The blame fell on Bai Qingling—the foolish woman. If she had hired assassins, she wouldn’t have needed to send her own people. Now, their mistakes had been exposed.

“Who are you to ask me to give up the Princess Consort?” Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes widened in shock.

Jiang Wuyai sighed: “At this point, there is no other way. Sacrifice one, or sacrifice the entire mansion. Your Highness must choose.”

Zhou Ruyuan fell silent, emotions dark and stormy, chest aching with suppressed rage, yet powerless to act.

After a long moment, Zhou Ruyuan finally spoke:

“Let them take the Princess Consort. Tell them, if anyone dares harm even a finger of hers, I will never forgive them!”

“Yes!”

“Tell the Princess Consort I will find a way to rescue her as soon as possible!”