RWNEFE -Chapter 470 Some People Really Can’t Be Pushed

Bai Qingling could hardly believe what Jiang Wuyai had just said.

The Prince… just let go so easily?

Did she hold absolutely no weight in his heart at all?

“Your Highness, you must find a way to save me! I’ll wait for you!” As Bai Qingling was led away, she shouted, her voice full of pleading—but her eyes burned with hatred.

Zhou Ruyuan didn’t dare look back even once. He didn’t dare hear another word, his footsteps hurried as he returned to the mansion.

“Secondary Consort, the Princess Consort has been taken away!” As soon as Bai Qingling was led off, someone reported to Shen Yuantang.

Shen Yuantang looked happily at the child sleeping on the couch. Good, she’s been taken away. Once taken, she shouldn’t come back.

“Go tell the Prince: the young master misses him.”

“Secondary Consort, the Prince must be in a bad mood right now. Would it be inappropriate to disturb him at this time?”

Shen Yuantang’s expression immediately darkened.

“How can a wretched woman compare to the young master? Go, and don’t speak another word unless you want to lose your tongue!”

“Yes, I’ll go immediately!”

Shen Lanxi began aggressively pruning the Qi family’s influence in the capital. For three consecutive days, the officials were on edge, afraid even to cough in court.

The Qi family’s relatives, subordinates, and friends—some were confiscated, some exiled, some demoted.

At the city gates, each day, long lines of exiles were escorted out.

The Small Cabinet had effectively become powerless; now, all governance was handled directly in the main hall.

Shen Lanxi even moved a stool beside the dragon throne, firmly taking control of the court proceedings.

“Shen Lanxi, you have some nerve, daring to sit on equal footing with the Son of Heaven!”

“You are committing treason, Shen Lanxi! You are a traitor who brings chaos to our great Zhou dynasty!”

Wang Bao glanced at the officials shouting and stomping, walked to the back, pulled a memorial from the rack, and returned.

“Inspector Liu Zhong, Jinshi of the second year of Renxiao, during three years of service away from the capital, abused the people, allowed relatives to seize lands, accepted bribes, deceived superiors, and sold official positions. Upon returning to the capital, he continued his factionalism and bribery. During his tenure, he accepted over one million taels in bribes and was involved in ten cases causing deaths…”

Liu Zhong’s face turned pale as he collapsed to the ground.

Shen Lanxi’s face was cold and impartial: “Liu Zhong is hereby executed immediately. His family will be dealt with jointly by the Court of Justice and the Ministry of Justice according to the severity of their crimes. Strict punishment shall be applied!”

“Take him away!”

The Imperial Guards dragged Liu Zhong away like a dead dog.

Shen Lanxi asked, “Any other officials have anything to report?”

No one answered.

Wang Bao: “Court dismissed!”

The Renxiao Emperor appeared as frail as an old man, unable to speak, collapsing on the dragon throne, completely at others’ mercy.

“Uncle, news has come from the two rebels—they have an antidote for the Green Silkworm poison!” Shen Lanxi said expressionlessly.

The Renxiao Emperor’s eyes widened, pupils contracting sharply.

The antidote—must get it at all costs!

“Uncle, the two rebels want to be granted princely titles.”

Grant—issue the edicts immediately!

Wang Bao, quickly!

Shen Lanxi’s tone shifted: “The two rebels are despicable! They’re using the antidote as bait to trick us. Who doesn’t know the Wanduomen has already been wiped out?”

The Renxiao Emperor shouted in his heart—No, it hasn’t been wiped out. They must have hidden the Wanduomen survivors.

Shen Lanxi continued: “Uncle, rest assured, even the slightest chance, I will not let slip. I’ve already ordered people to search everywhere for Wanduomen descendants. We cannot be fooled by the two rebels!”

The Renxiao Emperor’s eyes nearly popped.

Shen Lanxi, you fool—why haven’t you sent people to negotiate with the two rebels yet?

The Emperor wants the antidote—bring it to him!

Even if it means trading the imperial seal, he would not hesitate!

Unfortunately, Shen Lanxi couldn’t hear the Emperor’s inner cries. After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she headed to the rear palace.

“Palace Supervisor Liu, has the inner palace been quiet lately?”

Liu Shaogong Jin replied: “They’ve been very quiet. Those who are bored are taken to the imperial garden to enjoy the sun. Only a few disobedient ones recently caused trouble and lost their dragon fetuses in the process.”

Shen Lanxi smiled: “If this large palace were in the hands of Sixth Senior Sister, I would be very at ease.”

Liu Shao beamed: “Rest assured, with me here, not even a fly will get past these walls!”

Soon, good news arrived from Nanning:

“The Second Prince Zhou Ruan refused to admit guilt and stubbornly resisted. He has now been executed. The Marquis of Yong’an, Zhao Zheng, has already ordered the family to be escorted back to the capital!”

Shen Lanxi said: “No need to return to the capital. They are still of royal blood; His Majesty is merciful and would not want the Second Prince’s lineage to be extinguished. Exile them!”

The officials were stunned, unable to believe what they had heard.

Wasn’t the Marquis of Yong’an supposed to bring the Second Prince to surrender? How did he end up executed?

They hadn’t even realized—the battle was already over.

News of the Renxiao Emperor’s critical illness quietly spread, soon exploding into public rumor.

Messenger pigeons and hawks flew in all directions from the capital as if startled.

Now, the city’s people debated who would be the next emperor.

Yet, the civil and military officials remained steady and silent, none submitting a petition for succession.

Shen Lanxi held all the power, one hand shading the sky!

“Your Highness, this cannot continue. We must secure the throne for you before the other princes arrive!” Jiang Wuyai urged.

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes darkened. His heart stirred, but he hesitated: “Now is not the time.”

Jiang Wuyai nearly stomped in frustration.

“Now is the perfect opportunity! Time waits for no one, Your Highness!”

Zhou Ruyuan hesitated: “If I raise troops now, it would be rebellion. I would be blamed for attempting to usurp the throne, a shame to be remembered by future generations!”

Jiang Wuyai, frustrated beyond words, said: “At this point, Your Highness is still worrying about that? History is always written by the victor. If you ascend, you can have the historians write whatever you wish.”

Zhou Ruyuan still shook his head. He couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in his heart.

“My forces total less than ten thousand troops of the city guard. The Imperial Guards and Capital Troops number over fifty thousand. If we act rashly, we have no chance of victory!”

Jiang Wuyai was beside himself.

“My Prince, if you call out now, countless would follow you. Shen Lanxi is just a woman. The Capital Troops and Imperial Guards would turn sides!”

Zhou Ruyuan frowned: “Wait a little longer.”

Jiang Wuyai took a deep breath. Some people really cannot be pushed!

Five days later, the court received urgent news:

“Your Grace, eight princes have entered the capital without imperial edict, bringing troops. Five of them claim to purge treachery and eliminate traitors.”

Shen Lanxi sneered: “Who are the traitors? Who do they intend to eliminate?”