RWNEFE -Chapter 477 Destiny’s Decree!

Those words were almost as if they were claiming Shen Lanxi was in league with the Sixteenth Prince.

Mei Nanhua angrily rebuked them: “In the past, you often used Shen Lanxi’s gender to argue that she should resign and not participate in state affairs. And now, when someone openly says she should not be excluded from politics, you stay silent?”

The official who had questioned her felt as if someone had grabbed him by the throat.

Could things really be the same as before?

Moreover, what if the Sixteenth Prince’s people didn’t mean it that way?

The ministers felt uneasy because they had all assumed the Sixteenth Prince looked down on Shen Lanxi because she was a woman and deliberately excluded her.

But now, no one wanted Shen Lanxi to be excluded!

If they told the prince’s men that she should be involved, it would be embarrassing for them.

Mei Nanhua scanned the ministers, whose expressions were constantly changing, and sighed helplessly.

Previously, they had resisted Shen Lanxi privately—who could have imagined that there would come a day when they would desperately want her involved in state affairs?

“Go ahead. Enter!”

No one dared to argue with the Sixteenth Prince’s men.

The palace gates opened. The ministers, lined up in two rows according to the usual court order, began proceeding into the palace.

“Old Tutor, Lord Wu, Lord Liu, remember my words!” Shen Lanxi shouted. Even if she didn’t enter herself, the plan had to proceed.

“Understood!”

The ministers stepped forward with heavy hearts, expecting a heated debate, but upon entering, they were immediately restrained.

“Weren’t we summoned to discuss matters? Why are we being detained?”

“If the Sixteenth Prince acts against us, the world will condemn him!”

“If anything happens to us, when the Sixteenth Prince ascends, no one will officiate. The legitimacy of his rule will be challenged, and even if he is forced onto the throne, Great Zhou will fracture. Each prince will carve out territories and rule separately!”

Some ministers were thrown into the prison; others were taken to a courtyard inside the palace.

The courtyard was littered with bodies in every direction. Mei Nanhua and the others took a rough glance and went pale, their legs trembling.

So many people… the palace’s consorts and the imperial children… they were all here.

Recalling those who had been thrown from the walls earlier, it was no wonder no one had struggled or screamed.

They had been dead all along.

“Your Majesty…”

“Is the emperor still alive?”

They shouldn’t have come in!

Before anger and grief could take hold, the voice from the city wall rang out again:

“Shen Lanxi, all ministers are now in our prince’s hands. If you dare to disobey, you will be remembered as a sinner of Great Zhou for all time!”

The ministers felt as if their heads had been struck—everything went blank for a moment.

It wasn’t that they looked down on Shen Lanxi as a woman, but that they was being used as leverage!

The voice continued: “If you do not obey, they will meet the same fate as the other princes and princesses!”

Some ministers turned pale, others hung their heads in shame.

Shen Lanxi declared: “I will announce to the world that the emperor has passed, and the throne is passed to the Sixteenth Prince!”

“Very well. Our prince says that if Lord Shen cooperates fully, once he ascends, rewards and honors will be duly granted!”

Shen Lanxi turned, her face cold, ordering her subordinates to draft and post the proclamation.

The entire day, the streets of the capital had been empty, no one daring to move.

Night fell.

After an eagle’s cry, a shadow fell from the sky, quickly vanishing into the darkness.

When the moon was at its peak, the shadow reappeared atop the city walls.

A flash of blood mist passed, and when the scene was reviewed, blood flowed across the wall like a river.

Shen Lanxi lit the torches along the walls one by one, instantly revealing everything clearly.

A whistle blew, and the Imperial Guards stood ready below the walls.

“The Sixteenth Prince, Zhou Rujin, has acted against the heavens, with a vicious heart, committing treason! His crimes demand execution!”

“Today, I, Shen Lanxi, act on behalf of the emperor to eliminate traitors and secure the realm!”

The palace gates creaked as the ministers, already waiting for orders at the entrance, pushed them open.

No one expected Shen Lanxi to appear out of nowhere inside the palace, leaving the rebels completely annihilated.

Even now, they felt as if in a dream—how had Shen Lanxi silently entered the palace walls that high?

Soon, Shen Lanxi’s actions provided the answer.

After another eagle cry, she leapt onto the giant eagle, and the walls below stirred with violent winds.

Shen Lanxi stood atop the eagle, descending from the walls like an immortal riding a crane.

All eyes widened in shock.

Once the eagle delivered her down from the walls, it flapped twice and flew away.

Though the eagle had gone, the sight of Shen Lanxi’s descent left a shock as if a mountain had collapsed and a tsunami had struck—everyone was stunned for a long while.

Some unknown person suddenly shouted: “Destiny’s decree…”

They were quickly silenced by others nearby.

Who could say such things casually?

Shen Lanxi turned, a slight smile on her lips, and shouted:

“Soldiers, follow me into the palace! Let us punish the traitors!”

A deep, resounding response echoed: “Yes!”

The ministers instinctively stepped aside as Shen Lanxi, imposing like a mountain, led the way.

Mei Nanhua was nudged by Wu Yanzhi and hurried to catch up.

“The Sixteenth Prince was unbelievably cruel. He killed all the princes and princesses—even the ones still in the womb.”

Shen Lanxi shouted in anger: “Such a cruel and inhumane villain, when I find him, he will meet the same fate as his siblings!”

Mei Nanhua agreed—he felt the Sixteenth Prince deserved death and did not argue.

When they finally found the Sixteenth Prince and his mother, they saw two bodies—one large, one small.

“Regent King, the Wang family and the Sixteenth Prince committed suicide out of fear!”

Shen Lanxi snorted coldly: “Traitors deserve death! They killed so many innocent people—this is far too lenient!”

Mei Nanhua: “And the emperor?”

“Not found!”

As Mei Nanhua prepared to vent his anger, a young eunuch ran over.

“The Grand Tutor took the emperor through a secret passage. The Sixteenth Prince’s men never found him!”

Mei Nanhua exhaled in relief.

“The emperor is safe!”

Liu Mingxin arrived shortly afterward, eyeing the room curiously. Something felt off, though he couldn’t say what.

Mei Nanhua: “The Sixteenth Prince is still a prince. We cannot act recklessly. We should ask the emperor and let him decide.”

Shen Lanxi: “Old Tutor speaks wisely!”

“Two teams search the palace for any remaining followers of the Sixteenth Prince.”

“One team checks for any survivors.”

“The rest gather all the bodies, count the casualties, and after consulting the emperor, we will decide how to proceed.”