RWNEFE -Chapter 5 If You Want Me to Grant Your Wish, It’s Simple—Drink This Cup of Wine!

At the Prince of Zhennan’s residence, all the servants and guards were kneeling on the ground.

The Third Prince, Prince Zhennan Zhou Ruyuan, was protecting a woman in his arms as he knelt among them. The entire mansion was surrounded by Imperial Guards. Everything was deathly silent—no one dared make a sound.

Shen Lanxi returned to the bridal chamber without anyone noticing. Along the way, Nu Bai kept reporting information nonstop, only stopping when Shen Lanxi finally stepped into the room.

“Chunxiao, has the prince returned?” she called softly.

Chunxue immediately pushed the door open. “Miss, the prince hasn’t returned. Would you like to wash up?”

There would be plenty of time to wash later. Shen Lanxi’s gaze fell on the ceremonial wine on the table.

“Has anyone come in?”

Chunxue shook her head. “This servant has been guarding outside the whole time. No one has entered.”

Nu Bai’s voice rang out, “Master, master! The Imperial Guards have all withdrawn. Zhou Ruyuan is bringing that woman this way!”

“Chunxue, I’m hungry. Tell the kitchen to send some food over,” Shen Lanxi said.

Why was the miss acting so strangely? Shouldn’t she be dressing first?

Chunxue withdrew with questions in her heart.

Shen Lanxi had already dealt with her injuries simply. The artificial blood on her feet had been washed clean in her space. Playing the pitiful act was fine—but she would never truly hurt herself.

She had just taken out the clothes she planned to change into when the door was violently kicked open.

“Shen Lanxi—”

A cold, harsh voice accompanied a powerful stride. A handsome face entered Shen Lanxi’s view.

Zhou Ruyuan was surrounded by a violent aura, his voice filled with angry accusation.

“Shen Lanxi, was it you who complained to Father Emperor?!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered slightly, and a breathtaking smile appeared on her face.
“Your Highness, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s gaze was dark, burning with fury. “Just because I brought Qingling back, you used such vicious means to have Father Emperor sentence her to death?!”

Shen Lanxi calmly sat down, hands folded, back straight. Every movement bore the marks of strict noble upbringing.

She glanced at Zhou Ruyuan, then at Bai Qingling.

“She’s the woman you kept outside?”

Zhou Ruyuan was instantly provoked by her calm tone. “She’s not a kept woman—she’s the one I love!”

Bai Qingling wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she knew how to dress herself well, giving off a hint of heroic charm.

“Sister Shen, don’t misunderstand. The prince and I aren’t in the kind of relationship you think,” Bai Qingling said.

Shen Lanxi raised her brow and sneered. “Then what kind of relationship is it? Spending the wedding night in your room, calling for water three times in one night?”

Zhou Ruyuan immediately flew into a rage. “If not for Father Emperor’s arranged marriage, the position of princess would’ve been Qingling’s! If Qingling hadn’t kept persuading me not to defy the imperial decree, do you think I would’ve married you?!”

Shen Lanxi mocked him openly. “If I’d known you were entangled with such a thing, do you think I would’ve married you?”

“Shen Lanxi—!” Zhou Ruyuan roared, pointing at her. Seeing the situation deteriorate, Bai Qingling hurriedly grabbed his arm.

“Your Highness, an imperial edict spoken by the Emperor cannot be disobeyed—it would be defying the decree!” Bai Qingling first tried to calm Zhou Ruyuan, then turned to Shen Lanxi.

“Princess, I’m not here to compete for your position. You are the princess by imperial decree, Ruyuan’s wife, with a powerful maternal family behind you. I’m just a commoner—you don’t need to worry about me competing with you. Ruyuan is our husband; if the two of us work together and support him, he can go further and higher. Can we live in peace together?”

Watching Bai Qingling’s performance, Shen Lanxi curled her lips into a mocking smile.

“Afraid to defy the decree? Then why are you still alive?”

Zhou Ruyuan’s brow twitched.

Bai Qingling clenched her hands tightly beneath her sleeves.

“And you still say you know nothing?” Zhou Ruyuan pressed aggressively.

Shen Lanxi looked at Bai Qingling. “Let me guess why she’s still alive. On the wedding night of the prince and princess, the kept woman seduced the prince, causing the princess to spend her wedding night alone—becoming a laughingstock for the entire realm and a scandal for the royal family. That’s a grave crime, enough to have her executed by a thousand cuts. So why isn’t she dead? Not because of her looks, nor because of her lowly background. There’s only one possibility—an imperial heir.”

Panic flashed across Bai Qingling’s eyes.

Zhou Ruyuan grabbed her wrist, his tone icy. “What have you done?”

Shen Lanxi showed no fear. With every word, frost crept over her expression.

“Before the principal wife even enters the household, the kept woman already carries a child. That’s an even greater disgrace to the imperial family. The moment the child is born will be the moment she dies.”

Zhou Ruyuan froze, the restraints on Shen Lanxi loosening easily.

Shen Lanxi was grateful to Eunuch Wang Bao for not revealing the news of the Shen family being confiscated—allowing her to be arrogant in front of this despicable pair a little longer.

“And you dare to stand on equal footing with me, calling me ‘sister’? Should I have my father open the ancestral hall and add your name to it?”

Bai Qingling turned to Zhou Ruyuan for help.

“Your Highness, I didn’t mean it that way!”

Thinking of the consequences of defying the imperial decree earlier, Zhou Ruyuan felt a shadow loom over his heart. His tone grew impatient and perfunctory.

“Qingling is soft-hearted. Don’t twist her words. Later, when we enter the palace to pay respects, tell Father Emperor to confer Qingling the title of side consort.” With a proper status, Qingling wouldn’t die—and having Shen Lanxi beg for this edict was perfect.

Shen Lanxi immediately slapped Bai Qingling across the face. The blow was so hard that Bai Qingling stumbled and fell against Zhou Ruyuan.

“What are you doing?!” Zhou Ruyuan reached out to strike back.

“Try touching me!” Shen Lanxi stared at him fiercely. “Touch a single hair on my head, and I’ll have my imperial uncle execute this woman by a thousand cuts. Touch me twice, and I’ll have the Empress Dowager exterminate her entire clan!”

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes burned with towering rage as he shouted, “Your heart is black and rotten! Qingling isn’t even competing with you—why are you so intolerant?!”

Shen Lanxi laughed arrogantly. “I can’t tolerate others? Did you ever ask me beforehand?”

Zhou Ruyuan was left speechless.

A trace of viciousness flashed between Bai Qingling’s brows, quickly replaced by concern. “No matter what, this is a family matter of the Prince of Zhennan’s residence. You can’t tell His Majesty and have him reprimand our prince!”

Zhou Ruyuan immediately shot Shen Lanxi a cold glare.

“What are you, exactly? A shameless kept woman—and you dare call yourself part of the prince’s household?” Shen Lanxi sneered.

“I’ll go to the palace right now and report to my imperial uncle and the Empress Dowager, and have you executed by a thousand cuts, your bones ground to dust!”

Bai Qingling glanced at Zhou Ruyuan and, in a moment of desperation, knelt down swiftly.

“Princess, I truly love the prince. For his sake, I’m willing to give up my life. I beg you to grant us your blessing!” She pressed her forehead to the ground, digging her fingernails deeply into her palms.

Shen Lanxi was deeply moved.

“I’ve never seen a woman so devoted to a man. I’ll give you a chance—it’s not impossible.” She pushed the smaller wine cup toward Bai Qingling.

“If you want me to grant your wish, it’s simple—drink this cup of wine!”