RWNEFE -Chapter 516 Setting Out for the Southwest

After Consort Shu fainted outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, people in both the inner palace and the court began to sense the changing winds—Consort Shu was about to lose favor.

The Emperor had, to some extent, believed that the Prince of Zhen’nan had rebelled. Even if it were later proven that the prince was innocent, with the Emperor’s temperament, it would be very difficult for Zhou Ruyuan to ever inherit the throne.

But the Emperor now had only a few useless princes left. None of them looked like wise rulers.

So whom should they support?

Just after Shen Lanxi returned to the palace, she received a report from the secret guards.

“A palace maid tried to approach Song Daoxi.”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Have you found out whose people they are?”

The guard replied, “News came from the Regent’s residence. Today, the son of a kitchen woman, Nanny Li, met someone at a teahouse. That person then contacted a palace purchaser, who in turn got in touch with a laundry slave in the Imperial Ward. That slave then used her connections to reach a newly entered palace maid.”

The guard carefully explained the entire chain of contact and communication to Shen Lanxi.

After thinking for a moment, Shen Lanxi said, “Do not move against these two for now. After several screenings of palace personnel, this criminal slave still wasn’t uncovered—she must have been hiding very deeply before.”

If even someone hidden so deeply had been activated, then there probably weren’t many people left in the palace.

“I more or less know what that palace maid intends to do. Tell Song Daoxi that whatever is delivered to him, he should treat it as a reward. As long as he obeys and does not leave the palace, I can guarantee his life.”

“Yes,” the guard replied.

Shen Lanxi smiled coldly to herself. My dear mother… she can’t even wait for me to leave the capital.

Before departing, the Shen family held a farewell banquet.

“Grandmother, I am going to the southwest and don’t know when I will return. I must trouble you to manage the household affairs.”

Ever since Emperor Renxiao recovered, Old Madam Shen had been unable to eat or sleep. At night she often dreamed that officials had come again to confiscate their property.

“Lanxi… will His Majesty… do anything to our Shen family?” The words take action were too heavy to say on such a day, and she feared discouraging her granddaughter before departure, so she left them unsaid.

Shen Lanxi replied firmly, “As long as our family does not rebel or assassinate the ruler, His Majesty will not act against us.”

Old Madam Shen quickly waved her hands. “No, no, of course not! Our family are all law-abiding people. We only want to live peaceful lives.” Talk of rebellion was terrifying—she wouldn’t even dare think of it with a hundred times the courage.

Shen Lanxi reassured the family:

“In the northwest, Yuanjing commands troops. In Qianzhou and Shu, Wei Dongzhu and Shen Yuanxu are in charge. More than half of the court’s troops are in our family’s hands…”

Before she could finish, Shen Congwen interrupted sharply:

“Be careful what you say! Are such words appropriate?” One careless statement could have the family accused of commanding troops to build personal power.

If Shen Lanxi wanted to monopolize authority, she must not drag the Shen family down with her.

Shen Lanxi nodded slightly. “That is exactly why Father does not want me to say it. But let me state this first: while I am away from the capital, the demons and schemers here will surely stir up trouble. Our family must act with restraint and keep a low profile. Do not let anyone seize upon any fault, or I will be too far away in the southwest to help.”

There was no need to explain further; everyone in the Shen family understood.

“Lanxi, after you leave, we will keep our doors closed and live quietly,” Old Madam Shen said.

Do not think that because she stayed in the inner household she knew nothing. A fortune-teller had once said that Lanxi’s fortunes were rising like the midday sun—many people would look for any mistake to bring her down and destroy the Shen family.

Shen Lanxi smiled. “With Grandmother managing the family, I feel much more at ease.”

The next day was the day of departure.

Before leaving, she made a special visit to see her mother.

“Mother, I’m leaving.”

Zhou Xinrou looked worried. “You must be careful outside.”

“I will, Mother. You must also take care.”

“Go now. Don’t delay the hour.”

Shen Lanxi bowed deeply, then turned and left.

After leaving the city, daylight was already breaking. Shen Lanxi looked once more in the direction of the capital, then, leading a thousand soldiers, urged her horse forward into the morning light.

After she departed, countless watching eyes on the city walls quickly scattered in all directions.

Shen Lanxi is gone. She’s finally gone!

That day, in many officials’ residences, the masters were so happy they almost danced with joy, drinking wine in celebration early in the morning.

“Now that His Majesty is personally handling state affairs, Shen Lanxi had better die outside. Better that than return to the capital and find she has no place left to stand.”

“She should die in the southwest. A mere woman should disappear among the masses. All the laws she changed must be changed back.”

“What marriage migrations, rapid reports, women taking the civil and military examinations—every one of these is a blight and must be abolished!”

“Shen Lanxi has shaken the very foundations of Great Zhou. Today I will certainly impeach her for disregarding the law, altering statutes at her own whim, framing officials, and subverting the rites of our dynasty.”

At the morning court, memorials impeaching Shen Lanxi piled onto Emperor Renxiao’s desk like falling snow.

“Your Majesty is wise,” said Chen Qing, Vice Minister of War, speaking with passionate indignation. “While Shen Lanxi acted in place of the ruler, she behaved recklessly, disregarded the court, persecuted officials, installed her own followers, and monopolized power. I beg Your Majesty to punish Shen Lanxi!”

Emperor Renxiao remained expressionless and asked coldly, “Do you have solid evidence?”

To his right stood Wang Bao; to his left stood Che Mingyuan. Behind a screen were the strategists of Qinglan Academy.

It was still the same group Shen Lanxi had originally relied upon.

Liu Mingxin looked at the Emperor’s attendants, then at the indignant Chen Qing, sighed, and silently shook his head.

Some people simply could not see the situation clearly—bringing disaster upon themselves.

Chen Qing said, “Yes. Previously, a Ministry of Rites official merely impeached Shen Lanxi for arbitrarily altering the laws and violating ancestral regulations. She immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to strip him of his rank insignia and official robes, remove him from office, and parade him in a prison cage through the streets.”

“As a result, that official died of shame, smashing his head against a pillar. She treats human life like grass—she is cruel and vicious!”

Unhurried, Emperor Renxiao took a memorial from Wang Bao, glanced at it, and handed it back.

“Read it.”

Wang Bao read aloud: “Zhang Yi, a Ministry of Rites official, accepted bribes, leaked examination questions, allowed his family to commit violence, and seized hundreds of mu of farmland and homes from commoners. According to the law, his entire family should have been executed. However, as Great Zhou is in need of personnel, the sentence was commuted to exile in the northwest for three generations as slaves.”

Chen Qing’s face turned pale. Why had Shen Lanxi never mentioned this before?

Che Mingyuan added, “If Minister Chen does not believe it, he may consult the case files at the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice. Both have detailed records.”

Chen Qing’s heart sank. He immediately signaled other officials with his eyes.

“Your Majesty, Shen Lanxi’s attempt to overturn the foundations of Great Zhou is real. How can women be allowed to take the imperial examinations? This would throw the nation into chaos!”

Emperor Renxiao asked calmly, “Do you not have daughters in your household?”

The accusing officials never expected the Emperor to speak in Shen Lanxi’s defense. This was no longer mere support—it was open favoritism.

How could the Emperor be so muddle-headed? If women entered the court, what would become of Great Zhou’s dignity? Of the solemnity of the court?

Would men not, in the future, be pressed down by women?