RWNEFE -Chapter 529 Consort Shu Buried Alive in Sacrifice!

Filled with grief and indignation, Shen Lanxi staggered as she ran to where Emperor Renxiao’s coffin was laid in state, weeping uncontrollably.

The officials hurried in after her and knelt in salute.

Wang Bao waited to one side. Only when Shen Lanxi’s sobbing had lessened did he step forward to report.

“His Majesty passed too suddenly. Before he died, he only cursed two words—‘unfilial wretch’—and then he departed,” Wang Bao said sorrowfully, wiping away tears.

Most of the officials had already concluded in their hearts that Emperor Renxiao had been angered to death by Zhou Ruyuan. For a moment, the atmosphere was heavy with dejection.

Although a nation cannot be without a ruler for a single day, they truly could not bring themselves to enthrone a prince who had angered his own father to death.

As tears fell, Shen Lanxi spoke in a firm voice, “My uncle loved Zhou Ruyuan most in life. Who would have thought that Zhou Ruyuan would not only collude with foreign tribes, but even attempt rebellion and regicide? How is he any different from the Cruel Prince?”

Everyone knew the Cruel Prince had once slaughtered the palace and murdered his father—crimes beyond redemption.

Now that Shen Lanxi compared Zhou Ruyuan to him, it was clear she already had her intentions.

The officials remained silent.

“First, let us properly handle His Majesty’s funeral rites. My uncle left in haste; we must not even let his funeral be handled without dignity.”

Wang Bao bowed. “This old servant obeys.”

Wiping away her tears, Shen Lanxi staggered to her feet and sighed deeply. “My uncle devoted himself to governing and loved the people as his own children. He would not wish to see the affairs of the court come to a standstill after his death.”

“During the period while the coffin lies in state, the morning court will proceed as usual, and all officials will continue their duties. If my uncle’s spirit in heaven sees the court united in this way, he will surely rest in peace.”

All the officials waited for the Censorate or the Ministry of Rites to step forward in objection—but even after Shen Lanxi dismissed them to resume their duties, no one spoke up.

Weren’t the censors always eager to impeach?

What about the ceremonial regulations of the Ministry of Rites?

And the regent ministers?

Why did not a single person step forward to oppose her?

After addressing the officials, Shen Lanxi ordered the harem opened and summoned the consorts to come and keep vigil.

While she had been in the Southwest, the harem had been sealed, with no one entering or leaving and news tightly restricted.

When they heard the mourning bell, the consorts were already filled with dread. Though they had guessed the truth, they were unwilling to believe it.

Their very standing depended on the emperor’s favor. Now that the emperor was gone, what future did they have?

Consort Shu naturally heard the bell as well.

“Now only my son has achieved anything. Open the palace doors and prepare my makeup.”

The emperor was dead; surely the officials would enthrone her son. She would become Empress Dowager.

Smiling, Consort Shu indulged in her dream of becoming Empress Dowager—when the Imperial Guards suddenly arrived.

“His Majesty has passed away. The Regent Prince orders all consorts to attend the vigil!”

A flash of astonishment crossed Consort Shu’s eyes. “Why is it Shen Lanxi who sends you? Where is the Prince of Zhennan?”

And where was her son?

The Imperial Guards replied coldly, “The Prince of Zhennan colluded with foreign tribes and attempted rebellion. He has already fled.”

All the color drained from Consort Shu’s face, turning it as pale as paper.

“Impossible. My son is the most capable of all the princes. Even if he did nothing, the heir apparent would have been him. He would never rebel!”

The guards did not waste words. “The Regent Prince has said: whoever refuses to attend the vigil wishes instead to be buried in sacrifice.”

Kneeling and crying before the coffin, or being buried alive in the imperial mausoleum—only a fool would not know which to choose.

The other consorts went, weeping, on their own. Only Consort Shu had to be dragged toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation by eunuchs.

White mourning cloth soon filled the palace; in moments, it was draped everywhere.

Shen Lanxi looked silently at the kneeling consorts as Wang Bao leaned close and whispered a few words.

“The Prince of Zhennan’s illegitimate son has been raised in Consort Shu’s palace.”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Where is he?”

Wang Bao called out loudly, “Bring the Prince of Zhennan’s illegitimate son, born of that criminal woman!”

Consort Shu seemed struck at her weakest point and shrieked as she scrambled up from the ground. Before she could stand, eunuchs beside her seized her shoulders and forced her back down.

“Shen Lanxi, my son was His Majesty’s most favored child. He was destined to inherit the throne. If you dare harm my grandson, aren’t you afraid my son will take your life?”

Shen Lanxi let out a cold laugh. “A criminal who angered his father to death and sought to usurp the throne still dares covet the imperial seat?”

“The child of a criminal is also a criminal. I have already shown mercy by not ordering his execution, yet Consort Shu still dares to indulge such delusions.”

“It seems I have been too lenient, allowing Consort Shu to harbor such foolish dreams.”

“Since Consort Shu so staunchly defends a rebellious son who caused his father’s death, she has clearly abandoned His Majesty and is unworthy to remain a consort. Let her accompany my uncle in eternal rest.”

Consort Shu screamed.

“Shen Lanxi, if you dare harm even a single hair on my grandson or me, my son will never spare you!”

“My son did not usurp the throne—the one who truly seeks to usurp it is you!”

“Shen Lanxi, you control the court, purge dissenters, slaughter consorts and princes. You are the greatest criminal—the one who most deserves to die!”

Wang Bao glanced at the eunuchs on either side. “This madwoman has lost her mind. Why haven’t you gagged her yet?”

“His Majesty had long since grown disgusted with Consort Shu. All the filthy deeds she committed behind his back—His Majesty knew of them, and I was the one who handled them. If not for the merit of bearing a son, she would have been given poisoned wine long ago.”

Wang Bao’s voice was sharp and piercing, yet firm.

“Over the years, you caused the deaths of seven princes, ten imperial heirs still in the womb, and drove many consorts to death or madness. I won’t list them all. You had long since fallen from His Majesty’s favor!”

With that, Wang Bao snorted in disdain.

Consort Shu struggled to refute him, but the eunuchs held her tightly, her mouth stuffed so she could not utter a sound.

“Your Highness, the criminal’s child has been brought,” reported the Imperial Guards, leading forward a trembling, wailing little boy.

Consort Shu struggled even more violently, her face twisted, now truly resembling a madwoman.

Shen Lanxi looked at the child, her expression complicated.

“The crimes of adults should not be borne by children. Send him back to the Prince of Zhennan’s residence. From today onward, the Prince of Zhennan’s estate is to be permanently sealed.”

“Yes!”

“As for Consort Shu… the crimes she has committed are far too many. Let her be buried in sacrifice for my uncle.”

“Yes!”

Wang Bao flicked his horsetail whisk and raised his shrill voice. “What are you waiting for? Send the criminal consort on her way!”

The eunuchs dragged the struggling Consort Shu away to be dealt with.

The kneeling consorts were so terrified they did not even dare cry aloud, only curling on the ground, weeping silently.

With the greatest speed, Shen Lanxi suppressed all lurking dangers and restored order to the palace.

Meanwhile, the people of the capital grew uneasy. Whenever an old reign ended and a new one began, tragedies often followed. Many citizens dared not go out, and shops on the streets were tightly shut.

After arranging Emperor Renxiao’s funeral affairs, Shen Lanxi immediately appeared in court.

“Great Zhou now has many tasks awaiting revival, and foreign envoys are entering the capital. It would not be appropriate for us to remain too deeply immersed in grief, lest foreign powers take advantage.”

The officials remained silent.

“Originally, the coffin was to lie in state for one hundred days. This will now be reduced to one month. All shops in the streets shall close for two days. Taverns, teahouses, theaters, and other places of public entertainment shall close for five days. Pleasure boats, courtesan houses, and similar establishments shall close for one month.”