RWNEFE -Chapter 533 Kill!

Shen Lanxi let out a cold snort. “I already gave her a chance, yet she still refuses to value her life.”

Liu Yanhui, anxious, hurriedly asked, “Is it the remaining faction of Consort Shu?”

Although Consort Shu had been buried with the late emperor, she had operated in the inner palace for many years. It was hard to guarantee that all her followers had been eliminated.

Wei Dongzhu shook his head. “No.”

Liu Yanhui was puzzled. If not Consort Shu, then who?

No matter what, he decided he had to go and see.

Most of the consorts in the inner palace had already been settled. Only a few who had too many belongings were still packing.

“Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the old general.”

Qi Yingqun, who had been pretending to be mad and foolish to obstruct the palace maids from packing her things, suddenly looked clear-eyed, without a trace of the daytime insanity.

She opened the letter. On it was only one line:

The prince is already in hand.

A cold, determined light filled Qi Yingqun’s eyes. She was the Empress of Great Zhou. Shen Lanxi’s ascension was illegitimate and against propriety. Holding the prince in her hands and supporting him to ascend the throne—that was the true mandate of Heaven and the proper order of human relations.

“Send word outside the palace. Act now!”

“Yes!”

After receiving the signal, those outside the palace immediately began to move.

More than ten days earlier, soldiers had secretly infiltrated the capital, hiding in residences, secret chambers, and cellars. Now they emerged and gathered.

“One unit—seize the regent ministers.”

“Two more units—capture the remaining officials.”

“The rest—wait at the palace gates!”

“Yes!”

…

“Your Highness, flames have been spotted outside.”

Qi Yingqun hurriedly asked, “Are there fires in several places?”

“Yes, Your Highness. They are burning in all the agreed locations.”

Qi Yingqun smiled. “Come with me. We leave the palace.”

“Yes!”

But the moment the gates of the Cold Palace opened, the Imperial Guards were already waiting.

“Deposed Empress, where do you think you’re going?”

Seeing Wei Dongzhu, Qi Yingqun’s heart sank instantly.

“Take her to the palace gate!”

“Yes!”

Outside the palace, those waiting were expecting their men to bring the officials to the gates so they could launch the uprising.

Instead of officials, what they saw was a blaze of fire atop the palace walls.

Shen Lanxi stood on the wall, looking down coldly at the crowd.

“Prince Ping, Prince Ji, Prince Jin, Prince Gong—you truly have opened my eyes,” Shen Lanxi said with a cold laugh, looking at the four men who usually kept a low profile. They had not remained silent because they were harmless, but because their ambitions were vast.

Hearing her voice, the four princes felt their hearts sink.

They had planned for nearly a year, preparing for half a year, repeatedly refining their scheme. At the slightest sign of danger, they would halt immediately. There should have been no mistakes.

So who had tipped Shen Lanxi off?

“Hmph! Shen Lanxi, to seize the throne you slaughtered the imperial clan and poisoned the emperor. You are a vicious woman guilty of monstrous crimes!” Prince Ji shouted angrily.

A figure stepped out from the shadows.

“Father, it is you who aid evil. To preserve your title, you poisoned Mother, killed Grandfather, favored concubines over your wife, and caused Sister Yunxue’s death. You are the one guilty of unforgivable crimes!” Zhou Cheng’an spoke in a rage, listing Prince Ji’s crimes.

Prince Ji could not understand where things had gone wrong. The moment he saw Zhou Cheng’an, his vision went black.

“When did you pledge allegiance to Shen Lanxi?”

Zhou Cheng’an sneered. “Does it matter? Today I will let the world know your crimes. Killing your father, killing your wife, allowing concubines to abuse your children—you deserve death a thousand times over!”

Prince Ji trembled with anger. After plotting for so long, everything had been ruined by a treacherous son.

The other three princes silently blamed Prince Ji.

A son’s debt must be paid by the father. They would remember this. Once the great enterprise succeeded, having one fewer person competing for merit would benefit them all.

The three exchanged glances. Without a word, they had already decided that eliminating Prince Ji would be a top priority after victory.

“Shen Lanxi, do not sow discord,” Prince Jin added. “What happens in Prince Ji’s household is a private matter, not for outsiders to judge. But you are a usurper who has thrown the court into chaos—an enemy of the realm whom all may kill!”

Prince Ji quickly recovered and glared at Zhou Cheng’an.

“You unfilial son! Once I have purged these traitors, I will personally punish you according to family law!”

Zhou Cheng’an laughed coldly. “The current emperor is chosen by Heaven and supported by the people. Do you really think a few old men like you can succeed?”

What a joke.

Wei Dongzhu arrived with the deposed empress. Shen Lanxi glanced at him, then looked down from the wall.

“The deposed Empress Qi conspired in rebellion and has been executed!”

With that, he ordered her body to be thrown down from the wall.

With a heavy thud, blood splashed everywhere, reminding many of the earlier coup by the princes.

Tonight, too, would be a night of bloodshed.

“Shen Lanxi, y-you… how dare you! That is the Empress! You are committing treason—” Prince Gong stepped forward boldly, but when he saw the body clearly, he gasped and began cursing in shock.

Shen Lanxi said coldly, “Insolence. The deposed empress was stripped of her title by the late emperor himself. You dare refuse to acknowledge it? That is defying an imperial decree and opposing the will of the late emperor. You are the true traitors.”

Prince Ping glanced toward the pool of blood and dared not act rashly. Unease grew in his heart. Why had there still been no sound of hooves from the troops sent to seize the officials’ families?

Prince Ji, however, was already blinded by fury.

“Hear me, Imperial Guards and city soldiers! Whoever kills Shen Lanxi will, when the true Son of Heaven ascends the throne, be granted titles of nobility, high office, and great wealth, sharing in the merit of founding a new reign!”

Prince Jin’s eyes flashed, and he shouted as well, “Shen Lanxi is not of imperial blood and is a woman besides—cruel, murderous, slaughtering the royal clan and loyal ministers. Following such a woman can only lead to ruin! This world must belong to men. A woman ruling will only bring Great Zhou to destruction!”

Prince Gong shouted, “Act now! Kill Shen Lanxi! Open the gates and welcome the new emperor!”

Prince Ping watched his increasingly agitated allies, his unease growing stronger.

Why was there still no sound of hooves, not even the glow of distant fires?

His gaze drifted to the pool of blood, and his heart sank.

It was over. All over.

No matter how persuasive the three princes’ words were, the soldiers on the wall did not even twitch a finger.

The tide had turned. The people below were like grasshoppers after autumn—still leaping desperately, unable to see reality. What was the point?

Wang Bao spoke up to remind her, “Your Majesty, we must not delay the auspicious hour of the enthronement.”

Shen Lanxi spoke coldly:

“Kill.”

“Yes!”

In an instant, archers replaced the guards atop the wall. At Shen Lanxi’s command, arrows fell like meteors.

Some below had no time to react before dying where they stood.

Those who reacted quickly managed only four or five steps before collapsing, blood blooming on the ground.

In mere moments, the palace gate had become a sea of blood—a living hell.