RWNEFE -Chapter 539 Zhou Xinrou’s Plan

“His Majesty has arrived…”

The old servant woman in the rear courtyard was just about to step forward in delight when Shen Lanxi shot her a cold glance. The woman trembled all over, her legs going weak as she hurriedly knelt on the ground.

“Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live…”

Shen Lanxi strode forward, asking as she walked, “I heard Mother is unwell today?”

The servant no longer dared show any of her earlier carelessness and replied respectfully, “Reporting to Your Majesty, she is a little unwell—an old ailment. The Princess Consort would not allow us to inform Your Majesty, saying that state affairs keep you busy.”

Before Shen Lanxi reached the doorway, two maids had already bent low and opened the door from either side.

“I have brought imperial physicians and medicine from Medicine King Valley this time. If Mother feels unwell again, summon the physicians immediately. Do not neglect it.”

“Yes, we understand.”

The maid had originally intended to say a few more words in Zhou Xinrou’s defense—that it was all Shen Congwen causing trouble and had nothing to do with their mistress—but seeing Shen Lanxi’s imposing manner, she did not dare speak further.

“Mother, I wish you good health.”

Zhou Xinrou struggled to rise from the couch.

“This subject greets Your Majesty. Long live—”

Shen Lanxi seemed caught off guard and, half a beat later, reached out to support her.

“Mother, you mustn’t do this—you’re putting your daughter to shame. Please sit.”

With a gentle lift of her hand, Zhou Xinrou was seated back on the couch.

“Mother, are you blaming me for not bestowing great honors upon the Shen family at the enthronement ceremony?” Shen Lanxi asked, as if deeply concerned about her mother’s reaction.

Zhou Xinrou wore a sorrowful expression, her face full of lingering grief.

“I would not dare. I am merely a former dynasty’s princess, without imperial blood. How would I be worthy of blaming Your Majesty?”

A trace of mockery flashed in Shen Lanxi’s eyes before she answered respectfully, “By saying so, Mother still blames your daughter.”

“I am of Mother’s blood. If Mother says she is not of royal blood, then neither am I.”

Zhou Xinrou immediately refuted her. “No—you are of the late Crown Prince’s blood. You are truly of the imperial family. It was Emperor Renxiao who usurped the throne; otherwise you would never have ended up in the Shen family. You should have been the most honored princess of Great Zhou.”

Shen Lanxi lowered her head; from Zhou Xinrou’s angle, only the top of her head was visible.

“Mother, is my present status not more honored than that of a princess?”

Zhou Xinrou shook her head with a troubled look. “Outsiders don’t know you are of imperial blood, and you are a woman. So many people oppose your ascension in secret, wishing to eliminate you.”

Shen Lanxi gave a cold snort and turned slightly.

“So what if I am a woman? If they refuse to accept it, let them step forward. The ground before the palace gates is due for another cleansing.”

Zhou Xinrou seemed angered by her words, her chest rising and falling.

“You child, why won’t you understand your mother’s meaning? I am saying you should seize a good opportunity to acknowledge your royal blood and publicly denounce Emperor Renxiao’s crimes.”

So this was her real intention.

A glint flashed in Shen Lanxi’s eyes. “Mother, if I were to do that, how would you place yourself?”

“Wouldn’t being a woman who married twice and muddled the imperial bloodline sound even worse than a woman ascending the throne?”

Zhou Xinrou quickly replied, “No. By then I can say your father and I had already agreed—he married me only to preserve the late Crown Prince’s bloodline.”

“At that time, the Shen family would also gain merit for protecting the Crown Prince’s orphan and preserving his bloodline. They could be granted honors in return, repaying their kindness.”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze sharpened. After a moment’s thought, she said, “I have only just ascended the throne, and my foundation is not yet stable. If this matter is announced now, Zhou Ruyuan, who is watching like a tiger, will certainly seize upon it.”

Zhou Xinrou was about to argue when Shen Lanxi continued, “Even without Zhou Ruyuan, other powerful princes would take the opportunity to raise their blades.”

“By lineage, they are the true imperial clan, and they are men. In the minds of many, a man becoming emperor accords with Heaven’s will. The matter of my bloodline can be revealed—but not now. It must wait until I have secured the throne and eliminated Zhou Ruyuan and the powerful feudal princes.”

Zhou Xinrou’s back gradually slackened until she leaned weakly against the cushion.

“You speak reasonably.”

Shen Lanxi continued, “The reason I did not bestow great honors upon the Shen family or bring them into the palace is that, when the time comes to clarify my bloodline, I want to welcome Mother into the palace openly, with the rites due to an Empress Dowager.”

In other words, entering the palace now would be improper and lacking in legitimacy.

At the thought of the title Empress Dowager, Zhou Xinrou wavered.

Lanxi was right—if she entered the palace now, any title granted to her would be awkward. And indeed, the Shen family could not yet move into the palace.

“Then Mother will wait here for you.”

“Thank you, Mother, for your understanding. If Grandmother takes issue…”

“Rest assured, I will speak to her,” Zhou Xinrou said.

“Then I leave it to Mother.”

Zhou Xinrou slowly smiled and added with concern, “The people around you are too cold and stern—none who know how to be attentive. Some days ago, I had the steward buy some servants from the brokers and train them carefully. Their manners are quite good. When you return, take them all with you.”

Footsteps sounded outside. Shen Lanxi turned to look. The courtyard was filled with people—at a glance, more than twenty of them.

Their stances were solid, heads lowered, shoulders bent in the posture of kneeling, clearly the result of long training.

“Very well. Thank you, Mother, for your concern.”

Seeing no refusal, Zhou Xinrou felt that this daughter was still within her grasp.

What daughter would defy her own mother?

“Are those secret guards still usable?” Zhou Xinrou asked casually.

“They are usable,” Shen Lanxi replied with a tone of regret. “But many were lost, and some are still recovering from injuries.”

Zhou Xinrou had already received reports; she asked only to see whether her daughter would deceive her.

Now it seemed she had not.

Good.

“I have little to do in the capital and spend my days recuperating in the residence, rarely even going into the inner courtyard. Take the secret guards who remained in the capital as well. Let them protect you in your mother’s stead.”

In the future, these people would be her eyes, ears, and mouth.

When Shen Lanxi arrived, she had come with only a few attendants; when she left, she departed with a large entourage.

“Your Majesty, what should be done with these people?” Che Mingyuan frowned.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes darkened. “Send all the secret guards to Tianjin to gather intelligence. As for the eunuchs and maids… isn’t the palace undergoing renovations? Let them search for hidden tunnels and secret chambers.”

Che Mingyuan’s eyes lit up. “That will certainly show Your Majesty’s trust.”

It seemed their emperor did not trust her own mother—but since she had not spoken openly, those around her dared not ask too much.

But one thing he understood clearly: these people would not truly be used. Most likely, their final fate would be to vanish one by one within the palace walls.

Wei Dongzhu hesitated for two days. Before the agreed three-day deadline with Shen Yuantang arrived, he sought out Shen Lanxi.

“Shen Yuantang wishes to divorce Zhou Ruyuan and move from the Residence of the Criminal Prince back to the Shen family.”