RWNEFE -Chapter 558 Zhou Xinrou Adopts Huang Yu as a Foster Daughter

Jinmen

“Your Highness, Shen Lanxi is deliberately deceiving the people of Great Zhou. Everything she is doing now is meant to mislead the public—she cannot be trusted!” Jiang Wuya exclaimed in anger after receiving news from the capital.

Zhou Ruyuan sat in a daze, either lost in thought or deep in contemplation.

“Wei Dongzhu has a wife and child.”

When Zhou Ruyuan spoke, Jiang Wuya quickly explained, “That woman is a maid under Wei Dongzhu in the Northwest. He has been hiding this from Shen Lanxi. You can imagine how furious she will be once she finds out.”

Zhou Ruyuan thought about many things, but reality crushed him—there was no longer any chance for them.

“Her judgment isn’t all that great either!” Zhou Ruyuan said without thinking, as if it just slipped out.

Jiang Wuya’s face showed anxiety. “Your Highness, now is not the time to dwell on love and relationships. Wei Dongzhu has been sent back to the Northwest. This is our best opportunity to strike while the iron is hot.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes lit up.

“After this, Shen Lanxi will surely turn against Wei Dongzhu. As a woman, she still needs male support to maintain her rule. Before, it was Wei Dongzhu who supported her, and the men under her obeyed. Now that they’re at odds, who will listen to her?”

Seeing Zhou Ruyuan form a plan, Jiang Wuya urged, “Your Highness, act quickly! Delay could allow things to change!”

Zhou Ruyuan straightened his mind and immediately gave the order, “Swiftly verify whether the news is true. I suspect Shen Lanxi may have deliberately set this trap.”

Jiang Wuya stared in disbelief. He had not expected the prince to think this far ahead.

“You are always so thorough, Your Highness.”

Zhou Ruyuan said, “The enemy is strong and we are weak. Even with only Jinmen, we must be cautious!”

Jiang Wuya’s eyes widened. “So Your Highness had already selected Jinmen as the strategic location?”

Zhou Ruyuan nodded. “Although Jinmen is small in land area, its waters are vast. If we train our soldiers to master naval warfare, we can control the northern upstream and reach the southern downstream. This place is a treasure of strategic importance.”

Jiang Wuya, seeing Zhou Ruyuan’s determination, immediately relayed all the intelligence he had gathered in recent days.

“Your Highness, Third Princess is colluding with sea bandits!”

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes darkened. “Noted. Keep monitoring closely.”

“Yes!”

Meanwhile, the Northwest also received news from the capital, not through spies, but via the fast news dispatch.

“The imperial examinations have concluded. The top scorer in the civil exam is a woman.”

“The top scorer in the martial exam is also a woman.”

“Furthermore, His Majesty has taken two attendants—oh heavens…”

Everyone in the council hall looked up at Shen Yuanjing in unison.

“Why are you all staring at me? Other emperors have multiple palaces and concubines. What’s wrong with my elder sister taking two attendants?”

“Too many?”

Accustomed to the rough customs of the Northwest, Shen Yuanjing spoke bluntly, matching the local style.

“Not too many. The Emperor is truly the Emperor—a wise and capable ruler.”

He beamed with pride. “Indeed! Our Emperor is unprecedented, unrivaled in history—a true emperor for the ages!”

“What about General Wei?”

Shen Yuanjing paused. Right—what if General Wei hears this?

“He already has a wife and child. Let him know, let him know. It’s not like my elder sister will be alone just because he has a family!”

“Bah! My elder sister is the Emperor herself—who dares to interfere? Let’s not mention it. He can read the news himself!”

Shen Yuanjing was already resentful toward Wei Dongzhu. He knew what kind of person his elder sister was, and what kind of person Wei Dongzhu was—how dare he deceive her? Unforgivable.

If he were the elder sister, he would never allow Wei Dongzhu to return to the Northwest so easily, nor let him command troops again.

~

Soon, the day of the goddaughter adoption ceremony arrived. Huang Yu invited many colleagues from the Jingwei Mansion, and Zhou Xinrou sent invitations to other households. Many guests arrived.

Even without the invitations, the capital’s nobles would have attended out of respect for Shen Lanxi.

“See? The mistress is the real mistress. She’s just different from us!”

“Say less, or people will hear and gossip.”

“I’m not stupid; it’s obvious she only said that because no one else is capable.”

Shen Yuanhe and Shen Yuanrui whispered to each other in a corner.

“Look at how Shen Yuanxin is trying to flatter the mistress. It’s disgusting.”

“Shh, stop talking. I’d love to flatter her too, but I don’t dare!”

Since Shen Lanxi’s coronation, the Shen daughters had remained in the family mansion, not returning home.

Their reasoning was solid: during the early days of the Emperor’s reign, many banquets would be held. As members of the Shen family, they couldn’t risk missing their own events—it would reflect poorly on the Emperor.

After careful thought, Old Madam Shen allowed them to stay in the mansion. But the daughters themselves were cautious, afraid of standing out and being driven away, so they rarely went out.

For today’s goddaughter ceremony, they all dressed in full splendor, making the Shen household appear prosperous. Old Madam Shen was very pleased.

During the banquet, some even discussed Shen Yuanxin’s marriage.

Now that Zhou Xinrou was managing the household, Old Madam Shen relied entirely on her to make decisions.

Shen Yuanxin listened anxiously but dared not show disagreement.

Having the mistress in charge gave her a sense of looming crisis. After reflecting for a few days, she had softened her attitude.

Previously, matchmakers had only sent proposals from declining marquis families or potential second wives—none of whom she favored.

This time, she intended to select someone suitable from among the banquet guests, hoping to find a match.

Huang Yu arrived in red martial attire, looking heroic and spirited, and approached the banquet table.

“Has this daughter of the princess been betrothed?” Prime Minister’s wife Liang asked casually.

Zhou Xinrou smiled. “My daughter has already joined the Jingwei Mansion. She will certainly marry in the future to bring a husband into the family.”

Many ambitious ladies immediately dismissed any schemes upon hearing this.

With casual conversation, the matter was smoothed over.

While Zhou Xinrou was changing clothes, some ladies whispered privately.

“I heard she’s the martial examination top scorer.”

“Dancing with swords and spears, with a scar on her face, not at all feminine. Ordinary families would never accept her.”

“Didn’t the princess say she intends to marry her off as a son-in-law? Perhaps she will follow the Emperor’s example—three husbands, four attendants.”

A frivolous, mocking laugh rang out.

Shen Yuantang listened angrily. Why would her mother say such things? Didn’t she know it could invite ridicule? And Huang Yu—don’t think I can’t see it. She’s imitating Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi also loved wearing red.

When Zhou Xinrou returned, two maids carried two items.

“This fire-fox cloak was bestowed by the Empress Dowager. Today, I give it to Huang Yu.”

“Huang Yu, come forward. I will drape it over you!”

Zhou Xinrou’s leg injury had not healed. Huang Yu knelt as she approached.

“This headpiece set was also bestowed by the Empress Dowager. Today, I give it to you as well!”

The maids opened the box, revealing a full set of ruby headpieces. The hairpins atop them were shaped like phoenix heads.