RWNEFE -Chapter 565 The Ghost Valley Successor Challenges the Thatched Cottage Successor!

Imperial rewards flowed into the courtyard where Shen Yuantang lived like a steady stream. The mothers of the children who had fallen into the water also came to visit, bringing precious medicinal herbs and generous gifts.

“Yuantang, thank you for saving the child!” Hu Jinyu trembled all over whenever she thought of how her son Chengfeng had looked when he was pulled out of the water; cold sweat covered her palms.

“Sister-in-law, we are family. I’m their aunt—how could I just stand by and watch when they fell into the water? Take these gifts and medicinal herbs back and use them for the children. The rewards in my courtyard are already piling up so much there’s hardly space left.”

Hu Jinyu looked worried. “Don’t say that. If it weren’t for you, who knows what would have happened to Chengfeng? What are these gifts in comparison? Just rest and recover properly. When you’ve regained your strength, I’ll thank you properly.”

Shen Yuantang’s high fever had not yet subsided. Exhausted, she closed her eyes.

“Yuantang is tired. Let her rest well. Let’s leave the gifts and come visit again in a few days.”

“Yes, yes.”

The mother of the rescued child hurriedly withdrew.

After finishing work, Huang Yu also brought gifts to visit, but the maid at the gate stopped her, saying Shen Yuantang was unwell and resting, and did not let her in. Huang Yu looked concerned on the surface, but when she returned to her own courtyard, she threw the gifts she had brought into the slop bucket.

The Shen family had thought Shen Lanxi would come to visit—after all, they were sisters born of the same mother—but she did not.

Later, when news bulletins came out, the Shen family could understand why.

The court was at war with Jinmen—not an ordinary war, but a war fought through news bulletins.

One day, the Jinmen bulletin claimed that Shen Lanxi, ever since the Shen family had been exiled, had long harbored resentment toward the imperial family.

That same day, the court’s bulletin responded that Zhou Ruyuan had poor judgment, always mistaking worthless fish eyes for pearls.

Two days later, Jinmen published another bulletin accusing Shen Lanxi of harboring wolfish ambitions and plotting against the court long ago.

The court immediately countered, calling Zhou Ruyuan a false war god—nothing more than an incapable figure who could not be helped up.

Jinmen replied again, accusing Shen Lanxi of persecuting princes, harming loyal officials, and letting a “hen crow at dawn,” allowing treacherous ministers to dominate the court.

The court followed up by listing Zhou Ruyuan’s repeated battlefield failures, his disregard for soldiers’ lives, and his brutality in treating them as expendable.

Each accusation was supported by examples and evidence.

The Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Wen Yuan Pavilion jointly discussed and drafted the content. After deliberation, it was finalized, reviewed by three grand councillors, and then printed in the bulletins.

Since the war of public opinion had begun, even the form of court sessions had changed.

Dali Temple: “Yesterday Jinmen again released a bulletin. The rebels fabricated achievements to clear their names—utterly absurd!”

Ministry of War: “Every campaign—casualties, supplies, troop numbers, and how victory was achieved—has records. Yet the rebels confuse the public and smear His Majesty. Their crimes are unforgivable!”

“Rumors are fiercer than tigers; controlling people’s speech is harder than damming a river. We must quickly issue a bulletin to counterattack!”

“Let’s write that everything the rebels said is nonsense, and copy the Ministry of War’s records into the bulletin.”

Wen Yuan Pavilion: “We should indeed copy the records, but such a counterattack is too mild. It must be sharper.”

Ministry of Justice: “Then write that Zhou Ruyuan shirked responsibility and, after his failures were exposed, colluded with foreign tribes.”

“Collusion with foreign tribes must be included. His command failures are facts. Previously, because he was a prince and protected by the late emperor, he was not severely punished. This time we must detail his crimes thoroughly!”

Shen Lanxi was very satisfied to see the ministers united against a common enemy.

Jinmen’s use of bulletins to counterattack showed that the successor of the Thatched Cottage indeed had some ability.

Amid the heated exchange of insults, Shen Lanxi sent letter after letter toward Dongchuan.

There was still no news of Jiang Wuya. With each passing day, Shen Lanxi’s heart grew heavier.

“Your Majesty, is there still no news from Jinmen?” Liu Yanhui asked with concern.

Shen Lanxi replied, “The people we sent have already infiltrated Jinmen. They must have long been on guard.”

Liu Yanhui suggested, “Your Majesty, why not publicize the news of Zhou Ruyuan’s family being assassinated?”

She herself had considered this before but feared it might backfire.

“If we bring Zhou Ruyuan’s family into the open, Jiang Wuya will only be in greater danger.”

Liu Yanhui said, “Your Majesty is wary of this Thatched Cottage successor. He does seem capable.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes suddenly lit up as an idea formed.

Two days later, the court bulletin announced: Song Daoxi, successor of Ghost Valley, challenges the successor of the Thatched Cottage!

As soon as the news appeared, it overshadowed the previous war of words.

The people had grown tired of the court and Jinmen trading insults. Now, however, legendary figures were challenging each other—a clash like gods battling gods. The common folk discussed it with great excitement.

Liu Yanhui said with a smile, “In recent days the bulletin’s sales had been declining. As soon as news of this ‘battle of immortals’ appeared, sales tripled.”

Shen Lanxi, the court, and the people all waited for Jinmen’s response.

“Your Majesty, what if the Thatched Cottage successor refuses?”

“He will accept,” Shen Lanxi said with certainty.

Liu Yanhui wondered why the emperor was so sure.

The answer, perhaps, only Yuan Lang could give.

“Sir, will you accept?” Zhou Ruyuan asked.

“I will,” Yuan Lang replied firmly.

“What if it’s a trap?”

A gleam flashed in Yuan Lang’s eyes. No one knew that he had long wanted to compete with the Ghost Valley successor.

“It won’t be.”

“Why are you so certain?”

“Because the Ghost Valley successor also wants to defeat me, the successor of the Thatched Cottage!”

Both were reclusive traditions that claimed the power to shape the world’s fate. He did not believe Ghost Valley lacked the desire to compete.

“Sir, do you have a chance of winning?” Zhou Ruyuan asked.

Yuan Lang glanced at him. “Of course. Like Ghost Valley, our Thatched Cottage lineage emerges each time to serve a worthy ruler. It’s just that our numbers are few, so Ghost Valley always steals the spotlight.”

“This is not only a contest between strategists—it is also a contest between rulers.”

Zhou Ruyuan was stirred. “I will certainly not disappoint you, Sir!”

He immediately appointed Yuan Lang as Imperial Preceptor.

Since Shen Lanxi had Song Daoxi of Ghost Valley as her Imperial Preceptor, he could not afford to lose face.

What followed would be a duel between Imperial Preceptors. They did not represent themselves, but the rulers behind them.

His Imperial Preceptor absolutely could not lose to Shen Lanxi’s.

Soon, the Jinmen bulletin gave its reply:

They accepted the challenge.

…

After several days of bed rest, Shen Yuantang recovered. Coincidentally, the streets were lively, and the women of the household suggested going out to stroll and, at the same time, to thank Shen Yuantang for saving the children.

Because of the rescue, Shen Yuantang’s reputation in the household had improved considerably. This outing was led by Madam Liu of the second branch.

In the past, Madam Liu had greatly disliked Shen Yuantang’s overbearing manner and had only maintained polite relations on the surface. But now, since her grandson had been saved, she was sincerely grateful, and her prejudice had lessened.

“Why is it so lively today?” Shen Yuantang asked. Though she had not left the mansion for several days, she was well informed—this question was asked deliberately.