RWNEFE -Chapter 567 The Old Imperial Uncle Defects to Zhou Ruyuan!

She was Shen Lanxi’s full-blooded younger sister; by rights she should have been a legitimate princess.

She had saved the people and won their admiration, yet Shen Lanxi had only granted her the minor title of County Lady—this was simply a slap in the face!

What a worthless title—she didn’t want it at all!

Shen Yuantang angrily hurled the imperial decree into a corner.

…

“Now that Shen Yuantang has been made a County Lady, her arrogance will surely grow even worse.”

“These past few days she’s been acting so strangely—first saving a child in the residence, then saving someone on the street. Step by step it all looks like coincidence, but how could there be so many coincidences in this world?”

Shen Yuanxin felt uneasy. Living in the residence with her two children, she had long been targeted by Shen Yuantang both openly and covertly. Now that Shen Yuantang had gained favor, her status in the household would certainly rise. Shen Yuanxin could no longer sit idle.

Soon, Shen Lanxi received another letter from the family residence.

It said that Shen Yuanxin and the second son of Liu Mao, a registrar in the Astronomical Bureau, were mutually in love, and that a matchmaker had already come to propose marriage.

Attached were reports on Liu Mao and his son, along with an introduction to their family.

Liu Yun had passed the provincial examination in the second year of Chongwu, after which his father arranged for him to enter the Astronomical Bureau. He currently served as a calendrical officer. He was known to be honest and kind. Last year he had divided the family property, receiving a residence, some gold and silver, and several shops. His wife had died, and he had no children.

“Investigate the Liu Mao family of the Astronomical Bureau,” Shen Lanxi ordered.

A reply soon arrived, including a portrait of Liu Yun and confirmation of his wife’s death.

Clearly, the claim that the two were mutually in love meant this was not arranged through a matchmaker; since a proposal had already been made, the two might even have privately pledged themselves to each other.

If she refused, she would be the villain breaking up a pair of lovers.

After dipping her brush in ink, she wrote two characters:

Approved.

When the Shen family received the reply, they immediately began preparing Shen Yuanxin’s wedding.

The Liu family was of modest standing, and Liu Yun was only a minor fifth-rank official. If Shen Yuanxin had never been married, such a family would not even have been worthy to serve the Shen family.

But Shen Yuanxin had already been married once and had two children.

Although Liu Yun had also been married before, his wife had died and he had left no heirs. In effect, it was like a new marriage, and Liu Yun was handsome and even two years younger than Shen Yuanxin.

Barely acceptable as a match.

When Shen Yuanxin married the first time, her dowry had been small, and after the divorce she had recovered very little. At that time the Shen family’s future had been uncertain, everyone preoccupied with their own survival; no one had spared much thought for the marriage of a concubine-born daughter.

Now things were different. Shen Yuantang being granted the title of County Lady had sent a signal to all the women of the family.

One day, they too might be made County Ladies or Commandery Ladies—or even receive an imperial decree as princesses.

The wedding banquet could not be handled carelessly, and the dowry even less so.

After Shen Yuanxin’s matter was reported to the palace, she immediately went to please her mother.

Wei Rulan, who had been ill for a long time, had finally recovered. She sat in a pavilion that Shen Congwen passed every day, waiting for him.

Dressed in fine silk, with elegant decor laid out on the table, she appeared delicate and pitiable. That very night, Shen Congwen spent the night in her chamber.

The next day, Shen Congwen went to Zhou Xinrou to discuss the dowry.

“Don’t worry. Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have arranged it,” Zhou Xinrou said coolly.

Her cold manner made Shen Congwen uneasy. But having received this assurance, he felt he had fulfilled his promise and, after leaving the main courtyard, immediately went to Wei Rulan’s residence.

“Madam, now that Shen Yuantang has been made a County Lady, all the demons in the inner courtyard have come alive,” an old servant woman said maliciously.

Zhou Xinrou’s face darkened. Thinking of the memorial she had previously submitted requesting a title for Huang Yu, she grew even angrier.

Even after learning she had no blood ties to the Shen family, Shen Lanxi still supported them, showing not the slightest regard for her.

“After Huang Yu returns from duty tonight, have her come to me.”

“Madam, that won’t do. Too many eyes are watching the inner residence now.”

Zhou Xinrou knew she had been too impulsive. If not for her designs on Jinmen, why would she be so restrained now?

After waiting several days, news arrived again from Jinmen: the old imperial uncle, Zhou Yanji, had led his followers to defect to Zhou Ruyuan.

The Jinmen bulletin was delivered by express to Shen Lanxi.

“That Zhou Yanji usually hides away in the hills growing radishes, pretending to be detached from worldly affairs. Who would have thought he’d be the first to step forward?” Mei Nanhua said, frowning in criticism.

Liu Mingxin also expressed concern. “This man had always been quiet and obedient. When the late emperor ascended the throne, he was the first to bow in submission. The more such a person appears harmless, the deeper his schemes are likely to be.”

Shen Lanxi, however, was unconcerned. A truly skilled hunter would not be lured out so easily.

“The court bulletins must deliver a strong counterattack.”

The next day in court, the senior ministers led by Mei Nanhua, Liu Mingxin, and Wu Yanzhi fiercely denounced Zhou Yanji.

“He has forgotten his ancestors, throwing in his lot with a traitor who colludes with foreign tribes—no different from treason!”

“Zhou Ruyuan angered the late emperor to death and is unfilial and rebellious. To associate with such a man is to aid a tiger and invite one’s own destruction!”

The other officials were stirred up and joined in condemning Zhou Yanji. Taking advantage of the momentum, Shen Lanxi stripped Zhou Yanji of his title and declared him a traitor.

In the Shen residence, Zhou Xinrou, who had been preparing to act, slowly set aside her murderous intentions.

“I never expected that old man would step forward.”

“Madam, the emperor is right. Now is not the time for us to act. Let us sit back and watch how they fight.”

Zhou Xinrou did not fully trust the news and immediately sent secret agents in Jinmen to verify it.

Before her order even arrived, a secret letter from those agents had already reached her hands.

“So it’s true!”

“That old fox Zhou Yanji endured for so long—why not continue enduring?”

“Madam, the emperor is, after all, a woman. How could the men of the realm willingly remain under a woman’s rule? She is destined not to sit firmly on the throne.”

“Rather than act ourselves, wouldn’t it be better to let her clear the path and remove the obstacles for us?”

Zhou Xinrou was persuaded.

…

A message came from Che Mingyuan: he was ready to activate the second plan they had discussed.

Shen Lanxi replied with a single word: Proceed.

Three days later, in Dongchuan, Che Mingyuan began openly challenging Zhou Ruyuan.

“Zhou Ruyuan, look at who they are!”

“They are the women and children of your inner household. If you want them to live, then carry a bundle of thorn branches on your back and follow me to the capital, where you will beg forgiveness from Her Majesty and from all under Heaven!”

Che Mingyuan was no fool. He did not approach Jinmen but instead began issuing his challenge deep within Dongchuan, surrounded by heavy troops.

This ensured their safety while still infuriating Zhou Ruyuan.

The news quickly reached Zhou Ruyuan’s ears. Even Zhou Qiwou’s people could not suppress it.

The rumor spread as if it had grown legs; all of Dongchuan was talking about it.

“If Zhou Ruyuan refuses, he’ll be seen as disregarding the lives of the women and children in his household—cold-hearted and devoid of family loyalty.”

“And if he agrees…”

Che Mingyuan did not finish the sentence, because he knew Zhou Ruyuan would not agree so easily.

After that would come a prolonged tug-of-war, advancing and retreating, depending on whether Zhou Ruyuan still cared about his reputation.

Whether he cared or not, the label of being cold-blooded and heartless toward his own kin would certainly be forced upon him.