RWNEFE -Chapter 576 The Only Thing He Surpassed Shen In Was Being a Man

Yuan Lang said, “The first thing we must do is win over those people—grasp them, and the forces behind them, firmly in our hands.”

Hearing this, Zhou Ruyuan gradually calmed down.

“I understand what the State Preceptor means. I’ve already sent people to make contact with them.”

Yuan Lang replied in a deep voice, “Not enough. Mere contact is not enough.”

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Ruyuan said, “Then we will grant them titles of kings and promise them power.”

That was more like it.

Yuan Lang shook his head. “They were already princes before, so they do not care about empty titles.”

Zhou Ruyuan frowned. “Then must we yield benefits—grant them fiefs?”

Yuan Lang knew well that Zhou Ruyuan was reluctant. No emperor wished to see his territory divided. Granting land was no different from carving up the realm.

“Your Majesty, this is the time when we need strength. If we give them no incentives, why would they pledge loyalty?”

“Especially that old fox Zhou Yanxing. He had always pretended to be detached from worldly affairs, waiting to profit like a fisherman. Unfortunately, he waited and waited, only to see someone else become the fisherman.”

“The reason he’s so impatient to step forward now is that he’s old—he can’t afford to wait any longer. If Shen Lanxi had shown even a little weakness, he would probably have rebelled long ago.”

Zhou Ruyuan thought further. For now, he could bind them together with benefits. Once his great undertaking succeeded, he could deal with anyone harboring ulterior motives afterward.

Such acts of crossing the river and then destroying the bridge were hardly rare in history.

“Very well. Where to grant the fiefs—I’ll leave it to the State Preceptor to negotiate and arrange.”

Seeing that Zhou Ruyuan had not acted impulsively, Yuan Lang finally felt relieved.

If not for the fact that Zhou Ruyuan was a man, he truly would not have been willing to assist him.

In terms of intellect, decision-making, martial ability, and even luck, Zhou Ruyuan could not compare with Shen Lanxi at all.

The only thing he surpassed Shen Lanxi in was being male.

This world, after all, was destined to be ruled by men. On that point alone, Shen Lanxi was already at a disadvantage.

After Zhang Chuchu’s funeral, Shen Yuanhao should have departed, but Shen Lanxi, mindful that he had just lost his wife, did not press him to leave.

Unexpectedly, before the seven-day mourning period had even passed, trouble arose on Shen Yuanhao’s side.

The Zhang family schemed to have Zhang Chuchu’s younger sister climb into Shen Yuanhao’s bed.

By the time Shen Lanxi learned of it, the third branch of the Shen family had already begun making arrangements to take the Zhang daughter into the household.

They had treated her earlier command—that a widower must observe mourning—as if it were nothing.

“I pitied a woman who lost her life in childbirth, and they take my kindness for weakness.”

A sheet of paper with written words was handed to her.

The Shen family had not yet reported the matter to the Emperor.

Shen Lanxi pushed the paper back.

“They are truly bold—planning to inform me only at the very end.”

Soon the paper was handed to her again.

You cannot protect them for a lifetime. Let things be arranged and seen through.

Shen Lanxi let out a cold laugh.

Before long, a family letter from the Shen household arrived.

It did not mention Zhang Chuchu’s sister, but instead brought up the matter of adoption.

The next day, Shen Lanxi had three handwritten letters delivered to the Shen family.

“The Emperor says she is occupied with many affairs and will not issue a formal decree.”

“These three handwritten letters are to be regarded as family correspondence. The family may read them or not, may follow them or not. Even if they do not follow them, there will be no punishment.”

Since they were not imperial edicts, they did not need to be read aloud.

After leaving the letters behind, the eunuch departed.

The Shen family immediately opened the first letter. It was brief and clear:

Zhang Churan has defied orders and is to be executed.

With a thud, the letter fell to the ground.

“How… how can she be sentenced to death?” Madam Miao murmured, her face turning pale.

Hu Jinyu immediately recalled what Shen Lanxi had said when Zhang Chuchu died.

“The Emperor decreed that Shen family men who lose a wife must observe mourning for three years.”

Madam Miao’s face turned even paler as she forced an explanation. “But later Zhang Chuchu herself said there was no need for mourning, and didn’t the Emperor agree?”

Hu Jinyu sighed. “Third Aunt, Chuchu only said to shorten the mourning to half a year. She never said there would be no mourning at all.”

Madam Miao sat down blankly in her chair, her face ashen, unable to speak.

“Quickly, look at the second letter!”

The second letter read:

Marry Zhang Churan after half a year.

“No, she cannot be taken as a wife. My son absolutely cannot marry another Zhang family girl,” Madam Miao protested at once.

Hu Jinyu was surprised. Hadn’t they called everyone together to discuss bringing in a new bride?

Why were they suddenly refusing marriage?

Could it be… taking her as a concubine instead?

But the Emperor had previously declared that Shen family men were to have only one wife and no concubines. What were these people thinking?

Shen Lanxi was now the Son of Heaven. What she had said before carried the weight of an imperial decree.

Were they planning to defy her?

Hu Jinyu pressed her lips together uneasily and stepped aside, no longer speaking.

Shen Congli frowned. “Zhang Chuchu died because of the disparity in family status. My son must never again marry a girl who is not properly matched in background.”

The second and fourth branches also understood.

“Let’s look at the third letter,” Shen Congwen reminded them.

Shen Congli hurriedly opened it.

The Zhang family harbors wolfish ambitions. Exterminate the entire clan.

With another thud, the letter slipped from his hands.

Shen Congli’s hands were trembling. This was no family letter—it was practically a summons from the King of Hell.

Shen Yuanhao spoke up. “It cannot be that because of our one household, the entire Zhang clan must perish.”

Then only the first two options remained.

One meant death. One meant life.

One promised a bright future; the other meant mediocrity at best—and being burdened by a swarm of troublesome relatives.

“How should we choose?”

Even a fool knew the answer, but since it concerned a human life, no one wanted to be the one to decide.

“Yuanxu’s wife, you’re level-headed. Tell us what you think,” Madam Miao urged.

Hu Jinyu had no desire to get entangled in this matter. Whether things succeeded or failed, the one who made the decision would bear the blame.

“This is not something to ask me. It should be asked of Yuanhao. It concerns his future and the rest of his life—none of us can decide for him.”

Whoever decided would be resented in the end. Better for Shen Yuanhao to make the choice himself than to blame others later.

Shen Yuanhao was nudged, as if jolted awake from a dream.

Dark circles ringed his eyes; his face was filled with regret and sorrow. He looked little better than when he had first returned to the capital.

“Yuanhao, we cannot accept a girl from such a family. Have you forgotten how Zhang Chuchu died?”

“Mother will tell you the truth. We kept it from you before, afraid it would distract you while you were away.”

“Zhang Chuchu often took things from our household to give to her natal family. At the time, I thought we had already divided the households and she was only taking things from your share, so I said nothing. But when we settled the accounts these past two days, we discovered she had given more than half the wealth you earned through your military merits to her family.”

“She was like a rat stealing from her own home—an enormous rat! She emptied our house to fatten her natal family!”

Shen Yuanhao’s eyes widened in anger.

“Mother, is this true?”

Madam Miao wept. “My son, how could I lie about such a thing? If you don’t believe me, go to the Zhang family and see. Many things from your household have already become theirs!”

“It’s not that I care about the things…” she said.

Madam Liu, who had been sisters-in-law with her for years, knew her temperament well.

When she said that, it meant she cared very much indeed.

“Third Sister-in-law, you’re quite good at enduring,” Madam Liu remarked dryly.

It had to be said—Madam Liu knew exactly how to drive a knife in where it hurt.