RWNEFE -Chapter 578 Zhou Ruyuan Imitates Shen Lanxi’s Grand Bestowals!

Old Madam Shen handed over authority generously, and the rest of the Shen family no longer stood on ceremony. The Imperial Guards were already waiting at the gate—how could they make the Son of Heaven wait?

With Shen Lanxi’s temper, it was better to hurry.

Three carriages were packed to the brim with people as they swayed along toward the palace.

“Urgent business for the palace—make way!”

Imperial Guards struck gongs to clear the road, and pedestrians stepped aside in an orderly manner.

This was a new regulation established after the previous incident when mounted riders had caused trouble. For urgent court matters, gongs could be used to clear the way, but the safety of the people was always the first priority.

Shen Lanxi was discussing a fast dispatch from Jinmen with her ministers.

“Your Majesty, the rebels have begun imitating you again.”

Shen Lanxi replied calmly, “Haven’t they been copying us all along? Let them copy—as long as it benefits the people.”

“Your Majesty, it is not for the benefit of the people. They are imitating the grand bestowals you made after ascending the throne.”

That caught Shen Lanxi’s interest.

“Whom has he bestowed titles upon?”

“All those rebel leaders who have come to join him. Zhou Ruyuan, in order to win them over, has promised many conditions and has even ceded large amounts of land.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “Given his character, that does sound like something he would do. Jinmen’s territory isn’t large to begin with—how much land can he possibly divide?”

“Could it be that he plans to divide up the sea?”

A minister said indignantly, “No. The land he has ceded is territory belonging to Great Zhou.”

Shen Lanxi widened her eyes in amusement. “You mean the places he promised away are all lands belonging to our dynasty—lands he hasn’t even conquered yet?”

Several ministers couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing in anger.

“Zhou Ruyuan dares to sell what he doesn’t own?”

“Are those people fools, to believe him?”

The Grand Tutor chuckled. “They’re simply indulging in wild fantasies.”

Wu Yanzhi clicked his tongue in amusement. “I never realized before that Zhou Ruyuan was such a dreamer.”

Liu Mingxin added, “If he really did seize the realm like this, he wouldn’t be able to sit securely on the throne for more than a few days.”

“Making promises in advance like that is courting destruction!”

“It’s no different from killing the goose that lays the golden eggs!”

“Clearly something wrong with his head!”

Just as Shen Lanxi was listening to her ministers’ angry tirade against Zhou Ruyuan to refresh her spirits, an Imperial Guard ran into the hall.

“Your Majesty, someone is kneeling at the palace gate, filing a complaint before the Emperor.”

If it had been ordinary people, the guards would have driven them away or made them follow the rules—either rolling over a bed of nails or enduring corporal punishment before submitting a grievance.

But these people were not ordinary; they were related by marriage to the Shen family.

Shen Lanxi rose from the dragon throne.

“My lords, come with me to the palace gate and watch the excitement.”

The ministers thought: A good chance to stretch our legs.

Which fool isn’t afraid of death this time?

Will His Majesty wash the palace gates in blood again today?

When the Zhang family saw Shen Lanxi arrive, they immediately began shouting their grievances.

“Your Majesty, Shen Yuanhao is ungrateful and heartless! My daughter’s body is not even cold, and he committed an indecent act with my younger daughter. After committing such a shameful deed, not only did he refuse to marry her, he even drove our entire family out of the capital. He is utterly despicable!”

“Your Majesty, please uphold justice for our family!”

Shen Lanxi approached with her ministers.

“Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice—this case is yours,” she said, choosing to stand aside and observe.

The Zhang family was stunned. This was clearly a family matter—how had it been handed over to outsiders to handle?

Could it be that mediators were being brought in?

Officials from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice stepped forward to question them.

“You claim General Shen molested your daughter. Where is she?”

Zhang Churan trembled as she stepped forward. “My lord, it was I.”

The Dali Temple official asked formally, “Is what your mother said true?”

“Yes, my lord. It is true.”

The Ministry of Justice official continued, “In what way was he indecent? Did anything actually happen? Who can testify?”

Such intimate matters were being asked openly in public. Zhang Churan felt her face burning, wishing she could disappear.

“We’re asking you a question. This is a court of law, not a place for games. Since you have come to file a complaint, you must be prepared for a formal hearing. And if the accusation is proven false, you will be punished with fifty strokes or made to roll over a bed of nails.”

The Zhang family was dumbfounded.

“Your Majesty, this is a family matter—why would people be beaten?”

An attendant raised his voice sharply. “His Majesty has not yet spoken, and you dare to look directly upon the imperial face and question the Emperor. Slap her mouth!”

Madam Zhang trembled violently, all color draining from her face.

The rest of the Zhang family were no better, all breaking out in cold sweat.

Seeing that Shen Lanxi did not intervene, the attendant immediately signaled to two others.

Smack, smack… More than a dozen slaps landed, beating Madam Zhang’s face until it swelled like a pig’s head. Her lips split, blood filled her mouth, and several teeth loosened.

“That’s enough. Do not disrupt the proceedings.”

The attendant waved his hand, and those administering the punishment stepped back.

The Ministry of Justice continued the questioning.

“Zhang Churan, answer the question!”

Here, under their Emperor, tantrums were useless.

The official glanced at Madam Zhang without the slightest pity in his eyes.

A family matter?

Fools who could not understand that once they came here, there was no such thing as a mere family matter.

Zhang Churan no longer even had time to regret her actions. Fortunately, the Shen family arrived in time, preventing the Ministry from pursuing charges of delaying the proceedings.

“We pay our respects to Your Majesty!”

Shen Yuanhao had never expected that a matter already settled would still give rise to trouble.

Who could he blame? Only himself—for being too soft-hearted.

Shen Congwen did not wish to kneel. He stood stiffly to one side, chin lifted, looking as if he were ready to invoke filial piety to shield himself if anyone tried to punish him.

The attendants and ministers watched Shen Lanxi’s reaction. Seeing her remain silent, they all pretended not to notice Shen Congwen at all.

“Rise.”

The Shen family stood.

“You have come at the right time. The Dali Temple and Ministry of Justice have already begun investigating. You are parties involved, so you may now confront each other face to face.”

Shen Congli and Madam Miao dared not step forward, placing all their hopes on their son, Shen Yuanhao.

“Yuanhao, go explain,” the couple said, pushing him forward.

Shen Yuanhao felt responsible and stepped forward without hesitation.

“My lords, the matter began because my wife’s younger sister took advantage of my grief after my wife’s death and secretly drugged me.”

“I do not dare claim I am entirely innocent, but I am certainly not the chief culprit.”

“My wife had only just passed away, yet the Zhang family committed such an act. According to the laws of Great Zhou, drugging a court official—no matter what substance is used—is considered an attempt at murder.”

“Moreover, I previously refrained from pursuing the matter out of consideration that she was my late wife’s sister and family. I merely drove them out of the capital. I never expected that instead of being grateful, they would bite back at me. In hindsight, letting them go was an act of foolishness.”

The Zhang family realized he was trying to press charges against them.

“That’s not—”

Madam Zhang hurried to shout, but the pain in her face from the earlier slaps reminded her of her situation. She quickly knelt and spoke more cautiously.

“Your Majesty, it’s not as he says. He was drunk and confused and mistook my younger daughter for the elder one. After ruining my daughter’s reputation and looking down on our family, he drove us away.”

“I refuse to accept this. It cannot be because…” She cautiously glanced up at Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi looked at her with a faint smile. “Cannot be because of what?”