RWNEFE -Chapter 580 In That State, Could He Even Perform Marital Relations?

Zhang Churan’s face turned deathly pale.

“I withdraw the accusation!”

“I withdraw it!”

Too late.

Shen Lanxi cast a cold glance, and two Imperial Guards stepped forward, placing their blades on Zhang Churan’s shoulders.

Seeing their daughter like this, every member of the Zhang family turned as pale as paper.

It was over—truly over.

The Imperial Guards quickly brought in a jar of wine.

Not wanting to lose face, Shen Yuanhao picked it up and started to drink.

An official from the Dali Temple said, “Slow down. Drink it one sip at a time—otherwise you’ll get drunk too quickly.” Even someone who got drunk easily needed time for the alcohol to take effect.

An official from the Ministry of Justice added, “Drink it the same way you drank that night.”

At first Shen Yuanhao was reluctant, but hearing the reasoning, he complied and took a small sip.

The officials’ looks of disdain rose and fell like a tide.

After the first sip, several dozen breaths passed before Shen Yuanhao took a second.

“I drank very slowly that day,” he explained.

To the officials, this sounded like forced justification—like a drunk insisting he wasn’t drunk.

“That day…”

Clang!

The wine jar fell to the ground.

Shen Yuanhao’s eyes gradually grew vacant, and his body began to sway.

The officials were stunned.

Shen Lanxi watched as if enjoying a show, her smile growing wider.

Some officials who were acquainted with Shen Yuanhao moved to support him, but Shen Lanxi stopped them sharply.

“Don’t help him. What if he’s pretending?”

Everyone knew those words were meant for the Zhang family to hear.

But before the words had even finished echoing, Shen Yuanhao was already staggering toward a corner.

Halfway there, he collapsed to the ground with a thud, and moments later loud snoring filled the air.

The officials struggled to suppress their laughter.

Shen Lanxi turned to the imperial physician. “Physician, in this condition… could he even perform marital relations?”

“Pfft—!”

Someone couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

Heavens above!

As expected of the first Empress in history—how could her words carry such authority even when so blunt?

The physician stepped forward, shoulders trembling as he tried to restrain his laughter.

“Your Majesty… no, he could not.” He absolutely could not bring himself to repeat the phrase ‘perform marital relations’ aloud.

He was a man himself, yet not even as direct as a woman.

Shen Lanxi asked, “Are you certain?”

“Pfft—pfft—!”

That questioning tone triggered another wave of suppressed laughter.

The physician forced himself to answer, his face flushed red.

“This old minister is certain. In this state, General Shen is, to speak bluntly, no different from a lump of mud. How could a lump of mud stand up? If anything could still happen in such a condition, it would only mean the woman was utterly determined to climb into his bed.”

Shen Lanxi turned to Zhang Churan.

“Did you hear the physician? Perhaps you did drug him, but Shen Yuanhao’s tolerance is so low that he never drank enough.”

“Or perhaps you never drugged him at all and simply did not expect his tolerance to be this poor.”

“You may even insist that Shen Yuanhao is pretending.”

After examining him, the physician reported, “Your Majesty, General Shen is indeed completely drunk.”

Shen Lanxi clicked her tongue. “In that case, there’s no need for me to say the rest.”

“Zhang Churan, the one who died was your own elder sister. Her body was not yet cold, and you were already trying to climb into your brother-in-law’s bed. Where are your sense of propriety and shame?”

“The Zhang family must certainly have known of this, or you would not all have come together to bring this accusation.”

Madam Miao reminded gently, “Your Majesty, Zhang Churan’s sister-in-law and her child did not come.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “See? There are still some clever people.”

The Zhang family inwardly cursed their daughter-in-law—if she knew there was danger, why hadn’t she stopped them?

“Plotting against a court official and defying an imperial edict—how should this be sentenced?” Shen Lanxi asked.

An official from the Dali Temple replied, “Extermination of the entire family, and confiscation of all property!”

The Zhang family collapsed, crying and crawling as they begged Shen Lanxi for mercy.

But could the Imperial Guards allow them near the Emperor? Their blades were not for decoration.

The Zhang family wailed and protested their innocence, begging the Shen family to plead for them.

This time, however, not a single member of the Shen family spoke on their behalf.

“My grandson has been adopted by the Emperor’s prince—Your Majesty, you cannot kill me…”

“Shen Yuanhao, if we die, how will you answer to Chuchu…”

“Spare us! We were wrong—we will never dare again!”

“We will return to our hometown at once and never come to the capital again!”

Liu Yanhui stepped forward. “Your Majesty, the state has its laws and the family its rules. False accusations against a court official cannot be tolerated!”

“They knowingly defied Your Majesty’s edict requiring mourning, and still committed such outrageous and shocking acts. They must not be spared.”

“Your Majesty, if the Zhang family is not punished, the law cannot be upheld, nor the authority of the court maintained.”

After the noise subsided somewhat, Shen Lanxi spoke again.

“Third Uncle, Yuanhao is drunk. As his father, you may speak on his behalf. How should this be handled?”

Shen Congli said coldly, “The officials of the Dali Temple and Ministry of Justice are correct. When a prince breaks the law, he is punished the same as a commoner. No matter who they are or what their status is, if they have violated the law, they must receive the punishment they deserve.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “Good. Worthy of a son of the Shen family.”

Then her tone softened.

“However, Zhang Chuchu has only just died. To execute the Zhang family immediately might seem somewhat cold-hearted.”

“I have only just ascended the throne and do not wish to create excessive bloodshed. Let this be considered a blessing for Yuanhao’s prematurely born child.”

The third branch of the Shen family was visibly moved.

“Very well. All members of the Zhang family present today—according to Great Zhou law, for false accusation before the throne—shall each receive fifty strokes of the rod or be made to roll over a bed of nails. Any who survive shall be exiled to Dongchuan.”

The officials widened their eyes.

This was called not creating excessive bloodshed? By twenty or thirty strokes, many people would already be beaten to death.

They understood now—His Majesty had never intended to let them live.

“And as for those Zhang family members who did not come—those must be the sensible ones. Spare their lives. Relocate them to Dongchuan or the northwest; let the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Personnel arrange it.”

“As for their property, confiscate two-thirds of it. Let the Ministry of Revenue handle the details.”

Liu Yanhui bowed. “This minister obeys the decree.”

(Leaving them only enough for travel expenses, at most.)

“Take them away for punishment.”

“Yes!”

The Zhang family members were gagged and dragged away to the place of execution.

Shen Yuanhao was also taken back by the Shen family. As for watching the punishment—none of them wished to stay. They would rather grow wings and fly home immediately.

…

Shen Lanxi returned to the Golden Throne Hall with the officials to continue discussing state affairs.

“Zhou Ruyuan is merely imitating others poorly. So-called disciples of the Thatched Cottage are nothing remarkable after all.”

Song Daoxi stepped forward again.

“Zhou Ruyuan is foolish and unaware of it. His actions are no different from bargaining with tigers for their skins. Yuan Lang may appear to serve him, but his heart lies elsewhere—he and Zhou Qiwou have long been secretly involved.”

“Zhou Yanxing is even more a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This grand enfeoffment will not pacify those people; it will only feed their ambition.”

“Those who have gone to join Zhou Ruyuan are not loyal—they seek to carve up his power.”

“His actions are no different from inviting wolves into his house—he is courting his own destruction!”

The officials suddenly understood. After court was dismissed, they gathered in small groups to discuss.

“No wonder the Imperial Preceptor has not yet set out—he simply does not think much of these so-called disciples of the Thatched Cottage.”

“No wonder the lineage of the Thatched Cottage has declined. With such ability, they cannot even compare to the successors of Guiguzi—let alone match them.”