RWNEFE -Chapter 583 Tianjin! (Part 1)

In the confrontation with Tianjin, the imperial court once again gained the upper hand.

The Grand Preceptor, overcome with excitement, stumbled and nearly fell. Fortunately, the officials around him reacted quickly and caught him in time.

“Grand Preceptor, even at such an advanced age, you still labor for Great Zhou. I am both moved and grateful,” Shen Lanxi said.

“On behalf of the people of the realm, I thank you!”

Mei Nanhua steadied himself and replied modestly, “To devote oneself to Great Zhou is the duty of a minister.”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “Grand Preceptor, you are too humble. You are truly a model for us all.”

“Someone, bring a seat for the Grand Preceptor!”

“From now on, the Grand Preceptor may sit during court sessions.”

Mei Nanhua was flattered and alarmed. “This must not be! There is a distinction between ruler and subject. I dare not overstep.”

“How could this be overstepping?” Shen Lanxi said warmly. “You have devoted your entire life to the country and the people. How could I, so young, sit while you stand? I would feel deeply uneasy.”

Mei Nanhua still hesitated.

Shen Lanxi’s tone grew firm. “Grand Preceptor, say no more. I have made my decision.”

“From today onward, let this be a rule: officials of the third rank and above, or those who have made great contributions to the court, shall be granted seats.”

“Prime Minister Wu and Grand Secretary Liu also meet these conditions. They too may be seated.”

Seeing that he was not the only one, Mei Nanhua no longer refused.

Wu Yanzhi and Liu Mingxin immediately knelt in gratitude. “Long live Your Majesty…”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “This realm does not belong to me alone. It belongs to the officials and to the people.”

“Without your assistance, how could I possibly govern such a vast empire alone?”

“Not only must I take care of my health, but you must take care of yours as well.”

“Let ruler and ministers work together, united in building Great Zhou!”

Originally, three seats were needed for the three regent ministers.

But Shen Lanxi ordered four to be prepared.

The officials discreetly glanced at the empty chair and began speculating.

Who did His Majesty intend to promote?

Later, Wu Yanzhi slipped a banknote to a palace attendant.

The attendant explained, “His Majesty said even numbers are auspicious; odd numbers are not. The extra chair is there for all to see.”

“Whoever achieves outstanding merit in the future will sit in that chair.”

Wu Yanzhi finally relaxed. So that was the meaning.

Soon, Shen Lanxi’s reputation for honoring veteran officials spread widely. Those elderly ministers who had worried about being replaced breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, wasn’t there a saying: A new emperor brings new ministers? They had served the late emperor—how could the new ruler truly trust them?

Meanwhile, Tianjin continued its maneuvers. But after the earlier “express reports war,” the common people no longer believed everything they heard.

Whenever new dispatches from Tianjin circulated, people simply carried on with their lives, treating them as entertainment during idle moments.

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It had been some time since Zhou Ruyuan and Wang Xiangyi married.

At first, Wang Xiangyi had obeyed her mother’s advice and behaved properly. But as time passed and Zhou Ruyuan paid her little attention, she gradually revealed her true nature.

From the bedchamber came, from time to time, the low murmur of a man’s voice and a woman’s teasing laughter.

One day, seeing children playing together in the streets, Zhou Qiwou suddenly had an idea and immediately went to find her daughter.

Before her marriage, Wang Xiangyi had already moved out of the Liu residence.

After Liu Chengen’s death, authority over the naval forces returned to his father, Liu Binglin. His son had died unexpectedly, and since Wang Xiangyi was a princess’s daughter who now planned to remarry, he could not stop her.

At first, Liu Binglin did not know she was marrying Zhou Ruyuan. By the time he learned, it was too late.

The power in his hands had already been infiltrated by Zhou Qiwou.

Though he long suspected foul play in his son’s death, he lacked evidence.

Now that Zhou Ruyuan suddenly appeared in Tianjin with troops, catching Liu Binglin off guard, he could only bide his time.

Wang Xiangyi had moved into a residence next to the Princess Manor—smaller than the manor, but with the deed under it.

“Where is the Empress?” Zhou Qiwou entered through a side door connecting directly to Wang Xiangyi’s bedchamber.

The servants had not expected the Third Princess to arrive at this time. Their faces turned pale as they knelt.

“Princess…”

“The Empress, she…”

Seeing their unnatural expressions, Zhou Qiwou immediately sensed something wrong.

“Princess, you cannot go in!” If the Empress found out they had allowed the princess inside, they would surely be beaten to death.

Zhou Qiwou flew into a rage. “How dare you defy me! Drag them aside!”

Four guards stepped forward and forcibly cleared the way.

The servants dared not say another word.

Before pushing open the bedroom door, Zhou Qiwou heard the decadent sounds of men and women inside.

Her face flushed with fury.

If Zhou Ruyuan had been inside, the servants would not have been so nervous.

Bang!

She kicked the door open.

The people inside were so immersed in their pleasure that they had not even heard the noise.

When Zhou Qiwou saw the scene clearly, she trembled with rage, her vision darkening.

The illicit lovers finally noticed something was wrong and panicked.

“Mother, why are you here…” Wang Xiangyi hurriedly wrapped herself in brocade bedding, signaling to the three men with her eyes.

“You—leave first!”

Zhou Qiwou felt as if fire were burning in her chest.

“You—”

Slap!

She could not even form a complete sentence before striking Wang Xiangyi twice, sending her sprawling onto the bed.

“I’ll deal with you later!” She glared at her daughter before turning to the three men.

If they walked out openly and word reached Zhou Ruyuan, her plans would collapse.

“Blindfold them. Dispose of them quietly.”

The three men fell to their knees, begging for mercy, but the guards gagged them and knocked them unconscious with a single blow.

Their practiced efficiency showed this was not the first time such matters had been handled.

“Take them away. Remember—three thieves entered the residence today. They were discovered by the Empress and dealt with according to the law.”

“Yes!”

After the men were taken care of, Zhou Qiwou’s fury had not subsided.

She stepped forward and kicked her daughter twice more.

“Useless thing! You waste your strength on worthless scum instead of the man you should be winning over.”

“In broad daylight—what audacity!”

“If Zhou Ruyuan had returned today, have you considered the consequences?”

Wang Xiangyi’s face was flushed—whether from shame or from the slaps was unclear.

“Mother, since our marriage, he has never once stepped into the bedchamber. He rarely even comes here. Even if I wanted him to see, he wouldn’t!”

She felt full of grievance and stopped explaining, venting her frustration instead.