RWNEFE -Chapter 594 Huang Yu Seeks Help!

“Since you have declared yourselves subjects to His Majesty, you must fulfill the duties of a subject. His Majesty is benevolent—he grants you official titles, allows hereditary succession, and even bestows land upon you. Such favor rivals that given to princes. If you have come to pledge allegiance, you must be prepared to hand over your troops and obey arrangements!”

They dared not move against powerful forces like Zhou Yanxing’s, but would they fear dealing with a minor aristocratic clan like this?

Their emperor had proclaimed himself sovereign—not to make a losing bargain.

“You…” Seeing negotiations on the verge of collapse, the clan leader did not dare push too far. After all, he was on Zhou Ruyuan’s territory.

But handing over military authority was absolutely impossible.

He had come to gain a share of the spoils, not to suffer losses. If he surrendered his troops, wouldn’t that be like losing both wife and soldiers?

“Fine—one third it is. We have come to serve His Majesty because he is the true Son of Heaven, of imperial blood. The one sitting in the capital is nothing but a traitorous usurper.”

Though the discussion was unpleasant, the final outcome was within expectations.

Yuan Lang picked up a charcoal pencil and circled one third of Jiangdong’s northern region.

After that came the formal enfeoffment and public proclamation.

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When Shen Yuantang learned that her mother intended to marry her out of the capital, she nearly went mad.

“Where is Father? I want to see Father!”

The old gatekeeper woman did not even lift her eyes. No matter how Shen Yuantang pounded and kicked at the door, it remained shut.

“Let me out! I want to see Mother!”

“Mother, I won’t marry!”

She was a princess—who dared to trade her marriage for political gain?

Was the Shen family not afraid of being ridiculed by the people of the capital?

“Let me out! If you don’t, I’ll smash my head against the wall and die here—then see how you explain it to His Majesty!”

With a loud crash, objects shattered.

The commotion was so great that the Third Branch could not sit still and came to retrieve the child.

“Yuantang, good child, don’t be anxious. I’ve already tried persuading your mother,” Madam Miao said, signaling the servant woman to take the child away.

With such noise, what if her grandson were frightened?

“Third Aunt, Mother is so heartless—she actually wants to marry me off far away.”

“All the daughters of our family have already returned to the capital. Not one remains outside. Yet she’s willing to send me away.”

“Third Aunt, please send word to the palace. Ask Elder Sister to save me!”

Madam Miao felt conflicted. The one in the palace likely sided with her mother.

“Yuantang, I’ll try to persuade your mother again. When she comes, speak to her properly. Beg her. Say something gentle.”

Seeing the child brought over, Madam Miao quickly added, “Rest for now, Yuantang. I’ll go find your mother!”

She turned and left; the servant woman hurried after her with the child.

“Princess, something’s wrong—the Third Madam had the child taken away!”

Shen Yuantang suddenly came to her senses. That’s right—she still had her child.

But she realized too late. The child had already been taken by the Third Branch.

“Mother… why are you treating me like this…”

Suddenly she remembered sending people to investigate Huang Yu. She had sent three men—none returned.

There was something wrong with Huang Yu. There had to be.

“Elder Sister! I want to see Elder Sister!”

“Your Majesty! I want to see His Majesty!”

The grim-faced servant woman outside stared straight ahead as if she heard nothing of the screams within.

Soon Shen Yuantang’s wedding date was set. Only afterward was Shen Lanxi informed.

“The Nanliang Zhou family?” Shen Lanxi read from the letter.

Soon records regarding the Nanliang Zhou family were placed before her.

“They were enfeoffed during Emperor Heshun’s reign… That was six generations ago?”

If not for the vast intelligence network of Ghost Valley, the Nanliang Zhou family might long have vanished from records.

A long-declined imperial branch—their status now lower than even a grass-sandal vendor.

“Your Majesty, should we stop it?” Liu Yanhui asked with concern.

After all, they were sisters of the same mother. Surely His Majesty felt some reluctance.

Shen Lanxi set the letter aside and sat silent for a moment.

“No need. That is the road they have chosen.”

Let them walk it to the end. She would see what the outcome would be without her intervention.

Liu Yanhui sighed softly. Though emperors have always called themselves “lonely” and “widowed,” he did not wish to see her truly alone.

Compared to this, he almost missed the days of exile.

After waiting two days and receiving no message from the palace, Zhou Xinrou understood that her daughter was indeed very obedient.

Aside from Shen Yuantang, the other young women’s matches had also been arranged.

One by one, they were either remarried as secondary wives or wed to widowed military officers.

Except for Shen Yuantang, every Shen daughter was married to a military officer—and not low-ranking ones at that.

---

Meanwhile, word soon arrived from Huang Yu requesting reinforcements from the court.

The message did not even reach Shen Lanxi; the Ministry of War suppressed it.

Reinforcements? From where?

If the court had troops to spare, they would have already attacked Jinmen.

After waiting six days without response, Huang Yu had no choice but to seek help from Zhou Xinrou.

“Princess, the young mistress is trapped in Tangshan. This is her plea for help!”

After reading it, Zhou Xinrou was anxious.

“Why didn’t she ask the court to send troops?”

The servant woman replied, “We don’t know. The letter didn’t say.”

Zhou Xinrou grew irritated. “I don’t know who she takes after, swallowing grievances without a word.”

“Princess, now isn’t the time for that—quickly think of a way to save her!”

Zhou Xinrou guessed the carrier pigeon must have met with an accident and the court never received the message.

“Send word to the palace…”

She paused, worried that Shen Lanxi might not treat the matter with urgency.

“This is extremely urgent—I’ll go to the palace myself!”

When Shen Lanxi was informed of Zhou Xinrou’s arrival, she was reviewing a letter from the northwest.

The power transition in the Turkic imperial court had concluded. A new khan had ascended and requested a marriage alliance with Great Zhou.

This secret report had arrived faster than the official channels.

Within a month, the Turkic delegation would reach the capital.

A marriage alliance?

More likely a pretext to provoke Great Zhou.

…

“Your Majesty, the Princess requests an audience at the palace gates.”

Shen Lanxi replied calmly, “I am discussing important state affairs with court officials. No interruptions.”

The attendant glanced at the empty Hall of Diligent Governance and bowed as he withdrew.

Since Shen Lanxi ascended the throne, Zhou Xinrou had not once come to the palace.

She had assumed she would be admitted directly—but she could not even enter the gates.

“How dare you! Do you know who I am, to block my way?”

The Imperial Guards answered coldly, “Without His Majesty’s order, no one may enter or leave the imperial city. Violators will be executed without mercy!”

His Majesty had also said—even if it were members of the Shen family, even her own mother—if they attempted to force entry, they were to be treated as assassins.

And what happens to assassins?

They are cut down on the spot.