RWNEFE -Chapter 597 The Turkic Envoys Arrive!

Could it be that she was going to be sent to attack Zhou Ruyuan?

Thinking about it, it made sense. Although there were now quite a few female officials in the court, she was the only one who had won the Female Martial Champion title. She was also the only one who had repeatedly gained merit through bandit suppression and thus received heavy promotion.

Those female guards who had followed Shen Lanxi for many years were probably not heavily entrusted because their abilities were mediocre.

If Shen Lanxi wanted to firmly secure her position as Empress, she could only promote more female generals.

Huang Yu’s emergence happened to solve this problem for her.

At this thought, Huang Yu’s gaze gradually became resolute.

She would become the second woman, after Shen Lanxi, to be granted the title of Great General.

“Many thanks for your reminder, Eunuch. When Huang returns to the capital, there will certainly be a generous reward!”

The eunuch who delivered the decree turned and left.

Soon, Zhou Xinrou also received the news and immediately smashed a teacup to the ground in anger.

“Fool.”

“Princess, now that the imperial edict has been issued, can it still be changed?” the maid asked.

Zhou Xinrou took several deep breaths and calmed herself. Even if she intervened and summoned Huang Yu back to the capital, Huang Yu would probably resent her.

“Wait a few more days and see whether Huang Yu writes.”

“Yes.”

A few days later, Huang Yu did indeed send a letter. But instead of explaining herself, she was asking for manpower.

“County Princess, the young mistress says you need not worry about her,” the nanny quickly tried to comfort Zhou Xinrou when she saw her expression darken.

Zhou Xinrou was so angry her fingernails nearly snapped.

“She asks me for people at every turn. Does she think those people are easy to raise?”

Apart from the shadow guards used for convenience, the rest had been planted throughout various armies.

Half of her shadow guards had been lost in the southwest earlier. Later, several rescue missions for Huang Yu had consumed most of the remainder. Of those who had once followed her faithfully, hardly any were left.

Those now hidden in the shadows protecting her had all been transferred from elsewhere.

Where could she find any spare manpower?

“Can’t she request troops from the court?” Zhou Xinrou said.

The nanny looked troubled.

There was no need to ask—clearly the court had not assigned her any.

“Princess, the young mistress’s life is the most important thing. If no troops are sent now, and she encounters danger later, asking for help again may be too late.”

Zhou Xinrou was both angry and helpless.

“She already commands some troops now. Let her recruit people herself.”

Nanny: “The young mistress is young and impetuous; she may not handle such matters well. Why don’t we send some men over as ‘guards’? Using our own people is always more reliable than using outsiders.”

That was true, but the people around Zhou Xinrou truly could not be moved anymore.

“Nanny, contact them and have them send people over from that side.”

Seeing the Princess had made up her mind, the nanny could only obey.

On a clear and bright day, Shen Lanxi received good news.

Her Seventh Brother had escaped danger.

This news made her happier than reclaiming an entire territory.

The letter mentioned that although Seventh Brother had escaped, he would not be coming to the capital. He also said that one day he would present her with a great gift.

It moved her—but also worried her.

She immediately wrote to her Fifth Brother. Since Seventh Brother had escaped, Fifth Brother would likely return to the capital. But Shen Lanxi already had many guards protecting her. Since Seventh Brother intended to accomplish something, how could he do so without protection?

It would be better for Fifth Brother to remain by Seventh Brother’s side for the time being and protect him.

---

Recently, newspaper sales had declined somewhat, mainly because nothing major had happened.

Just as the Ministry of Revenue was worrying about this, news arrived again from Jinmen:

Zhou Ruyuan’s family members had once again been assassinated—three dead and five injured.

That same day, Song Daoxi presented his analysis in court.

“It must be people sent by Jinmen. They want Zhou Ruyuan to break with the court.”

“The most likely culprits are the Third Princess and Wang Xiangyi. Once Zhou Ruyuan breaks with the court, these two will benefit the most.”

The officials were doubtful.

“Could it be someone else?”

Song Daoxi replied firmly, “Extremely unlikely. How could Zhou Qiwou and Wang Xiangyi tolerate Zhou Ruyuan’s descendants remaining in our court’s hands?”

“If my guess is correct, they will certainly act again—until Zhou Ruyuan’s descendants are completely wiped out.”

The officials looked at one another.

A woman’s jealousy could indeed be terrifying.

If Zhou Ruyuan’s descendants were killed off, he would no longer have any reason to hesitate.

Jinmen wanted to force Zhou Ruyuan into war with the court.

The next day, the newspaper was published, and the news quickly reached Jinmen.

Zhou Ruyuan read it, his eyes turning blood-red with anger.

“I already said they were not to act. Why didn’t they listen?”

Yuan Lang felt something was strange.

“Your Majesty, as far as I know, the Third Princess and the Empress have not recently sent anyone out.”

“What do you mean?”

Yuan Lang analyzed in a low voice, “I fear someone else carried out the attack.”

Zhou Ruyuan thought carefully. Apart from them and his mother-in-law, who else would act?

“Your Majesty, I fear someone wants to force you to deploy troops.”

Zhou Ruyuan immediately thought of certain people—many had recently been urging him, openly and secretly, to launch an attack, promising to assist from the sidelines. He understood very well what they were planning.

He had indeed used his descendants as an excuse to delay going to war again and again.

Now that those descendants had met with disaster, he no longer had a reason to delay.

Besides himself, any of those who had come to seek refuge with him could be suspects.

“Your Majesty, this matter must be dealt with promptly.”

Zhou Ruyuan said, “The court’s army is currently strong and well-prepared. Now is not the best time to wage war.”

That was true, but—

“Your Majesty, I have recently noticed that the soldiers’ morale is declining. They seem eager to confront the court, yet at the same time believe we cannot defeat them.”

“If this continues, we may collapse before the war even begins.”

“We must raise the troops’ morale.”

And war was undoubtedly the best way to do that.

“You may withdraw. Let me think further.”

Seeing Zhou Ruyuan still hesitating, Yuan Lang sighed helplessly and left.

Another newspaper stirred the capital’s citizens, filling them with renewed fighting spirit.

After the Turkic envoy group entered the capital, what they saw was crowds of energetic citizens gathered everywhere, animatedly discussing current events.

…

This time, the Turkic delegation was led by Muli Kui, Administrative Commissioner and Grand Governor of Kangzhou, along with his subordinate officials.

“We pay respects to the Emperor of Great Zhou.”

All the officials’ gazes immediately focused on the envoys’ knees.

They had not knelt.

Did Turkic intend to provoke another war with Great Zhou?

Shen Lanxi said expressionlessly, “What rank is an Administrative Commissioner in Turkic?”

Muli Kui was taken aback, not expecting such a question.

“A third-rank official.”

Shen Lanxi looked down at him from above.

“You are merely a third-rank official, yet when you come to see me, you dare not kneel?”

Muli Kui’s face darkened. Raising his voice, he said, “I am not an official of Great Zhou. Naturally, I need not kneel to your emperor.”

Shen Lanxi sneered.

“Even your Khan would not dare speak to me in such a manner.”

Seeing Shen Lanxi openly pressing the issue without restraint, Muli Kui’s eyes flickered. As he spoke again, the arrogance in his tone had already faded.