RWNEFE -Chapter 599 Twenty Princesses Ennobled at Once!

“If that’s truly the case, then Your Majesty’s wisdom and foresight are beyond ordinary people!”

Setting aside Wei Dongzhu’s matter for now—His Majesty had ordered the Ministry of Rites to handle the negotiations. However, the Minister of Rites had injured his leg a few days earlier and was recovering at home. The officials below him were not capable of leading such an important negotiation.

The Grand Preceptor immediately recommended Mr. Ruohua.

“I recommend Assistant Minister Ruohua of the Ministry of Works to serve as chief negotiator for this matter.”

Officials aligned with the Grand Preceptor stepped forward in agreement.

“I also recommend Mr. Ruohua.”

“Mr. Ruohua is wasted in the Ministry of Works. I recommend transferring him to the Ministry of Rites.”

“I second the proposal!”

“I second as well!”

After more than a dozen officials voiced their support, Shen Lanxi spoke:

“Does any minister object?”

Wu Yanzhi remained silent.

Liu Mingxin also said nothing.

“Since there are no objections, effective immediately, Mr. Ruohua is appointed Vice Minister of Personnel and will oversee the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. If he performs well, I shall reward him generously!”

“Many thanks to Your Majesty!”

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Shen Yuantang refused to be hastily married off to a distant place. In recent days she had obediently stayed in her room. One day, when the old woman guarding the door stepped away briefly, she immediately climbed out the window.

“Second Aunt, Sister-in-law, I saved little Chengfeng’s life. You must save me…”

That very night, Shen Lanxi received a letter from the Shen family.

Shen Yuantang was willing to go to the Turks as a marriage alliance princess!

Shen Lanxi set the letter aside without replying. The next day, rumors spread throughout the streets that Shen Yuantang would marry into the Turks.

“Your Majesty, the news was spread by the Shen family’s main branch.”

Shen Lanxi smiled indifferently.

“No need to interfere. Let’s see how the Shen family reacts.”

Before noon, another letter arrived—this one from her mother.

It contained only four words:

“You get what you seek.”

Was this testing her attitude?

At Court

“By the Mandate of Heaven… Shen Yuantang is hereby ennobled as Princess Zhaohua!”

“…The daughter of the County Magistrate of Weiyuan is hereby ennobled as Princess Qionghua.”

“…The daughter of the Magistrate of Sanyang is hereby ennobled as Princess Minghua!”

“…The daughter of the Sub-prefect of Suiyuan is hereby ennobled as Princess Manhua!”

“…Hereby ennobled…”

In addition to Shen Yuantang, Shen Lanxi granted princess titles to nineteen other women of different surnames—twenty in total.

“All of the above princesses shall be entered into the Imperial Genealogical Records. Upon death, their names shall be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Should they pass away within Great Zhou, they may be buried in the imperial mausoleum. So decreed!”

The nineteen non-imperial princesses were all adopted daughters acknowledged by Zhou Xinrou.

Shen Lanxi’s action stunned the officials into speechlessness. Morning court ended unusually early.

“What does it mean for His Majesty to ennoble so many princesses at once?”

“Only Shen Yuantang shares the imperial surname. Why was she the only Shen daughter granted the title?”

“His Majesty must have some deeper plan.”

“His Majesty’s foresight is beyond the understanding of ordinary men like us.”

“One of these twenty must be the marriage alliance candidate!”

After Shen Yuantang fled, Zhou Xinrou knew changes would follow—but she did not expect the imperial decree granting princess titles.

After running to the main branch, Shen Yuantang had not stepped outside again. Since she had used her life-saving favor as leverage, the main branch helped conceal her whereabouts.

At the Main Branch

Shen Conglian did not want trouble. When he learned that Madam Liu and his eldest son had allowed Shen Yuantang to stay, he had not felt at ease since.

“In my years of observation, Sister-in-law is definitely not as simple as she appears on the surface!” If they angered her, would their branch ever have peaceful days again?

“Father, His Majesty has allowed me to join my husband next month. It should be fine.”

Madam Liu muttered quietly, “Yuantang is also flesh and blood of Sister-in-law. Sending her far away in marriage is too heartless.”

“Mother, let’s just help Yuantang this once. It will repay the life-saving favor.”

Madam Liu nodded.

Hu Jinyu, who was leaving next month, felt anxious seeing her in-laws’ attitudes. She feared their personalities could not protect their branch’s children.

“Mother, we must not believe only one side. Yuantang claimed before that the child could not leave her. When Third Aunt sent someone to take the child back, she repeatedly obstructed them. She is not as pitiful as she makes herself out to be.”

Shen Conglian said, “She simply has no child of her own and wants to raise Yuanhao’s child.”

Hu Jinyu gently shook her head. “If it were only that, it would be better.”

Neither Madam Liu nor Shen Conglian understood her deeper meaning.

“If I were allowed to take you all to my husband, I would.”

Shen Conglian waved his hand with a smile.

“No, no. His Majesty has hinted at arranging an official post for me. He spoke to me about it just days ago. I cannot leave.”

Madam Liu added, “Who ever brings their whole family to a military camp? There’s no precedent. His Majesty already faces criticism for allowing you to go.”

Hu Jinyu wanted to add more, but Shen Yuantang rushed in.

“Uncle, Aunt—the palace has sent someone.”

Shen Yuantang thought Shen Lanxi had sent someone to stop her from marrying away. She did not expect it to be an imperial decree granting her the title of princess.

Not only her—nineteen others were also granted princess titles.

All adopted daughters recognized by her mother.

“Yuantang, hurry and accept the decree!”

The Shen daughters all looked enviously at the edict in her hands.

She had leaped from county lady to princess in one step—while they had nothing.

When would they be granted titles?

Zhou Xinrou’s face was calm, showing no reproach.

“Rise.”

The eunuch delivering the decree did not dare act arrogant before the Shen family. He accepted his reward and left.

Shen Congwen’s expression was complicated.

“Being made a princess at this time—I don’t know if it’s good or bad.”

Madam Liu laughed. “Who wouldn’t be happy to become a princess? Brother, Sister-in-law, only your branch receives such treatment.”

The other branches could only watch with envy.

Zhou Xinrou said calmly, “The court is preparing a marriage alliance with the Turks. The candidate will certainly be chosen from among these princesses.”

Madam Liu immediately fell silent. No matter how glorious the title, it was no good if it meant marrying abroad.

Fortunately, Yuantang had already been married once—surely they would not choose her.

Some of the other Shen daughters felt relieved; others still felt resentful.

Zhou Xinrou changed the topic and looked at Shen Yuantang.

“I’ve already had your birth dates matched. The nineteenth of next month is an auspicious day. The family will prepare a generous dowry for you.”

Shen Yuantang’s heart sank. She had not escaped being married off after all.

No—she could not allow herself to be sent away so hastily.