RWNEFE -Chapter 600 Turks, Do You Dare to Fight Me?

Even if she were to be married off like merchandise, she would still be the most valuable merchandise.

“Mother, your daughter understands.”

Shen Yuantang pretended to agree. Then, taking advantage of a moment when no one in the household was paying attention, she quietly slipped out.

She did not know that every word and action of hers was already under Zhou Xinrou’s control.

“She’s gone?”

“She’s gone, headed in the direction of the imperial palace.”

Zhou Xinrou said, “I originally intended, for the sake of our mother–daughter bond, to give her a good future. I didn’t expect her to be so disobedient, insisting on walking down a road to her own ruin.”

“My Lady, are we not going to care about her anymore?”

Zhou Xinrou closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “No matter who goes for the marriage alliance, it will only benefit us and do us no harm.”

“I understand.”

…

Shen Yuantang was brought into the palace.

“Your Majesty, I wish to go to the Turks for a marriage alliance. That place faces the northwest from afar—I would often be able to see Brother Yuanjing.”

Shen Lanxi looked at the person kneeling on the ground but did not tell her to rise.

“Do you know how old the Turkic Khan is?”

A flicker passed through Shen Yuantang’s eyes. She shook her head.

“I do not know.”

“The Turkic Khan is the imperial uncle of the previous Khan. He is forty-three this year. At that age, he must certainly have many wives and concubines.”

Thinking of the Turkic Empress Dowager, Shen Yuantang felt her courage rise.

“I beg Your Majesty to grant this.”

Shen Lanxi looked at her quietly and remained silent for a long time.

“I beg Your Majesty to grant this!”

“Approved.”

Shen Yuantang froze. She had not expected that after asking only twice, the request would be granted so easily.

“I once told the members of the Shen family: the road you choose, you must walk yourself. Those words were not only for the men, but also for the women.”

Shen Yuantang lowered her eyes. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. I will never regret it!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Go. After the negotiations with the Turks are concluded, I will issue the imperial decree.”

Shen Yuantang hesitated. “Your Majesty, I have been married before.”

If the Turks found out, would they be unwilling?

Shen Lanxi replied, “The Great Zhou and the Turks are not joining in marriage as a man and woman, but cooperating as two nations. Whether you have been married before is not important.”

After hearing this, Shen Yuantang’s expression did not look good, but fortunately she was not seeking a good husband anyway.

“Your subject takes her leave.”

Since this was Shen Yuantang’s own choice, Shen Lanxi would not bear any blame for it.

“Send a letter to the sons of the Shen family. Write that Shen Yuantang has requested of me to become a marriage-alliance princess.”

…

Aside from Shen Yuantang, the marriage arrangements of the other unmarried women of the Shen family had also begun to have their wedding dates set.

This time, no one dared to raise any objections.

~

“Your Majesty, Muli Kui  is dissatisfied with becoming a vassal state and has been clamoring to see you,” reported Mr. Ruohua.

Shen Lanxi said, “Summon him.”

Soon Muli Kui  was brought into the Golden Hall.

“Your Majesty, our Xiongnu will never bow our heads in submission to Great Zhou.”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Muli Kui , you still do not understand.”

Muli Kui  was startled.

What did she mean?

Shen Lanxi rose from the dragon throne and walked down step by step.

“Before the vast Great Zhou, the Turks have no room to choose.”

This time Muli Kui ’s attitude was clearly tougher than before.

“Does Your Majesty truly intend to attack the Turks?”

He did not believe it—he had already made inquiries.

“Zhou Ruyuan of Jinmen has long been eyeing Great Zhou like a tiger watching its prey. Is Your Majesty not afraid that, while you are at war, Zhou Ruyuan will profit as the fisherman?”

Shen Lanxi walked step by step toward the doorway. The officials, puzzled, followed behind her.

In the center of the square outside the hall stood the Banyue Saber.

Previously the Banyue Saber had been placed at the palace gates; after the enthronement, it had been moved inside the imperial palace.

The officials saw Shen Lanxi walking straight toward the Banyue Saber. Most looked at Muli Kui  with sympathy; a few waited eagerly to watch the show.

Muli Kui  glanced at the huge saber, then at Shen Lanxi’s back.

What exactly was she planning to do?

The Banyue Saber was famous in the northwest and often mentioned among the Turks.

However, since the new Khan had taken the throne, such talk had been forbidden.

Muli Kui  had never seen Shen Lanxi use a blade. He had always believed that the stories of her were exaggerated—or even that a man stood behind her reputation.

After all, a woman could not possibly lift something weighing over a hundred jin, much less fight on the battlefield.

“The Butcheress of the Northwest,” he thought, was surely just a name Great Zhou had invented to intimidate the Xiongnu.

“Today I will let you—and all the Xiongnu—know what I relied on to sit upon the dragon throne!”

Shen Lanxi reached the Banyue Saber, turned around, and fixed Muli Kui  with a sharp gaze.

Muli Kui  glanced at the blade again. It was extremely heavy. Even if someone could lift it by luck, they would not be able to hold it long.

Was Shen Lanxi planning to show off her strength?

Hmph. Doing this in front of a man like him—was she trying to win his praise?

Surely she was not boasting about her strength? If she could lift that saber, then every woman in the Turks could lift it too.

He would just watch her make a fool of herself. When she could no longer hold it, he would step forward to take the saber, perhaps even swing it a few times—so Shen Lanxi and the Great Zhou officials could see what a true man and great warrior looked like.

With a sharp whoosh, a blast of force cut through the air.

Shen Lanxi lifted the Banyue Saber with one hand. The several-hundred-jin weight in her hand seemed to turn into an ordinary weapon as she easily drew it from the rack.

Bang!

The sound of metal striking rang out. Shen Lanxi stood before the assembled officials, holding the saber. Her aura surged; she seemed to transform into a war god, radiating a terrifying presence—one man holding the pass against ten thousand.

“I, Shen Lanxi, took the dragon throne by force of arms!”

“The army of Great Zhou, from top to bottom, has never feared battle!”

“Whoever dares to act arrogantly—I will lead the Great Zhou army to destroy them!”

“Whoever dares to slight Great Zhou—even bare-handed, I, Shen Lanxi, will beat that person into submission!”

Looking at Shen Lanxi’s overwhelming presence, the words Butcheress of the Northwest flashed through Muli Kui ’s mind.

Impossible. The blade must be hollow.

A woman could not possibly lift it.

“Turks—do you dare to fight me?”

The officials revealed knowing expressions.

In a moment, Muli Kui would learn the consequences of underestimating a woman.

“I am an envoy of the Turks. How could I lay hands on the Emperor of Great Zhou?” Muli Kui  said this aloud, but inwardly he was already eager to try.

In front of so many Great Zhou officials, if Shen Lanxi were defeated by him, it would mean Great Zhou had lost to the Turks.

At that time, Great Zhou would lose face—how could they still talk about vassalage?

“Are you not a military officer?” Shen Lanxi pointed the blade toward Muli Kui.

“Yes, I am a military officer. But as a minister of the Turks, if I were to attack the Emperor of Great Zhou, it might provoke war between our nations.”

Muli Kui restrained himself, waiting for Shen Lanxi’s reply.

He had used this kind of provocation many times before. For the sake of face, Shen Lanxi would surely make a guarantee.

In front of so many ministers, she could not go back on her word.

Then he could both teach Shen Lanxi a lesson and avoid affecting relations between the two nations.

Shen Lanxi curled her lips coldly. “Your provocation is not very clever.”

A flash of annoyance crossed Muli Kui’s eyes. If he had known, he would have used another method.

“But… I…”