RWNEFE -Chapter 607 Mother and Daughter Affection

Wu Yanzhi went to the northwest to persuade the various tribes. In order not to delay affairs at court, on the second day after Wu Yanzhi’s departure, Shen Lanxi promoted Wu Yanzhi’s subordinate, Xiong Qi, and placed him in charge of all of Wu Yanzhi’s responsibilities.

This greatly surprised Wu Yanzhi’s faction.

Xiong Qi had never stood out before—how had His Majesty even noticed such a person?

Moreover, Xiong Qi was only a fourth-rank official. Within Wu Yanzhi’s faction there were quite a few second- and third-rank officials, all prominent figures at court.

With so many well-known and influential people available, why use an obscure man like Xiong Qi?

It didn’t take long for the officials to understand the reason.

Xiong Qi was very close to Wu Yanzhi’s nephew, Wu Tong. Letting Xiong Qi take this position must have been arranged by the Chancellor before his departure.

If it was the Chancellor’s arrangement, then naturally they would follow it.

During this period, Shen Lanxi received several family letters from Zhou Xinrou.

All of them questioned why she had gone to war with the Turks.

Her replies to these letters were brief, only a few lines.

Finally, Zhou Xinrou could no longer hold back and sent another letter to the palace.

“Your Majesty, someone from the Shen family has come to report that the Princess Consort is gravely ill.”

Shen Lanxi opened the letter. There wasn’t a single word written inside.

“Prepare the imperial carriage. We’re going to the Shen residence.”

The eunuch was startled. His Majesty had never cared much for formalities; this was the first time since he had begun serving her that he heard her say, “Prepare the carriage.”

“Yes!”

A formal imperial procession was very different from traveling incognito. Just the preparations alone took over an hour.

Two hours later, Shen Lanxi arrived at the Shen residence.

“Long live Your Majesty! Long live—!”

With the imperial procession came strict ceremonial protocol.

Those in the Shen family who held honorary titles had to wear their formal robes; those with official posts had to wear court dress. Even those without titles had to be properly dressed and must not show any disrespect.

The entire household, young and old, had to come out to receive the emperor’s arrival.

Even Shen Yuantang, who was locked in a room, and even infants still in swaddling clothes were no exception.

“Rise.”

“I heard Mother is ill. Is it serious?”

Zhou Xinrou was not among those receiving her.

Old Madam Shen took Shen Lanxi’s hand and said, “Your mother’s old ailment has returned. This time it’s a bit more serious—probably brought on by anger.”

Shen Congwen continued, “Mother, you should go and rest. We’re all family here; there’s no need for so many formalities.”

In all the world, probably only Shen Lanxi would make her elders kneel to her like this—such an unfilial child.

“Your Majesty, since you’ve come, spend some time with your mother,” Old Madam Shen said. As she passed Shen Yuantang, she glared at her with disgust.

This malicious creature had even dared to harm the younger members of the family—she deserved to be beaten to death.

“Grandmother, I understand.”

After Old Madam Shen left, Shen Lanxi went straight to the rear courtyard.

“Mother!”

Zhou Xinrou glanced at her, then closed her eyes again.

“This time I’ve brought many rare medicines and supplements. If Mother feels unwell anywhere, summon the imperial physician promptly and don’t delay treatment.”

Zhou Xinrou asked coldly, “Why did you go to war with the Turks?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Mother, expanding Great Zhou’s territory and eliminating the Turkic threat—isn’t that a good thing?”

Zhou Xinrou said, “What you should be doing now is retaking Jinmen.”

“It’s not the right time yet,” Shen Lanxi said.

Zhou Xinrou grew anxious. “You said the same thing last time. Tell me—when will it be the right time?”

“Soon.”

No matter how agitated Zhou Xinrou became, Shen Lanxi’s voice remained calm.

“Mother, you only see that I’m at war with the Turks, but you don’t see the struggle of wits and strategy I’m engaged in with Jinmen. I’m already exhausted from affairs of state—I don’t want to hear Mother’s reproaches as well.”

Zhou Xinrou stiffened and looked at her coldly.

“Are you going to defy me, your mother?”

“Of course not,” Shen Lanxi replied. “Since I was able to sit upon the dragon throne, I naturally have my own plans. If Mother interferes and disrupts those plans, and the throne falls into someone else’s hands, what we lose won’t be only the throne. Do you understand?”

Zhou Xinrou didn’t care about that.

“You are the rightful heir of the imperial line. I want the whole world to know it. What’s wrong with that?”

Shen Lanxi said, “Mother isn’t wrong, and neither am I. I only want to consolidate imperial power in my hands, to make more of the people submit and recognize me as their emperor. Is that wrong?”

Zhou Xinrou noticed that Shen Lanxi’s emotions were slipping out of control and was momentarily stunned.

“Every day I handle state affairs, and I still have to worry about the family, worry about Mother. I’m only human. Even a body forged of iron would grow weary.”

“Mother doesn’t think of caring for her daughter, and instead questions her like this—it truly chills my heart.”

Zhou Xinrou had never seen Shen Lanxi speak so sharply before. For a moment, she was at a loss.

“Mother… please show some tenderness toward your daughter.”

Looking at the daughter so different from before, Zhou Xinrou’s gaze darkened. The words she had prepared earlier now refused to come out.

“Mother, do you know that you play favorites?”

Zhou Xinrou avoided Shen Lanxi’s eyes. “Nonsense. I have only you as my child. Who would I favor?”

“You favor Huang Yu,” Shen Lanxi said, her tone tinged with obsession.

“You treat Huang Yu better than your own daughter. Is it because I’m as strong as a man that you treat me like one, as if I don’t need care?”

So that was the reason. Zhou Xinrou had thought she had discovered something else.

“Lanxi, even if I favored anyone, it would only be you.”

“You also know Huang Yu is my lifesaver. If not for her, you would have lost your mother long ago.”

Shen Lanxi’s voice carried a hint of doubt. “Is that so? Does Mother truly care about her daughter?”

Zhou Xinrou was already flustered; the arguments she had prepared were in disarray.

“Of course I do. If I didn’t care, why would I have called you here?”

“I’m only worried that once war begins, some people will take advantage of the situation. If chaos breaks out at court, your life could be in danger.”

“A mother will always care about her daughter.”

Seeing Zhou Xinrou’s face full of concern, tears welling in her eyes, Shen Lanxi was deeply moved.

“I naturally understand Mother’s worries.”

“That’s why I must eliminate everything that causes Mother anxiety. Only then can I welcome Mother into the palace in grand splendor.”

“At that time, Mother will be Empress Dowager—second only to one, above ten thousand—the most honored woman under heaven.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xinrou felt much more at ease.

“My health is fine. In the future, I won’t summon you out of the palace casually again. Whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it.”

Shen Lanxi continued, “Mother, I’ve already sent out all the troops from the city defense camp. Apart from the Imperial Guards in the palace, there is no one left protecting the capital.”

“The shadow guards I returned to Mother earlier—could Mother lend them to your daughter again?”

Zhou Xinrou stiffened. She was asking for people again?

“In truth, attacking the Turks was only to create the illusion for Jinmen that Great Zhou has left an opening to exploit. Now that Zhou Ruyuan has allied with the Turks, all under heaven condemn him. I am preparing to launch an attack on Jinmen at the same time. I ask for Mother’s assistance.”