RWNEFE -Chapter 627 I Want a Child of Yours!

A new round of verbal assaults erupted once more.

Officials in the Jinmen region were red-faced with anger.

“Do they not understand reason? Shen Lanxi is utterly defiant, overturning the natural order. A woman sitting on the throne—she’s a hen leading the roosters! Can they really accept a woman ruling over them, wielding power as she pleases?”

“They’re a bunch of lunatics, completely irrational.”

“They’ve all been bewitched by Shen Lanxi.”

“What dark sorcery has Shen Lanxi used to make them lose all sense of right and wrong?”

“Your Majesty, Grand Tutor, let us continue the assault. Strike while the iron is hot, march to the capital, and show them who the true Dragon Emperor, destined by Heaven, really is.”

“Your Majesty is of the legitimate Great Zhou royal bloodline. When you raise your arm, the people will rally behind you.”

“Your Majesty, attack!”

“The imperial court under Shen Lanxi’s governance is so rotten it can barely stand. Our army easily captured Funing, driving the court officials to flee in disarray. The army’s morale is high—it is the perfect moment to strike.”

“Your Majesty, I respectfully advise: if not now, then when?”

“Yes, we must seize the opportunity while our troops are at their peak and take the three cities at once.”

Zhou Ruyuan looked at Yuan Lang. “Grand Tutor, what do you think?”

Not pursuing victory immediately was Yuan Lang’s suggestion. If he hadn’t intervened, they might already have advanced hundreds of miles and captured a second city.

“Your Majesty, it’s not so simple. We must think carefully and avoid falling into a trap.”

Zhou Yanxing wasn’t pleased to hear this. He had already burned his boats—there was no turning back. Now was the time to charge forward, not retreat.

“Grand Tutor, are you afraid of the Ghost Valley successor?”

A flicker of annoyance crossed Yuan Lang’s face. If he hadn’t been unsure of Old Lord Zhou Yanxing’s mind, why would he hesitate?

“Your words are mistaken. Dongchuan is after all where Shen Lanxi raised her army. How much hidden strength she has there, none of us can know.”

“You’ve been stationed in Dongchuan for years—you should know better than I do. If it were so easy to attack, how could those who faced Shen Lanxi before have been repeatedly defeated?”

“Is Shen Lanxi really that easy to fool?”

“If Shen Lanxi were truly easy to deal with, why would Your Highness leave a perfectly good fief and come here to join you?”

This comment made Zhou Yanxing’s face darken.

It was because Shen Lanxi, commanding the Dongchuan army, repeatedly encroached on his territory and replaced his men, pressuring him step by step, that he had no choice but to come to Jinmen.

He had hoped to use Prince Zhou Ruyuan’s status to achieve his goals, but the prince, outwardly a war god, was actually a puddle of mud.

He had been misled by rumors, which now left him exposed.

Now it was too late. His fief had probably already been completely uprooted by Shen Lanxi; he could only go all in.

Zhou Yanxing glared at Yuan Lang. “I came to support the imperial family out of respect for Your Majesty’s royal bloodline. I never expected someone to think so disgracefully.”

Now it was Yuan Lang’s turn to scowl.

“Your Highness, the ease with which Funing was captured is indeed suspicious. I was only acting with caution.”

Zhou Yanxing snorted with derision. “A mere woman, Shen Lanxi, dares to provoke Jinmen, and Your Majesty still hesitates? Wouldn’t the whole world think you lack courage?”

Zhou Ruyuan’s face grew darker by the minute.

Yuan Lang argued, “The best approach now is to dismantle from within. Let the displaced people return voluntarily. To win the people’s hearts is to win the empire.”

Zhou Yanxing snorted: “Ridiculous. Since ancient times, whoever ascends the throne is naturally bowed to by the people. They dare not act now because of Shen Lanxi—how could they come to support us?”

“Grand Tutor, you oversimplify things. Even if we capture the cities, would the people not pledge loyalty?”

“We represent the legitimate Great Zhou. Shen Lanxi is only a false ruler. The people will naturally follow us.”

“We are not like the foreign tribes; we uphold legitimacy and eliminate treachery!”

Zhou Ruyuan said: “Enough. I see the logic in both Grand Tutor’s words and Your Highness’s.”

“Immediately issue orders to make banners proclaiming the support of the Great Zhou’s legitimate line and the elimination of treachery and the false ruler. Soldiers carrying these banners to take the cities will strike fear in all, and no one will dare stop them.”

“Grand Tutor says: to win the people’s hearts is to win the empire. I agree. You take charge of recruiting the populace!”

Zhou Yanxing glared at Yuan Lang, full of smugness.

~

Yuan Lang returned to the princess’s residence, his face dark, and recounted the court’s affairs to Zhou Qiwou.

“Zhou Ruyuan is beginning to slip out of control.”

Seeing Yuan Lang so frustrated, Zhou Qiwou gently cupped his face.

“Don’t be angry—if you get sick with anger, I’ll be the one heartbroken.”

Yuan Lang’s fury didn’t abate; he couldn’t suppress it.

“I fear Zhou Ruyuan has begun to suspect me.”

Zhou Qiwou said, “No way. You plan everything for him—what reason would he have to doubt you?”

Yuan Lang shook his head, recalling a common flaw of emperors:

“He either dislikes interference, thinking I meddle too much in his decisions…Or, once an emperor seizes the throne, the first to be killed are his meritorious ministers.”

“One day, when I am no longer useful to him, he might not spare me.”

Zhou Qiwou’s face darkened. “How dare he! Had I not taken him in, he’d now be like a stray dog, wandering and begging.”

Yuan Lang said, “I fear a stray dog, once fattened, may become a wolf and turn on its master.”

Zhou Qiwou suddenly recalled recent unusual behavior in their son, her heart skipping a beat.

“Go and bring the young master back. If he doesn’t return willingly, bind him and bring him to me.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

A sense of urgency struck Zhou Qiwou. Thinking of her daughter alone in her chamber each day, an idea came to her mind.

“Yuan Lang, I want a child of yours.”

Yuan Lang’s eyes widened in shock.

…

Shen Lanxi’s group moved on and arrived at Wencheng.

“Your Majesty, the official road from Xining to here is flat and wide.”

Imperial roads were constructed to a standard width of no less than three meters. This road was over six meters wide, wide enough for three carriages to travel side by side.

“Every year, the court allocates funds for road maintenance according to set standards. To widen the road further, the local area must pay. This shows that both regions are wealthy.”

Shen Lanxi said, “To prosper, first build roads. Without good roads, trade routes cannot flourish, and the people cannot grow prosperous.”

Liu Yanhui added: “We’ve passed two courier stations, both well-maintained. Clearly, this road sees plenty of trade caravans.”

As he spoke, a caravan appeared in the distance.

“Wencheng’s prices are higher than Xining. With so many of us, stopping here isn’t cost-effective. Let’s rest in Xining instead.”

“I heard Wencheng’s governor is Your Majesty’s adopted son. I wonder if it’s true?”

“The same goes for Xining. The Emperor has so many adopted sons, I read in the news that he could form an entire imperial guard from just them. Not sure if it’s true.”