RWNEFE -Chapter 634 Shen Lanxi Is Dead?

This time it was Shen Congyi who became angry. Was this really the time to talk about succession edicts? His third brother always spoke in hindsight.

“Mother, what you said is absolutely right. This realm belongs to our Shen family. We must not let others take it.”

Old Madam Shen cast an approving glance at her fourth son. In the whole family, only the fourth truly understood her intentions.

“Follow me into the palace!” Old Madam Shen ordered, immediately having servants bring her ceremonial robes and her dragon-headed cane.

“Mother, you mustn’t!” Shen Congwen tried to stop her.

Old Madam Shen said impatiently, “Fourth, pull your elder brother aside. Don’t let him get in the way.”

Shen Congyi immediately obeyed.

The more Shen Congli thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. Using the excuse of urging the carriage to be prepared, he slipped out to seek help.

Second Brother had gone to find Mr. Ruohua; he would go as well. Mr. Ruohua had once taught at their residence, so they were acquainted.

---

“Princess, Old Madam Shen has brought people into the palace,” the nanny reported after receiving news of her departure.

Having learned her lesson last time, Zhou Xinrou almost wished that Old Madam Shen would also hit a wall in court.

“Let her first test the mood of the court. When she has argued with the officials enough, we will go.”

The nanny smiled and nodded.

“Princess, should we summon the young master back?”

Since Shen Lanxi was dead, what was the point of continuing to suppress bandits?

“Send the letter.”

“Yes.”

---

On the tenth day after Shen Lanxi’s reported severe injury, Zhou Ruyuan ordered an attack to begin.

“Strategist, is His Majesty really unharmed?”

Many soldiers, having heard the news of Shen Lanxi’s grave injury, could no longer remain calm.

Che Mingyuan replied steadily, “It’s already been ten days. If she were truly mortally wounded, she would already be dead. Other than the report of her injury, have you heard any further news?”

The man shook his head.

“Exactly. Even if she was severely injured, the fact that she hasn’t died after so long means she must be recovering.”

At that moment, Zhao Zheng strode into the tent.

“The scouts report that Zhou Ruyuan’s army has already begun marching.”

Che Mingyuan smiled. “Congratulations, General Zhao. You’re about to get what you’ve been hoping for.”

Zhao Zheng still looked puzzled. “Why did His Majesty pretend to be injured before the battle? What was the point?”

Che Mingyuan thought to himself: How should I know? Who can ever guess what His Majesty is thinking?

“Perhaps His Majesty wants to temper the soldiers, to teach them to remain calm in crisis.”

Zhao Zheng still didn’t understand. “Others raise morale before battle—she does the opposite and dampens it first.”

Che Mingyuan replied, “What if it’s to lure the enemy?”

After a long pause, Zhao Zheng muttered, “It’s practically child’s play.”

Indeed…

Che Mingyuan had his own calculations, but he couldn’t tell Zhao Zheng.

“Just treat it as His Majesty deliberately training you,” he said, hinting no further. Whether Zhao Zheng could understand would depend on his own fate.

Zhou Ruyuan’s army soon captured two cities.

But the result was unsatisfactory.

“Where’s the grain? Where’s the silver?”

The cities had fallen too easily. It was less like conquest and more like they had been handed over.

During the assaults there had been only token resistance; the defending soldiers fled quickly.

The vanguard reported this to Yuan Lang.

“Strategist, something’s wrong. There’s no grain in the city, not a single person. The inhabitants all left in advance.”

Even the pots from the stoves, the tables and chairs, and small household items were gone—it was clear the evacuation had been orderly, not rushed.

Yuan Lang’s expression darkened. They had won, yet it felt stiflingly unsatisfying.

It was obvious the cities had been abandoned long ago, yet they had celebrated as though victorious.

For the sake of morale, he had to provide a reasonable explanation.

“The court is afraid of us,” he declared.

“Our emperor is the true Son of Heaven of Great Zhou. Taking cities is as easy as reaching into a bag.”

“The defending troops must have recognized the situation and voluntarily yielded.”

Hearing this, morale in the army immediately surged.

But Yuan Lang himself felt uneasy and began to speculate wildly.

Could it be that Shen Lanxi’s injury had caused factions to break apart and act independently?

Or perhaps… Shen Lanxi was already dead?

The more he thought about it, the more the latter seemed likely.

He immediately sent people to verify, and reports soon returned.

“Crying can be heard from the tent from time to time, and the guards have increased.”

“We tried to get closer to investigate, but the defenses were too tight.”

Yuan Lang thought of another point.

“Did you see any imperial physicians entering or leaving?”

“No, none.”

That settled it.

“You say Shen Lanxi is dead?” Zhou Ruyuan was full of disbelief.

Yuan Lang explained everything he knew.

“No imperial physicians entering or leaving, increased guards, and crying heard at intervals—Shen Lanxi must be dead. I’m certain of it. If she weren’t dead, physicians would be constantly attending her.”

Even when an emperor lingered on their last breath, several physicians would be present.

Zhou Ruyuan fell silent for a long time, as if deep in thought, not even responding while Yuan Lang spoke.

“I understand,” he finally said. “Spread the news that Shen Lanxi is dead.”

Yuan Lang’s eyes flickered with anticipation.

Zhou Ruyuan did not disappoint him. His next order was:

“Tomorrow, we launch a full-scale attack.”

“Yes!”

Yuan Lang’s lips curled upward, unable to suppress his smile.

At last, the opportunity they had waited for had arrived—and so easily. It seemed even Heaven was helping them.

The news of Shen Lanxi’s death spread rapidly.

Within a day, another city and several passes fell.

Since they encountered no resistance, Zhou Ruyuan, Yuan Lang, and the others no longer suspected anything. They all assumed that with Shen Lanxi dead, the court had collapsed into chaos.

Yuan Lang, convinced he had finally found a worthy ruler, began to urge Zhou Ruyuan to personally lead the campaign.

“If Your Majesty leads the army in person, it will not only raise morale but also restore your reputation!”

His Majesty had once been known as a war god, but Shen Lanxi had tarnished that title. Now was different—if the emperor personally led the troops and they witnessed the enemy crumble, his prestige would return. It would achieve two goals at once.

“This is unwise,” another minister objected. “On the battlefield, blades have no eyes. Do you wish His Majesty to follow Shen Lanxi’s fate?”

“Shen Lanxi died while personally leading troops. Now the court is leaderless and collapsing—this is the lesson.”

“The Old Prince speaks wisely. I support this.”

“I support it as well.”

A crowd of ministers sided with Zhou Yanxing; only a few supported Yuan Lang.

Zhou Ruyuan thought of Shen Lanxi’s fate. No matter how brave she had been, a battlefield was still a battlefield—not a place for women, nor a place for an emperor to risk himself recklessly.

Another day passed.

Che Mingyuan brought forward the few remaining relatives of Zhou Ruyuan and called out to him.

But before the imperial throne, those people were worth less than ants.

Zhou Ruyuan personally ordered them shot.