RWNEFE -Chapter 639 Old Madam Shen Forces the Palace!

…

“Transmit my imperial decree: Xiao Fang will continue to garrison Jinmen. The rest of you will return to the capital with me!”

“Yes!”

That very night, news arrived from Jinmen.

“Zhou Qiwou and all his family members have already been executed. In addition, Liu Binglin was accidentally struck by a sea bandit’s iron gauntlet during battle and was then hit by an arrow, dying on the spot.”

Shen Lanxi sighed. “What a pity… such skill in an old general, gone like this.”

Che Mingyuan continued, “The sea bandits were utterly frenzied. Not only did they kill Liu Binglin, they also massacred his entire household. Most likely they still bore hatred from the several times Lord Liu had encircled and suppressed them before.”

Shen Lanxi said, “Post an announcement: confer upon Liu Binglin the posthumous title of Admiral of the Jinmen Navy, and build a temple for his family so that the people may pay respects and offer sacrifices.”

Che Mingyuan nodded awkwardly.

“In addition, the sea bandits also killed many members of the Wang family. Among the victims was Wang Mingru, the husband of the Third Princess, along with his entire household.”

Shen Lanxi frowned. “What a pity. I remember Wang Mingru was the head of Qinglan Academy.”

As soon as she said this, she suddenly laughed.

There were no outsiders here, so there was no need to keep up pretenses.

“Appoint Yuan Lang as Governor of Jinmen, and Xiao Fang as Admiral of the Navy. Order the two of them to relocate the people living on the islands near Jinmen back to the city within half a year. The sea bandits are to be incorporated into island garrison troops. The resettlement of the civilians will be Yuan Lang’s responsibility; the reorganization of the bandits will be Xiao Fang’s.”

Che Mingyuan said with a smile, “One civil official and one military officer—together they will surely allow Jinmen to recover quickly.”

But there was still one matter that worried him.

“Will Yuan Lang truly be loyal to Your Majesty?”

Shen Lanxi countered, “Is Xiao Fang’s blade just for decoration?”

If sea bandits could kill Liu Binglin and slaughter great clans, they could just as easily kill Yuan Lang.

Che Mingyuan thought to himself that if Zhou Ruyuan had possessed even a fraction of His Majesty’s decisiveness and ruthlessness, none of them would be standing here now.

“How is the capital?” Shen Lanxi asked.

After the question was spoken, Che Mingyuan fell silent.

…

Capital City

“Princess, news has arrived from Jinmen,” the old nanny said, her expression uneasy.

After Zhou Xinrou read the contents, her face turned livid.

She had known Shen Lanxi would not die so easily.

“Fortunately, we had the young master secretly return to the capital earlier, without alarming anyone,” the nanny said with lingering fear.

Zhou Xinrou said darkly, “Have Huang Yu immediately return to suppress the bandits. And also… intercept the letter being sent from Jinmen to the Shen family.”

The nanny immediately guessed her intention and hurried off to carry out the order.

…

Shen Family

“Mother, elder brother still refuses to yield. What should we do?” Shen Congyi lowered his eyes, a gloomy look filling them.

Old Madam Shen, even while resting in her room, was still dressed in her formal noble attire. The heavy ceremonial headdress on her head had not been removed by the maids.

“If the eldest, second, and third refuse to intervene, then forget about them. If they are unwilling to strive, it is their own descendants who will suffer.”

A glint appeared in Shen Congyi’s eyes. “Mother, messages were also sent to Yuanjing and Yuanxu, but there has been no reply. I fear they are unwilling to return.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Shen grew even angrier.

“A bunch of useless things—none of them have any courage.”

Seeing this, Shen Congyi quickly added, “But Yuankang and Yuanning are willing to come back.”

Old Madam Shen naturally knew what her fourth son was thinking. Since matters had come to this point, and in any case the benefits would remain within the Shen family, it was still water flowing into one’s own field.

“Fourth son, in our Shen family there is no talk of standing or factions. Whoever has ability takes charge. Do you understand?”

Joy immediately appeared on Shen Congyi’s face. “Mother, I will listen to you. Whatever you say, I will follow your arrangements from now on.”

Old Madam Shen felt immense satisfaction. Ever since the exile began, the anger in her chest had never eased. In the past, for the sake of the family, she had endured humiliation and swallowed her anger, lying awake night after night. But now everything was different.

Shen Lanxi was dead!

The person who had been such an eyesore to her was finally gone.

Shen Lanxi had been unfilial and deserved to be struck down by heaven, to die without even an intact corpse.

If not for the thin bond of blood, she would long ago have shouted Shen Lanxi’s true face to the entire court.

But now that Shen Lanxi was dead, death settled all debts. For the sake of their grandmother–granddaughter relationship, once her body was transported back, she would give her a generous burial.

As for anything more—there was no need to even think about it. A woman sitting on the imperial throne was already an inversion of the natural order, like a hen crowing at dawn. Even in death, the history books would never record her.

She would simply have Shen Lanxi buried in a rural estate outside the Shen family lands.

After arranging everything, Old Madam Shen slept soundly through the night. At dawn the next day, she immediately took Shen Congyi and all the household guards and headed toward the imperial palace.

…

“Grand Tutor, what news has come from Jinmen? Is there any word of His Majesty?” Liu Mingxin asked uneasily.

Ever since news of the Emperor’s severe injuries arrived, the regent ministers had been taking turns residing in the palace.

It was not to guard against foreign invasion, but to prevent unrest within the court.

Unexpectedly, no rebellion had yet appeared—but Old Madam Shen had come to cause trouble instead.

“None,” the Grand Tutor replied, exhaustion written all over his face as he forced himself to remain alert.

Mr. Ruohua poured him a cup of hot tea.

“Do not worry. His Majesty surely has the fortune of the blessed.”

At first, Liu Mingxin had not believed anything would happen to the Emperor. But ever since Old Madam Shen began making a scene, even his confidence had begun to waver.

“Yesterday Old Madam Shen left harsh words. Today she will surely come again to make trouble.”

“There has been no news from Jinmen announcing His Majesty’s death, yet she is already so eager to seize the throne. It is truly chilling,” the Grand Tutor said, shaking his head with a sigh.

Liu Mingxin said, “When the Shen family was sentenced to exile, if not for His Majesty’s lone courage—fighting her way through as a woman—there would be no Shen family today.”

Mr. Ruohua added, “If His Majesty were a man, the Shen family would certainly not behave like this.”

Mei Nanhua said worriedly, “Yesterday Old Madam Shen already declared that the court belongs to the Shen family, and that if we do not allow the Shen family’s male members to ascend the throne now, we are committing treason.”

At this point, he gave a bitter smile.

They had devoted themselves to the people and the country, yet now an old woman was accusing them of rebellion.

“Do not worry. With the National Preceptor present, Great Zhou will not fall into chaos,” Mr. Ruohua said. The other two nodded in agreement.

“If Old Madam Shen comes again today, should the palace gates be opened—or not?”

After this question, all three fell silent.

If they did not open the gates, and His Majesty truly had died, the Shen family would inevitably inherit the throne. Refusing them entry now would offend them.

But if they opened the gates…

What if His Majesty was safe and sound?

Opening the gates now would not only invite His Majesty’s future punishment—once the Shen family stepped inside the palace, the ones committing treason would effectively be themselves.

Mr. Ruohua said, “We have already explained all the consequences to them. If they refuse to listen, whatever results follow will be their own responsibility.”

The Grand Tutor nodded. “Let us wait until she arrives and see.”

Every day Old Madam Shen stood at the palace gates cursing them for monopolizing power. Hearing such words was no longer merely unpleasant—it was heartbreaking.

How could His Majesty have such relatives, unable to distinguish right from wrong? No wonder, at the enthronement ceremony, she had only granted titles to the younger generation of the Shen family and had not conferred honors on any of these elders.