RWNEFE -Chapter 643 Imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison

“Stop begging her!”

“This realm belongs to the Shen family.”

“She is only a woman—how can she be Emperor? Even if someone from the Shen family becomes Emperor, it should be a Shen man!”

“Shen Lanxi, the only fault you have is that you are a woman.”

“If the court is dissatisfied with your Fourth Uncle’s enthronement, there are still Yuanjing and Yuanxu. They are men who have rendered great military merit. You, a woman, should abdicate and yield to the worthy. Only men can be Emperor!”

Old Madam Shen believed she had voiced what everyone was thinking. Did they think that just because she lived deep within the inner residence, she knew nothing of the outside world?

There were countless men who refused to accept Shen Lanxi.

She understood men all too well. Whenever a woman surpassed men, she would inevitably be dragged down, and in the end, none of them met a good fate.

“Shen Lanxi, abdicate! For the sake of your victories, this old woman will have my sons and grandsons treat you well!”

At last, someone could no longer endure it and burst out laughing.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me, but I truly cannot bear to listen to such daydreaming nonsense any longer.”

“Too ridiculous—utterly ridiculous.”

“If Old Madam Shen enjoys dreaming so much, she should simply lie in bed and dream to her heart’s content instead of coming out to make people laugh.”

Liu Yanhui delivered his sharp remark.

Old Madam Shen’s face turned livid.

“Grand Tutor, Lord Liu—you are veterans of three dynasties. Tell me, from ancient times until now, when has a woman ever been Emperor?”

“Tell me—should Shen Lanxi abdicate this throne or not?”

Old Madam Shen was certain that these long-serving officials must already have grown weary of Shen Lanxi’s outrageous defiance of tradition.

No matter how capable Shen Lanxi was in war, if the court refused to recognize a woman’s rule and no one obeyed her, then as the matriarch she could still elevate a Shen man to the throne.

The two officials who had been called upon neither mocked nor ridiculed her outright, but their expressions were as if they were restraining laughter—just as Liu Yanhui had said, it sounded like a joke.

“Old Madam, you have lived too long within the Shen residence. You no longer know what the world outside is like.”

The world had already changed.

They had thought long and hard about it. Perhaps it began with the founding of women’s academies—or perhaps even earlier.

Step by step, the Emperor had laid her plans, thinking far ahead, gradually elevating the status of women without anyone noticing when it began.

Women serving as officials was no longer a rarity.

Little by little, the Emperor had broken conventions, and imperceptibly, the people of the realm had come to accept the idea of a woman ruling as Emperor.

It was no exaggeration to say that if someone now spoke ill of the Emperor in the streets, they would either be beaten to death or crippled.

And those doing the beating would not be soldiers, but ordinary citizens.

The Emperor’s policies had benefited the people, and naturally the people supported her. Cause and effect had long since taken root in the hearts of the populace, like spring rain that nourished silently.

Now she asked them to speak?

What could they possibly say?

To be blunt, if they so much as harbored a thought of opposing the Emperor, she could replace them the very next day.

The Emperor alone had countless adopted sons and daughters. There were many waiting for these officials to make mistakes, eager to pull them down and fill the vacancies.

“Old Madam Shen, do you still not understand?”

“From the moment you led people to storm the palace, we had already foreseen how this would end.”

“The reason we did not resist was simply to avoid meaningless bloodshed.”

“Your intrusion into the palace posed not the slightest threat to the court.”

“We merely watched to see how you would make fools of yourselves.”

The three regent ministers spoke one after another, with the Grand Tutor and Liu Mingxin saying the most.

“Old Madam, forgive my bluntness, but do you think the palace gates can be entered by just anyone?”

“The elites left behind by His Majesty guard the palace. Even we must present a token of authority to enter each day. The Imperial Guards recognize only the token, not the person.”

Did the Shen family possess such a token? Of course not. If they had, there would have been no need to storm the palace.

From this alone, one could glimpse the Emperor’s attitude toward the Shen family. Yet people’s hearts were fickle—what if one day the Emperor changed?

No one dared to gamble on such uncertainty. After all, they had not yet enjoyed enough of these prosperous days.

The more Old Madam Shen listened, the worse her expression became. She staggered back two steps, nearly losing her footing.

No… she absolutely could not admit defeat. If she did, her fourth son’s entire family would meet a terrible end.

“Since that is the case, then we won’t change the Emperor. Shen Lanxi can continue as Emperor!” Old Madam Shen declared in a commanding tone.

The assembled officials felt that attending court today had been worthwhile—wave after wave of spectacle unfolded before them.

How could Old Madam Shen still fail to see the situation clearly?

Shen Lanxi had already acted with utmost propriety. She was filial—but filial piety depended on the person. She had shown great tolerance toward her family, something well known among the capital’s citizens.

The present situation was the result of repeated concessions.

Even the most rigid traditionalist could find no fault in her conduct.

After all, this was an attempt to seize her throne. Who in the world could endure such a thing?

“Old Madam Shen and the entire family of Shen Congyi—imprison them in the Heavenly Prison. Their case will be reviewed later!”

Old Madam Shen collapsed to the ground in shock.

No—she would not dare.

“Shen Lanxi, you wouldn’t dare touch me! I am your grandmother!”

“If you harm me, you will be unfilial and condemned by the people of the world. Aren’t you afraid of being denounced by all?”

Shen Lanxi showed not the slightest reaction. She did not even furrow her brow.

Old Madam Shen, Shen Congyi, and the others were quickly taken away. Only one destination awaited them—the Heavenly Prison.

A coup that had seemed like nothing more than childish mischief ended in such a conclusion.

“Your Majesty, what about the other members of the Shen family who were confined in the palace?” an official asked. “How should they be dealt with?”

Would they be implicated as well?

Shen Lanxi replied, “Release them from the palace.”

As for whether they returned to the Shen residence or went elsewhere, she would naturally be informed.

The Shen family had committed treason. After being released, Shen Congwen and the others dared not wander about. They hurried back to the Shen residence and immediately ordered the gates shut.

“Elder Brother, what about Mother and Fourth Brother?” Shen Conglian asked. After all, they were still family—he did not wish to see them truly come to harm.

Shen Congli snorted coldly. “Fourth Brother brought this upon himself. If he hadn’t instigated things, would Mother have stepped forward?”

In his mind, his mother was still the elderly woman who spent her days in the Buddhist hall, praying and burning incense.

Shen Congwen let out a long sigh. “We cannot save Fourth Brother, but Mother must not come to harm.”

“Mother is only a woman who understands nothing. If Fourth Brother had not incited her, she would never have stepped forward. Shen Lanxi… no matter what, she is still her grandmother. If she dares to lay a hand on her own grandmother, even if we say nothing, the scholars of the realm will never spare her.”

“So Fourth Brother truly cannot be saved?” Shen Conglian asked again.

Shen Congwen shook his head. “I have no way. If any of you do, then go and try. I can manage nothing now. If we can preserve Mother, that alone will be a blessing.”

How could Mother have conceived such thoughts?

Perhaps Third Brother had been right all along—she had been misled by Fourth Brother.