RWNEFE -Chapter 656 Huang Yu Wants to Marry

The letter had been held back for three days before Zhou Xinrou came to see her.

“Lanxi, your father is gravely ill and may not have much time left. Your two uncles are thinking of letting Yuanjing and the others return for a visit.”

A faint, half-smiling look flashed through Shen Lanxi’s eyes.

Previously, Zhou Xinrou would never have called her “Lanxi” so familiarly, nor would she have referred to Shen Congwen as her father.

Shen Lanxi said, “I have already sent people to deliver letters. I believe that within a month, Yuanjing and the others will certainly arrive in the capital.”

Zhou Xinrou stiffened. She had not expected Shen Lanxi to have already sent word.

Why was she so hard to deceive?

“I see… I was worried that recalling them might affect the border defenses.”

Shen Lanxi smiled. “It will not. The borders have been very stable lately, and with the mutual trade agreements in place, if they dare provoke war again, not only will the Great Zhou cavalry trample them flat, but there will never again be negotiations for border trade between us.”

Zhou Xinrou said awkwardly, “As long as you have everything under control, that is good. I will not disturb you while you review memorials.”

After returning, Zhou Xinrou immediately ordered people to investigate whether any letters had been sent out of the palace in recent days.

The letters had been delayed for three days—yet some people did not even have the patience to wait two more days.

Huang Yu spent most of her energy each day drilling troops and winning people over.

She truly did not know how Shen Lanxi had once managed to make so many people willingly pledge allegiance to her.

Today, she deliberately found time to enter the Cining Palace under the pretext of paying respects to the Empress Dowager.

“A letter has come from the mountain. They say we should proceed slowly and not be impatient.”

But Zhou Xinrou was anxious.

“The longer the delay, the more secure Shen Lanxi’s throne becomes.”

Huang Yu replied, “Not necessarily. Now that you are in the palace, it is much easier for you to get close to her than before.”

This time she had brought not only news from the mountain but also something else.

“The searches when entering the palace are extremely strict. If I hadn’t hidden it inside a hairpin, I wouldn’t have been able to bring it in at all.”

Zhou Xinrou snapped the jade hairpin in half. It was hollow inside, and the object she had brought was hidden within it.

Zhou Xinrou said worriedly, “In the future, don’t handle these things personally. I’ll have someone fetch them from outside.”

Who would dare search people close to the Empress Dowager?

Huang Yu said, “I never expected Shen Lanxi to be so afraid of death. Entering the palace is like passing through checkpoints—inspection from head to toe.”

The thoroughness was comparable to the inspections during the imperial examinations.

Zhou Xinrou smiled. “Well, she has many enemies. Since ancient times, which emperor has not feared death?”

“And yet, even with all that, you still managed to bring it in.”

Clearly, the palace defenses were not as airtight as imagined.

It was just a pity that the secret tunnels from before had all been rendered useless.

“With no wars, there are no opportunities to earn military merit. The troops of the City Defense Army are still too few.”

As Zhou Xinrou was pondering solutions, Huang Yu suddenly said:

“What if I marry Shen Yuanxu?”

Zhou Xinrou froze, then immediately frowned. “There isn’t a single good person in the Shen family.”

She looked down on Shen Yuanxu.

Huang Yu laughed. “Who cares whether he’s good or not? I only care about the military power in his hands.”

Zhou Xinrou did not want Huang Yu to marry just for military authority.

“If you truly want to choose someone, you might as well choose Wei Dongzhu.”

Although Wei Dongzhu had a concubine’s son, he had never taken a formal wife. And, as she understood it, the woman who bore that son was not favored.

Huang Yu immediately retorted disdainfully upon hearing Wei Dongzhu’s name:

“If it’s something Shen Lanxi discarded, I don’t want it either.”

“If Wei Dongzhu dared deceive Shen Lanxi, he would certainly dare deceive me.”

Zhou Xinrou said, “Then choose someone else. There are plenty of generals who command large armies. I will slowly select one for you.”

Huang Yu touched the scar on her face, her eyes full of undisguised scorn.

“I would marry only to obtain military power, not to spend a lifetime with a man. What is there to choose? Whoever commands the most troops—that’s the one I’ll pick.”

Shen Lanxi herself did not marry but kept male attendants. Why couldn’t she do the same?

“Huang Yu, a woman choosing a husband concerns her entire life.”

“Shen Lanxi was unfortunate to meet someone like Zhou Ruyuan back then. You must not follow her example.”

“I will certainly find someone who suits your wishes.”

Huang Yu grew impatient.

“Are you choosing a husband for yourself, or for me?”

“I will choose myself. I don’t need you. I came today just to inform you.”

After speaking, she left with a cold face, unwilling to listen any further.

Soon after, the sound of quiet sobbing arose.

“I have plotted wholeheartedly for her, and yet she speaks to me so harshly,” Zhou Xinrou cried softly.

The matron patted her back gently and comforted her. “Perhaps she still harbors resentment in her heart.”

Zhou Xinrou sobbed, still keeping her voice low.

“It was not easy for me back then either. The capital is a place that devours people. Even I narrowly escaped death several times. If she had stayed in the capital, how could I have been at ease?”

“Empress Dowager, when the young mistress grows older, she will understand.”

The murmured consolation did not last long before it faded. Outside, a light drizzle began to fall.

---

Within two days, a rumor of unknown origin quickly spread throughout the capital.

“Have you heard? The Ghost Valley heir by His Majesty’s side is a fake!”

“You’ve heard too?”

“With news this big, who wouldn’t know?”

“The Ghost Valley heir, Song Daoxi—who would dare spread such a rumor?”

“Where there’s smoke, there may be fire. If such a rumor arises, there must be some shadow behind it.”

In the Court

“Your Majesty, today the common people in the streets are all spreading a rumor,” Liu Yanhui reported coldly, explaining the matter of the supposed fake Ghost Valley heir.

Shen Lanxi said frostily, “Is it a joke, or a rumor deliberately spread? Or perhaps remnants of the former dynasty?”

The Court of Judicial Review stepped forward. “Your Majesty, we are willing to investigate this matter thoroughly.”

The Ministry of Personnel also spoke: “Your Majesty, we are willing to investigate as well.”

Shen Lanxi stood up. Her imposing presence made the officials unconsciously slow their breathing.

“The Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice will investigate this matter together.”

“We obey the decree.”

Besides the sudden rumor, another issue was raised that day: the posthumous honoring of the former Crown Prince.

The Empress Dowager, as his widow, did not speak of it—but as his daughter, Shen Lanxi naturally had to show filial piety.

“During his time supervising the state, the former Crown Prince loved the people as his own children and committed no faults. Previously, my throne was unstable, and with many urgent matters in the northwest, southwest, and Dongchuan, I failed to properly handle my father’s remains. That was truly improper.”

“Now that I have acknowledged my ancestry, it is only natural to clear my father’s name and ensure that he has descendants to offer sacrifices.”

Liu Yanhui took the lead in speaking: “Your Majesty’s filial piety is evident to heaven and earth.”

Shen Lanxi continued: “I have already discussed with the Ministry of Rites and decided upon a posthumous title: ‘The Civil and Martial, Benevolent and Virtuous, Sage Emperor.’”

The long string of honorifics left the officials speechless.

His Majesty was so filial it seemed she wished to bestow every possible commendation upon the former Crown Prince.

“Your Majesty’s filial devotion moves heaven itself. We are deeply impressed.”

Shen Lanxi herself thought wryly that she was being almost excessively filial.

After court was dismissed, Zhou Xinrou, having heard about the plan to honor the former Crown Prince, hurried after her.

“Why did you arrange all this without discussing it with me?”

Shen Lanxi turned her cold, emotionless eyes toward Zhou Xinrou.

“I am bestowing honors upon my father, sending him to the imperial mausoleum and into the ancestral temple. Empress Dowager—do you intend to stop me?”