RWNEFE -Chapter 657 The Ghost Valley Heir Is Fake!

Shen Lanxi’s sudden sharpness caught Zhou Xinrou off guard.

How dare she speak in such a tone?

After all, she was the Empress Dowager.

“Mother,” Shen Lanxi said, “not a single day has passed that I have forgotten Father’s great vengeance. Every day when I think of how Father was murdered by Zhou Chengqian, how he died without even a proper burial, I cannot sleep at night or eat in peace.”

Seeing her like this, Zhou Xinrou pressed her lips together and suppressed her resentment.

“I feel the same way, naturally. But this concerns the former Crown Prince—my husband. Could you not have told me in advance?”

A trace of mockery flashed through Shen Lanxi’s eyes. This was nothing more than a contest between them. Would an opponent warn you before stabbing you?

Their back-and-forth moves were perfectly fitting, were they not?

“I woke again from a nightmare last night,” Shen Lanxi said. “In court today I truly could not suppress myself, and I spoke without thinking.”

“It was my fault for not waiting until after court to speak with Mother.”

Zhou Xinrou had no desire to step down so easily.

“Your Majesty’s respect for your father, I understand. But to bestow posthumous honors and move his remains to the imperial mausoleum so suddenly—shouldn’t preparations be made first?”

Shen Lanxi’s face filled with grief. “Father was hastily buried on West Mountain, where wild grass grows thick and few people ever go. Every extra day he remains there, my heart is uneasy.”

“If this is delayed any longer, I would be unfilial.”

Zhou Xinrou’s face stiffened. Shen Lanxi absolutely must not be allowed to posthumously honor the former Crown Prince.

Watching Zhou Xinrou leave in anger, Shen Lanxi’s expression gradually turned cold and grim.

“Have you found Song Daoxi yet?” she asked.

The secret guard knelt. “Not yet.”

They had not expected that Song Daoxi would be smuggled away using a clever substitution, complete with an exquisitely crafted human-skin mask that could pass for the real thing.

To make such a mask would have taken time. Whoever acted must have set their sights on Song Daoxi long ago.

“This subordinate has failed. Please punish us, Your Majesty,” the guards said, hearts filled with dread.

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “Rise. I trust you. The world is difficult to control—no matter how carefully things are arranged, the smallest oversight can change everything.”

“Remember this lesson. Do not repeat it.”

“Your Majesty, will Song Daoxi affect the overall situation?”

Shen Lanxi gave a contemptuous smile. “Even if the former Crown Prince himself rose from the dead, it would not affect the overall situation.”

The guards felt ashamed, yet secretly relieved.

If they ever caught Song Daoxi, they swore they would tear him to pieces.

---

“Have you still not made up your mind?” Zhou Xinrou asked impatiently.

The bloodied man on the ground trembled violently at the sound of her voice.

“Spare me, Empress Dowager! I don’t dare—I truly don’t dare! If I testify, Shen Lanxi will definitely kill me!” Song Daoxi begged, tears streaming down his face.

Zhou Xinrou stepped on his hand and ground it under her foot.

“Useless trash. I thought you were truly the Ghost Valley heir—but you were just a fake manufactured by Shen Lanxi!”

“What deep schemes she has, using the name of the Ghost Valley heir to help herself ascend the throne.”

Why had she never thought of it before?

“You’re afraid she won’t spare you—are you not afraid that I won’t spare you?”

Song Daoxi was filled with regret.

He wished he could smash open his own head to see what was inside it.

Who could have imagined that a mother and daughter so close on the surface would secretly treat each other like enemies?

He had been deceived.

Your Majesty, I was wrong… I should not have disobeyed your arrangements and contacted outsiders carelessly.

The intrigues of the imperial family were far too complex—far beyond what he could handle.

Your Majesty, save my life…

News that the Great Zhou State Preceptor was a fake Ghost Valley heir spread like wildfire in all directions.

After ordering the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Personnel to investigate, Shen Lanxi paid the matter no further attention.

The fastest reply came from Jinmen.

Yuan Lang reacted the most strongly. His letter was full of questions.

Wasn’t there supposed to be a contest?

Weren’t you going to let me meet him?

So from the very beginning, it was all a lie?

He had been completely fooled by the fake Ghost Valley heir Shen Lanxi had produced.

After reading the letter, Shen Lanxi laughed irritably, slowly crumpled it into a ball, tossed it aside, and then kicked it neatly into a vase in the corner.

“Your Majesty’s martial skills are unparalleled—never missing the mark!” the pale-faced eunuch immediately flattered her.

In a good mood, Shen Lanxi picked up her brush and wrote back to Yuan Lang.

Only a few brief words:

“Who do you think you lost to?”

“Use the strongest carrier hawk to send it to Jinmen.”

Just imagining Yuan Lang jumping in anger lifted her spirits.

At Ghost Valley

“Master, something seems to have happened in the capital.”

“The fake Ghost Valley heir has been exposed.”

“Master?”

“Master?”

“Ouch! Master, why did you hit me?”

“Your favorite Little Nine is in trouble. Are you really not going to do anything?”

The person lying on the couch turned over impatiently, presenting his back to the disciple.

“Master?”

“Master?”

Finally, thoroughly annoyed, the person snapped:

“Has she written to me?”

“Uh… no, she hasn’t.”

“So what if the Ghost Valley heir is fake? Does that mean she can’t hold onto the throne?”

“Didn’t the ones who sat on that throne before not even have a fake?”

“Hmph. None of you can keep your composure—not even half as much as Little Nine.”

He turned over and went back to sleep.

Seeing that the rumor about the fake Ghost Valley heir could not shake Shen Lanxi, Zhou Xinrou had to change her approach.

If Shen Lanxi could have a Ghost Valley heir by her side, then she could have one as well.

Even a fake like Song Daoxi had been able to help Shen Lanxi ascend the throne—surely such a figure could be of great use to her too.

Three days later, officials from the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice reported in court.

“Your Majesty, Song Daoxi truly is the Ghost Valley heir. We have discovered that remnants of the former dynasty deliberately spread the rumor.”

“They intended to shake the throne with slander, but Your Majesty’s position cannot be shaken by mere rumors.”

“When we tracked them down, the remnants had already taken poison and killed themselves. The State Preceptor’s whereabouts are unknown.”

“They must have failed to spread the rumor and then abducted the State Preceptor, intending to force him to serve them!”

Shen Lanxi said, “The State Preceptor has contributed greatly to Great Zhou. I will not ignore this.”

“Issue an order: throughout Great Zhou, all efforts are to be made to search and rescue him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Just as notices seeking the missing man were posted all over the capital, Shen Yuanjing and his two brothers returned one after another.

“Your subject, Shen Yuanjing—”

“Your subject, Shen Yuanjun—”

“Your subject, Shen Yuanqing—pay respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty…”

Shen Lanxi happily rose from the dragon throne and walked to their side.

She patted Shen Yuanqing on the shoulder. “You’ve grown taller, thinner—and a bit darker.”

Having been away from the capital so long and not seeing family, Shen Yuanqing’s eyes filled with tears.

She then patted Shen Yuanjun’s shoulder. “You’ve grown sturdier—and darker too.”

Shen Yuanjun laughed. “Daily training in the sun.”

Finally, she went to Shen Yuanjing and patted his shoulder.

“You haven’t neglected your martial arts. Your shoulders are broader now. You… have grown up.”

“All of you have grown up.”