RWNEFE -Chapter 663 The Plot Fails

Zhou Xinrou had not expected to face Shen Lanxi so soon. The thought that Shen Lanxi refused to hand over imperial power filled her with displeasure.

“Lanxi, you must already know your origins, so I won’t say much more. If I hadn’t picked you up from the streets, you would have died long ago. I gave you safety, and I gave you wealth and glory—but falsehood is still falsehood. You are not of imperial blood, so you should not occupy the throne.”

Shen Lanxi looked coldly at the people on the city wall, her gaze as if she were seeing Zhou Xinrou for the first time.

“I am your benefactor,” Zhou Xinrou continued. “Now my true daughter has returned. Will you give up the throne—or not?”

She glanced at the troops below the city walls. There were so few of them—probably not even five thousand.

On their side, the city’s garrison alone numbered more than ten thousand, not to mention Shen Yuanjing, who would soon arrive with a large army.

“If you lay down your weapons and surrender now, I may still spare your life for the sake of past affection.”

Shen Lanxi simply watched Zhou Xinrou speak to herself, saying nothing.

“My Yu’er is the true bloodline of the late Crown Prince, the rightful heir of Great Zhou. Lanxi—surrender.”

Huang Yu, standing beside her, said angrily, “We are willing to spare her life out of kindness. If she refuses to appreciate it, then she has only herself to blame.”

The mockery on Shen Lanxi’s face became more and more obvious, until she could no longer bear to listen.

She drew a breath, and the next moment her voice rang through every corner of the capital.

“Huang Yu has kidnapped the Empress Dowager, rebelled, and committed unforgivable crimes! Today, I will execute this traitor and restore the bright heavens of Great Zhou!”

Liu Yanhui and the others immediately shouted in support.

“Execute the traitor! Restore the bright heavens of Great Zhou!”

Huang Yu’s eyes flickered with panic, but when she thought of the troops that would soon arrive, she steadied herself.

“Shen Lanxi, you refuse to shed tears until you see the coffin!”

Shen Lanxi whispered something to one side, and Liu Yanhui immediately began negotiating with Huang Yu.

“Traitor! If you release the Empress Dowager safely now, His Majesty, in her magnanimity, will spare your life!”

Huang Yu and Zhou Xinrou’s faces darkened. Shen Lanxi was clearly throwing their own words back at them.

“Shen Lanxi, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!” Huang Yu shouted in anger.

Liu Yanhui pointed at Huang Yu and shouted loudly, “Traitor, do not harm the Empress Dowager! If you dare injure her in the slightest, His Majesty will have you torn apart by five horses!”

“Take your hand away from the Empress Dowager.”

“Try pointing a knife at her throat again.”

“Empress Dowager, do not fear. His Majesty and we ministers will certainly ensure your safety.”

Huang Yu and Zhou Xinrou were flushed with anger. Shen Lanxi was clearly instructing people to talk nonsense.

“I am not being held hostage,” Zhou Xinrou shouted. “Everything I say is true!”

Liu Yanhui replied sharply, “Insolent, Huang Yu! Before our very eyes, you still dare to threaten the Empress Dowager?”

“Huang Yu, release the Empress Dowager at once. If you do so now, His Majesty has said she will grant you a territory where you may rule as king.”

Huang Yu and Zhou Xinrou grew even angrier.

“Archers, aim at Shen Lanxi—fire!” Huang Yu shouted. She no longer intended to wait for Shen Yuanjing. Even now, she believed her chances of victory were still great.

Liu Yanhui exclaimed, “Not good! Huang Yu is becoming desperate!”

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “Ensure the Empress Dowager’s safety above all.”

Liu Yanhui shouted again, “Huang Yu, name your terms—anything, as long as you release the Empress Dowager!”

Huang Yu, furious, gave the order once more.

“Fire!”

Silence fell atop the city wall.

Several breaths passed before Huang Yu and Zhou Xinrou realized something was wrong.

“I ordered you to fire! Did you not hear me?”

Still no one moved. Not a single bow was drawn.

Huang Yu and Zhou Xinrou’s faces turned pale in an instant.

“Why are you not obeying my command?”

“Are you trying to rebel?”

Liu Yanhui sneered. “Precisely because they do not wish to rebel, they will not obey you. Huang Yu—your plot has failed.”

Huang Yu could not believe it. She had planned so carefully, trained daily with the soldiers, mingled with them, even disregarded her own reputation to win their loyalty.

And after all that, this was the result.

Zhou Xinrou, recovering from her shock and seeing Huang Yu so shaken, hurried forward to comfort her.

Liu Yanhui suddenly shouted, “Huang Yu, what are you trying to do?”

“Protect the Empress Dowager!”

The soldiers on the wall rushed forward in a mass.

Zhou Xinrou lowered her head and stared blankly at her chest.

A dagger had pierced straight into a vital spot.

Huang Yu watched Zhou Xinrou die before her eyes and was completely stunned.

“Huang Yu has killed the Empress Dowager! Kill Huang Yu to avenge the Empress Dowager!”

A sudden shout rang out.

The archers who had been prepared for Shen Lanxi suddenly turned their bows toward Huang Yu and released a volley of arrows.

“Open the city gates—welcome His Majesty back into the city!” came a loud cry, followed by the gates opening.

As Shen Lanxi entered the city, she issued orders one after another.

“Huang Yu committed treason and rebellion. Hang her body at the city gate for three days as a warning.” She did not need to desecrate the corpse herself—the people of the capital would not forgive the one who had shattered their peaceful lives.

“The Empress Dowager has been killed by a traitor. I am deeply grieved. Court will be suspended for three days in mourning.”

“To prevent neighboring states from taking advantage of the situation, the Empress Dowager’s funeral will be simple. The body will be placed in the coffin today and buried tomorrow.”

“Send letters to all members of the Shen family who are away, informing them that the situation in the capital is unstable and they need not return for the funeral.”

A string of commands was issued, and everyone hurried to carry them out.

Hall of Mental Cultivation

“Your Majesty, all the city garrison troops are now awaiting orders outside the city.”

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “Jiuhuan Mountain is a good place. Those who should have died long ago should not be allowed to stir up trouble again.”

“This minister will depart at once to suppress the bandits.”

Shen Lanxi nodded, then gave another order.

“Send two items to the northwest—one to Wei Dongzhu, and one to Shen Yuanjing.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the eunuch replied.

An hour later, a thin coffin and a child were quietly sent out of the capital.

“I have finally given the Wei family army an explanation,” Shen Lanxi murmured.

In truth, Shen Yuanjing and the others had never received the letter Zhou Xinrou supposedly sent. Shen Lanxi could already imagine how shocked Shen Yuanjing would be upon receiving the “gift.”

Although the Empress Dowager’s funeral was hastily arranged, no one in court objected, and neither did the people of the capital.

They only hoped the matter would pass quickly so they could continue their peaceful lives.

A rebellion that had begun with such momentum ended in silence.

Even the Shen family and the common people only learned of Zhou Xinrou’s death on the second day after it happened.

The Shen family grew uneasy.

“How did we never realize that Huang Yu harbored such wolfish ambitions?”

“Not just you—even the Empress Dowager failed to see it.” Now she had acknowledged a wolf as her adopted daughter and lost her life for it.

“The Empress Dowager died so unjustly,” someone sighed. “She had only just been brought into the palace and made Empress Dowager… what a pity.”