Chapter 296 Shen Lanxi is the Empress's person!

"These are minor matters. The imperial examination is the most important thing right now. Have you heard what Grand Tutor Mei meant? It seems the Grand Tutor came prepared today!"

"You mean, Grand Tutor Mei wants to be the chief examiner for this year's imperial examination?"

"Hey, I didn't say that..."

After Shen Lanxi finished court and was about to return home, a eunuch from the Empress's palace came to deliver an imperial decree that the Empress wanted to see her.

Many things have happened since I left the capital, especially in the harem, each more dramatic than the last. The most dramatic of them all was when Consort Lin secretly gave birth to a prince, intending to use him to gain favor and advance her rank. However, her cleverness backfired, and she was framed for plotting to harm the imperial heir and banished to the Cold Palace.

Lin Meiren went mad that very day, and a few days later she was found drowned in the lotus pond of the Cold Palace.

The Empress, feeling pity for her young son, took it upon herself to adopt him. Although he was not officially registered under the Empress's name, in everyone's eyes, the Eighteenth Prince was already half a legitimate son.

Emperor Renxiao is currently in his prime. If he remains healthy and free from illness, his reign will last at least ten to fifteen years, enough time for the Empress's half-son to grow up.

She didn't interact much with Qi Yingqun, nor did they have any conflicts. Qi Yingqun called her over, intending to win her over.

"Lanxi, you're so busy outside, yet you still think of having someone send me things. I'm so grateful for your concern!"

Shen Lanxi greeted the emperor first, and then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I know that I have been fortunate to receive your care in the palace all these years. I will naturally repay you tenfold."

Qi Yingqun had a dignified and gentle demeanor. Over the years of wielding the Phoenix Seal, she had honed her composure to a high degree.

"You are a beautiful and honest child. No wonder His Majesty often praises your filial piety to me!"

Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "His Majesty and the Empress are a loving couple. If my uncle finds out that I only gave him things and not to my aunt, the Empress, he will definitely be angry and punish me!"

Qi Yingqun glanced at Shen Lanxi without making a sound, her expression of gentle care for her junior unchanged.

"You silly child, you've even learned to make fun of me and His Majesty."

If anyone else had said that, she would have been furious and punished them for disrespect. Everyone in the harem knew that His Majesty hadn't visited her palace in a long time, but only Shen Lanxi, this naive young woman who had just returned to the capital, knew nothing and dared to flatter him recklessly.

"You're a good child. Although His Majesty sent the gifts, I don't remember his kindness. If you want to thank someone, thank you!" Qi Yingqun said with a forced smile, trying to sound angry.

Shen Lanxi caught it steadily: "You and His Majesty are one, so there's no need for thanks. His Majesty's things are your things, aren't they?"

Qi Yingqun deliberately put on a stern face and lectured, "It's fine to say these things in my palace, but you must not spread them out. If someone with ulterior motives hears them, they might impeach you, and you'll be in big trouble."

Shen Lanxi: "I'm not afraid at all. I have His Majesty and the Empress protecting me. I'm not afraid of anyone."

Qi Yingqun thought to herself, "Zhou Ruyuan is here, aren't you afraid?"

Everyone in the court and the public knows what His Majesty is planning, so Qi Yingqun has no need to give others leverage over her.

"After all these years away, you're still like a child. Some time ago, I had the Imperial Household Department make several sets of the finest headdresses, all made with bright gemstones that you young girls like. Take them back and wear them every day!"

The palace maids brought over six treasure boxes, opened them, and placed them in front of Shen Lanxi.

The jewelry inside was all luxurious and exquisite, with superb craftsmanship. Such workmanship, even for a single set, would require several skilled craftsmen to work for a year and a half.

"These ornaments are too precious, Lanxi feels unworthy of them!" Shen Lanxi looked at the ornaments with lingering affection, as if she could not bear to part with any of them.

Qi Yingqun saw her appearance and her eyes unconsciously revealed contempt.

Wasn't Shen Lanxi supposed to be a female general, unlike an ordinary woman?

Despite the exaggerated rumors, she's just like any other ordinary woman.

"Just take it. No matter how luxurious these things are, they can't compare to your heart, which is far away in the Northwest, and you always think of me and His Majesty. Every time His Majesty receives something from you in the Northwest, he praises you in front of me and is moved for a long time!" Qi Yingqun didn't care whether Shen Lanxi would hear any rumors in the future. Right now, she had to make sure that she and His Majesty were loving and affectionate.

Shen Lanxi reluctantly shifted her gaze from her head and face: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty and Your Highness. I would be impolite to refuse."

Qi Yingqun: "I know you've just returned to the capital and must be very busy. I'll have my palace servants escort you out of the palace. If any troublemakers in the palace try to frame you, they can help you avoid them!"

Shen Lanxi's eyes flashed, then she smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I really want to go back to the Marquis's residence that His Majesty bestowed upon me as soon as possible. I was in such a hurry to come back yesterday that I didn't pack many things."

Qi Yingqun had her chief eunuch personally escort Shen Lanxi out of the palace.

Chaoyun Palace

"Your Majesty, the Empress ordered her chief eunuch to personally escort Shen Lanxi out of the palace; none of our men dared to step forward!"

Consort Shu, Zhou Ruyuan's birth mother, turned pale and sneered, "What's the use of her trying to win over Shen Lanxi? She's not someone who crawled out of her own womb, so how filial can she be in the end?"

"Your Majesty is wise. It would be even more interesting if the Eighteenth Prince knew that his birth mother was killed by the Empress."

Consort Shu laughed heartily, her face contorted with madness.

"Isn't Qi Yingqun good at pretending to be crazy? Let's wait a bit longer. Let the eighteenth prince grow up a bit more, and let her put in more effort. Let her watch as the child she raised with all her heart and soul treats her like an enemy and fights her to the death. Let's see if she can still keep up the act."

The palace maid chuckled softly, "Then she'd really go mad..."

...

The news that Shen Lanxi was personally escorted out of the palace by the Empress's palace servants spread throughout the capital in less than an hour.

Among the ministers and noblewomen, nearly half already believe that Shen Lanxi is the Empress.

After leaving the palace, Shen Lanxi sent some of the rewards to the Shen family, and then went straight to the Zhenbei Marquis's residence.

"General." Wei Dongzhu and the others had been waiting for a long time.

Shen Lanxi briefly recounted the content of the morning court session.

"The imperial examination?" Che Mingyuan frowned in thought.

Liu Yanhui was more concerned about Emperor Renxiao's arrangements for them.

"General, is it alright if I don't go back to the Ministry of Revenue?" He wanted to stay in the Zhenbei Army.

Shen Lanxi rejected the idea without even blinking: "No, you go to the Ministry of Revenue. I have something for you to do."

Liu Yanhui, who had initially wanted to argue, immediately sat back down.

It's good to give him tasks to do!

Shen Lanxi: "His Majesty's reopening of the imperial examination is a move that benefits the country and its people, and is crucial to the nation's stability and prosperity. If Mr. Che wishes to participate, he is welcome to do so!"

Che Mingyuan didn't mean it that way and immediately waved his hand.

"I'll pass on myself. I suspect His Majesty is simply tired of the old, stubborn ministers in the court." Especially the censors, who have rarely been favored by emperors throughout history.

Shen Lanxi declined to comment and continued with the arrangements.