Chapter 576 The only thing that surpasses the burden is his male identity!

Yuan Lang: "Our first task is to win over those people and bring them, along with the forces behind them, into our hands!"

Hearing him say that, Zhou Ruyuan gradually calmed down.

"I understand what the Grand Preceptor means. I have already sent people to befriend them."

Yuan Lang said solemnly, "It's not enough. Just making friends isn't enough!"

After pondering for a moment, Zhou Ruyuan said, "Then let's grant them the title of king and give them power."

That's more like it.

Yuan Lang: "They were already princes before, so they didn't care about the empty title of prince."

Zhou Ruyuan frowned: "Are we suggesting we cede territory and grant them fiefdoms?"

Yuan Lang naturally knew that Zhou Ruyuan was unwilling; no emperor wanted his territory to be divided up. Granting land fiefdoms was no different from simply splitting the land apart.

"Your Highness, now is the time when we need strength. If we don't offer them some incentives, how can they be expected to be loyal?"

"Especially Zhou Yanxing, that old fox. He had been pretending to be indifferent to worldly affairs, just wanting to reap the benefits. Unfortunately, he waited and waited, but the one who got the benefits became someone else."

"The reason he's so impatient to jump out now is because he's getting old and can't wait any longer. If Shen Lanxi were any weaker, he probably would have rebelled long ago."

Zhou Ruyuan was thinking more deeply. He had no choice but to bind them together with mutual interests for now. Once he achieved his goal, he could get rid of those with ulterior motives later.

Such acts of abandoning one's benefactors after using them are not uncommon throughout history!

"Alright, the matter of where to bestow fiefdoms will be left to the Grand Preceptor to discuss and arrange."

Seeing that Zhou Ruyuan did not act impulsively, Yuan Lang breathed a sigh of relief.

If Zhou Ruyuan weren't a man, he really wouldn't have wanted to assist him.

In terms of intelligence, decision-making ability, fighting skills, and luck, he is no match for Shen Lanxi.

The only advantage he had over Shen Lanxi was his status as a man.

This world is destined to be a man's world, and based on that alone, Shen Lanxi has already lost!

...

After Zhang Chuchu's funeral, Shen Yuanhao was supposed to leave, but Shen Lanxi, mindful of his lost wife, did not urge him.

Unexpectedly, before Zhang Chuchu's seven-day mourning period was even over, something happened to Shen Yuanhao.

The Zhang family plotted that Zhang Chuchu's younger sister climbed into Shen Yuanhao's bed.

When Shen Lanxi learned of this, the third branch of the family had already begun making arrangements to take in a daughter from the Zhang family.

The Shen family ignored her advice to observe mourning after the death of her husband!

"I pity women who lose their lives in childbirth, yet they take it as my kindness."

A piece of paper with writing on it was handed to her.

The Shen family has not yet informed His Majesty.

Shen Lanxi pushed the paper back.

"They are really audacious, actually thinking of informing me last."

A short while later, the paper was handed to her again.

We can't protect them forever; let's see what happens.

Shen Lanxi gave a cold laugh.

Soon, a letter arrived from the Shen family.

It wasn't about Zhang Chuchu's sister, but rather the matter of adoption.

The next day, she sent three handwritten letters to the Shen family.

"His Majesty said that he is too busy to issue an imperial edict."

"I have three handwritten letters, which can be considered as family letters. Family members may or may not read them. They may act according to them or not, and even if they do not act according to them, they will not blame me."

If it's not an imperial edict, it doesn't need to be read aloud.

The eunuch left a note and then departed.

The Shen family immediately opened the first handwritten letter, which read concisely: Zhang Churan disobeyed the imperial decree and is hereby sentenced to death!

The handwritten note fell to the ground with a thud.

"Why was he sentenced to death?" Miao muttered to herself, her face pale.

Hu Jinyu immediately recalled what Shen Lanxi had said when Zhang Chuchu died.

"His Majesty has decreed that any man in the Shen family who has lost his wife must observe a three-year mourning period!"

Miao's face paled even more, and she forced an explanation: "Didn't Zhang Chuchu later say that she didn't need to observe mourning, and His Majesty agreed?"

Hu Jinyu sighed: "Third Aunt, Chu Chu said that we should observe a six-month mourning period, not that we don't have to."

Miao sat back down in her chair, pale and speechless.

"Quickly, look at the second handwritten note!"

The second plan: Marry Zhang Churan six months later.

“No, she cannot be my wife. My son must never marry a woman from the Zhang family again.” Madam Miao was the first to stand up and object.

Hu Jinyu looked surprised. Weren't they called over to discuss welcoming the new couple?

Why aren't you getting married again?

Could it be... that he's taking a concubine?

His Majesty previously stated that men of the Shen family would only marry one wife and would not take concubines. What are these people thinking?

Shen Lanxi is now the emperor, and her previous words are considered imperial edicts.

Are they trying to defy the imperial decree?

Hu Jinyu pursed her lips, her face pale, and stepped back to the side, refusing to say another word.

Shen Congli frowned: "Zhang Chuchu lost her life because of the difference in social status. My son must never marry a woman of unequal social standing."

The second and fourth wives also noticed it.

"Let's take a look at the third letter!" Shen Congwen suggested.

Shen Congli hurriedly opened the third letter.

The Zhang family harbored wolfish ambitions and slaughtered their entire clan.

With a thud, the letter fell to the ground again.

Shen Congli's hands were trembling. This was no letter from home; it was a death warrant!

Shen Yuanhao: "We can't sacrifice our family, or the entire Zhang clan!"

That leaves only the first two options.

One died, and the other lived.

One will have a bright future, while the other will be stuck in a rut, unable to find a good job, and will also be entangled with a bunch of brainless relatives they can't shake off.

How to choose?

Even a fool knows which option to choose, but it involves a life, and nobody wants to be the bad guy.

“Yuanxu’s wife, you have a good idea, why don’t you tell us?” Miao asked hurriedly.

Hu Jinyu didn't want to get involved in this matter; if it didn't work out, he would end up being labeled a bad person.

"This is not a question for me, but for Yuan Hao. It concerns Yuan Hao's future and the rest of his life, and none of us can make that decision for him."

No matter who makes the decision, they will end up being blamed. Rather than letting Shen Yuanhao blame others, it's better for him to make the decision himself.

Shen Yuanhao was pushed, as if he had been jolted awake from a dream.

He now had dark circles under his eyes, his face was full of regret, and his expression was silent and sorrowful, not much better than when he first returned to the capital.

“Yuanhao, we can’t accept a daughter from someone like that. Have you forgotten how Zhang Chuchu died?”

"Your mother told you the truth, didn't she? She kept it a secret from you before because she was afraid you would be distracted when you were away."

“Zhang Chuchu often took things from our room to her family. At the time, Mother thought that since we had already separated the family, it was just things from your room, so she didn’t say anything. It was only when we were checking the accounts these past two days that we discovered that Zhang Chuchu gave most of the wealth you earned with your war merits to her family. She’s a thieving rat, a big rat. She’s emptied our house and fattened up her family!”

Shen Yuanhao glared angrily.

"Is what Mother said true?"

With tears streaming down her face, Madam Miao said, "My son, how could your mother dare to lie about this? If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself at the Zhang family's place. Many of the things in your room have already gone to the Zhang family!"

"It's not that I'm upset about the things..."

Liu had been her sister-in-law for many years, so how could she not know her temper?

She said that because she felt sorry for the things.

"Sister-in-law, you're quite tolerant!"

It must be said that Liu is a woman who knows how to stab someone in the back.