Chapter 406 Zhou Yunshang was recommended to the front by civil and military officials!
The two guards kept their eyes straight ahead, showing no intention of obeying.
Shen Yuantang's face darkened, her anger burning. Even the servants didn't respect her; if she were the Princess Consort of Zhennan, how dare they act like this?
"Your Highness, I have something to report to you," Shen Yuantang shouted into the room.
A moment later, the door creaked open.
Zhou Ruyuan frowned and looked at the noisy scene outside. He had been taking good care of Shen Yuantang out of respect for Shen Lanxi, but he did not expect her to be so ungrateful.
"Why aren't you staying at the Shen family's residence? What are you doing here?" Zhou Ruyuan asked coldly.
Shen Yuantang's face stiffened. Was the prince blaming her for coming home too often?
“Your Highness, I am your concubine and should stay in the Zhennan Prince’s Mansion. However, because of some troubles that happened to the Shen family, now that things have calmed down, I naturally have to come back to take care of the affairs of the manor.”
Zhou Ruyuan said coldly, "I'm asking you, what are you doing here?"
Shen Yuantang's heart skipped a beat. Why would the prince speak to her in such a stern voice? She must have misheard.
"Your Highness, I've heard about what's happening in the palace. So I specifically asked my brothers at home for some information and quickly brought it to you."
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes flashed: "What news?"
Shen Yuantang's eyes lit up, and he raised the corners of his mouth, saying, "Your Majesty is in good health and there is nothing wrong with you."
Zhou Ruyuan lowered his eyes and pondered deeply, thinking about who had gone to the palace gate to cause trouble. After thinking it over, he realized that the Left Prime Minister and several of his father's trusted confidants had not gone.
If Father is seriously ill, they should be the first to worry.
Now, instead of being in a hurry, they're hiding away, which clearly means they know the inside story.
"Tell me in detail what you've found out," Zhou Ruyuan said, softening his tone.
Shen Yuantang's face lit up with joy, and she said sweetly, "I've made some delicious side dishes."
"Bring it in," Zhou Ruyuan said, turning and going inside.
Shen Yuantang followed shyly.
The palace was in a state of panic, and the concubines, under the guise of paying their respects to the Empress, were unwilling to leave.
"Your Majesty, what should we do now?"
"Now Shen Lanxi calls the shots in the palace. What's the difference between us and being confined in the harem?"
"Could it be that Shen Lanxi has turned against us?"
"We can't wait until we're forced to wear a white silk noose and drink poison to find out!"
"If we're going to die, we should at least die knowing the truth. Your Majesty, you are the Empress, you must support us concubines and make decisions for us..."
Isn't Qi Yingqun worried?
She was anxious too.
Her people were scattered throughout the palaces, and each courtyard in the harem was guarded by imperial guards. Her spies and informants were completely hidden, and no news could get in from the outside, nor could her messages be sent out.
How could Shen Lanxi possibly have such power? She must have someone backing her up.
Who could it be?
Even if we take a step back and assume there really was a rebellion, they wouldn't do anything to her, the empress.
His Majesty has arrived; she is now the Empress Dowager.
The feeling of being manipulated and controlled is truly unbearable! Who knows, one day a white silk ribbon might actually hang around her neck, and outsiders would just think she had followed His Majesty.
"Useless thing, what's the use of just crying? Your noise is giving me a headache." Qi Yingqun rubbed her forehead, suddenly having an idea.
In the afternoon, Shen Lanxi received a message from the inner palace that a concubine had contracted a serious illness and that the imperial physician needed to be summoned.
Shen Lanxi sneered and said, "Granted."
After nightfall, a shadowy figure sneaked into the Grand Princess's residence.
"Princess, His Majesty is indeed suffering from a serious illness and may not live much longer."
Zhou Yunshang: "It's good that you're sick, I'm afraid you won't get sick. Shen Lanxi is really audacious!"
"Prince Consort, go and inform our people that we will start the uprising after the Fifth Prince returns to the capital."
Wang Minxing received the order, bent over, and pushed it out.
Soon, many officials' children received the news that Emperor Renxiao was dying, and they then relayed it to their elders.
The next day, all the officials in the court gathered outside the palace gates to denounce Shen Lanxi in the name of "purging the emperor's inner circle of corrupt officials".
Shen Lanxi did not appear, and the officials, in a fit of rage, stormed the palace.
The Imperial Guards were ordered to stop them, and in the ensuing conflict, they accidentally injured three civil officials.
The officials were temporarily stunned, and then discussed calling for reinforcements and seeking help from the prince.
Unfortunately, their men received news from the camp outside the city that Zhou Ruyuan had accidentally injured his head and leg during training and had not yet woken up.
Currently, Zhou Ruyuan is the only adult prince in the capital; the others are confined to the harem because of their young age.
An official suddenly suggested that Zhou Yunshang step in to take charge of the situation.
"The eldest princess is the eldest princess of our Great Zhou Dynasty. She is intelligent, virtuous, and has never made a mistake. It is most appropriate to have the eldest princess take charge of the overall situation!"
"But the eldest princess is a woman, so this is probably inappropriate."
"What's wrong with it? Shen Lanxi is also a woman. She's not of royal blood, yet she can become the Duke of Juding. The eldest princess is of noble birth, of legitimate royal blood, so why is she inappropriate?"
"In terms of status, the eldest princess is indeed the most suitable."
Zhou Yunshang was quickly pushed to the front, facing off against Shen Lanxi outside the palace gates.
"Shen Lanxi, do you want to rebel?" Zhou Yunshang approached slowly with a smug look on her face, accompanied by her entourage.
"I am the eldest princess of the royal family, and I suspect you of abusing your power to imprison my father, the emperor, and stage a coup!"
“Princess, when we came to shout and curse, Shen Lanxi did not have anyone open the palace gates. It is clear that she intends to go her own way and resist to the end.”
“Princess, Shen Lanxi has become lawless and disrespectful. It’s no use trying to reason with her.”
Zhou Yunshang sneered: "Bring them up here!"
A group of soldiers suddenly appeared, and then the Shen family members were pushed outside the palace gate.
The civil and military officials looked at each other, not daring to speak loudly anymore.
Zhou Yunshang: "Shen Lanxi, if you don't come out, don't blame me for taking the lives of your Shen family!"
The Shen family members, their faces filled with fear, huddled together in terror.
Even Shen Congwen, who had a leg injury, was carried from his home by Zhou Yunshang's soldiers.
The women huddled together in fear and wept.
They still don't understand how they ended up here.
It seems the Grand Princess intends to use them to threaten Shen Lanxi.
They became hostages used to threaten Shen Lanxi.
The palace gates were not open, but Shen Lanxi appeared on the palace wall.
"Zhou Yunshang, you've kidnapped my family here and forced me to open the palace gates. Are you planning a rebellion?" A cold voice drifted from the palace walls down to the city walls.
Zhou Yunshang sneered arrogantly: "You're the one who wants to rebel!"
Shen Lanxi: "You accuse me of rebellion, do you have any evidence?"
Before Zhou Yunshang could even speak, the civil and military officials had already begun their campaign.
"Shen Lanxi, why haven't we heard anything from His Majesty?"
"Even if His Majesty is unwell, he should summon the princes to attend to him and the ministers in the palace to entrust him with important state affairs."
"Now we can't even see His Majesty. Can you say it wasn't you who was obstructing us?"
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