Chapter 408 Shen Lanxi is further conferred the title of First-Rank Duke Protector of the Nation!
Seeing that Emperor Renxiao's expression was starting to look off again, Wang Bao quickly stepped forward to help him up.
“Your Majesty, the eldest princess says you are an imposter, but this servant would say she is a traitor in disguise. Otherwise, why would she utter such rebellious and unfilial words?”
Emperor Renxiao felt much better after hearing this. If his daughter was not an imposter, then someone was instigating her behind the scenes. Otherwise, why would she have committed such perverse acts?
“That makes sense. After we capture these traitors, I will personally interrogate them.”
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Standing on the city wall, Shen Lanxi raised her voice and proclaimed, "Princess Zhou Yunshang has acted perversely and committed heinous acts, which are outrageous to both gods and men, and deserve to be punished by heaven and earth!"
"His Majesty, considering that you were misled by the eldest princess, has decided to forgive and forget your past actions. Now go home immediately, lest you be used as a bargaining chip to coerce His Majesty!"
Upon hearing Shen Lanxi's words, the civil and military officials exchanged bewildered glances once again.
Really?
What if it's fake?
But they aren't the eldest princess's or the fifth prince's people, are they?
The law does not punish the masses. If His Majesty were to truly punish so many of them, who would govern the country in the future?
They decided to believe it for now and see how things went after they got through this.
Just as the officials were about to leave, Zhou Yunshang ordered, "Take them down!"
"Anyone who dares to leave today will be killed without mercy!"
The civil and military officials were dumbfounded. They had brought the eldest princess, intending to use her royal bloodline to put pressure on Shen Lanxi. However, they hadn't expected that inviting a god would be so easy, but sending him away would be so difficult. Instead, they had become lambs to the slaughter.
Zhou Yunshang decided not to pretend any longer and waved her hand again to signal her private soldiers to come forward.
Instead of rushing to attack the city, he arrogantly said, "Arrest all the families of the Imperial Guards. I want to see how long they can hold out."
The civil and military officials were all terrified; now they were using the families of the Imperial Guards to threaten them inside. What would be the next step?
Could it be them?
They regretted it; they had schemed so much, only to have their schemes benefit others.
"Shen Lanxi, if you don't open the city gates soon, don't blame me for not giving you a chance!" Zhou Yunshang said arrogantly.
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "I can open the city gate, but you have to answer one question for me."
Zhou Yunshang felt smug. Shen Lanxi was so arrogant, but she still managed to trample her underfoot.
"Go ahead and ask, but whether I answer you or not depends on my mood."
Shen Lanxi: "When did you and the Fifth Prince start colluding together?"
Zhou Yunshang scoffed: "Collusion? What do you mean by collusion?"
"My relationship with the Fifth Prince is deep and loving, something a selfish woman like you could never understand."
Shen Lanxi: "Since you two are so deeply in love, how about we make a bet?"
Zhou Yunshang snorted coldly and remained silent.
“Let’s bet on whether the Fifth Prince will save you while you’re in prison.”
Zhou Yunshang's expression changed, and she angrily rebuked, "Insolence! You're about to die, yet you still have so many words to say. Once I've accomplished my great task, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Shen Lanxi raised the corners of her mouth and made a gesture.
Zhou Yunshang's private soldiers turned around, lined up, and walked backward.
"What are you trying to do? I haven't given the order yet, how dare you move?"
The palace gates opened, and two squads of imperial guards emerged from the palace.
Wei Dongzhu raised his hand: "The eldest princess is plotting a coup; arrest her and imprison her in the imperial prison!"
"yes!"
Zhou Yunshang screamed, "How dare you!"
"You all, chop up the Shen family members right now!"
The private soldiers stood still as if they hadn't heard Zhou Yunshang's words.
The color drained from Zhou Yunshang's face quickly. Impossible. How could her private soldiers disobey her orders?
Wei Dongzhu said coldly, "The eldest princess's private soldiers are already in the imperial prison. Once the eldest princess goes in, she will be able to reunite with them."
Zhou Yunshang broke out in a cold sweat. How could this be?
She made the decision to start the uprising on a whim, so how could Shen Lanxi's people react so quickly?
"A conspiracy, it's all a conspiracy."
"Shen Lanxi, you framed me, it was you..."
She finally understood, but it was too late.
Zhou Yunshang staggered and fell to the ground, crying and screaming in pain.
An hour later, Shen Lanxi returned to report to Emperor Renxiao.
"Your Majesty, the eldest princess gritted her teeth and remained silent."
Emperor Renxiao coldly replied, "It's all my fault; I nurtured her ambition."
Shen Lanxi: "According to the report from the people who searched the Princess's residence, they encountered resistance at the residence. After capturing the private soldiers of the Princess's residence, they found a large number of weapons, armor and silver in the residence."
Emperor Renxiao's eyes flickered: "Let someone else handle the search of the Grand Princess's residence for now. Lanxi, the Shen family was frightened today, so go back to your residence to comfort them."
Shen Lanxi: "Yes."
After capturing Zhou Yunshang, she ordered her men to send the Shen family back.
No sooner had Shen Lanxi left the palace than Emperor Renxiao was assassinated.
Before she even stepped into her house, Emperor Renxiao ordered her to be summoned to the palace immediately.
"Uncle, who stabbed you?" Shen Lanxi ran to Emperor Renxiao.
Wang Bao answered on behalf of Emperor Renxiao: "The traitor committed suicide after the assassination attempt."
Shen Lanxi said viciously, "They must be spies who infiltrated the area beforehand."
Emperor Renxiao was stabbed in the shoulder and bled quite a bit, but fortunately his life was not in danger. However, his health was already weak before, and this incident made him even weaker.
"Lanxi, you must save the Crown Prince."
Shen Lanxi: "Don't worry, Uncle. Even if it costs me my life, I will take the First Prince back from the Fifth Prince."
After Emperor Renxiao finished speaking with difficulty, he half-closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Wang Bao handed Shen Lanxi an imperial edict: "Shen Lanxi has rendered meritorious service in saving the emperor. She is hereby granted the title of First-Rank Duke and Marquis and the additional title of Protector of the Nation."
Shen Lanxi accepted the imperial edict with both hands.
News of the assassination attempt spread quickly, but this time no one dared to come forward to test the waters.
All the civil and military officials stayed at home, fearing that this time it would be a trap like last time.
"His Majesty appoints the Left Chancellor, the Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, the Grand Tutor, and Shen Lanxi to jointly handle state affairs!" After reading the imperial edict, Wang Bao ignored the commotion, calmly handed the edict to Shen Lanxi, and left.
Shen Lanxi: "The Fifth Prince has brought troops into the capital under the pretext of returning to attend to the ailing prince. Do any of you gentlemen have a way to deal with this?"
The civil and military officials, who were originally preoccupied with their own thoughts, immediately put aside their distractions and focused solely on this one matter because of this one sentence.
"The Fifth Prince left his fiefdom without being summoned, which is treason. This old minister believes that troops should be sent to suppress him!"
"Your Majesty, I agree!"
"I have some concerns. How many troops did the Fifth Prince bring? How many troops do we have in the capital?"
With a single sentence, he successfully calmed down the court officials.
"Who knows how many troops are in the capital right now?" Shen Lanxi asked.
The civil officials all stared at the military general.
The military generals were led by Zhao Zheng, but unfortunately, Zhao Zheng was only a nominal Marquis of Yong'an, all show and no substance.
Just as the civil officials were turning away in disappointment, Zhao Zheng sauntered out.
"In addition to the Imperial Guards of the capital, there are also the city protection troops."
"The Imperial Guard and the Imperial Guard are under the command of Lord Shen, while the City Protection Army is under the command of Prince Zhennan. The number of personnel should be recorded in the military."
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