Chapter 476 Negotiation!
Shen Lanxi's eyes were cold: "Lord Liu, please be careful with your words. This is just a temporary measure. Besides, I alone cannot make decisions for all the civil and military officials. We still need to wait for the three of you to arrive, discuss it with you, and then make a decision."
Indeed, if Shen Lanxi truly wanted to submit to the Sixteenth Prince, she certainly wouldn't have waited until they arrived and then discussed things with them properly.
If she had surrendered to the Sixteenth Prince from the beginning, there wouldn't be the current standoff, and she could have gained even more benefits.
Mei Nanhua said coldly, "With a formidable enemy at hand, we must put aside any past grudges and join forces to fight against the external enemy!"
Shen Lanxi: "Grand Tutor, your insight is brilliant!"
Although Wu Yanzhi and Liu Mingxin were too embarrassed to say anything, their silence also signified their agreement.
“This idea is feasible, but we cannot take that forged imperial edict seriously,” said Mei Nanhua.
Shen Lanxi: "Of course!"
Liu Mingxin and Wu Yanzhi: "Of course!"
No sooner had they finished speaking than, with a thud, another prince was thrown to the ground.
The old Grand Tutor's legs immediately went weak, and Liu and Wu quickly supported him.
Shen Lanxi turned and took two steps toward the imperial city, shouting loudly, "We agree to the Sixteenth Prince's ascension to the throne! Stop killing people!"
The general on the city wall immediately shouted, "Where is the Prince of Zhennan?"
Shen Lanxi: "The Prince of Zhennan has gone to quell the rebellion of the Eighth Prince. Even if we wanted to kill him, we wouldn't be able to find him. Why don't we wait until we return to the capital after the rebellion is quelled before fulfilling our promise!"
The general thought for a moment, then said, "Wait," before turning and going inside to deliver the message.
The general returned shortly afterward.
"Yes, but the sixteenth prince must ascend the throne ahead of schedule."
Shen Lanxi called out, "Okay, you decide on the time."
General: "Now announce to the world that the Hanlin Academy has drafted the imperial title, and the emperor will ascend the throne in two days!"
Shen Lanxi: "Fine, but you cannot kill another person!"
General: "Good!"
Just as Shen Lanxi was about to begin discussing matters with the regent, a voice came from the city wall again.
"The sixteenth prince summoned all civil and military officials of the capital to the palace for a meeting."
The three regents looked at each other in bewilderment.
"We can't go. Going in would be like throwing ourselves into the lion's den."
"If we go, wouldn't we just be giving him more leverage?"
"You can't go, you absolutely can't go." Going there could very well cost you your life.
Shen Lanxi coldly looked at the city wall: "They want us to keep our promise on one hand, but on the other hand, they want to break it."
Mei Nanhua gritted his teeth and said, "It's very likely that even if we get in, they won't let us go."
Shen Lanxi: "These people treat human life like dirt, they are cruel and tyrannical, there must be a master behind them guiding them." It doesn't seem like something an eleven-year-old child would do.
Wu Yanzhi said viciously, "The Wang family is full of wolfish ambitions. We were so careless before; we didn't even realize it."
The urging began again from the city wall.
"Your Majesty, please gather all the officials quickly. I will open the city gates and let you in to discuss matters."
The three regents were all at a loss.
"A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. His Majesty is now in the hands of a traitor. We cannot do nothing!" Mei Nanhua's brows were furrowed with worry.
"What should we do? What should we do now?"
Shen Lanxi pondered for a moment with a deep look in her eyes, then ordered, "Summon all civil and military officials here for a meeting."
Liu Mingxin immediately stopped him: "No, no, if we go in, the Great Zhou will be finished. We will no longer have any leverage to control the Sixteenth Prince."
Shen Lanxi: "This won't do, that won't do. They're going to throw people off the city wall again soon. Are we just going to watch them all fall to their deaths right in front of us?"
None of the three regents uttered a word.
Shen Lanxi: "Since none of you gentlemen have a solution, then listen to me. First, gather the ministers at the palace gate. We'll proceed step by step. We need to show the Sixteenth Prince's men that we're obedient before taking action. If they see us all standing here without moving, you know the consequences!"
Mei Nanhua sighed deeply, flicked his sleeves, and turned to the side.
Wu Yanzhi simply shook his head.
After much deliberation, Liu Mingxin realized he had no better solution. He couldn't just stand by and watch the royal family perish!
"Alright, we'll do as the Regent says!"
Shen Lanxi ordered someone to be called, then turned and shouted towards the city wall, "I've already gone to call for help, please wait a moment!"
The people on the city wall remained silent and did not call out again, clearly waiting after listening to Shen Lanxi's words.
"What if the sixteenth prince's men call us in after the officials arrive?" Wu Yanzhi asked worriedly.
Shen Lanxi adopted a "let's go in" attitude: "Then let's go in. His Majesty and the princes and princesses of the harem are in their hands. If we don't listen, we will be disregarding the lives of the royal family and will be criticized!"
Wu Yanzhi said helplessly, "How did my Great Zhou become like this!"
Mei Nanhua: "We must quickly come up with a way to break this deadlock; we cannot stand by and watch a treacherous minister become the ruler of a country."
Shen Lanxi's eyes flashed, and she said, "I think entering the palace might be the way to break this deadlock!"
Mei Nanhua: "How is it?"
Shen Lanxi: "We are all key ministers in the court. The Sixteenth Prince is waiting for us to preside over his coronation ceremony. He certainly won't make a move against us at this time!"
After thinking about it carefully, Liu Mingxin nodded: "That makes sense."
Wu Yanzhi curled his lip upon hearing this. Even if they wouldn't be killed, they would certainly be threatened and insulted. They were important officials of the court. How could they face people after being humiliated?
Shen Lanxi said with sharp eyes, "The Grand Tutor is highly respected, the Left Prime Minister is the head of all officials, and Lord Liu is a model among civil officials. After I go in, I may be able to contact the former members of the Imperial Guard."
"With the three of us together, can't we persuade those obedient soldiers to surrender?"
Mei Nanhua's eyes lit up: "That's a good idea too!"
Wu Yanzhi shook his head: "Since they are capable of rebelling, they must have planned it meticulously, and they must have brought loyal soldiers with them. It will be very difficult to persuade them to defect!"
Liu Mingxin: "Now that things have come to this, is there any other way?"
Wu Yanzhi was stumped by that question; there was no other way now.
"If we want to save His Majesty and the lives of those in the palace, we must proceed cautiously and gradually!"
Mei Nanhua nodded, looking at Shen Lanxi with approval in his eyes.
Liu Mingxin's opinion of Shen Lanxi has also changed significantly.
Only Wu Yanzhi nodded reluctantly.
As the officials gradually gathered, Shen Lanxi called out to the city wall when almost all of them had arrived.
"All civil and military officials have arrived!"
The person on the city wall said, "Open the city gates and let the officials into the palace."
Among the civil and military officials, some were afraid, some were angry, and some were uneasy.
Suddenly, someone on the city wall shouted again.
"Shen Lanxi will remain outside the city!"
All the officials looked at Shen Lanxi.
They've all gone in, so why can't Shen Lanxi go in?
Some officials couldn't hold back and approached Mei Nanhua.
"Grand Tutor, why are we allowed in but not Shen Lanxi? Is there some connection between them?"
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