Chapter 478 Shen Lanxi Regent!
Liu Mingxin was completely baffled. After seeing the soldiers being led to the prison, a question suddenly flashed through his mind.
Why are there so few soldiers? Why haven't we heard any resistance? Why didn't Shen Lanxi say how to deal with these people?
He felt as if he had stumbled upon some terrible truth, and his back was soaked with cold sweat.
...
"Imperial Preceptor, has His Majesty's health improved?" Shen Lanxi asked Song Daoxi.
Emperor Renxiao has now returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and Wang Bao and the palace servants from before are attending to him.
Song Daoxi stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless, and said, "It has improved somewhat. I have an idea for the antidote, and I will definitely be able to develop it within two months."
Shen Lanxi: "His Majesty's health?"
Song Daoxi: "With my national advisor here, I can certainly ensure Your Majesty's good health!"
Shen Lanxi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Wu Yanzhi: "Your Majesty is a lucky man, blessed by Heaven!"
Mei Nanhua sighed: "I hope His Majesty recovers soon and returns to court!"
Liu Mingxin lowered his eyes and remained silent.
Shen Lanxi: "It's been a day and a night of chaos and fear. Gentlemen, please go back and rest early. There are still government affairs to attend to tomorrow!"
The officials left one after another.
The next day, when Emperor Renxiao regained consciousness, he issued an edict.
"...The sixteenth prince is demoted to a commoner and buried in a mass grave with his mother. The deceased empress, concubines, and their sons and daughters are to be buried in the imperial mausoleum immediately. From this day forward, the Regent Prince will oversee the country and handle all state affairs on my behalf..."
The officials in the court had long since lost any will to resist. They thought that His Majesty had issued similar edicts before, appointing Shen Lanxi to handle state affairs. The only difference in this edict was that Shen Lanxi was to oversee the country.
Throughout history, the crown prince has always been the regent; there has never been a case of a woman being put in charge of the country!
Some individuals harbor resentment but dare not express it.
With the Eighth Prince's rebellion on the outside and the palace coup just quelled on the inside, who is capable of stepping forward to take on the responsibility at this time?
Is it the Left Chancellor? Or the Grand Tutor? Or perhaps a Grand Secretary?
If either of them were in their position, the supporters of the other two sides would stand up and resist.
And Shen Lanxi...
Not a single person stood up to object!
Standing in the imperial court, Shen Lanxi first angrily denounced the sixteenth prince's tyranny, and then immediately turned on Lady Wang.
"The Wang clan is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and their crimes are abhorrent to both gods and men. I hereby sentence all male members of the Wang clan to be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public, all eligible female members to be scattered and sent to the army, and all their property to be confiscated. A portion of the confiscated property shall be distributed to the families of the concubines who were murdered by the Wang clan, and the remainder shall be confiscated and sent to the national treasury!"
"Generals who followed the Wang family in their rebellion and showed no remorse shall be dealt with severely as well!"
"Do any of you ministers have any objections?" Shen Lanxi asked, looking down at the civil and military officials.
"We have no objection!"
...
After that, Shen Lanxi began to handle state affairs, and news of the battle with the eight princes arrived one after another.
In just half a month, five of the eight princes had already gone, and Wei Dongzhu and the others returned to the capital in triumph one after another!
As good news kept coming in, Shen Lanxi began to reform the laws and regulations.
"From this day forward, women may establish households, engage in commerce, become imperial merchants, pass the imperial examinations, conduct business outside their hometowns, and receive the same share of family property as men. They may also serve as officials in the court. Women may join the army. Women may participate in all industries that men participate in, and they will be treated the same as men!"
As soon as this decree was issued, all the civil and military officials stood up to oppose it.
"How can a woman show her face in public? The Regent has this privilege because she has made great contributions to our Great Zhou. She is courageous and resourceful. Such a woman is extremely rare and irreplaceable!"
"Your Majesty, please think it over. Not all women are as skilled in both literature and martial arts as Your Majesty. Most women still stay at home, devoted to their husbands and children, never venturing out of their homes."
"The ancestral rules cannot be abolished. Women can engage in commerce, but they absolutely cannot serve as officials in the court." Since the regent was a woman, she would definitely favor women.
If women entered the court as officials, would men still have a place in the court?
Shen Lanxi sat upright beside the dragon throne and said unhurriedly, "According to what you all say, if those women are as talented in both literature and martial arts as I am, and are no less capable than men, you would agree to let them enter the court?"
is that so?
No, it isn't.
They said that because Shen Lanxi was sitting up there. Because of Shen Lanxi's ruthless and heartless methods of killing without blinking an eye.
How many people in the world are like Shen Lanxi?
One of them is enough to embarrass them!
A voice suddenly rang out.
"That's exactly what I mean!"
Before he could finish speaking, someone else stepped forward.
"That's exactly what I think!"
"Your Majesty, so am I..."
"My lord..."
Those who agreed stood up like mushrooms after rain.
Liu Mingxin glanced back at the rising stars in the court in recent years, his heart pounding wildly.
Not only rising stars, but also some veteran officials stepped forward.
Wei Jie, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; Liu Yanhui, Principal of the Ministry of Revenue; Chen Wei, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites; and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel...
The person who stepped forward next made Liu Mingxin's brow twitch.
Mei Nanhua: "I also think this is a feasible move. It's not that I'm favoring women, but our Great Zhou is currently in need of capable people, so we should not be bound by trivial matters!"
Wu Yanzhi: "I also think it's worth a trial. If it doesn't work, we can always cancel it."
Liu Mingxin's brow twitched violently, and he was sweating profusely.
When did they get won over by Shen Lanxi? Why didn't he notice at all?
Shen Lanxi: "Lord Liu, do you have any objections?"
Liu Mingxin clenched his fists, trembling: "Your subject...this old minister also agrees."
Shen Lanxi nodded and smiled, "With the officials of my Great Zhou united as one and with their open minds, and with your assistance, my Great Zhou will surely regain its former glory!"
Liu Mingxin was so cold he didn't dare wipe away his sweat. After returning home from court, he developed a high fever that very night and took half a month off.
When he stepped out of his house again, he saw groups of women doing business on the street, women walking with swords at their waists, and women buying books in the bookstores. At the government office, women who were making a fuss about registering as female households, applying for business certificates, or getting divorced lined up for dozens of meters.
The most eye-catching shop was a grain store run by a woman named Song Niangzi. It was stocked with many kinds of grains that had never been seen in the capital before, and they were of high quality and low price, with unlimited supply.
Liu Mingxin stood at the entrance of the grain store, watching cart after cart of grain being transported into the store. People either pushed carts or carried baskets, and when they came out, the carts and baskets were full. For just a dozen or so coins, they bought enough grain for a family of four to eat and drink for half a month.
After Liu Mingxin went to court, he never said a word about the laws for women issued by Shen Lanxi.
In the blink of an eye, the rebellion of the Eighth Prince was completely quelled, and Zhou Ruyuan also received intelligence that a palace coup had occurred.
Jiang Wuyai: "Fortunately, Consort Shu and the Princess are both alright!"
Zhou Ruyuan stared blankly at the secret letter.
"Mr. Jiang, I am now the best candidate for the position of Crown Prince!"
Jiang Wuyai's eyes flashed, and he immediately reminded him, "Your Highness, we must not let our guard down, especially at times like these."
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