Chapter 504: If I become Empress, your sister can become the principal wife!
When Consort Shu arrived, she was immediately blocked outside the palace by Wang Bao.
"Wang Bao, I wish to see His Majesty."
Wang Bao: "Your Majesty, it's not that this old servant doesn't want to inform them, but at this time, the Imperial Preceptor is treating His Majesty. If His Majesty's efforts are wasted because of this old servant, even if this old servant had a hundred heads, I couldn't afford to pay for it!"
Consort Shu glared coldly at the palace servants and guards outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"If you obstruct my audience with His Majesty, and His Majesty questions you about it in the future, can you bear the consequences?"
Wang Bao bowed deeply: "This old servant is naturally unable to bear such an offense, but this old servant knows that a servant must obey his master. His Majesty is this old servant's master, and when he gives orders, this old servant dares not disobey!"
Wang Bao appeared respectful, but in reality, he refused without the slightest hesitation.
"Do you even respect me anymore?"
Wang Bao: "This old servant has not overstepped the bounds."
The first thing a lackey must learn is not to give others any leverage against him.
Consort Shu was furious: "Don't think I don't know your intentions. Wang Bao, you are His Majesty's personal servant. Are you just going to let others control the imperial power in His Majesty's hands?"
Wang Bao warned forcefully, "Your Majesty, be careful what you say!"
Consort Shu: "I'm just asking you, will you give way or not?"
Wang Bao stood firm: "Your Majesty, please don't make things difficult for this old servant."
Consort Shu sneered, "I think even an old dog like you doesn't know who your master is!"
Wang Bao chuckled lightly, his face showing no anger whatsoever.
"Your Majesty, please return to the palace. This old servant will not tell His Majesty about your outrageous remarks at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation!"
Consort Shu's face twisted slightly: "Threatening me?"
Wang Bao: "This old servant is just doing his duty."
"You..." Consort Shu was so angry that her vision blurred.
"Where is Shen Lanxi? I want to see Shen Lanxi!" Consort Shu's shouts just now seemed to have exhausted all her energy. She was now weak all over and just wanted to find a place to lie down.
Wang Bao said, “The Regent is naturally handling state affairs. If Your Majesty wishes to see me, please send someone to inform him. This old servant must go in to serve His Majesty.” After saying this, he ignored Consort Shu’s anger and turned to enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Consort Shu was so angry that her eyes were blazing with fury, and her chest ached in waves.
"You old eunuch, I'll deal with you sooner or later, just you wait!" Once her son ascends the throne and she becomes Empress Dowager, the first thing she will do is have Wang Bao beheaded.
The harem advanced towards the outer court, but before Consort Shu's people could even approach the gates of the outer court, they were stopped by the Imperial Guards.
"Your Highness, Consort Shu has sent someone to discuss something important with you. It concerns the Princess Consort of Zhennan."
Shen Lanxi thought for a moment and said, "Tell her I'll be there in an hour!"
"yes!"
...
"The Regent has quite the airs and prestige, making me wait for a whole hour!" Consort Shu glared angrily at Shen Lanxi.
Shen Lanxi ignored him and asked, "I wonder what business Your Majesty has with me?"
Consort Shu sneered, "Shen Lanxi, now that you see me, you don't even offer me a proper greeting?"
Shen Lanxi looked at him coldly and provocatively: "I am the Regent, second only to the Emperor, while you are just a lowly Consort Shu, not even a Noble Consort. If anyone must bow, it is you who should bow to me!"
Consort Shu was furious: "You... Shen Lanxi, you are simply outrageous! Aren't you afraid of being doomed by what you're doing now?"
Shen Lanxi chuckled lightly, then said sharply, "With His Majesty's protection and Consort Shu by my side, what do I have to fear?"
Consort Shu's expression changed drastically. Shen Lanxi had always wanted to keep her in the palace as a hostage.
She couldn't afford to have a falling out with Shen Lanxi, at least not at this time.
Her son has not yet made any contributions in the Southwest, nor has he wielded great power or commanded an army. If she were to break ties with Shen Lanxi now, it would do her and her son no good whatsoever.
"I want to see His Majesty!" Consort Shu's expression changed, and her tone became cold and hard.
Shen Lanxi's tone carried a warning: "If Your Majesty insists on seeing him, any mishap to His Majesty will be Your Majesty's responsibility."
Consort Shu was furious: "Shen Lanxi, are you threatening me?"
Shen Lanxi: "Likewise!"
Consort Shu began to feel dizzy again, panting heavily and unable to catch her breath.
"I advise Your Majesty to go back now and not do anything unnecessary."
Consort Shu's eyes darted around, and she thought of Shen Yuantang.
“Shen Yuantang’s reputation is already ruined. Don’t even think about making her my son’s official wife.”
Shen Lanxi: "Shen Yuantang has contributed to the birth of an heir, yet she lost her child in the Prince's residence. Not only does the Prince not investigate, but he also orders everyone in the residence not to investigate or discuss it, which is clearly a cover-up. Your Highness, Shen Yuantang is my own sister. Even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner."
Consort Shu was somewhat unsettled, and her rebuttal to Shen Lanxi was entirely based on instinct.
"Nonsense! How could the prince let the murderer who killed my grandson go? He was clearly about to go to war and didn't have time. Don't frame my son."
Shen Lanxi: "Bai Qingling committed so many mistakes, and he used his military merits to save her life. How can he protect a mere criminal like this? Where does he put my sister's dignity?"
Consort Shu: "Your sister's promotion to concubine is by His Majesty's decree. If you dare to alter Shen Yuantang's rank, you will be defying the imperial edict!"
Shen Lanxi glared fiercely at Consort Shu, gritting her teeth as she said, "I will never forget what the Prince of Zhennan owes my sister, and I will surely repay him one day!"
Consort Shu was startled by her gaze and quickly straightened her back.
"If you want your sister to be the principal wife, there are ways."
Shen Lanxi: "What method?"
Consort Shu's eyes were full of calculation: "If I become Empress, your sister can become the principal wife!"
Shen Lanxi sneered: "Your Highness Consort Shu has a very good plan. If you become Empress, Prince Zhennan will have more leverage. When he competes for the throne in the future, Prince Zhennan will be able to succeed him without any problem."
Consort Shu smiled but remained silent.
Shen Lanxi: "Unfortunately, His Majesty will not agree!"
Consort Shu's face darkened, and she looked coldly at Shen Lanxi.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has already agreed to make Shen Yuantang his principal wife. The imperial decree has probably already been delivered to the Prince of Zhennan's residence."
Consort Shu's expression changed drastically. She had already chosen a suitable wife for her son, and Shen Yuantang could not be the wife.
"Shen Lanxi, how dare you forge an imperial edict!" Consort Shu glared at Shen Lanxi.
"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. I will report your every word and action to His Majesty," Shen Lanxi said with a sidelong glance.
Consort Shu felt dizzy and disoriented, unable to withstand the extreme ups and downs any longer, and fainted.
...
Shen Yuantang held the imperial edict in both hands, as if in a dream, listening to the congratulations from the concubines in his mansion.
The chatter of these people only annoyed her.
"Guards, lock them in the courtyard! No one is to let them out without my order!"
Thinking of those troublesome brats in the Prince's mansion, Shen Yuantang's eyes flashed with malice.
Her son is dead, so why should those little brats live?
And that bitch Bai Qingling's child, she absolutely cannot let her go.
...
"My lord, the Prince of Zhennan's mansion has sent a memorial, saying they want to bring the Prince of Zhennan's illegitimate son back to the mansion."
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