Chapter 529 Consort Shu's Suicide by Death!
Filled with grief and indignation, Shen Lanxi staggered to the place where Emperor Renxiao's coffin was laid to rest, and wept bitterly.
The officials arrived shortly after and immediately knelt down to pay their respects.
Wang Bao waited by the side until Shen Lanxi's crying subsided before stepping forward to report.
"His Majesty left in such a hurry. Before he passed away, he only uttered two words: 'You wretched child,' and then he ascended to heaven." Wang Bao wiped away his tears sadly.
Most of the officials had already concluded that Emperor Renxiao had been angered to death by Zhou Ruyuan, and their mood was somewhat gloomy.
Although a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, they really couldn't bring themselves to let a rebellious prince who had angered his father to death ascend the throne.
While shedding tears, Shen Lanxi said firmly, "My uncle loved Zhou Ruyuan the most when he was alive. I never expected that Zhou Ruyuan would not only collude with foreign tribes, but also plot to rebel and kill the king. How is he any different from the Li Wang?"
Who doesn't know that the Wrathful King massacred the palace, murdered his father and killed murderers, and was utterly wicked?
Now that Shen Lanxi is comparing Zhou Ruyuan to the Wrathful King, she must already have a plan in mind.
The officials remained silent.
"Let's take care of His Majesty's affairs after his death first. My uncle passed away suddenly, and we can't let his funeral be anything but dignified!"
Wang Bao: "This old servant obeys your command."
Shen Lanxi wiped away her tears, staggered to her feet, and sighed, "My uncle was a diligent and hardworking ruler who loved the people like his own children. He certainly wouldn't want to see the affairs of the court come to a standstill after his death."
"During the period of mourning, the morning court will continue as usual, and officials will continue to handle their affairs as normal. I believe that my uncle in heaven will be able to rest in peace seeing such unity and solidarity!"
All the officials were waiting for the Censorate and the Ministry of Rites to come out and stop them, but even after Shen Lanxi sent them away to attend to official business, no one stepped forward.
Aren't censors the ones who love to stand up and impeach?
What are the rules of the Ministry of Rites?
What about the regents?
Why isn't anyone standing up to oppose it?
After persuading the officials, Shen Lanxi ordered the inner palace to be opened and the concubines to come out and keep vigil.
When she went to the southwest, the inner palace was sealed off, and no one went in or out, so news was cut off.
When the death knell was sounded, the concubines were already in a panic. Although they had some idea of what was going on, they just didn't want to believe it.
Their foundation was the emperor's favor, but now that the emperor is gone, where will they go?
Consort Shu naturally heard it as well.
"Now only my son has come of age. Open the palace doors and help me with my hair and makeup."
When His Majesty dies, the officials will surely support her son to become emperor, and she will then become the Empress Dowager.
Consort Shu was smiling and dreaming of becoming Empress Dowager when the Imperial Guards arrived.
"His Majesty has passed away. The Regent requests that the palace concubines go to keep vigil!"
Consort Shu's eyes flashed with surprise; "Why is it Shen Lanxi who sent you to summon me? Where is the Prince of Zhennan?"
Where is her son?
The Imperial Guardsman said coldly, "The Prince of Zhennan colluded with foreign tribes, plotting a rebellion, and has now fled."
The color drained from Consort Shu's face instantly, leaving her as pale as paper.
"Impossible! My son is the youngest and most promising of all the princes. Even if he does nothing, he will still be the crown prince. He would never rebel!"
No one from the Imperial Guards dared to waste words with Consort Shu's nonsense; they went straight to the point: "The Regent has said that anyone unwilling to keep vigil is someone who wishes to be buried alive with the deceased!"
Kneeling before the coffin and crying, the concubines wished to be buried in the imperial mausoleum together. They were so foolish that they didn't know how to choose.
The other concubines all left on their own, crying and sobbing, but Consort Shu was the only one who was carried to the Hall of Mental Cultivation by the palace eunuchs.
White cloth fluttered in the wind, and in no time, the palace was covered in white.
Shen Lanxi looked at the group of concubines kneeling on the ground without saying a word, while Wang Bao leaned forward and whispered a couple of words.
“The illegitimate son of the Prince of Zhennan has always been raised in the palace by Consort Shu.”
Shen Lanxi: "Where is he?"
Wang Baoyang said, "Bring the Prince of Zhennan and the illegitimate son of that criminal girl."
Consort Shu, as if she had been manipulated, screamed and scrambled to her feet. She had only gotten halfway up when a eunuch standing guard grabbed her shoulders and forced her back down.
"Shen Lanxi, my son is His Majesty's most beloved son. He will inherit the throne and become emperor. You dare to lay a hand on my grandson? Aren't you afraid that my son will take your life?"
Shen Lanxi sneered: "A criminal who angered his father to death and plotted to usurp the throne, dares to covet the imperial throne?"
"The child of a sinner is also a sinner. I have shown leniency and spared his life. How dare Consort Shu still have such a presumptuous idea?"
"It seems that I am too easy to talk to, which is why Consort Shu has such wishful thinking."
"Since Consort Shu is so protective of a rebellious son who caused her father's death, she must have already betrayed His Majesty and is unfit to be a consort. Then let her rest in peace with her uncle!"
Consort Shu screamed.
“Shen Lanxi, if you dare to lay a finger on me or my grandson, my son will never let you get away with it.”
"My son did not usurp the throne; it is you who truly wants to usurp it!"
"Shen Lanxi, you seized power, eliminated dissidents, and slaughtered concubines and princes. You are the biggest sinner, and you deserve to die the most!"
Wang Bao glanced at the eunuchs on either side: "This madwoman has gone mad, hurry up and gag this old servant!"
"His Majesty already disliked Consort Shu before his death. He knew about the dirty deeds Consort Shu had done behind His Majesty's back all these years, and it was this old servant who dealt with them on her behalf. If it weren't for the fact that you had borne children, His Majesty would have already given you poisoned wine."
Wang Bao had a high-pitched voice, but he spoke with extraordinary force.
"Your Majesty has killed seven princes and has ten unborn children over the years. You have also killed or driven many concubines mad. I won't go into details. You have long been abandoned by His Majesty!" Wang Bao finished speaking with a cold snort, full of disdain.
Consort Shu struggled to refute, but the eunuch held her down firmly, gagged her, and she couldn't make a sound.
"Your Highness, the guilty child has been brought." The Imperial Guards brought in a trembling, wailing child.
Consort Shu struggled even more, her face contorted in rage, looking every bit like a madwoman.
Shen Lanxi looked at her young son with a complicated expression.
"The mistakes made by adults should not be made to punish children. Send them back to the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion, and from this day forward, the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion will be permanently sealed off!"
"yes!"
"As for Consort Shu? She has committed far too many wrongdoings. Let her be buried with my uncle!"
"yes!"
Wang Bao flicked his whisk and his voice rose in a high-pitched, shrill tone: "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and send the guilty concubine on her way!"
The eunuchs escorted the struggling Consort Shu away for punishment.
The concubines kneeling on the ground were so frightened that they dared not cry out loud, but only curled up on the ground and wept silently.
Shen Lanxi suppressed the demons and monsters as quickly as possible, restoring peace to the palace.
The people of the capital began to live in fear, for tragedies always occurred during the transition between the old and new dynasties. As a result, people dared not go out on the streets, and the shops on the streets were all kept tightly closed.
After arranging the affairs of Emperor Renxiao's funeral, Shen Lanxi immediately appeared in the court.
"Now that our Great Zhou is in dire need of rebuilding, and foreign envoys have arrived in the capital, our Great Zhou should not be too immersed in grief, lest we give foreign tribes an opportunity to take advantage of us!"
The officials remained silent.
"The original plan was to keep the body in state for 100 days, but now it will be reduced to one month. All shops on the street will be closed for two days. Places of entertainment such as taverns, teahouses, and theaters will be closed for five days. Places of pleasure such as pleasure boats and brothels will be closed for one month."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
