Chapter 537 Zhou Ruyuan waited in vain!
Che Mingyuan accompanied Shen Lanxi to see Wang Bao off from the palace.
Unlike the previous forty bald imperial envoys, when Wang Bao left, Shen Lanxi bestowed upon him an imperial carriage, a rank equivalent to half the ceremonial regalia of a prince.
"Your Majesty is reluctant to part with him?" Che Mingyuan looked at Wang Bao, who was still leaning forward and waving in the distance, and waved back.
Shen Lanxi: "He is a close attendant of the emperor. With him in charge, no official from Dongchuan will dare to bully anyone when they arrive in Ganzhou, Shu."
There's another thing: Wang Bao has two masters in his heart. She can understand that, but she can't let him stay.
The next morning at court, a stranger was standing to Shen Lanxi's right, but he wasn't wearing a eunuch's robe.
Some sharp-eyed people recognized that this person was the leader of the gift-giving team from Guigu on the day of the coronation ceremony.
The courtiers gained a deeper understanding of the extent of Guigu's loyalty to Shen Lanxi.
On the other side
Zhou Ruyuan still refused to compromise on human lives, convinced that a woman becoming empress would inevitably provoke widespread public resentment. When popular uprisings broke out in various places, he would seize the opportunity to raise the royal banner.
Unfortunately, he waited and waited, until Shen Lanxi ascended the throne, but still could not get what he wanted.
"I do not believe that Shen Lanxi can make the people of the world submit." If it were a man, it would be understandable, but Shen Lanxi is a woman, so it is absolutely impossible.
Jiang Wuyai: "If Your Highness is not in a hurry, you can wait a little longer!"
Zhou Ruyuan also felt that the time was not right, so he waited another month, but there was still no movement from the capital. He became anxious.
"No, I must personally go and investigate among the common people!"
Jiang Wuyai personally accompanied him.
...
They walked into a field.
"Old man, the current emperor is a woman, so why are you all so happy to farm?" Zhou Ruyuan asked, puzzled.
The old farmer, facing the loess soil with his back to the sky, raised his dark, wrinkled face, a satisfied smile on his face.
"What else is there to do if we don't farm? No matter who becomes emperor, we common people still need to eat."
Zhou Ruyuan was furious: "If a woman becomes emperor, isn't she afraid of divine punishment and chaos in the world?"
The old farmer shook his head and waved his hand: "I don't understand what you're saying. All I know is that my family cleared ten more acres of wasteland last year, and we don't have to pay taxes on those ten acres. The taxes on the land we used to cultivate were also reduced by 30%. The imperial court built a river channel for us, and we're growing drought-resistant crops. Since last year, my family hasn't gone hungry, and no one in the village has starved to death."
After resting enough, the old farmer picked up his hoe and continued weeding under the scorching sun.
Zhou Ruyuan silently moved to another place.
"Let a woman be the emperor! Since last year, our shop has had a lot of ridiculous taxes reduced, and no one dares to cause trouble. No matter who is the emperor, as long as we can make money and eat and wear peacefully, that's fine!"
They moved to another place.
"The newly enthroned emperor is good to the people. In previous years, at this time, there were groups of beggars on the streets. Have you seen them this year?"
...
Zhou Ruyuan asked around all day, refusing to believe it, and got pretty much the same results.
They, the common people, didn't care at all who became emperor. They only cared about whether there would be war, natural disasters, or whether it would affect their food and drink.
Jiang Wuyai: "These people really have no integrity whatsoever."
After returning home, Zhou Ruyuan locked himself in his room for a day. When he came out again, he sent someone to deliver a letter to Zhou Qiwu.
He was willing to consider Wang Xiangyi.
Upon receiving the news, Zhou Xiwu immediately ordered someone to summon his daughter.
“That short-lived Liu has ruined your life. We must seize this opportunity. When you marry Zhou Ruyuan, you will be the empress when he ascends the throne. I will be the most noble princess in the world.”
Wang Xiangyi's heart fluttered as she thought of Zhou Ruyuan, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.
The news from Tianjin was quickly delivered to Shen Lanxi.
"Does His Majesty intend for Zhou Ruyuan to go to Tianjin?" Che Mingyuan was already certain in his heart.
He had already witnessed her strategic planning; she was meticulous in scheming and foresight. How could she possibly leave such a great threat as Zhou Ruyuan out in the open?
“Military Advisor Che understands my heart very well,” Shen Lanxi said with a smile.
Che Mingyuan wasn't curious about anything else; he was curious about whoever could influence Zhou Ruyuan's decision—it must be someone close to him.
But this person is one of theirs.
Seeing Che Mingyuan frowning in thought, Shen Lanxi decided not to hide it anymore.
"Jiang Wuyai".
Che Mingyuan was taken aback: Who?
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Jiang Wuyai is the successor of the thatched cottage."
Che Mingyuan knew about the thatched cottage and Jiang Wuyai, but he couldn't connect the title with the person.
"Jiang Wuyai is a descendant of the thatched cottage?" That idiot standing next to Zhou Ruyuan?
Shen Lanxi glanced at the sulking Che Mingyuan and said, "It's fake."
Where can she find the true descendants of the thatched cottage?
"It's fake?... Then it's the correct version."
"If Jiang Wuyai is truly a descendant of the thatched cottage, then I am a successor of Guiguzi," Che Mingyuan joked.
Shen Lanxi blinked: "Strategist Che has truly keen insight."
Just as there is a contest between the monarch and the princess, there is also a contest between these strategists and advisors.
Che Mingyuan had always disliked Zhou Ruyuan because of his background in the Southwest. If he were to actually receive assistance from the descendants of the thatched cottage, it would be a miracle that God was blind.
"Is Jiang Wuyai one of ours?" Che Mingyuan remembered this again.
Shen Lanxi smiled and nodded, without saying anything more.
~
It's been over a month since the lockdown, and those who were reunited with their families have already done so. It's time to go and take up my post.
These were all people promoted and given important positions by Shen Lanxi, and she would definitely see them off in person when they left.
Soon it will be the turn of the Shen family's sons.
“This time you will all be going your separate ways, and I’m afraid there will be very few opportunities for you all to get together again!” Shen Lanxi sighed.
Most of the sons of the Shen family follow the path of military generals, who, in addition to fighting on the battlefield, also have to defend the territory.
Even if they were to return to the capital, it would be impossible to recall them all.
The Shen family men all understand this, which is why they cherish this reunion even more.
"Brother, take care. Send a message by carrier pigeon when you arrive at your destination."
"Third brother, take care. Let's keep in touch by letter."
"Yuanpeng, Yuanhao, learn more from your superiors!"
A farewell at home is a farewell at home, and a farewell between ruler and subject is a farewell between ruler and subject. The Shen family's sons had already bid farewell to the Shen family before, and this time Shen Lanxi is bidding farewell to the Shen family's sons with the etiquette between ruler and subject.
Shen Yuanjing: "Your Majesty, the conditions at the border are harsh, and the children have reached the age to begin their education. I would like to send them to the capital."
Shen Lanxi nodded: "Alright, make the arrangements when we get back. I will arrange for the Shen family's children to study at the Imperial Academy!"
When the other sons of the Shen family heard Shen Lanxi agree, they immediately thanked her.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"
When the time came, the Shen family men all bid farewell, and Shen Lanxi stood there watching them leave.
The dust rolled in and gradually settled until the shadows were no longer visible before Shen Lanxi left.
"Your Majesty, news has come from the Prince of Guilty's residence: Bai Qingling's adopted son has died!"
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