Chapter 654 Shen Lanxi's true identity is revealed to the public!
With her people being placed one after another into the Ministry of Rites, Zhou Xinrou was in high spirits, happier than ever before.
Since Huang Yu returned to the capital to take up her post, she has arranged for nearly a hundred people to enter the court. Among them, twelve hold important positions, nearly fifty hold medium-level positions, and the rest hold less important positions.
Even so, it made her realize how much the imperial court was short of manpower.
She casually planted over a hundred people, and not a single one noticed.
Besides her, Huang Yu's city guard also had a lot of people placed in it since Huang Yu took office as commander. Although there were not many important positions, the number of soldiers was not small.
These Huang Yu were all people she had consulted, and she had reviewed them all. She was very satisfied with the number of people currently in the capital.
"Huang Yu is too busy; he doesn't even have time to come see me!" Zhou Xinrou sighed as she looked at the court robes and phoenix crown sent by the Ministry of Rites.
The old woman smiled and said, "Your Majesty, isn't it better for the young master to be a little busy? It would be bad if she stayed by your side every day."
Zhou Xinrou recalled something: "Is there any common saying about the fact that only the Empress Dowager was granted a title, but not Shen Congwen?"
The old woman said, "Of course, some people are talking about it in private. Those people just think that His Majesty is taking his anger out on the Shen family because of Shen Congyi."
Zhou Xinrou said with satisfaction, "It's not that I'm unwilling to give the Shen family a chance, it's that the Shen family is unworthy!"
The nanny quickly agreed.
"Granny, do you think the title of Empress Dowager Minrou sounds a bit too weak?" With the time to enter the palace approaching and the court dress and phoenix carriage already prepared, Zhou Xinrou began to feel that the title was too gentle.
“I am now the Empress Dowager. Such a weak title would make me seem dependent on Shen Lanxi.”
The old woman nodded: "The titles of the previous two empress dowagers both contained the character '慈' (compassionate), so this title is indeed more grand."
Zhou Xinrou looked at the imperial edict with displeasure, and her mood instantly soured.
"Go and send a message to the palace, and a message to the Ministry of Rites, to renegotiate my title!"
The old woman was somewhat embarrassed.
"Your Majesty, there is still time, but the imperial edict has already been issued. His Majesty's word is law, and there is no reason to take back an imperial edict once it has been issued."
Getting Shen Lanxi to retract the imperial decree will be difficult!
After all, Shen Lanxi had come to value imperial power more than maternal affection.
Zhou Xinrou snorted coldly: "If you don't satisfy me, you have to change it. I've tolerated it for so long, I'm not going to tolerate it any longer."
The old woman had no way to deal with her, so she immediately sent someone to deliver a message to the palace.
The palace responded very quickly.
"Empress Dowager, His Majesty said that this title is to commemorate the Empress Dowager and the late Crown Prince. After all, the title of Princess Minrou was personally bestowed by the Empress Dowager," the nanny said, frowning.
Upon hearing the two people mentioned in the reply, Zhou Xinrou's face immediately showed a resentful expression.
"Your Majesty, if we change the title now, people may criticize us for being disrespectful to you and the former Crown Prince." This would be detrimental to their future actions.
Zhou Xinrou's heart sank. Did she have to endure it again?
"Your Majesty, if you are dissatisfied with the title, there will be opportunities to change it in the future. Not changing the title this time is actually beneficial to our plan."
Zhou Xinrou lowered her eyes and thought about it again and again. Indeed, her title and her personality, as long as she stood outside, would remind people of the Empress Dowager and the previous dynasty.
Her identity, coupled with her words, would naturally convince the people.
"Then let's not change it for now!" From now on, she must decide her own title.
~
Since the imperial decree was issued, the Shen family had come to see Zhou Xinrou, but they were all turned away by the nanny beside her.
Regardless of age or gender, no one is seen.
Seeing that there was no hope of finding her, the Shen family had no choice but to turn to Shen Congwen.
Unfortunately, Shen Congwen was living a life of debauchery and didn't listen to any of this.
Before they knew it, the day arrived to welcome the Empress Dowager into the palace. Shen Lanxi led the officials to personally welcome Zhou Xinrou into the palace.
This was undoubtedly the most glorious moment for Zhou Xinrou.
Dressed in the Empress Dowager's court robes, adorned with brocade and jade, she exuded elegance and nobility.
Even His Majesty, the most powerful man in the land, must bow before the Empress Dowager and respectfully address her as "Empress Dowager."
Zhou Xinrou was helped to stand on the phoenix carriage. She glanced back at the Shen family with a cold look in her eyes.
She would never return to this place that disgusted and loathed her.
Let's go!
The eunuch announced loudly, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, it is time to return to the palace!"
This time, with the phoenix carriage in front and the dragon carriage behind, His Majesty's filial piety and respect for the Empress Dowager were evident everywhere.
The ceremony to confer the title of Empress Dowager was held in front of the temple in the palace.
Zhou Xinrou faced the officials and revealed the truth of her years of enduring humiliation.
"I am the widow of the late Crown Prince!"
The officials stared wide-eyed in shock. Shen Congwen wasn't dead yet? How did he suddenly become "Imperial Consort"?
What is the story of the late Crown Prince's widow?
All the officials turned to look at Shen Lanxi.
"When my mother was young, she and the late Crown Prince were in love. Later, the Empress Dowager sensed that things were not going well in the palace. In order to preserve the bloodline, she betrothed my mother to Shen Congwen."
The officials were shocked once again. Was that really the case?
What happened to the senior officials who knew about this back then?
What about the old ministers?
My eyes swept around and I saw that most of them were officials promoted after His Majesty ascended the throne, and they were all relatively young. Where were the old ministers?
Zhou Xinrou continued, "The Empress Dowager was right. Later, a palace coup did occur. All these years, I have been patient, fearing that the bloodline of the late Crown Prince would be discovered. I was also grateful to the Shen family and thought that I would never have the chance to reveal my son's true identity to the public, so I gave myself to Shen Congwen."
The officials immediately thought of Shen Yuanjing and his group.
So, Your Majesty is a descendant of the former Crown Prince?
Why didn't you say so before? Your Majesty carries the blood of the Great Zhou royal family, which would be more advantageous for ascending the throne.
"I want the whole world to know that even without royal blood, I can still be supported by the people. I am the emperor who is the will of the people!"
The officials nodded slowly, showing some understanding.
Even if His Majesty had previously announced that he was a descendant of the former Crown Prince, it would not compare to the identity of Zhou Ruyuan, a man. It would only be misunderstood as sophistry and unreasonable argument.
No one believed it, and there was not a single bit of help.
Now that I've said it, it's like adding icing on the cake.
"Ever since I learned about my origins, I have been determined to overthrow Emperor Renxiao's tyranny and expose his evil deeds to the public!"
"Back then, he forced the emperor to abdicate, murdered his brothers and father, all in order to seize power, consolidate imperial authority, force the empress to her death, and marry Lady Qi, whose family held considerable military power."
"After he came to power, he persecuted loyal officials, poisoned veteran ministers, and tortured them on various charges for knowing about his usurpation. He even killed their families. Anyone who knew the truth back then was silenced in various ways."
"Zhou Chengqian's numerous atrocities are too numerous to recount. I have endured humiliation and hardship to reach this point, precisely to expose his crimes and let all the people of the world know the evil deeds he committed back then!"
The officials suddenly realized what was happening.
No wonder His Majesty raised an army in Dongchuan; it was not a coincidence, but rather a reflection of his desire for revenge.
"Your Majesty is of royal blood and is the true Son of Heaven of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
Even if Zhou Chengqian were to usurp the throne, he would not be able to hold onto it securely.
"Your Majesty's ascension to the throne is legitimate and rightful, and is the mandate of Heaven!"
Zhou Xinrou frowned as she looked at Shen Lanxi; these were not among the topics they were discussing.
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