Volume 1 Chapter 36: Sudden Change

Page (1/3)

Liu Shizhuang was truly a man of remarkable composure. He showed no sign of displeasure over any of Shen Ran’s actions, nor did he signal the officials who followed him to bring pressure to bear on Shen Ran. Instead, he opened his own coffers and gave his full support to Shen Ran’s relief efforts, earning unanimous praise throughout the court and the realm.

The following half month passed in perfect tranquility. Even Liu Ruyi gradually fell silent within her Qifeng Palace, neither vying for favor nor making a fuss. Day after day, she went to the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility barefaced to attend upon the Empress Dowager.

The current Empress Dowager of Great Zhou was Shen Ran’s own mother, the late emperor’s Consort Li. She possessed little learning and even less foresight. The position she held now was owed entirely to the honor brought her by her son.

Ever since she had become Empress Dowager, she had leaped to become the most esteemed woman in the entire inner court. Apart from indulging in the wealth and splendor of her new life, there were only two things she did each day—

First, secretly keep male favorites.

Second, find fault with every woman in Shen Ran’s harem. When she had lived in fear at the late emperor’s side, she had feared being outshone, feared losing favor overnight, feared ending up worse off than a dog. Though she had once enjoyed glory, she had scarcely slept peacefully for a single night. Now that she had finally endured long enough to become the mother-in-law, she naturally intended to flaunt the authority of an Empress Dowager to her heart’s content.

Toward this birth mother of his, a woman born at the bottom of society who had become so dazzled by wealth and rank that she refused to let go, Shen Ran made no excessive demands—

So long as she did not provoke Liu Ruyi, she could do as she pleased.

Liu Ruyi, for her part, had always kept a respectful distance from the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager still retained her former charm, and when she went out in full dress, she remained an eye-catching presence among the crowd. But the years spared no one. No amount of care could make her rival a maiden in the bloom of youth.

Beauty was the sole means by which she had survived.

Besides, when she had been young, she had fought others over a husband.

Now that she was older, she naturally had to fight others over her son as well.

Thus she hated young and beautiful women—and hated even more those young and beautiful women favored by Shen Ran.

Liu Ruyi possessed both qualities and had long been regarded by the Empress Dowager as a thorn in her side and a splinter in her flesh.

Even if she prized her reputation for virtue, she was not foolish enough to throw herself into danger. Yet now she had begun rushing eagerly to the Empress Dowager’s palace.

There was something decidedly unusual about it, and Shen Ran could not help sensing it.

He did not believe this was submission born of Liu Shizhuang and Liu Ruyi’s despair. If they could truly accept his coldness with such calm indifference to honor or disgrace, how could they possibly have conspired with Prince Chen to rebel in their previous lives?

The only thing Shen Ran had yet to determine was whom they had set their sights on.

Xue Wu?

Zhao Yuanzhuo?

Someone at his side?

Wen Xi and Yuanbao?

Or—

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

Himself?

He certainly had no fear of anyone coming to cause trouble for him.

He was not a peace-loving emperor.

Whether in Great Zhou or among the Rong and Di, he had been surrounded by trouble since childhood.

He himself was trouble.

But Liu Shizhuang still wielded too much power, while Shen Ran had too few people he could rely on. He had no way to keep watch over everyone at all times.

What worried Shen Ran most was that they might target Xue Wu or Zhao Yuanzhuo.

This day fell at the end of the month and happened to be one of the days when Shen Ran held court.

Under Liu Shizhuang’s rule, Great Zhou was forever peaceful and prosperous, with scarcely any major affairs to report. After listening to a whole morning of tedious trifles, Shen Ran sat in his imperial carriage on the way to Weiyang Palace, feeling drowsy.

Who could have expected that, as the carriage passed through the Imperial Garden, Wen Xi would come running toward him?

Her expression was anxious.

Wen Xi would never leave Weiyang Palace without good reason. At a glance, Shen Ran knew something was wrong.

He immediately ordered the carriage to stop, then summoned Wen Xi forward.

“What happened?”

Wen Xi bowed slightly and leaned close to his ear, speaking in a low voice. “Your Majesty, while you were attending court this morning, the Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort went together to Yikun Palace. They ordered the palace gates sealed and have been searching the entire palace from top to bottom. No one knows what they are looking for.”

Great Zhou had always governed by the principles of benevolence and filial piety. The Empress Dowager was, after all, Shen Ran’s birth mother. Even Liu Ruyi had once been unable to confront her directly, and with Xue Wu’s temperament, going head-to-head with her would only leave Xue Wu at a disadvantage.

“Why didn’t the guards stop them?” Shen Ran asked.

His tone was perfectly calm.

Yet the darkness in his eyes seemed woven with hidden blades, and even a brief glance was enough to send a chill through the bones.

“Why didn’t they?” Wen Xi said. “But Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was so furious and overbearing that they truly could not stop her.”

“Still, the guards cannot be blamed for that. The Noble Consort has always been renowned for her virtue, so there is little to say about her. But the Empress Dowager has a difficult temper, and she is Your Majesty’s birth mother. Without an imperial edict, who would dare offend her lightly?”

At this, Shen Ran curved his lips without the slightest trace of a smile. The icy severity in his eyes faded as he said indifferently, “What of Zhao Yuanzhuo?”

Wen Xi sighed softly. “The moment the Empress Dowager entered Yikun Palace, she tried to slap Her Majesty the Empress. He blocked every blow, but the Empress Dowager is a woman, and her status is what it is. He did not dare truly lay hands on her, so he has suffered for it.”

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

Shen Ran gave a toneless “Mm.”

After a brief pause, he lightly tapped his index finger against the carriage.

“Have a horse prepared.”

……

The roads within the palace were intricate and unsuited to riding, but Shen Ran relied on his superb horsemanship and galloped all the way. Before long, he reached the gates of Yikun Palace. From within came the clear sound of a teacup shattering.

When the guards on duty saw the emperor arrive, they immediately dropped to their knees in two long rows, their faces filled with both awe and terror. Several people tried to enter and deliver the news, but Shen Ran ordered them all to be stopped.

The hem of his robe swept over the marble steps. Without so much as a sidelong glance, he strode upward and ordered the tightly closed palace gates forced open. As he crossed the threshold, he saw broken porcelain scattered across the floor, the entire palace in disarray.

Zhao Yuanzhuo was being forced to kneel atop the shards by two guards as fierce as wolves and tigers. Blood was slowly seeping from beneath his knees, making for a shocking sight.

The Empress Dowager sat high in the principal seat, her face dark with anger.

Liu Ruyi stood behind her.

Xue Wu knelt before the Empress Dowager.

When Shen Ran had the palace gates broken open, everyone turned toward the sound. Upon seeing him, each face revealed a different expression.

The guards paid no heed to the shards littering the floor and fell to their knees with a great clatter.

For an instant, the Empress Dowager’s expression turned unnatural, but she quickly picked up the teacup beside her and lowered her head to drink.

Liu Ruyi’s face was tinged with an unhealthy pallor.

It made her appear all the more delicate and pitiful, the sort of beauty anyone might long to protect.

She bowed gracefully toward Shen Ran, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Your Majesty, this concubine pays her respects.”

Yet Shen Ran seemed not to hear her. He took several steps forward and reached out to help Xue Wu up.

Liu Ruyi’s expression changed drastically.

Seeing that Shen Ran had not even asked her permission, the Empress Dowager, who had been drinking tea with her head lowered, frowned sharply as well.

With a loud crack, she set the teacup down on the table and said in a deep voice, “Emperor, you must not—”

But before she could finish, Shen Ran had already lifted Xue Wu from the floor without the slightest hesitation.

The Empress Dowager’s voice cut off abruptly.

Page (3/3)