RWNEFE -Chapter 134 Those Who Harm My Loved Ones, Die!

Shen Lanxi said, “Don’t reveal any news about them to anyone for now!”

Liu Yanhui’s eyes lit up—he realized he was seeing a glimpse of the Shen family’s hidden cards.

“Yes!”

On the way back, they ran into Wei Dongzhu, who was out gathering firewood.

“Heading back?”

Wei Dongzhu nodded, holding the firewood. “Yes, back!”

“I don’t know how long this snow will last. I’ve heard from the elders that in Dongchuan, once snow falls, it doesn’t melt all winter, and it often snows repeatedly!” Wei Dongzhu said.

Shen Lanxi replied, “We’re not in a hurry. Snow will stop eventually.”

Liu Yanhui thought for a moment. “If the weather clears and the roads are good, we could reach Baihe County in a month.”

That was the end of their exile route.

Shen Lanxi took a deep breath of the icy air and said, “Dinner in half an hour, then we hold a meeting.”

Both men widened their eyes slightly and hurried to catch up to Shen Lanxi’s pace.

After dinner, when the Shen family noticed that Chunxue had called only Shen Yuanjing, they all looked at her in surprise.

“Chunxue, only Yuanjing?” Madam Liu asked.

Chunxue, under the questioning gazes of the Shen family, answered bravely, “Yes.”

“Are you sure you didn’t mishear? Think again,” Madam Tian insisted.

Chunxue lowered her head, twitching at the corner of her mouth.

“No, only Young Master Yuanjing!”

Madam Liu shot a glance at Madam Miao, sneering internally. Even if she made embroidered shoes or fawned over people, it wouldn’t make her one of them.

Madam Miao pouted silently.

Shen Yuanjing quickly walked over.

This time, with him included, he hesitated briefly, glanced at the empty seats, and sat next to Liu Yanhui where there were fewer people.

“The northwest peace talks succeeded. The Emperor of Dazhou has decided to marry into the Turkic tribe!”

Wei Dongzhu’s eyes flashed. “Has His Majesty punished Zhou Ruyuan for dereliction of duty?”

Liu Yanhui shook his head. “How could a father really punish his son?”

Liu Laohu suddenly stood up. “I’m sleepy, can’t stay awake. I’m going back to sleep!”

Liu Yanhui teased lightly, smiling, “Doesn’t that make sense?”

Liu Laohu hurried out, scared—he couldn’t hear what they were discussing! If he kept listening, he’d know too much.

He ran off like a dog being chased, disappearing from sight.

Cheng Zheng wrote: “Divide and collapse!”

Wei Dongzhu’s eyes lit up. “It’s possible!” Among the combined Turkic-Tartar-Persian forces, the Turks are the strongest. If we neutralize them, the coalition will collapse on its own!

Sang Guo wrote: “What if the Turks fake a peace marriage?”

Liu Yanhui nodded, then shook his head. “If the three-party coalition isn’t ready to attack all of Dazhou, peace talks are necessary. The best way to negotiate peace is through a marriage alliance.”

Wei Dongzhu said, “The coalition is just using the Wei army situation to take advantage. Dazhou’s army is strong—if we mobilize forces, we needn’t fear any coalition, no matter how large.”

Shen Lanxi added another piece of news: “Zhou Ruyuan has been appointed as the emissary for peace talks.”

The tableful of people stared at the expressionless Shen Lanxi.

She had once been Zhou Ruyuan’s wife, the Princess of Zhen’nan, right?

“Why are you staring at me? Do I have words on my face?” Shen Lanxi glanced around.

Everyone quickly averted their eyes—those looking at the table looked at the table, those at the teacups looked at the teacups.

“It’s snowing in the northwest too!” Shen Lanxi revealed more news.

Wei Dongzhu clenched his teeth, understanding the implications immediately.

Liu Yanhui thought aloud, “If it’s snowing, even if they wanted to attack, they can’t!”

Wei Dongzhu’s voice was icy. “Not just that—they are nomads, both the Turks and Tartars. In winter, with shortages of food and supplies, they would come plundering Dazhou villages!”

Liu Yanhui looked at him. “You seem to know a lot about the northwest?”

Wei Dongzhu remained silent.

Cheng Zheng wrote: “Only peace talks are possible.”

Sang Guo wrote: “You conservatives can seize the opportunity to attack!”

Other students of Qinglan Academy began writing as well.

Wei Dongzhu wanted to speak but was stopped by Shen Lanxi’s raised hand.

Let the students of Qinglan Academy finish first.

At first, Wei Dongzhu didn’t understand, until he saw the students working diligently—then he realized her intent.

Sang Guo, advocating war, wrote: “They lack supplies, not skilled at defending cities.”

Cheng Zheng, advocating peace, wrote: “Dazhou is suffering from drought, no food.”

Sang Guo slapped his head—he had forgotten to consider the current situation.

The students continued writing, detailing both the reasons for war and for peace.

When they finished, Wei Dongzhu had nothing more to say. The students had laid out every argument.

He hesitated.

Seeing no one speak, Shen Lanxi revealed another piece of news: “The court plans to issue an amnesty to the Northwest King!”

“Who?” Liu Yanhui exclaimed.

Wei Dongzhu reminded him, “The bandit leader, the one who chased us at Huijiang Wharf!”

Liu Yanhui thought: no need to be so detailed!

“Amnestying a bandit—what is the court thinking?”

Shen Lanxi was about to speak when suddenly, someone banged loudly on the door.

Chunxue, just arriving at the door, heard a familiar voice.

“It’s me!”

It was Fifth Young Master Feng.

“He’s here!” Chunxue opened the door while Qiushuang went to report.

“Master, Fifth Young Master Feng is here!”

Shen Lanxi immediately rose to greet him.

Feng Wu entered, glanced around, and Shen Lanxi nodded, signaling him to speak.

“Horse bandits from Qingsong Mountain have entered the village. Two were injured!”

Shen Lanxi’s face turned cold. She turned to Wei Dongzhu and the others. “Continue your meeting. I’ll return shortly.”

With that, she swiftly departed.

Wei Dongzhu wanted to follow, but Liu Yanhui restrained him.

“The Master didn’t ask for us!” he said.

Wei Dongzhu thought to argue that he was going to protect her but, considering her strength, swallowed the words.

Seeing Wei Dongzhu sit, Liu Yanhui also sat down and joined Cheng Zheng and others in discussing the northwest.

…

A long staff whistled through the air, smashing hard against the long wooden chest held horizontally across Xiao Fang’s chest.

“Pft—”

Xiao Fang spat a mouthful of blood, stumbled back five or six steps. The chest jabbed backward, stopping his fall. With a thud, he knelt on one knee, clutching his chest.

“Uncle…” The minion’s soul seemed to fly out in fright, rushing forward to help him.

Xiao Fang coughed twice, spat out the congealed blood, and cursed after catching his breath: “I told you to call me the Boss, not Uncle!”

The minion babbled: “Does it matter what you’re called now? You’re already spewing blood. If you weren’t my uncle, I wouldn’t care about you!”

Xiao Fang’s eyes, bloodshot, fixed on the tall figure standing with the long staff.

Snowflakes fell in thick sheets, the world a sea of white, casting a cold, absolute edge over Shen Lanxi’s jade-like face.

She pointed the staff at Xiao Fang, speaking each word with icy finality:

“Those who harm my loved ones… die!”

Xiao Fang felt a chill down his spine.

This time, he had hit a brick wall.