RWNEFE -Chapter 179 Inspectors Sent by the Court!

Council Hall

“Sir, should we just deal with them?” Xiao Fang was eager to act.

Wei Dongzhu: “They brought carrier pigeons and messenger hawks!”

Xiao Fang crossed his arms, clearly annoyed.

Cheng Zheng wrote: “Even in other armies, there is the position of an inspector.”

Sang Guo: “Their aim is to push the general aside and take his place!”

As soon as he said it, he hit the nail on the head.

Wei Dongzhu: “Agreed!”

Xiao Fang sneered: “Ha! And they actually have the nerve!”

Shen Lanxi: “They came to our territory. Here, we call the shots!”

“In the field, the orders of the sovereign need not always be obeyed!”

Wei Dongzhu nodded: “Agreed!”

Xiao Fang: “Well said!”

Shen Lanxi squinted: “The weather is freezing, supplies are scarce, and food conditions are relatively poor.”

As she sat down, the rows of men around her laughed!

Not only was food scarce in their camp, but there was no firewood either. Once on their territory, it was only proper to show a little hospitality!

When Zhao Chengkai and Wu Tong saw black steamed buns and beans, they were so furious they almost smashed their plates.

“We are inspectors sent from the capital! And they dare feed us this?”

“And they didn’t even provide firewood! They must want to freeze us to death!”

Wu Tong shouted angrily, kicking tables and chairs.

“Keep your voice down!” Zhao Chengkai scolded in a low, grim tone.

Wu Tong glared fiercely at him. Who are you to give me orders?

Zhao Chengkai calmly reminded: “Be careful; the walls have ears.”

Wu Tong huffed and stomped to a chair, sitting down.

“They are utterly insolent! I must petition the Emperor!”

Zhao Chengkai silently cursed him in his mind. Petition? For what? Petition that Shen Lanxi fed them beans and forced them to sleep in cold rooms? If she said, “All supplies were taken by the Eastern Liao King; the court will provide,” what would they do? If they messed it up, they might never return to the capital!

“We’ve already delayed our schedule. If we petition without results, and the Emperor asks why, what then?” Indeed, no brains—why would the Emperor send such a reckless playboy?

Wu Tong was stumped but couldn’t swallow his anger!

“Call Shen Yuanxu to see me! I have urgent business!” Wu Tong shouted toward the door.

As soon as the door opened, a gust of cold air hit him, chilling him to the bone. He quickly shut the door.

“What kind of weather is this? If it weren’t for the snow, how could our schedule have been delayed?”

Zhao Chengkai snapped: “Do you think the Emperor will listen to your excuses?”

He wouldn’t. The Emperor only cares about results!

Wu Tong, even angrier, grabbed a black corn bun from the table and threw it at the wall.

Bang…

Like a rock hitting the wall. Not a dent on the bun.

Wu Tong jumped back in shock.

“Damn it! That could have killed someone—how are we supposed to eat this?”

Zhao Chengkai glared even darker at the bun on the floor.

…

“Yuanxu, Wu Tong is demanding to see you. What do you think?” Shen Lanxi called for Shen Yuanxu.

Shen Yuanxu had guessed something.

“If he wants to use the Wu family to spy on military matters through me, he’s got the wrong person!”

Shen Lanxi raised the corner of her mouth: “You won’t see him?”

Shen Yuanxu: “No.”

“I suggest you meet him,” Shen Lanxi said.

So she wanted him to find out what Wu Tong was up to?

“If the General wants me to see him, then I will!”

Shen Lanxi: “Just a suggestion. Up to you whether to follow it.”

Soon, Shen Yuanxu went to meet Wu Tong.

There was a knock at the door. Wu Tong hurried to open it, and upon seeing Shen Yuanxu, immediately smiled.

“Brother-in-law.”

Shen Yuanxu frowned: “I am divorced from the Wu family. Our families have no connection. Don’t call me brother-in-law.”

Wu Tong feigned helplessness: “Yuanxu, let me be honest. My sister divorced you because she was carrying your child. She wanted to give birth safely.”

Shen Yuanxu stared at him.

Wu Tong’s eyes flickered, continuing: “It’s a boy—strong and healthy, just like you. After my sister gave birth, she took the child to a villa outside the capital. I escorted them both there!”

Shen Yuanxu lowered his eyes. After a long pause, he asked: “Are they well?”

Wu Tong smiled inwardly at the question and feigned seriousness: “Life is barely livable. She is alone and judged by others. Once the child grows and understands, it’ll be two of them facing scrutiny. She, a fragile woman, with an innocent child… alas~”

Shen Yuanxu lowered his gaze even further.

“I didn’t know. She never told me!”

Wu Tong: “She didn’t want you worried. When I went, I told her, and she had me bring some things for you, along with a message: when the child is older, she will come find you.”

Shen Yuanxu fell silent again.

His reaction was as Wu Tong expected. Any man hearing that a woman bore his son would be moved. Especially when that woman was once his wife, who divorced him only to protect the child—so deeply moving!

“Yuanxu, these clothes were personally sewn by my sister for you!” Wu Tong handed Shen Yuanxu a set of fine clothes from his luggage.

Shen Yuanxu took them, staring silently.

“Before I left, my sister kept telling me to deliver them and to write to her immediately after seeing you. She thinks of you every day.”

Shen Yuanxu took the clothes and strode away.

Wu Tong watched him leave, smirking.

“See? He’s about to take the bait!”

Zhao Chengkai was skeptical. On the journey, Wu Tong had boasted he could manipulate the Shen family. Turns out he used their offspring.

Truly devious!

“Let’s see when he comes to us,” Wu Tong said. Even a devious plan is a plan—he had some brains.

…

“Giving him clothes?” Shen Yuanjing asked.

Shen Yuanxu explained what happened: “The Wu family doesn’t actually make clothes. This set is too neat—it’s store-bought!”

Shen Yuanjing sneered: “What about the child?”

Shen Yuanxu laughed: “There’s no child. When the Shen family ran into trouble, it coincided with the Wu family’s menstruation. Even if there was a child, it wouldn’t be mine!”

Shen Lanxi: “Wu Tong is nothing to fear. The real schemer is Zhao Chengkai.”

Liu Yanhui: “Should I go meet them?” His face was swaddled like a pig’s head, which would surely produce unexpected results!

Shen Lanxi: “Go ahead.”

Cheng Zheng wrote: “I’ll go too!”

Shen Lanxi: “Fine.”

The next day, Liu Yanhui and Cheng Zheng came under the pretense of delivering meals.

“Apologies to the two inspectors. Dongchuan is freezing and supplies are scarce. The firewood we cut barely suffices for cooking, so you’ll have to endure thicker clothing and extra quilts!”

Liu Yanhui accidentally brushed his face and hissed.

“I stayed out a bit too long, and my face and hands got frozen. They say snow isn’t cold, but melted snow is—these days it’s truly freezing!”

Hence, don’t wander off. Frostbite on nose, hands, or feet is no joke!