RWNEFE -Chapter 200 The Prince of the South Wants to Spend Childbirth Time Fighting…

By sheer coincidence—or misfortune—the two forces met at the city gate. If anyone felt the impact most deeply, it wasn’t the Northern Expedition army or the Pacification army—it was everyone in the capital!

Earlier, news had broken that Zhou Ruyuan had spent his wedding night in the quarters of a concubine, calling for water three times in one night. Soon after, the Shen family was purged, and Shen Lanxi divorced Zhou Ruyuan.

In less than a month, the two sensational figures in the capital had gone their separate ways—one to the Northwest, the other to East Chuan. The people talked for only a couple of days before the excitement faded. While private discussions continued, no one dared speak openly in teahouses, inns, or busy streets.

The highly publicized marriage and the Wei Family army scandal quietly faded from public attention.

Only recently, with Shen Lanxi’s dramatic return to the public eye, had the story of the two been revived. This time, no amount of pressure from above could suppress it.

Outside the city gate, Shen Lanxi stood in her battle attire, her face cold and stern, a fiery red cloak draped across her shoulders, a long staff in hand. She was a striking figure, full of commanding presence.

Zhou Ruyuan wore silver armor, his face slightly darkened, sharp features defined, wielding a red-tasselled spear. His steed, Pursuing Wind, let out a long whinny as it stopped outside the city gate.

The two forces faced each other, barely thirty meters apart, forming an unspoken standoff. Behind Shen Lanxi, the Shen family banner and the Pacification army banner flew side by side, fluttering loudly in the wind.

Zhou Ruyuan fixed his gaze on the figure before him, but no matter how hard he tried, it couldn’t match the image he remembered.

Shen Lanxi glanced at Zhou Ruyuan briefly, then looked away. Her vengeance had already been served; now, she had no personal grievances against him.

A carriage behind Zhou Ruyuan slowly pulled up beside him. The curtain lifted, revealing first a maid, then a child was handed out.

“Daddy~” the child stretched out arms and smiled at Zhou Ruyuan.

Zhou Ruyuan had been staring at Shen Lanxi for a while, and a rising anger swelled inside him, growing like a rolling snowball.

What was that look from Shen Lanxi? What was that attitude?

His current predicament—being repeatedly reprimanded by his father—was all because of her. If it weren’t for the Shen family’s interference, how could he have been demoted from the Northwest army commander to handling negotiations?

To a general used to marching and fighting, only cowards negotiated.

A true commander attacked, conquered, and fought the enemy, not sat around bickering like women!

Negotiation was the work of scholars!

The more Shen Lanxi acted so casually and unconcerned, the angrier he became.

“Your Highness, Xiao Yu’er wants to see Daddy,” Bai Qingling’s voice came from the carriage.

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes flickered. He turned his horse toward the carriage.

“What nonsense? Outside are warhorses. Is this a place for a small child to play?”

Bai Qingling, hearing his words, felt a pang in her belly and turned pale.

They had just met, and he was already scolding their son. Luckily, she had risked herself, switching between water and land travel, to arrive in the capital at the same time as him.

If she and the child hadn’t come… what would have happened when the two met at the city gate?

Thinking this, another sharp pain struck her belly.

“Your Highness, my belly hurts!” Bai Qingling feigned pain.

Zhou Ruyuan glared at the maid, who quickly took the child back into the carriage.

“Take the child back to the Prince’s Mansion to see the court physician. After the audience with the Emperor, I’ll return to see you!”

Bai Qingling gripped the thick padding of the carriage, determined not to leave—she would not allow Shen Lanxi and the Prince to be alone together!

Nearby, Ban Sicao’s voice rang out: “So that’s your ex-husband? Why is he as dark as coal?”

Shen Lanxi thought of the scorching sun and sandstorms in the Northwest and laughed: “Probably the climate there isn’t as nourishing as the Southwest.”

Xiao Fang snorted: “I think he’s all show and no substance.”

Shen Yuanjing: “He already has a child!”

Xiao Fang: “Look at him—fighting battles and having kids, all without delay!”

Ban Sicao, fearless, said: “General, you can’t compare to him.”

Xiao Fang: “You know nothing! Men… well, men achieve glory and establish merit! But women can too!”

“Our General,” he continued, “focuses entirely on judging matters, maintaining peace for the realm, sacrificing family… I can’t even finish; if Old Liu were here, he’d explain it better!” His vocabulary was limited.

Ban Sicao rolled his eyes: “You should say it like this: if the Prince of the South spends his childbirth time on fighting, he might have already driven the foreign tribes out of Dazhou!”

Xiao Fang’s eyes lit up: “Old Ban, when it comes to speaking poisonously, you’re the best!”

Ban Sicao was so irritated he wanted to smack him with his whip.

Meanwhile, Bai Qingling refused to leave, insisting on waiting until the edict arrived. Zhou Ruyuan, for some reason, felt unusually restless today and couldn’t calm his anger.

After a few harsh words, the child began to wail loudly, making him even more irritable.

“Shut up! Stop crying!” Zhou Ruyuan shouted low.

The child trembled, crying even louder.

Zhou Ruyuan’s heart softened. He wanted to soothe the child, but doing so in front of the soldiers would be a loss of face. He kept a cold expression, wordless and embarrassed, not even daring to glance at Shen Lanxi.

Bai Qingling, hearing his low shout, felt both grievance and indignation.

Why hadn’t Shen Lanxi died on the path of exile? If she had, none of the later events would have happened!

“Your Highness, Xiao Yu’er has been traveling all this way; he must be uncomfortable. I’ll take him back to the Prince’s Mansion to see the physician.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s heart relaxed. He couldn’t withstand this standoff much longer.

“Good. Don’t just take care of the child; summon a few more physicians. Later, when we enter the palace, I’ll request the Emperor’s order to bring imperial doctors back.”

Seeing Zhou Ruyuan still cared for them, Bai Qingling realized his frustration over the past two years in the Northwest must have depressed him—he wasn’t deliberately being harsh.

Without Shen Lanxi, the Prince wouldn’t be so furious. In just two short years, a woman he abandoned had risen to prominence while he achieved little in the Northwest. With their statuses juxtaposed, everyone would naturally compare the two.

Shen Lanxi had been lucky. The so-called “rebels” she held at bay were at best a disorganized mob; the Prince could have wiped them out with his army.

Shen Lanxi’s so-called “containment” was really just a matter of capability—or lack thereof.

That was why the Emperor sent the Prince to suppress the rebels—because he trusted the Prince could defeat them.

Shen Lanxi’s transfer to the Northwest was intended to quell public gossip, so no one would think the royal family had coldly snatched away her military achievements.

Once the Prince subdued the rebels, everyone would see who was truly capable.

By then, Shen Lanxi might already have been devoured by the foreign tribes…