RWNEFE -Chapter 216 Don’t Rush to Stand Up—The Edict Hasn’t Been Read Yet

Everyone at the Ministry of Personnel was completely terrified.

This was a crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of one’s family!

Was that man holding an imperial edict in his hand?

The entire Ministry staff poured out like a flood, all kneeling on the ground to receive the edict.

Shen Lanxi’s face was cold and expressionless as she calmly watched the people streaming out, more and more, until no one remained inside.

She did not rush to speak. Were these people not usually arrogant and fearless? Was the main gate not tightly shut?

She wanted them to taste the anxiety of waiting!

Qiu Mingjue knelt among the crowd—not out of respect for Shen Lanxi, but for the edict itself, for the emperor’s grand favor!

“General Shen, all personnel of the Ministry of Personnel are here. If you wish to read the edict, please do so now!” Qiu Mingjue’s face was dark as he urged her.

Shen Lanxi spoke in a cold, calm voice: “No rush—what if there’s still someone inside?”

Qiu Mingjue’s anger boiled over: “Everyone is here. There is no one left inside!”

Shen Lanxi continued unhurriedly: “Wait a little longer. Today, Minister Qiu Mingjue is on leave. I’ve already sent someone to summon him to his residence.”

Qiu Mingjue recalled yesterday’s orders and felt as if he had lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot.

“General Shen, I am Qiu Mingjue.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at him: “I don’t believe you!”

Qiu Mingjue could not have imagined she would say that.

He clenched his anger and said: “I am the Ministry of Personnel Deputy Minister Qiu Mingjue. Everyone here can testify!”

Shen Lanxi said calmly: “No matter who you are, don’t rush to stand. I haven’t read the edict yet.”

Qiu Mingjue was nearly apoplectic. Shen Lanxi was pushing him too far!

“These two clerks just claimed that Deputy Minister Qiu Mingjue is on leave today. Everyone I brought can testify to this!”

The two clerks were brought before the crowd. Their legs had gone weak like noodles; the moment Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanxu released them, they collapsed to the ground, bowing frantically and begging for mercy.

“Please spare us!”

Shen Lanxi asked: “Tell me honestly—who instructed you to block me?”

“The person must be the true culprit behind the theft of the Wei Family Army grain funds. They wanted you obstructed so the case couldn’t be properly investigated. Speak bravely. Once the real culprit is caught, I will report this to His Majesty and you will be rewarded.”

“That’s enough!” Qiu Mingjue roared, trying to stop her.

If Shen Lanxi continued like this, the entire Ministry of Personnel, even their families, would be ruined!

Shen Lanxi’s eyes glinted with ridicule: “Deputy Minister Qiu, is this your way of trying to block my investigation of the Wei Family Army case?”

Qiu Mingjue snapped: “Shen Lanxi, don’t speak nonsense! Mind your tongue, or I will accuse you to His Majesty of slandering a high-ranking minister!”

Shen Lanxi glanced at Shen Yuanjing, who immediately unrolled the scroll and read the imperial edict aloud.

After it was read, Shen Lanxi said: “Deputy Minister Qiu, I now have reason to suspect that the reason the Wei Family Army case has yielded no leads in over two years is because someone deliberately obstructed it, intending to pin the blame solely on the Shen family!”

“Our Shen family will never tolerate obstruction of the investigation—until death or vengeance!”

A murderous aura spread, causing Qiu Mingjue’s heart to tremble.

Recalling Shen Lanxi’s identity as a woman, Qiu Mingjue’s attitude hardened once more.

“You are stretching things. The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice conduct joint investigations to supervise each other. Do you realize that with one word, you’ve offended two oversight offices?”

Shen Lanxi replied: “All I know is that I have been ordered to investigate the Wei Family Army case. The imperial edict is here, commanding all relevant personnel to cooperate. If you do not, it is defiance of the emperor!”

Left “defiance of the emperor,” right “guilt as accomplice”—many at the Ministry of Personnel could not withstand it. They looked to Qiu Mingjue for help and pressure.

If not for Qiu Mingjue’s foolish idea yesterday, how could the Ministry gates have been closed? His quarrel with Shen Lanxi should not drag them down!

Now that the Shen family had regained power, Shen Lanxi had returned to favor, wielded the imperial edict, and held authority—what of her being a woman?

If you had the ability, go fight in the army—why weren’t you sent during the military inspections?

“General Shen, we truly knew nothing!”

“Yes, yes, we were just working normally inside when you arrived!”

“As for Deputy Minister Qiu, he was on leave today, but was called back for urgent matters. The two clerks didn’t know!”

Shen Lanxi looked at Qiu Mingjue: “Is that true?”

Qiu Mingjue felt as if he were vomiting blood, forcing it back down, heart burning with discomfort, yet he dared not reveal it.

“Deputy Minister, General Shen is asking you a question,” whispered a colleague.

Those aware of the situation knew how to behave. Letting Shen Lanxi thoroughly investigate the Wei Family Army case was the emperor’s will—Qiu Mingjue should not make a foolish move!

“Yes!” Qiu Mingjue said, frustrated and powerless, lowering his head.

Shen Lanxi continued: “I just came from the Ministry of Justice. They fully cooperated, letting me examine and copy the Wei Family Army case files. As for you at the Ministry of Personnel… tsk tsk~” Everything was implied.

Qiu Mingjue’s vision darkened with rage. How dare she claim their ministry could not match the Ministry of Justice?

“How dare she?”

“General Shen, our ministry is cooperating just as fully as the Ministry of Justice. Please don’t hold it against us!”

Upon hearing that the Ministry of Justice had cooperated obediently, no one dared remain arrogant—they nodded quickly, pledging to fully cooperate.

Soon, all the Wei Family Army case files were presented. There was no need for Shen Lanxi’s team to copy them; the Ministry personnel carefully transcribed everything themselves.

Qiu Mingjue watched his colleagues fawn over Shen Lanxi, feeling his blood boil with fury.

These people had previously said she was a woman, intending to teach her a lesson—to prevent her from being so audacious.

If not for their coaxing words, he would never have had the main gate closed.

Now, they turned on a dime. Where was their integrity? Their pride?

Shen Lanxi asked a few more questions of the Ministry officials. The sun was gradually setting, and she prepared to return home.

“General Shen, today we cooperated fully in your investigation. Please do not hold past matters against us!”

Each Ministry official looked at her earnestly.

In these troubled times, self-preservation was the right path.

Shen Lanxi nodded: “I have seen all your cooperation. Tomorrow, when I enter the palace, I will report each of your words and deeds truthfully to His Majesty, especially yours, Deputy Minister Qiu!”

Qiu Mingjue’s face turned pale; he wanted to explain but could not.

He was Deputy Minister of Personnel—based on Shen Lanxi’s few words of manipulation, His Majesty would never believe her!

“Your Majesty, yesterday I went to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel to have a copy of the Wei Family Army case files made!”

Even if Shen Lanxi had not come today, Emperor Renxiao would have sent someone to deliver them to her.

The tribes in the northwest were restless, and envoys needed to be dispatched immediately for negotiations.