RWNEFE -Chapter 226 Shen Lanxi, You Want My Life!

Under Shen Lanxi’s deliberate manipulation, Qian Feng and the others were hired in Fengbo Town and officially became part of the marriage convoy.

“General, are we still taking the water route?” Shen Yuanjing asked.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes remained straight ahead: “Today the waterways are overrun with bandits. For the Princess’s safety, we’ll continue on the land route.”

Ban Sicao now understood the meaning behind her words—there were no bandits at all. She had made it all up.

“What if the court sends someone to verify?”

Xiao Fang glanced at Ban Sicao with amusement: “What else can they do? At worst, they’ll confirm it’s true!”

They’d dealt with bandits, rebel kings, and spies before—what’s one more fabricated bandit story?

Ban Sicao silently gave her a thumbs-up.

“Shouldn’t East Chuan be cold at this time of year?” Shen Lanxi suddenly remarked.

Cheng Zheng wrote a few strokes: “By the time the Princess’s entourage arrives, it will snow.”

Xiao Fang shivered at the thought of East Chuan’s bone-chilling cold.

“Hopefully the northwest isn’t that cold!”

It was uncertain. Fortunately, last year she had already ordered large-scale cotton planting and collected plenty of charcoal. In the northwest, at least heating wouldn’t be an issue.

Arriving in Fengbo Town, Shen Lanxi immediately presented the imperial decree and began loudly recruiting guards.

Zhou Yunyue behaved herself considerably and caused no further trouble until they left Fengbo Town.

Shen Lanxi personally drew up the route, arranging the soldiers arriving from East Chuan to join the convoy under the pretense of guarding duties.

As more groups of soldiers were added, Nie Shuanghai noticed something unusual.

Most of these people were trained fighters, and they never mingled with others. They seemed to come from the same place, sticking together and making it hard for outsiders to integrate.

Nie Shuanghai didn’t dare mention this to anyone and kept it to himself.

At night, one by one, carrier pigeons were sent out, and he pretended not to see or hear anything.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites also sensed something off—the number of guards recruited was excessive. Combined, their numbers were approaching that of the Imperial Guard protecting the royal city.

The Imperial Guard totaled ten thousand, though currently all combined there weren’t even two thousand. But at this rate, it wouldn’t be long.

“General Shen, the marriage convoy has its own regulations. You cannot overstep them, otherwise the court will punish us, and we won’t be able to explain ourselves!” Cao Ziling said, stiff-necked.

Shen Lanxi didn’t argue but asked: “Are you sure?”

Cao Ziling’s brow twitched. He felt stuck and could not answer.

She turned to the other two: “Zheng, Zhu, do you two also think the manpower is sufficient?”

Zheng Qiao and Zhu Juan hesitated and dared not answer.

“So you’re all uncertain, yet want me to stop recruiting guards. Gentlemen, every word you speak will be recorded truthfully in my report to His Majesty!”

Cheng Zheng busily wrote it down.

Cao Ziling’s face darkened, and he struggled to speak.

The escort force of over two thousand set out again. The silver for the new guards didn’t come from the court, but the provisions—surely the court would have to supply those!

“Just as the Prince of Zhennan requested provisions from the court before, we’ll request the same. With the precedent of the Prince, don’t worry about the process,” Shen Lanxi pressed down on the official in charge of provisions.

The official broke out in cold sweat.

The convoy had initially had only five hundred people. When leaving the capital, they brought some supplies, and at each town, presenting the court’s documents, local officials would procure goods. Costs were initially fronted locally, then reported upwards, and eventually distributed back.

Suddenly adding more than a thousand mouths—would the local offices be willing to supply all that?

Unlike the Prince of Zhennan, she had no royal title. She was merely escorting a princess.

She knew the court’s situation perfectly. Adding over a thousand extra people’s food and drink—how could the court easily supply it?

Wasn’t this deliberately putting the provisions officer in a difficult spot?

“General, what if the locals refuse to supply?” the provisions officer asked cautiously.

Shen Lanxi: “Then they are clearly spies trying to sabotage the marriage convoy. And spies—naturally, no mercy!”

Every official’s heart skipped a beat.

A woman, casually talking about killing—how shocking!

The provisions officer stiffly went to request supplies from the local offices.

After days of travel, Zhou Yunyue could no longer endure and fell ill.

“The Princess’s illness is due to stress, consecutive days of travel, poor meals, and lack of rest,” the accompanying imperial physician explained after taking her pulse.

Shen Lanxi: “Will this delay the journey?”

The physician thought for a moment: “It won’t delay travel, but if not cared for, her condition may worsen.”

Shen Lanxi: “Then we continue the journey!”

Zhou Yunyue’s face turned pale. Her chest burned like fire. Hearing Shen Lanxi, she could no longer hold herself back, crawling to her feet to shout: “Shen Lanxi, you want my life!”

Shen Lanxi: “Not exactly. If you can’t keep up, just say so in advance. I’ll have your maid accompany the convoy in your place.”

Zhou Yunyue couldn’t believe her ears. Furious, she shouted: “Shen Lanxi, you dare let someone impersonate royal blood—what are you plotting?”

Shen Lanxi laughed: “I’m thinking of your health! You are a royal princess. The journey west is long—if you die en route, I cannot answer to the court!”

Zhou Yunyue’s eyes widened: “You know you won’t be able to explain this, yet still treat me like this?”

Tsk. Zhou Yunyue still couldn’t see the situation clearly.

“Your main duty is to go for the marriage alliance. If you perish along the way, I’ll have someone replace you. I cannot fail the Great Zhou—I can only fail you!”

Zhou Yunyue stared, chills running through her body.

What did she mean?

She was the Great Zhou Princess, and Shen Lanxi thought a mere maid could take her place—ridiculous!

“Wake up, Zhou Yunyue. You’re still dreaming of being a princess, aren’t you?” Shen Lanxi mercilessly shattered her final illusion.

“Throughout history, countless princesses sacrificed themselves for the court’s marriage alliances. Do you think emperors ever willingly let their daughters marry off?”

“Only you!”