RWNEFE -Chapter 227 You Want the Horse to Run, but Don’t Want to Feed It—The Horse Will Kick Back!

“Back in the late emperor’s time, to appease foreign tribes but unwilling to send his own daughters, he adopted many daughters of minor officials, granted them the title of princess, and had them take the princess’s place in marriage alliances.”

“There are many such examples in previous dynasties. Even though emperors had many children, there were even more foreign tribes to appease. They also had to manage court ministers internally. How could they really send their own daughters for marriage alliances?”

“Think carefully about why you were chosen! Among so many unmarried princesses in the imperial city, why pick you, Zhou Yunyue, instead of others?”

She was merely a sacrificial pawn!

Zhou Yunyue had already realized this, but she refused to accept it.

“You’re lying. Marriage alliances are the duty of every princess,” Zhou Yunyue said, but her tone lacked conviction.

Shen Lanxi shook her head with a cold expression, seeing no sign of repentance in her.

Zhou Yunyue was nothing but a figurehead carrying the princess title. Any princess in this marriage mission would have been treated the same.

Shen Lanxi had said all she could; reasonable words could not persuade this damned fool.

“Depart!”

No matter how Zhou Yunyue fussed, Shen Lanxi’s decision remained.

Zhou Yunyue was carried onto the carriage by guards.

“Shen Lanxi, how dare you treat me like this! I am a princess—”

Cao Ziling and the others scowled, storming up to Shen Lanxi with anger.

“General Shen, treating Princess Wanhe this way—aren’t you afraid the Emperor will find out and punish your entire family?”

Shen Yuanjing unrolled the imperial edict: “Look clearly, everyone. The edict says no one may delay the journey—it doesn’t exempt the princess.”

Xiao Fang added: “If the journey is delayed and the northwest breaks out in war, who will be responsible? Lord Cao? Lord Zheng? Lord Zhu?”

Naturally, no one dared.

Shen Lanxi: “Anyone who objects to my orders, speak now!”

With the imperial edict present, who dared? They could bet that if anyone stood up, Shen Lanxi’s subordinates would immediately charge them with disobeying the emperor’s order!

Cao Ziling and the others scowled, mounting their horses or carriages in silence.

Traveling day and night, five days later, they finally reached Xiling.

Xiling was one of the five major cities leading to the northwest. Here, near the border, merchants from foreign lands and many outsiders were already common sights.

Because reports requesting provisions from the court were slow to arrive, the officials in charge were under tremendous pressure, and now, arriving in Xiling, the pressure intensified.

The northwest was rough and aggressive—one word out of place, and fights broke out. The closer to the northwest, the more chaotic. Previously, the Wei family army kept order, but now that the Wei army was gone, robberies and armed conflicts happened at any moment. Local authorities were largely ineffective.

After reviewing the reports, Shen Lanxi handed out the notes for everyone to read.

“Xiling is already fragmented by multiple factions. We will not enter the city. Camp outside.”

“Yes!”

Xiao Fang and the others immediately began arranging the camp.

Soon, Shen Yuanjing reported to Shen Lanxi: “Cao Ziling and Zhou Yunyue refuse to follow orders—they insist on entering the city to rest.”

Shen Lanxi sneered: “Let them go. On the northwest journey, blood will inevitably be shed.”

“Was it Cao Ziling leading the fuss?”

Shen Yuanjing: “Yes, it was him.”

Shen Lanxi took a deep breath: “If you want unity, anyone causing trouble must disappear. Understand?”

Shen Yuanjing and the others were stirred.

Ban Sicao said: “Leave it to me. This is my specialty. I’ll make him disappear very naturally.”

Everyone stared at Ban Sicao, expressions unreadable.

Returning to the convoy, Shen Yuanjing told the group: “The General said, wherever you go is your freedom—but never forget why you’re here. If anything goes wrong, the consequences are yours alone!”

Cao Ziling inwardly snorted. A woman—she could only bluff and threaten, that’s all!

Zhou Yunyue had been dazed and distracted over the past five days. Hearing Cao Ziling plan to enter the city to rest, she immediately supported him.

Several days of travel had truly exhausted her!

If the end result was that she had to participate in the marriage mission, then she would at least enjoy all the things she had been denied in the palace. Otherwise, who knew what awaited her in the northwest?

According to the relay station, the northwest lacked water—people might go a year without a proper bath, and hair might not be washed for months. Thinking of this, Zhou Yunyue clenched her teeth, tears in her eyes.

The convoy quickly departed. Shen Lanxi said to Cheng Zheng: “Write the memorial. I don’t need to teach you how, right?”

Cheng Zheng quickly wrote: “Minister of Rites Cao Ziling insists on leading the marriage convoy into Xiling city, ignoring potential attacks by foreign forces, putting the princess in danger…” He showed Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi reminded him: “Include that Cao Ziling was killed on the spot.”

Cheng Zheng revised and continued writing.

Soon after the carrier pigeons were sent, she received a reply from the capital:

“Shen Lanxi is granted the authority to levy provisions in the northwest, including control over the northwest army. From now on, all supplies may be requisitioned in the northwest!”

Shen Yuanjing read it aloud and handed the note to Shen Lanxi.

“Share your thoughts,” Shen Lanxi said quietly.

Xiao Fang: “If only Old Liu were here!”

Qian Feng looked at Xiao Fang: “You always speak too frankly!”

Cheng Zheng wrote: “We levy provisions, but what about taxes?”

Shen Lanxi sneered: “The court is clever—they take the taxes, but make us handle the food. Do they really expect us to demand food from the people?”

Qian Feng frowned: “The northwest land is barren. After paying taxes, the people have nothing left. Bad weather—people starve. Bad intentions—the capital starves people to death!”

Shen Lanxi: “We definitely cannot take food from the people.”

Ban Sicao finally understood.

“What authority to levy provisions? The court clearly doesn’t want to supply food!”

Shen Lanxi: “Finally, you understand. You want the horse to run, but won’t feed it—then the horse will kick back!”

Everyone stared at Shen Lanxi, puzzled.

That night, a gang of thieves sneaked into Xiling, heading straight for the official residences.

The next day, aside from the attempted assassination of the marriage convoy, many valuables in Xiling official residences were stolen.

Rumors spread quickly.

“Someone saw foreigners doing it. Quiet! Don’t let anyone hear, or we’re dead.”

“I guess the foreigners want to sabotage the marriage convoy.”

“Guess? Anyone with eyes can see!”

“Did the princess get hurt?”

“No, someone surnamed Cao blocked the blade for her.”

“The normally invisible officials went crazy today—they’ve searched three times already.”

“Can’t blame them—heard the whole mansion was cleaned out!”