RWNEFE -Chapter 228 The Gold-Digging Squad!

Shen Lanxi was filled with immense grief and rage.

“I told you all not to enter the city! Why didn’t you listen?!”

“This was clearly a deliberate, premeditated assassination. Otherwise, why would you be attacked immediately upon entering Xiling? It’s obvious the assassins had been tracking us and knew our movements inside out!”

“Lord Cao sacrificed himself to save the princess, which was noble, but that doesn’t excuse his dereliction of duty.”

“If he hadn’t insisted on entering the city, the marriage convoy would not have been ambushed. He sent the convoy into a trap that could have been avoided!”

“I will report to the court, impeaching Cao Ziling for acting on his own, ignoring orders, and seeking pleasure. Whether the emperor punishes him for colluding with enemies depends on His Majesty’s discretion!”

As Shen Lanxi spoke, Xiao Fang and the others quietly suppressed smiles at her side.

If they hadn’t handled things last night, they would have believed every word!

The officials of Xiling City, hearing Shen Lanxi’s words, immediately began pleading and flattering her.

Shen Lanxi humored them with a few polite words, then said with a sigh: “I know you are innocent. You only wanted to honor the princess when she arrived. Later, I will speak well of you to the court. You are also victims of this assassination attempt!”

Yesterday, the officials had looked down on Shen Lanxi, but today, her flawless demeanor left them completely stunned, unable to even breathe freely.

“The marriage convoy suffered heavy losses. Many of the newly recruited guards were also killed or injured. Do you want your officials to escort us to the northwest, or should we hire some martial men within Xiling to escort us? Discuss among yourselves.”

Shen Yuanjing reminded her: “General, let’s check on the princess first. I just heard from the imperial physician that she was badly frightened—hopefully this won’t delay the journey!”

Xiao Fang shouted: “The imperial edict clearly says that any delay will result in execution of the entire nine clans!”

Shen Lanxi glanced subtly over the officials. Not long after she left, someone came to Shen Yuanjing and the others.

“General, your strategy is brilliant! Just now the prefect gave me five thousand taels of silver!”

“The county magistrate gave me a box of gold.”

“The governor gave me—”

Everyone near Shen Lanxi received generous gifts!

Shen Lanxi smiled: “Stretch them out a little. When they come looking for you again, handle it however you see fit.”

Xiao Fang put down the gold.

Shen Lanxi: “You don’t need to give it to me. It’s their tribute to you—keep it!”

Xiao Fang refused: “General, use this money to buy supplies!”

Shen Lanxi smiled mysteriously: “Do you think I’m short on that? What we got last night wasn’t enough. From here to the northwest, through so many cities, isn’t it enough for my ‘Gold-Digging Squad’?”

Gold-Digging Squad?

Everyone thought of the items they had retrieved last night. Considering the name, it was actually fitting.

The court’s reply came quickly this time: “…Cao Ziling acted on his own, causing severe losses to the marriage convoy and cannot escape blame. For risking his life to protect Princess Wanhe, his family is spared; all male members over fifteen will be conscripted, the rest exiled to Dongchuan as slaves to the armored corps…”

“Given the heavy casualties among the convoy, Shen Lanxi is ordered to continue hiring local guards. Once the guards are in place, proceed to the northwest without error…”

Shen Lanxi received the edict, scanning everyone.

“Continue recruiting guards!”

No one dared object. The marriage convoy obeyed orders quietly.

Two days later, they resumed their journey.

Zhou Yunyue sat in the carriage, staring blankly out the window. Suddenly, someone nudged her wrist.

“Princess, here it comes!” the maid said urgently.

Zhou Yunyue snapped out of it, immediately taking out a silk handkerchief and throwing it forcefully aside.

“Oh, my handkerchief~”

“Yuanjing, go fetch it for me!”

Shen Yuanjing, patrolling nearby, heard her and galloped over.

“Princess, what’s the matter?”

Zhou Yunyue pointed behind her: “The wind blew my handkerchief over there. It was a gift from the Empress; I can’t lose it.”

“Yuanjing, hurry and get it back for me!”

Seeing her stand up in the carriage, Shen Yuanjing didn’t want to cause trouble.

“Wait here!”

Zhou Yunyue smiled: “Alright, I’ll wait for you!”

Shen Yuanjing found her words strange, furrowed his brow, and ignored it.

Turning his horse, he moved backward a short distance and did see the silk handkerchief. He grabbed it, returned it to the carriage, and rode off to continue patrolling.

Zhou Yunyue watched his retreating figure, then quietly said: “Where’s my box?”

Zilan: “In your dressing box.”

Zhou Yunyue’s eyes turned icy, and the corner of her mouth curled.

The farther northwest they went, the greater the distance between relay stations. After two days from Xiling, the convoy hadn’t seen a single station and was forced to camp in the wild for two nights.

It was time to set up camp again.

“Yuanjing, I’m afraid there might be bugs in here. Come help me check!” Zhou Yunyue told her maid to use this as an excuse to call Shen Yuanjing.

Even being careless, Shen Yuanjing sensed something was off.

“Princess, you should call me Lord Shen or Commander Shen. Calling me by my name feels strange—we’re not that close.”

Zhou Yunyue poured him a cup of tea: “We are relatives. If it were any other family, you should call me cousin. I’m a few months older than you!”

Shen Yuanjing’s hair stood on end. She had previously insisted she was a princess—why the sudden change, speaking like one of the commoners?

“I checked—everything’s fine. I’m leaving now!”

Zhou Yunyue quickly shoved the tea into his hands.

“You’ve helped me so much. Drink some tea. This tea is from the palace, sweet and fragrant. Try it!”

Shen Yuanjing looked at the cup. Setting it down felt wrong, drinking it felt wrong.

“…Fine. In the future, call a guard if you need help. I’m busy. Small things like chasing bugs can be handled by guards or maids.” He drank the tea, put down the cup, and turned to leave.

Zhou Yunyue hurriedly grabbed him.

“Yuanjing, don’t leave yet!”

Shen Yuanjing suddenly felt dizzy. Something was wrong. As he took a step, darkness filled his vision.

Zhou Yunyue looked at him lying on the ground, sneering: “You two idiots, hurry and help him onto the bed!”

Two maids bent down, carefully lifting Shen Yuanjing.

…

“Yuan Kun, have you seen Yuanjing?” Shen Yuanxu asked.

“No. Maybe the General called him?”

Shen Yuanxu: “No, I just came from the General’s side!”

“Strange. It’s mealtime—where did he go?”

~

“General, something’s wrong! You need to come see this!” Xiao Fang urgently approached Shen Lanxi, lowering his voice to speak.