RWNEFE -Chapter 229 Zhou Yunyue Plots Against Shen Yuanjing

When Shen Lanxi arrived, she saw Shen Yuanjing standing in the princess’s tent, looking full of regret. On either side of him stood two maids under Zhou Yunyue’s command, holding his arms tightly as if afraid he would run.

Inside the bed curtains, low sobs could be heard.

“General, should we dismiss the attendants?” Xiao Fang asked.

Even without considering the identity of the person on the bed, it was improper for men to stand there like that—it would affect the young lady’s reputation.

Shen Lanxi said coldly: “No need.”

The crying stopped, replaced by Zhou Yunyue’s sharp, accusatory voice.

“Shen Lanxi, you are a woman yourself. What is your intention, having so many men in my tent?”

“You previously kept saying I looked down on women, that I belittled them. And now you’re doing the same. You are hypocritical and utterly false.”

Shen Lanxi raised a cold smile and her voice sharpened: “I said, everyone stay. Open the tent.”

“I have always helped the righteous, not family. If Shen Yuanjing has truly violated military discipline, I will deal with him ruthlessly according to military law!”

“And if someone else orchestrated this, the punishment he bears will be doubled for that person!”

Zhou Yunyue on the bed trembled.

No… she wouldn’t dare. Shen Yuanjing was her younger brother—she could never take such a step.

Shen Lanxi was just speaking to scare her deliberately.

“I was about to rest in my tent. Shen Yuanjing took advantage of my two maids being absent and entered to act improperly. When my two maids returned, they caught him in the act. You can’t deny it!”

Shen Yuanjing hurriedly explained: “General, I fainted after drinking a cup of tea she gave me. I didn’t do anything else!”

Shen Lanxi: “The tea? The cup you drank from?”

Shen Yuanjing quickly pointed to the tea set on the table: “It was this one.”

Ban Sicao examined it and shook her head: “The cups have already been cleaned. Nothing remains!”

Shen Yuanjing’s expression darkened.

Zhou Yunyue curled her lips and said sharply: “General, do you still have more to say?”

Shen Lanxi: “Did Shen Yuanjing succeed?”

Zhou Yunyue froze.

Everyone in the tent was stunned—Shen Lanxi, a woman, actually asked such a question so directly.

“What’s the matter? Is it a difficult question to answer?” Shen Lanxi said, looking toward the bed curtains.

Zhou Yunyue’s eyes flickered: “Of course… he did succeed.”

Shen Lanxi: “Are you sure?”

Zhou Yunyue’s smile vanished; she gritted her teeth: “Yes, I’m sure.”

Shen Lanxi: “Is there any proof?”

Zhou Yunyue’s expression changed.

They had only stripped down and lain together without doing anything. How could there be any proof?

“Answer me. If you don’t, I’ll assume he didn’t succeed.”

Zhou Yunyue, furious and humiliated, shouted: “Shen Lanxi! I’m a princess! How dare you shame me in front of all these men! Believe it or not, I’ll leave for the capital right now!”

Shen Lanxi: “Go ahead, I don’t care. I said before, if you refuse to go on the marriage mission, one of your two maids can go in your place. But I wonder… what status would you return to the capital with?”

“If you return as a princess, who will go to the northwest in your place? I think you can guess the consequences—either lifelong confinement or poisoned wine and white silk. There cannot be two Princess Wanhes in the world.”

“You’re lying! You can’t scare me!” Zhou Yunyue shouted in panic.

Shen Lanxi: “Believe me, the royal family will act decisively, both for their face and for the stability of the northwest.”

Zhou Yunyue’s face darkened, and her eyes flickered: “I’m just a girl in a boudoir. How would I know so much? I only know he forced me… and my clothes were torn!”

Shen Lanxi sneered. Zhou Yunyue was smart—if she admitted any proof existed, Shen Lanxi would have ordered an immediate inspection.

By speaking this way, she left herself a way out.

The laws of the Great Zhou were strict, especially regarding a woman’s chastity. The two of them, with clothes disheveled, sharing a room, meant Shen Yuanjing could not possibly clear himself, even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

“Shen Yuanjing, do you have anything to explain?”

Shen Yuanjing’s face went pale: “After I fainted, I don’t remember anything.”

He only blamed his own negligence—he had let his guard down with Zhou Yunyue and hadn’t ensured someone followed him inside.

He could never have imagined that Zhou Yunyue, plotting against him, would be willing to destroy her own chastity to set him up.

“So, no witnesses and no evidence?” Shen Lanxi’s voice was icy.

Shen Yuanjing hung his head like a frostbitten eggplant, silent and full of regret.

Shen Lanxi glanced at him, then back at Zhou Yunyue.

“Corporal punishment or beheading—let the princess decide. She may even carry it out herself!”

Zhou Yunyue froze, staring in disbelief at the figure outside the curtain.

What did she just say?

Shen Yuanjing was her own blood brother!

Shen Yuanjing also froze, filled with regret, wishing he could chop off his own hands or strangle himself.

He had always known Zhou Yunyue was scheming but hadn’t been cautious. He should never have underestimated a woman, nor should he have listened to a royal princess and drunk that tea!

Now it was too late—he had been set up and had committed a grave offense. Jumping into the Yellow River couldn’t clear him!

Everyone in the tent stared at Shen Lanxi, thinking the same as Zhou Yunyue.

Shen Yuanjing was her blood brother—well, she had no qualms even about her father; hurting her brother didn’t seem that extreme.

“Guards, bind Shen Yuanjing!”

Zhou Yunyue, terrified, rushed down from the bed.

“Shen Lanxi, that’s your brother!” Zhou Yunyue was panicking. Her clothes, previously neat, were now disheveled from her rush.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes darkened. She said firmly: “Precisely because he is my brother, I cannot show leniency!”

Zhou Ruyue thought Shen Lanxi had lost her mind.

“Shen Lanxi, are you crazy? He’s your own brother! If you punish him, won’t people say you harmed your own kin?”

Shen Lanxi’s face remained cold: “The state has laws, the army has regulations. If he dares to err, he must have the courage to face the consequences!”

Shen Yuanjing’s face turned ashen.

“No! I won’t agree!” Zhou Yunyue’s goal wasn’t to kill Shen Yuanjing—if anything happened to him, she would be a widow! Absolutely impossible!

Shen Lanxi coldly glared at her: “Princess, how do you want to settle this? Quartered by five horses, or cut into pieces?”

Zhou Yunyue glared back venomously. She had never seen Shen Lanxi so vicious.

Hurting a relative and speaking so confidently—wasn’t she afraid of heaven’s punishment?

“Shen Yuanjing ruined my reputation. With my chastity destroyed, how could I go on the marriage mission?”

“Either have Shen Yuanjing marry me, or I’ll write to my father, and the entire Shen family will be executed!”