RWNEFE -Chapter 254 How Did That Vixen Bewitch Wei Dongzhu Like This?!

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly but did not explain.

“If I spell it out, it won’t work anymore. Go and carry this out immediately. Remember—make a big show of it. Let the Turks know that we’re handing over Huangtu City!”

Everyone thought to themselves: Could this be luring the enemy into a trap? An empty-city stratagem? Pretending to be weak, then ambushing them inside the city?

Fifty days—neither particularly long nor especially short.

Wei Dongzhu was responsible for relocating the city’s residents, while Shen Yuanjing and the others handled the evacuation of nearby villages.

The destination was Black Sand City, thirty li south of Huangtu City. Most of that city’s residents had already left; if not for Huangtu City serving as a defensive line, Black Sand City would have long since become a ghost town.

Shen Lanxi personally went to the city gate to retrieve the blade. The Ban Yue Saber and its massive stone base were loaded onto a carriage. The soldiers lingered at the gate for a while, holding a small farewell ceremony, before two fine horses finally pulled it away.

Shen Lanxi gazed into the distance, then raised her hand to have the banner of the Northern Garrison Army taken down.

After that, cart after cart of elderly people, children, and tools were transported to Black Sand City.

The city rang constantly with the sounds of knocking and packing.

The marriage-alliance officials were urged onto their carriages, their faces dark with anger. The emperor would surely hold them accountable—without even fighting, they had ceded an entire city. How could they possibly return to the capital with their heads held high?

Worse still, they might be accused of fleeing without a fight. Dying themselves was one thing, but their families were all in the capital—how would they survive?

“This is all Shen Lanxi’s fault! I said it before—women shouldn’t command armies. She only emboldens the enemy and destroys Great Zhou’s prestige!”

“How is this any different from handing over Great Zhou’s land on a silver platter?!”

“I’m so ashamed I can’t even face anyone!”

“We should jointly memorialize His Majesty, accuse Shen Lanxi of acting arbitrarily—accuse her of colluding with foreign powers and selling out Great Zhou’s territory!”

“Exactly! We can’t let her off. She’s a witch—she’s bewitched the entire Northern Garrison Army!”

“Let’s go find Wei Dongzhu. His Majesty ordered him to jointly command the Northern Garrison Army with Shen Lanxi. The northwest can’t be ruled by Shen Lanxi alone!”

“She wants to cover the sky with one hand in the northwest? Dream on! As long as we’re here, she won’t get away with this!”

The group shoved aside the soldiers urging them onto the carriages and stormed off to find Wei Dongzhu.

“General Wei, you must hold up the banner of the Northern Garrison Army. You can’t let a woman lead it into a pit of fire!”

“General Wei, your father and ancestors were all great generals who guarded the northwest. They made it impregnable—foreign tribes trembled at the name of the Wei Army. They defended Great Zhou’s land to the death, never yielding an inch. Look at things now—just through negotiations, a city is being ceded! If your ancestors knew, how heartbroken would they be?”

“General Wei, please replace Shen Lanxi and take command of the Northern Garrison Army!”

“General Wei, we’re willing to support you. Please make a decision soon—otherwise, once the capital hears of this, all of us will lose our heads!”

One after another, the marriage-alliance officials anxiously declared their stance to Wei Dongzhu.

Wei Dongzhu didn’t even blink.

“Are you finished speaking?”

His cold words silenced them all.

“Shen Lanxi is the commander-in-chief of the Northern Garrison Army. What you just did was trying to incite a mutiny.”

The officials’ hearts skipped a beat. They were acting for the good of the country—how had it turned into mutiny?

“But General Wei, the imperial edict clearly states that you and Shen Lanxi jointly command the Northern Garrison Army.”

Wei Dongzhu replied, “One army cannot have two commanders. One unit cannot have two voices. I follow General Shen. If you object, you may stay behind in Huangtu City and not come with us.”

Every one of the officials’ faces changed.

Huangtu City was about to be handed over to the Turks—what would they stay here for?
To be slaughtered by the Turks?

Just what kind of sorcery had that witch used to enchant Wei Dongzhu like this?!

No—they had to find the supervising censor, find other generals. Surely someone would agree with them and stand guard in Huangtu City together!

Wei Dongzhu watched them leave, not even bothering to follow with his eyes. He knew that no matter whom they sought out, the result would be the same.

Let them crash into a few more walls—they’d soon learn who truly called the shots here.

Two hours later, those marriage-alliance officials boarded their carriages in utter defeat.

Kang Zhu and Baru were to take their people to Black Sand City to settle. Shen Yuanjing still had to remain in Huangtu City. After a lingering farewell at the city gate, Shen Yuanjing watched Kang Zhu and the others depart.

“Let’s go. We’ll have to cross over sooner or later. With them there, the Wala people can be kept in check,” Shen Yuanxu said.

Shen Yuanjing nodded. “Big brother, I understand.”

Shen Yuanxu knew that separating such a deeply affectionate newlywed couple would surely be painful.

“You’ll see each other again very soon.”

Shen Yuanjing then asked, “Big brother, what did elder sister say about what to do with Zhou Yunyue?”

Shen Yuanxu replied, “She didn’t say. That one’s nothing but trouble—you’d better be careful.”

After returning to the city, Shen Yuanjing went to find Ban Sicao.

“Master Ban, is there a drug that won’t kill a person, but will leave them too weak to cause trouble—so they’re confined indoors every day?”

Ban Sicao’s eyes flicked as he replied slowly, “Yes. It’s called Sick Beauty. It gradually drains vitality without killing. Someone poisoned with it can still live ten or twenty years without issue.”

Shen Yuanjing’s gaze sharpened. “Is it easy to detect?”

Ban Sicao chuckled. “Unless someone deeply familiar with poisons like me examines it, even the imperial physicians wouldn’t notice. Besides, if they can’t even leave the room, who’s going to check?”

“Can you prepare this poison?” Shen Yuanjing asked.

“By coincidence, I can,” Ban Sicao replied. “Who are you giving it to?”

Shen Yuanjing didn’t answer. He took the medicine and left.

As soon as he was gone, Ban Sicao went to find Shen Lanxi and told her everything.

“Your younger brother is still too soft-hearted. If it were me, I’d have killed her outright. That Zhou Yunyue is unbearably annoying.”

Shen Lanxi sat at her desk for over half an hour in silence.

…

Not long after, news of Shen Lanxi ceding Huangtu City reached the capital.

An urgent eight-hundred-li dispatch arrived, harshly reprimanding Shen Lanxi, while the prepared grain supplies and rewards were instead given to Zhou Ruyuan.

Shen Lanxi merely sneered at the news, then continued discussing matters with her subordinates.

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, fifty days had passed.

Today was the final day.

Shen Lanxi personally closed the city gates and waved as the last group departed.

Ten li outside the city, Che Mingyuan was already waiting to hand things over to Abu Khan.

“General, the city has been completely evacuated. When do you plan to take possession?”

Abu Khan glanced at his subordinate, who nodded.

“Right now!” Abu Khan laughed loudly and ordered Che Mingyuan to lead the way.

If there was an ambush in the city, they would kill Che Mingyuan first.

Che Mingyuan readily agreed and continued discussing subsequent matters with Abu Khan.

“General, Huangtu City is completely empty!” the scout reported after searching the city.

Abu Khan was overjoyed—and now found Che Mingyuan rather inconvenient.

“Hurry and press them about the remaining cattle, sheep, and horses. When the princess is sent for the marriage alliance, have them delivered together!”