RWNEFE -Chapter 289 Someone Stops the Car to File a Complaint!

Shen Lanxi’s triumphant return to the capital was a cause for celebration across all of Great Zhou. After offering sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Emperor Renxiao issued a public proclamation—not to glorify the Zhenbei Army, but to intimidate the rebellious forces in Dongchuan.

With that proclamation, Shen Lanxi had assumed the journey back to the capital would be smooth. Unexpectedly, someone blocked the way to lodge a complaint.

“Please, great lord, save my sister! I am Yan Qiuling, son of the commander of Yanyun Pass. I want to report Vice General Zhang Shi of Yanyun Pass—he murdered my family and took my sister! Please, make justice for me!”

Dressed like a beggar, Yan Qiuling knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing. His frail body trembled violently with each bow, as if his neck might break at any moment.

Wei Dongzhu stepped forward to inspect him. Seeing that he carried no weapons, and his nails and teeth contained no poison, it was clear he had no martial training. Wei Dongzhu asked him to explain everything in detail.

A report had already been sent to Shen Lanxi. Hearing that the family of Yanyun Pass’s commander had come forward as well, she paid attention.

“My father is Yan Yunfei, the commander of Yanyun Pass. Our family has defended this pass for generations. Ever since the Wei family army suffered a disaster and the northwest was defeated, many tried to persuade my father to sever ties with the court. But my father is loyal and patriotic; he refused to join them and harshly reprimanded those who instigated, even demoting them in rank,” Yan Qiuling said quickly, afraid they wouldn’t believe him.

“Those people held grudges. Three years ago, while my father was away inspecting, they attacked my family. Apart from me and my sister, no one survived. I owe my life to my sister—she swapped clothes with a child from the city during the chaos and hid me among the dead to save me. They took my sister. Please, save her!”

Che Mingyuan interjected, “Previously, Vice General Zhang Shi of Yanyun Pass submitted a document of loyalty.”

Cheng Zheng returned to the carriage and retrieved a scroll labeled “Yanyun Pass.” He unrolled it and quickly found a line of text, pointing it out to Shen Lanxi.

Che Mingyuan hesitated to glance at it, then looked to Shen Lanxi, who said, “You may look!”

Curious, the others crowded around to see.

The scroll contained almost ten years of records for Yanyun Pass. Three years ago, the commander had been Yan Yunfei. It recorded that he was killed by roaming bandits while away, leaving Vice General Zhang Shi in control.

Even knowing that Shen Lanxi had people collecting information for her via students from Qinglan Academy, seeing the records firsthand was shocking.

If this scroll fell into the wrong hands, it could be used to accuse Shen Lanxi of spying on imperial officials.

Because it contained recent information, and most of the people mentioned were still alive, the records were very detailed.

Shen Lanxi withdrew her gaze from the scroll and asked, “Are you Yan Qiuling?”

Yan Qiuling had heard that the Zhenbei Army was led by a woman. Seeing her in person, he still felt some hesitation and distrust. He trusted the male generals around her more.

Though he doubted that Shen Lanxi could help, Yan Qiuling hesitated for a moment, then answered obediently, “Yes, I am Yan Qiuling.”

Shen Lanxi asked, “How old are you?”

Yan Qiuling replied, “Eight.”

Shen Lanxi glanced at his frail frame. He looked small enough that someone might have believed him if he said four or five. Paradoxically, this made her trust him a little more.

“Three years ago, you were five—how do you remember everything so clearly?”

Yan Qiuling answered honestly, “One of my father’s old horse-hand soldiers saved me. He kept me in the stables, and during the day I hid in the cellar under the stables. At night he secretly brought me food. He told me about my father, and I started remembering things early on.”

Shen Lanxi asked, “What happened to the old soldier?”

Yan Qiuling’s eyes reddened, his voice choked, “He died. While leading a horse for Zhang Shi, he got kicked in the leg. No one treated him, and he died of infection. Before he died, he put me in a manure cart and sent me out. Not long after, he died.”

Shen Lanxi asked, “Who sent you to me?”

Yan Qiuling hesitated, embarrassed. “No one… at first I just heard the city beggars say that the Zhenbei Army didn’t have an age limit for enlistment. Anyone who could work would be fed. I thought, if the Zhenbei Army feeds children, they must be good people!”

Those listening were deeply moved.

Shen Lanxi cut to the heart of the matter: “You didn’t enlist, but chose to report the matter.”

Yan Qiuling flinched at her stern tone, quickly looked up at Shen Lanxi, swallowed, and whispered, “They said the Zhenbei Army is led by a woman… so… so I could speak!”

Shen Lanxi raised a mocking smile. “A small child dares to look down on a woman, and even try to scheme against me?”

Che Mingyuan and the others’ expressions hardened, coldly watching Yan Qiuling.

Ban Sicao noticed something odd. He stepped forward, grabbed Yan Qiuling’s wrist, and lifted the tattered clothes.

Yan Qiuling’s face revealed panic. He tried to pull back forcefully.

Ban Sicao repeated the inspection, checking his other arm and body.

“A child living among beggars and refugees for a long time? How could his body be clean? You’re trying to fool us, boy,” Ban Sicao scolded and kicked him two meters away.

Seeing this, the others grew even angrier.

If the general hadn’t noticed in time, they could have been deceived by a child.

This child was cunning indeed.

Xiao Fang gritted his teeth in anger. “He looks clean but so thin. He’s clearly starving himself to earn our sympathy!”

The kick almost broke Yan Qiuling apart. Though he didn’t die, he spat blood, struggled for a long time without getting up, and coughed violently when he tried to speak.

“General… I’m sorry…”

“I didn’t mean it…”

Yan Qiuling was truly frightened. That kick had nearly killed him.

He couldn’t die—not if he wanted anyone to avenge his family.

Wei Dongzhu watched the struggling, apologizing child in silence for a while before finally speaking.

Because the Yan family’s situation resembled his own family’s past, he was reminded of himself.

“Any further concealment, and you will be treated as a foreign spy!”

Yan Qiuling fell silent. Just as Wei Dongzhu thought he had fainted, he spoke again.

“Tell me—can you really help me?”

Ban Sicao huffed exaggeratedly and walked over, annoyed: “Now you’re negotiating terms with us?”

Xiao Fang was also a little angry. This brat was no good.

Shen Lanxi, not one to be threatened, said, “If you won’t speak, fine. Toss him aside. Don’t block our way!”

Xiao Fang deliberately called out loudly, “Yes, ma’am!”