RWNEFE -Chapter 290 Yan Qiulian!

Yan Qiuling panicked, biting his teeth as he scrambled to his feet and knelt again before Shen Lanxi.

“General! I was wrong! I know I was wrong! Please, save my sister!”

Shen Lanxi gazed at him quietly. “You’re kneeling here not because you’re afraid, but because you see that everyone listens to me.”

Yan Qiuling’s eyes widened. How could she know?

Shen Lanxi continued, “The one who understands women so well and advised you to come report the matter—was that also a woman?”

“Let me guess… your eldest sister, Yan Qiuyu? No, Yan Qiuyu is dead. It must be your second sister, Yan Qiulian.”

Yan Qiuling could no longer hide his shock. He stared at the woman before him—calm, joking, yet able to pin him down with every word.

Truly, there was someone even more formidable than his second sister—right in front of him!

“Yan Qiulian, the wife of Zhang Shi, Vice General of Yanyun Pass, gave birth to Zhang Shi’s son two years ago. Their marriage is harmonious, and they live in perfect accord,” Shen Lanxi said, unable to hide a mocking smile.

Seeing there was no more point in hiding anything, Yan Qiuling steeled himself and said with deadly determination, “Shortly after the old soldier sent me out, my second sister’s people found me. She had me settle near the commander’s residence, so that even during city searches, I wasn’t discovered!”

Using such a “shadow under the lamp” tactic, it was clear Yan Qiulian understood military strategy.

“My second sister said… she said that since you, a woman, lead the army, you must be formidable. Women are compassionate—if I came to you like this, you would surely believe me!”

Shen Lanxi looked at Yan Qiuling and once again uncovered the truth: “Your sister must have told you that I have many powerful allies.”

Yan Qiuling immediately lowered his head, not daring to show the shock on his face. His sister had indeed said this—but how did Shen Lanxi know?

“Don’t worry. The world always speculates about a woman leading an army. I only have one question for you.” She was also asking Yan Qiulian’s sister a question.

“If I march my troops, your sister’s husband will die, and her child will be affected. Could she bear to be that ruthless?”

Yan Qiuling stared blankly at the ground. This was a blood feud with his family—how could it go unanswered?

If his sister lost her husband, she could find another—but what about the child?

Though only eight, Yan Qiuling had already experienced much hardship and understood more than most children.

How could a parent not protect their child? What if his second sister’s heart softened?

Shen Lanxi said, “You’re just a child. I won’t make things difficult for you. Tell your second sister what I said. You have only one day!”

Yan Qiuling looked at her deeply, pressed a hand to his chest, and ran off, stumbling but gaining speed as he went.

What she expected to take time to find out, or perhaps never receive an answer for, happened that very night. Someone delivered something to her.

A child’s corpse.

Wei Dongzhu stopped her from looking and only explained the situation.

“That child clearly came from a wealthy family. He had two gold bracelets on his wrists!” If true, Yan Qiulian was truly merciless.

Ban Sicao also inspected the body. After checking, he said, “No wounds. Poison was used.”

Shen Lanxi felt a heaviness in her chest.

“Find a coffin… and a proper place to bury him.” Even alive, this child would always be a thorn in Yan Qiulian’s heart.

Early the next morning, Yan Qiuling returned. After negotiation, Shen Lanxi agreed to lead troops to help the Yan family reclaim Yanyun Pass.

“General, my sister said—just as my father died, Zhang Shi will die the same way!” Yan Qiuling’s small face was full of hatred.

Shen Lanxi nodded. “Understood.”

After years of peace without horse bandits, Yanyun Pass suddenly faced raids. Within a single day, nearby towns were plundered, and two villages were massacred.

Reporting to Zhang Shi, he personally led troops to suppress them. Soon, he met the bandits at Fengkou Town but was slain beneath a horse in battle.

The bandits were ruthless. To avenge Zhang Shi, they stormed the city and slaughtered his family. Zhang Shi’s stepwife, who had gone into the city to buy cloth, escaped by chance.

Outside the city, the “horse bandits” acted; inside, it was Yan Qiulian’s doing.

“Coincidentally, the Zhenbei Army passed by and exterminated the bandits. Unfortunately, it was too late—General Zhang Shi was already dead. Fortunately, Yanyun Pass has successors. Yan Qiuling, son of the late Commander Yan Yunfei, though young, is capable both in strategy and combat and has the bearing of a general. The late Zhang Shi’s wife was the only daughter of Yan Yunfei. All of the Zhang family heirs were killed by the bandits. Henceforth, Yanyun Pass will be commanded by Yan Qiuling, with his sister Yan Qiulian assisting.”

After Che Mingyuan finished reading the lengthy memorial, he stepped aside.

Shen Lanxi, holding the Banyuè Blade, walked among the soldiers of Yanyun Pass, then shouted, “Who here is unwilling to obey? Step forward now!”

“I’ll count to three. If no one steps forward, the commander of Yanyun Pass will be Yan Qiuling!”

“One…”

“Two…”

“Three…”

Shen Lanxi, face solemn, walked to the platform overlooking the soldiers.

“The Emperor’s decree: all generals in the northwest answer to my command!”

“I’ll clarify one thing in advance: to follow my command, you must abide by my rules!”

“Follow my rules, and you will never lack pay or supplies!”

“Every one of you will have equal opportunities for promotion.”

“Recite my rules to the soldiers!”

The treasured military regulations of the Zhenbei Army—recited daily during inspections—were brought to the platform.

Wei Dongzhu began, reading each article:

“Disobey orders—death!”

“Harass a woman—castration!”

“Drink alcohol in the army—hand cut off!”

“Gamble in the army—both hands severed!”

“Spread rumors poetically in the army—tongue removed!”

“…Five horses tear apart!”

“…Quartering!”

With each proclamation, the soldiers of Yanyun Pass stiffened. By the tenth rule, those previously slouching now stood straight like white poplars.

Having lingered two days in Yanyun Pass, the Zhenbei Army needed to depart quickly.

The Yan siblings escorted Shen Lanxi to the city gates.

“To see you off a thousand miles, and now we part here!” Shen Lanxi looked at Yan Qiulian.

No wonder she was capable enough to have Zhang Shi take her as a stepwife. Yan Qiulian’s beauty was extraordinary.

The previous night, Yan Qiuling had met with Shen Lanxi for an hour, and they reached an understanding.

Looking at her peerless face, Yan Qiulian smiled, “It’s a pity our acquaintance was so brief. Had it lasted longer, we would surely have been friends.”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Some people, even if known a lifetime, remain merely acquaintances.”

They exchanged a knowing look.

“I don’t know when we’ll meet again!” The northwest was too small a world—Shen Lanxi had a feeling that once she left, she wouldn’t return.

Shen Lanxi smiled, “Next time I pass by, I’ll stop for a cup of tea!”

Yan Qiulian admired Shen Lanxi’s freedom and boldness. Had she been as capable earlier, her family might not have died.

Yan Qiulian said solemnly, “If ever needed, my Yan family army will give everything!”

Shen Lanxi smiled, “Good. I’ll remember your words. Grow stronger quickly—if I ever truly face trouble, I won’t be polite!”