RWNEFE -Chapter 316 The Beihe Imperial Mausoleum, Descendants of the Li Prince!

Zhou Ruyuan hastily ate a few bites, then went to find Shen Lanxi.

“Lanxi, before we said that after the matter of the secret passage was investigated, we would sit down and talk properly. I think now is a good opportunity.”

Zhou Ruyuan had expected Shen Lanxi to mock him, ridicule him, or even curse and complain. Instead, she only said lightly:

“Alright. Let’s talk.”

His eyes darkened; he instinctively felt it shouldn’t be like this.

“Lanxi, when you divorced me before, it wasn’t my wish. Now that the Shen family is safe, that divorce document shouldn’t count.”

Shen Lanxi gave a mocking smile. “So, spending the wedding night in another woman’s room, and calling for water three times in one night—was that fake too?”

Zhou Ruyuan’s expression instantly turned violent. Why did people always bring up the matter of “calling for water”? Who hadn’t been young and reckless? Why did everyone keep harping on that one thing?

“Lanxi, that was all a misunderstanding.”

Shen Lanxi looked at him with amusement. “Was it a misunderstanding that you spent the wedding night in another woman’s room, or a misunderstanding that you called for water three times in one night?”

Pain and anger flashed through Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes.

“Lanxi, for a man to have several wives and concubines is normal. Why must you keep clinging to this?”

Shen Lanxi looked at him coldly. “I’ve seen shameless people before, but never one who speaks of shamelessness so elegantly.”

“It may be normal for men to have several wives and concubines, but other men don’t spend their wedding night in another woman’s room, nor do they let news of calling for water three times in one night be deliberately passed on to their wife. If it were anyone else, that woman who deliberately sowed discord between master and mistress would have been beaten to death long ago.”

“My lord, may I ask—how did you deal with that woman?”

The direct questioning left Zhou Ruyuan speechless.

“Leaving aside that woman—what about the old maid who helped pass along the messages about the water to the mistress? How was she dealt with?”

A flash of ferocity crossed Zhou Ruyuan’s face. So that had been the truth.

“Lanxi, I didn’t know the inside story. When we return to the capital, I will certainly punish those wicked servants and let you vent your anger.”

Shen Lanxi looked at the man who kept trying to shift blame onto others and felt only ridicule in her heart.

He never admitted he couldn’t control himself, only blamed women for seducing him. What difference was that from a man who indulges himself in a brothel and then reports it to the authorities afterward?

“Don’t change the subject, and don’t try to brush this off or deceive me. I fought my way from Dongchuan to the northwest, campaigning east and west. I’ve seen every kind of trick—I’m not some ignorant girl.” Shen Lanxi’s gaze was cold and sharp.

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes flickered; he didn’t dare meet her gaze.

“Lanxi, I will request an imperial decree to marry you again as my consort.”

Shen Lanxi was so angry she laughed.

“Fine. The day you request that decree, besides the imperial edict, there will also be poison, a dagger, and a white silk cord delivered to your residence.”

Zhou Ruyuan’s expression instantly turned fierce. “You—”

Shen Lanxi sneered. “You know perfectly well why that woman is still alive. And you also know when she will no longer be able to hide. His Majesty is wise and decisive, very good at weighing gains and losses. Tell me—which is more important, the life of a mere Bai Qingling, or me, Shen Lanxi?”

Zhou Ruyuan looked at her deeply. After a moment, he turned and left with a dark expression.

They traveled at full speed, and that very evening they arrived at the Beihe Imperial Mausoleum.

All members of the imperial clan who had committed crimes were confined in tiny courtyards.

They were said to be guarding the mausoleum, but in reality they were imprisoned.

After the guards saw the token Zhou Ruyuan presented, it wasn’t long before the descendant of the Li Prince was brought in.

A thin young man, skinny as a stick, wearing shackles, was dragged before them.

Seeing the man thrown to the ground like a piece of rag, Zhou Ruyuan frowned and asked,
“Why doesn’t he even make a sound?”

The guard hurriedly answered in a flattering tone, “This humble one was transferred here five years ago. When I arrived, he was already like this. The older guards said he’s been this way ever since he was sent here. If not for strict orders from above that he must not die, and for us feeding him three meals a day, he would have starved long ago.”

Shen Lanxi silently looked at the man lying there, his eyes dull and lifeless.

“Is he the only descendant of the Li Prince?” Zhou Ruyuan continued.

“Yes, only this one. There were originally two others. One went mad a few years ago and died suddenly after falling ill. The other also died of a sudden illness.”

Zhou Ruyuan slammed the table in anger, the force cracking the wood.

“Lie again, and I’ll have your head!”

The guard immediately knelt, trembling. “Your Highness, spare my life! I truly haven’t lied. When those guarding the mausoleum die, a coroner examines the body. The coroner can testify—I truly dare not lie! Please spare my life!”

Zhou Ruyuan said coldly, “Take him away. Once I’ve verified the facts, I’ll decide whether to release him.”

The guards immediately dragged the man away.

Afterward, Zhou Ruyuan summoned imperial physicians to examine the descendant of the Li Prince on the spot.

Watching silver needles being inserted into the man’s hand without even making him frown, Shen Lanxi stood up.

“Arrange a place to rest first. Let’s spend the night here.”

After leaving the room, Ban Sicao whispered, “He looks like he’s been poisoned.”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Let Zhou Ruyuan make the first move. Then we’ll wait and see.”

“Our people have already taken positions around the area,” Ban Sicao said.

Shen Lanxi nodded.

The next day, when she saw the descendant of the Li Prince again, the imperial physicians were still taking turns applying acupuncture.

Dark circles lay under Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes—he clearly hadn’t rested well. It was hard to tell whether he had spent the night interrogating people… or “calling for water” again.

“What’s wrong with him?” she asked. Even the shackles had been removed, clearly out of fear that he might die.

Zhou Ruyuan frowned. “The imperial physicians say he’s already beyond cure.”

“We must report this to His Majesty immediately,” Shen Lanxi said.

“I’ve already sent word to the capital.”

Shen Lanxi did not reveal too much, only saying, “That’s good. Then everything will proceed according to Prince Zhen’nan’s arrangements.”

Zhou Ruyuan turned and left. Shen Lanxi then decided to inspect the place where the descendant of the Li Prince had been living.

A different guard was on duty today; evidently Zhou Ruyuan had discovered inaccuracies in the previous guard’s report.

“Take me to the place where he lives,” she said.

The guard quickly and cautiously led the way.

They arrived at a dilapidated thatched hut. The guard wiped sweat from his forehead and said nervously, “This was all ordered from above. This humble one had no authority to decide.”

Shen Lanxi had no intention of punishing a guard who was trembling in fear. With the descendant of the Li Prince’s identity, only a fool would treat him well. The fact that he hadn’t been killed already was only because of explicit orders from higher authorities—subordinates simply followed their lead.

“In a place like this, how does he survive the winter?” Shen Lanxi asked.

The guard replied stiffly, “In winter he’s moved to another place, to a somewhat better room. After all, he can’t be allowed to die—but he also can’t be treated well.”

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “Dig up every place he has ever lived or stayed—three feet deep.”