RWNEFE -Chapter 320 The Case Hastily Closed

“Another great fire?” This blaze made her think of the fire in Mosang Town.

Che Mingyuan frowned. “This fire is definitely not simple!”

Shen Lanxi said, “There will only be two possible outcomes now. The first is that Zhou Ruyuan and I will be ordered to thoroughly investigate the fire at the imperial mausoleum. The second is that they’ll take this opportunity to assign me to something else.”

A flicker passed through Che Mingyuan’s eyes as he understood her meaning.

“The first possibility is that the fire was set by the people behind the scenes. The second is…” Che Mingyuan pointed in a certain direction.

Shen Lanxi sneered. “Let’s wait and see.”

Another day passed, and an imperial eunuch arrived to deliver an edict.

“After investigation, the case of the Wei Family Army was the work of the remaining followers of the Li Prince. The Shen family was framed and unjustly wronged. I am deeply angered by this miscarriage of justice. Since the mistake has already been made, I shall make proper compensation. All properties and lands under the Li Prince’s name are hereby granted to the Shen family as recompense, and this shall be proclaimed to the entire realm!”

Shen Lanxi calmly accepted the decree and immediately sent someone with the compensation list to the authorities to complete the transfer.

“That fire…” Che Mingyuan said in a low voice.

Shen Lanxi replied, “Nine times out of ten, it was done by His Majesty.”

“Just to close the case?” Che Mingyuan asked.

Shen Lanxi had not expected the Wei Family Army case to involve so many complications.

“Have someone keep an eye on the descendants of the Li Prince. Once the verdict is announced, report to me immediately.”

Che Mingyuan hurried off to make arrangements.

Soon, the conclusion of the Wei Family Army case was proclaimed throughout the land. After receiving the imperial decree, Wei Dongzhu found an excuse to seek out Shen Lanxi.

“Was it really the Li Prince’s descendants who did it?”

Shen Lanxi said, “Whether they did it or not, His Majesty has already made the world believe that they did.”

Wei Dongzhu had secretly gone to see those descendants; they did not look like people who possessed any real power.

“His Majesty will probably summon you to the palace soon,” Shen Lanxi said, looking at him.

Wei Dongzhu’s gaze darkened. “So the Wei Family Army case is just… over?”

“I’ve already sent people to watch the Li Prince’s descendants. Now that the charges are set, His Majesty will never leave them alive.”

Wei Dongzhu still felt as if something was unresolved.

“Lanxi, I want to ask His Majesty for permission to marry you.” It was the first time Wei Dongzhu had spoken the words in his heart.

Shen Lanxi smiled and shook her head. “Now is not the time.”

Anxious, Wei Dongzhu feared losing the person before him.

“When will it be time?” he asked uneasily.

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “When the real murderer in the Wei Family Army case is found.” And when the person who poisoned her was found as well.

Wei Dongzhu grew uneasy at that thought.

“What if His Majesty grants the marriage by decree?”

Shen Lanxi suddenly curled her lips into a mysterious smile. “The northwest is about to fall into chaos again.”

Wei Dongzhu looked at the radiant, confident, and powerful woman before him, his eyes burning with intensity.

Soon afterward, Emperor Renxiao summoned Wei Dongzhu to the palace.

“The Wei Family Army case has finally been clarified. The spirits of the Wei Family Army can finally rest in peace,” the emperor said with a sigh.

After expressing his grief, Wei Dongzhu made a request.

“Your Majesty, I wish to use the blood of the Li Prince’s descendants to offer sacrifice to the four hundred thousand heroic souls of the Wei Family Army!”

Emperor Renxiao frowned. “You want to take them back to the northwest?”

“No,” Wei Dongzhu replied. “I wish to set up a high platform outside the city, to the northwest, and execute the criminals before the people.”

After a moment of silence, Emperor Renxiao granted his request.

After the Wei Family Army case was concluded, Shen Lanxi went once more to the Court of Judicial Review, but the guards at the gate stopped her.

“My lady, His Majesty allowed you to serve as Assistant Minister of the Court only to investigate the Wei Family Army case. Now that the real culprit has been found, according to the edict, you no longer have the authority to enter,” the guard said arrogantly, raising a hand to block her.

“And what if I insist on going in?” Shen Lanxi asked.

The guard looked extremely arrogant. “Is the Court of Judicial Review a place anyone can barge into? If you dare force your way in, it will be a crime punishable by the extermination of nine clans!”

Shen Lanxi sneered and stopped the guards beside her from forcing their way in.

“To the palace.”

…

“Uncle, today when I went to the Court of Judicial Review, the gatekeepers actually refused to let me in.” After entering the palace, she immediately lodged a complaint.

Emperor Renxiao smiled. “Lanxi, the Shen family has been vindicated, and the Wei Family Army case has been resolved. Haven’t you thought about your future?”

Of course she had.

“Uncle, I still wish to serve the court and share Your Majesty’s burdens.”

The emperor’s smile slowly faded. “Lanxi, in the end it is the imperial family that wronged you. If not for the Wei Family Army case, you and the Third Prince might already have two children by now.”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Uncle, regardless of the Wei Family Army case, after what the Third Prince did on our wedding night, there is absolutely no possibility between us.”

A chill flashed in Emperor Renxiao’s eyes, and his voice grew low. “Lanxi, the Third Prince has already told me he sincerely repents. For my sake, give him another chance.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered. “Uncle, I already told the Third Prince—if he can do as I said, I am willing to give him a chance.”

As if he had not heard the sharpness in her words, the emperor smiled. “That’s good news. I’ll summon the Third Prince in a moment and tell him.”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze turned cold.

“You came to the palace at the right time. Yesterday Consort Shu was still talking about you. Go visit her in a while.”

“Yes,” Shen Lanxi replied.

Chaoyun Palace

“Mother Consort, Qingling misses the child. Today, please let her take the child back for a day,” Zhou Ruyuan said, seeing that his mother was in a good mood, bringing up the matter once again.

Consort Shu’s expression immediately darkened. “That wretched woman sent you to ask me for the child again?”

Zhou Ruyuan said bitterly, “Mother Consort, I’m caught between you two. It’s truly very difficult for me.”

Consort Shu snorted coldly. “My good mood today has been ruined by that woman. She could seduce you on your wedding night—her character is clearly rotten. How could my grandson see such a person? What if she leads him astray after all the effort I’ve spent raising him?”

Zhou Ruyuan said, “Mother Consort, Qingling asks for no status, only to stay by my side. I truly like her.”

Consort Shu sneered. “What do you mean by ‘truly’? Do people of the imperial family even have such a thing?”

Bitterness crept onto Zhou Ruyuan’s lips again. “Mother Consort, you can’t keep preventing a child from seeing his own mother forever, can you?”

Seeing her son like this, Consort Shu felt both angry and disappointed.

“You—if not for that woman, your father wouldn’t be displeased with you, and your reputation wouldn’t have become what it is today.”

Zhou Ruyuan already regretted it, but his pride would not allow him to admit it.

“Mother Consort, I’ve thought it through now. Father Emperor said that in the next few days he will grant a new marriage decree for me and Shen Lanxi.”

Consort Shu had never seen her son so humble before. Now, for the sake of that woman surnamed Bai, he was truly muddle-headed.

“It’s good that you’ve come to your senses. Although Shen Lanxi is only a woman, in name she recovered Dongchuan and the northwest. If you can reconcile with her, you will certainly gain the support of those regions. Son, listen to your mother just this once—dispose of that woman.”