RWNEFE -Chapter 336 Wang Xiangrong Attempts to Assassinate Shen Lanxi!

Arrows soaked in tung oil and torches drenched in tung oil fell upon the Zhenbei Marquis’s residence like a meteor shower.

“Charge! Charge! Kill Shen Lanxi!” With a shout, the men in black leapt into the residence one after another, like dumplings dropping into boiling water.

“Where is everyone?”

“How can there be no one running out at all?”

“Not good—we’ve been tricked! Retreat quickly…”

At that moment, Shen Lanxi appeared from the shadows with the Imperial Guards.

“As expected, His Majesty foresaw everything and sent the Imperial Guards early to protect me!” Shen Lanxi called out loudly.

Three hundred Imperial Guards drew their bows to the full, surrounding the entire residence.

The commander of the Imperial Guards personally shouted: “Those who lay down their weapons and surrender will not be killed. Those who reveal the mastermind will have their sentences reduced by half. The first to step forward and surrender will receive lenient punishment!”

Some of the assassins trapped inside the compound refused to give up and tried to escape.

The moment they leapt into the air, they were shot into hedgehogs by arrows.

“I surrender!”

“I’m willing to reveal the mastermind…”

Wang Xiangrong’s name was easily confessed by the assassins.

That very night, the Imperial Guards stormed the Princess’s residence and escorted Wang Xiangrong into the imperial prison.

Shen Lanxi said, “Closely monitor every person leaving the Princess’s residence. Record whom they meet and what they say, one by one. Remember—do not alert the enemy.”

“Yes!”

…

News that assassins had infiltrated the Zhenbei Marquis’s residence spread before dawn among certain people with long hands, long ears, and long tongues.

Before court began, ministers gathered in small groups, exchanging information.

By the time they entered the main hall, nine out of ten already knew what had happened the previous night.

Since it involved royal secrets, Emperor Renxiao, though his face was dark as iron, did not bring up the matter in open court.

Instead, through the Empress, he summoned Zhou Qiwou and her daughter, along with Zhou Ruan, into the palace.

“These are the testimonies sent by the Court of Judicial Review. You may all take a look.”

Emperor Renxiao’s dark, gloomy gaze shifted between Zhou Ruan and Zhou Qiwou.

He had never expected that these two, who appeared to have no connection, were actually in close contact—even attending Zhou Qiwou’s birthday celebration together.

When he thought of that time, it was exactly when Zhou Ruan had been ordered to go north for disaster relief. The thought gave him a splitting headache.

Wang Bao hurriedly brought over ginseng tea.

After taking a couple of sips, Emperor Renxiao felt only bitterness in his mouth and became even more irritated.

Trouble came every few days—there was never a moment of peace. Even gnawing on thousand-year ginseng wouldn’t suppress his anger!

Thinking of this, he felt that Lanxi was thoughtful. She knew to send him ginseng, rare treasures from beyond, always trying to give him the best things.

As for the others, they did nothing but anger him day after day. These sons of his seemed to wish he would die sooner so they could ascend the throne!

After serving the tea, Wang Bao thoughtfully placed a glass bead in the emperor’s hand.

As Emperor Renxiao rolled the bead between his fingers, he sighed again.

What use were these wretches? If they had even half of Lanxi’s filial devotion, even thousand-year ginseng would not fail to calm his temper.

Zhou Ruan’s face turned deathly pale; naturally, he did not dare look at the testimonies.

Zhou Qiwou glanced at them once and was so frightened her heart pounded wildly.

How did His Majesty know that Zhou Ruan had gone to Jinmen? It must have been Shen Lanxi. She truly regretted not eliminating that eyesore earlier.

“Imperial Brother, my son acted without intent. I beg you to deal with him lightly,” Zhou Qiwou pleaded weakly, knowing explanations were useless.

Emperor Renxiao’s gaze was as cold as ice. “Wang Xiangrong has already confessed to hiring assassins. According to Great Zhou law, the sentence is immediate execution. Shen Lanxi is also a court official—hiring killers to murder a court official is an aggravated crime. His three clans should be exterminated!”

Zhou Qiwou’s face turned white, and she collapsed to the ground in fright.

“Imperial Brother, Xiangrong is still just a child. For the sake of my long journey to the capital, please show mercy. I promise never to let him step outside again—just spare his life!”

No matter how Zhou Qiwou wept and pleaded, Emperor Renxiao remained unmoved.

“With such a commotion last night, the entire capital already knows. If I pardon someone who dared to attack a court official, how can I silence the voices of the realm?” The emperor coughed repeatedly in anger.

Wang Bao hurriedly brewed another cup of ginseng tea and presented it. “Your Majesty, please take care of your health!”

Zhou Ruan came to his senses and quickly explained: “Father Emperor, the reason I stopped in Jinmen back then was because of the chaos of northern refugees. I chose to travel by ship to detour. I absolutely did not intend to conceal my itinerary—there truly was unrest among the refugees. I remember that many exiles at the time also abandoned their assigned routes and took the waterways. The Shen family did the same. I would like to ask the Shen family to testify for me!”

Wasn’t Shen Lanxi trying to trap him and expose him? Then he would drag the Shen family out too and see how they explained it to the emperor!

Unexpectedly, Emperor Renxiao raised his teacup and hurled it at Zhou Ruan’s head.

“You wretched thing! Lanxi told me about this long ago.”

Zhou Ruan stared in shock. He couldn’t believe it.

The emperor was suspicious by nature—wasn’t Shen Lanxi afraid of being punished?

“Father Emperor, even if Shen Lanxi told you, she certainly didn’t do so immediately upon returning to the capital. She must have said it only in recent days—she’s trying to mend things after the fact and drag us down with her.”

Emperor Renxiao grew furious.

“Lanxi told me as soon as she returned to the capital.”

Zhou Ruan collapsed to the ground in shock. Impossible—absolutely impossible.

Wasn’t Shen Lanxi afraid of death? Afraid that the entire Shen family would be executed?

This only strengthened Emperor Renxiao’s conviction: Lanxi truly treated him as an uncle and family. She had grown up in the palace, and her own father had never cared for her.

Lanxi respected and cared for him as if he were her father.

But his own sons and sisters—all of them were calculating against him!

“Zhou Ruan, from today onward, you are stripped of all duties and confined to your residence. Without my permission, you are not to step outside a single step!”

The color drained from Zhou Ruan’s face. Was the emperor placing him under house arrest?

“Zhou Qiwou, for failing to discipline your son, from today onward you are also confined to your residence. Without my permission, you are not to step outside.”

Zhou Qiwou panicked.

“Your Majesty—Imperial Brother—Xiangrong is your own nephew…”

“Is his life worth more than Shen Lanxi’s?”

“Imperial Brother, I married into a desolate land for the sake of Great Zhou. Over these years I may not have great merit, but I have endured hardship. I beg you to spare my son’s life!”

“He is Wang Mingru’s only son, the heir of Qinglan Academy. His brother-in-law belongs to the Liu family, which commands the naval transport fleet. If anything happens to my son, Jinmen will surely become estranged from Great Zhou. I beg Your Majesty to think carefully!”

Emperor Renxiao hesitated.

Not because of Qinglan Academy, but because of the naval transport fleet.

“You may return for now. Let me think on this carefully.”

Seeing that the emperor wavered, Zhou Qiwou immediately allowed her daughter to help her up, still weeping.

“Imperial Brother, there must be some misunderstanding in this matter. My son must have been incited by others and lost his judgment.”

Emperor Renxiao waved his hand coldly, dismissing them.

“Wang Bao, have the people sent to investigate Jinmen returned?”