RWNEFE -Chapter 358 Making the Crown Princess Weep!

Zhou Yunxue watched Fang Wenting struggle, puzzled why he didn’t cry out—and then she realized why: his tongue had been cut out.

That clever tongue, so skilled at deceit… now it could produce not a single sound, and he could only kneel on the ground like a dead dog, begging for mercy. Perfect!

Shen Lanxi, seeing Fang Wenting’s eyes widen in disbelief, personally carried out the execution, chopping off his limbs.

He was the magistrate of Xishan County, an official appointed by the imperial court—how dare Shen Lanxi slaughter a government official?

Who could save him now?

Shen Lanxi killed without blinking. She was creating chaos…

“Next, let’s go with Old Madam Fang!” Shen Lanxi looked at Zhou Yunxue. The corners of Zhou Yunxue’s mouth slowly lifted, and her pupils began to dilate slightly.

“Harassing her daughter-in-law, letting her son and daughter-in-law bully Princess Yunxue… split her in half!”

Shen Lanxi swung her blade, and blood sprayed into the air.

Afterward, she took the handkerchief offered to her and roughly wiped her hands.

“Milady, Princess Yunxue passed away with a smile!”

Shen Lanxi said: “Tonight, the bandits in Xishan have risen and slaughtered the magistrate’s entire household.”

“Yes!”

While a bandit uprising erupted in Xishan, Shen Lanxi had already quietly returned to the capital.

“Milady, you returned just in time—His Majesty is summoning you!” Che Mingyuan was so anxious he was sweating, fearing she wouldn’t make it back in time.

“Do you know what it’s about?” Shen Lanxi asked, then instructed that water be prepared; she needed to wash up.

Che Mingyuan had already inquired ahead of time.

“Likely, it’s about the Crown Prince being attacked.”

“Yesterday, a group caused trouble at an inn. At first, people thought it was just drunken troublemakers—but those were assassins disguised as drunkards, targeting someone in the inn.”

“When the Imperial Guards arrived, they realized the victim was the Crown Prince.”

Shen Lanxi: “Did the Crown Prince reveal his identity himself?”

Che Mingyuan: “Not exactly. Someone identified him.”

“Interesting… the Crown Prince has been away from the capital for so many years. Who would recognize him?” Shen Lanxi mocked with a smile.

Che Mingyuan found it absurd too, chuckling: “It was a ritual master from the Ministry of Rites. He claimed he had seen the Crown Prince when he left the capital years ago.”

Shen Lanxi: “He left at six years old. Zhou Rulin must be thirty now?”

“Thirty-two,” Che Mingyuan added.

“This ritual master can be ignored—he was sent to die.”

Che Mingyuan: “Indeed. Yesterday evening, he apparently fell off his horse from drinking too much and was trampled to death.”

Shen Lanxi snorted with a dry laugh: “Was Zhou Rulin injured?”

That was the real question Che Mingyuan wanted to report.

“The Crown Prince was guarded by Imperial Guards and secret agents—he was unharmed.”

Hot water was ready. After washing up, Shen Lanxi immediately went to the palace.

Emperor Renxiao had already been furious once. Now, kneeling officials in the study dared not even breathe.

“Your Majesty, Lanxi has arrived!”

Seeing Shen Lanxi’s wet hair, Emperor Renxiao’s anger slightly subsided.

“Why not dry your hair before coming?”

Shen Lanxi: “You summoned me, Uncle. Even if I were halfway in the coffin, I would crawl out to obey your command.”

Emperor Renxiao glared at her: “Stop talking nonsense.”

“Yes!”

As Shen Lanxi entered, she saw that those kneeling were officials responsible for the capital’s security, including Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, Sun Feng.

“Your Majesty, I already know what happened. I will order people to search house by house to find the assassins targeting the Crown Prince!”

Emperor Renxiao was furious, not about the attack itself, but that the news of the Crown Prince’s return had been exposed.

Already today, at least five imperial consorts had subtly urged him to summon the other princes back to the capital.

Emperor Renxiao’s anger burned, and Wang Bao hurriedly offered tea.

“Soon it will be the late Empress’s memorial. The Crown Prince returned specially to pay respects—yet someone tried to assassinate him,” Emperor Renxiao said, slamming the table.

Everyone present knew well that the memorial was still many months away. The emperor was clearly using this as an excuse to justify the Crown Prince’s return.

“Father, I am willing to assist the Imperial Guards in investigating!” Zhou Ruyuan spoke up.

Emperor Renxiao’s gaze on him was unreadable.

“Leave this matter to Lanxi. Ruyuan, I have other matters for you to handle.”

Zhou Ruyuan lowered his head: “Yes, Father.”

…

After receiving the order, Shen Lanxi first went to inspect and question at the inn where the incident occurred, then went to where the Crown Prince was staying.

“Crown Prince, I am here regarding the assassins!” Shen Lanxi looked at the Crown Prince lying down, but was stopped by the Crown Princess.

“Men and women are separate. Speak outside if you must!” the Crown Princess said, standing in front of her.

Shen Lanxi turned and walked out, saying as she went: “Record exactly what I say to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Later, I will report it to His Majesty.”

Che Mingyuan: “Yes!”

The Crown Princess’s expression darkened, and she angrily followed.

“What arrogance! Those who don’t know might think you’re interrogating the criminal!” she sneered sarcastically.

Shen Lanxi: “Record this too: the Crown Princess is extremely displeased that a female investigator was sent by His Majesty, and dissatisfied with her current residence.”

“Yes!” Che Mingyuan wrote swiftly.

The Crown Princess shouted angrily: “Shen Lanxi, don’t make up lies! Who is dissatisfied with His Majesty? Keep this up and I’ll complain directly to the emperor!”

Shen Lanxi: “Also note that she threatened and intimidated me!”

Che Mingyuan wrote as fast as lightning: “Sigh~”

The Crown Princess’s face darkened; she was so furious that her fingers trembled as she pointed at Shen Lanxi.

“I am the Crown Princess. How dare you speak to me this way? Don’t you fear imperial punishment?”

Shen Lanxi: “Record this as well. Mark it for emphasis at the front.”

Che Mingyuan: “…”

The Crown Princess stepped forward, about to take action.

Shen Lanxi’s gaze was sharp: “The Crown Princess repeatedly obstructed my investigation. I have reason to suspect collusion with the assassin targeting the Crown Prince, conspiring to harm a prince of Da Zhou!”

The Crown Princess, trembling with anger, pointed at Shen Lanxi: “You…”

Shen Lanxi: “Record this: after being confronted, the Crown Princess, in shame and fury, attempted to attack me.”

Che Mingyuan wrote rapidly: “Sigh~”

Seeing the Imperial Guards behind Shen Lanxi, sword at the ready, the Crown Princess’s mouth quivered—then she burst into tears.

“Shen Lanxi, you slander me! I will report this to His Majesty…”

Sun Feng, standing nearby, widened his eyes, his mouth twitching.

This was the Crown Princess! How could Shen Lanxi dare? Was she not afraid of imperial punishment?

“Crying? Show some dignity as a Crown Princess. No wonder the late Empress didn’t like you.”

The Crown Princess’s cries abruptly stopped.

Of course—now that the Empress Dowager was dead, why should she still fear Shen Lanxi?