RWNEFE -Chapter 404 Searching the Inner Palace

Wang Bao ordered Xiao Changgeng to be carried away for treatment, then turned to Shen Lanxi and said, “His Majesty commands that after you finish your current tasks, you go immediately.”

Shen Lanxi replied respectfully, “Understood, Sir. I’ll finish up right away.”

Wang Bao left first. Afterwards, Shen Lanxi gathered the entire Imperial Guard for instructions.

“From now on, the sole Commander of the Imperial Guards will be me, Shen Lanxi. As for Xiao Changgeng, my previous statement still stands—if he wishes to serve as deputy commander, he is welcome. If he insists on following our prior agreement to the letter, I will respect his commitment as a man of his word.”

The Imperial Guards remained silent. To be commanded by a woman—it was something they had never imagined.

A woman!

All these capable men had never reached the rank of commander, yet a woman now held the position.

If anyone outside found out, they would be laughed at mercilessly.

Even when they walked in public, they wouldn’t be able to lift their heads.

Shen Lanxi pointed to Wei Dongzhu. “You’ve surely heard of him. His name is Wei Dongzhu, of the Wei Family Army.”

Naturally—the whole capital already knew Wei Dongzhu’s reputation when the Northern Garrison returned to the city.

“He is now the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards. From now on, he will manage their affairs and your training.”

The guards looked at Wei Dongzhu with a mix of awe and respect.

Serving under Wei Dongzhu carried more prestige than serving under Shen Lanxi; after all, he was the last of the Wei Family Army—a living legend among soldiers.

After giving brief instructions, Shen Lanxi went to see the Renzhao Emperor.

“Uncle, I’ve completed the handover with the Imperial Guards,” Shen Lanxi said, her eyes full of concern as she looked at the emperor, who seemed gravely ill.

The emperor nodded, forcing himself to stay alert. “The safety of the palace is entrusted to you. Until the crown prince returns, I do not wish to see any disturbances in the capital.”

Shen Lanxi lowered her gaze. “Rest assured, Uncle. I will protect the capital.”

“Uncle, rest a little now. I’ll go on patrol tonight.”

The emperor had endured this long only to hear these few words from her. With that done, he could finally rest.

Shen Lanxi stayed in the palace overnight. The next day, she reported the findings from the previous night in detail.

“Uncle, the Imperial Guards intercepted six carrier pigeons last night and captured four suspicious eunuchs and palace maids.”

The emperor’s eyes widened, his expression darkening.

Wang Bao said, “Your Majesty, those four eunuchs and palace maids have all been locked up for questioning.”

The emperor nodded, pleased that Shen Lanxi had not interrogated them herself. Royal secrets are not for outsiders.

“Lanxi, you’ve worked hard. Go rest now.”

Shen Lanxi said, “Uncle, until you recover, I will continue night patrols.”

The emperor was moved. “You’ve worked hard. Once this is over, I will certainly reward you.”

“Thank you, Uncle!”

…

After returning to the mansion, Shen Lanxi received reports.

“The young lady stayed in the main residence without incident. Shen Yuantang scratched Liang Xinyi’s face and was scolded by Shen Congwen. The matriarch locked Liang Xinyi and her child in the Buddha hall, saying they could not leave without her permission.”

“Shen Congwen has reported a false illness to the palace, and likely won’t be able to move freely for at least three to five months. Early this morning, Shen Yuanxu ordered the arches between the second and main residences sealed. When the matriarch learned of this, she did not intervene.”

After listening to all the updates, Shen Lanxi said satisfied, “The Shen family is in good order now.”

The messenger twitched his lips but said nothing.

“Until the heir of the Ghost Valley are brought back, we won’t have a moment of leisure,” Shen Lanxi added with a cryptic smile.

The next night, an assassin attempted to harm the emperor, but was immediately captured by Shen Lanxi. The imperial physician then discovered poison in the soup the assassin had brought.

The emperor was shocked and immediately ordered Shen Lanxi to investigate the matter thoroughly, by any means necessary.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor commands me to search the entire Inner Palace. Here is the token of authority,” Shen Lanxi said respectfully.

Qi Yingqun looked at Shen Lanxi with a complicated expression. After a long pause, a faint smile appeared on her face.

“Since it is His Majesty’s command, I shall comply.”

Shen Lanxi said, “I have a small request. While searching the Inner Palace, I will inevitably face resistance. I hope Your Highness can assign someone to assist me.”

Qi Yingqun considered and nodded. “Since it is His Majesty’s will, I shall fully cooperate.”

Shen Lanxi replied, “Thank you, Empress, for your understanding.”

Two days later, Shen Lanxi presented everything recovered from the Inner Palace to the emperor.

“Your Majesty, I found three packets of poison and one love potion in Su Jieyu’s chamber. Under Consort Liu’s bed was a voodoo doll, and under a tree in the courtyard lay the corpse of a child. Chen Changzai found three more corpses in the dried-up well. When I arrived at her hall, she was disciplining a palace maid—within an hour, that maid was dead.”

“Under Consort Shu’s courtyard tree, there were animal carcasses and large quantities of musk…”

The emperor realized the Inner Palace was not clean at all. Peeling back its layers, there was not a single honest resident.

Was the entire Inner Palace full of poisonous women and vipers?

Overnight, the emperor seemed to age three or four years.

“Uncle, only your residence remains unsearched. Please indicate where to begin.”

The emperor’s face was almost feral. Clutching his pillow tightly, he shouted, “Search! Dig three feet into the ground if necessary to clear my halls and courtyard!”

Shen Lanxi said, “I obey, Your Majesty!”

Two days later, Shen Lanxi presented the findings from the three-foot excavations.

“Voodoo, poison, curses, filthy objects… They couldn’t wish for me to die sooner!” the emperor shouted furiously, coughing up blood, his body swaying backward.

Before fainting, he vaguely heard Wang Bao and Shen Lanxi calling for the imperial physician.

Surprisingly, the two who truly cared for him were these two.

News of the emperor’s critical illness spread through the capital like wildfire.

After Xiao Changgeng recovered from his injuries, he immediately resumed duty with the Imperial Guards.

“Commander Shen, I have come to take orders.”

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Deputy Commander Xiao seems quite sensible.”

Xiao Changgeng suppressed his anger, his face tight. “I accept my loss. But given the current state of the palace, I cannot rest easy. I will wait until Commander Shen is familiar with the Imperial Guards before petitioning His Majesty to resign.”

Shen Lanxi said, “You are quite loyal to His Majesty.”

Xiao Changgeng stiffened, replying coldly, “My loyalty to the Great Zhou and His Majesty is witnessed by the sun and moon.”

Shen Lanxi thought for a moment. “You are correct. There is still much for the Imperial Guards to manage, and Deputy Commander Wei has not yet fully grasped it. During this time, assist him in becoming familiar with these duties.”

Xiao Changgeng: “Yes, Sir.”