RWNEFE -Chapter 515 Zhou Xinrou Gives Her Daughter Secret Guards

Everyone present was no fool. They had endured exile, natural disasters, and war.

How could they not understand what this meant?

If it were truly only an investigation, how could she possibly be taking four hundred thousand troops? It was clearly preparation for battle.

Quite a few gazes fell, intentionally or not, upon Shen Yuantang.

“That’s impossible! Consort Shu and everyone from our prince’s residence are still in the capital. The prince would never do such a thing!” Shen Yuantang said in horror, denying it almost frantically.

Shen Lanxi replied calmly, “His Majesty believes in the prince, which is why he sent me to investigate, not to suppress a rebellion.”

Shen Yuantang did not believe her.

“If it’s only an investigation, why let you take so many troops?”

Facing her questioning, Shen Lanxi said in a low voice, “His Majesty is suspicious by nature. I fear that the moment I leave the palace, he will send people to ‘guard’ the Prince of Zhen’nan’s residence. You should return there as soon as possible.”

What kind of guarding? It was clearly house arrest.

Shen Yuantang’s face turned deathly pale. She staggered back two steps and collapsed onto a chair.

“How could this happen… how could this…”

As if summoned by her words, not long after she spoke, a guard came to report: “Your Highness, someone from the Prince of Zhen’nan’s residence has come to escort the princess consort back.”

Everyone understood what was really happening. Escorting her back was only an excuse; those who came were certainly not truly from the residence.

“Elder Sister, I can’t go back. I just want to stay here at home. I won’t go anywhere…” Shen Yuantang panicked, her mind in chaos. The first thing she thought of was avoiding being implicated by the Prince of Zhen’nan’s residence.

Some members of the Shen family frowned; others secretly rejoiced.

Just moments ago, Shen Yuantang had been arrogant, openly and secretly belittling them, relying on the fact that she had married well.

Now look at her—she thought she had climbed a ladder to heaven, but in truth she had climbed into emptiness and might even fall to her death.

Many people secretly felt vindicated.

Shen Lanxi looked at Shen Yuantang. “You should go back. It’s too early to say anything now.”

“Our family has never produced anyone who repays kindness with ingratitude or betrays loyalty. If others learn that nothing has even been confirmed about the prince yet, and you already want to distance yourself, the Shen family’s reputation will be ruined.”

Shen Congwen immediately understood and stood up.

“Yuantang, go back first. The Prince of Zhen’nan will surely be fine.”

Shen Yuantang looked at these cold, hypocritical relatives. Hatred welled up in her heart so strongly she wished she could tear her own hands apart.

Before, she had been the prince’s principal wife, and the Shen family basked in glory. Now that something had happened to the prince, this was how they treated her.

She glared fiercely at her family. Since you are heartless, don’t blame me for being unjust!

“Grandmother, Father, I’ll return to the residence first.”

“I’ll listen to you—but if something truly happens to the prince’s residence, don’t forget that I am also a member of the Shen family!”

After saying this, she gave her family a cold look and turned away without hesitation.

As soon as Shen Yuantang left, Madam Liu began muttering.

“This child is even blaming us now?”

Madam Miao said irritably, “It’s not as if our family forced her to marry the Prince of Zhen’nan.”

Old Madam Shen said impatiently, “That’s enough. What’s the use of talking about it now?”

“Lanxi will soon depart on campaign. Her mother is unwell, so you should help her pack her luggage.”

Madam Liu and Madam Miao, along with several younger members, asked Shen Lanxi about her departure date, then went to prepare her things.

“Mother, you were looking for me?” Shen Lanxi said, placing a letter on the table as she spoke.

Zhou Xinrou’s expression was obscure as she stared at her daughter.

“His Majesty has really recovered?”

Shen Lanxi replied, “He has fully recovered.”

Zhou Xinrou did not quite believe it, though she still felt a trace of doubt in her heart.

Her daughter would not lie to her. It seemed Emperor Renxiao truly had recovered.

When had the Green Silkworm poison become so easy to cure? Zhou Xinrou narrowed her eyes coldly. It seemed all the variables came from that descendant of Ghost Valley.

“Didn’t you say before that he was about to die?” Zhou Xinrou asked, voicing her doubt.

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “If Mother wants him dead now, I can kill him immediately.”

Zhou Xinrou’s eyes flickered, and her body slowly relaxed as she leaned to the side.

“He appeared in court today. The civil and military officials and the people all know he has recovered. We cannot touch him now.”

Shen Lanxi said, “The southwest is an uncertainty. I must ensure there are no uncertainties at all.”

Zhou Xinrou’s gaze shifted. It seemed her daughter had finally taken her advice and intended to deal with Zhou Ruyuan.

“I told you long ago—Zhou Ruyuan is a future danger.”

Shen Lanxi said coldly, her eyes resolute, “I never leave future dangers behind in my work.”

Zhou Xinrou thought for a moment and agreed with her.

“Where will the court find four hundred thousand troops for you?”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly. “Of course there are none. Emperor Renxiao would never part with the troops guarding the capital.”

Zhou Xinrou sighed and took out a token from her clothing.

“There are one thousand men here. They are the last safeguard for you and me. Now that you are going to the southwest, let them accompany you to protect you.”

Emotion gradually appeared on Shen Lanxi’s face.

“Mother, no. These people are meant to protect you.”

Zhou Xinrou pushed the token toward her.

“Take it. If something happens to you, there would be no meaning in living for me.”

Shen Lanxi raised her sleeve to cover her face. After a moment, her eyes were moist but clear.

“Mother, it won’t do for you to have no protection. Leave five hundred behind; I will take five hundred.”

Zhou Xinrou’s voice softened. “Leave two hundred. Take the rest. No more arguing. Mother is tired…”

Shen Lanxi understood. She took the token and stood.

“Mother, rest well. Before I depart, I will come to bid you farewell again.”

Zhou Xinrou gave a soft acknowledgment.

After returning to her room, Shen Lanxi looked expressionlessly at the token in her hand. She then took out another token—the one belonging to Emperor Renxiao’s secret guards—and placed them together, studying them carefully.

…

“Your Highness, Consort Shu is kneeling outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in plain clothes, begging to see His Majesty,” someone reported.

Shen Lanxi said indifferently, “Let her kneel. She won’t last long.”

Sure enough, she did not even endure a quarter of an hour before her face turned pale and she fainted.

The next day, Shen Lanxi found an opportunity to leave the city and take command of eight hundred secret guards. Unexpectedly, these people lived in a village outside the city, usually disguised as farmers. No one would have imagined that these simple, honest villagers were, in truth, highly trained guards.

They had been notified in advance. When they saw the token Shen Lanxi presented, they immediately knelt and called out, “Little Master.”

Shen Lanxi looked around at the surroundings and said calmly, “You’ve all worked hard.”

The guards replied, “It’s no hardship. Our lives were given by the Master; from now on, they belong to the Little Master.”

Shen Lanxi helped them up and arranged, “I will enlist you under the pretext of recruitment and place you among the new soldiers. Your identities will not be suspected.”

The guards respectfully awaited her orders.

Shen Lanxi said, “Many eyes are watching me. I cannot stay here long. Remain in the village for now; I will send someone with instructions later.”

The guards replied, “Little Master, return quickly. Emperor Renxiao is suspicious; he will surely have people watching you.”

After taking the roster of the guards and finishing her arrangements, Shen Lanxi quietly departed.