RWNEFE -Chapter 518 Meeting Members of the Envoy Group!

During the day they hid in the mountains, avoiding not only the tribespeople who came up to hunt or gather firewood, but also poisonous insects, wild beasts, and the miasma in the hills.

To guard against the miasma, before departure the Medical Academy—jointly organized by the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and the imperial physicians—had prepared many pills for preventing miasma and neutralizing toxins, which everyone carried with them.

Who would have thought that the mighty Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, once known as the foremost authority on poisons, would be arranged by Shen Lanxi to serve as instructors and even vice-deans in the Medical Academy?

At dusk, wisps of cooking smoke rose from the hollows in the mountains, and the sound of horns rang out one after another. Those who had been hunting, gathering, or changing shifts all began returning to camp when they heard the horns.

Five shadow guards who had gone down the mountain to scout returned and reported in low voices: “When the Wolf Tribe hears the horns, everyone returns to the camp. The last group that was gathering and hunting has already come down the mountain.”

Shen Lanxi watched the mist slowly rising along the mountain slopes and signaled the shadow guards to take their anti-miasma pills.

“You’ll split into five groups and go down to investigate. No matter what happens, regroup in the mountains in two hours.”

“Yes.”

The ten shadow guards split into pairs and headed off in different directions.

Shen Lanxi’s objective was straight ahead. By the time she reached the foot of the mountain, the moon was already hanging above the treetops.

Two squads were guarding the front. There were iron barricades ahead, and caltrops scattered on the ground. After approaching, she also discovered several hidden sentries and traps.

Taking advantage of the night, Shen Lanxi silently slipped inside. The Wolf Tribe was larger than she had imagined. Guards stood watch in groups of ten, patrolling in overlapping routes—there was almost no opportunity to infiltrate.

With patrols this dense, the five teams of shadow guards she had sent out would most likely return empty-handed.

Shen Lanxi hid in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity. Around mealtime, the number of patrolling soldiers decreased. Seizing the moment, she successfully entered the core area.

“Those people the Wolf Lord brought back—are we still keeping them hungry?”

“The Wolf Lord said as long as they don’t starve to death, that’s fine. As long as they don’t give in, they don’t get enough to eat.”

“What does the Wolf Lord want with them?”

“What else? Those Great Zhou men are all fair and delicate.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes lit up, and she quietly followed the two tribal soldiers.

Soon she smelled the stench of cattle and horse manure, mixed with a foul, bloody odor.

Ahead was likely where prisoners were held, near the pens for livestock.

“Why is there no movement? They’re not dead, are they?”

“If they’re dead, they’re dead. There are so many of them—what’s one or two?”

“They can’t die. Last time the Wolf Lord said he was going to send a few to the chief of the Wu Tribe. Several tribes want them. If there are too few, there won’t be enough to divide.”

“Let’s check. If someone’s dead, we won’t be able to explain it.”

The two soldiers opened the cage, exchanged some chatter, then one went to fetch water while the other went to find the shaman-healer.

Seizing the chance, Shen Lanxi slipped inside and saw a group of ragged men who had clearly suffered abuse.

They were all dressed in Great Zhou clothing. Though they looked emaciated and worn down, their faces were uninjured. Apart from being dirty and thin, their refined appearances were still obvious at a glance.

These were the members of the cultural exchange envoy group she had personally assembled.

Shen Lanxi’s anger surged. The tribes had gone too far. When they submitted their memorials to the court, their words had sounded sincere—who would have thought they would deceive Great Zhou’s young men into coming here, only to treat them like animals and humiliate them so cruelly? The Wolf Tribe—she would remember this.

Footsteps approached, and Shen Lanxi quickly withdrew into the shadows.

The soldiers gave each prisoner some water, and after examining them, the shaman-healer dared not prescribe any medicine.

“Without the Wolf Lord’s orders, I wouldn’t dare give medicine. Get them some food and drink—perhaps that will help.”

The healer hurried away, leaving two soldiers grumbling as they went to prepare food.

Shen Lanxi appeared again and was about to wake one of the men to question him when coughing suddenly sounded from inside.

“I am someone sent from the capital by the Regent to rescue you,” Shen Lanxi said in a low voice.

The coughing man immediately crawled forward. “Re… really?”

“If it were false, what would be the point?” Shen Lanxi replied.

The man hesitated, saying nothing.

“Quickly tell me—what happened after you arrived in the southwest?”

The man began coughing again. Shen Lanxi handed him a ladle of water.

After gulping several mouthfuls, he said weakly, “It was the Prince of Zhen’nan. He sent us here. The Prince of Zhen’nan intends to rebel. He wants to use us to collude with the tribes.”

“Did you see it with your own eyes?” Shen Lanxi asked.

The man hesitated. “The one who dealt with matters was a woman at the Prince of Zhen’nan’s side. They all called her the Princess Consort. The southwestern army listens to her. Her words are the Prince’s will.”

A flash passed through Shen Lanxi’s eyes as she began forming her conclusions.

“Are all forty of you still alive?”

“Thirty of us are imprisoned here. The other ten were taken somewhere else—we don’t know where, or whether they’re still alive.”

“Protect yourselves,” Shen Lanxi said. “Whatever they ask you to do, agree to it.”

The man fell silent.

“This is the Regent’s order,” Shen Lanxi continued. “Take the opportunity to gather intelligence on the tribes’ military situation, confirm whether the Prince of Zhen’nan is colluding with them, and find out where the other ten were taken.”

After a moment, the man replied, “We obey the Regent’s command.”

Hearing movement in the distance, Shen Lanxi said quickly, “Someone’s coming. Remember what I said. When this is over, the Regent will personally come to welcome you back in honor to Great Zhou.”

“Alright!” In the darkness, many men opened their eyes, a fiery light in them.

…

Shen Lanxi returned to the rendezvous point at the agreed time. The five teams of shadow guards were already waiting.

“The tribal patrols are too tight—we couldn’t get in.”

“Neither could we.”

“Same here.”

“I got in,” Shen Lanxi said. “Thirty of our Great Zhou envoys are imprisoned inside. Ten others are missing.”

The shadow guards felt ashamed.

Shen Lanxi relayed what she had learned about Zhou Ruyuan and then said, “The southwestern army can no longer be trusted. Let’s find a place to stay for now and wait for reports from the others.”

“Yes.”

They retraced their route, avoiding ambushes and hidden sentries. A day later, they returned to Great Zhou territory.

“Your Highness, this area is under the southwestern army’s control. It’s too dangerous,” a shadow guard said.

“No hurry,” Shen Lanxi replied. “At present, the southwest probably only knows that I’ve arrived. They likely never expected me to come this quickly.”

“The most important thing now is to find out what’s happening inside the southwestern army and see whether what the envoys said is true.”

“If the Prince of Zhen’nan has truly rebelled, Your Highness must return to the capital at once,” a guard urged.

“Don’t worry. I won’t risk my life recklessly.”

Two shadow guards returned with news: the southwest was recruiting soldiers.

Shen Lanxi immediately formed an idea.

“We’ll enlist.”

At first the shadow guards refused, but Shen Lanxi’s expression turned cold.

“If you’re unwilling to cooperate, then return to Great Zhou.”