RWNEFE -Chapter 684 I Wish to Guard the Imperial Tomb!

“Do you remember what I told you and your son when I brought you back to the Northwest?” Wei Dongzhuo said, his tone unshaken by Qiao Niang’s tears.

He continued coldly, “At that time, I told you not to have any expectations of me. If you stayed, you could only remain a servant. Did I not say that?”

Qiao Niang’s heart tightened. Back then, she had firmly believed that perseverance would win his attention—that if she stayed by the general’s side day after day, caring for him, he would notice her.

Yet, after so many years, he still remembered what he had said.

Was he always an ice block that could never be warmed?

Seeing Qiao Niang silent, Wei Dongzhuo pressed on: “Besides poisoning, what else did you do? If you confess now, you might still save yourself and Wei Yan.”

Qiao Niang had already resigned herself to death, but she had not expected her actions to implicate her son.

“It was all me. Wei Yan had nothing to do with it. General, please tell Your Majesty—if she wishes to punish, punish only me. Do not harm our son.”

Kneeling, Qiao Niang begged, her cries trembling with fear.

Wei Dongzhuo said, “It’s too late. You do not know Her Majesty’s temperament as I do. Offend her, and she will root you out completely.”

Like the Shen family, like Madam Shen, like the Empress Dowager.

“Since ascending the throne, Her Majesty has survived countless assassination attempts. Why do you think a mere packet of poison could end her life?”

“Why would you want to kill Her Majesty? Do you wish to bring chaos to the world?”

Even knowing the emperor’s impenetrable strength, Wei Dongzhuo’s anger flared at Qiao Niang.

He could not imagine that as soon as she arrived, she would be poisoned—and by someone in his own household.

Every time he recalled it, he felt ashamed to face her.

“No! I did not want chaos. It was that person who said that if Your Majesty died, a benevolent ruler would take the throne. Then the general would no longer remember her, and she would accept me.”

In that instant, Qiao Niang realized clearly how delusional she had been.

Why had no one made her understand sooner? She had wasted a lifetime. Now letting go, she truly could not bear it.

“Who was this person? What else did they tell you?” Wei Dongzhuo asked, sensing trouble.

Qiao Niang dared not speak.

Wei Dongzhuo immediately scolded: “Do you want Wei Yan to die?”

She was his mother—of course she did not.

“That person also asked me about Your Majesty’s plans…”

Wei Dongzhuo’s heart sank. He never expected such a lapse in his household.

He had failed His Majesty.

“What exactly did you tell them? If you want to save Wei Yan, speak quickly.”

Terrified, Qiao Niang remembered the warnings before returning to the Northwest: Her Majesty spared no one. Wei Dongzhuo’s devotion was absolute; even if it meant giving Wei Yan’s life, he would obey.

She hurriedly recounted every interaction with that person, how messages were passed, and all the information she had given.

Hearing even the fire attack plan had been leaked, Wei Dongzhuo’s anger was so fierce veins bulged on his forehead.

“Have you forgotten how the Wei Army died?”

“How dare you communicate with the enemy?”

His shouts awakened Wei Yan, who was resting and recovering from injuries.

It was his father scolding his mother. Why?

When he struggled over, he heard his father’s order:

“Take her to the barracks and punish her as a traitor!”

Wei Yan went pale, cold sweat breaking out over him. Ignoring his own injuries, he staggered forward, kneeling to plead for his mother.

“Father! Mother isn’t a traitor! Please spare her!”

Wei Dongzhuo’s face was grim. “Did you tell her about the fire attack? Do you know what she did? She leaked the fire attack plan. At this time, anyone finding out must be from the Xiongnu—it couldn’t be anyone else.”

“She endangered the lives of soldiers and civilians. Isn’t that enough to punish under military law?”

Wei Yan looked at his mother in disbelief, trembling: “Mother… is what Father said true?”

Qiao Niang could not raise her head.

Seeing her like this, Wei Yan understood everything.

“Mother, how could you be so foolish!”

He had been raised to be loyal and patriotic, to regard his father and the Wei Army as examples. Yet in the end, through his own words, the secret was exposed to the enemy.

Wei Dongzhuo glared at him and said coldly, “Take her away!”

Wei Yan staggered to follow but was blocked by soldiers.

Qiao Niang cried hoarsely: “Yan’er, Mother was wrong! Do not hate me! From beginning to end, it was all my fault…”

Her voice faded into the distance, leaving Wei Yan in tears.

How had their once peaceful home turned into this?

All because of Shen Lanxi. If she hadn’t come, his mother would not have been forced into such a situation.

Wei Dongzhuo, who hated spies above all, immediately went to report the matter to the emperor after Qiao Niang was dealt with in front of the troops.

“Your Majesty, the fire attack plan has been leaked.”

Shen Lanxi already knew what had happened to Qiao Niang.

“I will convene the generals and discuss a new strategy.”

Wei Dongzhuo knelt: “Your Majesty, I am guilty. I beg you to grant me death.”

Shen Lanxi asked: “What crime have you committed?”

Wei Dongzhuo said, “I should not have indulged my household, allowing them to commit such a grievous offense.”

Shen Lanxi sighed.

“Rise. I know you are loyal and patriotic. Now you also punish your family for the greater good—how could I punish you?”

Wei Dongzhuo felt even more ashamed.

“Your Majesty, I wish to atone. I beg that after I strike down the Xiongnu, you grant me one request.”

Shen Lanxi asked, “What request?”

Wei Dongzhuo knelt respectfully.

“I wish to guard the imperial tomb.”

Shen Lanxi gazed at him, still unwilling to let go, and sighed: “Why must this be necessary?”

“I beg Your Majesty to grant it. I would cherish this request like sweetness.”

Since ancient times, those who guarded imperial tombs were buried nearby after death. Even after a hundred years, they could still follow the emperor.

“Very well. As you wish.”

The Xiongnu waited for the fire attack that never came, only to face Shen Lanxi’s army striking directly into their hidden stronghold.

Like divine soldiers descending from heaven, without warning.

By the time they reacted, they were surrounded.

After a night of fierce fighting, rivers ran red with blood.

Shen Lanxi killed 2,300 enemies, securing the top spot on the list of slain foes.

Her astonishing combat strength once again stunned her troops. They fully submitted, no longer doubting her age.

Their emperor was unstoppable!

“Your Majesty, we have captured one. She claims to be your maternal sister.”

A disheveled old woman was thrown to the ground.

Shen Lanxi immediately recognized her as Shen Yuantang.

Shen Yuantang did not recognize Shen Lanxi at first.

“You’re not Shen Lanxi. Shen Lanxi wouldn’t look so young.”

Shen Lanxi was older than her, certainly older than she should be.