Chapter 324 Shen Lanxi Imprisoned!

"Alright, alright, you're all still young, it's normal for you to misunderstand what you meant to show concern. Let's take today's incident as a lesson. Our Shen family must unite as one to ensure the safety and well-being of our clan." Old Madam Shen hadn't been sleeping well for the past few nights, and was feeling tired and increasingly lacking in energy during the day.

Seeing this, Shen Lanxi said, "Grandmother, you should go back and rest early."

After she left, Shen Yuantang pulled Old Madam Shen aside and complained, "Grandmother, look at her..."

Madam Shen glanced at Shen Yuantang and sighed silently.

After a night, it was thought that things would be peaceful in the Shen family, but unexpectedly, the Northwest was suddenly sent to the capital by express courier.

"Your Majesty, Shen Lanxi burned down Mosang Town, killed innocent people and claimed credit for it. Her crimes are heinous and unforgivable, and she deserves to be executed!"

"Your Majesty, we request that Shen Lanxi and the soldiers of Zhenbei be severely punished. We beg Your Majesty's permission!"

"Your Majesty, Shen Lanxi is known by terrible names in the Northwest, such as Blood Butcher and Female Butcher. The people of the Northwest turn pale at the mere mention of her name, and behind her back, everyone scorns her as a scourge to the court. We beg Your Majesty to punish her severely!"

"Thousands of people in Mosang Town were slaughtered overnight for Shen Lanxi's own selfish interests. In order to destroy evidence, she was even more ruthless and ordered the burning of Mosang Town. Such a brutal and tyrannical person should never live in this world!"

"Shen Lanxi is blinded by greed. For military merit and to exonerate the Shen family, she will stop at nothing..."

Emperor Renxiao looked at the assembled court officials with a dark expression. After much deliberation, he ultimately neither stopped them nor intervened.

"Summon Shen Lanxi to the palace!"

Afterwards, Emperor Renxiao ordered the Imperial Guards to personally bring the person to him.

Shen Lanxi stared expressionlessly at the heavy Imperial Guards surrounding the Zhenbei Marquis's residence.

"After I enter the palace, I will seal off the gates of my residence and not allow anyone to enter or leave!"

"yes!"

...

Shen Lanxi: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Emperor Renxiao glanced at Shen Lanxi's military uniform, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes.

"Lanxi, I heard you say before that Mosang Town was burned down by bandits. Later it was found that it was done by the descendants of the Li King. Today there is a new theory, so I called you here specifically to hear it."

Shen Lanxi listened attentively, neither humble nor overbearing.

Wang Bao read aloud the urgent message from the Northwest.

"Lanxi, I believe in you. I will send people to the Northwest to investigate this matter. Until the matter is clear, I will have to ask you to make do."

Shen Lanxi's eyes flickered as she respectfully replied, "I do not feel wronged. Cooperating with the court's investigation is the duty of every citizen of the Great Zhou."

Emperor Renxiao nodded with deep satisfaction and exclaimed, "You've grown up, and I'm very pleased!"

The ministers immediately stood up to object.

"Your Majesty, even if we are to send an imperial envoy to investigate, we must keep a close watch on Shen Lanxi during this time to prevent a repeat of what happened at the Dali Temple."

"I second that proposal."

"I suggest that Shen Lanxi be detained in the Dali Temple or the Ministry of Justice for strict protection." While it was called protection, it was actually just surveillance; they should lock her up.

Emperor Renxiao interrupted coldly: "No need. Let Shen Lanxi rest well at the Zhenbei Marquis's residence. She has made great contributions by conquering Dongchuan and the Northwest. I don't want the world to criticize her."

Having said that, the courtiers naturally dared not continue speaking.

After all, if anyone dares to stop him, it will be as if His Majesty has fulfilled the saying, "When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away!"

Shen Lanxi didn't offer any further explanation. After expressing her gratitude, she returned to her residence.

For three consecutive days, the entire capital was abuzz with talk of Mosang Town, with the focus once again shifting to Shen Lanxi.

"This is a case of one plan failing, so another is devised!" Che Mingyuan's tone was filled with deep disappointment and coldness.

Shen Lanxi chuckled: "Others' schemes will only make us stronger!"

After hearing this, Che Mingyuan couldn't help but laugh out loud, thinking about what was about to happen.

On the fourth day, another urgent report came from the Northwest.

"Suspicious activity has been detected on the northwestern border, suspected to be a renewed gathering of the three Turkic tribes, intending to invade the borders of our Great Zhou!"

The court was in uproar

"Wasn't a peace agreement already signed? How can they be so untrustworthy!"

"Do those barbarians know what credit is? All they know is burning, killing, and looting."

"They must have seen that the Northwest is leaderless, which is why they dared to test us like this!"

"What should we do?!"

"Should we send Shen Lanxi back again?"

"That would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains."

"Why don't we send the Prince of Zhennan?"

At this point, the court officials suddenly fell silent.

They suddenly remembered that Prince Zhou Ruyuan of Zhennan had been to the Northwest, and that he was sent to Dongchuan only after suffering a defeat there, where he continued to suffer defeats.

As Zhou Ruyuan heard the court officials discussing the matter, his expression grew increasingly grim.

"Father, I am willing to volunteer to go to the Northwest to quell the rebellion!" Zhou Ruyuan volunteered.

Emperor Renxiao's face was gloomy, and his fists were clenched.

"The barbarians are disturbing the peace of my Great Zhou. As long as they live, our Great Zhou will never have a day of peace!"

The courtiers exclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise!"

That's what they say, but Emperor Renxiao would not send Zhou Ruyuan.

Currently, only Zhou Ruyuan is in charge of the capital. If he is transferred to the Northwest, what if treacherous officials want to rebel?

"Are there any capable people in the Northwest?" Emperor Renxiao asked, and the court officials fell silent again.

How could they know what's going on in the Northwest?

You should ask Shen Lanxi and Wei Dongzhu!

Only then did the court officials realize that one of them was imprisoned in his residence, and the other had been sent out of the city to build a high platform to kill the descendants of the tyrannical king.

Emperor Renxiao remembered someone.

"Wu Tong, where is Wu Tong?"

Wu Tong, the nephew of the Left Chancellor Wu Yanzhi, was a spy sent by Emperor Renxiao to the Zhenbei Army. After returning to the capital, Emperor Renxiao gave him an official position and sent him away.

Wu Tong was soon summoned to the palace.

"Your Majesty, as far as I know, all the elite troops in the Zhenbei Army have been transferred back to the capital." Others may not know, but he knew very well that those people were either assigned to positions in the capital by His Majesty or sent elsewhere, and had long since lost touch with the Northwest.

Emperor Renxiao now regretted not leaving one or two valiant generals to guard the northwest.

It's all the fault of the three Turkic tribes for going back on their word and breaking their promises.

After Emperor Renxiao was secretly annoyed, he thought of someone else.

Where is Liang Shao?

If His Majesty hadn't mentioned it, the court officials would have long forgotten about Liang Shao.

Wang Bao whispered a reminder: "Your Majesty, this person was assigned to inspect agricultural affairs in the countryside a few days ago."

Emperor Renxiao froze, remembering this matter.

He had previously considered giving Liang Shao a prestigious but powerless post. Coincidentally, the land outside the capital was being cultivated, so he sent him to inspect it.

I wonder how much skill this person actually possesses. After wasting so much time, how much of it can they still retain?

"Call Liang Shao back immediately!"

"yes!"

Liang Shao's entire family is in the capital, making him more useful than Wei Dongzhu!

Two days later, Liang Shao returned and, after hearing the whole story, immediately offered a plan to Emperor Renxiao.

"Shen Yuanjing is married into the Oirat tribe and is their son-in-law. It was the Northern Garrison, together with the various Oirat tribes, that repelled the three Turkic tribes. I humbly request Your Majesty to allow Shen Yuanjing to accompany you!"