Chapter 201 Do you think I'm doing all this to salvage the marriage?
...
The answer to why Zhou Ruyuan didn't go directly to the Yonglin Prefecture camp was quickly given by the imperial edict summoning him!
"Announcing, the Marquis of Yingyong and the Prince of Zhennan, come to the palace to pay homage!"
Zhou Ruyuan: Who is the Marquis of Yingyong?
Shen Lanxi: "Your subject accepts the decree!"
Zhou Ruyuan's pupils dilated in shock. Was she the Marquis of Yingyong?
How is that possible?
Shen Lanxi accepted the imperial edict with both hands, disarmed herself, and led the Shen family into the city.
As for the others, since His Majesty did not make any special arrangements, they must retreat ten miles and set up camp outside the city!
After giving her instructions, Shen Lanxi turned around and went into the palace with the imperial eunuch who was delivering the decree.
Zhou Ruyuan also gave some instructions. He could have entered the palace first, as he had no other family members besides Bai Qingling and the child. Bai Qingling had already entered with the child, and he only needed to give a few instructions to his subordinates before leaving.
However, as if possessed, he deliberately slowed down, just in time to enter the palace with Shen Lanxi.
Shen Yuanjing and the other sons of the Shen family are not only members of the Shen family, but also soldiers. Shen Lanxi's decision to have them wait outside the city was a cautious and prudent move.
"Father-in-law, has His Majesty said anything about how to settle my family?"
The imperial eunuch relaying the decree spoke respectfully: "As I said, His Majesty's decree is to summon only General Shen to the palace. The others should return to their residences to rest. They will be summoned to the palace after Old Master Shen and Old Madam Shen have recovered somewhat!"
Shen Lanxi: "Thank you for informing me, Father-in-law!"
The imperial eunuch delivering the decree replied, "I dare not, I dare not!"
Zhou Ruyuan couldn't take his eyes off Shen Lanxi the whole way. He couldn't believe that the woman in front of him, who was so elegant, poised, and exuded a subtle aura, was the woman he had once married!
In his memory, Shen Lanxi was arrogant, pretentious, domineering, and bullying, often taking advantage of her favor to seize things that did not belong to her.
Such a person may be skilled in martial arts, but he will never be able to win the hearts of the people!
With her temperament, if it weren't for the Empress Dowager's favor, she would have been reprimanded countless times long ago.
Suddenly, Zhou Ruyuan's eyes flickered as he recalled the words he had spoken before their divorce.
At the time, he said that Shen Lanxi only knew how to use household tricks and was not as good as Bai Qingling. In order to express his dissatisfaction with the arranged marriage, and because he really liked Bai Qingling, he stayed in Bai Qingling's room on their wedding night. Could this have upset her?
Zhou Ruyuan looked at Shen Lanxi with an increasingly strange expression.
Even if Shen Lanxi changed for him, he would always love Bai Qingling alone and would never love another woman.
Shen Lanxi really didn't need to do this~
“Lanxi…” Zhou Ruyuan called out.
Shen Lanxi frowned but did not turn around.
"Call me Lord Shen. I now serve in the same court as the Prince. If the Prince wishes to address me by a title, he may also call me Earl Shen, or Earl of Valor!"
Zhou Ruyuan froze, feeling annoyed, but then he remembered how much she had changed for him, and a little guilt rose in his heart.
"Lanxi, you don't need to do this!"
Shen Lanxi turned around and glanced at Zhou Ruyuan with a puzzled look.
"So what?"
Zhou Ruyuan pursed his lips. He was going all out; he couldn't let Shen Lanxi make another mistake!
"You don't have to push yourself like this!" Zhou Ruyuan exclaimed.
Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow, wanting to crack open his head and see what was going on in his mind.
"I don't even know why I'm forcing myself, but you seem to know it better than I do!"
In Zhou Ruyuan's view, her explanations were all just stubbornness.
A woman raised in a secluded mansion, though skilled in martial arts, still had limited experience and knowledge. She didn't need to force herself into military service.
"You don't need to hold a grudge against what I said back then!"
“Qingling grew up among the common people and was not bound by the doctrines of female precepts. She interacted with men in the army just like ordinary people.”
“You are different. You grew up in the palace and were taught palace rules and precepts for women. It is very difficult for you to get along with men outside the palace. You don’t need to force yourself or force yourself because of what I said back then!”
Shen Lanxi became increasingly speechless as Zhou Ruyuan continued to speak.
"Do you still think that I did all this just to get your attention and try to salvage our marriage?"
Zhou Ruyuan: Isn't that right?
Shen Lanxi almost laughed out of anger.
She's already balanced things out for him, but he still insists on patting himself on the back with excessive confidence. How many people did he borrow courage from to say such things?
"Lanxi, no matter what you do, we can't go back!" Zhou Ruyuan looked at her and patiently explained the facts to her.
Their divorce was incredibly messy and ugly.
If Shen Lanxi hadn't gone to such lengths for him, he would never have told her these things.
To this day, he still remembers the humiliation he suffered two years ago when he was demoted to the Northwest to escort grain supplies.
Shen Lanxi was too deeply in love with him, so he decided to forgive her for the rash things she did when she left the capital.
Laughter suddenly broke out.
Shen Lanxi looked at Zhou Ruyuan, who was still dreaming, with amusement, and said in a light tone, "From beginning to end, it was just you who was dreaming and talking in your sleep. Did I say that I wanted to get back together with you?"
Zhou Ruyuan: "..."
"Where do you get the confidence to think I'm in this position to get your attention? From beginning to end, have I ever said the words 'I like you'?"
Some people will continue to live in their beautiful dreams unless their illusions are shattered. In these dreams, they believe that everyone will like them, that they are omnipotent, and that everyone should revolve around them.
Zhou Ruyuan looked at Shen Lanxi, his pupils widening little by little.
Shen Lanxi slowly put away her smile: "On our wedding night, you stayed in the concubine's room. You favored your concubine over your wife, and you have wronged me. I will not hold it against you because you have guarded the southwest for many years and protected the country. But you and Bai Qingling have gone too far, so I will teach you a lesson. You made a move, and I fought back. We can call it even."
"Now you're coming to me again saying these things, giving me reason to suspect that you and Bai Qingling are still not going to let me go and want to continue to make moves against me. If you keep doing this, I will retaliate!" Although Shen Lanxi's tone was relaxed, Zhou Ruyuan sensed the hidden sharpness in her words. Between the lines, there was a hint of daggers and a murderous aura.
Zhou Ruyuan had forgotten that they were on their way to the palace. He stood there, staring blankly at Shen Lanxi's back.
For a fleeting moment, he felt as if a piece of his heart had been emptied. As if he had lost something important.
Emperor Renxiao received the two men in his study.
He had initially given Zhou Ruyuan an imperial edict ordering him to go directly to Yonglin Prefecture to take up his post, but later changed his mind because of a letter from Zhou Ruyuan.
There are some things he can only draw conclusions about after meeting Shen Lanxi!
"Your Majesty, the Prince of Zhennan and the Earl of Yingyong have arrived outside the palace!" Wang Baotong announced.
Emperor Renxiao composed himself and regained his imperial demeanor.
"Let those two juniors in!"
Wang Bao raised the corners of his mouth and went out to announce the news with a smile.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
