Chapter 303 Zhou Ruyuan returns to the capital, and Shen Lanxi is ordered to welcome him!
That very night, the second branch of the Shen family hurriedly made a gift list and secretly bought a pair of wild geese from outside. The next day, at the crack of dawn, they delivered them to the Wu family with great fanfare.
Time flew by, and Zhou Ruyuan returned to Beijing.
Shen Lanxi was assigned the task of going out of the city to welcome him. Someone deliberately spread the news early on, and the excitement surrounding Zhou Ruyuan's return to the capital today was no less than that of Shen Lanxi's return.
Some people were secretly discussing that last time it was the imperial court that issued the order, but this time it was the people who took the initiative.
I don't want to see Zhou Ruyuan's heroic figure; I want to see what an awkward yet lively scene it will be after he calls for water three times in one night and confronts the main character.
Most of the people who returned from the Northwest that day were assigned positions. Shen Lanxi only brought Wei Dongzhu with her, followed by the well-trained Zhenbei Army.
It was truly a magnificent sight, with banners waving and an imposing presence.
Zhou Ruyuan was recalled from Dongchuan in a sorry state. He had specifically told his subordinates before he left to keep a low profile and not to alarm anyone.
Unexpectedly, quite a few people knew about it along the way. Although they didn't say it outright, he could sense the whispers and pointing fingers beneath the veneer of a seemingly perfect facade.
Everyone was laughing at him, everyone was saying that Zhou Ruyuan was inferior to a woman.
"Your Highness, the capital is just ahead." Bai Qingling, also dressed in armor, had been traveling day and night with the army, and was now covered in dust, her face looking quite disheveled.
"Qingling, the army has slowed down. You can take off your veil now." Zhou Ruyuan looked at the woman in front of him, whose eyes were the only part of her face, with a complicated expression.
I used to think I couldn't live without her, so why do I no longer feel that initial spark when I look into those eyes?
Zhou Ruyuan subtly withdrew his gaze, but the image of those captivating and sharp eyes unexpectedly surfaced in his mind.
"Your Highness, I've traveled a long way and I'm covered in dust. I can't possibly be seen like this. I'll wash up and remove my veil once we arrive at the palace." Bai Qingling's voice carried a hint of insecurity. She was in a hurry to get there and didn't want to fall behind, so she kept urging her horse on.
If she hadn't wrapped her legs in soft cloth beforehand, they would have been chafed raw long ago. The same went for her face; the wind in Dongchuan was like a knife, stinging her face. She felt her face was already bruised and swollen, and she didn't even dare look in the mirror—how could she let Zhou Ruyuan see?
"Whatever you want!" He just wanted to make her more comfortable.
Bai Qingling sensed that Zhou Ruyuan had a bad temper, which she assumed was due to Dongchuan's defeat. She had tried to persuade him countless times before, but he just wouldn't listen.
Victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare; perhaps men are naturally more concerned about these things than women.
The scout returned to report.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has dispatched General Shen Lanxi of the Zhenbei Army to come out of the city to greet you."
Zhou Ruyuan and Bai Qingling's expressions changed simultaneously.
What does Your Majesty mean?
Zhou Ruyuan blinked and his expression returned to normal: "Understood. Pass down the order: repack your gear and everyone be on your toes!"
"yes!"
Bai Qingling's face immediately darkened. Shen Lanxi, it's Shen Lanxi again. Why does she always appear in front of the prince?
Why hasn't she disappeared yet?
Zhou Ruyuan saw the dashing red figure from afar; she still preferred to wear a red cloak.
Scenes from six years ago flashed before Zhou Ruyuan's eyes again, and the more he recalled them, the hotter his face became.
When Zhou Ruyuan arrived in front of Shen Lanxi, he was so ashamed that he could not look directly at her.
"General Shen Lanxi, the General Who Guards the North, has been ordered to welcome the Prince of Zhennan back to the capital!"
"Gentlemen, you have worked hard. A banquet has been prepared to welcome you. Except for the Prince of Zhennan and his personal guards, please follow the escorting soldiers to the camp."
Zhou Ruyuan had already made arrangements; with a gentle wave of his hand, the team split in two.
Shen Lanxi smiled at Zhou Ruyuan: "Prince Zhennan, His Majesty has been waiting in the palace for a long time. Please!"
Zhou Ruyuan had expected to be belittled, ridiculed, or even verbally abused, but he was surprised by the calm response.
"Thank you, General Shen!"
Shen Lanxi: "It is my duty to share Your Majesty's burdens."
Zhou Ruyuan's gaze couldn't help but follow the departing figure. He had only glanced at it once when he felt a heavy weight on his sleeve.
"Your Highness, I will return to the palace and wait for you."
Zhou Ruyuan's eyes snapped away as if he'd been burned.
"good!"
The past cannot be retrieved; what has already happened, no matter how much you dwell on it, will not change anything.
He had previously received a secret letter from his mother, learning of his father's intentions.
But would someone like her really follow orders?
When Shen Lanxi returned to the palace to report, something happened in the Wu family.
Under deliberate arrangement, Wu's illegitimate daughter appeared at the betrothal ceremony. During the ceremony, Shen Yuanxu, holding an imperial edict, denounced the Wu family, saying in a stern tone that the Wu family had deceived the emperor by pretending to be the legitimate daughter, disobeying the imperial decree and committing treason.
The Wu family kept exactly what happened completely from them, but the fact that Shen Yuanxu angrily left the Wu family holding the imperial edict was undeniable.
The news spread rapidly throughout Beijing, quickly becoming the second most popular topic.
The first story is about the Prince of Zhennan returning to the capital, where he encounters his new and old flames at the city gate, and they are extremely jealous of each other.
Upon receiving the news, Wang Bao immediately reported it to Emperor Renxiao in small, quick steps.
"Your Majesty, Shen Lanxi and Wei Dongzhu went to the city gate to greet him, and they were very intimate. The Prince of Zhennan returned to the capital with that woman from before, and the two of them were also very intimate in front of Shen Lanxi. Afterwards, the woman returned to the Prince's residence, and the Prince of Zhennan went to the palace with Shen Lanxi and Wei Dongzhu."
Emperor Renxiao's face gradually darkened.
"Why isn't that woman dead yet?"
Terrified, Wang Bao immediately knelt on the ground and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, that woman is very cunning. Our men tried to attack her several times, but she dodged them all. It's as if she knew what was going on." Wang Bao's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke.
"What do you know?" Emperor Renxiao roared fiercely.
Wang Bao whispered, "She seems to know we're going to kill her."
Emperor Renxiao glared angrily: "If I want her dead, how dare she refuse?"
Wang Bao: "His Majesty is benevolent and does not want to be estranged from the Prince. That woman must know this, which is why she is so fearless."
Emperor Renxiao snorted coldly, which was taken as an agreement with Wang Bao's words.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, now that woman has returned to the capital, this old servant will ensure that she does not live more than three days."
Emperor Renxiao coldly threatened, "You'd better do your job well this time."
Wang Bao: "Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant will personally oversee the matter this time."
...
Shen Yuanxu caused a huge scene at the Wu family's house and then headed straight for the palace.
Just as Emperor Renxiao summoned Shen Lanxi and others, a guard arrived with news of Shen Yuanxu.
"Your Majesty, Shen Yuanxu has brought an imperial edict to accuse the Left Chancellor of deceiving the emperor and disobeying imperial orders."
Emperor Renxiao was already in a bad mood, and his face turned even colder when he heard Shen Yuanxu's complaint.
"Nonsense, today is the day he can cause trouble."
On second thought, he ordered the guards to go and announce the summons.
The Third Prince Zhou Ruyuan's handling of this task did not satisfy him. The reason for holding a welcoming banquet was to entertain the soldiers who had risked their lives and the common people.
Shen Yuanxu has arrived, and this is a good opportunity to give the Third Prince a warning.
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