Chapter 352 Nanning is engulfed by pirates, and Zhou Ruan is crowned king!
Shen Lanxi thought for a moment, then shook her head.
“If I interfere, that would be overstepping my bounds. The marriages that Father arranged for the women in the family were all quite good. If the uncles don’t have suitable candidates, they can leave the marriage negotiations to my father!”
Shen Congli immediately curled his lip. No one, whether family or outsider, could find fault with Shen Lanxi's words.
The imperial examination had just ended when an urgent report came from Nanning: pirates were rampant and had plundered a county overnight, killing and injuring thousands of people and stealing countless riches.
Emperor Renxiao was just happy about recruiting talented people, but upon hearing this news, his vision went black and he collapsed heavily to the ground.
Fortunately, only he and Wang Bao were in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Your Majesty, this old servant will go and fetch the imperial physician right away!" Wang Bao was so frightened that he panicked.
Emperor Renxiao held Wang Bao tightly: "Don't call the imperial physician, immediately summon the eldest prince back to court!"
Wang Bao was stunned for a moment, then quickly went to do it.
...
Wei Dongzhu was resting today. When he came from the main gate, he saw that the Duke's mansion was closed, so he went around to the back gate.
"The general has arrived."
The guards let Wei Dongzhu enter the gate.
"Where is the master?"
The guard shook his head: "I don't know. The lord only instructed that you be taken in as soon as you arrived."
Wei Dongzhu's eyes flashed: "What if someone else comes?"
Guards: "The lord said he won't see anyone!"
Wei Dongzhu smiled and walked briskly inside.
Why is he here too?
When Wei Dongzhu saw Ban Sicao, he subconsciously frowned.
“Lanxi”.
Shen Lanxi raised the corners of her mouth: "You've come at the perfect time. Cheng Zheng came back from the Northwest and brought back a lot of things. If you hadn't come, I would have had someone deliver them to you."
Wei Dongzhu approached with a smile.
Ban Sicao: "Let's have roast lamb for lunch. I haven't had authentic roast lamb since I came to Beijing!"
"good!"
Hearing the two exchanging words, Wei Dongzhu felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"Although mutton is delicious, it shouldn't be eaten too much this season. I picked some peaches from a farm outside Beijing. I picked quite a lot. I asked the peach farmers, and they said that the ones we can't finish can be made into dried peaches, so we can still enjoy peach flesh in winter."
Ban Sicao glanced at Wei Dongzhu and twitched her lips.
"It's just peaches, how can they compare to mutton? Our melons from the Western Regions are delicious too, I'll write a letter later and have someone send over some more."
Wei Dongzhu's smile didn't reach his eyes as he looked at Ban Sicao: "Lanxi prefers peaches."
Ban Sicao met his gaze: "Even the most delicious food gets boring if you eat it all the time. How do you know your favorite food isn't melon if you haven't tried it? What if you start to like it as you eat it?"
Wei Dongzhu said through gritted teeth, "People's preferences never change. Even if they change their tastes occasionally along the way, in the end they will still like the one they chose at the beginning."
Ban Sicao laughed, almost provocatively, "There's something called habit. You eat it, use it, and then you get used to it, and it becomes indispensable in your life."
Wei Dongzhu's eyes turned fierce in an instant.
"you……"
Chunxue came over carrying a basket, and Cheng Zheng followed behind her, wiping his hands.
Wei Dongzhu's follower, Si Cao, snorted coldly and turned her head away, ignoring everyone.
"Why did you stop arguing?"
"It's quite amusing to see you two arguing!" Shen Lanxi laughed, enjoying the spectacle.
Ban Sicao: "I'm not talking to you guys anymore, I'm going to get busy!" He still had to do the things Shen Lanxi had asked him to do, so he didn't have time to argue with Wei Dongzhu.
Cheng Zheng's curious eyes darted back and forth between the two of them. Seeing that no one was explaining, he went to Shen Lanxi's side.
...
Before the gates of the Juding Mansion had even been closed for two days, the Shen family came to deliver the message.
"Miss Yuantang is returning to her parents' home tomorrow. The old lady asked me to inquire whether you are going back."
Shen Lanxi refused outright.
"I won't go. I'll tell the old lady that it would be awkward if we met."
"yes!"
No sooner had the people from the Shen family been sent away than Emperor Renxiao summoned them.
"Lanxi, pirates are causing trouble in Nanning. I would like to hear your opinion."
Shen Lanxi: "Your Majesty, I am not skilled in naval warfare, nor do I know much about Nanning. If you really want to hear my opinion, I will humbly offer my two cents."
"Naval warfare definitely requires soldiers who are very knowledgeable about naval warfare, as well as those who are very familiar with the terrain and sea areas around Nanning."
Emperor Renxiao nodded.
"That makes sense. No wonder he's a general who's been on the battlefield."
Shen Lanxi: "Uncle, if you say that, I'll get proud."
Emperor Renxiao smiled and said, "I want to send a prince to supervise the army. In your opinion, who would be most suitable?"
Shen Lanxi's pupils deepened, and she said with a troubled look, "Uncle, you're putting me in a difficult position."
Emperor Renxiao: "I just wanted to hear your opinion, how can that be considered making things difficult for you?"
Wang Bao: "Nonsense! How dare you question His Majesty!"
Emperor Renxiao glared at him and said, "You're everywhere. We're having a proper conversation, so don't interrupt!"
Wang Bao quickly and carefully bent down: "Yes!"
Shen Lanxi: "Uncle, every prince is outstanding. If I criticize any one of them, I'll offend all the others who aren't mentioned. Aren't you setting me up for failure?"
When Emperor Renxiao heard her say that, he laughed and said in an annoyed tone, "You're getting more and more unruly, you little monkey."
Shen Lanxi: "Uncle, how can you talk to your niece like that?"
Emperor Renxiao: "Speak freely. What was said in the study today will not be spread."
Shen Lanxi: "You're the one who told me to say this. If I say something wrong, don't blame me."
"No, no, please tell me." Emperor Renxiao was very curious about who she would choose.
Shen Lanxi: "None of your princes have ever fought in a naval battle. Zhou Ruyuan is a little better, at least he has been on the battlefield, but as far as I know, he's a complete landlubber, isn't he?"
Emperor Renxiao glared at Shen Lanxi with annoyance.
"In my opinion, anyone can go. If it's really hard to choose, we can draw lots, or send two more princes."
Emperor Renxiao thought she would have some brilliant ideas, but he didn't expect this.
"Do you think war is child's play? Drawing lots? I'm starting to wonder how you even became the General Who Guards the North?"
Shen Lanxi: "I couldn't choose back then, right? Dongchuan was in chaos, and I was forced into it. If it weren't for those traitors chasing us, our family might still be farming in Dongchuan right now."
Emperor Renxiao stared at her and took a deep breath.
Even if it was the truth, hearing Shen Lanxi say it so bluntly made Emperor Renxiao feel choked up.
"If you leave, there's no point in me consulting you!"
Shen Lanxi: "I am available whenever you call. If you still wish to discuss this with me, Uncle, I will come again next time!"
Emperor Renxiao: "..."
After Shen Lanxi left, Emperor Renxiao began to complain.
"I didn't realize he was such a scoundrel."
Wang Bao: "Isn't it because you spoiled me?"
Emperor Renxiao wasn't really angry; he just said a few words casually and then started thinking.
The imperial edict was delivered to Zhou Ru'an's residence early the next morning.
"By the grace of Heaven... the Second Prince Zhou Ru'an is hereby granted the title of Prince Pinghai and is ordered to go to Nanning to quell the pirates!"
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