Chapter 40 Rumors!
Qiu Shuang: "Shen Yuanruan is so ruthless. Not only did she push Miss Yuanxin, but she also used the push to knock the refugee who was getting on the carriage off with her. If it weren't for that refugee taking the fall with him, Miss Yuanxin would definitely have been more seriously injured!" She might even have died from the fall.
Qiu Shuang was afraid of upsetting her mistress, so she didn't make things too serious.
"Those refugees swarmed forward. If it weren't for Liu Laohu's decisive action in leading his men to fight back, the consequences would have been unimaginable!" Even so, Qiu Shuang couldn't help but feel sorry for Miss Yuan Xin, thinking of how she had seemed lost all the way.
Although they are not blood sisters, they share the same grandmother and are half-bloods. How could they disregard the lives of others for their own sake!
Shen Lanxi watched the departing figure with a deep gaze.
She thought that without her protection, some members of the Shen family would learn to see reality clearly, but obviously, they didn't.
They've become even more pragmatic and self-serving!
If the money required to enter the city made Liu Laohu think twice, then the food, clothing, and lodging he encountered after entering Anzhen taught him another lesson!
Everything is expensive. Food and lodging are several times more expensive than in the capital. If it weren't for Shen Lanxi's plans, Liu Laohu would definitely have taken his men to stay at the inn. At this rate, the benefits they gained from Black Wind Village would be gone in just a few days.
After ordering the constables to watch the prisoner, Liu Laohu immediately went to discuss the matter with Shen Lanxi!
"Young master, why don't we stay at the inn? It'll save you money!"
Shen Lanxi: "You must be aware of what we've encountered along the way. Someone wants the Shen family dead. If our whereabouts are exposed, even if we have money, we won't live to enjoy it!"
Liu Laohu was speechless for a moment, and a sense of resentment rose in his heart. They had been implicated by the Shen family.
Now that things have come to this point, she's no longer hiding anything.
"As long as you listen to me, I guarantee you will safely deliver the prisoners to Dongchuan. Only after all the prisoners have been delivered to Dongchuan will you have completed the task assigned to you by the imperial court and be able to leave!"
Liu Laohu felt like he was in a bind. He had a vague premonition when the constable was shot to death. After Shen Lanxi brought it up, this feeling became even stronger.
Those who wanted the Shen family dead had no regard for the lives of the constables. They wanted to kill the entire group!
Shen Lanxi said, "As long as you put on a good show and disguise yourself as a robber, bandit, or even a refugee, and find any excuse to rob and kill for your money and grain, in the current situation, the court won't even bother to investigate!"
Liu Laohu felt a chill in his heart. Although he was unwilling to admit it, it was the truth!
"Young master, just give the order. My fellow constables and I have elderly parents and young children to support; they all depend on us for their livelihood!"
Shen Lanxi was very satisfied with Liu Laohu's flexibility: "Treat prisoners the same way you treated them before. The Shen family should be treated the same way; there are no exceptions!"
Liu Laohu: "Is the young master afraid that someone with ulterior motives will see through it?"
Shen Lanxi didn't answer, but continued, "From now on, unless there are special circumstances, use the household registration I prepared for you, and don't reveal your identities as yamen runners!"
Liu Laohu nodded.
"After you deliver the prisoners to Dongchuan, I will give each of you one thousand taels as payment for this trip!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Laohu was overjoyed, but his expression remained unchanged, and his words carried a hint of refusal.
"How can we do that? We're just following orders!"
Shen Lanxi: "This is compensation for you being implicated by the Shen family! This compensation must be kept secret to prevent anyone with a loose tongue from spreading rumors and revealing our whereabouts!"
Liu Laohu immediately focused on the second half of the sentence: "Understood, understood!"
With so many people around, she couldn't just squat on the street, and she didn't want to give money to strangers and make people think she was a sucker!
"Many people have gained a lot from Black Wind Stronghold. Let the prisoners take care of their own food, clothing, and lodging. After warning them about the seriousness of the situation, you can give them some freedom and let them go out to purchase supplies. You can have Liu Yan arrange these!"
Liu Laohu nodded.
Shen Lanxi: "I plan to stay in Anzhen for three days, and then set off!"
Liu Laohu hurried to find Liu Yanhui, otherwise he would forget what Shen Lanxi had said!
Anzhen is a gathering place for medicinal herb merchants from all directions, and all sorts of news are mixed together. The most talked-about topic is the separation of the God of War Zhou Ruyuan and Shen Lanxi. Even the annihilation of the Wei family army and the exile of the Shen family to Dongchuan are secondary!
"The Shen family committed heinous crimes, and it's no wonder that their daughter became a discarded wife! It's just a pity that our Great Zhou War God was demoted because of the Shen family."
"That woman is not worthy of our Great Zhou War God. If we don't get a divorce, who knows what kind of trouble she might cause us..."
"Divorce is too lenient. If you ask me, she should be exiled along with the Shen family!"
"If the Shen family hadn't married the princess, it certainly wouldn't have been just exile..."
Qiushuang Chunxue was furious upon hearing the news.
"Why don't they mention that Zhou Ruyuan already had a mistress, and even spent his wedding night in her room? They're all sycophants, only knowing how to fawn over Zhou Ruyuan..."
Shen Lanxi's phoenix eyes were deep. No one was discussing such an important matter as the annihilation of the Wei family army, the loss of the city, and the invasion of foreign tribes. Instead, they were talking about the Shen family's daughter and Zhou Ruyuan's pitiful demotion.
Is this an attempt to defend Zhou Ruyuan while simultaneously belittling her?
She wasn't entirely sure at first, but after seeing a familiar face—a guard from the Prince of Zhennan's mansion—she became absolutely certain!
This is the person who killed Chunxue and Qiushuang in their past life!
He's here to spread the news on Zhou Ruyuan's behalf!
Now that you're here, don't even think about going back!
~
After Liu Yanhui made arrangements for the prisoners according to Shen Lanxi's instructions, Song Niangzi was the happiest!
"Can we really go out and buy and sell things as we please?" Madam Song asked anxiously.
Liu Yan replied: "Remember, do not reveal your identities as prisoners, otherwise you will be beaten to death by the government, and no one can save you!"
Madam Song nodded quickly: "I'll remember, I'll definitely remember!" Her eyes kept darting around, and it was hard to tell whether she had really listened or was just pretending.
"Then I'll go and sell the things I brought?"
Liu Yan didn't say a word, but simply gestured for them to proceed.
Besides Madam Song, the others were the only ones who had profited from Black Wind Stronghold. After a brief discussion, the group immediately set off together.
Shen Congwen was filled with shame. He had to ask his children to pay for his place to live. He felt utterly ashamed!
Old Madam Shen had already spent all the money she had swindled from the eldest son's family. She and her other children and grandchildren sat at the door, expecting her eldest son to pay for their stay at an inn.
Seeing that the eldest son's family was about to go inside, the people in the other rooms became anxious.
"Father, Mother, why does my elder brother only care about the people in his own room?"
"Even if he doesn't care about us, he still has to care about you, right? What does Big Brother mean? Does he not want to acknowledge our father and mother anymore?"
Enraged by her sons' words, Madam Shen abandoned all pretense of being an old matriarch and rushed forward to confront them.
"Congwen, what are your plans for me, your father, and your brothers?"
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