Chapter 309 We have a traitor among us!
Zhou Ruyuan was extremely annoyed today, as if everything was against him. Every time he found out where Shen Lanxi was and rushed over, Shen Lanxi had already moved to another place.
After several failed attempts, Zhou Ruyuan's face turned ashen.
"Your Highness, Lord Shen is probably unaware of your cooperation in this case. Why don't we go to Lord Shen's residence first and deliver a note to inform him?" the subordinate suggested.
Zhou Ruyuan thought it made a lot of sense. This matter was very serious, and if Shen Lanxi didn't take it seriously, she wouldn't be able to explain it to her father.
It's only natural that Shen Lanxi is busy right now.
"Alright, go deliver the invitation. In the invitation, ask Lord Shen to meet you at the Dali Temple tomorrow morning!"
"yes!"
~
Wei Dongzhu was halfway through his work when he received a message from Shen Lanxi. After leaving his post, he immediately went to the Marquis's residence to wait.
When he arrived, Cheng Zheng had already arrived, and Liu Yanhui, Shen Yuanjing and others arrived around the same time.
He glanced around and saw that everyone in the capital had come.
After exchanging greetings, Liu Yan turned around and asked, "What important matter has brought us all together?"
Almost everyone's eyes were focused on Wei Dongzhu.
Wei Dongzhu said speechlessly, "Don't look at me, I don't know what happened either."
Liu Yanhui frowned: "Something big must have happened in the capital today."
Cheng Zheng wrote: "None of you know, and I know even less!"
Liu Yan replied, "How about I send someone to inquire?"
Shen Yuanxu: "Let's wait and see. Maybe the people you sent out won't come back, but Lan Xi will."
That's true!
As darkness fell, Shen Lanxi stepped into the gates of the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion.
The door slammed shut, and Liu Yanhui and the others quickly came out to greet them.
Surrounded by these people, Shen Lanxi said as she walked, "A major event happened in the capital today." Then she told them about how the city guards disappeared together after leaving the city.
Wei Dongzhu: "Do you know the direction they went?"
Che Mingyuan: "There are all sorts of rumors, and it's impossible to verify them. They may have disguised themselves and left the city, and they were very careful. Even if they knew the direction, they may have deliberately misled us."
He also had a bunch of witness testimonies in his hands, which he passed around to everyone after entering the room.
Shen Lanxi: "Everyone has been busy all day. Let's discuss things after we finish eating."
Wei Dongzhu was already very anxious, but she was right. Everyone was tired after a long day and there was no rush.
After putting down their testimonies, they ate a quick and silent dinner before heading to the council chamber.
Shen Lanxi's first words were: "There's a traitor among us."
The crowd gasped in disbelief.
“I released the news a moment ago and delivered it to the palace at the same time. Why did those people run away at this particular time? It can only mean that someone leaked the news that I had found witnesses beforehand.”
She entrusted the task of finding witnesses to Wei Dongzhu alone, and he took it more seriously than anyone else.
"Wei Dongzhu, you have to give me an explanation!" Shen Lanxi looked at Wei Dongzhu with an inscrutable expression.
The latter felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He had handled it so secretly, so why was the news still leaked?
“You have all been with me since Dongchuan, and I have no doubt about you. But I hope to use this incident to purge some of the people around you.”
Shen Lanxi took a deep breath: "Before, I was only focused on expanding, which resulted in a mixed bag of people in the team. Well, let's take this opportunity to streamline them!"
Everyone: "Yes!"
At the same time, a purge operation also began within the imperial palace.
"All those who are alone will be transferred out of the capital to perform official duties."
"Investigate everything thoroughly. Even those whose wives have died should be transferred out of the capital to handle official duties."
"Those who have both parents alive, many relatives at home, and a wife and children will be transferred to the palace to fill vacancies."
The palace guards underwent a major reshuffle throughout the afternoon, with almost half of the original personnel being replaced.
Nominally, they were transferred out of the capital to handle official business, but in reality, these people were secretly detained and investigated after leaving the city.
For a time, the capital was filled with a sense of unease and panic.
...
Bai Qingling endured her thirst and hunger until Zhou Ruyuan returned. Only then did she react as if she had seen a savior, opening the mechanisms in the room and letting the maids in to serve her.
"Where is the prince?" Bai Qingling asked the guard.
"Madam, the Prince went to his study after he returned," the guard reported truthfully.
After instructing Bai Wanzhan on what to do, Bai Qingling went to her study.
"Your Highness, you must be tired after a long day. Please wash your hands and prepare for dinner!"
The advisors in the study looked embarrassed, unsure whether to leave or stay.
They had just been summoned by the prince.
Zhou Ruyuan: "You go eat first, I'll eat later!"
Bai Qingling's smile froze. How could that be? She had to have dinner with the prince.
"Your Highness, no matter how busy you are with official duties, please don't overwork yourself. Our little Yu'er's health is already not good, how can I watch Your Highness neglect your health like this?" Thinking of her son, Bai Qingling's eyes slowly reddened.
Zhou Ruyuan looked at the person with a sorrowful face and sighed silently.
"You all go and have your meal. After you've eaten, we can discuss matters in the study."
The advisors immediately left, sensing the danger.
Bai Qingling, enduring her rumbling stomach, quickly served food to Zhou Ruyuan.
"Your Highness, these are all your favorite dishes. We couldn't afford them when we were in Dongchuan, due to the harsh conditions. Now that we're finally back in the capital, I must make sure to give you a proper meal."
Seeing how considerate Bai Qingling was, Zhou Ruyuan finally softened and put a few bites of food on her plate.
"You eat too, don't just think about me."
Bai Qingling pretended to be deeply moved and quickly ate the food.
When the prince was not in the manor, she dared not drink a drop of water or eat a bite of food. Only when she ate at the same table as the prince would those people not dare to harm her.
These days, Bai Qingling has been eating irregularly, sometimes hungry and sometimes full, and she has visibly lost weight.
It'll be soon. Just bear with it a little longer. This time, I'll definitely kill Shen Lanxi.
The next morning, Zhou Ruyuan led his men to Dali Temple.
No sooner had she arrived than Shen Lanxi followed.
"Lord Shen!"
"The Prince of Zhennan!"
After exchanging pleasantries, Shen Lanxi got straight to the point.
"Today we will continue our investigation and interviews with the missing soldiers guarding the city. I will trouble Prince Zhennan to accompany me!"
Zhou Ruyuan stared at the calm and eloquent man and said, "It's my duty, how can it be a burden?"
Shen Lanxi smiled faintly and was the first to leave Dali Temple.
Seeing the person striding ahead, Zhou Ruyuan awkwardly followed.
"Lord Shen's reputation in the Northwest has long since spread to Dongchuan. I look forward to the day when I can exchange a few more blows with Lord Shen."
Shen Lanxi gave him a strange look: "I have time anytime, now is fine too!"
Zhou Ruyuan froze, an awkward smile appearing on his face: "Now we need to get down to business!"
Che Mingyuan and the others tried hard to keep their faces from laughing. They never expected that the mighty God of War of the Great Zhou would be so timid in front of a woman. If outsiders heard this, the title of God of War would probably change hands!
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