Chapter 422 A storm raged in Zhang Xinsui's heart!
Zhang Xinsui opened the top ledger and said, "This is the account of all the transactions between the Fifth Prince and the First Princess. It records the money and goods that the First Princess sent in previous years."
Shen Lanxi took the document and opened it, flipping through it one by one. It contained not only what he had mentioned, but also records of buying and selling official positions and privately manufacturing weapons.
Zhang Xinfa surrendered by presenting these account books.
“I have seen the ledger, and I have seen your sincerity.”
Zhang Xinfa felt relieved; as long as he didn't fly into a rage, it was the best outcome.
"Lord Shen, you are wise. I was eager to make a name for myself, so I served under the Fifth Prince, thinking I had found a wise master. I never expected this to be my fate."
"I don't ask to live, I only beg you, sir, to give the 200,000 soldiers a chance. They are all obedient, they go wherever their superiors tell them to go, please spare them, sir."
Shen Lanxi looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, "Those who provoked and tried to kill me today must not be allowed to live."
Zhang Xinfa was greatly shocked, and then said, "After they are gone, you will definitely have no capable men under your command. I have several loyal and brave soldiers here to recommend to you."
Shen Lanxi lightly touched the tabletop with her fingers; Zhang Xinsui had only brought these ledgers, which were not enough to examine.
"Perfect timing, the task of replacing these people is entrusted to you."
"I hope everything can be done before the Prince of Zhennan arrives!"
Zhang Xinfa broke out in a cold sweat. Shen Lanxi actually ordered him to take action against those people.
Once he takes action, there's no going back.
Shen Lanxi was still worried about him.
"I will certainly handle it well."
Shen Lanxi waved her hand: "Go!"
After Zhang Xinsui left, the secret guards appeared.
"Send our people to take over the iron ore marked on it, and seal up the weapons forging site and the coin minting site."
"yes!"
What seemed like a quiet night was actually a night of fierce battles and trials.
When Shen Lanxi saw the soldiers again, most of them had been replaced.
Zhang Xinsui was very fast.
"My lord, I wish to go and control the floods." Zhang Xinfa looked as if he had aged more than ten years, his back hunched and his head covered in frost.
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Lord Zhang cares about the people, so his talents should be used to benefit the people, not in the military camp."
Zhang Xinsui was filled with shame; he had long been corrupted and forgotten his original aspirations.
“Go there. The Han River has been flooding for years, and the people have no choice but to rely on it for survival. That is the place where you can display your talents and ambitions.”
Zhang Xinsui kowtowed in gratitude.
"You should start by working as a seventh-rank county magistrate!"
Shen Lanxi's casual remark decided Zhang Xinsui's fate, and also stirred up a storm in his heart.
With just a simple sentence, she easily arranged an official position for him?
Isn't it said that although she was one of the appointed regents, she had no real power?
It's all a lie, a complete lie.
I really want to see what those who spread rumors will look like when they know the truth.
The bloodstains on Zhang Xinsui's clothes were still wet, but he was already laughing as he spurred his horse straight towards the Han River.
The generals of the 200,000-strong army underwent a major reshuffle. Shen Lanxi dispatched a portion of them to the capital ahead of time, but these men were replaced en route. The replacements entered the capital, while the replaced generals split into two groups: one went to Dongchuan, and the other went to the Northwest.
She waited outside Pingcheng for two more days before Zhou Ruyuan finally arrived.
"Lord Shen!"
"The Prince of Zhennan!"
After a brief meeting, one of them went to distribute troops, while the other went to collect the body of the Fifth Prince.
Jiang Wuyai offered a suggestion: "Your Highness, now is the best time to seize the troops."
Let's rebel! After rebelling, we'll head straight southwest to join the main army.
Zhou Ruyuan hesitated, then said in a low voice, "Now is not the time!"
Jiang Wuyai earnestly said, "Shen Lanxi only brought less than five hundred men. You have a great reputation in the army, and they will definitely be willing to follow the God of War."
Zhou Ruyuan: "Give me some more time to think about it."
Seeing this, Jiang Wuyai could only sigh.
Less than half a day later, the imperial court sent an urgent document, ordering the Prince of Zhennan to bring the Fifth Prince's body back to the capital for burial as soon as possible.
They also sent a thousand men to escort them.
Seeing that the best opportunity had been missed, Jiang Wuyai could only sigh and help with the Fifth Prince's return to the capital.
Shen Lanxi sent two more groups of people away, and Zhou Ruyuan came to see her several times during that period.
I always pretend to bump into them by chance.
"Lord Shen."
"The Prince of Zhennan".
Shen Lanxi: "This official will be able to break camp and return to the capital tomorrow."
Zhou Ruyuan: "It just so happens that we can travel together."
"I haven't yet congratulated Your Highness on finally getting what you wanted and winning the heart of your beauty!" Shen Lanxi said sincerely.
A dark glint flashed in Zhou Ruyuan's eyes. She knew perfectly well that she was the only one he wanted to marry as his principal wife. Yet now she was saying such things to provoke her, showing that the hatred she harbored for him had never subsided.
"Does Lord Shen really not want to give someone who has made a mistake a chance?" Zhou Ruyuan asked in a low voice, his voice filled with bitterness.
Shen Lanxi's tone was resolute: "Once unfaithful, never trusted again."
Zhou Ruyuan felt as if his heart was shattered beyond repair.
Does she have absolutely no feelings for him?
"What if it's Wei Dongzhu?"
"If he made the same mistake as me, would you forgive him?" Zhou Ruyuan stared intently at Shen Lanxi.
"No," Shen Lanxi replied decisively.
Zhou Ruyuan gritted his teeth and said, "Then you'd better remember what you said today." Otherwise~
"There's no point in saying more when we don't see eye to eye," Shen Lanxi ignored Zhou Ruyuan's resentful gaze and turned to leave.
The two groups were about 100 meters apart, heading towards the capital one after the other.
"Your Highness, you must not let a small matter cause you to lose a greater one!" Jiang Wuyai earnestly advised.
Zhou Ruyuan concealed the emotions and madness in his eyes and said in a deep voice, "What you say makes sense, sir."
Jiang Wuyai said meaningfully, "Once Your Highness has accomplished your great task, whatever you want will be as simple as saying a word."
He's just a prince now, and one whom His Majesty dislikes. He doesn't want anything; he's just being arranged by those in power.
Zhou Ruyuan clenched his fist tightly under his wide sleeves.
"Thank you for your advice, sir. If I act impulsively again next time, please do not show any mercy."
Now is not the time for sentimentality. If he doesn't strive for advancement, he will lose his place in the court. He will end up like Zhou Ru'an, banished from the center of power.
How could someone who once held great power and commanded a large army be willing to be sent to a barren fiefdom to live out their days in loneliness?
Zhou Ruyuan has never been as steadfast in his beliefs as he is now.
Because Zhou Ruyuan was transporting the coffin, the speed slowed down.
Shen Lanxi was not in a hurry to return to the capital. The journey that should have taken two days took the two teams five days.
During this period, Emperor Renxiao secretly arranged for the eldest prince to be taken to an imperial estate outside the capital to recuperate.
Song Daoxi was brought into the palace by Emperor Renxiao, and the two had a private conversation for an hour. The next day, Song Daoxi was appointed as the Imperial Preceptor.
After Song Daoxi took office, the first thing he did was to advise Emperor Renxiao to select a principal wife for the eldest prince.
After Emperor Renxiao summoned the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to conduct calculations for two days, the Bureau replied that the eldest daughter of the Vice Minister of War was suitable to be the Empress!
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