Shen Lanxi, seeing Bai Qingling's impotent rage and helplessness, gracefully departed!
That brief exchange should be enough time for Mama Li's family to get far away.
Bai Qingling was clearly a petty person. If she couldn't deal with her directly, she would definitely target those around her!
Sure enough, the moment she left, Bai Qingling gave an order.
"Master, that woman has ordered people to capture Mama Li's family."
Shen Lanxi had already instructed Mama Li's family to find a place to hide as soon as they left the manor. The people Bai Qingling sent out wouldn't dare to conduct a large-scale search!
Zhou Ruyuan had a seven-day honeymoon leave and didn't need to attend court. He was supposed to take Shen Lanxi to the palace the next day to express their gratitude. Who would have thought something like this would happen with the Shen family? He arranged the affairs of the manor and immediately entered the palace.
He stood at the palace gate for a full two hours before being summoned. As soon as he entered, he was subjected to a scolding. Furthermore, the Emperor had his Tiger Might General temporarily take over all military affairs in the Southwest, effectively stripping him of his military power.
Zhou Ruyuan, his face dark, galloped back to the Prince's mansion, heading straight for the back courtyard!
"Shen Lanxi!"
His roar echoed. Shen Lanxi was wiping the Auspicious Cloud Swirls on a long staff.
"Zhou Ruyuan, have you forgotten the oath you made this morning? Do you want to be a scoundrel, or do you want to be struck by lightning?"
Zhou Ruyuan, consumed by anger, had completely forgotten the poisonous oath he'd sworn.
"You jealous woman! It's all because of you that Father Emperor stripped me of my military authority. What good does it do you that my military power is diminished?"
Shen Lanxi rose, her right hand holding the staff and pointing at Zhou Ruyuan.
"Did I make you spend your wedding night in the Concubine's room?"
"Did I make you call for water three times in one night?"
"Was it me who failed to uphold moral conduct, leading to your Concubine bearing a child?"
Zhou Ruyuan's face was filled with fury, his fists clenched, looking as though he wanted to devour someone: "Qingling is the woman I love, and I won't allow you to insult her like this!"
"What a joke, me insulting her? It's you who insults her. You say she is your beloved, so why didn't you ask the Emperor to retract the marriage decree when he bestowed it?"
"You had so much time, so many opportunities to refuse this marriage, yet you didn't mention it at all. You married me, simply because you coveted the power of my mother's family and my generous dowry. It's clear that in your heart, your beloved is far less important than power and wealth," Shen Lanxi's exquisitely beautiful face was full of mockery.
"You're a woman of loose morals, yet you still want a chastity arch, that's exactly what you are!"
Zhou Ruyuan's heart was surging with immense anger, and as he was about to vent it, he heard Shen Lanxi speak.
"I have already sent someone to the palace to ask the imperial physicians to examine Bai Qingling's pulse."
Zhou Ruyuan's heart pounded. He couldn't call the imperial physician; absolutely not! He couldn't let the physician examine Qingling!
Thinking this, he didn't bother to confront Shen Lanxi any further and turned to leave.
"The heavens didn't strike her with lightning. Then it must be that she's just a vile woman!"
Zhou Ruyuan glared at Shen Lanxi. The judgment on the Shen family hadn't been passed yet; now wasn't the time to deal with her.
She'd caused him to lose his military authority and insulted his beloved. He would never let this vicious woman off easily.
Zhou Ruyuan strode quickly into the separate courtyard. Bai Qingling had already received news of the Prince's return and knew he'd gone straight to Shen Lanxi to settle scores.
Seeing him now, his face still etched with fury, it didn't seem like he'd vented his anger. She immediately went forward to offer her care.
"My Lord, you must be tired. I've brewed your favorite spring tea."
Seeing Bai Qingling bustling about, pouring him tea, Zhou Ruyuan was deeply moved.
"Qingling, you've been wronged!"
Bai Qingling had a gentle smile. "For the Prince, any hardship is worth it!"
Zhou Ruyuan was very pleased to hear this.
"Did Shen Lanxi send anyone to the palace today?"
Bai Qingling's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, "No, I listened to the Prince and kept the servants in check, not letting anyone go out. Prince, what happened?" Could it be that the few servants Shen Lanxi had let go had done something?
Zhou Ruyuan placed his hand on Bai Qingling's stomach. "She said she ordered someone to call the imperial physician!"
Bai Qingling was relieved when she heard it wasn't those few servants causing trouble.
"Rest assured, Prince, I didn't let anyone go out!"
Zhou Ruyuan nodded with satisfaction. "I will entrust all of the affairs of the Prince's manor to you from now on!"
Bai Qingling hesitated, a troubled look on her face. "My Lord, the Wangfei is still here. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to give me the authority over the household?"
Zhou Ruyuan sneered, recalling the information he had gathered. "The Shen family has no chance of recovery. She will only be a Wangfei in name from now on!"
Behind Bai Qingling's smile, a flicker of distortion appeared. The entire Shen family was in the imperial prison, yet the Emperor hadn't done anything to Shen Lanxi. How could she be so lucky!
"My Lord, will the Shen family's troubles implicate you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Ruyuan's face darkened.
"The Emperor has ordered the Tiger Might General to temporarily handle the military affairs in the Southwest in my stead!"
Bai Qingling's eyes widened in shock. Shen Lanxi had actually implicated the Lord, causing him to lose his military authority. She was simply deserving of death!
"It's not the Lord's fault that the Shen family has fallen. The only mistake was that the Lord shouldn't have married Shen Lanxi. This marriage was a decree from the Emperor. The Emperor shouldn't implicate the Lord because of the Shen family. It's unfair!"
Zhou Ruyuan immediately looked around vigilantly, making sure no one was nearby, and then whispered sternly, "How dare you insult the Emperor so casually? Do you want to lose your life?"
Bai Qingling spoke in a small, aggrieved voice, "I'm just feeling it's not worth it for the Lord! If it weren't for the Shen family, the Lord wouldn't be implicated!"
Zhou Ruyuan didn't explain that besides the Shen family, another reason was because he had spent his wedding night in Bai Qingling's room. In his opinion, where he chose to stay within the residence was merely an internal matter. Even if it spread, he would only receive a few reprimands, and his military authority wouldn't be stripped.
The most important reason was still the crimes committed by the Shen family—they were too serious! Shen Lanxi was the Shen family's most beloved daughter. His father, the Emperor, had taken his anger out on him because of her, causing him to lose his military power.
"Your Highness, Shen Lanxi is a daughter of the Shen family, and that will never change. The forty thousand brave souls in the Northwest and the crime of losing the city, as long as the Shen family members live, they will bear this burden. Did His Majesty say how he would deal with the Shen family?" Bai Qingling's face was filled with worry, but in reality, she was trying to get information.
Zhou Ruyuan shook his head, "Judging by Father's intentions, it seems he will deal with them leniently!"
Bai Qingling muttered with dissatisfaction, "If that's the case, His Majesty certainly won't punish Shen Lanxi. If she remains the Prince Zhennan's consort, wouldn't Your Highness have to share the Shen family's sins!"
Zhou Ruyuan's face was filled with rage, his eyes filled with malice, "If Father doesn't deal with Shen Lanxi, she can only die of illness!"
Bai Qingling suppressed the corners of her mouth from lifting.
"The Northwest incident is so big, I guess His Majesty also intends to deal with the Shen family. It's just that he is considering the Empress Dowager's face. After all, the Empress Dowager is old and can't withstand great joy or sorrow!"
Zhou Ruyuan's expression slowly softened, his eyes clouded over. "The imperial physician has diagnosed that the Empress Dowager is nearing the end of her life. She won't live for more than six months!"
Six months from now would be Shen Lanxi's death day!