71The secret decree of the benevolent emperor
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Chapter 71 Emperor Ren's Secret Edict
After speaking, Shen Yulou departed gracefully.
The Imperial Noble Consort bit her quilt, imagining it to be Shen Yulou.
It took her a long time to recover.
She put on her clothes and called Tao Hong in.
Tao Hong held the child; the Imperial Heir was much better than before, and she secretly marvelled that Shen Yulou truly had a way.
Those imperial physicians only knew how to wrap him in a quilt to induce sweating, and couldn't think of any other method.
But in Shen Yulou's hands, the Imperial Heir's fever broke so quickly.
The Imperial Noble Consort whispered, "Tao Hong, help me send a message to father. Kill Zhang Xinjie, and make it so no one knows how he died!"
Tao Hong's expression changed, then she nodded... Shen Yulou had just left the Imperial Noble Consort's bedchamber when he saw Tao Hong running over from a distance, looking somewhat anxious.
"Lord Shen, where have you been!"
"The Imperial Heir had a fever, I came to check on him. What's wrong?"
"The Emperor has summoned you to the Imperial Study!"
Shen Yulou nodded and immediately rushed towards the Imperial Study.
It was so late, yet the Old Emperor hadn't slept and hadn't favored any concubines; it seemed he was truly beyond his power.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
"Rise."
Emperor Ren said, putting down a memorial.
"Minister Shen, I heard you have met the Princess?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have."
"What is your impression of the Princess?"
"The Princess is of peerless beauty, gentle and refined, truly one in a million."
Emperor Ren smiled faintly, "I suddenly bestowed this marriage upon you; you won't blame me, will you?"
Shen Yulou said, "Your humble servant would not dare. For such a wonderful matter, this subject's gratitude is boundless; how could I be dissatisfied?"
"That's good."
Emperor Ren stood up and walked out from behind the desk.
"Zhao Siyi has a solitary nature and has never known love since childhood. I feel somewhat indebted to her. Now that she is eighteen, I have always been concerned about her marriage.
It just so happens that you have rendered meritorious service, so I bestowed this marriage. You must treat the Princess well in the future, or I will never forgive you."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Emperor Ren's words were a mix of truth and falsehood. At this moment, he seemed to be genuinely emotional, but it was unclear if his words came from the heart.
If he truly cared for the Princess, why would he have kept her under house arrest all this time?
The Old Emperor wouldn't have called him here just for this matter, would he?
Emperor Ren said, "Shen Yulou, I have treated you well; you must be loyal to me. Do not get involved in the struggles of the Imperial Harem. What I want is for the Imperial Heirs to be safe and sound, do you understand?"
Shen Yulou understood; Emperor Ren had called him today to discuss this matter.
With Shen Yulou's abilities, if he were to be swayed by any concubine in the Imperial Harem, he could definitely turn the Imperial Harem upside down.
That's why Emperor Ren called him over, wanting him to be like Li Hui, loyal only to Emperor Ren himself.
However, given Emperor Ren's actions, it was difficult for Shen Yulou to be loyal.
Having been used as a pawn so many times, Shen Yulou had long harbored dissatisfaction.
But this dissatisfaction dared not be vented in front of Emperor Ren; it could only be vented on his several concubines.
"Your humble servant understands."
Emperor Ren sighed, "Among my Imperial Heirs, the older ones are either dull or uneducated.
The younger ones are not in good health, and I don't know how much longer I can hold on.
If my Hun Kingdom follows in the footsteps of the Yan State, then I will have no face to meet the late emperors and my ancestors below."
The situation in the Yan State was quite an anomaly.
A mighty nation, yet it didn't even have a single suitable person to inherit the throne.
Emperor Ren had many women and had fathered many children.
But none of them were promising now, otherwise Emperor Ren would have long since appointed a Crown Prince.
Once a Crown Prince was appointed, the court situation would immediately become more stable.
Shen Yulou's eyes darted, and he took this opportunity to speak.
"Your Majesty, a few days ago I met His Highness Zhao Ying. I observed that he had a leg ailment, so I examined him.
This subject has a method to cure His Highness's limp."
Emperor Ren's expression changed, and he immediately became agitated.
"Really? His leg was broken by a horse many years ago and has already healed. Can it still be treated?"
Shen Yulou said, "It can be treated, but it requires the cooperation of some departments, the refining of some medicinal materials, and the forging of some metals.
His Highness's leg will first be broken at the affected area, and then the bone will be reset.
Even if it cannot be restored to its original state, at least outsiders will not be able to tell that he has a leg ailment."
Emperor Ren's heart immediately surged with excitement.
As long as outsiders couldn't tell he had a leg ailment, that was enough!
Among these Imperial Heirs, only Zhao Ying had the most potential to be the Crown Prince.
If he were in good health, Emperor Ren would have long since made him Crown Prince.
Now, hearing Shen Yulou's words, he was truly overwhelmed with excitement.
"Good, good, good! Shen Yulou, you have truly given me a great surprise!
Tell me, which departments do you need to cooperate with you? Or rather, what do you want?"
Shen Yulou said, "Please bestow upon this subject a token and an imperial edict, to allow the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of War to follow this subject's command."
Emperor Ren frowned, "The Imperial Household Department can fully cooperate with you, no problem. What do you need to command the Ministry of War for?"
Shen Yulou said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Heir's leg ailment has been present for many years. Ordinary bone setting will not achieve the desired effect. I need to break the affected area and then implant a small steel plate into it for it to be effective."
Emperor Ren was somewhat surprised; he had never heard of such a treatment method.
If it were before, he would never have believed it.
But now, Shen Yulou had broadened his horizons considerably.
Since caesarean sections were possible, implanting a steel plate in a leg didn't seem so extraordinary.
Shen Yulou continued, "The steel currently popular in our country is Su steel, which contains many impurities. If implanted into the Imperial Heir's body, problems will arise after a few years.
Therefore, this subject needs more refined steel, and requires the cooperation of relevant personnel from the Ministry of War.
To put it simply, if Su steel is refined a hundred times, then what this subject needs is steel forged a thousand times."
Emperor Ren listened, then nodded thoughtfully.
The Ministry of War was of great importance, but he figured Shen Yulou wouldn't do anything major, at most just utilize the blacksmiths of the Ministry of War.
"Granted! He Shun!"
Emperor Ren shouted, and the chief eunuch He Shun ran in, immediately acting as a scribe for Emperor Ren.
"I command all personnel of the Ministry of War, upon seeing you, it shall be as if I am personally present, and all shall obey your command and fully assist."
"This is a secret imperial edict, not to pass through the Office of Transmission, nor to be drafted by the Grand Secretariat."
"Apart from the steel-making craftsmen, no other personnel of the Ministry of War may be mobilized."
"By imperial decree."
After He Shun finished writing, he handed the imperial seal to Emperor Ren.
Emperor Ren stamped it, and the imperial edict became effective.
"Lord Shen, receive the imperial edict."
"Your humble servant receives the imperial edict, and respectfully obeys the imperial decree!"
Shen Yulou took the imperial edict, feeling somewhat speechless.
The dog Emperor was quite meticulous with details.
Mobilizing the Ministry of War was fine, but he added a line: 'apart from the steel-making craftsmen, no other personnel may be mobilized'.
Did the dog Emperor not trust him?
If he had control of the Ministry of War, he might have rebelled with the Princess's uncle.
Emperor Ren was so cautious that it was impossible for him to give Shen Yulou such a blank check, allowing him to mobilize the Ministry of War at will.
In addition to the imperial edict, he also gave Shen Yulou a token.
"Upon seeing this token, it shall be as if I am personally present."
"Shen Yulou, I trust you so much; you must do this matter well!"