Chapter 155 Minister Hu Voluntarily Sponsors Wedding Gifts for Lord Shen Yulou and Princess Siyi
It was the same princess carry, but Emperor Ren threw out his back, while Shen Yulou could still bounce her.
The feeling of being handled by a man's powerful arms was truly wonderful.
The emotional fluctuations just now finally allowed the Empress's suspended heart to settle.
It was the first time she had felt such a sense of gain and loss, fearing his anger, fearing to lose him.
Although she was on tenterhooks, this feeling was truly addictive.
Shen Yulou held the Empress and gently snuggled under the brocade quilt... After a long while, the Empress lay lazily on her side in Shen Yulou's arms, like a well-fed cat, her face still flushed.
She extended her jade-like fingers, drawing circles on his firm chest, her voice so soft and sweet it could melt.
"If This Official misses you in the future, can This Official visit you at the Imperial Academy anytime?"
Shen Yulou lowered his head and kissed her smooth forehead.
"Of course you can. Don't I also have to return to the palace every few days to look after the Empress Dowager?
Besides, if you wish to visit Princess Qionger at the Imperial Academy, I would naturally agree.
As for whether you're truly visiting the princess or just pretending, isn't that up to Your Ladyship to decide?"
The Empress's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded contentedly.
This man was not only skilled in bed.
The most fatal thing was his eloquence, which could make one's heart blossom with joy and lose all control.
She sat up, letting the brocade quilt slide down, revealing much of her skin, and casually gathered her long hair, saying,
"This Official will leave first. Baiyu will come to serve you immediately."
Shen Yulou looked at her graceful retreating figure, He paused for a moment.
Baiyu is coming too?
...When he emerged from the Empress's bedchamber, the sky was already showing the first hints of dawn.
Shen Yulou leaned his left hand against the wall, grabbed his ankle with his right hand, and pulled his foot behind his buttocks, quietly doing a quadriceps stretch.
Damn it!
Youth truly is capital!
Fortunately, this body had a good foundation, otherwise, he would have definitely had to take a sick leave today.
After all, kidneys aren't made of iron, and too many hat tricks aren't appropriate.
Before he even reached the Imperial Heirs Residence, he saw Yanzi from Consort Qing's palace running towards him like a gust of wind, lowering her voice and saying,
"Lord Shen, Consort Qing requests your presence..."
Needless to say, Consort Qing was also looking for him to rekindle their affection.
At this critical juncture, Shen Yulou naturally understood the thoughts in these women's hearts.
He quickly shook his head.
"No, I can't! I have important matters today, I can't deal with it, another day!"
Shen Yulou walked away quickly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.
Being a playboy was also physically demanding.
At this moment, he suddenly understood Li Hui a little... In the following days, Shen Yulou became thoroughly busy.
On one side was the renovation of the Imperial Academy, and on the other was his own grand wedding with the Princess.
The Imperial Academy project was massive and wouldn't be completed in less than ten or eight days.
Shen Yulou deliberately scheduled the construction period after his wedding, which was like killing two birds with one stone.
If it weren't for the Imperial Academy matter, his wedding with the Princess would at most be a minister marrying, following the usual procedures, quite ordinary.
But now it was different.
Shen Yulou was to be the teacher of all future Imperial Heirs, a confirmed Imperial Tutor.
With this, he instantly became the most sought-after person in the entire Imperial City.
Which concubine with Imperial Heirs, or their maternal families behind them, wouldn't rush to curry favor?
Which ministers in court, looking for long-term investments, wouldn't quickly send gifts?
If any Imperial Heir ascended the throne later, it would be too late to cling to their coattails then.
Just because of an Imperial Academy, Shen Yulou's wedding directly became the top arena of power and prestige in the Imperial City.
Shen Yulou wrote a detailed material list with flowing calligraphy, and before court, he tucked the list into his robes and headed straight for the Ministry of Revenue.
The Minister of Revenue had been removed from office by Shen Yulou, and the position of Minister of Revenue was currently vacant.
It was temporarily managed by the Minister of Personnel, Hu Jianye.
The moment Hu Jianye saw Shen Yulou, he was like a mouse seeing a cat, his hairs standing on end.
He cautiously retreated half a step: "What are you doing? Leave quickly, This Official does not have time to entertain you!"
Shen Yulou smiled.
"Lord Hu, don't be nervous. I'm here for official business. The Emperor sent me to the Ministry of Revenue to draw funds for the renovation of the Imperial Academy. This is official business."
Hu Jianye took the list with a mix of belief and doubt, scrutinizing it word by word.
Hmm, tables and chairs, pens, ink, paper, and inkstones... it seemed fine.
Hu Jianye breathed a sigh of relief and said in a very official tone,
"Understood. This Official will go through the process later, and once approved, I will allocate the funds to you."
How could Shen Yulou have time to wait for him to go through the process? He directly pulled out a banknote from his sleeve and quietly slipped it into Hu Jianye's hand.
"Lord Hu, please hurry up. The Imperial Heirs are all waiting for school to start. If their learning progress is delayed, and His Majesty blames us, neither you nor I can bear the consequences."
Hu Jianye clutched the thick banknote. Although he was extremely unwilling, he thought that the Imperial Academy was a project strongly supported by the Emperor, and he didn't need to offend Shen Yulou, this rising star, over such a small matter.
Moreover, taking Shen Yulou's money, he felt quite pleased.
After being extorted so much by Shen Yulou, he finally saw some money coming back!
He snorted, picked up a brush, and with a flourish, signed his name.
Shen Yulou praised, "Lord Minister's brushwork is truly incisive."
"Hmph, of course it is."
...Holding the signed list, Shen Yulou didn't even return home, heading straight to the Princesss Residence.
Upon arriving at the Princesss Residence, he took out the Xuan paper signed by Hu Jianye, tore it in half down the middle, thus splitting the Imperial Academy's procurement details into two.
One part was for the Imperial Academy, and the other was the procurement details for Shen Yulou's wedding banquet.
Both were signed with Minister Hu's 'incisive' name.
"What else is missing at home?"
Qingqing was checking the gift list and replied without raising her head,
"Aside from some soft furnishings like curtains, fabrics, tea sets, and ornaments, all the other large items are accounted for."
Shen Yulou said, "Tell the servants to prepare the carriages. Follow me to Minister Hu's residence to 'procure' goods!"
Qingqing:???
A moment later, Shen Yulou, accompanied by Song Hu, Qingqing, and a group of household guards, arrived in a grand procession at the entrance of Minister Hu's residence.
Hu Bai, the head steward of the Hu Family, was directing servants to clean the entrance when he looked up and saw Shen Yulou. He was so startled his soul nearly flew out, and he yelled at the top of his lungs,
"Close the gates! Quickly close the gates!"
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Shen Yulou wedged his foot in the door crack, smiled, and blocked him, casually flashing the document stamped with Hu Jianye's official seal in front of him.
"See? Black and white, signed personally by your master!"
Hu Bai leaned in to look, and his eyes immediately went black, nearly fainting on the spot.
At the very top of the document, several large characters were prominently written:
"List of Voluntary Wedding Gifts from Minister Hu for Lord Shen Yulou and Princess Siyi's Grand Wedding."
Below were listed: A pair of antique blue and white porcelain vases, eight luminous cups from the Western Regions, a set of golden nanmu tables and chairs... Hu Bai was dumbfounded.
"Master... how could Master sign something like this?!"
Shen Yulou looked utterly justified: "Nonsense! This Official is marrying the Princess, shouldn't Lord Hu show some gesture? Why are you just standing there? Open the gates and welcome the guests!"
He waved his hand at the household guards behind him.
"Listen up, all of you! Take what's on the list!
If you can't find it, take something of equal value to compensate! Everyone, hurry up, don't delay Lord Minister from going home for dinner!