Chapter 168 Mr. Shen is a truly ruthless person!
This little fatty is Zhang Tianbao; his father is Grand General of Cavalry, a First-Rank Left Censor-in-Chief, and a Grand General of Cavalry personally bestowed by the Emperor.
Grand General of Cavalry is the head of all military officials and holds significant sway in court, so his son naturally grew up accustomed to being arrogant.
Shen Yulou was delighted.
He was just thinking there were no troublemakers for him to make an example of, and someone delivered himself to his doorstep.
It was exactly what he wanted.
He wasn't angry; he walked over with a smile, crouched down, and looked at Tianbao at eye level.
"Your father is the Left Censor-in-Chief; his official rank is not small."
Tianbao lifted his chin, a look of triumph on his face.
"That's natural!"
Shen Yulou sneered.
"Then look over there."
Shen Yulou pointed to Eighth Prince and Ninth Prince.
"Those two, their father is the Emperor. Did they say anything?"
He then pointed to several other children, "And those few, their fathers are imperial princes and dukes. Did they say anything?"
"Even if we truly ranked you by your father's official position, you'd have to be after them. How could it be your turn to pick first?"
"Outside, your father is impressive."
"Here, your father is at the bottom."
"What capital do you have to be arrogant?"
Shen Yulou's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a slap, repeatedly hitting Tianbao's face.
Tianbao's face instantly turned a liver-like purple. How could he have ever endured such humiliation?
At home, he was the king!
Everyone catered to his wishes.
Even his mother had to listen to him.
Yet here, he had become the worst?
He couldn't stand this psychological disparity!
"I don't care! I don't want to live in the worst place! I want to go home! It's not fun here at all!"
He lay on the ground and started rolling around. This trick usually worked well; whenever he rolled around, his family would get scared.
"Oh? Want to go home?"
The smile on Shen Yulou's face slowly faded, and his eyes gradually turned cold.
"Zhang Tianbao, I'm telling you, Imperial Academy is not a vegetable market where you can come and go as you please."
He stood up, looking down at Tianbao rolling on the ground, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Aren't you fond of standing out? Fine, This Official will grant your wish."
"From now on, I appoint you as the Sanitation Team Leader of Imperial Academy! From now on, you'll be responsible for emptying everyone's night soil in our compound!"
Tianbao suddenly sat up from the ground, looking at Shen Yulou in disbelief.
"You... what did you say?!"
"I said, I want you to empty the night soil! Did you hear me?"
Shen Yulou spoke each word distinctly, his eyes as cold as knives.
"Now, immediately, go and perform your duty. Otherwise, you won't be eating dinner tonight."
At this, all the children were too scared to make a sound.
They only then realized that this smiling Mr. Shen seemed... to be serious.
Tianbao completely exploded. He sprang up from the ground and pointed at Shen Yulou's nose, cursing loudly.
"You dog Servant, how dare you! My father won't let you off! I'll tell my father to chop off your head!"
"Slap!"
A crisp slap.
Shen Yulou directly slapped him across the face. The force wasn't great, but the insult was immense.
Tianbao covered his face, completely stunned by the blow.
Shen Yulou looked at him coldly.
"Disrespect your teacher again, dare to point at me again, and I'll break your finger off. Get to work!"
Tianbao immediately burst into tears, his cries echoing throughout Imperial Academy.
Unfortunately, Imperial Academy's walls were incredibly high; his cries dissipated before even reaching the gate... In a corner, a tall, slender girl in a light purple palace dress had been observing everything with her arms crossed, a cold expression on her face.
She was Seventh Princess, Zhao Qi.
From the moment she entered until now, she hadn't said a single word.
On her exquisite face was a cold aloofness that warned people to stay away, as if everything before her had nothing to do with her.
Shen Yulou's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of her, and he was somewhat surprised.
Goodness, this aura, this beauty, she was practically a high-cold female CEO.
This little appearance, it really did resemble a widow.
Being beautiful certainly had an advantage; even Shen Yulou couldn't help but look a few more times.
Could Old Emperor really have such a beautiful daughter?
...Dinner time arrived.
From Imperial Academy's kitchen wafted an enticing aroma that made stomachs grumble.
Braised pork hock, honey-glazed roasted chicken, four-joy meatballs... just smelling the scent made these children salivate.
Although they usually ate delicacies, the food here at Shen Yulou's place smelled exceptionally fragrant.
At home, they would have snacks and fruits served before they even felt hungry.
So, throughout the day, they rarely experienced hunger.
Here, they had been playing for half a day and hadn't even had a sip of water. Now, they were already starving.
One by one, they forgot their earlier fear and obediently lined up for their meals.
Then they began to gobble down their food.
Some who even needed maids to feed them at home were now practically fighting for food here.
Only Tianbao was punished to stand in the center of the courtyard, watching others feast all alone.
His stomach rumbled with hunger, and as he smelled the aroma of the dishes, saliva and tears flowed down together.
Make him empty night soil?
Dream on!
He didn't believe that this Shen Yulou would really dare to starve him to death!
Endure, he must endure!
However, when a maid passed by him carrying a fragrant, glistening roasted chicken...
He completely broke down.
"Mine! Give it to me!"
He rushed over like a madman, reaching out to snatch the roasted chicken.
But before his hand even touched the plate, he felt a strong force on his backside.
Bang!
Shen Yulou kicked him away, sending him sprawling face-first.
"Did I tell you to eat?"
"Ah! Wuwuwu..."
Tianbao sat on the ground, completely broken, and began to wail.
"I want to go home! I want to see my father! Wuwuwu..."
Shen Yulou walked slowly to him, holding a bowl of rice, and put a piece of sizzling, oily braised pork into his mouth.
He chewed as he spoke.
"Crying? Can crying be eaten as food?"
He glanced around at the other children and said coldly.
"Listen carefully, everyone. From now on, no one is allowed to speak to Zhang Tianbao.
Anyone who says a word to him will lose today's meal and tomorrow's meal.
Do you understand?"
Everyone shivered in fear and quickly buried their heads, devouring their food, not daring to look up.
Ninth Prince, seeing this, immediately whispered to the others.
Pointing to his own backside, he vividly boasted to his little companions.
"You wouldn't believe it!
Back then, on the East Market street, I was pinned to the ground by Mr. Shen, my pants were pulled down, and I was spanked in front of hundreds of people! It was truly miserable!"
"He even dared to hit This Prince, what else wouldn't he dare to do?
You all should settle down. Mr. Shen is not to be trifled with.
This Zhang Tianbao is purely lighting a lantern in a latrine — looking for death!"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Shen Yulou with awe.
A ruthless man, this was a truly ruthless man!
...It was late at night.
Tianbao was starving, his stomach rumbling, as he tossed and turned on the cold ground.
He had never experienced such a feeling.
Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore. He stumbled and crawled to Shen Yulou's door, crying and banging on it.
"Mr. Shen, I was wrong, I'm hungry, I want to eat...