Chapter 169 The Tragic Story of Zhang Tianbao
The door opened, and Shen Yulou leaned against the doorframe, watching him with a relaxed air.
"Want to eat? Sure."
Shen Yulou pointed to the night soil bucket in the corner of the courtyard.
"Go, finish your work."
Zhang Tianbao looked at those night soil buckets, his stomach churning.
But he was so hungry now, he couldn't take it anymore.
He pinched his nose and grunted as he carried two wooden buckets, taller than himself, swaying with each step towards the latrine.
He returned, covered in sweat and reeking, having expended a great deal of effort.
Shen Yulou threw him two hard, white steamed buns.
"Eat. Remember, if you dare to challenge me again tomorrow, your fate will only be worse than today."
"As long as you behave, you'll be treated the same as them tomorrow."
Shen Yulou had a way with women.
But he had an even better way with mischievous children.
As a former pediatrician, Shen Yulou had no trouble handling these kids.
Especially now that he held great power, let alone the sons of ministers, even princes would be disciplined.
If he didn't use harsh methods, these children wouldn't be convinced.
Although this news might spread and lead to some impeachments in the imperial court.
However, Shen Yulou had long been prepared; to establish his 'empire,' he would have to weather some storms.
Zhang Tianbao clutched the steamed buns, crying even harder.
Shen Yulou suddenly spoke loudly, so that the children in the other rooms could also hear.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you all. Our current dormitories are only temporary.
There are no servants to wait on you; everything must be done by yourselves.
Do you want to live in luxurious single rooms with underfloor heating and dedicated servants?"
"If you do, then work hard to achieve results! Only the top three in performance will enjoy such treatment!"
The children's eyes lit up.
"Sir! When do we start working on our performance?"
"No rush." Shen Yulou smiled mysteriously. "Tomorrow, I will give you pre-job training, and after the training, everyone will write a planning document."
"For today, just rest."
...At night.
Zhang Tianbao was curled up in his quilt, cold, hungry, and aggrieved, sobbing softly.
Suddenly, the window was gently pushed open, and a dark figure slipped in.
"Young Master."
Zhang Tianbao was startled. He looked up and saw an unfamiliar young eunuch.
The young eunuch pulled out an oil-paper package from his bosom and handed it over; inside was a chicken leg full of fat.
"Eat quickly, don't starve yourself."
Zhang Tianbao smelled the meat and could no longer resist. He grabbed the chicken leg and stuffed it into his mouth, eating until his mouth was greasy.
The young eunuch lowered his voice and whispered in his ear.
"Young Master, I am General Zhang's informant placed in the Imperial Academy.
Don't worry, I will definitely find a way to send word out and report the grievances you've suffered here to General Zhang."
Zhang Tianbao's tears welled up again. He gnawed on the chicken leg, crying indistinctly.
"Quickly tell my father! Tell him to quickly kill that Shen fellow!
Get me out of here quickly! I don't want to stay in this cursed place for another day! Waaah… "
...Leaving Zhang Tianbao's room, the young eunuch, clutching the newly written secret letter, sneaked into the Imperial Academy's back kitchen like a thief.
He looked around, found a pigeon coop in the corner, where several plump pigeons were cooing.
"You're the one!"
These pigeons were not trained carrier pigeons, just ordinary ones, but they were sufficient for sending messages.
They had someone outside to receive them; they just needed to let the pigeons fly out.
The young eunuch grabbed one and clumsily tied the letter to its leg.
He found a secluded corner and forcefully threw the pigeon over the high wall.
The pigeon flapped its wings, drawing an arc in the night sky.
At the same time, a dark shadow outside the wall swept past like a ghost.
With a whoosh, a slingshot sound rang out, accurately shooting down the carrier pigeon.
The dark figure took the letter, and after a few leaps, disappeared into the night, heading straight for the General of Cavalry's Residence...
"Outrageous!"
"Bang!"
A precious Ru ware teacup was violently smashed to the ground, shattering into pieces.
General Zhang's wife, Lady Wang, trembled with rage as she read the contents of the letter, her well-maintained face full of fury.
She had thought her son was going there to gain prestige, not to be tortured!
Emptying night soil buckets? And being kicked away in public?
How dare this Shen Yulou!
"Someone, prepare the carriage!"
Lady Wang was beside herself with anger and decided to notify the other noble ladies.
For a time, the mansion of a first-rank official in the capital was brightly lit in the middle of the night.
Several noble ladies gathered together.
"Lady Zhang? Why have you come?"
"Sister, look at this! That Shen Yulou is simply not human!"
"What? He made your son empty night soil buckets? He's too bold!"
"We must unite and have our husbands impeach him in the imperial court tomorrow! We must get our children back!"
"The Imperial Academy must be disbanded!"
Several noblewomen, usually dignified and elegant, were now righteously indignant, like a group of wives preparing to tear apart a mistress.
When Lady Wang returned to the mansion, General Grand General of Cavalry also saw the letter. The general, who was decisive in battle, slammed his fist on the table in anger, and the corner of the table immediately cracked.
"What a Shen Yulou! How dare he abuse my son like this! No wonder he insisted on closed-off management; it turns out he was afraid we would find out about the dirty deeds inside!"
Grand General of Cavalry's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared, "Tomorrow at the morning court, if I don't make him suffer, I'll write my surname 'Zhang' backwards!"
...At the same time, the atmosphere at Junior Tutor Li Deguang's residence was equally tense.
Li Deguang's son, Li Zhanyong, was earnestly trying to persuade him.
"Father, please let us send the child there. Now, among all the civil and military officials, whose child doesn't want to enter the Imperial Academy? I heard the food is good, it's fun, and they can learn real skills there!"
His daughter-in-law also chimed in, "Yes, Father, look, other children are already winning at the starting line. We can't let our child fall behind, can we?"
Li Deguang's beard bristled with anger, and he slammed the table.
"Nonsense! I am sworn enemies with that Shen Yulou! Sending my grandson into his hands, isn't that like a lamb entering a tiger's den? Don't mention this matter again!"
"Besides, I am the current Junior Tutor; I can teach princes. Can't I teach my own child? Do I need to send him to Shen Yulou? Where would I put my old face?"
His son and daughter-in-law dared not speak, thinking to themselves that there were no princes currently studying under him...
Back in their room, the daughter-in-law began to complain softly.
"Just to save face, he's abandoning his grandson's future! Why did he have to offend that Shen Yulou for no good reason?!"
Li Zhanyong quickly pulled his wife and whispered,
"Don't worry, I'll find an opportunity to persuade Father again."
...The next day, in the Golden Throne Hall.
Emperor Ren had just sat on the dragon throne, his backside not yet warm, when he felt that the atmosphere today was off.
Below, more than a dozen ministers, led by the Left Censor-in-Chief Grand General of Cavalry, all had dark expressions, as if everyone owed them eight million.
"My lords, what is wrong today? Has something major happened?"
Grand General of Cavalry stepped forward, his voice like a booming bell.
"Your Majesty! Your subject wishes to impeach Shen Yulou, the supervisor of the Imperial Academy!