Mother Shen nodded.
She also knew that this batch of sweet potato seedlings would definitely be presented as tribute.
"These are sweet potato seedlings?"
Seeing several cartloads of lush green seedlings, Emperor Jingyuan couldn't help but ask.
Soon, Shen Changyuan wrote down all the planting methods and care instructions he had heard and handed them to the chief steward, Wang Defu.
"Your Majesty, please take a look."
Emperor Jingyuan looked at the memorial and nodded in satisfaction.
"Guards, clear out a section of the Imperial Garden. I will personally plant and tend to it. No one is allowed to damage it; otherwise, they will be executed without mercy."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Soon, the batch of sweet potato seedlings that Shen Mingzhu bought were planted in the imperial estate by the people of the Sinong Temple, who carefully tended to them day and night.
This is related to whether the people of the Great Yan Dynasty will have enough to eat in the future.
At the Hanlin Academy, Shen Mingzhu enjoyed a delicious lunch.
Upon hearing that this winter was unusually cold, Chen's mother calculated the time and immediately prepared to go home to start making preparations.
Charcoal, leather and fur, thick quilts, as well as food and medicine, etc.
She will arrange everything perfectly in the vast Marquis's mansion.
And there's her maternal family in Jiangnan, and my father, brothers, and children in the north...
"Mingzhu, the pastry chef at Delicious Pavilion has left some treats for you. Take them whenever you want. I'll make something special for you when we get home tonight."
"Yes, Mother."
After giving Shen Mingzhu a few more instructions, Shen's mother left the Hanlin Academy.
As the colleagues in the Hanlin Academy watched Mother Shen leave, they prepared to get to know the newcomer, Shen Mingzhu, only to find that Shaoyao was standing at the door again.
Shen Mingzhu is going to take a lunch break!
Everyone: ...
"Scholar Su?"
Some of Shen Mingzhu's colleagues, who disliked her, went directly to Grand Scholar Su Huaiyuan to try and sow discord among her.
As a result, Su Huaiyuan glanced at the room next door and smiled indulgently.
"Alright, Shen Mingzhu is not only our colleague in the Hanlin Academy, but also the young lady of the Marquis's mansion, and even the Crown Princess of our Great Yan Dynasty. If she wants to be more casual, we'll cooperate."
That's it?
The Crown Princess?
The future Empress Dowager?
Seeing that Scholar Su seemed to understand his meaning, the man left with a sheepish look.
Shen Mingzhu enjoyed a blissful sleep. Upon waking, she sipped tea and nibbled on peach blossom pastries from Meiweige, her mood absolutely radiant.
[Host, someone tried to go to Scholar Su to stir up trouble between you and the others!]
Hearing the news, Su Huaiyuan immediately perked up, alert and attentive.
By noon, he had already submitted a memorial to the palace, warning of the unusually cold winter and the approaching Little Ice Age in the Great Yan Dynasty.
Emperor Jingyuan even rewarded him for his foresight.
Hehe~~~
[Guagua, who's been gossiping like a long-tongued busybody, trying to cause discord between me and my colleagues?]
Pfft~
Su Huaiyuan nearly spat out his tea.
A colleague, face burning bright red, flung his sleeves and hurried to the farthest corner from Shen Mingzhu.
He wasn't a gossip monger! He simply believed that, now that she was part of the Hanlin Academy, it was her duty to make a difference.
When Shen Xiuzuan arrived at the Hanlin Academy, her routine was simple: take a nap, then go shopping after waking. She even allowed herself a beauty nap at noon. She wasn't here to work; she was here to enjoy the life of a pampered young lady.
She didn't like working. Hopefully, Scholar Su would take note.
This Princess is suffering inside, but the Princess won't say it.
A colleague who was already feeling emo~
[Host, the colleague who's been giving you the cold shoulder is named Zhou Qingci, nicknamed "Stubborn Donkey Zhou." He was the second-place scholar in the imperial examinations of the twelfth year of the Jingyuan era, but for the past six years, he's remained a nobody in the Hanlin Academy due to his personality, still only a low-ranking official of the seventh grade.]
Hmm, I think he's jealous of me! I'm a sixth-rank official!
[Host, that's not true at all! Zhou Qingci is actually very talented, but his stubborn personality has offended many people, so they won't give him opportunities! He thinks he's just being underappreciated!]
Uh... how stubborn is he?!
[Host, he's focused solely on his work; he can't see anything else. Besides, the Great Yan Dynasty is vast and rich in resources, with countless talented people. Just look at how many top scholars, second-place scholars, third-place scholars, and successful candidates in the imperial examinations during Emperor Jingyuan's eighteen-year reign—and how many of them were from noble families! Talent needs opportunities to shine!]
[Guagua, I feel what you said is very insightful.]
Zhou Qingci: ...I feel even worse now!
He had no idea he was being ostracized!
Feeling completely lost and distraught...
Su Huaiyuan listened to Zhou Qingci's gossip with great interest.
[Host, actually, Zhou Qingci's situation isn't even the worst!]
Oh, what other juicy gossip is there?
Shen Mingzhu stuck her head out and looked at the doorway. There was no one there, and Zhou Qingci was nowhere to be seen either. She then asked...
[Guagua is there anything else about Lord Zhou Qingci? Tell me quickly.]
Zhou Qingci: ...Shen Mingzhu, a gentle and kind young lady, actually built her happiness on my suffering.
He glanced at his colleagues and saw that their eyes suddenly lit up as they stared intently at Shen Mingzhu's room.
System, Zhou Qingci is not his father's son!
Zhou Qingci: What?
Wuuu Wuuu Wuuu, was he was born out of wedlock and has no right to hold office.
Waaaaah...
Zhou Qingci stopped thinking abruptly.
He finally cried!
After years of hard study, all that effort was suddenly exposed as a failure.
However, his mother died of illness a few years ago, and he had no one to verify it!
Waaaaah...
Zhou Qingci wept uncontrollably!
At that moment, all his colleagues looked at him with sympathy, unsure how to comfort his wounded heart.
It is said that men do not easily shed tears, but only when they are truly heartbroken!
Zhou Qingci is truly heartbroken today!
His heart was broken!
His dream is shattered!
His home is gone too!
He felt he understood every single word Shen Mingzhu said, but he didn't want to understand the combination of them!
What terrible things has he done?!
Immediately afterwards, Shen Mingzhu's thoughts came through!
System: Oh! Oh! Oh!
I see, I see!
Guagua what exactly happened?
Tell me quickly!
Everyone in the Hanlin Academy was extremely anxious!
Can you please finish what you're saying in one go?
[Zhou Qingci's adoptive father was unable to have children due to health reasons. One day, he found a man at the river bank and took him home. While the man was recovering from his injuries, in order to conceal his illness, he drugged the man and his wife one night, resulting in the birth of Zhou Qingci.]
[Wow! Zhou Qingci's dad is amazing, he willingly cheated on himself.]
Don't pick up men on the street!
You absolutely must not pick up men from the river!
[Guagua, could Zhou Qingci's biological father be someone important?]
[Host, how are you so smart!]
Zhou Qingci: ?
Zhou Qingci's mind finally regained its ability to think, and he felt completely numb!
Colleagues: Shen Mingzhu is speaking with heavy meaning!
Now everyone is unsure whether to be shocked that Zhou Qingci is not his father's son, or shocked that his biological father has a powerful background.
Who is his biological father?
As for his adoptive father's inability to have children, that has been automatically ignored.
Tell me quickly, who is his biological father?