Chen's mother glanced awkwardly at the head steward, Wang Defu, and had no choice but to step forward and add an even thicker red envelope.
Wang Defu smiled obsequiously, not daring to show the slightest displeasure. He was a man of considerable influence, and soon he led his entourage away in a grand procession.
After watching the people walk away, Shen's mother pulled Shen Mingzhu aside and said...
"My dear daughter, Eunuch Wang is the Grand Eunuch, a favorite of His Majesty. Ministers and concubines all have to give him some face. You should be careful when you interact with him in the future, understand?"
"Mommy, I know! Hehe~~~"
Seeing her daughter's smile, Chen's mother asked with concern as she walked away.
"Mingzhu, I haven't asked you yet—how did your first day at court feel?"
"It was… okay?"
Shen Qinghong looked at Shen Mingzhu and, as the eldest brother, gave her a serious reminder.
"Mingzhu, now that you have an official position, you should cherish it. Don't spend all your time thinking about other things. Work hard and live up to His Majesty's expectations."
"Understood, brother,"
Shen Mingzhu obediently agreed.
Shen Qinghong nodded in satisfaction.
Immediately afterwards, Shen Mingzhu's thoughts came through.
[Say what? What nonsense are you spouting! I'm now the first person in the Shen family to hold an official position besides Father, and I'm a sixth-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy—that's the treatment of a top scholar! When you enter the court, you'll probably have to start from a lowly ninth-rank official. I'm three ranks higher than you; you'll have a long way to go to catch up!]
Shen Qinghong was so angry he nearly jumped in place.
So much for good intentions!
Seeing her eldest son storm off in anger, Mrs. Shen covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
She took Shen Mingzhu to the main courtyard and showed her great care.
Thinking of sweet potatoes.
Shen Mingzhu looked at her mother and asked,
"Mom, Dad took the sweet potatoes and sweet potato seedlings I brought back?"
When asked about this, Mother Shen said seriously,
"Mingzhu, your father came back and took all the sweet potatoes and sweet potato seedlings with him!"
"Mom, it's alright, I have a little bit left, I'll give it to you!"
After saying that, Shen Mingzhu exchanged the points she earned from eating melons in the afternoon for sweet potato seedlings and a net bag of sweet potatoes.
"Mother, plant these sweet potato seedlings on our own farm. Tonight I'll cook some dishes with sweet potatoes for everyone to try!"
"Mingzhu, you can cook?"
"Mom, I learned how to cook back in the countryside a long time ago."
"My dear daughter, you've really suffered before!"
The thought of her young daughter having to cook and burn firewood filled Xie with heartache and guilt.
Her precious daughter suffered.
Shen Mingzhu suppressed her smile and returned to her own courtyard.
Shen's mother planted the sweet potato seedlings directly at the hot spring resort on the outskirts of the city.
Mingzhu said that the ideal temperature for planting sweet potatoes is around 15℃-20℃. Planting now is a little late, but if it's a hot spring resort, the temperature is higher than in other places, and there is land available for planting, so a harvest is no problem.
This time, Mingzhu brought out far fewer sweet potato seedlings...
It wasn't that Shen Mingzhu didn't want to get more points, it was just that she didn't have enough.
[Guagua i don't feel like moving at all.]
[Host, you should go lie down on the bed.]
But I still need to go to the kitchen to make candied sweet potatoes, sweet potato porridge, sweet potato glutinous rice cake, steamed sweet potato pork ribs, sweet potato pancakes, roasted sweet potatoes, and more!
[Host is so virtuous!]
Shen Mingzhu lay lazily on the bed, unaware that her thoughts had been heard by Shen Qingbo, the fourth son of the Shen family!
He had originally planned to go out tonight to compose poems and discuss academic matters with his classmates, but upon hearing about the novel delicacy of sweet potatoes, he decided to stay home for dinner.
...
Shen Changyuan returned at just the right time; Shen Mingzhu had just put the last roasted sweet potatoes on the table when he came back!
Seeing the food on the table, he asked with great pleasure,
"What kind of dishes are these today? I've never seen them before."
Shen Mingzhu looked at Shen Changyuan with displeasure.
In other people's stories, fathers ruin their sons' futures. In this family, it was the father ruining his daughter's life. Without even a word, he had taken her sweet potatoes and seedlings and sent them away as tribute!
Shen Changyuan was a little embarrassed; there was nothing he could do!
That was an imperial edict from Emperor Jingyuan.
But I can't tell Mingzhu about this yet.
He smiled.
"Mingzhu, we are subjects, so naturally we should offer good things to the court first, especially things that benefit the country and the people. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, Father, you're right!"
Mother Shen pinched Father Shen's cheek and said with a smile.
"Mingzhu, your father said that he will let you choose the treasures from his private treasury as an apology."
"Really?"
[Great! Great! The Shen family is a noble family, a family with a hundred-year history. They must have a lot of good things. I'm going to pick out a few more, hehe~~~]
Hearing his daughter's inner thoughts, Shen Changyuan smiled.
"Yes, Mingzhu, just go to Daddy's private treasury and choose!"
That's more like it.
Shen Mingzhu was finally happy.
The atmosphere at the table was quite pleasant.
Everyone was especially excited when they heard that this was a sweet potato feast personally prepared by Shen Mingzhu!
They couldn't wait to taste the deliciousness of sweet potatoes.
"Great! Soft and delicious, suitable for all ages!"
It truly is a divine food!
Even Shen Qinghong and Shen Qingbo were very pleased, especially when they heard about the yield of sweet potatoes; their shocked expressions were exactly the same as when the entire court heard about it before.
After dinner, Shen Mingzhu went straight back to her own courtyard.
She needs to go to bed early tonight, otherwise she won't be able to get up in the morning!
After Shen Mingzhu left, the whole family held an internal meeting, chaired by Shen Changyuan, to discuss Shen Mingzhu's thoughts.
This also conveyed a message: Shen Mingzhu's inner thoughts were all true and not to be revealed.
This is His Majesty's decree; anyone who disobeys will have their entire family executed!
Although they couldn't express Shen Mingzhu's inner voice, their actions and glances hinted at it. Emperor Jingyuan's meaning was simple: they couldn't reveal any flaws.
"We understand, Father."
Shen Changyuan looked at his two sons and nodded in satisfaction.
Then, as if remembering something, he stared at the two of them.
"Jiaojiao seems different from the person we knew before. I hope you will think things through before you do anything. I don't want the Shen siblings to kill each other."
If he remembered correctly, the Shen family had made something of themselves, splitting into three factions.
Royalists, Crown Prince's faction, Second Prince's faction!
It truly broadened his horizons!
"We understand, Father!"
"You all better watch your skin!"
"I know, Father!"
Shen Qinghong and Shen Qingbo responded with their heads down.
Seeing the two of them like this, Mother Shen said,
"Go back and think it over carefully."
"Yes, Mother."
The two soon left the main courtyard.
"Alas...a son is no longer under his mother's control once he grows up!"
Mother Shen sighed.
"Alright, Madam, we still have Mingzhu!"
Looking at Shen Changyuan's appearance, Shen's mother told him about the events of the Little Ice Age that occurred in the Great Yan this winter.
"His Majesty already knows!"
Xie Qinghuan: "That's good!"
This way you can start preparing in advance.
At this moment, Shen Changyuan faced a difficult situation!
The national treasury is empty!
The next day, Shen Mingzhu was again carried onto the carriage by two old women.
Shen Changyuan was already used to it!
The father and daughter rode together in a carriage towards the palace.
"Mingzhu, we've arrived!"
"Mingzhu, we've arrived!"
Sigh... We've arrived so quickly! Ever since I took this lousy official position, I haven't been able to sleep peacefully.
While inwardly complaining, Shen Mingzhu obediently followed Minister Shen off the carriage.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with his colleagues, they all went to the palace for court.
Because of Shen Mingzhu's contributions yesterday, all the officials and civil servants now treat her with the respect due to a "national treasure".
They quickly took their positions, and the court assembly began!
"I have no idea what they were discussing."
Shen Mingzhu, on the other hand, was getting a little bored.
[Guagua, which one is Prince An, Yan Lingfeng? Let me see.]
Prince An: ?
Where did this little girl come from? How could she cause such a disturbance in the main hall?
And she dared to call him by his full name? Was she courting death?
The day before, Prince An had taken leave from court due to family matters, so he knew nothing about Shen Mingzhu's unusual abilities.
More importantly, because of Shen Mingzhu's innerthoughts yesterday, all the civil and military officials had been busy the entire day. Prince An was the emperor's own brother—no one would casually go to his residence to explain such matters.
So now, he was completely in the dark.
For a moment, Prince An felt as if he had became mute.
Brother… save me!
He can't talk about it!
He felt like his throat is blocked!
"Prince An, take a deep breath and think about the wonderful and happy life you have!"
Finally, Prince An's breathing returned to normal.
He looked at Emperor Jingyuan with a shocked expression, and Emperor Jingyuan nodded.
Then the voice came again.
"Host that fair-skinned, plump one in front is Prince An!"
[Oh, so that's Lord Zhou's biological father. He doesn't resemble Lord Zhou at all!]
[Host, Prince An was incredibly handsome and refined in his youth, but now he's older and has gained weight!]
Prince An: ...Can't you speak properly!
And who is Lord Zhou?
Good news: He has another son!
Bad news: He doesn't know which Lord Zhou it is.
Grand Academician Su of the Hanlin Academy secretly smiled as he looked at Prince An.
[Guagua, do you think Prince An will acknowledge him if he finds out he has another son?]
[Host, who knows!]
Prince An: Who bore him a son?
Who can tell him!
Prince An, Yan Lingfeng, looked at Emperor Jingyuan, asking him for an answer.
Emperor Jingyuan sat calmly at the head of the table, completely ignoring him.
Prince An calmed his complicated emotions, listened attentively, and prepared to hear who his new son was.
Lord Zhou is not qualified to attend court, but this morning, he became the most dazzling figure in the entire hall.
He's made something of himself!
He never imagined that one day, he would pave his own way through his father's connections.
During a quarter of an hour of court, Prince An gained a son!
Shen Mingzhu listened to the eerily quiet hall and looked at her clothes.
[Guagua, I've been attending court for two days now, why isn't my official robe ready yet? The palace's efficiency is terrible, thumbs down!]
Emperor Jingyuan: ...I really forgot about that!
Shen Mingzhu is still wearing the clothes of Shen Qingbo, the fourth son of the Shen family!
The Shen family felt it was inconvenient for Shen Mingzhu to wear a ladies clothes at the court, so they dressed her in men's clothing, which was neat and convenient.
At Emperor Jingyuan's glance, Wang Defu immediately gave the order: the clothes for Lord Shen must be made and delivered to her residence today.
[Hey Guagua, this is so boring! Post some juicy gossip! The last one was so uninteresting!]
[Yes, host!]
Let's continue with the gossip about Prince An, Yan Lingfeng; he's actually quite shrewd!
[OK! ]
Speaking of Prince An, he's a brother complex guy!
Brother complex?
All the officials: What kind of obsession is "brother complex"?
[He's always loved his older brother, calling him "brother" this and "brother" that, wanting a hug, a piggyback ride, and crying, "Brother, I wet my pants!"]
Upon hearing this, Prince An's old face turned bright red with embarrassment!
What on earth is this all about?!
That was all from when he was a child okay?!
He's a grandfather now!
He looked around, trying to find the person.
Unfortunately, he was at the front, and Shen Mingzhu was behind him, with many people in between, so they couldn't see each other at all.
[Guagua, what is Prince An doing looking around like that at the front? It's so disrespectful to the ministers who are discussing matters! He can't act so presumptuously just because he's the emperor's younger brother!]
Prince An: How was he being presumptuous?
He's so angry!
He looked like he's about to explode with anger.
The Second Prince, Yan Yunxuan, pulled him aside.
[Oh dear, host, look! It is the Second Prince who pulled Prince An into this mess! He thought that Emperor Jingyuan actually intended for the Second Prince, Xuan Wang Yan Yunxuan, to become emperor, and in order to fulfill his brother's long-cherished wish, he actually helped him seize the throne!]
It's a pity, he died a terrible death in the end!
Emperor Jingyuan: his younger brother died a terrible death!
His eyes changed instantly, then returned to normal!
At this moment, the entire hall was as quiet as a chicken's nest; you could hear a pin drop!
Yan Yunxuan: ...Shen Mingzhu, what nonsense are you spouting!
He felt like Shen Mingzhu was going to kill him!
The third and fourth princes beside him watched him with schadenfreude.
Oh dear, the Emperor has seen through his wolfish ambitions!
What's wrong with Prince An? Has his intelligence dropped since he lost his brother?
[Host, you're so smart!]
Shen Changyuan stepped forward, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and knelt down again!
He felt like Shen Mingzhu was going to kill him!
The third and fourth princes beside him watched him with schadenfreude.
Oh dear, the Emperor has seen through my wolfish ambitions!
What's wrong with Prince An? Has his intelligence dropped since he lost his brother?
[Host, you're so smart!]
Shen Changyuan stepped forward, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and knelt down again!
Shen Mingzhu watched as her father knelt down again and refused to get up, and muttered to herself.
[Guagua, why is Dad kneeling again? When we get home, I'll have Mom make him some knee pads. Kneeling like this every day is ruining his knees!]
Shen Changyuan: ...My dear daughter, thank you so much!
[Host, you're alright! Your dad's probably used to it! He's been kneeling like that for years!]
[Okay.. ]
[By the way, Guagua, how exactly did Prince An die such a tragic death?]
[Alas... Poor Prince An, he lost his brother, was deceived by his nephew, and finally discovered the truth. He tried to set things right, but his rebellion was suppressed, and he was executed by being torn apart by five horses!]
Prince An fainted immediately!
"Prince An! Prince An!"
"Prince An!"
What happened to Prince An? Why did he suddenly faint?
[Host, look at him, he's so pale and fat, he's probably very weak, he must be tired from standing for too long.]
Sigh... With his physical condition, he still dared to rebel. He was a brother-obsessed man his whole life, listening to his brother in everything. Without his brother, he naturally lost his direction, making it hard for him not to fail!
[Yes, host, Prince An is a tragic figure!]
[That makes sense; it seems Emperor Jingyuan is still his guiding light!]
Absolutely!
Emperor Jingyuan was filled with mixed emotions at this moment.
He was comforted by his brother's sincere devotion, but also saddened by his tragic end.
How dare his son treat his uncle like that? Isn't he afraid of being condemned by history in the future?
He stared intently at his second son, Yan Yunxuan, as if trying to see right through him.
Yan Yunxuan also stepped forward and knelt in the main hall.
[Guagua, why is Yan Yunxuan kneeling down?]
All the officials: What do you think?
Their backs were soaked.
Emperor Jingyuan glanced at Shen Mingzhu, who was standing in the back and seemed unconcerned, and waved his hand, signaling them to get up.