Shen Changyuan: That's a good idea!
If we could take this opportunity to remove my second brother and younger sister from the list, that would be perfect!
[Host, you're really clever. I bet a lot of people will hate you now that you've done this!]
Haha~~~ I love seeing them hate me but can't do anything about it!
All the officials and civil and military officials: This hobby is really special.
I will never provoke Lord Shen again unless absolutely necessary.
Emperor Jingyuan nodded in satisfaction when he saw that Shen Mingzhu really liked the gold medal.
I'm satisfied!
Prince An: Brother really dotes on Lord Shen.
Will I fall out of favor?
Brother, am I your favorite younger brother?
Emperor Jingyuan: You are! You are! You will always be!
Prince An: That's more like it!
He knew it!
[By the way, Guagua, how are my current second uncle and aunt? What are their character traits like?]
[Host, you've come to the right person! Let me tell you about your second uncle, Shen Changshan. He currently only has one son, Shen Qingyan. He has quite a few concubines, but so far, he only has one illegitimate daughter, Shen Jiaojiao. She's not even officially recognized as the daughter of his second wife. He holds a sinecure of the fifth rank, making him a wealthy idler. His main activities are eating, drinking, and having fun, indulging in refined pursuits, and enjoying romantic escapades with his beautiful concubines. He's quite content.]
As for his character, he is not particularly noble, but he's not bad either; he's just expensive!
[Your aunt, Shen Miaomiao, married Si Jingshen, the second son of the Duke of Li's family. She has a son and a daughter, Si Yunqi and Si Yunyao. She's no innocent girl; all of Si Jingshen's concubines and maids are completely under her control. To bear Si Jingshen's child, they need her permission. Anyone who dares to defy her will be either forced to drink a bowl of infertility-inducing soup, sold off, or beaten to death. There are only three options. Therefore, although Si Jingshen's harem is large, it's very quiet; no one dares to cause trouble!]
[The methods are decisive and skillful!]
Sigh...there are so many sordid things happening in those deep, secluded mansions!
Many ministers couldn't help but look at Duke Li Guo Gong Zhongyuan, but Duke Li Guo Gong remained calm and composed, seemingly oblivious to the gazes of his colleagues.
The flowing water doesn't compete to be first; it competes to flow endlessly.
Mountains do not compete in height, but in their continuous length.
He is still observing his second daughter-in-law.
We cannot condemn everything based on one incident; we must consider all factors before making a decision!
[Guagua, isn't what my aunt did a bit like treating human life like dirt?]
[Host, what are you thinking about? Concubines and maids are actually still servants, not true masters. Many of their indentures are in Shen Miaomiao's hands; she has the power of life and death over them!]
Oh? Is she really that perfect?
[No! She's lending money at exorbitant interest rates, which the court doesn't allow. Besides, she's never gotten along with the wife of the Duke's heir, her sister-in-law. She feels that the eldest brother of the Si family is less capable than her husband and wants her husband to become the heir!]
[Loan sharking? She's incredibly audacious! For officials' families to engage in loan sharking is a serious crime. According to the Great Yan Laws, privately lending money at exorbitant interest rates falls under the category of "unauthorized minting" and "issuing counterfeit currency," among other monetary crimes. If caught, it's the end of the world! At best, they'll be dismissed from their posts; at worst, their entire family will be imprisoned!]
Duke Li finally panicked!
The second son's wife is so foolish!
This could implicate the entire Duke of Li's mansion!
[Host, that's right! By the way, your grandmother and second uncle both put some money with your aunt, but they don't directly show up.]
Shen Changyuan wiped his sweat. "That's really something!"
He was still thinking of finding a reason to punish his family members, and now he has a handle against them!
Perhaps this can be used as a basis for negotiation...
We still don't have enough chips!
Upon hearing that someone was lending money at exorbitant interest rates, Emperor Jingyuan's face darkened to an almost black hue.
He never imagined that so many people would outwardly comply while inwardly disagreeing.
Crown Prince Yan Beichen: Your subject will definitely have all of them imprisoned to teach them a lesson.
[Sigh... Not only does Grandmother love stinky tofu, but she's also going further and further down the path of self-destruction! Wouldn't it be so much better if she just stayed a peaceful old lady in the Marquis's mansion, enjoying the simple pleasures of family life?]
[Host, everyone's pursuits are different!]
Shen Mingzhu sighed for a moment, then looked at everyone in the hall.
I feel like something's missing!
Look left, look right!
oops!
[Guagua, where is Lin Yuhui?]
[Host, Lord Yuhui has already rushed to the north to oversee the construction of heated brick beds and fire walls throughout the country, and has begun his career!]
That's great. Only by truly experiencing the lives of ordinary people can he truly understand them and do practical things for them!
Lin Xiang: My eldest grandson, I have high hopes for you!
Now the entire Prime Minister's residence is thriving, and he feels as if he has become more than ten years younger, full of energy every day.
[Ahhh! Host, General Pei is a father again!]
Pei Siyan: Really?
Very good!
He and his wife have conceived again, how wonderful!
[Guagua, isn't this normal? General Pei loves Madam Pei so much.]
[Host, Madam Pei will finally be free for at least ten months!]
Pfft~~~
One of the ministers burst out laughing.
Pei Siyan glared fiercely at the man.
General Tian has already given him several fire-avoidance diagrams from his own family. My skills are top-notch, so what's so funny?
Snort!
...
"snort!"
At ShouKang Courtyard, the old lady, Madam Wang, looked displeased.
"Miaomiao, don't try to fool me! Your older brother doesn't care about Mom at all now! All he cares about now is the daughter he found!"
"Mother, Mingzhu is also your granddaughter, she is my eldest brother's bloodline, isn't it normal for him to care about her? Just like you care about us!"
"Hmph! You think you're so good at making your mother happy!"
Looking at her daughter, the old lady, Madam Wang, felt much better.
Today, they are to have a meal at their grandmother's Shou Kang Courtyard. Early in the morning, Shen Miaomiao brought her two children to the Marquis's residence and went directly to the Shou Kang Courtyard.
"Mother, may your happiness be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountain."
Shen Changshan looked at his mother and smiled as he spoke auspicious words in an attempt to please her.
"How old are you? Hurry up and sit down and have a cup of tea."
Shen Mingzhu arrived calmly before lunch began.
[Hey, Guagua, look! Everyone's here!]
[Host, regardless of the circumstances, today is the old lady's birthday, so her children and grandchildren will naturally be coming. Be careful, host, or they might unleash a barrage of attacks on you!]